Newsletter Term 1, Week 10 2020
Dear SJC Families and Friends
I have written and said a lot across the last fortnight so I promise this will be brief.
Thanks and Assurance
I cannot convey enough how thankful and proud I am of our community. This shift has been monumental and the support shown throughout our SJC community is just inspiring. Be sure to continue to look out for each other. I found comfort in the words of Bishop Greg from Sunday's webcast Mass, maybe you will too:
"My recommendation is to recognise life. Every day I am pleased to be alive, every day I see new things, every day I delight in the gift that God has given me. You might be fearful, you might be isolated, you might be locked up at home but never-the-less, you can still find joy. God has made my heart bigger and bigger as I pray for all those people placed in my life. If we can find that in which we delight, our present isolation will be on in which we can give thanks to God." (March 29, 2020)
School Remains Open
Whilst St Joseph's College remains open, please note the statement issued by the Prime Minister on Sunday relating to schools remaining open and that it should only be the children of parents or carers who need to attend their place of work and suitable care and supervision is not possible. If a parent or carer is at home, the child must stay at home.
Finally, can you please ensure you are keeping abreast of the communication being issued by the College and the CSO. All the pieces of information can be found in the link below.
Please stay safe, take care and may God bless you all.
Scott Thomson
Last week on Monday and Tuesday our Year 9 and 10 students participated in the Choicez Media presentation. These sessions focused on students developing an understanding of the complex, sexualised world they are part of. Students participated in a range of sessions led by our guest presenters David and Katie who challenged students' understanding of being a young person and what it means to be a young man and woman in today’s world. We were also fortunate to have David present to parents on Tuesday evening. I would like to thank the students for their active participation in this important learning experience and also the staff who attended to facilitate small groups sessions. Thanks also to the parents who attended the parent session.
Finally, I would like to remind parents of the SJC SchoolTV webpage (see link below) that has a range of clips and information to support parents. A particular section that may be of interest at this time is on ‘Resilience’. I encourage parents to spend time reviewing this and gathering ideas on how to support children during their transition to blended learning.
God Bless
Mr Ryan Campbell
Assistant Principal (Mission)
Week 5 Story: Tawonga, Malawi
Project Compassion, Week 5, brings you the story of Tawonga a 10-year-old girl, living with a disability. She lives in a village in northern Malawi in a region plagued by food insecurity and poverty (in Malawi, 18% of the population are undernourished). For most of her life, her parents have struggled to put meals on the table. Tawonga often had to miss school because she was too sick from hunger. The family also faced discrimination in their community due to her disability.
Since participating in a Caritas Australia supported program, Tawonga’s life has transformed. Her family now grows enough food to provide three meals a day, ending the struggle of malnutrition, and helping her thrive at school.
Please donate to Project Compassion 2020 to so this transformational program can continue to empower vulnerable women, men and children, and strengthen the communities around them.
Week 6 Story: Dominic, Papua New Guinea
Dominic, 47, is a former teacher and father of six from Papua New Guinea. In 2016, he became involved with the Caritas Australia’s Safe House and Family Anonymous programs and turned a difficult life and an unhappy relationship around. The program provides gender-based violence prevention training, counselling services and safe accommodation for women and children survivors of violence.
Now a community trainer, he works with other men to help them to change their behaviour and build more harmonious family lives. Dominic and his wife, Christophylda say that their relationship has been transformed – and their family life is now harmonious, happy and safe.
Please donate to Project Compassion 2020 to help support the Safe House project and help bring greater harmony to families in Papua New Guinea.
Do not be afraid as together we have the power to build a movement and create lasting change for our global community. We can help break the cycle of poverty and injustice – to go further together.
Please support Project Compassion. You can still donate by visiting www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion, or phoning 1800 024 413.
Mrs Hannah Ardrey
Leader of School Evangelisation
APPLICATIONS FOR THE NYSF 2021 PROGRAM ARE NOW OPEN!
The NYSF Year 12 Program is a 10-day residential program designed to give students a broader understanding of the diverse study and career options available in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and to encourage continued studies in these fields.
At the NYSF Year 12 Program run in January each year, participants will:
- live on campus at one of the host universities (Australian National University or University of Queensland);
- tour science and technology related laboratories and facilities to learn about research being conducted;
- engage with industry partners and research providers;
- learn about university and STEM career pathways;
- mix with other like-minded students from all over Australia;
- network with former NYSF participants to further increase understanding of STEM related study and career experiences; and
- go on site tours, listen to lectures, take part in workshops, go to social events, and participate in group activities that improve communication and presentation skills.
In 2021, there will be three separate sessions running for the NYSF Year 12 Program with the following locations and dates. Each session has places for up to 200 students.
Session A: Monday 4 to Wednesday 13 January – Canberra, The Australian National University
Session B: Monday 11 to Wednesday 20 January – Brisbane, The University of Queensland
Session C: Monday 18 to Wednesday 27 January – Canberra, The Australian National University
Application dates: Applications will open early March to late May each year.