The College Capital Development Project continues and in on track for completion in April 2026. In the next two weeks, a crane and other equipment will be onsite for the concrete pour. The Martin Road driveway will be closed; therefore, community members are requested to avoid the area, this includes parking across Martin Road and having students cross from the bus bays. Buses will still have access to the bays and College staff will direct students to use the footpath that runs down the carpark stairs to Early Learning and Cunningham.

Staff will be prepared for this and mitigate interruption to learning programmes, particularly the upcoming Secondary School exams. Please contact the College if you have any questions or concerns.

You may have noticed the blue temporary emergency stairs on the third and second floors. On Wednesday 26 November, we will be having a College emergency drill.

St Joseph - Pray for us

Amen.

Tis' the season at St Joseph's College to make Gingerbread houses. Mrs Trahair has been having some fun with Simone, Molly, Abi and Vanessa making these fabulous creations on their last day of Year 11. See you all next year.

Today marks the end of an era at St Joseph’s College as we bid a fond farewell to our long-standing Music teacher, Mr. Dougherty. For many years, Mr. Dougherty has filled our classrooms and hearts with the joy of music. His passion for teaching and his incredible talent have inspired countless students to discover their own musical abilities and love for the arts. From leading unforgettable performances to nurturing budding musicians, Mr. Dougherty’s influence has been felt across every corner of the College. Of course, it wasn’t just his musical expertise that made him unforgettable - we’ll miss his signature style of odd socks, beanies and Hawaiian shirts! They were a true reflection of his vibrant personality and the fun he brought to our community.

Thank you, Mr. Dougherty, for the music, the memories, and the magic. We wish you all the very best in this exciting new chapter!

Our Year 4 students have been buzzing with excitement as we explore one of nature’s most fascinating life cycles, the Axolotl! Over the past few weeks, we’ve been carefully observing the hatching and early development of our very own axolotl eggs, we even had some twins! It is giving students a rare hands-on look at how living things grow and change. We have a big thanks to Mrs Hassell for her time and knowledge and bringing in her Axolotl eggs and all the food and equipment.

This project links directly to our Science curriculum focus on life cycles, biological change and the needs of living things. Students have been learning how environmental conditions, diet and habitat all play a key role in supporting healthy development.

One of the most exciting parts of this experience has been creating our own live brine shrimp to feed the baby axolotls. Students have helped prepare the brine, check on the hatchery daily and understand why young axolotls need high-protein live food in their earliest stages. It’s been a brilliant opportunity for students to see how food chains work and how animals rely on others for survival.

Across the term, students have recorded observations, sketched the different stages of development and compared the axolotl life cycle to other animals we study. This real-world learning has encouraged curiosity, responsibility and a deeper appreciation for caring for living creatures. Today we could see what colour they are under the microscope. They still do not have any legs, but we could see their detailed 'frills' which are external gills.

We look forward to updating you as our tiny axolotls continue to grow!

Over the last few days, the College and Parish have been blessed to have had Bishop George come to stay with us and enjoy what our beautiful community has to offer.

It was the Bishop's first trip to Albany with part of the trip dedicated to celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation on Sunday. It was a beautiful occasion with thirty three of our young people taking the next step on their faith journey. The Bishop also made a special announcement that St Joseph's Church in town will be declared a Shrine in March 2026, a place dedicated in honour of our patron Joseph.

Bishop George visited the College twice as part of his trip and loved spending time walking into classrooms, having discussions and answering questions from the students. The students especially loved to see his ring and Crucifix that was gifted to him by Pope Francis at his Ordination in March.

We thank Bishop George for blessing us with his presence and we look forward to seeing him again soon!

