eNews Term 2, Week 5, 2025

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

In Week 5, we celebrated Reconciliation Week, which ran from Tuesday, 27th May to Tuesday, 3rd June. This year’s theme was ‘Bridging Now to the Next.’ On Monday, 26th May, we also observed National Sorry Day.

Each year on this day, we take time to reflect on the immeasurable harm caused by the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families and communities, a tragic history now referred to as the Stolen Generations.

We acknowledge the strength and resilience of Stolen Generations survivors, their families, and communities, and recommit ourselves to contributing to healing and reconciliation.

As part of our Reconciliation Week celebrations, on Friday, 30th May, we were honoured to welcome Lyn Graham, a Ngarrindjeri Elder and grandmother to Alexandrina and Olivia Nulty, who spoke to all students about the significance of Reconciliation Week. Her sessions included storytelling, teaching language, and a short question-and-answer time.

St Joseph’s students also participated in an art activity, where each child was invited to contribute to a bridge made of traced paper hands, which will be displayed in the library. Additionally, a banner made of paper bunting was created to be taken back to classrooms for display.

We thank our new APRIM, Evan Wrobel, Neil Johnson, Leanne Williams and Finlay Malone for organising this special event for our community.

Jamie Mulcahy

Deputy Principal

REMINDER MID-TERM ENROLMENTS

In 2025, St. Joseph's School will continue to offer mid-year enrolments. If your child turns five between 1 May 2025 and 31 October 2025, they can start school at St. Joseph's in Term 3, 2025, and the school fees are free. Children starting in Reception mid-year will have a minimum of 6 terms in Reception. Please let friends and family know that enrolments are open for mid-Year 2025 starting Term 3. An information session for the parents/carers will be held early Term 2.

Mid-Term Meetings for parents will be held on the following dates and times. Please register through the QRCode or this link.

Session 1: 2.30 pm Wednesday 4th June, 2025

Session 2: 6.00 pm Wednesday 4th June, 2025

https://forms.office.com/r/GF5JxeUGEN

2026 ENROLMENTS 

Enrolments are also open for the beginning of 2026. Children who turn five from 1 November 2025 until 30 April 2026 can begin school in Term 1 of 2026. Please contact the school administration to register your interest and book a Principal's tour. Our JOEY’s transition program is available from Term 3, 2025 for all children beginning school at the start of 2026. This is also a free program for those students. Information about JOEY’s will become available soon, however, registration of interest in this program is now open by contacting Luke Woods in our administration office.  

Prayer Services and Class Masses 

Recently the Reception and Year 1 classes held their Year Level Prayer Services in the Church. The Year 5 students also recently combined for their Year Level Mass to celebrate the theme of Catholic Education Week. I was quite pleased and proud of the way the students participated in these celebrations.  

New Parish Priest – Father George Oluoch 

St Joseph’s School would like to warmly welcome Fr George Oluoch to the school community. Father George moved to Murray Bridge at the start of May. Prior to moving to Murray Bridge he was an Assistant Priest at the Adelaide Cathedral for 18 months. Fr George moved to Australia from Kenya about two years ago. We have already celebrated one Mass with Fr George and we look forward to working with him. 

Pentecost Whole School Mass 

The Middle Years students will be leading the next whole school Mass with Fr George, our new Parish Priest, on Wednesday 11th June at 9:30. The Mass will celebrate Pentecost, which is known as the birthday of the Church. This will take place at the Church, with some classes sitting in the Church Hall watching a live feed. All parents, grandparents and parishioners are welcome to attend. 

Confirmation 

11 students will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation on Friday 30th May at 7pm. The Sacrament of Confirmation is the final step of initiation into the Catholic Church. The aim of Confirmation is to allow the children to strengthen their faith through the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. All families are invited to attend. Please pray for the children who are completing Confirmation as they continue their faith journey. 

Sacramental Program 2026 

During Mid Term 3, information will be shared about the Sacraments on offer for baptised Catholic students, including Reconciliation for Year 3 and Confirmation and First Eucharist for Year 4 students.  

If your child is interested in being baptised, please make contact with the school or Parish Office. Children who are interested in taking part in the Sacramental program, need to be baptised first. This is a simple process

We are excited to officially announce and congratulate our 2025 Middle Years Student Leaders, a group of enthusiastic and dedicated students who will play a key role in representing their peers and contributing to school life throughout the year. 

Following a nomination and interview process, the successful students were announced at our Middle Years Assembly on Tuesday 21st May. Each of these students showed strong communication skills, leadership potential, and a commitment to making a positive difference in our school community. 

We proudly congratulate: 

Year 6 Representatives: Damen Tubbenhauer and Felisa Penta 

Year 7 Representatives: Jack McCauley and Braylen Mathie 

Year 8 Representatives: Teleah Jubb and Jace McCauley 

Year 9 Representatives: Zavier O'Hara and Lilly Smith 

Our school captains, Charlotte Wise and Harry Rowe, will lead this group and support the development of leadership skills across the Middle Years. 

