At St Joseph's Waitara, our students embody the spirit of community and collaboration, fostering a nurturing family environment across all year levels. Through a blend of academic and extracurricular activities, students support one another, developing strong bonds that transcend the classroom. This inclusive atmosphere ensures every child feels valued and connected, promoting a sense of belonging and shared responsibility. Together, our students create a vibrant, caring school culture where everyone thrives.
St Joseph's School Waitara gives priority to leadership for our students. All students apply for leadership positions and we hold a presentation at the beginning of the year. St Joseph's Waitara hold an end of year prizegiving and we recognise leadership at this event.
Our senior students take on leadership roles throughout the year leading events such as Tabloid sports, or activity rotations on our special events days such as St Joseph's Day or Matariki.
Ace, Kacen, Grace, Janine
Head Leaders are positive role models who exemplify St Joseph’s ethos and WAKA values. As Tuakana, they embody Whanaungatanga, Aroha, Kaitiakitanga, and Aumangea in all they do. They work with the management team, serve as a voice for students, and help organize school events and activities.
Ruby, Rubi, Grace, Esther
Our Catholic Character team are positive role models who embody our St Joseph’s ethos and WAKA values. They walk in the footsteps of Jesus, following the example of Euphrasie Barbier. These leaders uphold our Catholic values, support others, and serve our school community with Whanaungatanga, Aroha, Kaitiakitanga, and Aumangea.
Tynesha-Anne, Keira, L-Jay, Esther
Sports Leaders at St Joseph’s play a key role in promoting active participation and teamwork. They are responsible for allocating and distributing sports equipment, supporting teachers and students in physical activities, and helping to implement school-wide fitness programmes and initiatives. Additionally, they lead the development of House Sports, encouraging friendly competition and school spirit while ensuring all students have opportunities to be active and engaged.
Matthew, Benjamin
With support, ICT Leaders are responsible for managing sound, lighting, and multimedia during school-wide events. They assist teachers and students with technology needs and are available on an on-call basis, helping to ensure smooth use of digital media across the school.
Keira, L-Jay
Cultural Leaders uphold the mana of our school by supporting and promoting tikanga Māori and cultural practices. They lead where appropriate, ensuring traditions are respected and celebrated. Through their role, they help foster a sense of belonging, inclusivity, and pride in our diverse school community.
Talia, Ruby, Ace, Toby
Enviroleaders play a key role in leading sustainability initiatives as part of our Enviroschool commitment. They support and drive projects that care for our school environment and community. With guidance, they meet to discuss ideas, develop action plans, and help implement initiatives that promote kaitiakitanga and environmental responsibility
At St Joseph's Waitara, we believe in celebrating every student's learning journey. Our weekly assemblies and certificates recognize individual achievements, fostering a culture of encouragement and pride. The end-of-year prizegivings, alongside our specialized sports and academic awards, honor students' hard work and dedication. We also embrace our rich cultural and religious traditions through various celebrations, ensuring a holistic and inclusive educational experience for all.
Our students are currently developing houses - the names are being developed with consultation with everyone and will be created using the history and stories of our school. The students will then participate in house competitions.