General Information

School Uniform

Students may continue to wear their summer school uniform in Term 2. We will officially change into winter uniform after the long weekend in June. We ask that whichever uniform your child elects to wear, that they wear the full uniform correctly - please do not mix summer and winter uniform items. Thank you for your support with this as we begin another exciting term. 

Lost Property

We have a number of items in our lost property that have not been claimed. Can you please make sure that all uniform items are clearly labelled with your child's name so they can be returned. 

Messages for Unexplained Absences

Please note the new procedure regarding absences for all schools in the Armidale Diocese: 

From today - 20th May, parents of students who have not explained their absence for the day will receive an automated text message and an email at 10:00am from the administration staff at school.

From this Friday - 24th May, parents of students with unexplained absences who have not explained their absence for the week will receive an email at 11:00am from the Principals. 

Your support with this is greatly appreciated. 

Pupil Free Day

A reminder that next Monday - 27th May is a staff development/pupil free day.

Please note the office will be closed between 8:30am - 12pm on this day.

Application for Extended Leave

Family holidays and travel are no longer considered under the Exemption from School Procedures. Travel outside of vacation periods is now counted as an absence for statistical purposes. Please see the office if  your child will be away from school for 10 days or more as an application form will need to be completed and approved at the discretion of the Principals or delegate. 

KINDERGARTEN ENROLMENTS FOR 2025

Applications have now closed for Kindergarten 2025.  All applications received will be immediately placed on our waiting list.

School Photos

ADIG

Mobile Phones and Other Electronic Devices

At St Joseph's we acknowledge that parents may wish their child to carry a mobile phone for personal safety reasons however, once students arrive at school they must hand in their mobile phone, smart watch or other electronic device at the school office. Devices will be returned to students at the end of the day. All electronic devices that are brought to school are at the owner's risk. No liability will be accepted by the school in the event of loss, theft or damage of the device.

2024 Pupil Free Days

Please note the following Pupil Free Days in your diary:

• Monday 27th May
• Friday 28th June
• Monday 22nd July
• Friday 27th September 
• Monday 14th October
• Friday 20th December

School Hours - Supervision & Attendance

A reminder that school commences at 8:45am and ends at 2:50pm. Please note that supervision of students commences at 8:15am and families are kindly asked not to drop off children before this time. 

If your child arrives at school after 8:45am, a parent/carer will need to sign the student in at the front office.  The Crown Street gate is locked for security reasons at 8:45am. 

'Kiss and Drop'

We encourage families to 'kiss and drop' of a morning to assist with easy drop off procedures. A staff member will be at the front gate from 8:30am - 8:45am each morning to welcome students and assist your child walking in and ensuring they are settled and ready for a day of learning and fun.

P & F Meeting

The next P&F meeting will be held on Tuesday 30th July at 5:30pm in the staffroom. All parents and friends are welcome to attend. 

Change in Routine

Can you please advise the school office before 2:30pm if there is any change in your child's afternoon routine. 

2024 Canberra Excursion

Our Stage 3 students and staff will be travelling to Canberra for their excursion on Monday 11th November to Friday 15th November 2024. 

Parents should have received a Compass Event notification which will include excursion details, consent and payment options.

The initial deposit of $100 was due last Friday 3rd May 2024 with the remaining money to be paid in full by Friday 18th October. 

A huge thank you to our wonderful P&F Association for their generous donation towards the Stage 3 Excursion, which has resulted in a $50 discount to all families. Also, the school has been able to subsidise families by contributing a monetary amount per child to assist in reducing the cost of the excursion. 

Please contact the office if you have any questions or are experiencing any difficulties. 

2024 School Fees

Thank you for your continued support of St Joseph's. Term 2 fees have now been issued. Please contact Jodie via email jwesthorpe@arm.catholic.edu.au or by phoning 6765 4079 if you haven't received your statement or if you have any questions regarding your fees. Payments can be made via BPay - details are available on your statement, Eftpos or cash to the school.

Any family/carer requiring assistance with school fees is encouraged to make an appointment and come and meet with us as soon as possible. 

Student Absences

The NSW Education Act (1990) and the Catholic Schools Office, Armidale require parents/carers to ensure that children of compulsory school age attend school on each day that the school is open for instruction. If children are absent from school, parents/carers are legally required to provide the school with an acceptable explanation, in writing, within seven days of the absence. 

Please also be aware that partial absences calculate towards non attendance at school e.g. if your child arrives late to school, leaves early or misses part of the school day. 

Late arrival makes it more difficult for a child to settle in class. Leaving the class early results in the child missing out on important information to help them prepare for the next day. Each day or part day missed makes the support of your child more challenging as staff attempt to ensure they are learning at an appropriate rate. 

The Importance of Arriving at School on Time 

Arriving at school and class on time: 

• ensures that students do not miss out on important learning activities scheduled early in the day
• helps students learn the importance of punctuality and routine 
• give students time to greet their friends before class
• reduces classroom disruption. Lateness is recorded as a partial absence and must be explained by parents

What if my child has to be away from school? 

On occasion, your child may need to be absent from school. Absences explained by parents/carers have to be justified by the Principal. Justified reasons for student absences may include: 

• being sick, or having an infectious disease - a medical certificate is provided or the Principal accepts the explanation
• having an unavoidable medical appointment 
• being required to attend a recognised religious holiday 
• exceptional or urgent family circumstance (e.g. attending a funeral)

An explained but unjustified absence is an instance where a parent/carer has explained the student's absence and this has not been accepted by the Principal.