Principals' Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
We would like to extend a warm welcome to all our new and existing families to St Joseph’s as we embark on a fresh academic year. We trust you have enjoyed a wonderful, relaxing Christmas and summer holiday break and spent some precious time with your families and friends. The first few days of a new school year are always filled with excitement as children reconnect with their friends and classmates and share news of what they did in the holidays. To all our new families who are joining us this year, a very warm welcome to the St Joseph's school community, we hope the start of your journey here at St Joseph's is a happy, prosperous and rewarding one.
Staff returned last Thursday and have undertaken three busy days of professional learning which began with a Combined Tamworth Catholic Schools Mass at St Nicholas Church. We explored our Annual Improvement Plan, Mission Statement, Code of Conduct, NSW Government Child Safety Standards, Emergency Procedures, took part in CPR Training and learnt more about ViVi, a screen sharing solution from the CSO which is being rolled out across the school in 2025. Staff have also been working hard to plan and prepare for the return of students and can't wait to welcome them back and see their enthusiastic, smiling faces today.
Staffing 2025
We are also very excited to welcome Miss Eliza Bucknell, Miss Olivia Barton and Mrs Nadine Grima to our school this year. Eliza will be teaching Kindergarten and Olivia will be an Education Assistant in Stage 3. Nadine has taken on the Canteen Coordinator role and the canteen will commence early this term. We are also very fortunate to welcome back two familiar faces to St Joseph's. Mrs Judy McManus will be teaching every Tuesday across all grades this year and Miss Taylor Bruce will be teaching as part of the RFF Team. A full staff list for 2025 is in the General Information section of the newsletter.
Best Start Assessments
Miss Bucknell and Miss George will commence conducting the Best Start Assessment with each new Kindergarten student this week. This assessment checks early literacy and numeracy skills and the results will determine student learning needs. Kindergarten parents will also receive feedback on ways they can support their child’s learning at home. We will warmly welcome our new Kindergarten class for their first official day as a group on Friday 7th February. (Kinders should wear their sports uniform on this day). Starting school is such a big milestone and we look forward to supporting our new students and their families as they embark on their learning journey with us.
Living Well, Learning Well Framework
The Living Well, Learning Well framework guides us as we work to increase learning, wellbeing and life-opportunity outcomes for the children in our care. We are provided with three 'Rules for Living and Learning' which define the behaviour expectations we have for ourselves and others. As safe, respectful learners we strive to encourage good behaviour, self-discipline and respect for ourselves and others in a positive and consistent manner as all students have the right to learn in a safe and happy environment.
At St Joseph’s we remind our students that ‘manners cost nothing but mean a great deal’ and that ‘our actions speak louder than words.’ It has been pleasing to see our students embrace these ideas and link them to our rules for living and learning as we commence our school year.
Thank you for your continued support as we begin a new year of learning at St Joseph’s.
We are looking forward to a fabulous year with our school community and hope that 2025 will bring many blessings to all.
May God bless you and your family.
Maree Holland & Greg O'Toole
Co-Principals
St Joseph's School - a Faith Filled Community Where Learning Matters