St Joseph's Catholic School - Mundingburra eNewsletter

Acknowledgement of Country

We respectfully acknowledge the past and present traditional owners of this land on which we stand, the Wulgurukaba and neighbouring Bindal people who are the custodians. We pray that we can walk together to a better future.

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Carers, Staff and Students

This weekend we celebrate Father’s Day, a special occasion to pause and give thanks for the gift of fathers and father figures in our lives. Fathers play a vital role in the lives of their children, offering love, guidance, support and encouragement as they grow and learn. A father’s presence, whether through words of wisdom, moments of play, or simply showing up each day, leaves a lasting impression on the hearts of children.

In our Catholic tradition, we give thanks for St Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus, who showed us the importance of living with faith, humility, and quiet strength. Like St Joseph, many fathers and father figures in our community lead with quiet strength and by example, teaching values of respect, responsibility, and compassion through their actions. Their influence helps shape children into people who care deeply for others and live with hope and courage.

In his apostolic letter Patris corde, Pope Francis reminded us, ‘To bring a child into the world is not enough to say that one is also their father … Fathers are not born but made. A man does not become a father simply by bringing a child into the world, but rather by taking up the responsibility to care for that child.’ It is this commitment that defines true fatherhood, this daily offering of time, attention, and love that nurtures the hearts and souls of children (Faith Magazine).

In addition, Pope Francis often emphasised the transformative presence of a father. He said, ‘Children need to find a father who is waiting for them when they return from their failures.’ This simple yet powerful image reminds us that fatherhood is not just about giving guidance, but also about providing space for our children to feel loved and safe even when they stumble (National Catholic Register).

On behalf of our school community, I wish all fathers, grandfathers and those who take on the role of a father figure, a very happy Father’s Day. May you feel deeply appreciated for the irreplaceable role you play in the lives of your children. We pray that God blesses you with strength, patience and joy as you continue to guide and nurture those in your care.

Enjoy the rest of your week.

God bless

Tracy

ARPE News

Sacramental Program

We have completed our sacramental lessons ahead of the students completing their sacramental celebrations. Yesterday the students had a practice for both Confirmation and Eucharist. This Thursday Mrs Plant and I will be completing some activities with the students during the afternoon session at school to finish off our time together, this will include a small celebration.

Dress Reminder:

For Confirmation and Eucharist celebrations, children are kindly requested to wear smart, appropriate attire suitable for a church setting. It is preferred that children dress in white, such as girls in white dresses and boys in white shirts with long pants. We have a spare white dress available in the office, generously lent to us by one of our families. If you are experiencing difficulty in finding suitable attire, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Christian Meditation will take place each Thursday morning at 8:00am in the Library. Meditation is a form of sacred and silent prayer, known as prayer of the heart. It is a lovely way to start the day!

Assemblies

Our next assembly will be in:

Week 9: Father’s Day Assembly 8:45am 1B Hosting

Week 10: No Assembly

May God’s blessing be with you, Peta.

The Joey's Way

Compliance with TCE Volunteer Induction Procedure and Training

It is a requirement for ALL volunteers in Townsville Catholic Education systemic schools/colleges, as well as events organised by the Townsville Catholic Education Office, to ensure that all volunteers, including parents and caregivers have completed the Volunteer Induction training.

The TCE Volunteer Management and Induction procedure outlines this necessity and includes information about Blue Card requirements and Restricted Persons. The training can be found on each school website under Volunteers and takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. Any person who is volunteering and who is required to have a blue card, must be linked to the school’s blue card portal.

For any questions, please contact your schools Student Protection Officer to discuss.

School Safe Persons

National Child Protection Week

This year’s National Child Protection Week (NCPW), held from 7-13 September 2025, is themed ‘Shifting Conversation to Action’, highlighting the power we all hold to create safer communities for children and young people. Organised by NAPCAN, the week is a reminder that even small actions can make a big difference - prevention is everyone’s business and each positive step sets off a domino effect for broader change.

