WEEK 10 Term 4 2024
Dear Families,
As we come to the end of the year, we look back on 2024. Every year at this time, we take the time to acknowledge the learning, the joy, the sorrows and the challenges that the year has brought us. This year we have much to be grateful for, to celebrate, congratulate and farewell with love, joy and fondness. Our lives have been enriched by many people and events of 2024 perhaps even more so.
As we prepare for the joy of Christmas and the wonderful gift of the birth of Jesus, we give thanks for the many gifts bestowed on St Joseph's throughout 2024.
| To our teaching staff |
I want to express my sincere thanks for everything you do, not only to ensure that quality teaching and learning for our students continue but also for all that you do to ensure that our children are safe, cared for, belong and thrive. Plus, this year, you packed up one school and you created a beautiful, welcoming and inviting new school as we made our way home to Woodburn. |
| Mrs Naomi O'Dwyer | For stepping into the Assistant Principal role for Term 4. Thank you for your leadership, wisdom, patience, knowledge and support, Naomi. We have loved having you with us, you settled into the St Joseph's family very quickly. You are welcome back anytime. |
| To Gayl | who works to assist the students, teachers, parents and visitors to our school. She is our First Aid and medication giver and ensures that the finances, rolls, interviews and all admin work is up to date and completed. |
| To you, the parents and families of our students, | who continue to support and assist your children and us each and every day |
| To Fr Max Gow and Fr Peter Jones | Fr Max has been a constant support throughout our journey in Evans Head and Woodburnand to Fr Peter Jones who celebrates Mass with us throughout the year. |
| To Mr Paul Lyons, our groundsman | for ensuring that our school always looks beautiful |
| And finally to our wonderful students, | who make us proud to be their teachers by what they do and say, not only when they are ‘on show’ but every day they are at school. I believe that we are truly blessed to be a part of such a wonderfully supportive school community. |
WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF THE GIFTS OF 2024
STAFF 2025
| Kindergarten | Mrs Melissa Barnes |
| Year 1 | Mrs Jemiel Jett |
| Year 2 | Ms Danielle Nilon |
| Years 3 and 4 | Mr Ern Sandral and Mrs Joanne Spencer |
| Year 5 and 6 | Mrs Kate Duncan and Mrs Michelle Stormon |
| RFF (Creative Arts and PE) | Mrs Anne Lowrey and Mr Ern Sandral |
| Additional Needs Teacher | Mrs Sophie Taylor |
| Student Support Officer | Mrs Amy Bolkum |
| Teacher Aides | Mrs Rhonda White, Mrs Michelle Eyre, Mrs Amy Bolkum, Mr Avan Christie and Mrs Sara Robson |
| Counsellor | TBA |
| Aboriginal Education Worker | Mr Joel Davidson |
| Admin Manager | Mrs Gayl Feros |
| Assistant Principal | Mrs Sophie Denison |
| Principal | Ms Jeanette Wilkins |
GOODBYE TO OUR FAMILIES MOVING ON
I would like to thank those families moving on from St Joseph's this year, for being there to support and work with us throughout your time at St Joseph's and for being a very important part of our St Joseph's family. Some of our families leaving this year have been with us for up to 15 years. We will miss your friendship.
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CAROLS IN THE COLA
Thank you all for joining us for our wonderful Christmas night last Monday. It was a night of joy, laughter, singing and acknowledgement of the real reason for Christmas with our Nativity song.
Thank you, Santa for bringing so much joy with your visit.
STUDENT LEADERS 2025
We congratulate our 2025 Student Leaders and wish them all the best in their final year of primary school as they lead the way forward for our students.
| School Captains | Amelia Hume and Thomas Walsh |
| School Vice Captains Mission | Lotte Duignan and Tom Bailey |
| Buruubii House Captains | Amahli Harford and Caleb Doran |
| Guruuman House Captain | Lacey Foster |
| Gahgun House Captain | Chase Martin |
| Student Representative Council President | Jake Cutler |
GOODBYE YEAR 6 2024
Having named and congratulated our new student leadership team for 2025, I'd like to take this opportunity to thank our 2024 leaders for their outstanding eadership this year. We couldn't have gotten through the year without your efforts. In every facet of school life, you have excelled. What a mighty group!
On Tuesday evening we celebrated with Year 6 and their families at their Graduation Dinner. Today's farewell included a beautiful Graduation Mass, an afternoon at the pool for Year 6 and we closed the day with the traditional whole school honour guard and many tears.
We wish them well as they journey on! We will truly miss them. We thank you, parents, for trusting us with your child over the years and for the opportunity to encourage and teach them to become successful learners, confident and creative individuals and active and informed children of faith. We know that they will make a real difference going forward!
A Heartfelt Thank You to Rotary Club of Evans Head
We are incredibly grateful to the Rotary Club of Evans Head for their generous support in making our Year 6 Graduation a truly special and memorable occasion.
Thanks to their kind donation, we were able to provide a professional photographer to capture family photos and all the wonderful moments throughout the evening. This means so much to our school community, especially as our families continue to rebuild following the 2022 floods, which saw the loss of homes, precious belongings, and treasured memories.
As a gesture of thanks, we encourage families to support Rotary at the Evans Head Christmas Carols on Saturday, 21st December from 4:00 PM at Oak Street and Kirkland Reserve. It’s always a wonderful event for our community, and a great opportunity to thank Rotary for their ongoing support.
