Principal's Message

Dear St Joseph’s Families,

As we rapidly approach the end of Term 2, our school community remains as vibrant and busy as ever. From welcoming back familiar faces to showcasing our students' incredible talents in the wider community, there is much to celebrate and prepare for in the coming weeks.

Important Notice: School Fees Update

A reminder to all families regarding the payment of school fees as reminder letters have once again been emailed to families. Fees are charged for our Primary, Central, and Secondary schools in the Catholic Diocese of Armidale. In addition to tuition fees, there may be school-based charges for specific subjects, excursions, or other activities.

Armidale Catholic Schools receives funding from both the Commonwealth and State Governments which is necessary to operate our schools. School fees supplement this income and are essential to help meet the gap between government funding and the cost of providing quality educational experiences and outcomes for students.

Armidale Catholic Schools recognises that all students are entitled to access educational opportunities that nurture the Catholic faith and allow students to reach their full potential. Together, we work to ensure literate and numerate students for a hope-filled future.

Financial Support & Payment Plans

We understand that managing household budgets can be challenging, and please note that flexible payment plans can be easily set up to help spread the cost of fees. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, we encourage you to contact the school office to discuss an arrangement that will assist you to meet your commitments. Please be reassured that your situation will be treated with strict confidentiality and absolute respect for your circumstances.

2027 Enrolments 

Spread the word...we are now accepting enrolment applications for 2027. If you have a child beginning Kindergarten next year, or know someone who does, please go to our St Joseph's Walgett website and complete the new online enrolment application. 

https://stjosephswalgett.catholic.edu.au/enrolment-information/

Celebrating Our Learning: Open Classrooms

Our recent Open Classrooms event was a wonderful success! It was fantastic to see so many parents, carers, and community members step into our learning spaces. We thank all those who were able to attend and observe the incredible teaching and learning happening daily at St Joseph's. The students thoroughly enjoyed sharing their hard work with you. Photos are attached further in this Newsletter.

Staffing Updates

We have a few changes happening within our staff team as we head into the final weeks of the term:

• Welcome Back: We are thrilled to welcome back Mrs Logan from her leave next week. Kindergarten students have missed her greatly and are incredibly happy to have her back in the classroom!
• With Gratitude: We extend a massive thank you to Mrs Holcombe for her fantastic care and support in the Kindergarten classroom while Mrs Logan was away. We also owe a huge thank you to Mrs Newton for her wonderful work stepping into the Religious Education Coordinator (REC) role during this time.
• Thank You & Farewell: We extend our warmest thanks to Miss Frazier, who will be leaving us at the end of this week. We deeply appreciate the time she has given us, helping out and teaching across the school in Mrs Logan’s absence.
• New Team Member: Please join us in welcoming Mr Jason Clarke to our team. Mr Clarke is supporting our Stage 1 classrooms, and we are absolutely glad to have him as part of the St Joseph’s school family.

Semester 1 Reports & Parent-Teacher Interviews

Our teachers have been working tirelessly on compiling the Semester 1 Student Reports. Please note that Parent-Teacher Interviews will be held in Week 11. We strongly encourage all parents and carers to book a time to meet with teachers. This is a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, celebrate their achievements, and set goals for the second half of the year. Bookings are available on Compass.

Best Wishes for Wii Gaay Camp

We send our very best wishes to our two students who are attending the Wii Gaay camp in Coffs Harbour this week! This is a truly fantastic opportunity for them to extend their learning and deepen their understanding of culture. We cannot wait to hear all about their adventures when they return. A huge thank you also goes to Miss Suey for attending the camp alongside our students and supporting them on this wonderful journey.

Stage 3 Showcase: Community Events

Next week, our Stage 3 students will showcase their talents and represent St Joseph's at two wonderful community events. They will be performing traditional welcome dances at:

1. The TAFE NSW Walgett Yarning Circle Opening – Tuesday, 23rd June
2. The Narran Lake Open Day – Friday, 26th June

We wish Stage 3 the very best of luck. We know you will represent our school with pride and respect!

Important Dates

• 15th-19th June - Wii Gaay Camp
• 23rd June - TAFE NSW Walgett Yarning Circle Opening - Stage 3
• 26th June - Narran Lake Open Day - Stage 3
• 30th June-1st July - Parent Teacher Interviews
• 2nd July - NAIDOC Day
• 3rd July - Ridley Trudgett Netball Carnival Warren
• 3rd July - Last day of term 2

Blessings for the week ahead,

Donna