Students at St Joseph’s school are treated to many incursions annually. Experiences in Sport, Music, Maths, Reading, Writing, History, Creative Arts, Science and Technology are brought to the school regularly. Bringing the experiences to the school allows us to beat the prohibitive transportation costs incurred as a result of living regionally.
The infants and lower primary classes have a one-day excursion visiting places of importance to their curriculum of study. Recent examples include: the Wetlands in Shortland, Awabakal National Park, The Maitland Art Gallery and Tocal Homestead.
The upper primary classes venture out of their comfort zones to embark on a 3-day excursion. Every second year this includes all the places of political, educational and social interest in the Australian Capital Territory. On the alternate year, the students have been star gazing at Coonabarabran, gold panning at Hill End, environmentally conscious at Camp Wambangalang and the LightFoot Rainforest Retreat at Wangat Lodge. The upper primary excursion is a major learning event for students and families. Planning in terms of cost and readiness for students and the preparation undertaken at the school ensures these experiences promote independence, resilience, wellbeing, relationships and organisational skills as well as regular curriculum content learning.
Students participate in many other inter-community events which provide unique learning and social experiences with other schools and members of the community. Some examples:
Cassilis Sports Workshop – providing exposure to a variety of sports not usually accessible in the Upper Hunter.
Carols in the Community - each year, students from St Joseph's sing Christmas Carols in the Community to lift spirits before Santa's big arrival!
ASPIRE Performance in Newcastle – the annual stage production of the Diocese featuring primary and secondary students from throughout the Hunter and Manning regions
Science and Engineering Challenge – held annually at Muswellbrook gives Stage 3 students the opportunity to develop and showcase their skills in Science and Technology.