Term 3, Week 6 Newsletter - 22nd August 2025

From The Principal

Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members,

As we approach the middle of the term, I would like to take a moment to thank you for your ongoing support and engagement. Together, we continue to build a school community where every child has the opportunity to thrive both academically and personally.

This week, I want to highlight the power of positive parent engagement and the direct impact it has on student outcomes. At St Joseph’s, we believe that education is a true partnership between home and school. Research shows that when parents are actively engaged in their child’s learning, students are more likely to achieve academic success, maintain strong attendance, and demonstrate positive behaviour.

It is important to remember that education does not start and finish at the school gate. It continues at home as well. Engaging in your child’s readers, homework, and outside play is crucial. Many of us can recall our own school days — the afternoons and evenings spent completing readers and homework, sometimes with disagreements at the kitchen table — yet, those moments made a real difference in shaping who we are today.

Here are a few ways you can continue to support your child’s learning journey:

• Stay informed: Take time to review homework, ask about what your child has been learning, and check in on their progress regularly.

• Communicate with teachers: Reach out to your child’s teacher whenever you have questions or concerns. Most of the time, issues arise from misunderstandings, and these can usually be resolved quickly through respectful, direct conversations with the classroom teacher or staff member. As a leadership team, we are always happy to support families if concerns remain, but we ask that you begin by communicating directly with the staff member involved. This ensures open, honest communication with the people best placed to respond to your child’s needs.

• Encourage a love for learning: Share in your child’s curiosity. Read together, explore new ideas, and show enthusiasm for learning at home.

At school, we are also working to ensure that every student is supported to reach their full potential. Some of the key ways we do this include:

• Personalised learning: Teachers use data-driven approaches to meet each student where they are and to guide them in making progress at their own pace.

• Extracurricular opportunities: Activities beyond the classroom allow students to develop new skills, discover passions, and build friendships. We encourage families to support their child’s involvement in these programs.

• Social and emotional support: We recognise that wellbeing is central to student success. Our teachers and support staff provide guidance and resources to help students build resilience and manage challenges with confidence.

By working together as one school community, we can continue to ensure that every child at St Joseph’s is nurtured, supported, and inspired to reach their full potential.

Sporting News

Our staff and students have been heavily involved in school sport over the past few weeks. Recently, two of our teams represented St Joseph’s at the Cricket Gala Day. While we were not successful in taking out the top spot this year, one of our teams finished a nail-biting match against Happy Valley State School, falling short by only a couple of runs and placing third overall. It was a fantastic day of sport, teamwork, and connection with other schools in our region.

Today, a number of our students are travelling to Longreach to participate in the Outback Sunset Athletics Carnival. Not only will they be competing in their individual athletics events, but some will also be trialling for the School Sport Athletics program in the hope of securing a position on the North West Athletics Team. We wish all of these students the very best of luck and, most importantly, a safe journey.

Illness and Attendance

Over the past few weeks, we have seen a rise in seasonal illnesses such as RSV, Influenza A & B, and Gastroenteritis. It is important that we work together to minimise the spread of these illnesses within our school community.

Common Symptoms to Monitor

RSV: Runny nose, cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, fever, cyanosis (bluish skin due to lack of oxygen).
Influenza A & B: Fever and/or chills, sore throat, cough, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, diarrhoea and vomiting (more common in children than adults).
Gastroenteritis: Low-grade fever, muscle aches, headaches, stomach cramps and pain, nausea and/or vomiting, watery diarrhoea.

Symptom Monitoring

If your child is exhibiting any of the above symptoms, please keep them at home until they are completely well. If your child presents to the school office with any of these symptoms, you will be contacted and asked to collect them immediately.

Gastroenteritis Guidelines

Queensland Health guidelines specify that:

If a child vomits once, they must stay home for at least 24 hours after their last episode.
If a child vomits more than once, or has diarrhoea, they must stay home for at least 48 hours after their last episode.

Please refer to the Queensland Health Time Out Poster below for further information on exclusion periods for a range of illnesses.

Tips to Help Keep Children Healthy

Encourage frequent handwashing – using soap and warm water.
Cover coughs and sneezes – using a tissue or elbow.
Stay home when sick – to allow time for full recovery and to prevent illness spreading to others.

We also ask that you keep the school informed of any illness your child may be experiencing. This helps us monitor patterns of illness and respond appropriately to support the health and wellbeing of all students and staff.

If your child presents to the school with any of the above symptoms, you will be asked to collect them immediately.

Please refer to the below time out poster for exclusion periods on the QLD health TimeOut poster.

Staffing Update

This week we warmly welcome Mrs Courtney Davidson into our school community as a School Officer. Mrs Davidson and her family are no strangers to Mount Isa, having recently returned after some time in Townsville. During her previous time here, she worked at Good Shepherd Catholic College and brings with her valuable experience and familiarity with both the Townsville Catholic Education system and our parish. We are delighted to have her join our team.

At the same time, we continue our search for teaching staff. Following another round of advertising and interviews, we have identified candidates for shortlisting and are currently exploring the possibility of them joining our school. While we work through this process, I acknowledge that it can cause some uncertainty. Please know that our commitment remains firmly focused on securing quality teachers who will bring the best outcomes for our students.

