As the year comes to an end, I would like to thank all students, their families and the staff for helping to make the year another successful one for the school.

As a school we have had many successes both in the classroom and in the many co-curricular activities we do.

As an indicator of our academic success, I would like to highlight our very positive NAPLAN results this year. NAPLAN assesses the fundamental skills of literacy and numeracy, with the data provided used by families, schools and education systems to ensure Australian students are supported in their learning. As has been the case for many years, St Joseph’s School is a strong performer, not only in the Granite Belt, but also across the Toowoomba Diocese and Queensland. 

Another indicator of our success is the strong enrolment growth. St Joseph’s School is the school choice on the Granite Belt. I am confident the staff, systems and resources we have will continue to maximise learning and maintain the culture of the school.

I would like to thank both the P&F Association and School Advisory Council (SAC) for their guidance and contributions throughout the year. Their efforts are very important in helping to set the direction of the school and provide assistance to the students and their families. In particular, I would like to thank Dan O’Dea, President of the P&F, and the other members of P&F Executive for their great support and direction over the years. Similarly, my thanks to Amelia Wilshire and all parents, carers, friends and sponsors who have banned together for the Nature Play Project on Primary. It is amazing work.

The staff as a whole deserve a special mention for their good work to get all students and the school through another challenging year. They are a dedicated and hard-working group who have the interests of the students at heart. My thanks also to the School Leadership Team, Matthew Brown, Megan Mahoney and Sarah Yates, for their exceptional work.

Well done to all the students for working towards the best they can be. I hope they all come back to school well rested and ready to continue their Joey’s journey. Congratulations to all the Year 6s who finish their Primary schooling this week. We wish them the very best in their journey into Secondary. Our thanks to Amanda Thompson and the other staff who have worked so well with them this year, and also those teachers and staff who have shared in their education since they started school. I am confident they have the grounding they need to start and succeed in Secondary.

Finally, I would like to wish all a merry and safe Christmas and Happy New Year.

God Bless,