Join NAPCAN’s range of free events and access practical resources designed to empower individuals, families, and organisations to turn conversation into tangible action. By working together, we can help ensure every child in Australia grows up safe and supported.

Learn more here: www.napcan.org.au/ncpw/

From the Office

School Fees
Term 3 school fees are now overdue. Please ensure prompt payment is made at the office.

Lost & Found
A phone and a power bank were found at the front gate (near the drop and go zone) this morning, Wednesday, 3rd September. They have been placed in the office for collection.

As we approach the end of Term 3, please check the lost property located outside the tuckshop for any missing items. All items remaining at the end of Term 3 will be donated or disposed of.

Star Students

Interschool Sport

Soccer Spirit in Full Swing!
Our Soccer teams showed great spirit and teamwork throughout the season! The Boys team won 2 out of 6 games, with Lucas leading as top scorer with 5 goals. The team impressed with solid passing and teamwork, even from those new to the sport. The Girls team kicked off with a win by forfeit and finished strong with a well-earned victory in their final game. Maggie and Issy were standout scorers, and despite many of them having no prior soccer experience, the girls worked brilliantly together. A huge thank you to Miss D, Mrs Taylor, and Miss Ros for their fantastic coaching and support!

Touch Football Triumphs!
Over six weeks of interschool sport, our Girls Touch teams showed incredible grit and teamwork. The Social Team, made up of many first-time players, faced their fears, ran strategic plays, and only lost one game all season, an amazing achievement! The Senior Competitive Team went undefeated, taking out the top spot thanks to their determination, adaptability, and ability to play to each other's strengths. Both teams overcame challenges, including absences and limited subs, often playing full games without breaks. Miss Weinheimer and Mr Barton are so proud of their effort, resilience, and sportsmanship!

Guidance Counsellor

The benefits of physical activity and exercise for young people
“Research shows, regular physical activity and exercise leads to changes in the brain. It improves cognitive function, elevates mood, improves learning and reduces ‘stress chemicals’ like cortisol.” - Dr Michael Carr-Gregg

Physical activity and exercise is not only vital to a child's overall development but it also has many other benefits. With children spending more time on computers being sedentary, it is even more important to get children moving more. SchoolTV has prepared a special report on this important issue which can be accessed via the link below.

https://sjmbtsv.catholic.schooltv.me/newsletter/physical-activity-exercise

School TV - Celebrating Father's Day

Over the centuries, the role of fathers has evolved. During the industrial revolution, fathers were more detached, spending long hours working in factories, whilst mothers took on the role of primary socialiser and educator of children. Men tended to show their love and devotion from a distance, choosing to leave the child rearing to their wives.

Today things have changed dramatically with many Dads being celebrated for being sensitive, caring and more hands-on. Research has shown that the amount of time fathers are now spending teaching, helping and playing with their children, has trebled. This has transformed our understanding of how fathers shape their children’s lives from the start, challenging conventional ideas of parenthood and gender.

Fathers who involve themselves in physical activity with their children, play a key role in influencing them to learn self-control, face challenges, regulate emotions and take manageable risks. However, to be a great Dad, you need to also indulge in a little self-care and look after your own mental health. This allows you to be more responsive to your child’s needs, and engage more readily in play and learning activities.

If you are a Dad and struggling a little bit, it is advisable to seek help from a medical professional. Or, if you just want to talk to someone who understands, you can call one of the following organisations.

In Australia, phone MensLine on 1300 78 99 78 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36.

In New Zealand, contact Healthline on 0800 611 116 or Man Alive on 0800 826 367.

You can find more information HERE

Library News

This week the Book Week theme of ‘Book an Adventure’ continued in the library with students soaking in the Book Week winners and runners up. Mrs. Plant has been focusing on Upper Primary investigations into the ‘South of the Sea Birds’ by Jess McGeachin (an Honor’s Book from Book Week 2025) the amazing Macquarie Island and its unique environment, as well as Lower Primary reading stories, discussing vocabulary and developing communication skills!

