Principal's Message

Term 4 is such a vibrant time of year at St Joseph’s, and this term our focus on Learning Sprints is already making a meaningful impact. Our educators are deeply engaged in refining practice with one goal in mind: setting every young learner up for success as they move into the 2026 new school year. This intentional focus ensures that each child is known, supported and extended in these final important weeks.

It was also wonderful to see so many families engage in our Week 3 Learning Check-ins. Across the school, our teaching teams held 77 meetings—a significant increase from the 48 held in Term 2 this year. This growth is a clear indicator that we are realising our Annual Improvement Plan goal of strengthening parent engagement opportunities. Thank you for prioritising these conversations; they make a real difference!

Our confirmation candidates and all of our classes had the pleasure of a visit by Bishop Peter Murphy who answered lots of curious questions - including why his ‘cap’ was called a ‘zuchetto,’...fun fact, it looks like a little pumpkin, and that is what ‘zuchetto’ means in Italian - little pumpkin! Read through to Mrs Nixon’s newsletter article to find out more about his visit.

In Week 3, our leadership team had the privilege of sharing our school improvement journey with the Armidale Catholic Schools Leadership Team. It was a proud moment to highlight the commitment, innovation, and hard work that our staff and young people have invested throughout the year as we work together towards our school improvement goals.

Our Water Safety Program has also begun. Despite the pool being only slightly warmer than an icy drink, our young people have jumped in with enthusiasm and sunny attitudes! Their resilience and joy is contagious.

A heartfelt thank you to our P&F for organising a fabulous movie night. Even though the thunder and lightning forced us to finish early, it was still a wonderful community evening. Every P&F fundraiser directly benefits our school—as you can see from the fantastic new furniture now brightening our two multipurpose rooms!

Today we welcomed families for our Grandparents Day. This special celebration is always a highlight as we open our classrooms, share learning, and enjoy delicious tea and scones together.

As we enter the final five weeks of the school term, we ask for your support in maintaining a strong focus on attendance. Every day counts, and together we can ensure our students finish the year confidently and positively.

Thank you, as always, for your ongoing partnership and support.

Eli Simpson

Principal