Principal's Report

Welcome back everyone to another exciting year at St Joseph's School Glen Innes where we continue to challenge ourselves to achieve at the next level! While only 4 days have passed since we kicked off, much has happened from Kinder Best Start assessments, Water Awareness sessions at the local pool, Day One for our 2023 Kindergarten class and the Welcome BBQ that included tours of our contemporary classrooms. AND, most exciting, was the launch of our “Little Joey’s” School Readiness program on Thursday - check out the poster in this newsletter as well as the shop windows around town! Spread the word - it is a wonderful nurturing environment for growing future St Joseph’s students!

All of these activities reflect our balanced and deliberate efforts to grow and challenge children to achieve their best potential, academically, physically, culturally and spiritually. Our team of skilful, helpful adults bring all of their skill, experience and expertise to ensure that every child feels -

This ‘big’ work began in earnest over the first couple of days whereby our children were able to co-construct what these three well being domains mean to them in an age-appropriate manner. This intentional work matches the latest well being research on ‘student voice’ that says without a clear whole-school-focus on well being, there is little to any chance of improving academic performance. Our 2022 surveys of student well being were strongly aligned to excellent academic performance and encourages us to go bigger and better this year.

Hence, our deeper focus this year is on RESPECT for self, others and property. From Day One, in partnership with our team of skilful helpful adults, our children have committed to a respectful tone, appearance and welcome for all members of our community as well as strangers. I am supremely confident that if anybody came across a St Joseph's student in or outside of our grounds that they would be highly impressed with their manners, appearance and respectful interaction.

This important work leads into a quick reminder about the promotion of the success of our past students. Put quite simply, year in year out, we produce excellent graduates of this school who then go on to fulfill their potential in a broad life stage. We want to deliberately sing their praises and celebrate their success in our fortnightly newsletters as an aspirational vehicle to encourage our current students to push themselves to achieve at the next level. Drop us a line and let us know ASAP!

Another strong focus for 2023 is to encourage all families and parish community members to feel welcome to attend much more regularly our school and parish liturgical and Eucharistic gatherings. There are two such events coming up very quickly in the first term. Firstly, the Whole School Opening Mass will be held next Wednesday 8th February at 12 noon in St Patrick’s Church. At the conclusion of this Eucharistic celebration, our 2023 Student Representative Council members will be inducted into their roles after a formal blessing from Father Gleeson. Similarly, our 2023 Ash Wednesday service that marks the beginning of the Lenten season will be held onsite at St Joseph's School in the Undercroft on Wednesday 22nd February. All parents, grandparents and parish members are encouraged to attend both services as we intentionally and actively grow our Catholic faith community together.

Overall, a great start for a great community! If the Welcome BBQ is anything to go by, we are in for another wonderful year. Always feel very welcome to attend any and all of our school events and keep informed and up-to-date through Facebook and this fortnightly newsletter. Until next time.

May God go with you.

Geoff McManus

Principal