Newsletter Term 4, Week 8 2021

Parent Workshop on Resilience and Motivating Teens - TONIGHT!

A reminder that there is a parent workshop taking place this evening at Mt St Patrick College where parents can learn great strategies for motivating and developing resilience in teens with one of Australia's leading presenters, Nathan Hulls.  See the flyer for more details.  All St Joseph's College parents are warmly invited and encouraged to attend upcoming workshops hosted by the Parent Assembly in the northern rivers region.

Dear SJC Families and Friends

I trust this finds you well and that you have been able to enjoy the beautiful area in which we live. 

In the coming fortnight, we see three very important events occur that would have traditionally by this time of year have concluded.  They are the completion of our HSC Exams (2 December for our students), our Year 12 Graduation Ceremony (3 December) and the College Formal (5 December).  These will be very welcomed events given the delay of each event that our Year 12 students have had to endure.  To give some perspective, our College Formal was to have originally been run on November 5, four days prior to the commencement of the rescheduled HSC Examinations. 

I ask that you please keep our Year 12 students in your prayers and the conclusion of their formal schooling draws near.  I spoke in my last newsletter of change and how instead of fearing change, it is important to embrace change and for our Year 12 cohort of 2021, they have known very little but change throughout this year.  They have thoroughly earned the right to celebrate what has been achieved this year. 

The majority of this article outlines the staffing changes and appointments to this point in the year.  These are very exciting times for our College and I whilst I encourage you to read every word of this newsletter, I would particularly like to draw your attention to Mr Carlo Trimboli's article relating to the learning focus of the College currently.  This is all about putting the student at the centre and ensuring a consistent and clear approach to learning for all students that will help them achieve what they are capable of. 

Staffing for 2022

We have a number of staff members who are sadly either leaving the College or stepping away from their roles in 2022.  My end of year letter will outline of the leadership positions within the College for 2022 and this will be shared with families on 15 December.  In the meantime, below are the major changes that need to be noted.  I have attempted to provide context to each of the existing or new staff members' situations. 

It goes without saying that on behalf of the College, I thank all of the staff members who are either leaving the College or leaving their leadership roles for the commitment and passion they have shown during the time they have given in their respective roles and congratulate all new appointments.

Current Teaching Staff Changes

• Mr Peter Lyon, College Assistant/Deputy Principal since 1997, has decided that he will continue his current leave (all of 2021) into the future and has decided to retire from the profession.  I have had the privilege of working with and learning from Peter since 2017 at the College and was an associate of his since 2012 when I became an Assistant Principal.  Peter has served the SJC community since 1996 and his influence and support of the young people and families of the Tweed Valley and southern Gold Coast region is immeasurable. 
• Miss Helen Gooley, College Leader of Catechesis, will assume the position of Leader of Catechesis at St Mary's Catholic College, Casino, from the commencement of next week (SMCC runs a compressed curriculum, hence, they start their 2022 academic year during Term 4).  Helen is one of the original staff members having commenced at SJC in 1993.  She has held a number of leadership positions during her tenure at the College and will be greatly missed by all staff and students.
• Mrs Kathy McAlister, Leader of Curriculum, has decided that she will continue the leave she commenced at the start of Term 3 this year into 2022.  Kathy has been the Leader of Curriculum since her appointment in 2011 and has worked tirelessly in the curriculum and learning field in the College.
• Mrs Peta Lyon, HSIE teacher and former Leader of Catechesis and Year Coordinator, has made the difficult decision to make this year her last year of teaching.  Peta has been an integral part of the College Staff since 1997.  She is a passionate history teacher and made many valuable contributions to the students and staff of the College when in leadership positions. 
• Mrs Shellae Boss, Leader of Additional Needs, has been appointed to the same role at Mt St Patrick College from the commencement of 2022. Shellae has been associated with SJC for many years. 
• Mr Mark Williams, Leader of Pastoral Care (Year 12), has decided to take leave for the entirety of the 2022 school year.  Mark has been a member of staff since 1996 and this will be the first long break that he has taken during that time.  He will be spending time with family, particularly his wonderful mother down south.  Mark has done a great job in leading and supporting our Year 12 students during a turbulent and challenging 2021.
• Ms Katie John will be taking 2022 as maternity leave and will return to her science teaching role in 2023.
• Mrs Amy Pascoe will return to the College in a part-time capacity following her most recent maternity leave following the birth of her and husband Pat's daughter Estelle.
• Mrs Jenna Balk will continue her maternity leave into 2022 and return to SJC in 2023. 
• Ms Shinade Edwards has accepted a teaching position at Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School. Shinade has been teaching in a job share and casual capacity throughout 2021 and is a former SJC student. 

