Principal's Report

As we move through Term 2, it has been wonderful to see the sustained effort and engagement of our students across all areas of school life. From the classroom to the sporting field and faith experiences, our young people continue to demonstrate persistence, enthusiasm and pride in representing St Joseph’s.

This week, we celebrate Catholic Schools Week across the Armidale Diocese. It was a privilege to accompany our Stage 3 students to the Deanery Mass at the Saints Mary and Joseph Cathedral in Armidale. Our students represented St Joseph’s with reverence, respect and pride throughout this special diocesan gathering. Other exciting Catholic Schools Week activities are highlighted throughout the newsletter.

Last Friday, I also had the pleasure of attending the Armidale Catholic Schools Cross Country Trials. Handing place cards to runners as they crossed the finish line gave me a wonderful opportunity to witness firsthand the grit, determination and courage of our students as they tested themselves at the next level. Their effort and sportsmanship were outstanding.

At the recent Principals’ Meeting, I was honoured to speak as part of a panel highlighting St Joseph’s outstanding NAPLAN achievement results. The discussion focused on the high-quality learning and teaching occurring across our school, including our strong teams of skilled, helpful adults, our very high adult density, the use of quality teaching resources and our intentional focus on ensuring students achieve expected reading benchmarks by the end of Year 2.

Thank you to our students, staff and families for the continued commitment you show to learning, faith and wellbeing within our St Joseph’s community. It is a privilege and an honour to lead and serve at St Joseph’s. 

Have a wonderful week.

May God bless you and your family.

Casey Chard

Principal