PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
End of Semester 1
As we reach the halfway point of the year, it is the perfect time to reflect on everything we have achieved throughout Semester 1.
Looking back over the last two terms, I am incredibly proud of how our students have grown, how our staff have collaborated, and how our community has come together.
Since commencing at the start of 2026, it has been an absolute privilege to lead St Joseph’s through a vibrant, busy, and highly successful first half of the year. Here is a summary of the key features and milestones that shaped our first semester.
School Celebrations & Highlights
NAPLAN Growth: Our Year 3 and Year 5 students completed their NAPLAN assessments this semester. We have received preliminary data, and I am thrilled to report significant growth from Year 3 to Year 5. We look forward to utilising these insights to directly support and tailor our classroom teaching and learning heading into Semester 2.
St Joseph’s Day: This was a wonderful celebration! A massive thank you to our students and staff for organising and making it such an uplifting and unifying school community event.
Mother's Day: Our students did an amazing job planning, organising, and running a beautiful afternoon to spoil the wonderful women and mother figures in their lives.
Catholic Schools Week: We hosted a fantastic series of events, including a fun celebration with our Booknic and a whole-school trip to the Deanery Mass in Moree.
St Carlo Acutis Exhibition: We were privileged to host the St Carlo Acutis travelling exhibition, presented by the Sisters of the Immaculata. It was a deeply moving and inspiring experience for our students, and we extend our sincere thanks to the families who assisted with meals to make the team and our parishioners feel so welcome.
Community Connections
Legacy Lunch: Keira, Isaac, and Daniel proudly represented St Joseph's at the Legacy Lunch in Inverell. They did an exceptional job and have invited some Legatees to visit our school ahead of Remembrance Day.
ANZAC Day: Thank you to all the families and students who woke up early to support the Dawn Service and participated in the local march.
Warialda Show: Our students had a wonderful time visiting the show. Many walked away with ribbons for their art and decorated arrowroot biscuits! A special thanks to the small group of volunteers who helped work at the entry gate.
Preschool Transition - St Joseph’s Kindergarten Transition mornings (9:00am – 11:00am) will commence on Tuesday, 28 July, kicking off with a Preschool Excursion. We will also be hosting parent information evenings and school tours.
Joey's Awards
It is a joy to hear about the wonderful things our students are doing across the school as we celebrate success. Our focus has been on LEARNING over the last fortnight.
A very special congratulations goes to our recent award recipients:
'Rules for Living':
- Week 8: Eli
- Week 9: Kodi
- Week 10: Elijah
2027 Enrolments
As we start to plan for the 2027 school year we invite all families with students planning to commence school in 2027 to please complete the new online enrolment form.
Be sure to share if you know of anyone interested in joining our school community next year! Contact the school if you have any questions.
https://stjosephswarialda.catholic.edu.au/enrolment-information/
Transition to Kindergarten: Welcoming Our Newest Learners
Looking ahead to next term, we are incredibly excited to begin welcoming our future students and families through our Kindergarten Transition Program. Preparing for 'big school' is a major milestone, and we have a fantastic program lined up to ensure a smooth, confident start for our 2027 Kindergarten students.
Transition Sessions: Next term, transition visits will be held on Thursdays. These sessions are a wonderful opportunity for the children to familiarise themselves with the classrooms, meet their future peers, and get a taste of school life.
Information Evenings: To support our families through this exciting journey, we will be hosting two dedicated Information Evenings:
- Wednesday, 5 August
- Monday, 24 August
These evenings are designed to provide valuable insights into our school curriculum, and routines. We welcome new and existing families to attend.
Communication
We have been working hard to transition to Compass for communication to families. This is happening across all Armidale Catholic Schools. It is a useful platform to keep in touch with a range of school sources including - event permission, Semester Reports, attendance notes and so much more!
We understand some families do not have access, however, this will be soon be our main form of communication. It is important to please provide timely permission for student excursions and events. Without parent / carer permission, students may miss out. If you require any assistance to access the Compass Parent Portal - please contact the office.
Please see attached the HELP link to assist -
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If not, jump on board. We share regular updates of life at school and details for upcoming events.
Thank you all for an incredible Semester 1.
I wish all of our families a safe, restful, and happy winter holiday break, and I look forward to partnering with you for an equally successful second half of the year.
Warm regards,
Jacqui Wait