From the Principal

Excellence

This week at assembly, I encouraged students to strive for excellence. Not excellence that requires them to be perfect or have all the answers, or be better than everyone else, but the excellence of trying to be better today than you were yesterday. Making a choice each day, to show up, to try, to give their best, even when it’s hard.

The excellence of giving that little bit extra in everything they do. For example, finishing an assessment task not just because it's due but because you care, or practising their sport not just to win but to grow stronger. Being respectful and taking responsibility for their own learning and the learning of others in the class.

Understanding that excellence is a habit – it's what happens when they choose effort over excuses, resilience over quitting and integrity over shortcuts.

Excellence is different for everyone – it might be standing up and giving a speech in class for the first time. It might be turning up to school every day when life is a bit tough at home. No act of striving for excellence is too small but it is a deliberate act of trying to make themselves a little better than the day before.

When they aim for excellence, they just don’t lift themselves – they inspire others. They help build a culture of kindness, courage and purpose. They help shape our school where effort is valued, and success is shared.

So, I challenged students not to settle for average when they were made for more. Dream big, work hard, be kind and choose excellence every single day. Because excellence is not a destination, it’s a way of life.

A Prayer for Excellence

Gracious God,

Grant our students the strength to work hard,

The wisdom to understand,

The courage to keep going when it’s tough.

Help them to use their gifts fully and faithfully, not for pride, 

but to honour You and serve others.

May they strive not just for success, but true excellence – 

with justice and integrity, perseverance and heart.

Amen

Congratulations Ivee A

Ivee A was a finalist in the NSW Training Awards for 2025. Ivee is completing her TAFE Certificate III in Human Services through Hunter New England Health as part of her Higher School Certificate and was nominated by her TAFE teacher for the award. Unfortunately, Ivee did not win the award, but we are very proud of her for becoming a finalist and doing so well at TAFE. To complete the HSC alone is a massive achievement in itself, but to successfully complete a traineeship and a TAFE course and the HSC is nothing short of remarkable. Congratulations Ivee.

Disability Expo

Last week we held our inaugural Disability Expo. A huge thank you to Mrs Sarah Doyle for organising the Expo and to all the services who attended the evening, sharing their supports for the families and carers in our school who have disabled children. I know from my own personal experience several years ago, when my autistic son finished school, there were so few service providers to support our family. It was heartwarming and encouraging to know that things have changed for the better, with significantly more support and choice available today. 

I believe that Mrs Doyle will continue to run the Expo annually at St Joseph’s, and she has my full support for doing so. It was a tremendous service for our school community.

Veronica Rolfe

Principal