Assistant Principal - Mission

Welcome Back to the College for 2024!

We hope you have found it to be an easy transition back to school after the holiday break.  This article should provide you with a lot of information about upcoming events at St Joseph's College.  Please don't hesitate to contact the College should you have any further questions.

Mr Eamon Brown
Assistant Principal - Mission

School Photo Day - Friday 1 March 2024

School photography day is coming up soon (Friday 1 March 2024, Week 5 Term 1).  Group and portrait photographs can be purchased by following the link below or by returning the order envelope with your payment to our photographer on school photo day. Order envelopes will be distributed in AWC.

There are two easy ways to purchase:

1. Visa, MasterCard or PayPal.
2. Cash – complete the envelope supplied and return it to the AdvancedLife photographer on photo day (correct money please - no change given).

Order School photos here

Or visit: www.advancedlife.com.au
And enter online order code: QD5 7H5 CW3

School photography information:

• Online orders - do not require an envelope returned to your school.
• Sibling Photos - Don’t forget to pre-order your sibling photos online up to 24 hours before photo day. We provide your school with a list of sibling orders right up to the day of photography, so no one misses out. If you miss the online order deadline, you can submit a completed sibling order envelope first thing in the morning of the day of photography, so your school is aware you want the photo taken and can bring your children together in time for it.  Sibling photographs only apply to children enrolled at St Joseph's College.
• Late fees - a late fee will be applied by AdvancedLife to each package purchased after photo day due to the additional cost of producing these packages separately.
• Package delivery - School photographs will be returned approximately six (6) weeks after the day of photography.  Please note this delivery timeframe is dependent on proofing and additional photography days at your school.
• Previous Years’ photos - Past years’ photographs including sports, co-curricular and representative groups are also available to order under the “previous years or group photo” tabs at your school’s advancedorder site when you click on the “Order School Photos Here” button above.  You can also order past packages, portrait images and gifts from your child’s unique, individual and secure advancedyou image archive site using the unique 9 digit image code found on packages you have ordered in the past.

All students are to wear the College's full school uniform.

As is the case for any school photo day, please also ensure that your child/ren comes to school appropriately groomed and dressed according to the College Uniform Policy.  In particular, please note that boys need to be clean-shaven and wearing their belt.  All students are required to wear their College tie for school photos, and long hair (on the collar) needs to be tied up.  Students are required to take their photos without jumpers, jackets or the senior jersey. 

If your child(ren) has a practical PE/Sport lesson on Photo Day, please ensure they come to school dressed in their full school uniform and that they bring their sports uniform with them to get changed.

Further information and reminders will be provided in the coming weeks.

2024 College Liturgies and Masses

As part of College life, and as agreed to at enrolment, our students are expected to attend every school mass, every school liturgy, as well as the relevant year group reflection day, here at the College. 

It is also an expectation that every College student behaves appropriately and with respect at all times whenever they are in the Holy Family Chapel here at the College.

You will note that the Year 12 Graduation Mass will be held at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Tweed Heads, where it is expected that every Year 12 student will be in attendance.  It is also expected that all Year 11 students will be there to support our Senior 2024 class.  Naturally, expected standards of behaviour will continue there as here.

Our Commencement Mass each year is a major starting point in the school's calendar, as it includes the Ceremony of Light for our Year 12 students (in this their final year), as well as welcoming our newest year group (Year 7) to the school community.

Our Year 12 students are each given a special candle at this mass, lit by their Head of House, taken from the College Candle which was lit for the first time this year at the Staff (of the Parish of Tweed Heads) Commissioning Mass.  In this way, each mass has made us all connected to our Parish.  Fr Michael Brady presided over the staff mass, while and our College Chaplain, Fr Wilber, celebrated our Commencement Mass, as well as this week's Ash Wednesday Mass.

In our Ceremony of Light, each individual candle lit becomes their journey candle, and their journey as Seniors 2024 has begun, continuing through the Year 12 Retreat (to be held next week), and concluding at the Graduation Mass, which also signals journey's end with the last formal lessons for Year 12 in Week 10 of Term 3.

Ash Wednesday is a very important event on the Catholic calendar, establishing the beginning of the Lenten period.  Lent is a period of forty days from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday.  It is a time of penitence and preparation, during which many Christians strengthen their faith through study, prayer, fasting or abstinence.

In his message for Lent 2024, Pope Francis invites the faithful to “pause” for prayer and to assist our brothers and sisters in need, in order to change our own lives and the lives of our communities.

2024 Retreat Dates

Compulsory College Retreat and Reflection Days

It is expectation that all students attend the relevant year group camps and that all Year 12 students attend the Retreat.

The events listed below are a compulsory part of the Catechesis and Evangelisation program for all students enrolled at St Joseph's College:

Preparations for our first event, the Year 12 Retreat (being held next week), are in full swing.  We look forward to sharing with the community some thoughts and photos following this event - one that is a major milestone in the Year 12 student's final year experiences.

Lismore Diocesan Discipleship Events

The events listed below are faith-development experiences, specifically targeted at students already involved in their local churches.  The number of students St Joseph’s College can send to these events is restricted due to practical limitations such as transport and accommodation.

Information about each camp, retreat or event will be shared with our families via the College newsletter and Compass closer to the relevant event.

Road Safety is a Back to School Essential Conversation

As students return to school, it is important to keep safety in mind.  Please take time to talk with your children about safely getting to and from school. Here are some tips:

• Keep your child/ren safe by expecting them to always use the door closest to the kerb to enter and exit a car.
• Keep your child/ren safe by expecting them to take off their headphones while walking.
• Keep your child/ren safe by expecting them to be a positive role model for younger students while travelling to and from school on the bus.
• Keep your child/ren safe by expecting them to wear a properly fitted bike helmet when travelling using wheels - bike, scooter, and skateboard.
• Student drivers must follow government rules, school expectations/ procedures and drive safely and responsibly. This includes only approved passengers being transported in the car with a student driver.
• Teach your young person never to sacrifice safety for convenience, source: https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/

Rosies

Rosies is a social justice opportunity for our Year 11 and 12 students, and is running again in 2024.  There will be two opportunities available for students (and teachers) each term to sign-up and attend.  

