EXCELLENCE IN LEARNING

St Joseph’s Primary School, Denman promotes academic excellence in a supportive and safe environment. Students strive for excellence by engaging in quality, positive and authentic education.

A highly structured combination of professional development opportunities, access to quality teaching resources and experiences has been developed to increase student readiness for and engagement in learning. Curriculum differentiation ensures that the needs of all students are catered for at all levels.

Students are encouraged to pursue excellence in all fields of school education to extend their learning experiences through avenues such as, the Newcastle Permanent Mathematics Competition, ICAS Assessments, Science and Engineering Challenge, National Science Week, Literacy and Numeracy Week, Public Speaking, Debating and the Regional Spelling and Maths Bees.

STRONG COMMUNITY FOCUS

St Joseph’s places a high level of importance on community, belonging and leadership and creating a safe, welcoming and caring environment where students are encouraged to become lifelong learners.

Participation in meals on wheels, senior citizen concerts, reading to preschool children, as well as active participation in community commemorative services and celebrations, ensure students develop a sense of belonging to and responsibility for their local community as citizens. For their efforts in building community, St Joseph’s Denman was awarded the 2017 Monsignor Coolahan Award for Excellence in Community.

OPPORTUNITIES IN SPORT

St Joseph’s offers a range of internal and external sporting opportunities at local, diocesan and state levels including hockey, cricket, netball, tennis, rugby league, soccer, touch football, cross country, swimming, athletics and horse sports.

We pride ourselves on the outstanding achievements of our students in all sporting avenues. They are renowned for their fine sportsmanship.

St Joseph’s actively participates in sports gala days across the Upper Hunter and receives specialised coaching from sporting bodies within the school.

WE OFFER AGRICULTURAL EXPERIENCES

Agriculture is a curriculum area that is recognised as a strength at St Joseph’s. All students are encouraged to extend their knowledge through participation in Singleton Beef and Land Management days, Upper Hunter Beef Bonanza and the Upper Hunter Show.

Established in 2015, the Cattle Show Team provides students with the opportunity to prepare steers and heifers for competitions throughout the year.

Attendance at regional shows has improved the confidence, knowledge and performance of students in preparing, leading and judging cattle. We are proud of the fact that in recent years we have been victorious in several competitions, coming home with Grand Champion Heifer, Best Junior Judging and Best Presented Steer.

CREATIVE PURSUITS

St Joseph’s is a community where the creative, unique and individual talents of every student is greatly appreciated, embraced and encouraged.

All students have the opportunity to discover, strengthen and express their creative abilities through music, drama and dance. Students can receive private violin, piano, drums, vocal and guitar lessons from the Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music, participate in school concerts, talent shows, discos, the school choir or join the junior and senior dance group.

St Joseph’s students works collaboratively with the Aspire team to develop their skills in drama, dance and singing this work culminates in a whole school production each year.