On Wednesday, 25 March, six Year 9-11 students attended the inaugural Student Voice Forum hosted by Bishop George and the Bunbury Diocese. Melina (Y9), Richard (Y9), Jove (Y10), Rueben (Y10), Amelia (Y11) and Rebecca (Y11) were accompanied by Mr Honter and I. Bishop George is very keen to hear the thoughts and concerns of our youth in the area of social justice so it was a real privilege and opportunity for our students to gather with other secondary students in our diocese. Special thanks to Mr Bogoni for organising the experience and I know our student leaders will be incorporating things that they learnt at the forum into our College.

Over the school holidays, Albany is hosting two fantastic art exhibitions that feature artworks by our talented St Joseph's students.

Students from Years Seven, Eight and Nine had the amazing opportunity to create sculptures for the Wirrin Way Project installation as a part of the 2026 Sculpture at Binalup exhibition: 10th - 19th April.

https://www.sculptureatbinalup.com.au/exhibit

The City of Albany's 2026 Great Southern Art Award also features works from our talented St Joseph's students: Albany Town Hall from 4th April - 7th May.

https://artsandculture.albany.wa.gov.au/exhibitions-events/great-southern-art-award/great-southern-art-award-2026.aspx

On Thursday afternoon, the College Gymnasium was transformed into a place of quiet reflection and powerful storytelling as students from Years 3–12 gathered for our annual Holy Week presentation. This special event invited the College community to journey through the final hours of Jesus’ life, offering a moment to pause, reflect, and prepare our hearts for the Easter season.

The presentation was brought to life by our Year 11 students, who took on the responsibility of recreating the story with reverence and maturity. Their thoughtful performances guided the audience through the significant moments of Jesus’ Passion, encouraging all present to consider the themes of sacrifice, compassion, and hope that lie at the heart of the Easter message.

Events like this remind us of the strength of our College community and the importance of coming together in faith. As we move into the Easter break, we extend our warmest wishes to all St Joseph’s College families for a happy, safe, and holy Easter. May this season bring peace, renewal, and time spent with loved ones.

Last weekend, St Joseph's Church was elevated to Shrine status, the first in the Bunbury Diocese.

Over the three days, the parish celebrated by going on pilgrimage and walking to several sites that are significant to the history of the the Catholic Church and Catholic education here in Albany including Mass Rocks, St Joseph's convent and the Albany cemetery ending in the Shrine Mass on Sunday morning. This special Mass was celebrated by Bishop George with over six-hundred people in attendance at our Church built in 1878.

The Bishop's hope is that the Shrine will be a designated place of faith in honour of our patron, St Joseph.

Ite Ad Joseph

Saint John Baptist de La Salle

Feast Day: April 7

Patron Saint of: Educators/ Teachers

Life:

Coming from a wealthy family, John had it all - money, status, good looks and an education, but he felt God had more in store for him. After becoming a Priest at 27, he became interested in starting schools for poor youth. John threw himself into the work and devoted his life to the poor. He came across a lot of resistance but never gave up in his goal to prepare teachers to promote the Christian message. He died in 1719 at the age of 68.



Prayer:

Most Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, we call on you today to bless all students at our school; bless their families, too. Help our homes be places of trust and hope, peace and love, just as your home must have been. We pray for families who are hurting right now because of loneliness, arguments, unemployment, addictions, divorce or death; Lord, send them the help they need. Send us the heavenly and earthly guardian angels that our families need to find healing and a return of happiness. St John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.

As we mark Holy Week, we reflect on another year of turning our faith and love into action through Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion.

Throughout Lent, we’ve witnessed the power that our school community can generate when we come together as one, and heard four incredible stories of resilience and strength which offer a window into the kind of transformative impact we can achieve.

In Tanzania, Sisilia’s life was changed with access to nearby clean water. She can now spend more time studying so she can fulfil her dreams of one day becoming a pilot. Monoranjon, from Bangladesh, learnt climate-resilient farming techniques, helping his family survive and build a safer, more sustainable future. In rural Fiji, Manaini learnt food processing and gardening skills through Caritas Australia’s partner, FRIEND, creating more income opportunities to support her children’s education. And in Gaza, Caritas Jerusalem staff remain committed to providing lifesaving support, standing in solidarity with families enduring this conflict.

On behalf of the College, thank you for your generosity and standing with us as we unite against poverty.

During the Lenten season we are challenged to embrace the three pillars of prayer, fasting and almsgiving in preparation for Easter. This year we asked every student in the College to write down someone or something that they would like to pray for.

Whether our students prayers be for family members, pets, good health, world peace and more, we know that the power of prayer is transformative and although we may not always get what we want, by faith we can be confident that we will always get what we need.

"Remember that you are never alone, Christ is with you everyday of your lives" - Saint Pope John Paul II

Congratulations to the students in the Year 7-12 Inter-School swim team for their efforts in last week's division 1 carnival. We placed a creditable 2nd on 1120 points behind Grammar on 1199 points and in front of ASHS on 1005 points. A special congratulations to the Year 7, 8 and 9 girls whose combined efforts saw them winners of the Middle school girls shield.

