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TERM TWO
Beachathon Day - Friday, 27th June
Semester One Report Cards Published - Friday, 27th June
TERM THREE
Term 3 commences Monday, 14th July
Year 5 Camps - 21st July - 23rd July & 23rd July - 25th July
Challenge Games - Wednesday 23rd & Thursday 24th July
Homeless Sleepout - Friday 25th July
Catholic Education Week - 28th July to 1st August
Year 6 Camp - 6th to 8th August
Science Week - 11th to 15th August
BOOK WEEK PARADE - 22nd August
STUDENT FREE DAY
Friday, 1st September
Dear Parents and Carers
Here we are at the halfway point of the year. It has been another fantastic term with many wonderful highlights. Thanks again to our students for their efforts this term. With so many events, it has been very busy, but our students have been amazing.
This Friday, we finish the term with our 42nd Beachathon. I am looking forward to a fun day with our school community. I want to thank you, our families, for your support of Beachaton 2025. From our many sponsors to your support of class activities, the response this year will potentially set a record for fundraising! I would also like to thank our P&F for their commitment and organisation for this event. They have worked very hard to ensure our goals were met, and I am grateful for their efforts. Ultimately, our students are the beneficiaries of our efforts, and I am certain they will appreciate what has been achieved.
Report cards will be available on Compass this Friday. Please use the app to access your child's report. If you have forgotten logins or do not currently have access to Compas,s please contact the school office for assistance. I would recommend that you print or download a copy of the report from the Compass portal for your own records. Once families leave the school, access to the Compass app ends.
Again, thank you for your ongoing support of our school throughout the term. I hope that all families enjoy the mid-year break and I look forward to seeing you all again in Term 3.
First Holy Communion
Congratulations to our Joey's kids received their First Holy Communion on Sunday at the Sacred Heart Cathedral. This sacred occasion marks the final step in their sacraments of initiation, and they are now full members of the Catholic faith and family.
We thank Fr. Sylvester for celebrating the sacrament with us.
Staff Professional Development
Last Wednesday, our teachers embarked on a Pilgrimage of Hope, walking together from St Joseph’s School to ANZAC Gardens and back. This journey included three significant stops. At each stop, teachers were invited to engage in contemplative prayer.
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St Joseph’s Church – Visio Divina: Teachers engaged in “divine seeing,” a form of prayer that invites us to pause and gaze at sacred art with the “eyes of the heart.” Teachers used the images of the church's high altar and stained glass windows to make connections to God's presence.
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The Strand – Dadirri (First Nations Deep Listening): Teachers practised Dadirri, a First Nations form of contemplative listening and silent awareness. Rooted in Ngangiwumirri culture, Dadirri guides participants to “listen deeply, sit in stillness, and reconnect with ourselves, others, and the land”
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ANZAC Gardens – Ignatian Spirituality in Nature: Immersed in God’s creation, teachers experienced Ignatian spirituality by hearing God’s Word through the natural world. This aligns with the Ignatian principle of “finding God in all things,” especially through listening and reflection in the outdoors.
The afternoon offered a precious opportunity to reflect, rest, notice, and wonder. Teachers considered deeply what it means to teach religion in a Catholic school.
Our heartfelt thanks to all staff who participated and to our school community for supporting this spirit-filled initiative. May each step taken on that afternoon continue to shape how we teach, learn, and live our faith together.
Year 4 and Prep Mass
On Friday, our Year 4 and Prep students had the joy of celebrating Mass together (in their PJs!) with Fr Sylvester.
It was a beautiful opportunity for the children to:
Gather in celebration and song, lifting their voices in praise and unity.
Take part in the Sacred Meal, deeply participating in the Eucharist—the “holy meal” that renews Jesus’ command from the Last Supper: “Do this in memory of me.” By joining the Liturgy of the Eucharist, our students experienced how Mass is both a communal banquet and a moment of deep communion with Jesus.
Our heartfelt thanks to Fr Sylvester, the Year 4 and Prep teachers, and all the students for making this Mass such a vibrant and faith-filled experience. May these shared moments continue to inspire our children’s faith and sense of belonging in our school’s Catholic community.
Each of our classes will have an opportunity to attend Mass over Semester Two.
Solemity of the Sacred Heart Mass
Sacred Heart Cathedral
Friday, 27th June
6:30pm
Supper afterwards to celebrate the retirement for Jackie Crocker - Music Director
Please bring a plate to share
Hope all have a wonderful school holiday break,
Trina Neilson
Assistant Principal - Religious Education
Semester One Reports – Key Changes
Semester One Reports will be published via Compass on Friday 27th June at 3pm. You will need your Compass username and password to access these reports. Please see the office if you do not have this information.
