Newsletter 4: Monday 20 May 2024

Principal's Message

Dear Members of the st Joseph’s College Family,

Welcome back to the College for Term 2.  I hope that everyone enjoyed the break and that our students have now settled back into their learning routines.  As always, our parents and carers are encouraged to keep up-to-date with the happenings at the College via Compass, as well as taking the time to read all alerts and messages and, of course, the College newsletter.

You might notice some changes to our newsletter this term, which has allowed us a little more freedom with the layout.  We hope you find this an enjoyable experience.

Towards the end of the school holidays, our nation’s ANZAC Day commemorations took place and, locally, our students had the opportunity to attend the Tweed Heads/Coolangatta RSL ANZAC Day march in Tweed Heads.  Commemorating ANZAC Day has become an integral part of being Australian, and one we can all take pride in and support.  I can’t hear the playing of the Last Post without an immediate emotional connection to our country and the reminder of its history in conflicts around the world.

The ANZAC Spirit Continues

The ANZAC Requiem was originally written by Charles Bean in 1944, but has since been adapted to include past and present conflicts.  The requiem highlights the achievements of all those Australians who died in war.

On the morning of 25 April 1915, Australian and New Zealand troops landed under fire on Gallipoli.  It was then and in the battles which followed that the Anzac tradition was formed. 

On this day, above all days, we remember all those who served our nation in times of war.

We remember with pride their courage, their compassion and their comradeship.  We remember what they accomplished for Australia, and indeed for the freedom of mankind.

We honour those who died or were disabled in the tragedy of war.  They adorn our nation’s history.

We remember those who fell amidst the valleys and ridges of Gallipoli, on the terraced hills of Palestine, in France and Belgium, on the sands of the North African desert, amidst the mountains and olive groves of Greece, Crete and Syria, in the skies over Europe, in Singapore, in the jungles of Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands, in Korea and Vietnam, in later conflicts and in peacekeeping, in the skies and seas in many parts of the world, and on our own soil and in our sea lanes.

We remember those who suffered as prisoners of war, and those who died in captivity.

We remember staunch friends and allies, especially those who fought alongside us on that first day on Gallipoli in 1915.

Our servicemen and women have left us a splendid heritage.  May we and our successors prove worthy of their sacrifice.

ANZAC Day 2024 – Thursday 25 April

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

Laurence Binyon, from For the Fallen, 1914

As the Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson said in his 2013 ANZAC Day National Ceremony Commemorative Address, “We honour them best by the way we live our lives and shape our nation.”

Many thanks are extended to our students and staff who gave of their time on ANZAC Day to show their appreciation and respect for those who have served Australia in war, by taking part in the Tweed Heads/Coolangatta march, while other students also marched as cadets or attended other parades.  All should be commended for their community spirit.  The 67 students who nominated to take part in the aforementioned march, representing the College, were:

SJC ANZAC Ceremony 2024 - Tuesday 30 April

In the document, We Remember ANZAC (published in October 2014 by the Department of Veterans' Affairs to commemorate the ANZAC Centenary), it was interesting to read:

Commemorative ceremonies can be significant and beneficial events for any school community.  As well as bringing the school community together, commemoration provides the opportunity to develop students’ empathy, compassion and respect.  Furthermore, while commemoration is often viewed as an extra-curricular activity, it closely supports the Australian Curriculum, developing students’ knowledge, understanding and skills.

The benefits of holding such a ceremony were true then and hold true today, and I am grateful that we were able to continue with our own ANZAC Ceremony in the Doyle Centre after the return to school this term.

College Assemblies

We have a whole school assembly timetabled every second Tuesday of the term (notwithstanding any other events), and we see it as an occasion to bring the school together, as well as to recognise the efforts of our students in academic, sporting and community activities.  We do acknowledge the efforts of our students with the special End of Year Awards presentation, however, it was felt the encouragement of being recognised as things happen is also worthwhile.  So far this term, we commemorated ANZAC Day on 30 April, and at our assembly on 7 May, we recognised the following students for their dedication to their sport:

College Sports Award:

Congratulations to all students who go the extra mile . . . in whichever field they pursue!

Ignite 2024 Launch at Dreamworld - Saturday 18 May

Saturday, 18 May, saw a group of our students visit Dreamworld for the launch of Ignite 2024.  Ignite Launch is a one-day experience at Dreamworld where all young people, regardless of their faith level or background are invited to come and have an experience of Jesus, amongst the fun of a day at a theme park. 

During the day, delegates were free to roam throughout Dreamworld, and then, after the park closed, the Ignite Launch officially began with dinner in the park.  The program then followed with a youth rally, together with a live band and guest speaker.  I hope that all attendees had a great time, and will return to school today, having found this a moving experience.

SAVE THE DATE!
Year 7 Family Night - Monday 17 June

Coming in Week 8 this term, we will be hosting a very exciting and fun evening for our newest cohort of students and their parents at the Year 7 Family Night, to be held on the evening of Monday 17 June, starting at 6pm.  

This year, we will have speakers and activities, as well as the opportunity of sharing a meal and refreshments together.  It promises to be uplifting, and an event not to be missed for our Year 7 families.  More information to follow shortly.

