Principal's Message
Dear Members of the St Joseph's College Family,
The first term has all but evaporated before us. This coming Friday, April 7, is Good Friday. It is part of the Sacred Paschal Triduum of the Passion and the Resurrection which shines forth as the high point of the Catholic Church’s entire liturgical year. The Sacred Pascal Triduum begins the coming Thursday evening (April 6) with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, has its centre in the Easter Vigil (Saturday), and closes with evening prayer (Vespers) of the Resurrection (Easter Sunday). We have now begun Holy Week.
Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection are the central events of our Catholic Christian faith. Jesus chose this path … for us. All of us. So that our sins (failings) would be forgiven.
It’s an act of sacrifice. The ultimate sacrifice.
Vincent Sherlock wrote the following in Celebrating Holy Week:
Jesus, it seems to me, lived his life in borrowed places.
Born in a borrowed stable, early life lived in a borrowed country, hospitality borrowed from people like Martha, Mary and Lazarus, Passover meal in a borrowed room and death saw him rest in a borrowed tomb. As we reflect on Holy Week, could it be the case he wants to borrow something from you? Something precious and totally your gift to share with him? I think so. He is borrowing not anything you have but all that you are. He is borrowing you! Borrowing you, that like the stable, the foreign country, the friend’s home, the Upper Room and the tomb, he may bring something of himself to you in these most sacred days.
I repeat what I wrote earlier, the ultimate sacrifice. As stated in John’s Gospel, “The greatest love you can have for your friends is to give your life for them.” 15:13
At the end of the school holidays, our country commemorates ANZAC Day. Is it a celebration? No. It is a day for remembering the sacrifice of so many across many world conflicts dating back to April 25, 1915 when the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZACs) landed in Gallipoli, Türkiye. From a military perspective it was a disaster. Yet it stands today as a national holiday where we gather to remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, in both times of war and peacekeeping. As the words of the Ode of Remembrance remind us:
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Lest we forget.
May we remember the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus this Easter.
Yours in Jesus, Mary and St Joseph
Peter McLoughlin
College Principal
3 April 2023
Principal's Notes
ANZAC Day March – Tuesday 25 April
St Joseph’s College has a rich history of participation in the Tweed Heads and Coolangatta RSL ANZAC Day March. We assemble in full winter formal uniform at 9:45am in the Jack Evans boat harbour car park. Assembly point is at the BBQs, near the children’s playground. Many Australian service personnel chose to wake early and answer the call. Here at SJC, the call is to participate. The senior class, it is hoped, will lead by example.
Urgent alert to families regarding the dispensing non-prescription medication to students – change to procedure
When a student who is experiencing significant or acute pain presents to the school office/administration/sick bay, staff are NOT PERMITTED to administer any form of non-prescription medication, including pain relief (eg. paracetamol) without verbal consent from the student’s parent/guardian immediately prior to the administration of the non-prescription medication. [Record of the verbal consent (phone call) must be recorded in Compass.]
Previous consent granted, by way of form or verbal, prior to this notification is no longer considered as consent for future administration of non-prescription medication. This applies to all students including those over 18 years of age.
Consistent Classroom Climate
I have introduced a “same” way of doing classroom etiquette. The reason? It’s easier for the students and the staff. It creates a unified (consistent) approach to lesson structure here at St Joseph’s College.
(also here as a downloadable PDF)
Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews
Many thanks to parents and students who took advantage of the opportunity of speaking with teachers. Many thanks also to staff who are committed to the process of providing feedback.
Staff Farewell
Please join with me in thanking Ms Jackie Hassett who has been on contract here as a counsellor. Her term concludes on April 6.
Staff Leave Term 2
Please join with me in wishing the following staff well for their leave in Term 2: Mr Scott McDermott, Mrs Renee Burns, Mr Shane Burns, Ms Monique Burns.
Term 2 Uniform
In addition to the reminders from Mr Brown and Mr Lynch, boys are to wear their long socks to the base of their knees as of 26 April 2023. They will be informed of this at assembly on April 4.
Tell Them From Me Survey
Commencing in Term 2, St Joseph’s College will be participating in an online survey for students – Tell Them From Me® (TTFM®). This survey will provide us with valuable feedback on what our students think about school life, how engaged they are with school and the different ways that teachers interact with them.
The attached letter further explains the survey process.