Term 2, Week 2 Newsletter - 2nd May 2025
| Thursday, 1st May 2025 | St Joseph The Worker Feast Day |
| Friday, 2nd May 2025 | Pupil Free Day - No School |
| Monday, 5th May 2025 | Labour Day - No School |
| Friday, 9th May 2025 | Mother's Day Assembly - Penola Centre |
| Mother's Day Stall | |
| Sunday, 11th May 2025 | Mother's Day Mass - Good Shepherd Parish - 9:00 am |
| Sunday, 18th May 2025 | Jangawala Service |
From the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to Term 2! I hope you all had a restful holiday period and were able to spend valuable time with family and loved ones. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces around Mount Isa over the Easter break—whether it was at the shops, Bunnings, or just out and about in town. I genuinely appreciated the chance to connect with many of you in a relaxed and informal setting.
Over the holidays, we hosted a Working Bee. While the numbers were small, the enthusiasm was high, and we made great progress. You may have already noticed that the garden beds have been cleared and are now ready for new planting. A sincere thank you to those who gave up part of their break to lend a hand. We’re looking forward to hosting more Working Bees in the future—these are fantastic opportunities to come together and share in the life of the school community.
It has been a joy this week to reconnect with students, staff, and families as we settle into the new term. Amidst this, we also acknowledge a moment of great sadness: the passing of Pope Francis on 21st April 2025 at the age of 88. As a Catholic community, this loss is deeply felt. Yet it has also opened up meaningful conversations among students and staff, reflecting on his legacy and impact on the Church.
On Friday, 25th April, our school community proudly participated in ANZAC Day commemorations across Mount Isa. Although I was away in the South East Corner attending a family wedding, I was heartened to receive photos and updates from our staff. It was uplifting to hear the many compliments from community members about our students’ respectful conduct, presentation, and unity. Thank you to all families who supported this important occasion.
We have also begun a significant chapter in our school’s future. Following last year’s work led by Mrs Desailly and the leadership team, we are continuing the process of School Renewal—a vital review that takes place every five years. The 2024 Strategic Direction has now been finalised and is guiding our planning and improvement efforts. You can view these priorities and goals via the School Renewal page on our website under the About tab, or directly via this link.
This Thursday, we will celebrate our school’s patron with the St Joseph’s Feast Day Liturgy. This is always a special time for our community to come together in faith and reflection. I would like to thank Mrs Tenielle Blanco (APRE) for her leadership and preparation of this significant event.
Please remember that Friday, 2nd May 2025 is a Pupil Free Day as staff engage in Professional Development. With the Labour Day Public Holiday on Monday, 5th May, this will be a long weekend for families. If you are extending this break, please ensure that you notify the school of any absences.
Absences can be reported through any of the following options:
COMPASS App
Phone: (07) 4743 4303
If you are unsure how to log an absence via the Compass App, we have attached a step-by-step PDF guide for your convenience. While it's helpful to notify your child’s teacher directly, please remember that only the office can enter absences into the system. Teachers will remind families that one of the three official methods above must be used to avoid follow-up calls from administration.
Student Protection – Everyone’s Responsibility
At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Mount Isa, the safety and wellbeing of every student is our highest priority.
All staff are committed to creating a school environment where students feel safe, supported, and valued. We follow the Student Protection policies and procedures of Townsville Catholic Education, ensuring that all concerns are taken seriously and handled with care and confidentiality.
Every staff member is trained in student protection annually and understands their role in keeping children safe. Our school has Student Protection Contacts available for students and families to speak with at any time.
You can find more information on our school’s Student Protection approach, including who the Student Protection Contacts are, on our website:
Student Protection at St Joseph’s
We encourage parents, carers, and students to speak up if they ever have a concern. Together, we all share the responsibility to protect children and uphold their right to be safe.
Raising Concerns and Complaints
At St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Mount Isa, we are committed to open, respectful communication and continuous improvement. From time to time, concerns may arise, and we want to ensure that families feel confident in knowing how to raise these constructively.
Our school follows the Townsville Catholic Education Complaints Management Policy, which outlines a clear and supportive process for addressing concerns or complaints.
If you have a concern:
First step – We encourage you to speak directly with the staff member involved, as most concerns are best resolved at the local level.
If unresolved – Please contact the school leadership team to arrange a meeting.
Further escalation – If the matter remains unresolved, you can formally raise your concern with Townsville Catholic Education.
More information about this process, including a detailed flowchart, can be found on the Townsville Catholic Education website: TCE Complaints Process
We value your feedback and see it as an opportunity to grow and improve. Working together in a spirit of partnership helps ensure the best outcomes for all members of our school community.
Thank you once again for your ongoing support of our school community. I look forward to a strong and enriching Term 2 together.