Year 7 2025 Enrolments

Around this time each year, we look to the future and the coming year for the new intake of Year 7 students to the College.  With the Year 7 2025 applications having closed on the last day of last term, we are now well into the process of interviewing candidates for next year’s intake.  Interviews were held on 14 May and 16 May, with one final date tonight, Monday 20 May 2024.

The enrolment interview is an official part of making an application to enrol your child at St Joseph’s College, and I thank all of you for your interest in potentially placing your child in our care for the six years of their secondary education.

We try to make this official process as straightforward and as stress-free as possible, however, it is an opportunity for each candidate to speak about themselves, and here I would simply suggest to Be Not Afraid (Luke 2:1-20), as this is part of growing up and getting to know new people and places.  Interviews give students and their families a way to share and express what is important to them, and it also lays the foundation for parents to be partners in their child’s secondary education journey.

We want for all our school community members (students, parents and staff alike), that they should have life to the full (John 10:10).

We welcome students of all faiths, regardless of background.  School communities are a microcosm of the ‘real world’, and thrive by embracing diversity and the life experiences of individuals.  That being said, we must also recognise that showing others respect and displaying self-respect, treating others as we would like to be treated - living the gospel values - are foundational in our school community.  We believe diversity in our school community enriches both our school and the experiences of our students, however, all students and their families are required to respect our Catholic values and beliefs.

Important dates to note:

• Friday 31 May:  First Round Offers First Round Offers for Year 7 2025
• Friday 7 June:  First Round Offers for Year 7 2025 Acceptance Deadline

Subject Selections for next year - Thursday 6 June
Year 8 🠆 Year 9 2025 and Year 10 🠆 Year 11 2025

Students in Year 8 and Year 10 will soon be commencing the process of selecting their electives and subjects for next year; Year 8 will be making choices for their elective subjects for Years 9 and 10, and Year 10 will be selecting subjects for their senior years.  The finalisation of selections will also, in part, inform the future school timetable for 2025.

To assist our students with making appropriate choices, the College will be hosting our 2025 Subject Selection Evening on Thursday 6 June.  Mr Hall has placed a SAVE THE DATE for that night in his article in today’s newsletter.  Please mark it in your calendar!

I wish our families well in the decision-making process, and encourage at least one parent/carer to be in attendance with their child to get the most out of the information being imparted to our Year 8 and Year 10 families on the night.

College Athletics Carnival - Friday 7 June

The College's Annual Athletics Carnival is scheduled for the end of Week 6, Friday 7 June, which is also the day our next newsletter is due to be distributed, and the reason for this advance notice.

Every sports carnival we hold is a school day, and with that there is an expectation (as agreed to at enrolment) that all students will be in attendance.  As such, if your child is not here on Friday 7 June, they will have the absence recorded on their semester report.  To put this into further context, these reports can be seen as the level of support your child shows with special school events such as these.  It would also be a shame to not join in with the rest of the school in enjoying all the events and inclusivity that Ms Ilic, our Leader of Sport, has worked so hard to achieve.  The day is full of mateship, fun and team spirit, enjoying the fresh air, and maybe even seeing how fortunate we are that we have the oval right here!  Students in major city schools are not nearly as fortunate as we are, and what could be more fun than coming down to the oval, taking part in events and activities, and cheering on your mates to reach their best?  What are we if we can’t support each other?

Our Athletics Carnival also includes the acknowledgement of the highest points won by an individual student by the awarding of the Billy Hardy Memorial Trophy, we also witness and award the winner of the Serone Sprint, cheer on the announcement of the winning house on the day, and mark our time here as our Year 12 students experience another ‘last’ as the Class of 2024 - all these milestones indelibly written on the pages of our school’s history.

Therefore, I hope all our parents and carers support the College by sending their child to school that day.  Go SJC!  Go St Joeys!  I now direct you to the article in this newsletter from the Leader of Sport, Ms Ilic, for further information about this event.

Please continue reading as there really is quite important information contained in this newsletter.

Mr Ryan Campbell
Principal

Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools

Proclaim Lismore - Tweed event - Tuesday 28 May

The College will be hosting school staff across the entire Tweed region on Tuesday 28 May (Wk 5).  Therefore, this will be a student-free day.

RealTalk Online Parent Resource Centre

Puberty, Social Media, Respectful Relationships and Consent Resources for Parents:  The Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools (DLCS) has purchased a subscription to the RealTalk online parent resource centre for all parents in our Catholic schools.  All parents can now access a comprehensive online resource created by RealTalk Australia that provides access to a collection of resources to support parents and caregivers explore a diverse range of topics including:

• Puberty and personal development and identity
• Online safety
• Friendships
• Consent and respectful relationships
• Impacts of pornography
• For more information about how to access this resource see the flyer.

DLCS Newsletter

We're pleased to share the latest edition of the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Newsletter, now available online.  This publication is shared with our parish community and offers a glimpse into the vibrant life of our schools.  School community members can access the Newsletter here.

