Principal's Prayer
"Let no obstacles deter you from proceeding with courage" (1907).
St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, pray for us.
Dear parents, carers, teachers and students,
Welcome to the 2022 school year. To those in our community who don't know much about me, my husband and I and our two boys have lived in four different rural communities in South Australia due to my husbands work in SAPOL and my teaching career in Josephite Catholic schools. I have held two principal roles in the past 15 years, lived in Loxton for the past nine years, and I'm very excited to return to the Murray Bridge area after 27 years to begin my first of many more years to come as your school principal. I feel very humbled and privileged to serve this beautiful community. For those who have gone out of their way to make me feel welcome over the past month, I am very grateful, and I look forward to getting to know those I have not yet had the pleasure of meeting. I hope that everybody in the St Joseph's community enjoyed a deserved break over Christmas and the New Year. I am aware that several families were affected and are still affected by COVID-19 in terms of illness, restricted travel and isolation. All that said, the school year has commenced with mindfulness around the pandemic but with a great sense of optimism and pleasure to be back.
Receptions, New families, Year 7's & 8's in 2022
To the families of our newest students and our new Middle Year 7 and 8 students, what a fantastic start you've had! Added to the excitement, we are using the brand new facilities for secondary schooling and enjoying the fresh outdoor eating and play space. So many students have expressed absolute pleasure at the new friends they are making, the interest and quality of their teachers, and the easy routines they are quickly adopting. I warmly welcome all new families to our St Joseph's community and, in time, hope for us all to gather together face-to-face to meet and enjoy the learning experiences of the children.
New Parish Priest - Murray Bridge Catholic Parish and St Joseph's School
I would like to warmly welcome our new Parish Priest, Father Philip Marshall. It has been a pleasure for me, Mrs Deb Holland - our school APRIM (Assistant Principal Religious Identity & Mission) and the staff to meet Father Philip. Late last year, Archbishop Patrick O'Regan announced that after 12 years of outstanding service as Vicar General, Fr Phillip Marshall would be relieved of that role. He now willingly joins our community, and we are truly blessed to have Fr Philip lead us into the new year and plan together with all the people in our community to build on the great work already achieved in past years, in both the Parish and the School.
New Beginnings 2022
It is with great pleasure that I introduce the newest members of the teaching and learning team of 2022. The school warmly welcomes new staff to the community and congratulates them for starting the year positively. Even under trying circumstances, they have been highly positive for the first three weeks, and there is incredible energy from all the teachers and staff as they meet their new classes.
Year 3 - Margherita Pardoe & Nathaniel Brooke
Year 4 - Teresa Tsouvallas & Caitlin O'Brien
Year 5 Caitlin Angel & Caitlin O'Brien,
Year 6 - Cooper Skinner
Middle School - Naomi Pearce & Brianna Schenscher
Chinese - Chengsheng Sun
Education Support Officers - Julie Joachim & Kerry Lienert
As we begin this year, we pray that God will bless all St Joseph's School members and guide us as a Catholic community in our important work throughout 2022.
I wish every student and their respective families the best for 2022.
Mrs Ros Oates
Principal
|