Warm regards,
Scott Murray,
Principal
Education in Faith
ANZAC Day
On Thursday afternoon, 24th April, our school gathered for a solemn ANZAC Day liturgy. Year 2 students took the lead in delivering a heartfelt and respectful prayer in honour of our ANZACs. We were honoured to have Mr James Nuttall, President of RSL Mount Isa Sub Branch with us, addressing the assembly, sharing insights. Each class contributed by creating a wreath to lay during the assembly, symbolising our collective respect and gratitude. In addition to this, our classes crafted 'Postcards of Honour' to express our gratitude and remembrance. These postcards will be distributed to either serving or past ANZACs, extending our school's appreciation and respect for their service and sacrifice.
On Friday, we also participated in the commemoration of ANZAC Day with the Mount Isa Community. Students of St Joseph’s were invited to join for the annual Dawn Service, Mass and ANZAC Day March.
Sacramental Program
This year, nine of our St Joseph’s students have participated in the Sacramental Program with the Good Shepherd Parish. On the 22nd of April, they celebrated the first sacrament of the program — the Sacrament of Confirmation. I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all students and families involved. A sincere thank you also to the staff and families for their dedication and support in preparing the children for this important step in their faith journey. Let us continue to keep these children in our prayers as they now prepare for the next part of their journey, the Sacrament of First Holy Communion.
Bishop Visit
On April 22nd, we were blessed to have Bishop Tim visit our school. He spent time answering questions from our students preparing for Confirmation and meeting with them personally. The Bishop also took the opportunity to walk around and visit some of our Prep, Year 1, and Year 2 classes, warmly greeting our younger students.
Pope Francis
This week, we join Catholics around the world in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. Pope Francis served with great kindness, humility, and love, always reminding us to care for one another and for the world we share. We give thanks for his leadership and pray for him with grateful hearts.
As part of the Catholic tradition, the Church now enters a time of mourning. During this period, Pope Francis will be honoured at St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where many will come to pay their respects. In the coming weeks, the cardinals of the Church will gather in a special meeting called a conclave to prayerfully choose the next Pope. When a new Pope is chosen, white smoke will rise from the Sistine Chapel, a historic sign that a new chapter has begun for the Church.
We invite families to join us in prayer during this important time, as we remember Pope Francis and pray for wisdom and guidance for the Church as it prepares to welcome a new leader.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.
Mother’s Day
Next Friday, we look forward to celebrating the special women in our lives with our annual Mother’s Day Market. Students will have the opportunity to purchase gifts ranging from $2–$10, many of which have been lovingly handmade by our clever and creative families. We will also be led in a beautiful Mother’s Day assembly by our Year 1 students. On Mother’s Day Sunday, we invite all families to join us for our first Parish Family Mass for the year at Good Shepherd Catholic Church — a wonderful way to come together in faith and gratitude.
Fun Run and Cross Country
Last week was another busy and exciting week at St Joseph’s. Our Prep to Year 2 students enjoyed their annual Fun Run, with beautiful weather and lots of smiles as they ran and cheered each other on. In the final week before the holidays, our Year 3 to Year 6 students also took part in their Cross Country event. It was fantastic to see all students giving their best effort and showing great school spirit. Thank you to everyone who helped make these events such a success!
Tenielle Blanco,
APRE
Foundations In Education
We hope all our families enjoyed a restful and relaxing Easter break. As we begin Term 2, we’re filled with enthusiasm for the rich learning experiences and opportunities that lie ahead. This term promises to be a productive and enriching one, as we continue working together to support every student’s learning, growth, and success. We look forward to another fantastic term of partnership between home and school.
Pupil Free Day – Friday 2nd May
A reminder that Friday, 2nd May is a pupil-free day. On this day, all teaching staff will engage in valuable professional development focused on the implementation of the updated Australian Curriculum Version 9. The session will particularly emphasise building teacher capacity in mathematics instruction and ensuring consistency and fairness in assessment practices across all key learning areas. We ask families to please make alternative care arrangements for their children on this day
National Walk Safely to School Day – Friday 16th May
We are delighted to once again participate in National Walk Safely to School Day on Friday, 16th May. This event encourages healthy habits and road safety awareness. Students are invited to meet staff at Captain Cook Oval (near Fourth Avenue) at 7:50am. The group will depart the oval at 8:00am and walk to school together, arriving shortly after. We encourage all students to get involved in this fun and active morning.
Semester One Reporting – Important Changes
Townsville Catholic Education has reviewed and updated the reporting guidelines and processes for 2025. As part of this update, a standardised reporting template will be implemented across all schools in our diocese.
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve communication between school and home, there are a few key changes to this semester’s student reports:
- Reports will include one general teacher comment providing an overview of your child’s learning journey
- Academic grades and effort marks will continue to be reported
- Individual learning area comments will no longer be included
- "Effort" will now be referred to as Application to Learning, using consistent terminology across all year levels
- A common four-point scale will be used to report on Application to Learning.
These changes are designed to provide families with clear, concise, and meaningful feedback that supports each student’s educational progress and fosters a strong partnership between home and school.
