Newsletter Term 4, Week 10 2023
Dear Members of the St Joseph's College Family,
Summer has certainly arrived! Hot days and therefore, air conditioning a very popular choice! The last week of a school year is always a reflective one. I wonder if you asked your child/children to rate their effort at school in 2023 out of ten, what would they say … honestly.
December in Australia is always exciting, not because of the weather but because of the anticipation of Christmas. The Church does this via the season of Advent. Actually, the new Church year (6) began on Sunday December 3rd.
In the Catholic Church, Advent is a time of preparation – for the birth of Jesus, our Lord. In churches there are Advent wreaths consisting of four candles (three purple and one pink – the Shepherd’s Candle – joy) that symbolise hope, peace, joy and love.
Above all else Christmas is about family; not just yours or mine but the holy family. The birth of a child is always such a monumental occasion. Jesus’ birth was about “Emmanuel” which means God is with us. Christmas is about the Mass of Christ. The true gift is not the presents under the tree, but presence of Jesus (God) as human.
Sincere good wishes and blessings to all of you at St Joseph’s College. The 2023 year here has been one that I’ll always be grateful for. Mr Ryan Campbell is an excellent choice of Principal. I believe that the College will grow in strength under his leadership.
Over fifteen years ago I shared a Christmas reflection which is still very relevant today. If we all could deliver on just five of the challenges, our Christmas would be truly blessed:
Sincere best wishes for a very happy, safe and holy Christmas. May 2024 be a joy filled one.
Yours in Jesus, Mary and St Joseph.
Mr Peter McLoughlin
College Principal
11 December 2023
Principal’s Notes
Congratulations!
Congratulations to Jess Millward (2007) who from February will be taking up a role as European Correspondent for Channel 9, taking up residence in London. A First-Class Achievement.
Farewell
We are grateful to all of our staff here at St Joseph’s College but I would like to express my sincere best wishes to the following staff who are either finishing their time here on contract or are pursuing a change in circumstances:
Ms Leela Forde
Mrs Joanne Scotcher
Mr Tom Nguyen
Mrs Kristy Robinson
Ms Melaina Faranda
Ms Maya Heighes-Ashby
Mr Bryson Coverdale (continuing as a casual)
Ms Monique Burns “ “ “
Ms Lucy De Giorgio “ “ “
Ms Christina Day “ “ “
Ms Sheraz Johnston “ “ “
Mrs Tonita Schroeder “ “ “
Mrs Michelle Wilcox “ “ “
College Uniform Expectations for 2024
Please read the following information relating to College Uniform Expectations for 2024.
St Joseph's Parish
St Joseph’s Church
Christmas Eve
6pm Family Mass 8pm
Midnight Mass (with Fr Wilber)
Christmas Day
8am only
…….
St Camillus Bilambil
9am only
St Anthony's Parish
KINGSCLIFF:
Christmas Vigil 6:00pm, Sunday 24th December
Christmas Day 9:00am, Monday 25th December
POTTSVILLE:
Christmas Vigil 6:00pm, Sunday 24th December
Christmas Day 7:30am, Monday 25th December
Congratulations to all recipients who received an award at the presentation held on Wednesday 13 December – the list can be found below.
End of Year Awards Presentation, 13 December 2023
Free Lectures Online
From January 17-20 our students will have access to ATAR Notes free online lectures.
You can Login or register here.
Revise & Prepare
Year 9-12 sessions available to help students level up their studies, delivered by high-achieving recent graduates.
Gain help from elite graduates
Students can ask questions live throughout the lectures, getting immediate responses through our Q&A system.
Gain on-demand access to recordings
Lecture recordings are available to re-watch for one week, and students can download the slides to help with their study.
Mr Matthew Hall
Leader of Curriculum
Year 12 Legal Studies Excursion to Brisbane Supreme and District Courts
This term, Year 12 Legal Studies students ventured to the Brisbane Supreme and District Courts for an excursion that provided a firsthand glimpse into the legal system. This excursion allowed students to observe serious criminal cases from the public gallery, providing them with invaluable insights into the complexities of legal proceedings.
Throughout the day, the students witnessed a range of cases at different stages, including a trial for fraud, a sentencing for armed robbery, a sentencing for a series of drug charges, and a bail application for an accused charged with murder. This experience not only exposed them to the practical aspects of the legal system but also deepened their understanding of the principles of justice and the rule of law.
Below, you can find some comments from the students, along with Madeline Smith’s reflection, which she shared with the College during assembly.
Mrs Georgia James
Leader of Learning Technologies / HSIE Teacher
Comments from the students
Annabelle: Throughout the day, we immersed ourselves in different legal cases which further enhanced my legal knowledge and expanded my understanding of the complexities within the legal system.
Stella: I thoroughly enjoyed going to the Brisbane Supreme and District Courts and having the opportunity to hear interesting cases which provided valuable insight into the sentencing process.
Alexis: Having the opportunity to attend the Brisbane Supreme and District Courts was thrilling! Being able to talk to a real life judge after learning about their role in the court was special.
Saoirse: Seeing how the theory we have learnt in class is applied in reality was really interesting, and meeting with the judge provided insight into the thought process behind sentencing.
Mia: I really enjoyed being able to see the trial and sentencing processes ahead of our crime topic next term.
Daniel: It was a very informative insight into how Australian courts handle crime, and I enjoyed having the opportunity to spoke to barristers, prosecutors and judges.
