St. Josephs Catholic College Katherine eNewsletter Term 04 - Week 03
Principal's Message
“Let your light shine before others.” – Matthew 5:16
Dear Parents and Guardians,
What great storytellers were the Brothers Grimm, Jakob and Wilhelm. For over 200 years, children and adults worldwide have enjoyed Cinderella, Snow White, Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, Hansel and Gretel, and a host of other wonderfully told stories.
One story not so well known is The Moon, later adapted into a one-act opera by the German composer Carl Orff.
The story centres around four young lads who live in a land where there is no light - no sun by day and no moon or stars by night. The people live in darkness. One day, the four lads travel to another land and find the moon hanging on a tree. They steal it and take it home, charging others for its use. Eventually, they grow old and die, and as each one passes, a quarter of the moon is buried with him until there is no more light.
However, in Orff’s opera, Petrus, ruler of the sky, descends to the dead, retrieves the four pieces of the moon, and hangs them in the sky once again - for the benefit of all.
There is a beautiful symbolism in this story about the importance of light. Jesus said of himself, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12). Even after His death, when darkness seemed to cover the world, His Resurrection restored that light.
As followers of Christ, we are now called to be that light-through our compassion, patience, and love for others. Like Petrus retrieving the moon, we too can renew our faith and share that light with others-especially as we move towards the season of Advent and Christmas.
At this time of year, we are reminded that the true light of the world is not something to be hoarded, but to be shared freely-through our words, our actions, and our care for one another.
“Jesus, light of the world,
Shine through the darkness bright as the day.
Jesus, light of the world,
Shine in our hearts, show us the way.”
- Author Unknown
Term 4 Reflections
As we enter the final term of what has been a busy and fast-paced year, there is much to celebrate and be thankful for. Our students and staff continue to show resilience, creativity, and joy in their learning, and the College community has grown stronger together.
We are delighted to share that the refurbishment of the old Administration Block is now complete. This exciting transformation has provided us with new, modern spaces including a STEM Room, a Multipurpose Room, and a Sensory/Engine Room. These facilities will greatly enhance teaching and learning opportunities across all year levels as we move forward into 2026 and beyond.
College Highlights and Upcoming Events
- Secondary Thanksgiving and Awards Evening
Our Secondary Thanksgiving and Awards Evening was a wonderful celebration of our students’ achievements and contributions across the year. It was heartwarming to see the pride, joy, and gratitude shared among students, staff, and families. A special thank you to Kahl Wienands and Chelsea Carter our 2026 College Captains, for MC’ing the evening so professionally and with such confidence and grace.
- Year 12 Farewell and Graduation
Friday 14th October, marked the final school day for our Year 12 students. We congratulate them on reaching this milestone and thank them for the spirit and determination they have shown along the way. We now look forward to celebrating their journey at the Graduation Mass and Dinner on Tuesday 11th November - a special evening of faith, reflection, and community.
- Primary End-of-Year Celebration Evening
We are also looking forward to our upcoming Primary Celebration Evening on the 28th November, a joyful event where each class will take to the stage to perform and showcase their talents. The evening will include the presentation of awards recognising the effort, growth, and achievements of our students throughout the year. This is always a heart-warming event that captures the true spirit of our school community.
Looking Ahead to Christmas
As we begin the lead-up to Christmas, may we take time to pause, reflect, and let the light of hope, peace, joy, and love guide our families and our community.
Peace and best wishes,
Sunniva Antonucci
Principal
Primary News
YR 2 - Making Jesus Real (MJR)!
Year 2 have enjoyed learning about “Making Jesus Real” this year. Each week, during one of our religion lessons, we have read a small passage and then completed some work related to that passage about Jesus and how we can make him more real in our lives and the lives of others. We have learnt all about the kind of person Jesus is and also focused on the acronyms of G.T.S and W.E.S.T, which are ways we can respond to others by the way we Greet, Treat and Speak to people and to make sure we have the values of being Welcoming, Encouraging, saying Sorry when we need to and being Thankful. We have learnt a lot through doing this and everyday try to ensure we are following in the footsteps of Jesus
Secondary News
YR 11 Kidney Dissection Practical
The Year 11 students performed a kidney dissection to visually explore the organ responsible for filtering blood and producing urine. They began by examining the exterior of the kidney to identify its protective layer, the renal capsule, and the entry/exit point called the hilum. At the hilum, they located the major tubes: the ureter (which carries urine), the renal artery (bringing blood in), and the renal vein (taking blood out). Next, the kidney was cut lengthwise to reveal its internal structure. This cross-section clearly displayed the three functional layers: the outer cortex, the middle medulla (with its striped pyramids), and the central, hollow renal pelvis, which collects the processed urine before it travels out through the ureter.
Little Joeys News
Welcome to Georgia
This term, we warmly welcomed Georgia to our team. Georgia is an experienced educator who has taken on the role of Educational Leader and Early Childhood Teacher in our Preschool group.
