Welcome Back to Term 3

My name is Ray Wooby and I’m very pleased to be able to join the St Joseph’s community as Acting Principal until Mrs Wilson returns from her Long Service Leave. Normally Mrs Bell, the previous Assistant Principal, would have acted as Principal but as she accepted a position at Edmund Rice College in Wollongong I was asked to come to your beautiful part of the world in an interim role.

The recruitment for the permanent position to replace Mrs Bell as Assistant Principal has already begun and you will be kept informed of any developments and announcements. My work as Principal has been in South Western Sydney schools and it’s been my pleasure to work with the staff and students of St Joseph’s in these first two weeks of Term 3. 

I do love a good daily prayer…see what you think of this one!

“A mother was concerned about her young son walking to school. He did not want his mother to walk with him. 

She wanted to give him the independence, but yet know that he was safe. So, she had an idea of how to handle it.

She asked a neighbour if she would follow him to school in the mornings, staying a distance, so he would probably not notice her. The neighbour thought that since she was up early with her young daughter anyway, it would be a good way for her to get some exercise, so she agreed.

The next school day, the neighbour and her little girl set out following Timmy as he walked to school with another neighbour’s boy that he knew.

She did this for a whole week. As the boys walked and talked, Timmy’s little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week.

Finally, he said to Timmy, “Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week? Do you know her?

Timmy replied, “Yeah, I know who she is.” The friend said, “Well, who is she?” “That’s Shirley Goodnest, Timmy replied and her daughter Marcy.” “Shirley Goodnest? Who the heck is she and why is she following us?”

“Well,” Timmy explained, “every night my Mum makes me say Psalm 23 with my prayers, cuz she worries about me so much.

And in the Psalm, it says -‘Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life’, so I guess I will have to get used to it’. 

May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always.” ☺

PSALM 23 - SURELY GOODNESS and MERCY shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Courtesy the late Fr John Langtry)

Start of Term

I hope you and your families are well and your children are feeling refreshed after their holidays. Hopefully you yourselves had a break from the routine that school days bring to family life. Term 3 has started well.  Most students have returned understanding expectations in relation to behaviour and learning, both in and out of the classrooms, which has been pleasing to see. The students have been particularly welcoming to me as well as being polite and courteous. This is a credit to you the parents and carers!

Mrs Needham will commence LWOP for the remainder of this year and most of her classes will be taken by Mrs Williams and Mrs Messiah. We thank Mrs Needham for her service to the students of St Joseph's, wish her all the best for her leave and hope to see her back in 2024.

Year 12

Our prayers and thoughts are with Year 12 as they prepare for the Trial Higher School Examinations which commences on Monday July 31st. Our prayer is, as always, that each student has the grace they need to do, the best they can, at this time and in these circumstances. Thanks to all of the staff who have given their time so generously to assist our Year 12. In addition, we wish all those students who are finishing major works, rehearsing or performing for or speaking with HSC examiners in the coming weeks, the best of luck.

Congratulations

Well done to Mr Hetherington and the Junior Girls Rugby League team for their successful participation in an inter-school carnival this week. Well done! Huge thanks to Ms Power for organising a lunchtime “World Cup” football competition. Much appreciated!

Many thanks to Mrs Kennedy, Careers Adviser, for organising a highly successful Apprenticeship Support Morning that saw a large number of local employers speak to the students and give them the opportunity to ask questions. Great work!!!

Mr Ray Wooby

Acting Principal