Grace: To be able to go and experience what you’ve been learning in class was a very good inspiring way to learn.
Taylor: Having the opportunity to go to court and witness the criminal justice process in real time was not taken for granted. I am extremely thankful for the experience and the knowledge that it carried with it.
Nate: I found the experience very rewarding and learnt alot about the court system and where everything is placed within the courtroom.
Chris: The experience at the Supreme and District Courts was an eye-opener for me. Witnessing legal proceedings in action developed my understanding of the processes involved in the justice system.
Sarah: Having the opportunity to experience how a courtroom runs and talking to the barristers, judge and solicitors was an insightful experience.
Braydon: I found it rewarding having the opportunity to experience real life exposure to what we are learning in class, being able to ask questions to the barristers and Justice Mcdonald. The experience was very immersive and was great to gain the additional knowledge from the experience.
Madeline’s reflection:
This term, the Year 12 Legal Studies class, along with Kingscliff High School, travelled to Brisbane to visit the Supreme and District Courts. On the day, we were given an informative and educational talk by District Court Judge Amanda McDonald. Justice McDonald allowed us to explore the courtroom before speaking to us about the criminal trial and sentencing process, as well as the roles of the different personnel in a courtroom.
We then were lucky enough to be visited by a practising barrister, Anthony Collins, as well as the Defence Barrister and Crown Prosecutor from a case we sat in on, who were happy to answer any questions we had.
Next, we had the opportunity to sit in on several real court cases which included sentencing for an armed robbery and sentencing for a series of drug charges, we also watched a trial for a case of fraud, and a bail application for an accused recently charged with murder.
The excursion was an excellent way of giving us a practical understanding of the theory we have learnt, allowing us to gain a deeper firsthand insight and appreciation for the inner workings of the legal system. We would like to give an enormous thanks to Mrs Georgia James and Mrs Kristy Mcleod for this incredible opportunity.
Madeline Smith
Year 12 Legal Studies
Dear Parents/Carers,
During Term 1 we will be updating our student records to ensure we have the most up-to-date information and assessments for your child/ren. Now is a great time to start sending that information through.
If you have clinical assessments or medical diagnosis for your child that the school does not have on file, or if you have updated information, please email this to our Administrator for Diversity & Inclusion to better manage the daily and emergency health needs of your child. This also includes Anaphylaxis, Diabetes, Epilepsy and any other medical plans relevant for your child. Please ensure the school office has an in-date EpiPen for your child should they have Anaphylaxis.
Please send all information to deborah.pirlo@lism.catholic.edu.au
We appreciate your support as we gather the necessary information, and if you have any questions please direct them to Ms Amie Nugent our Leader for Diversity & Inclusion amie.nugent@lism.catholic.edu.au
We wish you all a safe and Merry Christmas
From the Diversity and Inclusion Team
Term 4 Community Service
We are incredibly fortunate to incorporate regular service and volunteer work into our Work Readiness Pathway through the Employability Program, which runs alongside Catholic Faith in Action during our students’ HSC year. Throughout term 4, students engaged in diverse activities twice a week. These activities included supporting St James students in their classes, participating in weekly bake sales for fundraising, visiting elderly residents at St Martha’s, packing orders at Meals on Wheels, creating Christmas cards with heartfelt messages for the local community, and assisting with various cleaning and odd jobs around the school.
The pinnacle of these efforts was a special day on December 7th, where all students dedicated their time to various activities. They assisted St Joseph’s Parish with their annual Christmas luncheon, contributed to Agape Outreach by sorting donations, building shelving, cleaning and general duties. Additionally, students refreshed our WRP classrooms with new paint and collaborated with Ms Banko to construct Cubby houses for St James Primary School.
The positive feedback received from volunteers, staff, teachers, and the broader community attests to the impact of these endeavours. These initiatives not only allow students to make a positive contribution to their community and school but also enable them to develop crucial employability skills. Skills such as teamwork, communication, financial literacy, leadership, and initiative were cultivated throughout these experiences, enhancing students overall personal and professional growth.
I would like to express my gratitude to Mrs Penny May for her exceptional leadership, tireless dedication, and organisational skills throughout this term. Her efforts have not only facilitated a seamless learning experience but have also greatly enriched the educational journey for our students. Thank you, Mrs May and well done, WRP students! What a fantastic way to spread Christmas cheer and conclude the year on a high note.
Ms Hannah Lindschau
Leader of Learning - Work Readiness Pathway
Location: College Library
When: Monday-Thursday: 3:15-5:00pm
Supervised
Homework Hub runs in the College Library for any student who requires this service after school hours. It is supervised and very useful for any student who wishes to stay behind to catch up on work, catch a late bus, a later parent pick-up, improve their reading skills, receive help with assessments, or otherwise.
We thank all the students who attended this year and wish everyone a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.
Kind regards,
Mrs Fin & Mrs Williams
Please be advised of this important notification in preparation for Term 1 2024.
Who should apply / reapply?
- All students transitioning from Primary School to High School / Year 6 to Year 7
- Students with a 2023 bus pass who need to update or change any of their details
- Students without a bus pass wishing to travel on a bus
Who doesn’t need to apply / reapply?
- Students who currently have a bus pass for 2023 which do not fall into the above categories
- Students without a bus pass not wishing to travel on the bus
Please visit the below links for more information on applying for a School Bus Pass.
https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/ticket-eligibility-concessions/school-student-travel
https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/ticket-eligibility-concessions/child-student-concessions