The group held their first official leadership meeting on Wednesday 28th May, where Mr Law introduced them to their responsibilities as student representatives, explained how meetings are run, and encouraged them to begin generating ideas to support all students across the middle years. 

We look forward to seeing this passionate group of leaders bring fresh perspectives and energy to their roles as they work together to help shape a positive and inclusive school environment. 

In Year 8/9 Agriculture students participated in the Precious Plants for Precious People program, a community initiative led by the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board. This program connects students with local biodiversity through hands-on planting of native species, fostering environmental stewardship and cultural awareness. Students were each able to choose a plant and then plant it in the school garden's designed area for indigenous plants. 
By participating in this program, students not only contributed to the conservation of native plant species but also strengthened their connection to the local environment and community. 
Unfortunately, the season and lack of rainfall has meant that our annual veggie and herb planting has been delayed more than normal, due to this Year 8/9 Agriculture students are delving into sustainable water use practices on farms and local gardens. 

In Year 7 Science students are learning about moon phases, many students have expressed a special interest in NASA and space exploration which has lead some wonderful student lead discussions 
In year 8 Science students have been looking into plate tectonics and volcano eruptions before delving into rocks and minerals. Each student will be given the opportunity to choose a special rock or mineral of choice and undertake some field research to learn more about their chosen rock or mineral 
In year 9 Science students are investigating how humans have altered ecology around the world, with a special focus on palm oil and the impact this is having on Borneo and its native animals. 

The Middle Years Food Technology students have been busy in the kitchen learning practical cooking skills and techniques and creating some wonderful recipes. 

Year 6 students have had a focus on kitchen and food safety, creating dishes such as pikelets, tzatziki dip with vegetable sticks, cookies, fried rice and popcorn. They have analysed flavoured popcorn available on the market and are planning their own popcorn flavour design. 

Year 7 students have made garlic bread, pizza, muffins, cookies, pasta and burgers for their unit on Snack Foods and are busy preparing for their upcoming recipe design task. 

For the Year 8/9 Food Technology elective subject, the focus has been on Café Classics such as quiche, gourmet sandwiches, cookies and slices. This unit finished with the students planning and preparing a Gratitude High Tea for invited staff. This showcased the culinary skills, teamwork and techniques students have learnt. This term we have moved into the Food Fusion Unit looking at Multicultural dishes such as butter chicken (Indian), sushi (Japanese) and chocolate eclairs (French).

Our Year 8 and 9 Fit to Lead students have been busy planning and delivering sport lessons to younger grades – and the results have been fantastic! With a focus on leadership, communication and teamwork, students have taken on the role of PE teachers, designing engaging and inclusive activities. The younger students have loved every minute, with feedback including, "That was the most fun PE lesson ever!" and "I had so much fun!" It’s been a rewarding experience for all involved and a highlight of the term!

Excitement is building as preparations for the Year 8/9 Outdoor Education class's 3-day bushwalking camp to Mt Crawford are well underway. This experience promises to be an unforgettable opportunity for students to demonstrate independence, build self-reliance, and grow as young leaders. 

In the lead-up to the camp, students have been developing essential outdoor skills, including how to confidently set up and pack down tents, cook safely on a Trangia, and pack their rucksacks efficiently with all the gear they’ll need. They’ve also taken charge of planning their meals and have explored risk management strategies to ensure a safe and enjoyable journey. 

During the camp, students will rotate through leadership roles—taking on responsibilities such as group leader, navigator, and front or back marker—giving everyone the chance to step up, support their peers, and take ownership of their group’s success. With breathtaking landscapes and plenty of challenges ahead, it’s set to be a rewarding adventure where students will truly shine. 

It’s an exciting time in Design Technology as students move through the design stage of their major projects, with construction set to begin next week. This hands-on learning journey is all about problem-solving, creative thinking, and developing the confidence to bring ideas to life. 

Our Year 7 students are currently designing their wooden tealight candle holders. They’ve been exploring different design possibilities, sketching their ideas, and considering factors such as safety, functionality, and aesthetics. With a focus on developing precise technical drawings and planning the steps needed for construction, students are preparing to transfer their ideas from paper to timber. 

Meanwhile, our Year 8/9 students are deep into the design process for their birdhouse project. They’ve been researching suitable materials, sketching concepts, and considering the needs of local bird species to create functional and appealing designs. Their portfolios reflect thoughtful planning, with an emphasis on sustainable practices and efficient construction techniques. 

Both groups are demonstrating fantastic independence and attention to detail as they prepare for the next stage. We look forward to seeing their creativity and craftsmanship shine when they begin building their projects next week! 

Pictured: Brock and ESO Kalder working on Brock’s Birdhouse design. 

Pictured: Atisha’s Birdhouse design concept sketches  

Please find The Southern Cross newsletter and the online edition of The Southern Cross May 2025.