Townsville Catholic Education (TCE) has introduced updated formatting and content for Semester Reports across all schools in the Townsville Diocese. These changes will be reflected in our Semester One Reports. Below is a summary of key updates:
Application to Learning Scale
The effort scale is now titled Application to Learning and uses a 4-point scale:
Excellent – Consistently demonstrates an exceptional application to learning.
Very Good – Usually demonstrates a strong and consistent application to learning.
Satisfactory – Generally meets expectations in their application to learning.
Needs Attention – Sometimes meets expectations in their application to learning.
General Comment
Reports now include a single General Comment. Subject-specific comments for Religion, English, and Mathematics have been removed.
Achievement Standard Indicator
A statement is included indicating that ‘Working With – WW’ or a ‘C’ represents the expected level of achievement by the end of the year.
Attendance Information
Any attendance concerns, such as frequent lateness or absences, will be noted in the General Comment.
Prep Reporting
Prep students are assessed and reported on in Religion, English, Mathematics, and Health and Physical Education. While students continue to engage in Science, Technologies, The Arts, and HASS, these subjects will not appear on the Prep report.
Learning Statements
Our school has also updated the way learning statements are presented. They now appear as summary dot points outlining key learning for the semester.
NAPLAN Results - Year 3 and Year 5
We have been advised that NAPLAN reports for Year 3 and Year 5 students will be available early in term three.
Have a lovely week.
Julie Wallace
Assistant Principal - Pedagogy and Learning
Love |
Sofia Di Giacomo | Sofia lives out the Mercy Value of Love every day in our classroom. She demonstrates kindness, respect, and a calm, thoughtful approach to her learning. Sofia is a caring friend who always notices when someone needs support and is quick to offer help with patience and compassion. Her warm, infectious smile brings positivity to our class and lifts the spirits of those around her. Thank you, Sofia, for your beautiful presence and for being a shining example of love in 4B. |
| Luella Hicks | Luella is receiving a Mercy Award for Love as she embodies this value every day. She has a gentle and kind heart and treats everyone with respect. Luella will happily work with anyone in group activities, include others during playtime, and is always the first to lend a helping hand when someone needs it. Your bright smile lights up our classroom, and your caring nature helps make it a warm and welcoming place for everyone. Thank you, Luella, for being such a kind friend! | |
| Flynn Gee | Flynn consistently lives out the Mercy value of Love by making a genuine effort to ensure his peers feel welcome and included every day. He shows kindness in his actions, always using his manners and greeting his teacher’s each morning with a cheerful smile. Flynn’s bubbly nature brightens our classroom and makes it a more joyful and caring place for everyone. We have no doubt that you will continue to display the qualities of a Joey’s kid at your new school Flynn! | |
| William Drummond |
William is receiving the Mercy Value of Love Award for his enthusiasm and love of learning, particularly in his English assessment. This term, he has shown a great passion for learning about Ned Kelly, and his excitement has been contagious, spreading to his family, especially his grandfather. William has shared his knowledge with him, and it’s wonderful to see how they have bonded over this fascinating topic. It’s always inspiring to see students who not only love learning but also share that passion with others. William, your love for learning is truly inspiring. |
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| Boston Phillips | Boston is a wonderful example of what it means to live out the Mercy Values. He demonstrates the Mercy Value of Love in his kind and caring nature, not only by caring for friends and family but for all of God’s creatures, including a Joey that he recently rescued with his brothers. Boston’s community spirit shines through in his helpful and attentive attitude to daily life in 4A where he is always happy to lend a hand to students and staff alike. His efforts in daily learning and our recent information report writing about James Cook showed that Boston strives for excellence in all areas of school life. Thank you so much for your effort and positive presence in our class, Boston! | |
| Community
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Vonn Clair | Vonn is receiving the Mercy Value of Community Award for his exceptional willingness to help others. Recently, he has gone out of his way to assist his classmates, patiently explaining Maths concepts and demonstrating how to use PowerPoint. Vonn does this with enthusiasm and without hesitation, and his support has made a real difference to those he’s helped. His generosity and kindness reflect the true spirit of community, and he sets a wonderful example for others. Vonn, thank you for being such a helpful and caring member of our school. |
| Mia Lonergan | Mia is a shining example of what it means to live out the Mercy Value of Community at St Joseph’s. Not only does she do her best to ensure our classroom is a beautiful place to be, she also contributes to the wider Joeys community in her role as a Planet Warrior. Mia is kind, helpful and inclusive of others. No job is too hard and her can-do attitude makes our classroom run smoothly. Thank you for making 4A and Joeys a great place to be. | |