Thank you again to Rotary for helping us create new, positive memories for our Year 6 students and their families.
A big thank you also to Kim Russell for approaching Rotary and organising the photographer.
UPCOMING DATES TO NOTE
| Friday 31 January | Staff Administration Day |
| Monday 3 February | MAI's and Best Start |
| Tuesday 4 February | MAI's and Best Start |
| Wednesday 5 February |
First day of the 2025 School Year Kindergarten to Year 6 return to school |
IN WEEK 10 OF TERM 4 WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR:
- We made it through 2024
- Our student terrific 2024 Student Leaders
- Our upcoming 2025 Student Leaders
- An amazing year of learning, fun times, and friendships
- Our St Joseph's Community
- Our students
- Our Staff
- Mrs Stormon for the end of the year- Year 6 events
- All that the year 2024 brought- joys, challenges, new experiences, learning and love.
WISHING ALL OF OUR FAMILIES A HAPPY AND HOLY CHRISTMAS AND A NEW YEAR FILLED WITH PEACE, HOPE AND JOY.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Regards
Jeanette Wilkins
Principal
SUNDAY GOSPEL REFLECTION-Third Sunday of Advent Year C
Luke 3:10-18
John the Baptist teaches the path of repentance and announces Christ.
St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal Thank You
Each year our local St Vincent de Paul members from the St John’s Evans Head Conference organise a Christmas Hamper Appeal for needy families within our community.
We thank our school community for your generosity and spirit of goodwill to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal during this Advent Season.
St Joseph's SPIRIT OF JESUS AWARD
At St Joseph's we remind our students that they are the living disciples of Jesus. We also encourage our students to look for the goodness in others. Our school Vice Captains-Mission this year Aya Stahl and Cooper Bailey have been responsible for helping to acknowledge students who demonstrate the attitudes and gospel values that show the Spirit of Jesus.
If we have the spirit of Jesus in our hearts, we are kind, compassionate, welcoming, cheerful, friendly, encouraging, giving, forgiving thankful, and respectful. The Spirit of Jesus Award this week was presented to Charlee Cook - Year 6.
SATURDAY -St John’s Catholic Church Wattle Street Evans Head at 5:00 pm
SUNDAY- St Joseph’s Catholic Church Coraki - 9:15 am
CHRISTMAS MASS TIMES
CHRISTMAS EVE: St John’s Catholic Church Wattle Street Evans Head
at 4:30 pm and 6 pm
CHRISTMAS DAY: St Joseph’s Catholic Church Coraki - 9:15 am
ALL WELCOME
GOODBYE AND THANK YOU
As the year comes to an end, it’s time for me to say goodbye to the wonderful community of St Joseph’s Woodburn. I want to sincerely thank all students, staff, and families for making me feel so welcome. Getting to know the children, teaching many of them, and being part of such a caring and supportive school has been such a pleasure.
St Joseph’s is truly a special community, and I feel fortunate to have been a part of it. The dedication and kindness I’ve seen from everyone here have made my time at the school memorable.
Today, student reports are being sent home, and I’ve included a video to help explain the key information in the reports. I’d also like to extend my gratitude to the teachers for their time and effort in preparing these reports—it reflects their dedication to the children’s learning and growth.
As we approach Christmas, I wish you all a joyful holiday season filled with peace and happiness. May 2025 be a year of continued success and new opportunities for everyone in the St Joseph’s community.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Warm regards,
Naomi O’Dwyer
ST JOSEPH'S SWIMMING CARNIVAL 2024
St Joseph's annual swimming carnival was held last Friday 13 December at the Evans Head Aquatic Centre.
Congratulations to all the students who participated and cheered for their team throughout the day. Excellent team spirit and great sportsmanship were shown. Well done to our dedicated Colour House Captains and Stage 3 students who organised their teams.
Many thanks to the fabulous staff of St Joseph's who worked tirelessly before and throughout the day to ensure the carnival ran smoothly. Thank you to the parents who assisted with the timing and those who were able to be there to support the children.
Sports Colour House Results- Congratulations Gahgun
1st Gahgun (Green House) 297
2nd Guruuman (Yellow House) 263
2nd Buruubii (Blue House) 224
Well done to everyone for your wonderful school spirit shown.
Congratulations to our Champions for 2024:
| Senior Boy Champion | Chase Martin |
| Senior Boy Runner-up | Thomas Bailey |
| Senior Girl Champion | Meluca Jett |
| Senior Girl Runner-up | Ayla Stahl |
| Junior Boy Champion | Archie Martin |
| Junior Boy Runner-up: | Oscar Quirk |
| Junior Girl Champion | Phoebe Jett |
| Junior Girl Runner-up: | Amahli Harford |
Richmond Zone Swimming Squad 2025
Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent our school at the Richmond Zone Swimming Carnival on Friday 14 February at the Alstonville Aquatic Centre.
The students are: Phoebe Jett, Indi Martin, Harper Marsden, Abaigeal Ashton, Amahli Harford, Eva Flanagan, Amelia Hume, Hazel Johnston, Archie Martin, Chase Martin, Thomas Bailey, Thomas, Walsh, Oscar Quirk, Travis Bennett, Eli Walsh, Sonny Feil, Odyn Wimbus
The Compass note will be issued early Term One 2025. Please note: This event will be by private transportation.