St Joseph’s School Newsletter

Principals' Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

Welcome to Week 6 which marks the halfway point of Term 2! It's been an incredibly productive term to date and the next five weeks are looking just as busy. Please see in the General Section of the newsletter important information in regards to the NCCD. Last week we were extremely excited and proud to hear of Darcy Wood's selection in the NSW PSSA Hockey Team which will compete in Cairns later in the year. Well done, Darcy!  A reminder that as the weather turns cooler, students may wear their winter uniform before the official change over after the long weekend.

Catholic Schools Week - 2024

Last week we celebrated Catholic Schools Week which is an opportunity for us to reflect upon and celebrate Catholic Schools and the commitment to every young person in our care. This year's theme "Pray with Hope" reflects our mission of providing a hope-filled future for all our students. 

 

On Monday we had the privilege to attend Mass at Mary Help of Christians Church, South Tamworth with Mrs Mitchell, our School Captains alongside members from the Catholic Schools Office and other school representatives from across the Armidale Diocese. This event was a wonderful moment to celebrate and acknowledge Catholic education and the achievements of our twenty-four school communities. 

Here in our own school community many students have benefitted and continue to thrive from the dedication and commitment from our wonderful staff at St Joseph's. Thank you to our staff, students and families who make St Joseph's a wonderful place of learning.

Social Media

One of the great concerns we all share is the increasing use of social media by children. This is a worry because students of primary school age do not have the maturity to fully understand the wide range of issues and the implications that come with the use of social media. This is clearly articulated in the terms and conditions of each platform. Below are a few examples:

St Joseph’s School has no control over children accessing these sites at home, nor takes any responsibility for the way the children are communicating while away from school. Unfortunately, St Joseph’s School staff are often left to deal with the fall out following these social media interactions. Therefore, we implore you to thoroughly check your child’s devices and please delete these accounts.  It is important that, during their primary years, students do not access these platforms. 

 

RESOURCES

Every Day Counts

Education is important and regular attendance at school is essential for your child to achieve their educational best and increase their career and life options. When your child attends school every day, learning becomes easier as they are able to build on what was learned the day before. Just one day missed per fortnight equates to one whole year over a child's school life! 

 

Arriving at school on time is also important. Classes start at 8:45am so students should arrive at least ten minutes prior to this to ensure they have time to put their bags away and greet their friends. Arriving after the bell disrupts the flow of the class, and important daily reminders and learning opportunities are missed.

 

Schools, in partnerships with families, are responsible for promoting the regular attendance of students and for ensuring that non-attendance is addressed effectively. Thank you for prioritising your children’s attendance at school and please do not hesitate to contact us if your require support in this area.

 

Maree Holland & Greg O'Toole

Co-Principals

 

St Joseph's School - a Faith Filled Community Where Learning Matters