Principal's Notes:

Reminder: Student-Free Days in Term 2

To assist families with forward planning throughout this term, I include again today the scheduled student-free days for Term 2:

• Tuesday 28 May:  Proclaim Lismore (Tweed) Staff Day
• Monday 10 June:  King’s Birthday (all NSW schools closed for the Public Holiday)
• Thursday 4 July:  Staff Professional Learning Day
• Friday 5 July:  Staff Spirituality Day

Therefore, Term 2 lessons conclude on Wednesday 3 July.

Reminder: Duty of Care and Early Departures Through the School Day

It is our Duty of Care to provide a safe and supportive environment, and this also includes being able to identify any adult who comes to our Parent Reception to collect a student.  If we do not follow procedure, potentially a student could leave our school grounds with an unidentified adult, for which we are not prepared to take that risk for safety and legal reasons.

Therefore, we ask our families to follow the procedure:

If you are collecting a student early, can you please:

• Provide your child with a note (separate from the diary), briefly indicating the reason and stating the time you as parent/carer will be collecting your child from the Parent Reception (This note should be presented by the student to the Student Reception at their earliest convenience upon their arrival to school).
• Remind your child to be at the Parent Reception at the time stated in your note.
• Meet your child at the Parent Reception to sign them out from the College.

Please allow enough time to park and walk up to the Parent Reception to collect your child/ren.  Please also be mindful that this process is done in the best interest of our students, your child/ren, to ensure they get to where they need to go as safely as possible.  Please be patient with our staff assisting at Parent Reception to ensure these processes are followed.

Please also be aware that should you have another person collecting your child on your behalf, you should write these details in your note - If you do not make this clear, our office staff will need to verify the identity of the person who is collecting the student, and they will be asked to provide proof of identity.

We ask all visitors to please remain calm and speak with respect to our staff.  They are simply following our procedure and we are doing our best to ensure the safety of our students.

A last-minute phone request for a student to leave College grounds puts the safety of a student at risk and places undue pressure on our Administration Staff.  We simply ask families to follow this procedure.

Reminder: E-bikes Regulations

Students who are currently utilising an e-bike need to ensure they comply with the current NSW legislative standards.

In NSW, there are two types of permitted e-bikes:

A power-assisted pedal cycle:

• has one or more motors attached with a combined maximum power output of up to 200 watts
• can't be propelled only by the motor/s
• weighs less than 50kg (including batteries)
• has a height-adjustable seat.

Electrically power-assisted cycle:

An electrically power-assisted cycle has a maximum continuous rated power of up to 500 watts.  This power output must be:

• progressively reduced as the bicycle’s speed increases beyond 6km/h cut off when:
• your bicycle reaches a speed of 25km/h
• you stop pedalling and the speed exceeds 6km/h.

The rider must primarily propel these bikes – a motor can't be the only source propelling it.  The motor should only help the rider, like when going uphill or facing strong winds.

Petrol-Powered bicycles

All petrol-powered bicycles are illegal on NSW roads and road-related areas like footpaths, shared paths, cycle ways and cycle paths.

This includes bicycles that:

• have a petrol-powered engine attached before or after purchase
• are powered by other types of internal combustion engines.

Petrol-powered bicycles are faster than regular bicycles, reaching moped and small motorcycle speeds.

If a student's e-bike does not comply with these standards they are not to store these items on school property.  We ask all families to please take note when utilising or considering these items as transportation.  All students are also reminded to walk their bikes when on school grounds.

Vietnam Immersion Program 2024

Every year our Year 11 students have the opportunity to join a small group of their peers in a community immersion to Vietnam in September (pictured above are the students in the 2023 Vietnam Immersion group).

We are reaching out to the local community for possible sponsorship to help build a house for a needy family in South Vietnam.  If you are a local business owner who might be interested in sponsoring, please contact the College for more information.

Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

Term 2 is typically when things can start to get a bit tough at high school: the days get cool and short, colds and flus abound, sporting-life is busy, and the assessment calendar begins to look like a traffic jam.  But, as we know, it's those times that allow people to really shine.  At assembly this term, I spoke to our students about persistence, support and community in times of hard grind.  And I have every confidence that they will shine through the moments of stress and difficulty that this term is likely to present.

As adults and carers in their lives, we can accompany and encourage them by taking interest in their learning and having an open mind to their ideas.  We can also model our own interest in the world by discussing books we’re reading, ideas we’re working on, and the current events that are happening in the world around us.  I think our students are blessed to have parents and teachers in their lives who do these things and demonstrate such care and interest in them.

Our 3-Year strategic plan at St Joseph’s states that we aspire to partner with parents and take co-responsibility for literacy.  This literacy focus reflects state-wide changes in curriculum, which acknowledge that effective reading and writing is fundamental to all learning.  You are probably aware that all schools across the state have begun a 5-year project to re-write learning programs in accordance with the new curriculum.  What they all have in common is a focus on reading and writing.  Our governing body, NESA, has declared that all teachers in all subjects must explicitly teach reading and writing.

