Congratulations to the students for the Liturgy at Monday's assembly the Environment group did a fantastic job. We all have our Laudato Si moment. This legacy from Pope Francis is important for the future of our planet. Laudato Si, encyclical from Pope Francis asks us as Catholics to care for our common home. It is part of our Catholic Social Teachings to be Stewards of Creation where we recognise the environment often impacts the poor. This week the school will have lessons focused on the environment in Science and Catholic Studies.

“Nature is a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness. Rather than a problem to be solved, the world is a joyful mystery to be contemplated with gladness and praise” (Laudato Si', 12).

Right relationships between people are so important in our world. Kindness and compassion for others is a primary teaching of Jesus. Unfortunately ‘payouts’ and bullying are more common examples in our world. If your child is having difficulty at school with other students and that it is continuing to happen please contact the school. I cannot do anything about poor student behaviour unless I know about it. In the first instance contact the relevant PAL if it doesn’t resolve, don't give up, come back - When we check in with students we want to know the truth, not just the OK. Young lives are so important to grow and develop in a positive way. The school is a microcosm of society and not all students hold the same values of the school and have to be taught and some of them are slow learners.

Attendance Matters

At St Joseph’s, we continue to focus on improving student attendance as a key factor in supporting academic success and student wellbeing. You may already be aware that regular attendance above 95% has a direct, positive impact on a student’s engagement in learning and supports their social and emotional development.

Over the past year, we have worked closely with a number of students and their families to support improved attendance patterns. It is pleasing to share that this focus is already showing results.

These improvements reflect a growing commitment across our school community to prioritising daily school attendance.

How Parents and Carers Are Making a Difference

We are grateful for the support of families in promoting positive attendance habits. Some of the most effective ways parents and carers have helped include:

• Emphasising the importance of punctuality and consistent routines.
• Ensuring students arrive on time and ready to engage in learning from the start of the day.
• Minimising disruptions to learning by scheduling appointments outside of school hours where possible.
• Promptly communicating absences to the school.
• Booking family travel during school holiday periods only.
• Partnering with the school to identify and remove barriers to regular attendance.
• Accessing support through the PALS (Pastoral and Learning Support) team when challenges arise.
  

Your partnership in fostering regular attendance is deeply appreciated and continues to make a measurable difference in the lives of our students.

Tell Them From Me – Parent Survey

Thank you to more than 100 families who have already completed the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Parent Survey.

As part of our ongoing commitment to school improvement, St Joseph’s is once again participating in the TTFM survey—a confidential, online tool used to gather feedback from parents, students, and staff about various aspects of school life.

The survey provides valuable insights into:

• Student wellbeing
  
• Learning environments
  
• School communication
  
• Relationships between staff, students, and families

⏱️ It takes just 10–15 minutes to complete and is completely anonymous.

We encourage all families to participate. If you have more than one child at the school, your responses can reflect their shared experiences or those of your eldest child.

In 2024, we recorded our highest number of parent responses ever. This year, we are aiming even higher, as your feedback directly helps us to build a stronger, more connected school community.

Complete the survey here:

http://tellthemfromme.com/joeys25

Survey closes:

Friday, 30 May 2025

Reminders will be sent via email and SMS in the coming weeks.
Thank you in advance for your support in helping us capture the voices of as many families as possible.