St Joseph’s Catholic College, Aberdeen, is a Catholic co-educational school accepting students for Years 7-12 from the parishes of Aberdeen, Denman, Merriwa, Muswellbrook, Scone, Murrurundi, and surrounding areas. We are committed in partnership with families and parishes to meet the academic, social, physical, and spiritual needs of our students. The school is located in the Upper Hunter on the traditional lands of Wonnarua country on the upper reaching banks of the Hunter River overlooking rich farmland.
St Joseph’s is an authentic learning community with a rigorous and comprehensive academic curriculum promoting high standards of education for all students. The school proudly offers a variety of academic and vocational education subjects. The Mary MacKillop Trade Training Centre, and fully refurbished hospitality rooms, provide students with the opportunity to receive a nationally recognised Australian Qualification studied as part of the HSC.
St Joseph’s is a Gifted Education Lead School (GELS) focusing on the importance of differentiation and catering for our gifted students. The program continues to recognise and support our students and their families into the future on their educational journey, assisting the students to reach their potential and foster their talents.
Agriculture is highly valued at St Joseph’s with students exposed to a variety of real-life experiences and interactive projects on the school farm and at The Olive Grove property near Muswellbrook. Students regularly attend regional and interstate shows and competitions such as the NSW Interschools Meat Judging Competition and property planning competitions.
Along with the many other extra-curricula and cultural activities, students are encouraged to express their creative abilities and are given the opportunity to discover, strengthen and express this through music, drama, dance and visual arts. Students can participate in the school’s biennial musical, music camps, the school choir and in diocesan events including DioSounds and ASPIRE.
St Joseph’s offers a range of internal and external sporting opportunities at representative level including competitions within the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, NSW Combined Catholic Colleges and NSW All Schools and National Championships.
We recognise the role that student wellbeing has on learning and we are committed in our approach to develop flourishing and contributing young members of society. St Joseph’s proudly partners with a number of community organisations to develop whole-school programs and initiatives, in addition to providing individual and targeted support. A range of opportunities for students to enhance their wellbeing skills such as establishing a sense of purpose, developing meaningful relationships with others, using their strengths, regulating emotions, engaging in learning, and experiencing accomplishment exist in many forms. These include Pastoral Care and Wellbeing classes, stage-relevant workshops and training, mentoring programs, Seasons for Growth, Outward Bound, Community Days, Reflection Days, student leadership programs, Japanese Exchange Programs, European pilgrimage and historical immersion tours among many others. Annually, students organise and conduct a community program “InterACTS” in conjunction with, and for, the local disability services.
St Joseph’s has a dedicated and compassionate staff who endeavour to place student wellbeing at the heart of education.
