Newsletter Term 2, Week 6 2020
- From the Principal
- Uniform and COVID-19 Reminders
- From the Assistant Principal - Mission
- Supporting our Families
- From the Parish Schools Office
- From the Leader of Pastoral Care and Student Welfare
- From the Leader of Curriculum
- From the Leader of Pedagogy
- From the Leader of Careers and EVET
- Nextwave Youth Film Competition
- Lowes On-Campus Uniform Shop
Dear Families and Friends of SJC
It was with a sense of joy and relief that the College staff were able to welcome back the overwhelming majority of our students last Monday (May 25). The attendance figure registered in the high 90% indicated that our students were ready to return to school and reconnect with their peers and the staff who care for them. I have to thank the staff for the way they expressed their happiness at getting back to what they love doing; educating and caring for students in a face-to-face setting.
Whilst the community had been warned that the blended learning environment could continue for all of Term 2, the fact this did not come to pass was a real testament to our nation and what people took responsibility for at the local level. This must continue as we move away from the crisis and our students have been fantastic at ensuring they adhere to the requirements that still exist at school. We still have no contact sports, there is regular hand sanitising (last week the school used 15L worth) and all cleaning and sanitation procedures remain in place.
Please enjoy the photos below highlighting 'Day 1' of the new normal.
Pentecost Sunday
Last Sunday saw the celebration of a very important feast in the Catholic Church, that of Pentecost. This day is recognised as the moment the Church was born and given the confidence, through Christ's gift of the Holy Spirit to truly 'go forth and make disciples of all nations' (Mt 28:19). The disciples at that point were living in fear of what life without Christ presented. It was His gift that provided them with confidence to go out and spread His message. It is important that in times of despair, discomfort or challenge that we all call upon the Holy Spirit to give us strength. Pope Francis' words from 2018 resonate here. He stated that the "Spirit enters into situations and transforms them. He changes hearts and he changes situations." I encourage all in our community to allow the Spirit to transform us when change is needed.
Staffing News
It is with great sadness I announce that foundational staff member, Mrs Colleen Waide, has decided that she will not be returning to SJC. The COVID-19 crisis and imminent knee surgery have contributed to Coll’s decision. She is looking forward to spending more time with her grandkids who have recently moved to the area.
On behalf of staff and students, both past and present, I would like to thank Colleen for the immense contribution she has made to the College across nearly 28 years. I am sure that all the SJC community would like to join me in wishing Colleen all the best.
No Bubblers at the College
As per the notifications that were sent last week, there will be no bubblers in the school for the foreseeable future. This is a required hygiene practice to ensure a lack of transmission of any infections between students. Please ensure that your child is bringing a water bottle to school each day and they can fill these up in the converted taps that are found around the College.
Roadmap Post-COVID
A version of this document was recently shared with the staff. It is important as we move to a time after the crisis that we are realistic regarding the validity and possibility of certain things occurring. Of the greatest importance is trying to ensure that our Year 12 students experience all of the wonderful encounters that our previous twenty-four cohorts of Year 12 students have shared. This includes the retreat, the graduation and the formal. There have already been slight amendments to the HSC schedule (trials, HSC exams and publication of results). Given the rapid rate of restriction easing that is being seen, by the end of Term 3, all should be in order. Please take some time to read through the document found here.
SEAAR Delayed Until Week 10
It has been decided that with the complexity of having students working partly in the blended learning environment and face-to-face during this SEAAR cycle, we would hold over the next report until the end of the term. I would like to thank all of the families who took on board the feedback from the previous cycle to further support their child whose SEAAR grade may have slipped slightly as they adapted to the blended learning environment. If you have any concerns about how your child is progressing, please be sure to contact specific teachers.
Uniform Reminders
I would like to thank all families for responding so positively to the letter sent on Friday regarding uniforms at the College. The students on Monday were highly compliant with only a number of small matters arising in each grade. There will be a focus on the uniform each Monday morning during homeroom to ensure that the expectations that are clearly articulated are met. Thanks in advance for your continued support.
Kind regards
Mr Scott Thomson
Principal
COVID-19 Reminders
As our society slowly begins to ease some of the restrictions that have been implemented across the last nine weeks, it is important to be reminded of some of the points you will find below:
- Students Presenting with Symptoms: As has been the repeated mantra since Australia looked to be coming out of the crisis, "This year is not the year to 'soldier-on' through sickness". If your child is displaying any flu-like symptoms, please keep them at home and get them tested. All schools have been instructed to send students home from school if they display these signs. Please do the right thing and keep them home, even if slightly ill.
