Year of Jubilee - Pilgrims of Hope

Every 25 years, the Church declares a Jubilee Year, a year for pilgrimage and spiritual renewal. The theme of the 2025 Jubilee Year is Pilgrims of Hope. Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican on December 25th, 2024. He declared it a great opportunity to restore a climate of hope and trust. 

We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us, and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision. 

Francis (Letter of the Holy Father Francis for the Jubilee Year)

A colourful logo has been designed for the event. It shows four people moving together, representing people coming together from the four corners of the world. The leading figure is holding onto a cross which is a sign of faith. There are waves beneath them as a sign of pilgrimage and also the rough times everyone experiences. The lower part of the cross is an anchor which is a sign of hope.

During a Jubilee year, we also pray that mercy, forgiveness and solidarity fill our hearts as we create right relationships with all we encounter. We hope that we can be Pilgrims of Hope for our school, community, country and the world. 

Staff Professional Development Week

During the Pupil Free Week before school resumed, St Joseph's staff engaged in a week of professional learning. Our teachers listened to Professor Br David Hall speak about our call to Catholic Education. Br David spoke of Paul's Letter to the Corinthians where we all have God-given gifts and we are called to share these gifts with the world.

The professional development week ended with all our staff coming together at Mass. During this Mass, we were called to reflect upon our contribution to seeing the goodness in others and following in the footsteps of Jesus to show kindness, forgiveness and compassion to others. 

We thank Fr Gideon for celebrating Mass with us. 

New Acknowledgement 2025

Last Friday, Emma and Neil from TCE Marketing were at Joey's to film our new Acknowledgement of Country. 

An Acknowledgement of Country is an opportunity for anyone to show respect for Traditional Owners and the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Country.

An Acknowledgement of Country can be offered by any person and like a Welcome to Country, is given at the beginning of a meeting, speech or event. 

Our new Acknowledgments will be launched over the coming weeks. 

Parent Information Evening – Tuesday, 18th February

Our Parent Information Evening will be held on Tuesday, 18th February, beginning at 5:45 pm in the hall with a Principal’s Address. Classroom sessions will follow at 6 pm and 6:30 pm.

This is a great opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and hear about what’s happening in their classroom and across the school in 2025.

We encourage all families to come along – we look forward to seeing you there!

NAPLAN - Year 3 and Year 5

NAPLAN is an annual national assessment for all students in Years 3, 5, 7, and 9, and is the only nationwide assessment that all Australian children undertake.

It measures whether or not young Australians are developing the literacy and numeracy skills that provide the critical foundation for other learning and their productive and rewarding participation in the community.

The NAPLAN testing window begins in Week 7 of Term 1. Our school schedule is as follows. (Schedules will vary across schools.)

• Wednesday 12th March - Writing at 9 am (adjust for Compass format)
• Thursday 13th March - Reading at 9 am
• Monday 17th March - Conventions of Language at 9 am
• Tuesday 18th March - Numeracy at 9 am

Please advise your child's teacher if you do not wish your child to participate or if your child will be absent for the above dates. 

Staff Professional Development – Focus on Mathematics

During the week prior to school starting, our staff explored best practice approaches in the teaching of Mathematics. A key focus was the importance of daily review as an effective strategy to support students in retaining concepts and building long-term understanding. Regular review helps consolidate learning, ensuring students can confidently apply their mathematical knowledge across different contexts.

Compass - Student Information System

If you are new to our school, please see the school office to collect your login letter for Compass. Compass is the program we use to send communications so parents can view reports and record attendance. Prep families will receive this information at the Parent Information Evening on Tuesday, 18th February. Due to privacy issues, you can only collect your own (not your partner's) login letter. 

Julie Wallace

Assistant Principal - Pedagogy and Learning

We are excited to announce that this year, St. Joey's will continue the hugely successful wellbeing program 'The Resilience Project' (TRP).

We are pleased to have Years 3 - 6 students participating in weekly lessons throughout the year, conducted by Mr. Meekin. The program revolves around the GEM principles, which incorporates; Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness. Emotional literacy underpins these principles and will be explicitly taught. Whilst Years 3-6 are directly undertaking the lessons, we will have a whole school approach to wellbeing. The program is 'emotionally engaging, practical, proven to have impact through evidence based evaluations, and is delivered in 800+ schools'. This is a wonderful opportunity for our school. Parents/Caregivers will be updated throughout the year on our progress and on what we are covering in our lessons. The students in Years 3-6 have already shown great excitement and interest about this engaging, beneficial program. Please see attached a parent/carers introduction letter that provides more information. .

We're excited about the small but impactful changes we've made to the library over the holidays. These changes are part of an ongoing refurbishment of the library that will take place throughout this year.

We warmly invite our Joey's families to visit, borrow a book, and enjoy our library space with your child on Friday mornings 8-8:25am. Children can read, play chess, relax and generally enjoy the library.

This year, all students have a dedicated weekly library lesson, plus additional opportunities to visit for learning resources. Every classroom is stocked with books from the library, which are refreshed each term. Students can also visit the library during second breaks throughout the week, plus The Reading Garden on Mondays.

Students can borrow:

• Up to 3 books at a time
• Duration - 2 weeks
• Can renew once

It's Queensland School Libraries Week this week, and the theme is "School Libraries: Window to the World." It is a reminder of how libraries can open doors, spark curiosity and connect students to stories, cultures, and knowledge from around the globe.

Tracey Sloan
Teacher Librarian

Sacramental Program 2025

The Cathedral Parish of which St Joseph's Catholic Church is a part, invites all students in Year 3 and above who wish to make their Sacraments of Initiation to enrol. 

Please contact Joanne O'Brien at the Catholic Parish Office to enrol; jobrien8@tsv.catholic.org.au

Please note all children enrolling must be baptised.

Please see below for dates for the Sacramental Program. It is expected that children, parents, and families will attend each Mass and learning session.  

TERM ONE SCHOOL FEES

School Fees for Term 1 have been emailed to our parents and carers. 

Please contact our school office; 47721973 or enquiries@sjnwtsv.catholic.edu.au if you did not receive your statement.  

The due date for Term 1 fees is Thursday, 13th, March 2025. 

If you had a direct debit last year, please check that it is still in place for 2025.  Should you wish to organise a direct debit payment plan, please contact Tanya at the office.

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC FEES

Our Instrumental Music Program has begun for Term 1. 

In 2025, the way instrumental tuition is billed has changed. 

Due to funding changes, we have commenced billing Instrumental Music Lessons in Week 1 of each term with payment due by the end of Week 2. 

We, therefore, can not offer direct debits on instrumental music any longer.

Direct debit plans for Tuition Fees and Levies will continue. 

Get Active Sign on 2025

Start 2025 active and healthy!  Find a new sport or fitness activity at Council's Get Active Sign-on event.  Chat with over 60 local sports and fitness clubs to find the right activity for you.  There's something for all abilities and ages. 

Date:  Saturday 15th February 2025

Time:  9.00am - 1.00pm

Cost:  Free

Venue:  Townsville Stadium, Murray Lyons Cres, Annandale

Phone:  134810