Warm welcome and high spirits at St Joseph’s Secondary School two-day open event

There was a fantastic buzz of energy and anticipation at St Joseph’s Secondary School, Rochfortbridge this weekend as the school opened its doors to welcome prospective students and their families for a two-day open event. Taking place on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning, the activity-based showcase was student-led from start to finish and proved a resounding success.

The event was designed to offer incoming students and parents a flavour of life at the school – and it certainly delivered. From the moment guests arrived, they were warmly welcomed by student ambassadors who acted as tour guides, leading visitors around the extensive school campus, answering questions and offering personal insights into their experiences.

Interactive subject displays, creative performances, science experiments, sporting demos and group activities kept younger guests engaged and gave them a chance to picture themselves as future students of the school.

Classrooms and specialist rooms were bustling with music, art, robotics, and baking sessions – all expertly demonstrated by enthusiastic current students and their teachers.

Speaking in the Assembly Hall, principal, Margaret Cole, addressed visitors on both days, sharing the school’s ethos of excellence in education, inclusivity, and personal growth. “We are proud of the vibrant, supportive and dynamic environment we have built here at St Joseph’s,” she said. “It’s a place where every student is encouraged to thrive academically, socially and personally.”

The event also included reflections from two parents who spoke candidly about their positive experiences of the school’s nurturing environment, the dedicated staff, and the wide range of opportunities available to students, inside and outside the classroom.

Visitors were particularly impressed by the maturity, warmth and confidence of the student ambassadors, whose genuine pride in their school was clear to see. One parent commented: “It’s obvious how happy and supported the students are here – that really came across in every room we entered.”

Attendance across both days was excellent, as families travelled from across the region to attend. Many of the prospective first year students left beaming, excited about what lies ahead and already picturing themselves walking the corridors of St Joseph’s next September.

The open event was a celebration of the spirit of the school community, and judging by the smiles, laughter and glowing feedback from guests, the future is looking bright for the next generation of St Joseph’s students.