Principals' Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

A warm welcome back to Term 2 to all our students and families. We hope you all enjoyed a well deserved break with family and friends, and are ready for another exciting term. The staff are enthusiastically looking forward to the wonderful array of learning opportunities that will take place at St Joseph's this term.

ANZAC Day

It was tremendous to see so many students and staff members join us and represent our school community in the traditional ANZAC Day March and commemorations during the holidays. Thank you to our families for your support. We were so grateful for the wonderful attendance and very proud of our students as they commemorated this significant event in our nation's brief history. Following the march we attended the official ceremony in the Tamworth War Memorial Town Hall, where our captains; Jarvis Dobson and Lilah Newell laid a wreath in honour and memory of all those who have lost their lives serving Australia in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. 

“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” 

John 15:13

Learning Together

Last week Miss George, Mrs Kellow, Miss Sampson and Mr Paterson joined Mr O'Toole, Mrs Holland and Mrs Mitchell at the Clarity Suite Professional Learning Days in Gunnedah with other teachers from across the Armidale Diocese. This Armidale Diocesan initiative revisits the work done with Dr Lyn Sharratt over the past eight years in our system of schools. 

It was a rich couple of days and affirming of the work already taking place here at St Joseph's on our learning agenda. The work placed a huge weight on student voice; in particular, making students assessment-capable, that is, having students being able to articulate their learning through the five learning questions:

This work will be an aspect of professional development for all staff and forms part of our Annual Improvement Plan for 2024 as we continue to enhance learning outcomes for all our students.

Next Thursday, we are hosting the Armidale Diocesan MaST/LOP Day in the school hall. This professional development day for all diocesan schools will be coordinated by the Catholic Schools Office and include a learning walk and talk through the learning spaces during the Mathematics Block.

Administrative Professionals Day

Last Friday, 3rd May was Administrative Professionals Day, a day dedicated to celebrate and shed light on the many contributions of devoted and valued administrative professionals. In Australia, this special day is celebrated annually on the first Friday in May. 

We extend our gratitude to our incredible administration team, Mrs Kylie Dewhurst and Mrs Jodie Westhorpe. Their dedication, hard work and tireless efforts are appreciated and we are immensely grateful for everything they do to each and every day for our students, families and staff.

Many phone calls you will take,

Endless deadlines you will make,

Answer questions all day long,

Making sure nothing goes wrong,

Your organisation is beyond compare,

Knowing exactly what to find and where,

Your smiles reach far and near,

And tells all - they are welcome here.

Thank you for all you do! 

We would be lost without you!" 

(Author Unknown)

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.

Mother's Day

As Mother's Day approaches, we would like to extend our warmest wishes to all the mothers, grandmothers, aunties, and mother figures who play such an important role in our lives. This Sunday is a time for us to recognise and appreciate the hard work and dedication of these amazing women who have devoted themselves to raising and nurturing their children. We are grateful for the positive impact they have on our lives and the lives of their families.

In celebration of this important event our school is hosting its annual Mother's Day Liturgy and morning tea on Friday. This beloved tradition is an opportunity for us to come together as a community, celebrate school life, and show our appreciation for the incredible mothers in our midst. The weather is expected to be great, so we invite all families to join us.

At St Joseph's, we hold a deep appreciation for the role of mothers in raising and nurturing their children. We hope that this Mother's Day, our students and their families will take the time to celebrate the important impact that mothers have in our lives. Thank you for your continued support of our school, and we look forward to sharing this special day with you.

May God bless you and your family,

Maree Holland & Greg O'Toole

Co-Principals

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