So that’s what we’re doing.  Our staff are working hard to embed literacy activities into the daily practice of our students at St Joseph’s.  This means our students will be doing more reading and hand-writing than they have in the past, as we guide them to be able to interpret complex written text and to write with sophistication.  As co-responsible partners, you can help by reading beside your child.  This could look like a number of different things: You could read with them; you could read the text that has been set for their homework, then discuss it at dinner; you could flick them a news or magazine article that you enjoyed; you could find an article that relates to the sport they play or the career they’re interested in; you could listen to a podcast or audiobook together on a long drive.  The sky’s the limit, but whatever you do to support us, I guarantee it will make a difference.

For our Year 12 students, this is their penultimate term of a 51-term schooling career.  It’s a big deal.  And it’s chock-a-block full of assessment, so some gentle prompts to ensure that they’re organised will go a long way.  They should, at this stage, be engaged in a regular pattern of study and revision at home.  After all, they have already learned more than half of the content that they’ll be examined on in the HSC, and they should be revising it.

For students in Years 8 and 10, subject selection will occur from Week 6-10.  Discussing your child’s strengths, interests and aspirations - as well as their proven record of achievement in past school reports - is a great way to guide them towards the right choices.  Please see Mr Hall’s information about the logistics for the subject selection information night and interviews.

For students in Year 7, 9 and 11, there is the usual array of assessment, excursion and classroom tasks, so they should also be settled into a regular pattern of homework.

For all students, regular attendance is key to success.

And as always, all students should be maintaining a life balance by ensuring that they are seizing the many opportunities for co and extra-curricular activity that Joey’s offers. 

We look forward to meeting our Year 7 parents again at the Year 7 Family Night, to be held on Monday 17 June, with a 6pm start.  This year’s event promises to be fun for all who attend. 

And we look forward to working with all our parents as opportunities arise throughout the term and year.  If you have any concerns about your child’s learning - or feedback on how well it’s going - please get in touch first with their teacher and then with the Leader of Learning, Mr Hall or myself.  Every student is different, and your insight as their parent can only help us do things better here at school. 

Mr Chris Mason
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

Assistant Principal-Mission

Tell Them From Me Surveys

Thank you to the parents / carers who have already completed the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) survey.  Parent / carer participation in this survey is greatly appreciated and valued for continual school improvement.

If you have not yet completed the survey, please do so by clicking on the link below:

http://tellthemfromme.com/sjc2024

Please note that the TTFM survey closes on Friday 24 May (next Friday).

Further further information, please read this letter that has been previously sent out.

Rosies

Rosies is a social justice opportunity available to our senior students.  Here is the latest Rosies Newsletter for your perusal.  In this edition, you will meet four patrons from different backgrounds with different experiences, who all come to Rosies to experience community and connection.

Thank you to those students and staff who attend this crucial ministry, and for the support from the parents of these students enabling them to attend.

Young People and Risk

We have a number of newsletter items coming up about this potentially and incredibly tricky subject - young people and risk.  As always, we're here to support you in any way we can.

Online Safety Essential Conversations:  Consent for Sharing Photos and Videos

Teaching young people about the importance of consent when sharing images is crucial in today's digital age.  It's essential for them to understand that sharing someone else's images without their consent is not only disrespectful but also potentially harmful.

Start by discussing the concept of consent in general, emphasising that it applies to all aspects of life, including digital interactions.  Explain that just as they need permission before entering another person's personal space, they also need consent before sharing someone else's image online.

Encourage open and honest conversations about the potential consequences of sharing images without consent, including legal ramifications and damage to relationships.  Emphasise the importance of respecting others' privacy and boundaries, both online and offline.

Provide practical tips for obtaining consent before sharing images, such as asking for permission directly from the person in the photo or video and respecting their decision if they decline.  Remind them that it's always better to err on the side of caution and respect others' wishes regarding their personal information.  You can also model respectful practices within your own family by asking your child’s permission before posting pictures of them online.

Important tips to discuss with your young person from eSafety:

• Always ask before taking a photo or video.
• Always ask before sharing photos or videos of people.
• Always check and follow any special rules set by your school, sports team or other groups you’re involved with when using social media.
• If someone asks you to remove a photo or video of them, do it.
• Call out bullying or other abusive behaviour online. If you’ve seen someone post a photo or video to humiliate or make fun of another person, you can choose to support the person being bullied – this makes you an upstander.

Read more at eSafety Consent for sharing photos and videos.

If you have any concerns about your young person, please contact the school.  It is important for the school to know any wellbeing issues that may impact on learning and behaviour at school.

Parent Workshop - Parenting in the Age of Distraction

The Catholic Schools Parent Assembly has arranged for a free parent workshop, "Parenting in the Age of Distraction", to be held at Mt St Pat's Primary School, 30 Mooball Street, Murwillumbah, on Monday 27 May from 6pm.
 
Presented by Angela Lockwood, this workshop offers our parents ideas and strategies to help them raise resilient, focused and connected kids.  This workshop opens with light refreshments at 6pm, with the presentation to commence at 6:15pm (see the attached flyer for more information).  Please RSVP for catering purposes by Friday 24 May.

eSafety Parent Webinars (June)

A reminder of the following eSafety Parent Webinars coming up soon, as provided and supported by the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools:

eSafety 101: How eSafety Can Help - Thursday, 6 June, 12:30pm

This webinar provides an overview of the eSafety Commissioner and supporting programs and resources for parents and carers, children and young people.  Suitable for parents and carers of children and young people in primary and secondary school.  Register here for eSafety 101.

