Congratulations to our newly appointed SS Leaders for 2025:

Year 7: Beau, Tea and Tanner

Year 8: Artan and Xavier

Year 9: Anima and Rueben

Year 10: Caleb and Aerith

Year 11: Natale and Ruby

These students expressed their intention to lead by preparing and delivering a speech to their year group. They were chosen by their peers and their selection as leader, is a recognition of their abilities and willingness to serve others by making a positive impact and leading by example.

We look forward to seeing their contributions throughout the year.

Irene lives in a remote village in the Kongolo Region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Life hasn’t been easy for Irene. After losing her father in a war, Irene and her family were forced to flee their home. Life became even more challenging when her husband left, leaving Irene to raise her 2 children alone. Without finishing her education and with few job opportunities in her village, she struggled to provide even the basics for her family.

Things began to change when Irene joined the Youth Capacity Strengthening Program (YCSP), run by Caritas Kongolo with the support of Caritas Australia. Through the program, Irene learned sewing skills and was provided with a sewing machine and fabric. Irene also gained farming skills. Now, she grows enough food to feed her family and even shares her sewing knowledge by mentoring other women in her community.

Follow Irene's journey here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6e23H2tAY8 and see how your support of Project Compassion empowers individuals to break barriers and transform their lives.

Saint Oscar Romero

Feast Day: March 24

Patron Saint of: El Salvador & persecuted Christians

Life:

Oscar Romero was the Archbishop of San Salvador from 1977 until he was assassinated in 1980. In a time of civil war, he became outspoken about the the human rights violations in El Salvador. He became a voice for the poor with his weekly radio broadcasts and denounced the violence. After urging soldiers and police not to kill the innocent, he was shot dead the next day while offering Mass. The world today needs more figures like Romero - leaders with the courage, faith and love to stand up for the poor against injustice.

Prayer:

Loving God, Give us the strength, to be humble, to be faithful, to stand with our sisters and brothers. Give us the strength, to be like our brother Oscar, completely committed to Christ. Amen. St Oscar Romero, pray for us.

Lam is 27 years old from a small village in rural Vietnam who faced significant challenges due to his short stature. Growing up, Lam often felt isolated due to limited job opportunities and difficulty moving around his community. While his friends started jobs after high school, Lam stayed home with his parents, unsure if he could ever achieve his dream of becoming a graphic designer.

Everything changed when Lam joined the I-SHINE program, supported by Caritas Australia. Through this initiative, Lam completed a six-month course developing his graphic design skills. Along the way, he built confidence, made friends and gained a sense of connection.

Today, Lam runs a successful freelance graphic design business from home, serving clients worldwide and earning a steady income. Lam hopes his story will encourage other young people with disabilities to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams.

Lam’s journey here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDm46znl5WM shows how your support of Project Compassion empowers individuals to break barriers and transform their lives.

On Wednesday 19 March (Feast of St Joseph), the College had the honour of being in attendance for the Ordination and Installation of the new Bishop of Bunbury, George Kolodziej SDS.

It was a joyous occasion at St Patrick's Cathedral with over 850 people in attendance including our College representatives, Mrs Samantha Trichilo, Mr Luke Bogoni and Head Prefects, Hoa and Bethany.

Bishop George was emotional as he quoted St Paul, telling the congregation to "Rejoice in the Lord always," words he has also chosen for his motto as bishop. Whilst the new bishop said that he felt unworthy to be a successor of the Apostles, he asked for prayers and said that he would do his very best to lead the people of Bunbury with humility, compassion but most of all, with love.

We congratulate Bishop George and look forward to seeing him in Albany over the coming years!

These stunning Year 8 pastel landscape paintings have been inspired by the landscapes to which students feel a strong connection; the places that they would deeply miss if they were taken from them. They have been influenced by the works of the children from the Carrolup Aboriginal Settlement.

Carrolup’s children, living in the misery of a 1940s government mission, were inspired by the medium of pastels to create beautiful landscape drawings of the country and culture from which they were stolen. Their artworks gained international acclaim, challenged the government’s racist policies, and inspired four generations of Noongar artists.

Student artworks are currently being exhibited in the St Joe’s Wind Tunnel Gallery in the undercroft of the DeVialar Building. Come and see for yourself just how talented our students are.

Preparation for the receiving of the Sacraments of Eucharist, Confirmation and Reconciliation will begin shortly. The first event is an enrolment Mass which will be held in Holy Family Church on Thursday the 27th March. Mass will commence at 6.00pm and is expected to finish before 7.30pm. On the night parents of students making a Sacrament will receive a workbook that is to be worked through as a family, then returned to the College, and a small enrolment brochure with responses that will be needed at Sacramental Commitment Masses.

Sacramental Initiation forms have been sent out to Catholic families from Years 3, 4 and 7 (sacramental years), however, if you wish your child to be Baptised and take part in the upcoming program, this can be arranged. Also, if you missed on getting a Direct Message with the form, please contact myself and I will send one to you.

Any queries please contact me, Chris Palfrey at chris.palfrey@cewa.edu.au

Chris Palfrey

Sacramental and Liturgy Co-ordinator

Do you have a Passion for Creation? ... then the 2025 art competition is for you!

