St Joseph’s Primary School, Merewether, founded by the Sisters of St Joseph, has a proud tradition of serving the Catholic community and continues to be a vital part of the St Benedict’s Inner Newcastle Parish. Drawing enrolments from The Junction, Merewether, Bar Beach, Newcastle, Cooks Hill, and Hamilton South, our school is a welcoming and inclusive community. Guided by our motto “Live the Truth,” we are committed to living out the message of the Gospel in our words and actions. Our vision is to nurture each child’s spiritual, academic, and personal development through strong partnerships between families, parish, and school in a supportive and faith-filled environment.
At St Joseph’s, we work in partnership with families to support students in navigating the challenges of a rapidly changing world and to equip them with the skills and capabilities needed for learning in the 21st century. We are committed to providing a welcoming, inclusive, and dynamic environment for learning—one that is safe, engaging, and supports the development of the whole child.
Our learning and play environments are thoughtfully designed to enhance student wellbeing, engagement, and connection. Recent refurbishments have focused on improving our classroom and outdoor spaces and incorporating the natural environment to foster curiosity, creativity, and a sense of belonging. Students actively participate in environmental initiatives, including our gardening group, which contributes to the care and upkeep of our school grounds while nurturing stewardship and environmental awareness.
As a faith-filled community, St Joseph’s plays a central role in the life of the parish by educating students in the history, traditions, and teachings of the Catholic Church, and supporting them in their ongoing journey of faith and spiritual formation.
Our school places a strong emphasis on high-quality teaching and learning, offering a dynamic and differentiated curriculum that responds to the needs, interests, and abilities of all students. We are proud of our commitment to Gifted Education, with targeted support and enrichment opportunities offered through differentiated classroom practice and student participation in the Diocesan Virtual Academy (VA), which allows high-potential learners to engage in advanced, interest-based learning experiences across a range of disciplines.
We recognise the foundational importance of the early years in shaping children’s future learning and wellbeing. Our school prioritises early learning and the importance of play, acknowledging that play is central to how young children explore, make meaning, and build relationships. Through our involvement in the Successful Foundations initiative, we support Kindergarten students in establishing a positive start to school by fostering rich, play-based learning experiences that nurture curiosity, agency, and belonging.
At the heart of all we do is our Catholic identity. We are deeply committed to providing a rich and meaningful Religious Education curriculum grounded in the Pedagogy of Encounter. This approach invites students into dialogue with the Catholic faith tradition, encouraging them to make connections between Scripture, Church teaching, their own life experiences, and the world around them. Students are invited to reflect, respond, and act in ways that deepen their faith, understanding, and commitment to living justly and compassionately.
Our whole-school approach to student wellbeing is guided by the Second Step social-emotional learning program and our implementation of the Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) framework. These frameworks promote positive behaviour, respectful relationships, emotional regulation, and resilience—essential foundations for learning and life. Further school-wide initiatives support the development of respectful, responsible, and safe behaviours.
Our classrooms integrate technology purposefully across learning areas to foster digital literacy and innovation. Students also engage in STEAM learning experiences, including robotics and Minecraft, that encourage inquiry, collaboration, and creativity. From Year 4 to Year 6, St Joseph’s operates as a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) school, empowering students to take responsibility for their digital learning and enabling seamless integration of technology into daily classroom practice.
Beyond the classroom, students have opportunities to flourish in the creative arts, including dance, drama, music, and visual arts. These experiences are offered both during and outside of regular school hours and are a vital part of our curriculum. Students with a passion and aptitude for the performing arts are also encouraged to audition for the Diocesan ASPIRE program, which provides high-quality, performance-based opportunities for students across the Diocese to develop their talents in a professional and collaborative environment.
Our learning and play environments are carefully designed to promote exploration, collaboration, and connection to the natural world. Student-led environmental initiatives, such as our gardening group, foster stewardship and enhance the beauty and functionality of our school grounds.
As an integral part of the local Catholic Parish of St Joseph’s, our school community is deeply connected to the mission of the Church. We work in close partnership with families and the parish to ensure that every child is supported to grow in faith and flourish as a learner and person.
Graduating students are encouraged to continue their Catholic education at St Francis Xavier College, Hamilton.