It involves the students and a teacher meeting at school at 6:25pm (NSW time) on a Tuesday evening (only selected dates), where the teacher will drive the group up together to Burleigh.  The evening will involve having a chat and assisting with serving a drink and a small bite to eat with those less fortunate.  The group will return to school at about 10:30pm (NSW time).  All Year 11 and 12 students have been emailed a link to sign-up if they are interested.  

This is a great opportunity to assist those in need and to be of service in our broader community.  Please have a conversation with your child/ren if you think this opportunity may be of interest.

The first evening is coming up in Week 5, Tuesday 27 February.

If you have any questions, please contact Mr Brown.

College Youth Ministers

With the commencement of the 2024 school year, the Diocese of Lismore has taken a new approach to Youth Ministry, implementing College Youth Ministers at almost all secondary schools.  We are fortunate enough to be the only school in the Diocese to have two College Youth Ministers with us who have returned from last year - Bianca McInnes and Jacob Franey. 

Both Bianca and Jacob graduated from St John’s College, Woodlawn in 2018 and have previously worked in a variety of Youth Ministry positions.  They bring to this year a new sense of passion from the Holy Spirit as they were both a part of the Diocese of Lismore pilgrimage to World Youth Day, 2023 in Portugal.

Project Compassion - For All Future Generations

Each year, at Lent, the College supports fundraising for Caritas Australia's Project Compassion.

Lent started this week with Ash Wednesday.  As we prepare to celebrate once again the death and resurrection of Jesus at Easter, Project Compassion gives us the chance to act as Jesus did.  To reach out to those in some of the most challenging situations imaginable.

Spanning across the six weeks of Lent each year, Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion brings thousands of Australian schools, parishes and supporters together to raise funds for people living in some of the most vulnerable communities across the world.  Your generous support can help change lives today - and For All Future Generations – their continued theme into 2024.

Collections will be received on their behalf during AWC in the weeks leading up to Easter.  Without your ongoing support, the work done by Caritas Australia simply would not be possible.

With gratitude from The Mission Team

“God’s love calls us to move beyond fear.  We ask God for the courage to put on faith, hope and love as we go out into the world and become the word in body as well as spirit.”  Pope Francis

Ronita’s Story – Philippines

22-year-old Ronita lives with her husband and two children in a barangay (local district) in Quezon City, which is situated in Metro Manila in the Philippines.

Ronita left school when she became pregnant as a teenager.  This could have had a life-long impact on her ability to find work and provide for her family.

Thankfully, Ronita was given a second chance at completing her studies when she heard about the Faithful Companions of Jesus (FCJ), Caritas Australia’s local partners in the Philippines.  Through the FCJ’s Alternative Learning System (ALS) program, Ronita was able to re-enrol in her studies, and continue learning in a safe and flexible environment – even with the arrival of her second child, Egzy Grey.

After completing her ALS classes, Ronita went on to earn her Grade 12 Senior High School Diploma.  With her new diploma, Ronita has now secured a job at a call centre which she hopes will allow her to support her family while she continues her studies.

With the support of the FCJ, Ronita has overcome tremendous obstacles to enjoy better employment prospects and a brighter future for her whole family.

“I have now graduated senior school and I am so proud of myself,” she said, “I feel hopeful for the future ... Now it’s not impossible for me to achieve my dream... Thank you.”

Leaia’s Story – Samoa

Samoa may be a country surrounded by water, but access to clean drinking water is scarce in some areas, with many families facing extreme hardship as a result.

Leaia lives with her five children, husband, brother, and sister-in-law on the island of Upolu in Samoa.  Not having access to clean water for their daily lives has caused Leaia a lot of worry.

Their home is not connected to a piped water system, so they used to rely solely on rainwater collected in old fridges.  When their water ran out, she had to walk with her young children to collect water in buckets and containers from a neighbour down the street.

With the support of Caritas Australia’s local partner, Caritas Samoa, a water tank was installed at their home.  She and her family now have a steady supply of clean drinking water at home.  Next year, they will also have a toilet built, with the support of Caritas Samoa, which will further improve their health and living conditions.

“We are very thankful and grateful for the water tank.  It has helped us so much and made our daily life easier,” Leaia said.

Memory’s Story – Malawi

Growing up in the Mwanza district in southern Malawi, 26-year-old Memory was born to a low-income family who relies on subsistence farming for survival.

Memory’s parents struggled to pay for her school fees and supplies, and she often had to walk to school barefoot.  As the eldest of five children, Memory also faced the challenge of balancing her education with domestic chores, such as farming, cooking, cleaning, and carrying water.

Despite the challenges she faced, Memory understood that education was her best chance of breaking the cycle of poverty, “I told myself I can’t stop going to school because this is the only way I can get a better life.”

With the support of Caritas Australia and the Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (CADECOM) – Caritas Australia's local partner in Malawi – Memory enrolled in a technical college where she undertook a three-year carpentry course.  Her tuition and boarding fees were partially funded by CADECOM through funds provided by Caritas Australia.

Memory now stands proudly as the first female carpenter from her village, working at one of Malawi’s largest hydroelectric power stations.  With the income from her job, she can now support her family while inspiring other young women in her community to finish their education and seize opportunities within male-dominated industries.

“Being a female carpenter sets an example to others in my community,” she said. “They see a woman can do what a man can do.”