It has been a great week for students with wins in sports at a diocesan level, the success of the launch of the Art program with our students at St Paul’s and the senior students who are visiting St Paul’s to see if they are interested in being a Primary teacher. All of these young people have stepped outside their comfort zone and taken a risk. It is often difficult for teens to step outside their comfort zone but it is the only way to learn! It is the school and parents job to make sure they have the skills that will enable them to succeed when they ‘have a go’. That is why there is a variety of learning at school, not just the academics in the classroom but all the interpersonal interactions that occur everyday contribute to students' learning. The one skill I would like to see more students develop is self compassion. This assists with lessening anxiety and worry. Self compassion is the ability to be kind to yourself. I see some of the most compassionate students to others are the harshest on themselves and their self-talk is never what they would say to someone else. Jesus asks us all to be compassionate  - that includes being kind to ourselves - the expectation is not perfection but growth and improvement. There is lots to celebrate. Pope Francis used to bring compassion into conversations about justice, inclusion, and global responsibility. “Compassion is the language of God. Let us learn to live with kindness, to love everyone, even when they do not love us.” Pope Leo is following in his footsteps with Compassion is a matter of humanity, not a religious issue. Compassion, Pope Leo stressed, takes form through concrete actions, because in order to help someone, “you cannot stay at a distance.” To be compassionate, you have to get involved and be prepared to “even get dirty, perhaps take risks.”

Semester 1 Reports and Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews

On Monday 30th June, students will receive their Semester One Academic Reports through Compass. Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews will be conducted during Week 10 and Week 1 for Years 7-10. I encourage all parents to make time to attend these interviews. They are such an important opportunity to come together and work in partnership to support your children and send the clear message that their education is important.

The two opportunities for Years 7-10 Parent Teacher Interviews are:

• Tuesday 1st July from 3pm to 7pm FACE-TO-FACE (Term 2 Week 10)
• Wednesday 23rd July from 3pm to 7pm via ZOOM (Term 3 Week 1)

Students, in particular, are encouraged to look closely at their reports to identify areas of progress and improvement and use these to set goals for Semester 2. It is important that reports are used as a valuable tool in enabling growth for all students in their learning. Should you have any questions regarding your child’s academic progress, please do not hesitate to contact their class teacher, the relevant Leader of Learning or PALS.

NAPLAN Results – Celebrating Growth

As the school and diocesan analysis of the 2025 NAPLAN results continues, we would like to once again celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Year 9 students. Their strong results reflect both their effort and the dedication of their teachers. We remain committed to supporting every student’s growth, and this year's results demonstrate that learning is alive and thriving at St Joseph’s.