Leadership Position Changes

• Mrs Louise McLaughlin, Leader of Pastoral Care (Year 11), has decided that after twelve years of being a Year Coordinator, she will no longer assume the role.  Louise has been with the current Year 11 students since they commenced at the College in 2017.  She has done a great job in supporting and ensuring that the students in that year group have flourished into the fine young men and women they are. 
• Mr Matthew Hall, Leader of Learning - Science, has stepped away from his leadership role of 9 years and assumed the role of Leader of Curriculum following the movement of Kathy McAlister out of the role.  He has been in an acting capacity of the Leader of Curriculum role since the commencement of Term 3 and will be missed as the Leader of Learning - Science. 
• Mrs Joanna Burnett, Leader of Pastoral Care (Year 10), will relinquish her role and assume the role of Leader of Learning - Science in 2022.  Jo has been a great support and guide for her year group and has worked with them since 2018. 
• Ms Amie Nugent, Acting Leader of Additional Needs, will assume the role of Leader of Inclusion and Diversity (formerly Additional Needs) in 2022. 
• Ms Maddy Ilic, Leader of Sport will assume responsibility for both external (current) and internal sport in 2022. 
• Ms Sara Reynolds, Leader of Internal Sport, will leave her current role and assume the role of Assistant Leader of Learning - PDHPE in 2022. 
• Mrs Shannon Parker, Assistant Leader of Learning - PDHPE, will leave her current role and assume the role of Leader of Student Wellbeing (House Coordinator) in 2022. 
• Mrs Loretta Jones will assume the role of Leader of Student Wellbeing in 2022 and continue in her role as a mathematics teacher. 
• Mrs Leanne Ward will assume the role of Assistant Leader of Learning - Mathematics in 2022.  Leanne takes over from Mr Shane Burns who has filled the role for the previous two years. 
• Ms Ana Chaveliar, Acting Leader of Learning - Science, will be resuming her role as a science teacher in 2022.  She has done a fine job of leading the learning area since the start of Term 3. 
• Mrs Melinda Thompson and Mrs Lexe Busbridge will assume roles on the College Leadership Team as respective representatives of teachers and support workers.  I look forward to the contribution they will make to the team in 2022.

New Teaching Appointments

• Mr Jordan Attenborough-Doyle will be working full-time in the RE/PDHPE learning area.  Jordan has worked during 2021 in a part-time and casual capacity. 
• Dr Audrey Copeland is currently working as a biology and science teacher in Sydney and is looking forward to moving with her family to the area.  She will be working in the Science learning area.
• Mr Bryson Coverdale will continue in the HSIE learning area in 2022. Bryson has worked at the College in a full-time capacity for the last two years.
• Mr James Everingham has been appointed to work full-time in the RE/PDHPE learning areas.  James has worked in a part-time and casual capacity at the College for over five years.
• Mr Martin Fairweather will join the Science learning area and is currently teaching in the field at Marymount College following a decade and a half at St Michael's College, Merrimac.  Martin will also work in the marine area.
• Ms Molly Furtchman has been appointed as a teacher of additional needs working in the Inclusion and Diversity area to support our students.  Molly has been working in the role since the beginning of Term 3 this year. 
• Mrs Kristy McLeod will recommence in a full-time capacity in the HSIE learning area in 2022.  Kristy has worked at the College for the majority of the 2021 school year covering Mrs Georgia James whilst she was on maternity leave following the birth of her and her husband David's son Bowie.
• Mrs Tabitha Norton joins the SJC staff from Marymount College where she holds the position of Head of Teaching and Learning - Literacy and Pedagogy.  Tabitha lives in Tweed Heads and will be working in the English and RE learning areas. 
• Mrs Priscilla Price will assume the role of Mathematics teacher and Leader of Numeracy.  Priscilla will be moving to the area with her family from the Blue Mountains where she works at Blue Mountains Grammar School. 

Leaving St Joseph's College

During the second semester of a school year, families tend to make decisions about moving to a new area because of employment changes, etc.  With so much upheaval this year, it seemed timely to enquire of all families if, for any reason, their child (or children) will not be returning to the College in 2022, to please let us know.

