Dear St Joseph’s Families,

Please read the important message regarding School Photography in the Generative AI Era

Rugby Union Gala Day

A massive congratulations to all students who participated in the Rugby Union Gala Day! Every player represented our school with immense effort and outstanding sportsmanship.

A special shout-out to our Year 3/4 Team 1 and Year 5/6 Team 1, who both fought hard all day to reach their grand finals. While both teams narrowly missed out on the win, we are incredibly proud of their determination. Extra congratulations to Ollie VB and Charli S, who were awarded Best on Field for their respective age groups!

Tennis Program Completed & Sport Day Update

Our Tennis for Sport program has now officially concluded. The students had a fantastic time working with Shane over the past six weeks, and their skills improved immensely over the course of the program! Please note that school sport will now return to our normal Friday routine as of this week. This includes the Friday canteen menu.

Upcoming Sports & Academic Events

Joey’s Jets Netball: Best of luck to the Joey’s Jets as they head off to Tamworth tomorrow to compete in the Regional Netball Carnival. Play hard and have fun!
Brain Olympia: Wishing our Brain Olympia Team the very best of luck as they compete in the finals in Tamworth this coming Tuesday. We know you will represent us brilliantly!

Kindergarten Enrolments 2027

Kindergarten enrolments for 2027 are now open! Thank you to all the parents and carers who have already completed an enrolment form. Family interviews will take place over the next few weeks, and our Kindergarten Transition Program will run during Term 4 across Weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. Further details will be sent out to families shortly. If you have any questions or know of anyone looking to enrol, please contact the school office.

Father’s Day Breakfast

Thank you to all the dads and father figures who joined us on Monday morning for our Father’s Day breakfast. Dads play such an important role in our lives, and it was wonderful to gather together to express our gratitude for everything they do for us.

Book Week & Indigenous Literacy Day Celebrations

Book Week dress-up day was a huge success! The creativity on display was amazing, and everyone looked fantastic in their costumes. We also celebrated National Indigenous Literacy Day and Book Week through engaging classroom activities and visits to the town library.

Library Visit: A huge thank you to Sue at the town library for all her hard work in hosting and welcoming our students.
Virtual Author Visit: We were very fortunate to join a special reading by Corey Tutt, author of Come Home Bigibilla, hosted for schools across the Armidale Diocese. We received a copy of his book for our school library, which is extra special to us as the illustrator is Jessica Tedim—a former student and daughter of our very own Sharon Pitt!

Open Classrooms

Thank you to all the parents who visited our open classrooms today. Our students and teachers loved showcasing the fantastic learning happening during our numeracy blocks. Bringing parents into the classroom provides a valuable glimpse into our teaching and learning processes, strengthening the vital connection between home and school. We look forward to holding another open classroom event in Term 4 and encourage everyone to attend.

Mobileyes Mobile Optometry Visit (Week 10)

A reminder that the Mobile Optometry clinic will be visiting our school in Week 10. This service is open to all students and their families, including parents and siblings. Eye health is critical for learning, and I highly encourage all families to take advantage of this convenient service and register.

Please complete the online form ASAP if you would like your child's eyes tested: https://mobileyes.com.au/consentform/

IMPORTANT - Please select the Optometry (Eyes) only consent form from the online menu.

School Fees and Upcoming Excursions

As a school of choice, school fees are a necessary part of ensuring we provide the best facilities and resources for your children. We understand that the current cost-of-living pressures can make household finances tight, and we deeply appreciate the families who have established regular payment plans. With upcoming school excursions fast approaching, please ensure you begin making payments for these and your regular school fees as early as possible. If you would like to set up or adjust a payment plan, please come and see me directly so we can support you.

Important Dates

10th September - Netball Regionals
15th September - Brain Olympia Finals
21st-25th September - Mobileyes - Mobile Optometrist visit
25th September - Last day for Term 3
12th & 13th October - Staff PD Days
14th October - First day for students Term 4
14th -16th October - RFD Dental Van visit

Blessings for the week ahead,

Donna

AEA Retreat