Semester One Reporting Changes for Prep 2025
Experience in Prep
Beginning in 2025, a key change will be introduced in the Preparatory (Prep) year to support a more targeted and developmentally appropriate approach to early learning. This update aligns with the advice of the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) and offers schools a valuable opportunity to reflect on and refine their educational programs.
From 2025, Prep students will engage with learning areas in two distinct ways:
- Learning Areas: These subjects will be taught, assessed, and reported on:
- English
- Mathematics
- Health and Physical Education
- Religion
- Experienced Learning Areas: These subjects will be taught and monitored, but will not be summatively assessed or formally reported on.
Prep students will experience:
- Science
- Humanities and Social Sciences
- The Arts (including Music)
- Technologies
- Languages (if provided)
Monitoring involves collecting evidence and tracking student progress in understanding and skills without assigning grades.
This approach ensures students are still exposed to all key learning areas in a way that is age-appropriate and aligned with their developmental stage. It prioritises continuity of learning and ensures that students are well-prepared for a successful transition to Year 1.
We are excited about these changes, as they allow for a purposeful focus on literacy and numeracy development in the foundational year. They also support a balanced use of teaching practices (pedagogies) that help every child experience a smooth and confident start to their school journey.
Karlia Ryan,
APPL
Wellbeing and Diversity
Wellbeing Barometer Survey - 2025
The Wellbeing Barometer survey is an invaluable tool for schools, providing critical insights into the mental health and wellbeing of young people. This annual survey identifies areas of concern, highlights resilience and adaptability in students, and emphasises the importance of preventative strategies to promote positive outcomes.
Participation in this survey is strongly encouraged, as it offers a comprehensive view of students' experiences, challenges, and achievements. By capturing a detailed understanding of young people's experiences, the survey supports a tailored approach to enhancing their mental, emotional, and social wellbeing. It helps to identify strengths and areas for improvement, as well as pinpoint opportunities for early intervention.
The survey is part of an ongoing longitudinal study, and we encourage you to take a few moments to complete the survey for each of your children. Responses remain anonymous and should be based on your observations over the last 12 months. By working together, we can reduce the long-term impact of mental illness and make a meaningful difference to the lives of our young people for a brighter future.
Here is the link:
https://sjmtsv.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-wellbeing-barometer-2025-au
If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Cassandra Little,
Guidance Councilor
In the Classroom...
2 Green’s Fantastic Start to Term 2!
2 Green had a fantastic start to the term this week! In Science, we explored the fascinating world of sound and vibrations, while in English we began diving into narratives. In Religion, we reflected on the themes of Jesus and community.
We had a blast taking part in our Fun Run on Thursday and also took time to learn about the significance of ANZAC Day. To commemorate it, we created beautiful "Field of Poppies" artworks.
This week, we also celebrated Earth Day, which is held on April 22nd each year. We discovered how important it is to reduce, reuse, and recycle - and had so much fun designing our own Earth Day posters!
What a brilliant beginning to Term 2 for 2 Green!
Sport @ Joeys
DISTRICT CROSS COUNTRY
On Wednesday 30th April, we had a number of students represent our school at the Mount Isa District Cross Country. All students ran well, showing great determination to finish their races. They also all showed great support and encouragement for all other runners.
We had some excellent individual results with Ati M and Finlay S finishing 1st in the 12yrs boys and 11yrs boys respectively. Ellie M finished 2nd in the 12yrs girls and Flynn P placed 2nd in the 10yrs boys. In the 10yr girls we had Ava N who finished 2nd and Amaya W who finished 3rd.
At the end of the day, St Joseph’s finished 1st Overall out of all the primary schools. Congratulations and well done on a fantastic effort!
School News
Compass is a school management solution that allows parents and carers to access up-to-date and meaningful information about your school and your child’s progress. Compass includes many different features.
You can download the Compass App on iOS and Android devices, simply search for Compass School Manager in the store. You will need to contact the school office to obtain your login details.
Using the app you can:
View the school news feed
Add Attendance Notes
Receive messages from the school
View your child’s timetable and the school calendar
View Learning Tasks
Book parent-teacher conferences
View academic reports
Pay school fees
In this newsletter, we have provided a GUIDE FOR PARENTS - HOW TO ENTER ATTENDANCE NOTES IN COMPASS on how to enter attendances for your student. If you need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the office or your teacher.
Community News
MOUNT ISA SHOW
Feeling Artistic? That’s good – we would like to show off your talent to our community….
Or maybe you love gardening, then we would love you to enter your best produce!
Have you been snapping away taking photos of the countryside, family, friends, pets, constructions or events. Then why not share them with us.
Or for those that love to cook, then stir the pots, crank up the stove and get the Judges taste buds hopping with your entries in our cooking categories.
We encourage all ages to enter, check out our extensive list of categories, from lego to quilting; cooking to needle work; woodwork to photography; art to macramé, to collectables to scarecrows – there is something for everyone to enter.
See below for full schedule...
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