Dear Parents and Carers,

As we begin a new school year, I extend a very warm welcome to all our students, families and staff, especially those joining our school community for the first time.

A new school year brings fresh beginnings, new energy and exciting opportunities for learning and growth. We look forward to walking together in partnership as we nurture each child’s God given gifts, foster their learning, and strengthen the values of Compassion, Respect and Commitment that are at the heart of our school. I pray that this year will be a joyful and fruitful one for every member of our community.

Our dedicated staff have been so committed in their preparation for the children to come back this week and the students have already settled so well into their new class environments and with their new teachers. The heatwave has kept everyone indoors avoiding the extreme heat, but we are looking forward to some reprieve next week. Thank you to Mrs Munn and her team of teachers who carried out the MAI (Maths) Testing on Wednesday which will provide data for class teachers.

We have 152 students enrolled, 22 new kindergarten students, 10 new families, 3 new staff members and 26 staff members in total, that we have welcomed back to St Joseph's for 2026.

We especially welcome our new families to St Joseph’s. Those families are the: Funcion, Flakelar, Clemson, Heffernan, Fitzgerald, Elphick, Callaghan, Horn, Rhodes and Lieschke families.

A special welcome also to our 3 new staff members:

Mrs Teresa Sandral (Kindergarten)

Miss Eliza Kerr (Year 4 teacher)

Mrs Emily McKinney (Year 4 teacher- Wednesdays)

We are very blessed to have them join our school community and they are very excited to be teaching at St Joseph's. We wish them all the very best for a wonderful year ahead.

Our Parish Priest is Fr Paddy Sykes. Fr Paddy is highly involved in our school community and the religious life of our school. We are very grateful for his faith leadership.

Miss Mikayla Bloomfield, who was a Teacher Assistant last year has resigned as she has moved to Adelaide. We are grateful for all her assistance last year and wish her every success for the future.

Kinder 2026

We look forward to welcoming our new Kindergarten children, all 22 of them, next Monday 2nd February for their first day of school. During the best start testing I have chatted to some of these children and they are very excited to be coming to ‘BIG' school on Monday.

Mrs Sandral is also looking forward to her first day with the Kindies on Monday and she has asked for parents to check See-Saw over the weekend for updated messages regarding Kindie’s first week.

Staff Professional Development Day

On Tuesday 27th January, the staff returned for a full day of Professional Development together. Our teacher assistants engaged in training with Royal Far West on Tuesday and Wednesday, whilst teachers explored neuroscience and its connection to learning. We finished the day with a beautiful mass celebrated by Fr Paddy in our library.

Transition to Kindergarten Class

As most of you would be aware, we are excited to be one of 13 schools in the Catholic Education Diocese of Wagga Wagga offering a Transition to Kinder class for children in our Junee Community who are preparing for Kindergarten in 2027. We have 25 children who will be part of the transition class and they will be under the guidance of Mrs Bianca Brady. Mrs Huard and Mrs Jones will also be supporting the class each Friday. Mrs Brady is very experienced with teaching Kindergarten and early years teaching and learning.

The transition class will have an opportunity to build early literacy and numeracy skills, develop fine and gross motor skills and build social skills and connections within a school environment so they are prepared for their start to Kinder the following year.

Next Friday from 9.00am -1.30pm, there will be a meet and greet session in the hall for the Transition Class. Details and correspondence have been sent home via e-mail. I look forward to meeting the children and their families next week as I will be at the Principals’ conference on the 13th February.

Swimming Carnival

Our school swimming carnival (Years 2-6) will be held next Thursday 5th February at the Junee Recreation Centre. Our Kinder and Year 1 students will stay at school for fun water play on that day. Please ensure that the permission for your child/ren to attend the swimming carnival has been completed. The K/1 teachers will communicate details of the Water Play Day and what students need to bring.

Opening School Mass

Everyone is invited to attend the Opening School Mass and Induction of our Year 6 Leaders on Wednesday 11th February starting at 9.30am in St Joseph's Church. It is a very special way to start our school year together as a community.

Before I conclude, I ask that if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me via email scotta3@ww.catholic.edu.au or call the school to arrange an appointment to come in and see me. Our partnership in your child’s education is very valuable to me and no problem is ever too big or too small.

Stay cool over the weekend and God bless.

Angela Scott

Principal

God Bless

Angela Scott

Junior Joeys

Kinder 2027 Transition Class