Welcome to Ms Samantha Kerlin

We are delighted to welcome Ms Samantha Kerlin to the St Joseph’s School community as she begins her role as the Year 6A classroom teacher this week.

Samantha brings with her a wealth of experience teaching across Prep to Year 12 and is deeply committed to fostering respectful, inclusive, and faith-filled learning environments. Her teaching philosophy is grounded in Gospel values, and she is passionate about nurturing each child’s academic and spiritual growth through engaging, real-world learning experiences.

We are confident that Samantha will be a wonderful support to our Year 6 students and a valued addition to our staff. Please join us in warmly welcoming her to St Joseph’s!

Achieving a Balance: Opportunities and Learning at St Joseph’s

At St Joseph’s School, we are proud of the many ways our students are growing—not only academically, but also through a wide range of enriching experiences beyond the classroom. In just the past week, our students have represented the school in the Tablelands 10–12 Years Boys Cricket Team, the District Athletics Carnival in Mareeba, Boys Rugby 9s in Cairns, and Allan Rockley Touch Football. These events reflect the vibrant and active spirit of our school community.

However, as a rural school, we face a unique challenge: how to provide our students with meaningful opportunities to develop their skills and talents in broader arenas, while also ensuring that their classroom learning remains strong and uninterrupted.

Research shows that participation in extracurricular activities—especially those that combine academic, sporting, and artistic elements—can positively impact students’ academic performance, social-emotional development, and behavioural outcomes. In rural settings, where access to diverse opportunities may be limited, these activities play an even more vital role in helping students build confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging.

Yet, we must also acknowledge the importance of balance. Every time a student leaves the classroom for an external activity, there is a trade-off in terms of instructional time. While the benefits of these experiences are clear, we remain committed to ensuring that they do not come at the cost of core learning.

At St Joseph’s, we strive to maintain this balance thoughtfully. Our staff work diligently to plan and coordinate activities in ways that support both academic progress and personal growth. We are deeply grateful for the ongoing support and communication from our parent community, which allows us to make informed decisions together. It is through this partnership that we continue to offer a rich and well-rounded education to our students.

As we look ahead to the remainder of the term—with more excursions, incursions, and events on the horizon—we remain focused on our shared goal: helping every child thrive, both in the classroom and beyond.

Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews – Booked

As we begin Term Three, we are pleased to share that St Joseph’s School is now continuing to use a new platform called Booked to arrange Parent/Teacher/Student interviews. This system replaces the previous PTO platform and is part of the broader MyCE (My Catholic Education) app used across the Catholic Education Diocese of Cairns.

Booked allows parents to easily schedule meetings with teachers via their mobile devices, offering secure access and real-time updates. It integrates with other school tools such as timetables and academic reports, making it a convenient and reliable way to stay connected with your child’s learning journey.

To begin this term, Ms Kerlin, who has recently joined our Year 6 teaching team, will be using Booked to arrange introductory conversations with parents. These meetings are a valuable opportunity to build relationships and share insights about your child’s progress and well-being.

Shortly, all teaching staff will begin announcing and arranging interviews through Booked. We encourage parents to download the MyCE Parent App and ensure their login details are up to date so they can access booking options as they become available.

We thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child’s education. If you need assistance accessing Booked or the MyCE app, please contact the school office.

Staff Book Spotlight: Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance

At St Joseph’s, we continue to deepen our understanding of the diverse needs of our students. One resource that has recently supported our learning is the book Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance Syndrome in Children by Margaret Duncan and Zara Healy.

This guide offers clear and practical insights into Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)—a profile on the autism spectrum marked by an intense resistance to everyday demands, often driven by anxiety. The authors emphasize a key insight:

“It’s not that they won’t — it’s that they can’t.”
This phrase captures the essence of PDA, reminding us that behaviours often perceived as oppositional are actually rooted in a deep need for control, as the child attempts to manage overwhelming anxiety.

The book explains how PDA differs from other autism profiles and how traditional behavioural approaches may not be effective. Instead, it advocates for flexible, empathetic strategies that reduce pressure and build trust. Research cited in the book supports the view that PDA is driven by a neurological need to avoid perceived threats to autonomy, which can trigger extreme anxiety responses.

“Reading this book helped me better understand the emotional drivers behind some of the behaviours we see in the classroom. It’s a reminder that connection and trust are key to helping every child feel safe and supported.”
— St Joseph’s Staff Member, Mike Aitken

This resource aligns with our commitment to inclusive education and supports our ongoing efforts to meet each child where they are.

 

Catholic Education Week – Communities of Faith, Hope and Love.

We had a great time celebrating Catholic Education Week.

On Wednesday, students wore casual clothes and raised funds for St Vincent De Paul- Winter Appeal. In the afternoon, students enjoyed a “Dance Party” filled with lots of fun dances and games.

On Friday our school leaders represented St Joseph’s at the Western Deanery Mass held at St Thomas of Villanova School in Mareeba. It was a lovely celebration together with all the other Catholic schools in our area.

Each year, classroom teachers are asked to nominate one student from their class that shows a positive spirit amongst their peers.  Someone who embodies what Catholic Education is all about; sharing, faith hope and love with others.  I am pleased to announce the following students who received CEW Awards during our liturgy on Thursday:

Prep F:            Maria C.

Prep A:            Leah P.

Year 1F:           Tillie B.

Year 1A:          Zoey M.

Year 2F:          Paisley H.

Year 2A:          Jayace S.

Year 3F:          Thea D.

Year 3A:          Lexie JS.

Year 4F:          Jase B.

Year 4A:          Jakob C.

Year 5F:          Corbyn M.

Year 5A:          Koby S.

Year 6F:          Emily J.

Year 6A:          Sophia F.

Two important feast days are coming up over the next two weeks:

Feast of Mary MacKillop- August 8

The feast day of St Mary MacKillop will be celebrated this Friday, August 8. Mary was an ordinary Australian like each of us but did extraordinary things for God.

Mary MacKillop’s famous saying "Never see a need without trying to do something about it” is such an inspirational message for all of us. Mary was canonised as our First Australian Saint in October 2010.  Year 4 & 5 students will be celebrating a mass with the Parish on Friday, August 8 at 9.30am. 

The Feast of the Assumption – 15 August

The following Friday, August 15, the church will be celebrating the Feast of the Assumption of Mary. This is an important day, which has long been celebrated by Catholics.  On this occasion we celebrate Mary as our spiritual mother and the mystery of her rising into heaven, body and soul. The Feast of the Assumption celebrates both the happy departure of Mary from this life by her natural death, and her assumption bodily into heaven.

The Assumption is a principal feast of the Blessed Virgin and a Holy Day of Obligation - one of the most important feasts of the Church year.

Students in Years 4-6 will be attending mass which will be held at 12 noon to celebrate the Feast of the Assumption on Friday August 15.  Parents are most welcome to attend this special mass. Students in Prep – Year 3 will celebrate a small prayer service in their classrooms. 

Children’s Mass - August 10, 5pm

Father Mathew is designating the Second Sunday of the Month as a special “Children’s Mass” at the 5pm Mass.  This means that children will be asked to participate by doing all the jobs in the mass.  Our choir have also been invited to participate again. If your child/ren are interested in doing a special job at this mass, please let me know by contacting the front office or sending me an email at mmaccallum@cns.catholic.edu.au

Everyone is welcome to attend.

God bless,

Mary MacCallum