Recently, I was asked by parents what the hurdle is and why we cannot secure teachers more quickly. Unfortunately, this challenge is not unique to St Joseph’s — it is a regional, state-wide, and national issue. Alongside other Western Catholic Principals, we are actively tabling suggestions and ideas with Townsville Catholic Education to strengthen the attraction and retention of teachers in our schools. While this may not provide families with immediate answers, it is proactive work designed to establish long-term solutions rather than reactive responses during times of shortage.

These conversations also involve Fr Mick and the parish, whose insight and passion for improving opportunities for teachers in our Western Catholic Schools is invaluable. I am grateful for his support, and for the shared commitment across our community to ensuring stability and quality in staffing.

I would also like to again acknowledge the support of Mrs Marschke in the Year 4GO classroom during this time. Her dedication has been vital in maintaining consistency for our students.

Scott Murray,
Principal

Education In Faith

Parish Multicultural Festival

The Parish’s Multicultural Festival is coming up on Friday, 5th September, and we’re excited to support this wonderful community event!  This year promises to be bigger and brighter, featuring a Children’s Fashion Parade and their $10,000 Raffle. For all the details, including times and how to get involved, please see the attached flyers. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the diversity and talent of our community!

Community Christmas Evening

We’re excited to announce that our Community Christmas Evening will be held on Friday, October 24th from 6:00 pm! It’s a wonderful opportunity for our community to come together, celebrate, and share in the festive spirit. Please see the attached flyers for all the details.

To make this event even more exciting, we have launched our Annual 50/50 raffle! It’s simple: half of the proceeds go to the winner, and the other half supports our community activities and events. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the fun and support a great cause.

If you’d like to help out with the event, we warmly invite you to join our planning meetings or reach out via email for more information. Your support makes a big difference and helps ensure a memorable evening for everyone.

Jangawala

Thank you to the families who have continued to assist with our rostered days for Jangawala at the Good Shepherd Catholic Parish. Our next date to assist with Jangawala is Sunday, September 26th.

Tenielle Blanco,
APRE

Foundations In Education

Semester 2 Learning Conference Bookings 2025 - OPEN NOW

Online bookings for Semester 2 Learning Conferences (Student-Parent-Teacher Interviews) are now open. They will take place in your child's classroom as follows:

Prep to Year 6: Term 3, Week 8

• Tuesday 2nd September 3pm - 7pm
• Wednesday 3rd September 3pm - 7pm

Please select a 15 minute time slot with your child's teacher. Bookings will close on Friday, 29th August at 3pm.

Learning Conferences can be booked using Conferences located in the COMPASS Parent Portal, accessed by using either the COMPASS School Manager App or by using your computer to access the website: https://sjmtsv-qld.compass.education

You will need to log into Compass to select your times. You can collect your login letter from the office or alternatively, phone the office to request your details.  Due to privacy concerns, login details can not be provided to any other person.

If using your phone to make this booking, please ensure that you are using the latest version of the Compass App to ensure you have all the features that have recently been added.  

It is also important that you close the App and re-open it prior to doing your bookings or going to the App to change a booking.  This ensures that any changes that we make to the settings or schedule for Parent/Teacher Interviews transfer through to your phone.

If you are experiencing difficulty booking - please call the office and they will assist you with your booking.

Learning Conferences are a wonderful way to continue to be engaged in your child's learning, build relationships with their teacher and our school. We encourage you to take this opportunity and look forward to meeting with you.

Karlia Ryan,
APPL

Wellbeing & Diversity

Raising Girls

Raising girls in today’s modern world can be a difficult path for parents and carers to navigate. These days, girls are transitioning to puberty a lot earlier than they used to and the physical, psychological and emotional changes they experience are challenging. As a result, by mid-adolescence, girls are twice as likely to develop mood disorders more so than boys.

Some parents and carers may feel uncertain about how best to support their daughter through the ups and downs of adolescence and how to keep the lines of communication open. With the rise of social media and technology, mental health difficulties in girls are increasing as often they are faced with online images that make it difficult to see themselves as acceptable. Ensuring a daughter’s opinions are heard and her views listened to, will go a long way towards making her feel loved and supported as she tries to establish her own identity.

In this edition of SchoolTV, adult carers will attain a clearer picture of what girls are wanting from their adult carers and how best to support them through adolescence.

Here is the link to your Edition  https://sjmtsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/raising-girls

Raising Boys

Many parents will attest to the fact that most boys are active, loud, rambunctious and prone to rough play, but this should not affect how a parent acts towards their son. Be careful not to pigeon-hole your son into sex-specific behaviours or gender roles. The male brain is distinctly different in its development. A boy’s physical maturity is often at odds with his mental and brain development.

Societal beliefs about how to raise boys can sometimes influence their adult carers. Although we are not determined by our biology, it is a factor. It is important to support boys in their natural tendencies and nurture their strengths and abilities. Teach them the skills they need for their future and to develop a healthy identity. It is important for boys to have a role model they can connect with and acknowledge who they are. One of the most important determinants for a boy’s development is how secure they feel growing up.

In this edition of SchoolTV, adult carers will gain a better understanding into some of the more complex issues relating to raising boys.

Here is the link to your Edition  https://sjmtsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/raising-boys

Cassandra Little,
Guidance Councilor

Community News...

Spiritual Companioning Course:  

Is anyone interested in learning how to be a Spiritual Companion?  Our church is considering running this 3 year “very beneficial” course.  If you wish to find out more please contact Fr Mick or Lorna Fisher at the Parish.