Congratulations to the following students for the excellent individual efforts on the day.

Indi B Champion Year 7 girls

Nicolette T Champion Year 8 girls

Orlando T Champion Year 9 boys

Sadie B Runner up Year 8 girls

Mahayla S Runner up Year 9 girls

Jack H Runner up Year 10 boys

Lillian M Runner up Open girls

Indi V 3rd Year 7 girls

Mason B 3rd Year 7 boys

Mackenzie S 3rd Year 8 boys

Abi M 3rd Year 9 girls

Josh M 3rd Year 9 boys

Daniel C 3rd Open boys

On Tuesday the Year Nine outdoor education class participated in the camp master-chef challenge. Their brief was to prepare a two-course meal suitable for expedition using only a Trangia compact cooking stove. There were some fantastic examples of high-quality camp food with meals including spaghetti carbonara, ham, cheese and spring onion omelettes, fried noodles, french toast, fruit salad with glazed topping, nutella, fruit and marshmallow tortillas and tuna, avo and cucumber sushi.

Congratulations to all students for the effort that went into their planning. The winner will be announced after they have completed their meal reviews.

Our Year 6 students recently returned from an unforgettable camp at Quaranup, filled with adventure, laughter, and plenty of teamwork. Despite some pockets of wet weather, spirits remained high as students embraced some change of activities with enthusiasm.

Throughout the camp, students enjoyed a wide range of experiences including snorkelling, fishing, hiking, archery, and even a sensory obstacle course completely blindfolded. They also put their creativity to the test with sandcastle building and worked collaboratively to construct shelters. A highlight for many was the nighttime spotlight activity, adding a sense of excitement and adventure to the evening.

The ever popular quiz night organised by Mr B brought plenty of laughs, especially when it didn’t take long for students to correctly identify the Deputy Principal’s baby photo (a black and white clue gave it away!).

We were fortunate to finish our camp with a beautiful sunny day, the perfect ending. We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to provide such enriching experiences and are proud of the way our students challenged themselves, supported one another, and made the most of every moment.

Students from Years 4-6 participated in the Junior School Interhouse Swimming Carnival on Tuesday 17th March. It was a great day of swimming with excellent participation and sportsmanship being shown. DeVialar house once again were the winners of the carnival; well done, DiVialar swimmers!

Congratulations to the following students who were awarded Runner-Up and Champion medals.

Year 4 Girls: Henley Kinsella (Runner Up), Harlow Bootsma (Champion)

Year 4 Boys: Max Curnow (Runner Up), Charlie Probert (Champion)

Year 5 Girls: Nina De Giambattista (Runner Up), Emilia Hobbs (Champion)

Year 5 Boys: Arlen Joynes (Runner Up), Jed O'Donnell (Champion)

Year 6 Girls: Daisy Tyson (Runner Up), Georgia Montgomery (Champion)

Year 6 Boys: Fintan Kinsella (Runner Up), Luke Molenda (Champion)

On Monday 23rd March, students selected for the Interschool Team competed in the ADPSSA Carnival at ALAC against swimmers from Great Southern Grammar, Bethel Christian and ACC. It was a day of fierce competition, and some very close races were swum. St Joe's finished in second place on the day. Well done to Harlow Bootsma (Year 4 Champion Girl), Charlie Probert (Year 4 Runner Up Champion Boy), Emelia Hobbs (Year 5 Runner Up Champion Girl) and Luke Molenda (Year 6 Runner Up Champion Boy).

Congratulations to Harlow Bootsma who was the recipient of the Dowie Medal for Outstanding Effort in Swimming. Harlow was her year level champion for both carnivals, always competes with fairness and great spirit and is a positive role model for her peers.

The SWAN team will be in Albany 20th-24th April 2026 and will be available to meet with people with disability, family members, and professionals.

We offer FREE independent information, peer support, and advocacy.

Our support can assist people in navigating:

1. Autism and other disabilities
2. National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
3. Mainstream and disability support services
4. Peer support and advocacy

P&F Easter Raffle 2026

https://www.albanyeisteddfod.com.au/

Museum of the Great Southern

Discover your future in Engineering at ECU

Join ECU School of Engineering for an inspiring showcase created especially for Year 11 and Year 12 students who are interested in studying engineering. Meet our academics, course coordinators, current students, alumni, and student clubs and discover what makes studying engineering at ECU rewarding and exciting.

Move, play and discover what’s possible at Play in the Bay!

A FREE Come & Try day where there is something for everyone.

From interactive games and an inflatable soccer pitch to adaptive sports, chair yoga, and live music.

You can get involved at your own pace or simply relax and enjoy the atmosphere.

Join us on Saturday 18th April from 10am to 2pm at Middleton Beach.

Grab a coffee, enjoy a sausage sizzle, connect with your community, and experience what inclusive sport and recreation is all about.

Whether you’re coming to try something new, meet people, or just soak up a great day by the beach, Play in the Bay has you covered.