Wellbeing and Digital Technologies - Tuesday, 4 June, 2:00pm

An overview of strategies to protect, respond to and support your child online.  This webinar will focus on the digital skills to protect and support young people’s mental health and wellbeing online.  Suitable for parents and carers of young people in secondary school.  Register here for Wellbeing and Digital Technologies.

National Road Safety Week 2024 (5-12 May) & Walking to School Safely 

Pedestrians and drivers have a shared responsibility on and near roads and need to look after each other.  As mentioned in a previous newsletter, Friday 10 May was designated Walk Safely to School Day.  This was also part of the larger message from the National Road Safety Week, 5-12 May 2024.  It included ideas around school students that they 'don't walk distracted' and 'look out before you step out'.  In this newsletter, we've included a link to further reading - a reminder that whatever age we're at, we're never too old to be safe! 

With regards to bicycle riders, one thing worth mentioning is that you must not ride on a pedestrian crossing - instead, walk your bike across.  There are also some special road rules that only apply to bicycle riders - per the Road Rules for Bicycle riders from NSW Transport's Centre for Road Safety - and we ask that our students and their families become more familiar with these expected practices.

Vaping:  How to Support my Child if they are Vaping

Although advertising and peers can heavily influence your teen’s decisions, the impact you have as a parent or carer carries enormous weight.  Research has found that parental involvement and a positive outlook can make a significant difference in healthy decision-making, both now and in the future. 

Take a Health Approach

If you discover that your teen is vaping, address it as you would any other risk to your child’s health.  Try to resist the urge to lecture, yell or punish your child.  It is important to keep the lines of communication open and show your child that you are concerned about their health and safety.

Although purchasing vapes containing nicotine without a prescription is illegal in Australia, many vapes labelled as nicotine-free do contain nicotine.  Your child may need support to stop vaping as nicotine is very addictive.  The more your child vapes, the more both the brain and body will get used to having nicotine, and the harder it is to go without it.  When a person stops vaping, even for a short period, they can experience withdrawal, including strong cravings, irritability, fatigue, headache, sleeplessness and difficulty concentrating.

Conversation Starters

Make sure your child recognises how much you care about them and that the conversation is coming from a place of unconditional love, support and concern for their wellbeing. Use the conversation starters below to understand if your child may be continuing to vaping to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

1. Do you continue to vape even though you want to stop or think it’s hurting you in some way?
2. Do you feel anxious or irritable when you want to use your vape but can’t?
3. Do thoughts about vaping interrupt you when you are focused on other activities?
4. Do you vape at school? How often?
5. Have you ever tried to stop vaping but couldn’t?
6. Do you feel like you have lost control over your vaping?

Support to Quit Vaping

Read the helpful infographic below for suggestions about how to support your child to quit vaping.

Mr Eamon Brown
Assistant Principal - Mission

Sacramental Program 

A reminder to all families of the College offering a Sacramental Program for all students who are interested.  This program allows students to be fully initiated in the Catholic Church through Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation and First Holy Communion.

Families who are interested in their child completing the Sacramental Program, or have any questions, are encouraged to contact either Mr Eamon Brown (Assistant Principal - Mission) or Jacob Franey/Bianca McInnes (College Youth Ministers).

This program began on Thursday 16 May and will meet during lunchtime and and will run every week until mid July.  It's not too late to join!

Festa Christi

Festa Christi is a gathering for selected Year 8 students from Parish secondary schools in the Diocese to celebrate their faith at a Diocesan level.  The two-day retreat experience involves activities that focus on ‘walking in another person’s shoes’, having the students overcome their fears and gaining a greater awareness of social justice.

Festa Christi is an overnight experience which will allow relationships to be built with other students from throughout the Diocese, as well as a chance for students to talk and share about their faith journey.  We encourage you to have a discussion with your child about attending Festa Christi.  If they wish to attend, please ensure that your child speaks to the College Youth Ministers (Bianca McInnes and Jacob Franey), or to the Assistant Principal-Mission (Mr Eamon Brown), to have their name included for the retreat.

Applications close on Friday 14 June 2024, and successful applicants will receive further details of the retreat through the events module in the Compass portal where you can give consent for your child to attend.

Kind regards

Ministry Team
St Joseph’s College

Yandihndi Retreat Day

Last term, St James Primary held their Yandihndi Retreat Day, which was all about service and how we can be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.

St Joseph’s College were able to send the Year 9 and 10 ministry classes to assist with the facilitation of the day.  The ministry students worked as small group leaders and role models for the primary students, assisting in running games, arts, crafts and dancing.

