Why Choose St Joseph’s
Choosing the right education for your child is one of the most important decisions you will ever make.
As parents, carers, or grandparents you have a choice – and the right – to offer your child the best education available.
The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle proudly hosts some of the best schools in Newcastle, Maitland, the Hunter and Upper Hunter, Lake Macquarie and Manning regions.
Catholic schools offer a unique educational experience which forms the child or young person as a person of integrity, compassion, faith and wisdom. Catholic schools also work closely with their local parish to enhance in students a capacity to make sense of their world, to make judgements and to recognise the uniqueness of others within a faith community.
Each school has a supportive community of teachers, parents, carers, P&F committees, clergy, parishioners, and support staff who work together to focus on students; encouraging success, promoting discipline, supporting creativity and instilling compassion. This means that Catholic schools don’t just teach religious studies, they seek to develop spirit, mind, body and character and cultivate Gospel values that support lives filled with joy, endeavour and hope in the future.
Each Catholic school has a commitment to focussing on each individual child’s ability, offering a unique array of educational, creative, sporting and formation opportunities for students.
Finally, Catholic schools offer peace of mind to parents; knowing they’ve made the right choice and the best investment for their child’s future. It is because of this and the many opportunities available to students that we believe choosing a Catholic education, is the right choice to make.
WHY FAMILIES CHOOSE ST JOSEPH’S?
Quality teaching and learning
At St Joseph’s, we create an atmosphere where thinking and learning are valued and modelled. We hope each child will experience the Charism of the Sisters of Mercy, academically, socially, physically, spiritually and emotionally. We pride ourselves on the family atmosphere that permeates every aspect of our school.
At St Joseph’s, we are committed to ensuring the learning needs of the students are met by providing a blend of traditional and contemporary learning styles. We aim to prepare them for a future that is marked by a rapid change, not only in science and technology but in so many aspects of everyday society.
Our curriculum is geared towards facing this exciting challenge. Delivering high quality education with a holistic approach, St Joseph’s offer families a nurturing, encouraging and safe environment for their children to learn, achieve and grow throughout their schooling years. We create a climate that promotes inquiry and creative exploration of ideas, where learners are encouraged to have a go, take risks and make mistakes, where they are supported to engage in deep and powerful learning.
Modern technology and facilities
St Joseph’s provides a wonderful learning environment for students, equipped with modern facilities and engaging technology. The school boasts a contemporary, well-resourced library and information centre, the latest technology including a computer laboratory, attractive school grounds and playing fields and interactive classrooms to cater for a variety of learning styles, all providing a stimulating and adaptable learning environment for students.
We value student wellbeing
The wellbeing of all in our community is a priority at St Joseph’s. We value the strong sense of community that exists in the school and work hard to ensure that students learn how to establish strong relationships that will support their learning and develop leadership qualities in all.
A whole school approach to wellbeing ensures that social, emotional learning and pastoral care are paramount and well supported by all. We welcome and encourage families to come into the school and work cooperatively with us. At St Joseph’s, we implement the KidsMatter Framework and value the learning and support this provides the whole school community.
We encourage children to be active confident citizens and endeavour to foster an attitude of care for each other, our environment and the broader community in the knowledge that we each have something positive to offer. The staff, students and families are supported by a school psychologist and a pastoral care worker.
We provide opportunities in sport
Physical education plays an important role in the lives of students at St Joseph’s. We provide weekly sporting programs to enhance students’ gross motor coordination, fundamental movement, ball skills and fitness. Programs include gymnastics and fitness, dance and movement, swimming and team sports.
Students have the opportunity to represent at school, regional, diocesan, state and national level in swimming and athletics carnivals, cross country championships, gala days and numerous summer and winter sports. These include soccer, cricket, tennis, basketball, netball, hockey, softball, touch football, AFL, rugby union and rugby league.
Provision for extra-curricular opportunities
- Band is available from Years 3 to 6
- Guitar lessons are available for Years 4 to 6
- Expression of interest forms are sent home in Term 4 for the following year’s lessons in band and guitar.