Any artwork created in your free time will be eligible

Separate prizes awarded for Junior School, Middle School & Senior School

YOU HAVE TO BE IN IT TO WIN IT

Entries close May 30th – Week 5 Term 2

Winning entries published on Wisdom & the St Joes’ Facebook page

Exhibition of artworks in Weeks 9 & 10 Term 2

For more information, please see Rachel Lowry, your Arts & Culture Prefect, Mrs McGlade or Mrs Goodlad

Thank you for all your support to our College Production last year. This year, we will be doing again Celebration of Talents (A Variety Show). We know that we have lots of talents in the college that we can showcase and celebrate. Auditions will be on Term 2 Weeks 3 - 5 Thursdays (May 15, 22 and 29) from 3:30 - 4:30pm. It is open to all of college community members e.g. students, parents, family, staff. We would love to see you unleash your talents so start rehearsing now and see you on the auditions. Thank you in advance for all your support!

Mr Richard Habal, Ms Hiedi Rowe and Mr Mark Collins

Event Coordinators

Students in year 9 HASS have been learning about the history surrounding the First World War. Our specific focus this week has been investigating the legend of the ANZAC.

Year 9 students had the opportunity to interact with “WW1 Memorial Box” from the Australian War Museum. It included objects that explore the involvement of over 416,000 Australian soldiers, sailors, airmen, and nurses – as well as those on the home front – during a defining period of our nation's history.

Stories came to life as students unpacked real and replica First World War items in this box. Items included: photographs, letters, quotes, feature articles, a mess tin, a map, a helmet, uniform, water bottle, rising sun badge and a troop magazine.

Students were given thought provoking questions to help them deepen their understanding, empathy and honour the experience of those who served in WW1.

Reflection Questions included:

1. Personal Connection: How did holding these items make you feel? Did you feel connected to the past or the soldiers who used them?
2. Imagining the Past: What do you think a soldier might have felt when wearing the uniform or using the gas mask? Can you picture a specific moment in their life?
3. Symbolism and Meaning: What do these items symbolise to you? How do they represent the experiences of soldiers during WWI?

Every Wednesday, our enthusiastic Year 3 students visit the three-year-old Kindy class to lend a helping hand with changing library books. However, with the library currently out of action, today’s visit took on a different focus—strengthening friendships through play and storytelling!

Instead of swapping books, our Year 3s spent quality time with their younger buddies, reading stories, engaging in fun activities, and getting to know them better. The Kindy students were delighted to have their ‘big kid’ friends join them, and the bonds between the two groups continue to grow stronger each week.

These special visits are not only a highlight for both year groups but also provide wonderful opportunities for leadership, empathy, and cooperation. We look forward to more heartwarming moments as our Year 3s and Kindy students share their love for stories, learning, and friendship!

This week, the Year Five classes began their swimming lessons at Emu Point. They were met with idyllic conditions, with sunny skies and very little wind. The sand bar was submerged, demonstrating pleasant water depth and perfect conditions for swimming, despite poor water clarity as a result of the recent storms. The St Joseph's students weren't the only visitors to Emu Point, as there was a dolphin frolicking in the channel. Mrs Tuffley even joined the students in the water for a swim! Conditions look to be even better as this week progresses with temperatures forecast to hit 30 degrees Celsius. A humorous moment was when the swimming instructors had the students hop out of the water and roll in the dry sand like lamingtons!

This week marked the exciting start of Year 6 swimming lessons at the breathtaking Emu Point, and what a perfect way to begin! With warm sunshine beaming down, students eagerly embraced the opportunity to dive into the water.

From the very first splash, smiles were abundant as students honed their swimming skills and gained confidence in the ocean. The stunning natural surroundings will make each lesson even more enjoyable.

Under the guidance of skilled instructors, students practiced essential water safety techniques, improved their strokes, and challenged themselves with new water skills. Whether floating on their backs, perfecting their freestyle, or simply enjoying the refreshing water, everyone was making the most of this fantastic learning experience.

Teachers and instructors were thrilled to see such enthusiasm and determination from all participants. The combination of beautiful weather, a stunning location, and eager students made for an unforgettable start to the swimming program.

As the lessons continue, we look forward to seeing each student grow in confidence and ability. With more sunny days ahead, Year 6 is set to make a splash all week long at Emu Point!

Keep up the great work, Year 6!

In Week 6, Rick the Rock and Brad from the West Coast Eagles visited the Junior School. The Junior School attended a short assembly which had a special message about resilience and having a go. The Year 1 classes enjoyed a taste of Auskick with a football clinic. Some flyers are attached to this Wisdom article about upcoming Auskick activities.

Easter is coming & we are now collecting Easter donations for our Annual Easter Raffle. We would be very grateful if you could pop a bunny, egg, craft, book or any other Easter item in your trolley next time you're shopping.

Junior school classrooms will have donation boxes and Senior school students can drop their donations to the canteen or office. We are looking forward to all the excitement from the students again this year!

