Principals' Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
Since our last newsletter, we have had the privilege of attending the Association of Catholic School Principals (ACSP) State Conference, held in a very wet but beautiful Hunter Valley. The rain certainly gave a fresh perspective to the conference’s theme: "Living Waters: Leading with Hope, Inspiring Faith Communities."
It was a valuable opportunity to join colleagues from across the Armidale Diocese and the state for rich professional learning and collaboration. The conference featured inspiring presentations from leading educators and provided countless moments for meaningful discussion and reflection. It is always uplifting to be part of a wider community committed to Catholic education. We are reminded of the important work we do each day at St Joseph’s to celebrate student achievements and challenge learners to reach their potential in a nurturing safe and respectful environment where every child can thrive.
The ACSP continues to be a strong voice for Catholic education across NSW, promoting leadership grounded in faith and hope. We have been inspired by stories of faith, learning, and well-being shared by our fellow leaders at this year's conference.
Catholic Schools Week - 2025
Last week we celebrated Catholic Schools Week which is an opportunity for us to reflect upon and celebrate Catholic Schools and the commitment to every young person in our care. This year's theme is "Pilgrims of Hope" which reflects our mission of providing a faith-filled and hope filled future for our students.
On Monday our staff took part in the Tamworth Catholic Schools spirituality day at McCarthy Catholic College. On Tuesday we had a wonderful liturgy followed by 'open classrooms' at St Joseph's to initate our events for the week. Thank you to Mrs Mitchell and Mrs Vile for their organisation of the liturgy and the beautiful videos, it was absolutely fabulous for everyone in attendance.
On Wednesday we had the privilege of attending Mass at O'Connor Catholic College in Armidale with our school captains, their parents and other school representatives from across the Armidale Diocese. This event was a wonderful moment to celebrate and acknowledge Catholic education and the achievements of our twenty-four school communities. Here in our own school community many students have benefitted and continue to thrive from the dedication and commitment from our wonderful staff at St Joseph's.
We were exceptionally proud to witness the recognition of Mrs Judy Ryan who was the recipient of the Armidale Catholic Schools 2025 Spirit of Catholic Education Award in the Experienced Teacher category. This is a very well-deserved honour that reflects Judy’s dedication and care for our students, our school community and her profession for many years. Congratulations Judy on this wonderful achievement!
On Thursday we had six of our Stage 3 students take part in an afternoon of chess with other students from the Tamworth Schools and that evening our students took part in a disco organised by the staff with our P&F Members providing food and drinks on the night. Our Catholic Schools Week culminated with a mufti day and a sausage sizzle on Friday.
This year's Catholic Schools week was a joyful and meaningful celebration, highlighting the incredible gift of Catholic education in our lives. Sincere thanks to everyone who helped make the week's events such a great success.
Maree Holland & Greg O'Toole
Co-Principals
St Joseph's School - a Faith Filled Community Where Learning Matters