St Joseph’s highly values pursuits of academic excellence. Teachers are committed to assisting all students to reach their academic potential through a range of academic endeavours both inside and outside the classroom. These include: STEM activities; Science and Engineering Challenge; Regional Public Speaking Competition and Diocesan Debating competition; Regional Spelling and Maths Bee competitions; and the Premier’s Reading Challenge. All of these endeavours, in addition to many others, enhance the academic potential of our students.
STEM ACTIVITIES
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) is a vital aspect of educational learning for the current students in our school. Every class teacher embeds STEM in their Science and Technology teaching program. There are also weekly STEM activities held during lunch times by teachers and parent volunteers to engage those students who have a passion in this area and want to grow their knowledge and experience.
SCIENCE & ENGINEERING CHALLENGE
This activity allows Stage 3 students to compete in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) experiences with schools around the region. It is a wonderful example of community partnership and collaborative learning. The students are assisted in the challenge by university students, high school students and community volunteers, through rotary clubs in the region. The competition extends to high school, so the positive experiences the students experience in Year 5 and 6 can develop into a passion throughout their high school years.
SPELLING BEE
Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 compete at school and the regional level to prove the quality of their spelling skills.
PUBLIC SPEAKING
Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 compete at school and the regional level to prove the quality of their speaking skills.
DEBATING
Students from Year 5 and Year 6 compete at school and the regional level to prove the quality of their debating skills.
MATHS MENTALS BEE
Students from Kindergarten to Year 6 compete at school and the regional level to prove the quality of their mental computation skills.
PREMIER'S READING CHALLENGE
This challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable them to experience quality literature. It is not a competition but a challenge to each student to read, to read more and to read more widely. The Premier's Reading Challenge (PRC) is available for all NSW students in Kindergarten to Year 9, in government, independent, Catholic and home schools.
SPORTS
Sporting pursuits play a fundamental role in producing balanced, well-rounded students. Such pursuits teach students to appreciate hard work and training, commitment to a team, sportsmanship and dedication to fair play.
Each week the students participate in 1-hour of formal sport which is conducted by the class teacher and at times specialists in the field. Programs in sport include gymnastics, swimming instruction, cricket, tennis, rugby league, soccer, touch and league tag coaches also visit the school to conduct workshops.
Students compete in a range of individual and team sports including, Athletics, Cross Country, Swimming and Horse Sports. The pathway for students wishing to compete at a higher level is: School, Regional, Diocesan, Polding and PSSA. Students are given the opportunity to try out for sports even if they are not played at school level, through Regional and Diocesan selection trials. These sports include football (all codes), tennis, hockey, soccer and cricket to name a few.
Locally run Rugby League and Netball inter-school competitions are also enjoyed by students from St Joseph’s. We have many talented sportspeople in these fields.
Horse sports carnivals give students the opportunity to participate in individual and team horse events where they have the opportunity to compete and display their riding skills to the wider community. The school offers its team of riders the opportunity to compete in three horse sport carnivals per year.
CREATIVE ARTS
St Joseph’s Creative Arts programs are available to all students and promote creativity, imagination, skills and talents. St Joseph’s is very proud to offer a range of performance, drama, dance, music and visual arts extra-curricular activities for children to support their development and growth.
Many students at St Joseph’s show interest and skill in the Creative Arts domain. The school encourages a number of avenues of support for these students, including:
- The opportunity to audition for the Diocesan performing arts ASPIRE program
- Opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument at the school with lessons offered by the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music
- Dance and choir groups are held weekly at the school. Students enjoy learning and performing for real audiences
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTIVITIES
St Joseph's is committed to sustainability and caring for the environment. At school the students and the staff are involved in maintaining a vegetable garden, composting, raising chickens and egg production. We have close links with Muswellbrook Shire Council's Sustainability Officer and participate in many local activities/events including community tree planting.