Year Five students attended their annual camp during Wednesday and Thursday of Week 4. The students stayed overnight at the College and participated in a range of activities in Albany. Highlights of the camp included the 'Amazing Race Scavenger Hunt' in and around the CBD of Abany. Students searched for answers to cryptic questions and were awarded letters for completing various sections. Once all the questions were answered, students worked with their group and parent helper to solve the mystery word. This year the word was 'grateful'. The race took students to St Vincent de Paul, where they purchased outfits for a group member to wear in a hilarious fashion parade, which took place that evening. In the afternoon, students presented a mini talent show and participated in 'Multi-Sports Dog and Bone' led by Mr Bouzinekis. Parents supplied delicious dishes for dinner, and nobody went hungry! The evening's entertainment consisted of a quiz night, where students completed questions in a Kahoot! style format on iPads. The scores were tight, and the 'Slay Girls' group came out on top.

Day two took students to the Albany Forts. Students walked the pilot trail from the Light Horse Memorial. Mrs Colmer spoke to the students about some Aboriginal perspectives, which included key landmarks we could see from the mountain top and the very friendly birdlife that surrounded us! We enjoyed delicious fish and chips at the top of Mt Clarence supplied by Hooked on Middleton. The final camp activity was Wild West Bowling where the students showed off some impressive bowling skills. After playing some arcade games, students arrived back at St Joseph's tired, but very satisfied after a great camp!

Academic Task Force - January Head Start Year 7 Transition ASET/GATE Scholarship Exam Preparation Courses

Get a flying start to the new school year with courses in NAPLAN Preparation, Maths, English, ASET/GATE Preparation, Learning Skills and Essay Writing.

Academic Task Force - January Head Start Program

ATAR January Head Start Program - ­Enrolments Open - Increase your understanding and boost your confidence for Year 11 and 12. 6-hour subject courses where you will gain an overview of the syllabus, receive expert teaching from ATAR subject-specialist teachers and preview important concepts.

Year 7- 10 January Head Start Program - ­Enrolments Open - Get a flying start to the new school year with engaging courses in NAPLAN Preparation, Maths, English, GATE Preparation, Learning Skills and Essay Writing.

Enrol online: www.academicgroup.com.au | Phone: 08 9314 9500.

2025 St Joseph's College P&F End of Year SUPER Raffle

Get your tickets now https://www.raffletix.com.au?ref=h2sbw

There will be a Tri Service Graduation Parade for Army, Navy and Air Force Cadets aged between 13 and 18 years of age, on Sunday 23 November.

The public are invited to attend.

Monthly flyers for the Grandcarere’s Support Group morning tea and ADHD Families Support Group sausage sizzle

Please see the fantastic lineup of events on offer for Denmark’s IDPWD event, including Dragon Boating, Rowing, Guided nature walks, come and try bowling, adaptive games, musical entertainment, guest speakers and photography competition.

The Vancouver Arts Centre is delighted to announce the launch of its first-ever Kids & Teens Summer Program, taking place from 5–17 January 2026.

This exciting new initiative is designed to inspire young people aged 5 to 17 years through hands-on, engaging art experiences. The program features a diverse range of workshops led by experienced tutors, including photography, pottery, drawing, mixed media, textile design, printmaking, and more.

We have worked to ensure the workshops remain accessible, with prices ranging from $0 to $40 per session. As places are limited and expected to fill quickly, early registration is recommended.

To view the full program or make a booking, please visit:

https://artsandculture.albany.wa.gov.au/learn/workshops/kids-teens-workshops.aspx

The Australian Air Force Cadets in Albany are now recruiting for February 2026. Attached is a poster with information about 705(City of Albany)SQN of the Australian Air Force Cadets.

A few quick facts:-

Cadets between the year they turn 13 and up to 16.

Your local Squadron is 705(City of Albany)SQN which is located at corner of Spencer and Serpentine Roads. We parade on a Wednesday evening from 5.45pm to 9.15 pm during the school term.

As well as undertaking a range of leadership training cadets can undertake learning about aerospace, drone flying, adventure training, flying, camping, parades, firearms training, drum corps, promotional activities, visits and overnighting at military bases.

The cost is minimal, and uniforms are supplied.