Throughout the term, the children have been exploring the concept of space through a range of hands-on learning experiences. From intricate puzzles and sensory small-world setups to engaging story times, the children have been developing their understanding of spatial awareness, direction, and shape in creative and meaningful ways.
Water play has continued to be a favourite as the weather warms up. It has not only helped us stay cool but also encouraged collaborative engineering as the children worked together in the sandpit to build waterways, dams, and channels.
In our mud kitchen, the children have been experimenting with natural materials to create imaginative “potions” and sensory recipes. Using lemons, limes, flowers, coloured water, and herbs from our very own vegetable patch, they’ve been exploring scent, texture, and colour while engaging their creativity and curiosity about nature.
Katherine Farmstay Excursion
This week, we went on an exciting excursion to visit Bec and Mick at Katherine Farmstay. The children were thrilled to head off on another bus adventure and meet all the animals — big and small! Some standout favourites included seeing the big crocodile that once lived at Ayla’s house, and the joy of feeding the friendly goats and camel. It was a wonderful hands-on experience that sparked many conversations about animal care, habitats, and life on a farm.
Celebrating Diwali
This week, Mr Nab has been proudly sharing his cultural celebration of Diwali with the children. Together, they explored the meaning of this festival of lights and worked collaboratively to dye rice in vibrant colours. The children then used the coloured rice to create beautiful Rangoli designs on paper, expressing creativity while learning about cultural traditions and celebrations.
Preparing for Big School
Our Preschool children have been preparing for the exciting step of going to “big school” by participating in transition visits. These visits help the children become familiar with their new environment, teachers, and routines, supporting them to feel confident, comfortable, and ready as they begin their next learning journey.
2026 Enrolments Now Open
We are now confirming and taking enrolments for the 2026 year. Families who wish to secure a place are encouraged to visit our school website and add their child to the waitlist via the link below:
https://www.stjoeys.college/
Spaces are limited, so we encourage early registration to avoid disappointment.
- Till Next Time From The Little Joey's Team
Sports News
Representing the NT at National Championships
Tatum Sheridan
Eliza Richards
A huge shout-out to our very own Tatum Sheridan and Eliza Richards!
They've been selected to represent the Northern Territory at the upcoming School Sport Australia National Championships in Ballarat this week. Tatum will be playing for the NT Under 12 Cricket Team, and Eliza for the NT Under 12 Touch Football Team.
We are incredibly proud of their dedication and talent. Congratulations, Tatum and Eliza! We wish you both the very best as you compete on the national stage. Go well!
YR 4/5 - Skipping Clinic
Last week we were lucky enough to have World Champion Luke Boon in to take some Skipping clinics for year 4/5 students. The kids had the best time learning new skills and tricks in Jump Rope. Helping them train for the skipping competition coming up in December.
Important Dates
Colour Fun run change of date - Week 9 Friday 1:45pm
School News and Events
Secondary Thanksgiving & Liturgy Awards Night
This week, our College community came together for our Secondary Thanksgiving and Liturgy Awards Night — a wonderful celebration of faith, gratitude, and achievement. It was a special opportunity to reflect on the year, give thanks, and recognise the outstanding efforts of our students.
Congratulations to all our award recipients! Your hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence make us proud. A special congratulations to Riccardo Baldock, recipient of the College DUX Award - an exceptional achievement!
We would also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our guest speakers and invited guests for joining us on this special occasion: Mr Paul Greaves, Ms Ann Charles, Mayor Joanna Holden, Ms Jennifer Bauer, Chief Petty Officer Sarah Lindsey, Base Commander Mr Charles Tomlinson, and representatives from the St Joseph’s Catholic College Board.
Your presence and support helped make the evening a truly memorable celebration of our students and College community.
2026 NT Senior Australian of the Year Nominee
Congratulations to St Joseph's founding parent and long term supporter Jenny Duggan OAM on being announced as a Finalist in the Senior Australian of the Year NT Category.
Jenny Duggan OAM ( Environmental warrior )
For decades, Jenny Duggan has shown extraordinary grassroots leadership as Katherine’s ‘rubbish warrior’, quietly transforming the landscape and community spirit of her town.
Each morning Jenny walks the banks of the Katherine River to remove litter. In collecting hundreds of kilograms of rubbish, she’s put the spotlight on environmental safety.
To reduce the danger of broken glass in public spaces, Jenny advocated for the Katherine Liquor Accord’s move to plastic wine bottles. She’s also a force behind Katherine's Neighbourhood Watch – all part of her drive to make Katherine safer for everyone.
Jenny supports community members experiencing hardship through her volunteer work with the St Vincent de Paul Society. Here Jenny serves on the management committee of Ormonde House, which provides housing for men in need, and on the management committee for Katherine’s Vinnies store.
In her daily, humble, practical service, Jenny exemplifies community care in action.
Winners will be announced at a special awards ceremony in Darwin on the evening of 3 November.
Tune into the livestream on 3 November from 6pm (ACST) via australianoftheyear.org.au.
Community Events & News
FREE Autism online workshops for parents and carers
Girl Power - AFL Gala Day
Apprenticeships NT Vacancies