- If Your Child Has Been Tested: please inform the school immediately. This information will be kept confidential but we must be alerted. All people who are tested, along with those they live with, are required to self-isolate until a negative test is returned. Please keep the College up to date with this information.
- If a Child Tests Positive: if this occurs, the College MUST be alerted immediately. Protocols are in place in this event.
- COVIDSafe App: all people in the country with a smartphone should download the app as a sense of societal responsibility. This should include school students.
- Drink Bottles at School: all students were told on Thursday that they must now bring a water bottle with them to school. There are no longer any bubbles at SJC for the foreseeable future. If you cannot acquire a water bottle for your child, please contact the College.
‘As the Father has sent me, so I send you.’
(John 20:21)
On Sunday the Church celebrated Pentecost, the birth of Christianity. A time when Jesus gave the gift of the Holy Spirit to his disciples, to further spread His message of love, forgiveness and mercy. The special gift of the Holy Spirit continues to work through Christians today, particularly in a world which is currently experiencing much turmoil. As the world continues to overcome the COVID-19 crisis, it has been saddening to see the conflict and pain being experienced in America. As Christians, we continue to pray for those in need and we ask for the Holy Spirit to work through us to show forgiveness and love. As staff on Monday, we shared the following prayer and we invite you as part of our school community to pray with us through this week of Pentecost.
Holy Spirit,
We believe you work miracles today as you did at the time of Pentecost. We ask your healing power to work miracles in our school community and the world around us. We pray also, that the fruits of the Spirit would grow among us as we become more aware of your presence within.
Amen.
It has been wonderful to have students back at school in a full-time capacity, with the school feeling full again. It has been warming to witness the laughter and joy of the students as they spend time with their peers and teachers. It was evident as I visited classes this week of the student’s excitement to be participating in learning away from a computer screen. You can see the pictures in the Principal's message of students learning as they returned to school. We understand that the transition may not be easy for every student and we encourage parents to contact the school if your child is struggling in any way.
On Thursday this week, senior students have been invited to participate in our SJC LEAD session. Due to the COVID-19, the Diocesen LEAD was cancelled. The SJC LEAD session is an opportunity for students to further develop their faith and also develop a senior youth ministry team to support younger students in their faith formation. We look forward to sharing this evening with students.
Parents of Year 7 students may have noticed their child having an increased interest in their family history and story. Year 7 students this year are participating in Project-Based Learning (PBL) in Catholic Studies. Students work in teams to develop a project that applies their learning. Their first project involves students investigating their families history/story and sharing it using literary forms used in the Bible. Students are currently at the stage of interviewing family members. We will share their learning and projects as they complete these at the end of the term.
We thank you for your ongoing support of the College and hope that you enjoy the upcoming long weekend.
Mr Ryan Campbell
Assistant Principal - Mission
The Diocese of Lismore Family School Partnership Services has provided the attached flyer with the hope the information provided can be a starting point for getting the support and assistance our families may need during this difficult time.
Covid-19 School Fees Assistance
We understand many families are going through financial difficulties during the current Covid-19 pandemic and advise that you may be eligible for fee relief.
Any families in receipt of Centrelink Jobseeker payment will need only to email a copy of the Centrelink confirmation letter to pso@stjosephs.org.au to qualify for assistance.
All other families will be we require you to complete the a brief fee review application to assist us in determining whether you meet the criteria for fee assistance. Please select the following link http://stjosephs.org.au/application-school-fee-assistance/.
Should you prefer to discuss this matter over the phone, please call either Kim Lockley on 5536 3884, or John Klein on 5536 8701, between 9:00am - 3:30pm. All discussions/information provided is strictly confidential
Regards
Mr John Klein
Parish Operations Manager
Seasons for Growth
Change and loss are issues that affect all of us at some stage in our lives. At St Joseph’s College we recognise that when change and loss occur, young people may benefit from learning how to manage these changes effectively. Therefore, we are again offering the very successful Seasons for Growth Program.
Please read the attached letter for further information, and how to express your interest in your child completing the program.
Proposed Changes to Services Postponed
Further to the SZapp and email notifications the College sent out in Week 4, Surfside Buslines has advised that they are postponing the proposed changes to the AM school runs 1004, 1223, 1227 and PM school runs 1103 and 1291.
These changes have been postponed until Surfside Buslines have further reviewed feedback received. Surfside has advised that their website school journey planner will be updated once the new go live date has been confirmed.