| Excellence | Charlie Knapton | Charlie has begun Year 4 with excellent focus and dedication to his classwork. He is a kind and caring friend who consistently shows empathy and respect towards his peers. Charlie listens attentively, works independently, and maintains a calm, thoughtful presence in the classroom. He is also making impressive progress in his writing, a testament to his hard work and determination. As a quiet achiever, Charlie displays a strong work ethic and a genuine commitment to his learning. Well done, Charlie—keep up the great work! |
| Violet Knapton | Violet displays persistence and rigour in all that she does. She is a quiet achiever who is always eager to learn new concepts and approaches all tasks with a can-do attitude. Violet has shown incredible improvement in Maths by listening attentively, asking questions and trying her best to be an independent learner. She has also shown exceptional dedication in the preparation for the upcoming Reader's Cup competition. Keep striving for high standards Violet! | |
| Heidi Eather | Heidi is being recognised for the Mercy Award of Excellence for always giving everything her best go, no matter how big or small the challenge. She shares her clever ideas with the whole class and always listens kindly to others too. You should be so proud of how you have challenged yourself to find and add extra information and fantastic vocabulary into your information reports. We have loved reading them! Your hard work, creativity, and positive attitude make our classroom a better place. Keep shining bright, Heidi! | |
| Mila McKellar | Mila strives for excellence in all areas of her learning. Through consistent effort and a positive attitude, she has enhanced her written work, in particular her Information Report writing. Mila demonstrates rigour by approaching each task with determination, persevering even when tasks are tricky. Keep up the great work, Mila! | |
| Ivy-Grace Lochowicz | Ivy-Grace has recently demonstrated the Mercy value of Excellence through her outstanding rigour and persistence in improving her understanding of place value. With consistent effort and a determined attitude, she has shown great success in this area. Ivy-Grace, you should be incredibly proud of your hard work and the progress you have made. Keep shooting for the stars, Ivy! | |
| Killian Fitzgerald | Killian demonstrates a consistent dedication to learning and an outstanding work ethic. He exemplifies the Joey’s 5R of Rigour by approaching every task with determination and a commitment to excellence. His ability to complete work to a high standard sets a shining example for others. Well done, Killian – keep up the great work! | |
| Harriet Kelly | Harriet demonstrated exceptional resilience and courage by competing in Speech Makers—a true testament to her determination and growth mindset. She goes above and beyond in supporting some of her peers, helping them stay focused and engaged in their learning. Her willingness to try new things, coupled with her thoughtful reflection on both successes and challenges, makes her a standout role model in our learning community. Well done, Harriet – your positivity, perseverance, and leadership make a real difference! | |
| Thomas Ponti | Thomas is receiving the Mercy Value of Excellence Award for his dedication and hard work. He consistently applies what he learns, creating fantastic, detailed responses across all his tasks. Thomas thinks deeply about the topics he studies and participates enthusiastically in class discussions, always contributing valuable insights. His diligence and commitment to his work are truly inspiring, and this acknowledgment is well deserved. Thomas, your consistent effort and focus are a great example for others. Well done! | |
| Bailey Coote | Bailey strives for excellence in all aspects of his schooling. He has demonstrated an eagerness to make significant positive changes. Bailey has demonstrated remarkable improvement that reflects a strong work ethic and being a true Joey’s kid. Your hard work and efforts have not gone unnoticed Bailey, and you serve as a great example for your peers. Keep up the great work, and continue striving for excellence! |
The Month of June Focus - Empathy
As you are aware, St. Joey's School is committed to teaching positive mental health strategies to prevent mental ill health and build young people’s capacity to deal with adversity. We’re proud to be implementing TRP’s evidence-based whole school wellbeing program to support positive mental health in the classroom, staffroom and wider community.
Students in Years 3-6 are engaging in weekly lessons to understand and strengthen their practice of Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness and Emotional Literacy, with regular opportunity for parent/carer involvement.
Each month, one of our Resilience Project Principles will be highlighted to focus on. This month, our focus is Empathy. Empathy is understanding how others are feeling. In the words of our students, putting ourselves in another person's shoes.
When we do something kind for someone else, our brains release the love hormone, Oxytocin. This makes us feel good too.
The Resilience Project site has a wonderful resource, Parent & Carer Hub, where you can find the evidence based strategies taught in the classroom that can be complemented at home. Please see the short Empathy video that may support you. Found below is a GEM Chats sheet on Empathy GEM Chats help families practice The Resilience Project’s principles, offering a simple wellbeing check-in while building stronger connections through daily conversations.
The Hub can be accessed via the secure link below, with no account setup or login required: https://theresilienceproject.
Townsville FIRE Visit and Adopt a Cowboy
(These photos are only available until Monday, 14th July)