If you could please send in with your child a letter to the College office – or alternatively write a brief email to sjcbanora@lism.catholic.edu.au – confirming the date your child will be leaving and the new school or institution he/she will be attending.

(Please note that all students who leave St Joseph’s College are required to complete a Clearance Form which includes the return of all College library books and textbooks.  They can collect a form from the office closer to their departure date.)

Mr Scott Thomson
Principal

What a privilege for the library to host an Insects exhibition: with Science’s Ana Chevalier and CAPA’s Suzi Predi joining forces to create a wonderful fusion of bug appreciation – visual and gustatory!  They collaborated to create inspiring and meaningful links across the Key Learning Areas in a belated celebration of National Science week, with the theme being Food: Difference by Design. 

What exactly is the future of food? What will we be eating in ten, twenty, fifty, a hundred years from now?  Along with vertical gardens, genetically modified foods, 3D printed food, laboratory created meat, and new forms of hydroponics

(https://www.smh.com.au/national/the-secret-rock-that-could-help-feed-the-world-and-the-nerdy-australian-scientist-who-discovered-it-20211118-p599zh.html), there’s the crunchy question of insects...

With an estimated 200 million insects to every human, insects are high in protein, low in carbohydrates, and eaten by around 2.5 billion people in 80% of the world’s nations, including 3,000 indigenous groups.  They can be bred easily in small containers and have a (literally) tiny environmental footprint. Insects are also of great importance in our ecosystem, as pollinators.  Without them, we would possibly perish.  A focus for Suzi Predi’s Year 8 Art classes was to observe the beauty, necessity and wonder of insects and as stewards of creation to have a greater appreciation of their role in our ecosystem.

In that spirit, our students were invited to come along to admire the insect art featuring all sorts of bugs and butterflies, look at insects through microscopes, and a gastronomic bug tasting session yesterday at lunch.  They were able to try garlic and chilli crickets and rosemary and sea salt mealworms.  Remember that song, ’Nobody loves me, everybody hates me, think I’ll go eat worms – fat ones, skinny ones – one’s that squiggle and squirm…’  These worms were definitely not squirming but they did look like desiccated maggots and despite being crispy (and quite tasty) it was fun watching the kids’ faces.  And also interesting to remember that what might seem bizarre eating in our culture, is normal in another and vice versa.

As students got word, gastro-adventurers, art-appreciators, and their mates flooded into the library to look and try!  Which piqued a-wondering about future food sources and the legendary survival capacity of ubiquitous cockroaches… and yep, they’re high in protein, eaten already in some countries, but need to be thoroughly cooked to kill off bacteria.

Ms Melaina Faranda, Teacher-Librarian

Ms Ana Chevalier, Acting Leader of Learning-Science

Ms Suzi Predi, Art Teacher

More on staff learning and teaching in Term 4 @ SJC

On Thursday 4 November, the College had a staff learning day where the majority of the day focused on using student data to plan for better learning and teaching.  This work is part of a system-wide approach to improving literacy in Lismore diocesan schools and is a continuation of the work mentioned in the last newsletter in partnership with Lyn Sharratt.

Lyn Sharrat’s work prescribes that schools will improve their function and precision if they focus on a range of parameters.  The three compulsory parameters are:

• Parameter #1: Shared beliefs and understandings;
• Parameter #6: Case management approach; and
• Parameter #14: Shared responsibility and accountability.

Additionally, staff have chosen to work on Parameter #5: Early and ongoing intervention.

What this means is that teachers and support staff at SJC are dedicated to improving the quality of learning and teaching for all children and to providing high-quality learning and teaching that addresses the needs of all students whether it be in the regular classroom or in small groups or one to one interventions.

Part of the learning for the day was plotting all our Year 7 students on a data wall using information on student writing gathered throughout the year.  The power of data walls is that, if used properly, they stimulate meaningful discussions among educators.  The practice is that teachers and support staff meet at the data wall to discuss, plan and devise ways for students to grow in their learning.

The staff learning day also enabled teachers to identify various strengths and weaknesses in their own knowledge and understanding.  This information will be used by leaders to plan for staff learning in 2022.

A couple of photos (below) show teams of teachers in the process of creating the data wall.

Mr Carlo Trimboli
Leader of Pedagogy

Year 9 and 10 Elective French – Dans La Cuisine . . .

This term the elective French classes have mastered their skills at creating and baking galettes and croissants.