This week, we are celebrating Father’s Day and again this year the library hosts the wonderful ‘Father’s Day Stalls’, with students eager to find that special something for their dads.

Also, this week the library will be open early on Wednesday, 3 September, morning to recognize ‘Indigenous Literacy Day’, an important day for observing worldwide literacy and learning.

Next Monday, the 8^th September, the library will again open up early in the morning for the celebration of ‘International Literacy Day’. Literacy and literature are the fundamental principles to the success of students and empowers them for future achievement. Let’s celebrate reading and literature! Welcome to the library!

QUEENSLAND MUSEUM DISPLAY IN THE LIBRARY

Visit the library to see our newest exhibit ‘Sea Turtles’. Students can investigate information and features of the sea turtle, adaptations to marine oceans, life habitats of the Green Turtle, the Loggerhead and Flatback Turtle; as well as view information videos regarding the life cycle of the sea turtles.

SORA E HUB:

Our Sora digital club will meet again this Thursday, so don’t forget to come and join the fun on Thursday lunchtimes with Mrs. H, and learn how to borrow digitally from our amazing reading app with more than 100 million titles available for borrowing by our students 24/7.

Issue 6 has been closed off and should be on its way by next week.

‘Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved’

Winnie the Pooh

Till next time, Happy Reading everyone!

Digital Technology News

Stem Faire Robotics Competition Finals

On Saturday, one of our robotics teams proudly represented our school in the finals at the Townsville STEM Faire at Riverway. The students performed exceptionally well, taking out first place in the challenge! Their teamwork and participation were outstanding, and something we can all be proud of. Each student received a $100 Visa gift card, and our school was awarded a LEGO Prime set valued at $700. Even more exciting, our school name will now be engraved on the 2025 STEM Faire Robotics Trophy. The trophy and robotics kit will be presented to the school by Sarah Chapman (Founder of Townsville Stem Hub) date still to be confirmed. Sarah is the driving force behind the Townsville Stem Hub who is a dedicated Stem Educator. The Hub operates as a volunteer-led community organisation, supported by the Smart Precinct NQ which provides engaging stem opportunities for students, teachers and wider community

After School Technology Club ~ Foosball Task - Design, Build, Kick!

Our after school Technology Club students have been putting their creativity and problem-solving skills to the test! Over the past few weeks, they’ve been working on designing and building a foosball-inspired LEGO player that can actually kick a ball. Using robotics parts, coding, and lots of teamwork, the students have been experimenting with different ways to make their model move and kick effectively. This project is not only fun but also helps them strengthen their skills in engineering, design, and collaboration. We can’t wait to see their final version in action!

First Nations News

In Week 6, three students from St Margaret Mary's College joined Year 2 & 3 during lunch time. They performed the song Taba Naba, a traditional song from the Torres Strait Islands. The song tells the story of going to the edge of the reef fishing. Students joined in with the song with actions and used a traditional instrument called a 'kulap'.

Yesterday staff and Bimbi Wadja students and family members gathered in the Yarning Circle to celebrate the progress made in our Reconciliation Action Plan over the last 12 months. We acknowledged our First Nations Advisory committee members and the wonderful engagement opportunities that have flourished from our meetings. It was a gorgeous afternoon under the treesIf you weren't able to make it, we'd really value your feedback via this short survey - https://forms.gle/vrYD8pjZWWSxYch4A

RAP Progress Update Aug 2025

Friendology

RESPECT in Friendships is Pretty Sweet!

This month St Joseph's has been learning about RESPECT in friendships. Last week, students celebrated how sweet respectful friendships are....with ice cream! Students wrote on a 'scoop' of ice cream, an example of what a respectful friendship must-have, or a deal-breaker (melted scoop) and then got a scoop of ice cream for real life!Lots of smiles all round.

Thanks to URstrong for the delicious idea!