Bring your friends, bring your family and don’t miss it.

This April, we’re celebrating Youth Week with an exciting Mario Kart World Tournament on the brand-new Switch 2!

Students are invited to test their racing skills, compete with friends, and enjoy a fun, high-energy gaming experience.

Whether they’re seasoned pros or just love a friendly race, this event is a great way to connect, compete, and celebrate Youth Week together.

Registration Info on the Library Events Website

On Tuesday St Joseph’s College P&F hosted the launch of local Albany Author Gleni Bailey’s latest book “Angel Bunny’s Sleep Muffin”.

The kids had a great time listening to Gleni’s stories and doing some bunny activities afterwards. Thank you to Gleni Bailey and best wishes to her for the release of this book and for her many stories still to come. You will find Gleni’s books’ Chooky’s Salon, Magpies Four and Angel Bunny’s Sleep Muffin at Paperbark Merchants.

A big Thankyou to Louise D’Addario for all of her organising, to Sarah Nash for supporting the P&F, to Dallys Ralph from The Muffin Queen for the lovely Muffins and fruit and especially to the children & parents who came along to support the event.

City of Albany WA Tree Festival program

The WA Tree Festival is an annual celebration of trees that enhance our suburbs, support our wildlife and enrich our daily lives.

Now in its fifth year, the City of Albany has put together a program of events including a native plant giveaway*, expert talks, art workshops, and school holiday activities.

To view the program of events, please visit https://www.cityofalbanyevents.com/wa-tree-festival

*Registration required – please see website for details.

SCHOOL OF ROCK

May 2026 – 12 performances

https://bit.ly/school-of-rock-albany

“Rock got no reason, rock got no rhyme, you better get me to school on time!”

Featuring a cast of over 30 talented local performers and musicians, Albany Light Opera Theatre Company (ALOTCo) presents School of Rock - a high-energy, feel-good production for audiences of all ages. (Contains mild adult themes.)

Based on the hit 2003 Paramount film School of Rock is a two-act musical (with intermission) that follows Dewey Finn, a failed, wannabe rock star who poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school.

Complete with a sensational live kids’ rock band, School of Rock is a joyful celebration of music, confidence, and the power of teamwork.

Director & Choreographer: Lachy McLean

Musical Director: Kathryn MacNeil

Starring a talented local cast and musicians in every live performance!

Don’t miss the ‘next generation’ as ALOTCo rocks the stage!

Supported by The City of Albany - Community Development Grant

https://www.facebook.com/AlbanyLightOperaTheatreCompany

#alotco #schoolofrockmusical #schoolofrockalbany

Dental Therapy Centre opening hours April School holidays

Spencer Park Dental Therapy Centre will be CLOSED during the April School holidays. We will reopen

Monday 20th April. If you have a dental emergency, please contact Yakamia Dental Therapy Centre

on 9841 3498.

All appointments are now sent to your home address. If you have moved recently, we may not have

your correct address and your child could miss out on their appointment. If you no longer intend to

use our service, please let us know as soon as possible as your valuable appointment could be given

to someone in need. Your child is eligible to attend a Dental Therapy Centre from ages 5 to 17.

Please contact us to update your details either by phone: 9841 3967 or e-mail: spencerparkdtc@ health.wa.gov.au

The staff at Spencer Park Dental Therapy Centre would like to wish all children and parents a happy and safe break.

Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre will be running a 2-day Bronze Medallion Course on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 April 2026 (the middle weekend of the school holidays), from 8:00am – 3:00pm each day.

We will also be able to facilitate Bronze Medallion requalification's on Saturday 11 April.

If you would like to register your interest for your child (or yourself), please email alacswimschool@albany.wa.gov.au.

Course Fees:

• Bronze Medallion Course: $215.00

• Bronze Medallion Requalification: $110.00

Fees will be payable upon enrolment.

Please note that a minimum of 6–8 participants is required for the course to run.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Swim School on 6820 3420 or email alacswimschool@albany.wa.gov.au

St Joseph’s Junior Soccer Club is looking for volunteer coaches and team managers for the upcoming season. No experience needed – just a willingness to get involved and support the kids!

👉 Training: Thursday afternoons (with plenty of support from other coaches)

👉 Games: Saturday mornings

The committee will provide guides, drills, and ongoing support – you won’t be doing it alone!

It’s a fantastic way to be part of the club, support your child, and help make the season possible for all our players 🙌

Under 7s, 8s & 9s (yr 1, 2 & 3) especially!

📩 Send the committee a message via Facebook or email!

Email: stjosephssoccerclub@gmail.com

April School Holiday Program + Youth Week 2026

Easter Raffle time is here!

This Raffle is open to our St Joseph's Community only and there's 100 prizes to be won!! 🤩

Tickets are $2 each so buy a few & hopefully your child wins!! All proceeds are going to our School Playground projects so please support us to be able to provide for our children. 🙏

Gotta be in it to win it so Good Luck everyone!

https://www.raffletix.com.au?ref=ffwfn

Summary of our last P&F meeting.