The traditional galette chosen was a savoury crepe that has its origins in Bretagne on the west coast of France.  Year 9 students created and cooked galettes with egg, cheese and ham.

The Year 10 class displayed their boulangerie skills by carefully rolling and shaping their perfect croissants.  Once baked, these were consumed with delicious jams and nutella.

An interesting fact is that the croissant actually originated from Austria in the 13^th century.  This cultural cooking element has been a positive addition to Elective French at SJC in 2021.

Mrs Joanne Scotcher
Teacher of French

Job Opportunity – Cadet Survey Technician with Tweed Council

Do you have an interest in a Cadet Survey Technician role, and would you enjoy earning while undertaking on-the-job training and completing tertiary studies in this field of interest?  Tweed Shire Council is looking for a committed, energetic and enthusiastic person to add value to their team.  This position is part of Council’s Cadetship Program with Tweed Shire Council.  If you are interested access this link for more information and to apply.

Film & Acting Teen Camps at New York Film Academy Australia (NYFA Australia)

Are you interested in getting hands-on filmmaking and acting experience these school holidays?  You can experience Movie Magic with the New York Film Academy Australia Teen Camps (a one-week Film Teen Camp or a one-week Acting Teen Camp):

1-Week Film Camp

13 Dec - 17 Dec 2021
10 Jan - 14 Jan 2022

1-Week Acting Camp

13 Dec - 17 Dec 2021
10 Jan - 14 Jan 2022

Get a hands-on training by our industry professional trainers and film on the real film sets at Warner Bros. Movie World!  For more information, please contact New York Film Academy Australia Recruitment Team at:

Phone: 07 5555 1300
Email: goldcoast@nyfa.edu

Ms Frances Stegeman
Leader of Careers/EVET

Please read the attached flyer (below) on SoSAFE! User Training – a set of visual and conceptual tools designed to promote social safety for individuals living with intellectual disability and/or Autism Spectrum Disorder – to equip you “with the visual tools, lesson plans and skills to implement this integrated framework for teaching respectful relationships, sexuality and sexual health to people with a moderate to severe intellectual disability.”

SJC Yarning Circle

Jingi Walla (Hello)

Recently we had the pleasure of meeting our Student Representatives for 2022 and we congratulate Indiana Sing (Year 11), Issac Hill-Hayes (Dalton House Captain), Thomas Busbridge (Year 10), and all of the other students selected to represent their peers on our SRC for 2022, fantastic job and well done everyone!!

A note for parents and carers of Indigenous students, our Lismore Diocese Marist Fathers education grant applications are now open for 2022, please read below for details.  Please don't hesitate to contact me via email lexene.busbridge@lism.catholic.edu.au if you would like further information or have any questions.

Marist Fathers Indigenous Education Grant applications for 2022 are now open!

The Marist Fathers Indigenous Education Grant 2022 is now open.  The Marist Fathers are mindful of the important role of education in furthering the prospects and opportunities of Indigenous youth.  This fund aims to assist Indigenous students who are in need in areas not normally covered by other available sources of funding.

A grant will be made available for assistance in any of the following areas:

• School uniform and school footwear expenses
• Text book and stationery expenses
• Special subject levies and equipment
• VET course fees
• School retreats
• School camps
• Distance learning in junior high school
• Necessary documentation must be provided to claim reimbursement

Applications must be received by Friday 18 February 2022.  Click here for the online application form.

With another year drawing to a close we would like to congratulate all of our students, families and community for your support, assistance and cooperation throughout this very unusual year.  We especially wish our Year 12 graduates, Rekye, Jack and Allira, a big ‘Congratulations!’ on finishing their secondary education in what has been a challenging year, and we wish them all the best in their future pathways.

I would like to sincerely thank all of our SJC community for your respect, care and support of our Indigenous students and families this year and we wish you all good blessings and best wishes to you and your families for the end of year/Christmas break.

Bugalbeh (Thank you) and God bless

Mrs Lexene Busbridge
Indigenous Education Worker

Just a reminder that, due to WHS laws, skate style shoes or canvas high tops CANNOT be worn in workshops and kitchens – even with a parent note.

Students who come to TAS classes wearing these shoes will be given alternate theory work to complete.

Ms Karen Parker
Leader of Learning – TAS

Homework Hub – Monday to Thursday from 3:10 - 5:00 pm.

It's great to see new faces in Homework Hub!  Our seniors are also encouraged to use this time for study, assignment work or collaborative work with their peers.