Come and Try Golf Girls Clinic- Sunday 27th April 10-11am

https://www.golf.org.au/mygolf/programdetails/?programId=44845

Albany Golf Club are delighted to offer a free come and try day to hit real golf balls at our club as part of MyGolf Girls Month! All golf clubs, balls and equipment are provided.

This clinic is for girls only and is a great introduction for children 6 years old and above who have never played golf before / are thinking of starting out!

Ensure you have closed footwear (runners) but also don't forget to slip on a hat and bring a water bottle to stay hydrated!

Free 4 week taster Clinics for Girls- 11th May to 1st June 12-1pm

https://www.golf.org.au/mygolf/programdetails/?programId=44846

Albany Golf Club are delighted to offer a free 4 week taster program as part of MyGolf Girls Month! All golf clubs, balls and equipment are provided. This program will go through hitting, chipping and putting to give you the confidence and skills to consider playing more in the future!

This clinic is for girls only and is a great introduction for children 6 years old and above who have never played golf before / are thinking of starting out!

Ensure you have closed footwear (runners) but also don't forget to slip on a hat and bring a water bottle to stay hydrated!

Let’s Empower Families with Financial Literacy and Savings!

Saver Plus is a program designed to help eligible families develop essential financial skills and build savings for education costs.

If parents commit to saving up to $50 a month for 10 months, ANZ will match their savings up to $500 for education costs, such as school uniforms, stationary, textbooks, computers.

For more details, please visit www.saverplus.org.au or join an information session.

The MSWA Albany Swim, now in its 13th year, is a family-friendly event that brings our vibrant regional community together for an unforgettable day at the Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre. Teams compete in an eight-hour marathon swim, pushing their limits to cover the longest distance in support of West Aussies living with neurological conditions. By getting a team together and participating in our swim, you are helping to make a lasting impact and help our Clients focus on life, not limits.

This fundraising event is for all ages and abilities, and we would love to welcome a team from your school to take part.

How it works:

1. Get a team together:

Form your dream team with family, friends, or colleagues and take on the ultimate swim challenge. Nominate a team captain who will coordinate the swimming roster on the day! (Swimmers do not need to be there for the full 8 hours; they are welcome to come and go.)

Register here: https://mswaswim.org.au/

1. Keep the water alive:

Teams must always have one swimmer in the water for the duration of the event. All swimming styles (including doggy paddle!) and swimming aids are allowed.

1. Count your laps:

On the day, each team will be given a tally sheet to record how many laps you're making over the eight hours. At the end of the day, the team that recorded the longest distance wins!

1. HAVE FUN!

It's also more than just a day of swimming! We’ve got exciting competitions and activities lined up to keep everyone engaged— including a thrilling inflatable race, which is simply for fun!

Prizes are awarded to the Highest Individual Fundraiser, the Highest Team Fundraisers, and Team Most Laps Swum.

We also supply refreshments on the hour to keep everyone energised.

If you have any questions about our event, please feel free to reach out, and I would be happy to chat about all things MSWA Albany Swim.

Registration is now open for St Joseph's Soccer Club

Please click on the link below.

https://www.playfootball.com.au/

Currently seeking Year 7 players to join.

Just to advise that from Monday 17th March 2025, service 734 will be deleted and replaced by service 733.

Students currently using the 734 will be able to use the 733 instead.

There will be two 733 services operating two minutes apart in the AM and PM due to the loading to and from Albany SHS.

Hockey is a fun, safe and inclusive sport that has children from Year 2 upwards, participating in competition during Term 2 and Term 3. Hockey is a life-long sport and locally we have over 800 players of various ages participating throughout the winter season. Albany and its surrounds boasts a high standard of competition and has even had representatives at State and International level. Imagine playing at the Olympics!!

Our facilities include a recently upgraded synthetic turf, upgraded lighting to a National standard, warm clubrooms, a friendly atmosphere and good coffee for spectators. Our Board of Directors are committed to growing the game and make your child's experience a fun one.

There are no trials or grading days to join in with hockey and we are Kidsport Voucher friendly.

If your child would like help to find a team please contact Dinah tel: 0429 130 953 email: do@lgshockey.asn.au

Dinah can also help answer any questions you have about introducing your young person into hockey.

Find us on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=lower%20great%20southern%20hockey%20association

Or our website:

https://www.lgshockey.asn.au/

The City of Albany is excited to let you know that our April School Holiday Program has officially gone live!

St Joseph’s College P&F are SO EXCITED to announce that MAGGIE DENT is coming to St Joseph’s College on Saturday 24th May from 10am-12pm to present her “Mothering our Boys” seminar!!

Tickets are on sale NOW via https://www.maggiedent.com/events/mothering-our-boys-albany-wa-may-2025/

Get your tickets early as this event will no doubt, sell out!

Our P&F will also run a raffle leading up to this fabulous event - with Free Tickets!!

We warmly invite you to join us for the Stations of the Cross, which will begin this Friday, 7th March, and continue every Friday throughout Lent at 5.30 pm in St. Joseph’s Church.

This special time of reflection and prayer offers us a chance to walk with Christ through His Passion, deepening our faith and preparing our hearts for Easter.

We hope to see you there as we come together in prayer and unity during this Lenten season. God bless!