This will be the final newsletter for 2024. At this time of the year we are very busy completing 2024 to a high standard as well as preparing for 2025.

If you are not planning to return to St Joseph's in 2025, please let the office staff know ASAP. As part of the enrolment expectations there is a 10 week notice period for families to inform of any changes.

In 2024 we have a number of staff changes. There are a number of staff leaving and a number of staff arriving. We are looking forward to meeting our 2025 staff as part of our orientation morning next Monday.   

We say goodbye to:

Miss Rebecca Bounds has been a valued member of staff for more than 8 years. She has taught most of the students in the school. She has contributed her skills, talents and time in many roles including SRC mentor, Lego league coach and classroom teacher. Miss Bounds is heading to St Finn Barr's Catholic School in Invermay.  We will miss her. We thank her for her commitment and dedication to our community and wish her all the best in her new adventures.

Mr Barry Jones has been an integral part of St Joseph's for three years. He is an organised, caring and dedicated teacher.  Barry has led the school with grace and has been part of the leadership and teaching team. He has been a coach, mentor and guide to all. Mr Jones has been involved in organising and participating in the camps and many excursions that our children are lucky enough to participate in.  He runs the day to day organisation at school. We will miss him. Mr Jones and his family are heading to St Patrick's Catholic School in Latrobe to take up a teaching role where we know they will continue to flourish.

Mrs Joanne Thompson, 'Kind' is the word that comes to mind for Mrs Thompson. Over the past three years Jo has worked tirelessly to produce activities and artworks that engage and teach the students. The vision for the school’s involvement in Unconformity was exceptional, and the talent that her activities have uncovered is impressive.  We thank Jo for her patience and kindness and wish her all the very best as she enters retirement.  We look forward to inviting Jo back when she returns from her travels to share her expertise in some targeted learning celebrating First Nations people.

As a school we welcome:

Mrs Tammi Crosswell, our new deputy principal. Tammi has worked for a number of Catholic schools in Launceston. She comes to us with experience and is excited about starting this new chapter.

Patricia Walsh will be joining us as the prep teacher for 2025. Patricia has been teaching for many years in Victoria and is bringing her young family with her.  We are looking forward to welcoming Patricia and her family into our community.

I would like to take this time to thank families for their involvement in their child’s learning. As a school we are so lucky to be in a uniquely beautiful place in the world.  As a school we have made some great improvements in the teaching and learning of students as evidenced in recent testing. We continue to strive to ensure that our students are provided with the best education that we can offer.  We hope that all families have a peace and joy filled break over the Christmas period, where all have the opportunity to connect and return in 2025 well rested and recharge.

With Kindness

Teresa

May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be everywhere loved!

2024 TERM DATES

Term 1: 7th February - 11th April

Term 2: 29th April - 5th July

Term 3: 23rd July - 27th September

Term 4: 15th October - 17th December

2025 TERM DATES

Term 1: 7th February - 10th April

Term 2: 28th April - 4th July

Term 3: 22nd July - 26th September

Term 4: 14th October - 17th December

Students return to school on Friday, 7th February 2025.

On Friday, 13th December we will be holding a movie at the Paragon and a sausage sizzle for lunch.

Blue Gum

Over the past few weeks in Blue Gum, we have been learning about the Bible and how the Bible contains scriptures (stories) of Jesus. Last week, we looked at the Parable 'The Sower and the Seeds'. During this learning experience we designed a scene from the Parable and then created the scene using lego. The children had such a great time incorporating lego into Religion learning experiences. 

Sassafras

Students have enjoyed going to Lyell Wing this year and were sad that last week was their last time for the year. They have made new friends, made the residents smile and brought lots of joy. Last week we took over our Family Trees and some work we have done in Religion about prayers and the church. We sang some of our favourite songs and even practised our Christmas song ready for the concert next week. Then we made some Christmas pictures with the Lyell Wing residents.

In Science, Sassafras have been learning about dinosaurs and their features. We have been looking at their bodies and how they move. Last week, we looked at teeth! We did some investigating by using apples, mirrors and our own teeth to think about what teeth are used for biting and which ones for chewing. Students found out that the front flat teeth are used for biting and the back bumpy teeth are used for chewing and we have a couple of special pointy teeth which are good for tearing meat of bones. We discussed how palaeontologists used fossils and skeletons of dinosaurs to find out what they ate.

Leatherwood

In Leatherwood we have been learning about the time of Advent. We have made our own Advent wreaths full of hope, peace, joy and love for the festive season, and we will be focusing our daily prayers on each of these themes over the coming weeks.

Myrtle

Myrtle went to Lyell Wing and asked the residents some questions. We would like to share their answers with you:

King Billy

In Religion this term King Billy has been learning about the Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree is a decorative tree used during Advent to remind us of Jesus’ family history and the Bible stories related to them. We read the Bible verses about Jesus’ family members, from Creation to Jesus’ birth. We have been decorating our own Jesse tree. Jesus used images of trees, vines and branches to explain the power and life of God.

Xzavier - Year 6

Evalyn - Year 5

Lucy - Year 6

Chelsea - Year 6

Last week seven of our students attended the Burnie Arts and for their graduation ceremony for Children’s University. These children were rewarded for their time of learning outside of the classroom. Their hours of study ranged from 30 hours of learning to 400 hours of learning. Calin Jones was the guest speaker and his opening speech was well prepared and we were so very proud of him. Congratulations to all of the Children’s University graduates for 2024. Thank you to their parents who have encouraged them and provided so many opportunities for them to learn outside of the classrooms. If you are interested in your child participating in this program in 2025, please see Mrs McLeod.

Please note, some items may not be available to order as stock runs out. A free BBQ lunch will be provided for all students on Friday, 13th December.

2025