On Friday the 12th of April the Year 9 and 10 ministry class attended the Yandihndi retreat day at St James.  The day consisted of small group events run by us ministry students, Wildfire worship team and a liturgy.  My favourite part of the day was being able to sing and dance with the students at St James, while sharing our love for God with each other.  Overall, the day was a success and it was a privilege to be there. I strongly recommend joining the ministry class as you get to encounter many amazing experiences.  ~ Keira Everingham (Year 9)

A special mention to Tabitha Norton for all of her hard work in preparing the Year 9 and 10 students for the day.  Also, a big thank you to Nic McTaggart, Karen Sanderson, Anastasia Scott and the St James staff community for inviting our students to be a part of St James' Yandihndi Retreat.  Overall, our ministry students felt encouraged and full of joy after spending a day with the primary school students, and has resulted in a deeper yearning for more ministry opportunities, like Yandihndi, throughout the year.

Transitus Retreat

On 8 and 9 April, St Joseph’s were fortunate enough to send a small group of Year 7 students to the Transitus Retreat at Camp Drewe, Lennox Head.

This was a great opportunity for our students to meet like-minded Year 7 students from other schools within the Lismore Diocese, as well as being able to deepen their faith through a range of activities.

My experience of Transitus was entertaining and welcoming. During my stay of 2 days, I learned Transitus was a Latin word meaning passage or crossing. We could also connect with other kids our age and there I met 5 new friends. This was a chance to grow our discipleship in Jesus, helping us to develop into our life as a high schooler. During the day, we would break off into groups to communicate about certain passages of Jesus and exchange stories relating them to our life. During the night, we would have a game night with fun activities and finish off with a liturgy. There, I received a small wooden cross that I was able to carry by pocket. My overall participation in Transitus was interesting and enjoyable.  ~ Audrey Siscar (Year 7)

A special thanks to Tabitha Norton for accompanying our students to the retreat.  Also, a big thank you to Kate Nestor, the Regional Ministry Assistants and all other CSO staff involved in the planning and facilitation of Transitus.  It was a great experience that our students will remember as a highlight of their schooling journeys.

Leader of Curriculum

SAVE THE DATE!
Subject Selection Information Evening - Thursday 6 June 2024

• Year 10 into 11 2025
• Year 8 into 9 2025

Year 8 and 10 students and their families are invited on the evening of Thursday 6 June 2024, to learn about subject selection for 2025. 

Year 10 students and their families will learn about the rules associated with HSC enrolments and HSC completion in 2026.  Students and families will be invited to speak with subject teachers and faculty leaders during the evening to assist in selecting the right pathways and subjects.

Year 8 students and their families will learn about the elective subjects on offer and also be invited to speak with subject teachers and faculty leaders during the evening to assist in choices.

Further information will be sent to families closer to the date.

2024 HSC written exam timetable

The NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) has published their Information on 2024 HSC written exam timetable, as well as information for practical and performance subjects and language oral examinations.  

You can download the complete download the complete 2024 HSC Exam Timetable here, or students can view their own personalised timetables in Students Online (you'll need your login and password details for this).

Mr Matthew Hall
Leader of Curriculum

Leader of Pastoral Care

Attendance Matters

It is always the intention of staff to work in partnership with families to improve your child's education experience - we strive for a positive outcome for all students - and this also includes each student maintaining a good attendance record whilst at school.  Research has proven that the more time lost in a child being consistently late to school, leaving early, having non-attendance issues or school refusal, will all have a negative impact for them in not reaching their full potential, nor potentially not fully completing their courses. 

Being in a school community also has the side benefit of children learning how to work within an enviroment, within a group, as well as learning to work with the intention of a positive outcome for all; schools by their very nature also 'teach' what it is to be part of a larger group and, by extension, society at large.

If our collective focus is that all students attain their educuational, social, emotional, physical and spiritual outcomes whilst at the College, we all need to support the concept that is starts with Attendance Matters everyday.  We always want to work with you in this, and if your child or children are not attending school on a regular basis, we need to develop strategies together to improve this. 

Please don't hesitate to reach out to any of the Heads of House in which your child belongs, or to myself.

Mr Mathew Lynch
Leader of Pastoral Care

Leader of Pedagogy

Study Skills Tips for May:  Harnessing Neuroplasticity - Unlocking Your Brain's Potential

As mentioned previously, through our subscription, all College students have free access to the Study Skills Handbook website, www.studyskillshandbook.com.au.  We believe that this website will help your child develop essential skills for academic success.  

Attached is a flyer for this month's Study Skills Tips on Harnessing Neuroplasticity: Unlocking Your Brain's Potential, (click on the link provided ß, or download the flyer below â).

As always, your child can access all the wonderful resources the Study Skills Handbook website has to offer.  To access the handbook, go to www.studyskillshandbook.com.au and login with these details:

username:  sjc
password:  24results

Mr Carlo Trimboli
Leader of Pedagogy

Indigenous News

Jingi Walla!

Hello SJC community,

It has been a very fast, busy start to the school year and we are already in Term 2!

Hopefully the students have settled into the 2024 school year and are feeling accomplished with their learning from Term 1.  We hope you’ve all had a great holiday and are ready to rip into Term 2.

A lot has happened over the past few months, with Noah Togo attending a S2W (School to Work) Bunnings Warehouse site tour visit to get an insight of how the working life would be like and from that experience, he's now an employee at Bunnings.  The Mighty Hanly House has come away with a win in the College's Swimming Carnival and the Cross Country.  Hanly has HALF of our Indigenous students and it was great to see each and every one of those students participate in ALL of the races/events.

