Principal's Report

Dear Parents and Carers, 

Welcome to the 2025 School Year!

Dear Parents, Carers, and our wonderful School Community,

It is an absolute joy to return to St Joseph’s. While I have a long history with this beautiful school, I have spent the past two and a half years working at a system level for Armidale Catholic Schools. Coming back, I have been deeply touched by the warm welcome from students, staff, families, and our Parish community. Meeting new faces and reconnecting with familiar ones has been a delight, and I truly look forward to working in partnership with you all to continue enriching the faith, learning, and wellbeing of our young people. We warmly welcome Miss Karen Marshall who has joined the Stage 3 teaching team, and our many new families to our incredible St Joseph’s community. 

The start of the school year has been a busy and productive one. In Week 1, our dedicated staff engaged in important training, including Code of Conduct, NSW Government Child Safety Standards, Emergency Procedures, as well as professional learning on the Living Well Learning Well framework and our St Joseph’s School Annual Improvement Plan for 2025. Our dedicated team of skilled, helpful adults have also been working tirelessly to prepare for students' return, ensuring a smooth and welcoming start to the year.

Week 2 has also been filled with energy and excitement!

✨ Our Kindergarten students completed their Best Start assessments before beginning their very first school day yesterday – what a milestone!

✨ Years 1-6 students have already started their Morning Movement sessions, setting a positive tone for each day.

✨ Father Thaddeus and I have been visiting classrooms, witnessing the enthusiasm of our students as they settle into their learning.

These activities reflect our commitment to nurturing and challenging every child academically, physically, culturally, and spiritually. Our team of skilled, helpful adults bring their expertise, experience, and passion to ensure that every student feels- 

Christ-centred Learning Communities in 2025

This year, we are especially focused on growing stronger connections with Families, Parish, and Community. We have several wonderful events coming up, and I warmly invite you to be part of them:

📌 Whole School Opening Mass – Tuesday, 8th February at 9:30 am 

Join us at St Patrick’s Church as we come together in faith to begin the new school year. At the conclusion of Mass, our 2025 Student Representative Council members will be officially inducted into their leadership roles with a special blessing from Father Thaddeus.

📌 Welcome BBQ – Tuesday, 8th February at 5:30 pm 

We invite all parents, grandparents, and Parish members to visit our learning spaces and join us for a relaxed and enjoyable evening. This is a great opportunity to connect with other families and staff as we build our Catholic faith community together. I will speak briefly at 6 pm. 

📌 Swimming Carnival – Wednesday, 12th February 

Our annual Swimming Carnival is always a highlight! Students will have the opportunity to challenge themselves, have fun, and showcase their swimming skills. We look forward to a day of participation, encouragement, and friendly competition.

We encourage all families to stay informed and engaged by following our Facebook page, Compass portal and reading this fortnightly newsletter. Your presence and involvement in school life make a huge difference in creating a vibrant and connected community.

Thank you again for your warm welcome. I am excited for the journey ahead and look forward to sharing a fantastic year with you all!

May God bless you and your family.

Casey Chard

Principal