Principals' Message

Dear St Joseph's Parents and Carers,

Learning priorities during Term 4

During the term the staff will continue to work in all areas of the 2025 Annual School Improvement Plan and during this time will be reviewing the evidence of impact in each of its areas. This will form the basis for future planning. This year the areas of Prayer Life and Building strong Teams using the methodology found in Professional Learning Communities  to enhance Learning and Teaching, are key components. To this end strategies have been implemented and data collated to inform next years plan. Last week we travelled to Warialda to present our AIP review to St Joseph's Warialda and Mungindi, as well as the Staff from the ACS. It was a great opportunity to discuss our success story and share the achievements we have made this year.

Afternoon Dismissal Reminder 

At 3:05pm students should move to the undercover area between the staffroom and Room 2, where the teachers on bus duty will unlock the gate when all classes have been dismissed. The teachers on duty will also have the clipboard with any instructions for students that have been communicated to school that day. Students who are catching the bus home will line up in their bus lines on the front grassed area near the tree. Those who are being collected, walking home or riding a bike will assemble out the front St Joseph’s garden area. Parents must come to the front gate where the teachers on duty are standing to collect their child/ren. Students who are walking or riding a bike home will be dismissed by the duty teachers when it is safe to do so. Families/student will be dismissed one at a time, this may take a small amount of time and we thank you for your patience in helping us dismiss your children safely. All afternoon changes need to be communicated to the school by 2:30 at the latest.

The School Advisory Council

The School Advisory Council (SAC) is a vital parent group that provides a wonderful opportunity for members of our school and parish community to support the mission of Catholic education at St Joseph's. The SAC's role is fundamentally advisory.

Working with myself and our Parish Priest, the members of the Council provide guidance and support to the wider school community. It is a way for community members to participate in a collaborative service through the sharing of wisdom. While the day-to-day leadership and management of the school remains my responsibility as Principal, the SAC advises on important areas such as:

• The school's Catholic identity, ethos, and mission.
• Pastoral care strategies.
• Supporting opportunities for parent engagement in student learning.

If you have a genuine desire to serve our school community and can work collaboratively and constructively with others, we would love to hear from you. Please contact the school office to express your interest or to receive more information.

Real Talk Parent & Caregiver Session

Real Talk is a valuable agency providing values-based education on human dignity, personal identity, and relationships to students, parents and caregivers.  A Real Talk Parent & Caregiver Session is scheduled to take place in Tamworth on Wednesday 12th November - 6-7pm at McCarthy Catholic College. These sessions are provided free of charge to all participants as part of the Armidale Catholic Schools' ongoing work with the Real Talk program. Please see the General Information page in this newsletter for further information.

Tuition Fees

As we approach the end of the 2025 school year,  I would like to thank all our families for their contribution through paying school fees. Timely payment of fees ensures that the school can continue to provide high-quality resources, programs, and support for all students. If you have already settled your account, we sincerely thank you. We kindly remind all families that school fees must be paid in full by the 21 November 2025 as outlined in your Statement of School Fees.