Two of our students, Thomas Busbridge and Darcy Busbridge, attended Ngalawaa Bulaan Gii - Aboriginal Youth Cultural Camp in Ballina with the ‘Country as Teacher’ program and Yolngu guests from the Northern Territory from 11-15 March where they were immersed in local culture and learnings.

We’ve also had local Aboriginal artist, Katrina Singh, come in to paint our yarning circle mural.  It is currently still in progress with many SJC students helping out.  We can’t wait to see how it turns out.

During Term 1 and Term 2, we at St Joey’s have and will acknowledge some significant dates on our cultural calendar:

Term 1:

13 February – National Apology Day, marks the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations, who suffered trauma because of past government policies of forced child removal.

20 March – National Close the Gap Day, to raise awareness about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health crisis in Australia, and promote equality in life expectancy and health status between indigenous and non-indigenous people.

21 March – Harmony Day, International day for the elimination of racial discrimination celebrates the cultural diversity of Australia and the importance of inclusiveness, respect and sense of belonging for everyone.

Term 2:

26 May – National Sorry Day, it memorialises the Stolen Generations - the Aboriginal Australian and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly separated from their families in an attempt to assimilate them into white Australian culture during the 20th century.

27 May to 3 June – Reconciliation Week, where we celebrate two very important milestones in our Reconciliation journey:  the anniversary of the successful 1967 Referendum and the High Court Mabo Decision.

Our new AEW, Mr Bailee Nicholls, is loving and fitting into our school, he’s been building a great rapport with our students, playing footy on the oval at recess and lunch, joining in with our Year 7 sport students making them feel welcome for their first year of high school.  He has also started a boy’s group with our Years 7, 8 and 9 Indigenous boys, and says he has a lot in store for them.

We hope that all of our St Joey’s students and families had a wonderful break and are excited for a busy term ahead of cultural engagement and learning.

If there are any questions or enquiries, please feel free to contact us via email bailee.nicholls@lism.catholic.edu.au and lexene.busbridge@lism.catholic.edu.au. 

Bugalwan (good blessings) 😊🙏🏽👣

Mr Bailee Nicholls and Mrs Lexe Busbridge
Aboriginal Education Workers

Work Readiness Pathways

Year 12 Work Readiness Pathway students aren't just learning; they're actively cultivating the skills and experiences that will shape their future careers.  Through two impactful service projects, our students are honing their employability skills while making meaningful contributions to the community.

Project 1 - St Martha’s Aged Care Home

The first project aims to develop the students' communication and empathy skills, connecting with the residents of St Martha's aged care home.  While they are there, they have the opportunity to engage with the residents in a range of activities such as playing cards, board games, or simply having a conversation.  The residents appreciate the social connection and the opportunity to connect with a younger generation.

Project 2 - St James Primary School

The second project is working with St James Primary School, developing a range of employability skills including time management, communication skills, and working safely in a variety of scenarios.  The students have been assisting St James to maintain their chicken coop and revitalise some garden beds for future hands-on learning experiences for the children.  This program is currently being expanded to allow the Year 12 students to engage with story time.  Assistant Principal, Karen Sanderson, spent time briefing our students on how to assist with reading activities for the St James students.

Both St Martha's and St James were grateful to welcome the Year 12 students this week and are looking forward to their future visits.

Profile of a School-based Apprentice (SBAT) - Luca Simon

Luca is a member of the Year 12 Work Readiness Pathway cohort.  He is currently completing a School-based Apprenticeship with Benchmark Building Services.  His current project is located in Fingal where he has the opportunity to learn from highly skilled builders as they complete a luxury home.

School-based apprenticeships offer high school students the chance to blend academic studies with practical training in a chosen trade.  Apprentices split their time between school and working with an employer, gaining hands-on experience and mentorship.  Through this unique arrangement, apprentices develop both technical skills specific to their trade and essential employability skills.  Upon completion, apprentices are well-equipped to transition seamlessly into full-time employment or pursue further education in their field.

The site supervisor commented that Luca is a great addition to the team; he is punctual, willing to learn, and works productively each day.  Luca is enjoying the opportunity to start his trade pathway while he is completing his HSC.

Important Notice - Upcoming Year 12 Work Experience

The Year 12 students in the Work Readiness Pathway have started the process of organising Work Experience. The dates for the 2024 work experience are:

• Term 3, Week 3 - Monday 5 August - Friday 9 August
• Term 3, Week 4 - Monday 12 August - Friday 16 August

In preparation for their work experience, the students have developed a career plan that has identified three preferred career pathways to explore; the work experience will be an opportunity to trial two of these pathways.  In the past, students have been able to secure employment including apprenticeships after their work experience; the students were able to successfully showcase their knowledge, skills, and work ethic to employers, resulting in a number of job offers.

Mr Richard Petherbridge
Industry Pathways - Work Readiness Pathway

Leader of Sport

This year's Athletics Carnival is to be held on Friday 7 June (Week 6, Term 2).

