Principals' Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Week 4

As we move further into Term 3, our focus across the entire school community centers on what it means to be Safe, Respectful Learners at St Joseph’s.

Every day, our staff and students strive to build a school culture where everyone feels secure, valued, and empowered to do their best learning. Being a Safe, Respectful Learner is more than just following rules—it is about how we treat one another, how we care for our shared spaces, and how we take ownership of our growth.

• Being Safe: Ensuring our physical and online environments are positive, inclusive, and free from harm so every child feels confident to participate.

• Being Respectful: Speaking with kindness, valuing diverse ideas, listening actively, and treating our school community with dignity.

• Being a Learner: Bringing curiosity, persistence, and a growth mindset into the classroom every day.

   

Over the coming weeks, we will be highlighting students who demonstrate these core values in action. We encourage families to continue these conversations at home by asking your children how they showed safety, respect, and a commitment to learning throughout their school day.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in making St Joseph’s a supportive and thriving environment for all.

Learning Conferences 

Last week, our teaching staff had the pleasure of meeting with parents and carers to discuss Semester 1 Reports. These conversations are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate student achievements, address areas for growth and build strong home-school partnerships that keep our students thriving. As always, our doors are open—if you ever have concerns or queries regarding teaching and learning, please do not hesitate to reach out.

St Carlo Acutis visit

This week, we are privileged to host the St Carlo Acutis exhibit in our school and Parish. Students will attend a presentation exploring Carlo’s life and legacy, followed by a short time of reflection, prayer, and adoration. The exhibit will also be open in the Parish all day Saturday—everyone in our community is warmly invited to attend.

Armidale Catholic Schools Athletics Carnival

Last week I had the privilege of accompanying our talented students to the Diocesan Athletics Carnival in Tamworth. Competing against over 600 athletes from across the diocese, our team put on a fantastic display of athletic ability and sportsmanship—they should be immensely proud of their efforts! It was a brilliant day all round, though I definitely paid the price, losing my voice from enthusiastic cheering and being stiff and sorry marshaling everyone for their events. A huge congratulations to the students who qualified to represent the Armidale Diocese at the upcoming Polding Athletics Carnival in Glendale on Friday, September 11th!