Students are divided into four house groups. Crowley (Green), Sturt (Blue), MacKillop (Red), Edwards (Yellow). An annual Sports Day is held comprising a combination of tabloid, competitive and fun events. Students have the opportunity to represent their school in the following competitions:
Over four days, Year 6 students have an incredible experience visiting the city of Melbourne in Victoria and going back in time to the gold rush era at Sovereign Hill in Ballarat, country Victoria. A wide range of excellent learning opportunities linked to our Year 6 Science, Technologies, HASS, The Arts, STEM, Mathematics, P.E. and English curriculum are thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Students are positively engaged, share their ideas, question information and use their creative and critical thinking skills. Students personal and social learning is also evident, as they discover how to establish and build positive relationships, make responsible decisions and work effectively in teams further enhancing their overall enjoyment and experiences.
Pedal Prix is an extra-curricular activity offered to Year 5, 6 and 7 students. St Joseph’s School currently has two teams. Participants must be supported by their family to be part of this program. The school takes part in Rounds 1 and 2, which are held at Victoria Park, Adelaide; and the 24hour event held at Sturt Reserve, Murray Bridge.
Murraylands Aquatic centre are a division of DECD Sports Swimming and Aquatic’s unit and have been operating at our current site since 1982. Located 5 kilometres downstream from Murray Bridge at Swanport. Students get the opportunity to participate in a wide range of aquatic activities including water skiing, wake boarding, knee boarding, canoeing, fishing and more.
Each year our Year 5 to 7 students have the opportunity to participate in the annual Catholic Schools Music Festival. Interested children become part of the School Choir where they learn a range of different songs, repertoires and actions. Our choir then joins with choirs from other catholic schools to form a 400-strong massed choir which, late in term three each year performs at the Festival Theatre. As well as being a member of a massed choir, students have the opportunity to audition for solo parts, compere or support act roles. This is an opportunity to celebrate the musical talents and achievements of children from many our South Australian schools and colleges.
At St Joseph’s School, we provide a rich Performing Arts program that includes Music, Drama and Dance. Performing Arts provides many opportunities for students to develop skills such as communication, self-esteem and confidence, both within the curriculum as well as through extra curricular opportunities. Students from Reception to Year 7 participate in weekly Performing Arts lessons. Experiences range from opportunities such as writing, directing and performing in plays, singing and expressing oneself through song, creating and composing music, choreographing dances and learning instruments.
The Performing Arts curriculum is designed to engage, inspire and enrich all students, exciting the imagination and encouraging them to reach their creative potential. Students from Years 5 to 7 also have the opportunity to join the Festival Choir. The choir works hard to prepare for the Catholic Schools Music Festival, an annual event that gives students the opportunity to perform at the Festival Theatre. The Choir also performs regularly to the school, and to the larger Murray Bridge community.
Students in all year levels get the opportunity to experience a number of excursions annually including, but not limited to:
The wellbeing of all our students is paramount at St Joseph’s School. Students are supported in many ways. Whole class and school programmes and resources like the PEACE Programme, BeYou and Mind Up, help children to develop skills to enhance their social and emotional wellbeing and build personal resilience. We also offer small group programmes to different year levels depending on need. “What’s the Buzz?” and Peaceful Kids are programmes that are run to encourage students to use positive behaviour and mindset strategies, enabling them to enhance their interactions with others. At selected times, trained professionals from outside agencies, come into the school to run group sessions with our older students. These sessions particularly focus on self-esteem and confidence building. Our School Counsellor provides a valued and trusted adult with whom young people can connect with. Students can seek support from the Counsellor about issues which affect them socially, emotionally and academically. Peer mentoring and community engagement are key factors that support wellbeing by creating connections and a sense of ‘welcome’ for your child within the broader student body.
