Secondary News
I hope that all our mothers and people who take on the mothering roll in our community had a lovely Mother’s Day last Sunday. Our Year 8s hosted a delicious Mother’s Day Morning Tea on the Secondary Campus and it was huge. I’d sincerely like to thank all of the families who attended. Our Year 8s were very proud of themselves and being able to showcase their abilities is always wonderful. Obviously, I needed to test everything and needed to be rolled out of the room.
Last Thursday night, the Combined University Roadshow presented to students and parents. Thank you to those who attended. The evening was very informative for those students wishing to go to university after high school.
On Wednesday of this week we invited a guest speaker, Jade Lewis, to present to the whole Secondary school. Her presentation, 'Just Say No', was a powerful message about her lived experience with drug addiction and how to develop responsible and powerful drug and alcohol awareness and prevention. This was an education about the real dangers and consequences of drug use and equipping people with alternative ways to live a drug free, fulfilled, motivated life in a world full of temptations.
This is a fresh message of hope to young people who are seeing an increasing rate of drug experimentation, addiction, crime, violence and in some cases death.
On Wednesday night we held the 2025 Year 11 Information Evening. This was an opportunity for us to discuss the courses on offer here at St Joseph’s, at Northam TAFE and through the online world of ViSN (Virtual School Network - online courses). There was a lot of information for our Year 10s and their parents to take on board in one evening. The information given can also be found on our school website. All Year 10 parents will be emailed an appointment time to come in and discuss their students' course selection for 2025.
Year 7 parents, please remember to complete the immunisation forms through the online platform, whether your child is participating or not. The immunisations are taking place on Wednesday of Week 7.
Sharon Cusack
Head of Secondary
News from the English Department
Sherlock Holmes
On the Monday 22 April, the Year 12 ATAR English class was pleased to welcome Mr Frederick Rutter to present to the class on the detective fiction of Sir Arther Conan Doyle. Mr Rutter is a member of the Sherlock Holmes Society of Western Australia and appeared in character (and dress) as Lord Adair, Earl of Maynooth from the year 1891.
Mr Rutter gave a fascinating talk that covered a lot of the history, and some of the peculiarities, of the Sherlock Holmes stories. His presentation was further enlivened by a suitcase of props (including the very bullet that injured John Watson in the British retreat from Afghanistan!).
Students will be able to draw on elements of Mr Rutter's presentation in their genre study of the development and evolution of detective fiction.
Daniel Matthys
Head of English
News from the HASS Department
ANZAC Trailer
On Wednesday 1 May, the HASS department welcomed Mr Graham Brooks and his ANZAC trailer to the campus.
The ANZAC trailer includes a number of displays that relate to Australia’s experience in wartime. The trailer also included some interactive elements such as military uniforms, which students were able to dress in. The trailer was a timely addition to the HASS curriculum on the Wednesday after ANZAC day.
Daniel Matthys
Head of HASS
Year 7 Town Walk
On Tuesday 7 May, both Year 7 classes went for a walk around Northam as part of the 'Liveability' topic in Geography. Students completed a survey of the town and looked at features that make it a pleasant place to live.
Students also considered the range of facilities available to people in the Avon Valley and will be using this information to complete a fieldwork booklet and make a video.
The students were beautifully behaved and enjoyed the walk in the sunshine. Many thanks to Mr Vogel and Ms Williamson-Holley for their assistance.
Nicole Parker
HASS Teacher
Food Studies
Year 10
The students in the Year 10 Food class recently completed their cupcake challenge. They designed their own cakes and icing as a prelude to the Year 11 cake decorating task.
We had some beautiful results.
Year 8
Last week, the Year 8 Foods class completed their Mexican Marvels Assessment. They investigated Mexican ingredients and then came up with their own Mexican meal design.
They did an amazing job.
Carol Farson
Food Teacher
Children, Family and the Community
For the last two Wednesday afternoons, the Year 12 Children, Family and the Community students held a playgroup for 0-5 year olds. The students engaged the children in activities they had prepared as part of their assessment. Lots of fun was had by all and the little ones loved taking home their masterpieces. Stay tuned for more playgroups later in the year.
Carol Farson
Children, Family and the Community Teacher
Physical Education
ACC Basketball Semi Finals Match
Congratulations to the Junior Girls who played at the ACC Basketball Semi Final match on Thursday 9 May. The students put up a competitive performance against John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School, but unfortunately were defeated by their outstanding plays and skills. Good luck to John Septimus Roe in the Grand final.
Thank you again to Andrea Woodgate and the parents who attended the match with their students, and especially Michael Dymnicki for his contribution in coaching and supplying uniforms for the students across all their matches.
Adrienne Suckling
Head of Health & Physical Education
News from the VET Office
Congratulations to Bronte Harvey in Year 10 on the successful completion of her Workplace Learning at Toodyay District High School. Bronte worked with a Year 2/3 class supporting the classroom teacher with the delivery of the curriculum, including a Swimming Carnival.
Nursing & Healthcare
At the beginning of the year, students in Year 9 completed a survey identifying future career pathways that interested them from a list of offerings from Central Regional TAFE.
Last week a group of Year 9 students who selected Nursing and Healthcare as an industry of interest were escorted to CRTAFE for a Career Taster event. Students spent time in the simulated hospital ward and worked with robotic mannequins taking blood pressure, pulse and observing CPR.
These events are run periodically throughout the year by CRTAFE and, if there is enough interest, students attend a morning of hands-on activities learning about what studying for a career in that industry involves.
TAFE Open Day
On Monday 13 May, the Year 10 students joined other students from the wheatbelt area to explore the study options for Year 11 and 12 offered by Northam TAFE. Students spent the morning on rotation listening to lecturers explain the courses on offer, participating in hands-on activities and talking to existing students studying a variety of courses.
Students gained valuable information about the Vocational Education and Training Delivered to Secondary Students (VETDSS) qualifications on offer, which will assist them in making an informed decision when undertaking the Year 11 subject selection process this term.
Year 9 Mindflight Incursion
Last Friday, the second cohort of Year 9s took part in the 'Midflight' Incursion. They used cutting-edge VR Technology to engage in immersive, hands-on experiences centred around various career and trade related scenarios. Students explored forklift driving, plane simulators, Marine Biology - squid dissection, heart surgery, being a restaurant chef and many more.
Afterwards, the students identified three new things that they were skilled at and explored how to go about researching their career path.
Caroline Marriott
VET Coordinator