For any further information please go to www.transportnsw.info or www.surfside.com.au
Mr Eamon Brown
Leader of Pastoral Care and Student Welfare
Year 12 Reports Available
Please note that access will be through the Parent Portal on the College website.
If you have not yet set up your Parent Portal account please follow the instructions for creating an account.
If you have already created an account, simply log on by using the blue 'Login' button to view the report.
Mrs Kathy McAlister
Leader of Curriculum
Study Skills Handbook Tips
The following flyer has been provided by the Study Skills Handbook website, to which we subscribe, offering tips to help students manage the transition back to full-time schooling. Please take the time to read this flyer and, as always, you can access a number of other resources via their website. Our school's subscription details to this site are:
login: sjc
password: 24results
Mr Carlo Trimboli
Leader of Pedagogy
Year 10 Careers/Subject Selection Programme
Year 10 students will engage in a series of workshops over the next five weeks to encourage them to investigate the post school options to which they are best suited. This will enable students to make informed decisions about the senior pattern of study and choice of subjects that will best prepare them to transition from school into further tertiary study or employment.
Please see the attached for further information, or contact me at the College.
Gold Coast Virtual Careers Festival
Students will be able to discover career pathways and opportunities for their future through this online event, from 1 May to 31 July 2020.
This is a wonderful opportunity to connect with a wide range of education and training providers, who will showcase their latest courses and pathways and provide invaluable tips on how to choose the right path, how to prepare for life after school and how to become job ready.
Access is completely free and registration is easy. Students simply head to the website, create a login and join instantly, without the need to download any software or apps.
What is on the site?
This year the event has transitioned from physical booths to virtual booths. Each education and training provider has set up a virtual booth with informative documents such as course guides, scholarship information, open day flyers with important dates and more. The virtual “swag bag” allows students to select items of interest and download them for review at their leisure, giving them access to relevant information for their chosen area/s of interest.
Informative videos including career resources, inspiring job opportunities and course programs are also accessible for all students to view. These include ATAR information, building a professional profile, resume & cover letters, life after school and much more.
How to Access the Event:
- Visit www.careers-festival.com
- Click on the top banner through to the Event Registration Page.
- Register your details – then return to page to log into site.
- Start browsing the Virtual Careers Festival
Navigating the Virtual Careers Festival:
This is a user friendly site and is easy to navigate. Below are the features available at the Virtual Careers Festival:
- Exhibitor Hall – is all the booths – click on a booth to learn more about what they have to offer.
- Video Vault – browse the numerous videos that providers have uploaded (these are accessible via each booth as well).
- Swag Bag – the student’s collection of documents they wish to keep looking back through.
- Auditorium – Stage Program with videos of Career Resources, Inspiring Job Opportunities and Institute Schools & Courses.
Stay tuned – further information will be provided next week including handout/worksheets to make the most of the website, the top go-to videos as well as profiles of the education and training providers at the Virtual Careers Festival.
Ms Frances Stegeman
Leader of Careers and EVET
Leader of Learning - Work Readiness Pathway
The Nextwave Youth Film Competition returns for 2020!
The search is now on for the next wave of young regional filmmakers, with short film entries open from 1 May - 21 Sept 21.
Nextwave, presented by the Screenwave International Film Festival (SWIFF), now in its sixth year is host to Australia’s largest regional youth short film competition and is free to enter for young people aged between 10 - 25 years, living outside a metro area.
Short films can range from a variety of genres, including comedies, dramas, thrillers, sci-fi, animation, documentary and personal essays. All that is needed to enter is to make a short film under five minutes (including all credits) and to creatively include the phrase, ‘What’s Next?”
Along with an array of awards and prizes across a variety of age categories, short film finalists will have their films premiere at the 2021 Screenwave International Film Festival (SWIFF) in Coffs Harbour in January. Lucky creatives will also have the opportunity for their films to screen at venues across Australia for Youth Week in April 2021.
The SWIFF team are also working on broadening access to their Nextwave filmmaking workshop program by offering a series of online workshops for teachers and students across Australia. Nextwave’s redesigned workshop program is launching as an online learning experience to be delivered to regional, rural, and remote students across Australia, with the learning program supported by teachers and home-schooling parents available from June.
For more information, visit www.nextwavefilmfest.com.au.
The Lowes On-Campus Uniform Shop hours are as follows:
Every Tuesday during the school term: 12:00pm – 3:30pm
Every Thursday during the school term: 8:00am – 12:00pm
Should you need to contact their office, the following telephone number is operated by a Lowes staff member only during shop hours: 07 5523 9300
Please be aware that you can also order online using the following link: