ST JOSEPH'S SCHOOL TODAY

St Joseph's Catholic School Matata is an Integrated School for boys and girls from Year 0 to Year 8 offering education with a Catholic Character.

It is a Catholic School where the whole school community through the general School programme and in its Religious instruction and observances, exercises the right to live and teach the values of Jesus Christ.  These values are expressed in the Scriptures and in the practices, worship and doctrine of the Catholic church as determined from time to time by Catholic Bishop of the Diocese of Hamilton.

Situated next to the school grounds, is the Parish church of St Joseph's which plays an important part in the Special Character.  We are also fortunate that our school also belongs to two other parish's, St Gerard's which is situated in Kawerau and St Anthony's in Edgecumbe.

All students are encouraged to achieve high academic standards in Literacy, Numeracy and Religious Education.  The Board of Trustees and Fundraising group supports the staff in providing maximum learning opportunities for students through high quality and innovative programmes.

The school has a range of amenities that include an adventure playground, library and laptops.  In addition, the school building consists of three refurbished classrooms and fully air conditioned and heated classrooms, a resource room, sports shed, administration building, sickbay, cleaners room, toilets and a garden equipment shed.  The school is well catered for with playing fields, netball and tennis court.

Students from Matata, Kawerau and surrounding rural communities contribute to our roll.  A percentage of our students commute daily on our free school bus.  There is a strong parental and community commitment to the school.  A warm friendly atmosphere exists within the school between staff and pupils.  The approved maximum roll of the school is 90 as specified in the integration agreement.

It is the community's wish that St Joseph's wear a uniform to reflect the schools Special Character.  The School's Proprietor is the Catholic Bishop of the diocese of Hamilton who is represented on the Board of Trustees by 2 members of the parish community.  Approximately 25 families make up the School community with a range of students from a varied socio-economic back-grounds.