Teaching is one of the best professions in the world. You have the opportunity to influence the lives of young people and set them on a pathway for lifelong learning. We are in the privileged position of walking with families as they navigate the teenage years. Teaching is challenging as is parenting. I am very proud of the staff at St Joseph’s, they all have the interests of their students central to what they do.

In challenging students we are trying to assist a change in their behaviour - whether it is in their learning to challenge themselves or in their interactions with others. As a Catholic school we are based in the teachings of Jesus. It is about tolerance, acceptance of difference, compassion and kindness. Teachers model this to their students in the classroom through care. Care is setting boundaries, correcting behaviour and challenging students to always do their best in their learning. Sometimes these actions are not appreciated by students but as I point out regularly to young people “you don’t know what you don’t know” .

We are not privileged to know everything about someone, they could have had a bad morning or been unwell or not travelling well at the moment. But kindness and tolerance helps them on their journey. I am seeing some students taking the responses of others far too much to heart when it is not about you but about them. I see friendships are breaking down from lack of communication and the assumption of nastiness when it is actually just thoughtlessness. Care for others is seeing through others eyes. It is empathy. There is an old saying of ‘ treat others how you would like to be treated’. Our social media world and shows like MAFS do not give good examples of kindness. When we receive kindness it is good for our soul. But it is also good for our soul to give kindness to others without any expectation of any type of return. This is what Jesus asks of us, so as we come to the end of term and people are tired - lets be just a little more kind.

I met with Yr 12 leaders today and started planning for term 2. They have some great ideas coming up for our community. Our third attempt at the Cross Country carnival is for next week , looking at the forecast I’m not too confident that that will occur but let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Thank you to our COVID tutors who have worked with students over the last term. The students have been positive in their interactions with the tutors. The Term 1 program was the finalisation of the 2021 funds and terms 2-4 will be with the money for 2022. We have been lucky to have the quality and enthusiastic tutors available for students.

Unfortunately, we have not been so lucky in recruiting teachers. There is a very real shortage of qualified teachers at the moment. The last two advertisements for temporary jobs, we have had no applications. This is not unique to SJCHS but is reflected in jobs around the state. Teaching is a great profession and is going to have a labour market shortage over the next few years as the baby boomers hit retirement age. Our P and F AGM is next week. I would encourage as many parents as possible to come along. Over the last two years COVID has really affected our opportunities for parental involvement. Being involved in your child’s schools is one of the biggest indicators of academic success and it is good for parents to know what is happening behind the scenes so please feel free to come along and be part of the Joey’s community.