The College House Captains address their houses during assembly in the coming weeks, providing them with ideas for this year's theme of Disney, along with explaining all the events that we have on the day.  Students are encouraged to come to school in their house colours and costumes, they get points for not being in school uniform.  Please note: students will still need to wear enclosed shoes on the day.

On the day students will move around to each of the events in their age groups.  Students who are younger or older for their year level will need to make sure they are moving with the correct group if they wish to be eligible for championship events.

The 1500m race will be held during lunch on Tuesday 4 June, and students will need to register through the College Sports Desk on Google Classroom.  The classroom code is 6v6zikw.

For students who have been trained correctly with an athletics coach or through programs such as Little Athletics and wish to use the Fosbury Flop technique when competing in the High Jump, parents need to email me to give permission for their child to use that technique.

The College Athletics Carnival Program can be viewed here.

Students who place 1st or 2nd in an event will be eligible to represent the College at the Diocesan Athletics Carnival which will be held on Monday 2 September, in Coffs Harbour.

Attendance & Leaving the Carnival Early

If students are required to leave early, they must follow the same protocols as a normal school day, which are: bring a note signed from their parent/guardian stating their name and the time they will get picked up.  Parents/guardians must pick their child up and sign them out from the front office.

A reminder that any community day held at the College is considered a normal school day where we would expect to see normal attendance from students.  Whilst there are always legitimate reasons for students to be absent, many students are regularly noted as not attending our College community days, these absences are recorded and reported on the student's report cards.

Ms Madeline Ilic
Leader of Sport

HSIE News

National Archaeology Week - 19-25 May 2024

National Archaeology Week aims to increase public awareness of Australian archaeology and the work of Australian archaeologists both at home and abroad, and to promote the importance of protecting Australia’s unique archaeological heritage.  Held in the third week of May, this nationwide program of events and activities includes public lectures, seminars, exhibitions, demonstration excavations, displays, and other events designed to engage with the general public.

Attention: All students!  

During Week 4 at the College, there will be a range of activities to be involved in.  There will also be a display in the Library of ancient artefacts, hands-on activities, cakes and cookies as well as competitions to enter.  Make sure you read the notices everyday!  Bring your puzzle-loving self and get involved! 

There will be a Bake It! Make It! Competition as part of this year's National Archaeology Week activities, and all students are encouraged to take part.  Make, bake or create something from the past that interests you!  Using your creative talent - from crochet and lego, to baking - you can get involved in an exciting activity and win prizes.  It's only limited by your imagination!  (Also, entrants from our school will be in the running for a canteen voucher.)

Go to the National Archaeology Week website to find out a little more information about the competition and other events.  There is an online entry form to be filled out as well.

The Year 11 Ancient History class has very creatively rendered Stonehenge and the battle of Helgea - as you can see from the pictures below:

See Mrs Rebecca Green for more details or help with your ideas.

Mrs Rebecca Green
Assistant Leader of Learning - HSIE

Resource Centre News

ANZAC Day

Remembering ANZAC Day has always been an important tradition at St Joseph’s College Resource Centre. ANZAC Day, originally a commemoration of the landing of Australian and New Zealand forces at Gallipoli on the 25th of April 1915, has grown to become the most important national day in Australia.  In addition to acknowledging the service and sacrifice of all Australians who have served in war or on peacekeeping operations, ANZAC Day has become core to the identity of Australia itself. A day on which Australians reflect on the ANZAC spirit and the qualities we as a nation value and believe in.

The Year 9 students are working on an ANZAC Library quest using the display as a springboard.  They are currently studying an Australians at War topic and the library display includes key sources that encourage the students to connect and empathise with the soldiers who fought in the ANZAC spirit.

Other Library news:

The senior study sessions continue to be productive and well utilised by our senior students.  Also, the games sessions have returned, and the students are loving the challenge of the Chess Tournaments.  The Mother’s Day activities have been a real hit and enjoyed by all students.  Finally, the Write a Book in a Day Enrichment Workshop 7-10 will be held during Book Week.

Mrs Mary Green
Teacher-Librarian

Canteen News

Welcome back for Term 2!  Please find attached the specials board for Week 4, as well as our regular regular Canteen menu and price list.  We'll also be sharing the weekly specials via Compass every Friday. 

And don't forget:  our recess and lunch order cutoff time is 9:00am.
We ask that you kindly place your order by then to avoid disappointment!

Lowes On-Campus Uniform Shop

The 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

During shop hours: (07) 5523 9300 (This shop is managed by Lowes staff only)

Payments: Cash and EFTPOS Only - NO CHEQUES ACCEPTED

Or, if you'd like to make an online purchase, you can use this handy link.

Community News

Cudgen Hornets JRL

U17 GIRLS TACKLEThe girls are hard at training but we would still love a few more players.  Looking for girls born in 2007 & 2008 to come be a Hornet.  Games are Saturday afternoons.  We have an amazing coach in Jeff Logan and support staff helping him too.  Get in contact via socials or email Cudgenjrl.secretary@gmail.com.

Service Changes for Local Bus Services

As previously advised, some local bus services (not school services) have been changed to accomodate transport to and from the new Tweed Valley Hospital.  Please see the attached flyer for further information.