Principal's Report

Dear Parents, Carers and Community Members,

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

Last Friday, we gathered with our St Patrick’s Parish community to celebrate the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, a particularly significant occasion for St Joseph’s given our deep connection to her life and the Josephite tradition. The Sisters of St Joseph established their ministry in Glen Innes in the 1880s and Mary MacKillop herself spent time here; importantly, she signed the deeds for the original St Joseph’s Convent and in March 1891 wrote to her Sisters from St Joseph’s, Glen Innes. This rich history continues to shape who we are today. I have been speaking with our students about Mary’s words, ‘Never see a need without doing something about it,’ encouraging them to recognise that her legacy lives on at St Joseph’s whenever we notice the needs of others, show kindness, serve generously and take action to make a difference in our school, parish and wider community.

Principals’ Meeting and Retreat

This week, I joined fellow principals and the Armidale Catholic Schools Board at Holy Trinity, Inverell, with a key focus on strategic planning and providing feedback on the draft 2027 ACS Annual Improvement Plan. This important work supports the implementation of the Our Hope-Filled Future Strategy 2026–2030 and ensures our work at St Joseph’s remains connected to the broader direction of Catholic education across our Diocese. Today, our Principals and ACS Leadership Team are gathering in Bingara for our annual retreat, which is an important opportunity for faith formation, reflection and connection, with God remaining central to our leadership and all that we do.

Annual School Survey - Your Feedback Matters

Our Annual School Survey will be emailed to families on Monday 24 August and will close on Wednesday 2 September. Feedback from our families, staff and students is incredibly valuable in helping us celebrate what is working well and identify priorities for our ongoing improvement. I genuinely value your thoughts and appreciate the time families take to contribute. Please keep an eye on your inbox and have your say!

Together, we continue to strengthen the special community that makes St Joseph’s a place where every young person can belong, grow and thrive.

May God bless you and your family.

Casey Chard

Principal