SJRC Newsletter: Term 3 Week 8 - 15th September 2025

Please join us for Mass on Sunday at 5:00pm

Mass this Sunday, September 14th, at 5:00pm is a special one, as our College is leading many of the ministries. Staff and students will be taking part in the readings, serving as extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, providing music, and extending a warm welcome to all.

Come along and join our parish family for this special Mass. It's a wonderful opportunity to see our community in action and share in the celebration.

This Sunday is particularly significant in the Church calendar because it is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.

This feast celebrates two things:

• The discovery of the true cross by St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, in the fourth century, and
• The dedication of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

It reminds us of the central place of the cross in our faith as a symbol of victory and hope, not just suffering.

This Sunday is also Safeguarding Sunday. The Church across Australia dedicates this day to acknowledging the importance of safeguarding our community, especially children and vulnerable adults. It's a day to pray for those who have been affected by abuse and to commit to making our communities safer for everyone.

After Mass, please join us for a Youth Ministry fundraiser. Our Hospitality staff and students have prepared some delicious treats for you to enjoy. Donations will be accepted from parishioners, and your support will help them with their upcoming ministry activities.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Shine Together: A Night of Faith and Community

For the first time, we held a post-Shine event: 'Shine Together'. This gathering on Monday evening was a beautiful evening where students who attended Shine at Coffs Harbour in August had the chance to share their experience with their parents. Bringing together around 75 parents and students, the gathering was a powerful and moving way to share faith and learning.

The night began with students leading the group in prayer and ice-breaker activities, setting a warm and welcoming tone. They then shared personal testimonies, explaining how the Shine conference had supported them in their faith journeys. It was inspiring to hear their stories and see the impact the conference had on their lives. The one-hour session concluded with a collaborative activity where families developed small challenges to help students "keep shining" in their faith in the weeks to come. It was a lovely evening that truly highlighted the strength of our College community and the importance of supporting our young people on their spiritual paths.

A special thanks goes to Janita Thomson, our DLCS Parent Partnership Lead, for generously providing pizza and drinks. This thoughtful gesture was a fantastic way to start the evening, providing families with a relaxed opportunity to connect and get to know one another.

We look forward to making this an integral part of the Shine experience in the future.

Mr Matthew Bushe
Assistant Principal - Mission

Year 8 Camp Information Night 

An Information Night will be held on Tuesday, 16 September at 6:00pm in the College Performing Arts Centre (PAC).

The Year 8 Camp has long been a memorable milestone for our students, consistently named as one of the highlights of their time at SJRC. At the Information Night, parents and caregivers will receive important details about the camp’s learning outcomes as well as practical information to help prepare students for this exciting experience.

We encourage all parents of Year 8 students to attend and kindly ask that each student is represented by at least one caregiver. We look forward to welcoming you on the night.

Wellbeing through Music - Bus Safety

Recently, some of our talented Year 9 and 10 elective Music students participated in a unique Catholic Schools Office initiative, Wellbeing through Music. This program is designed to raise safety awareness among primary school students, with our project focusing specifically on bus safety. We were honoured to be the first high school invited to take part.

The project began with a songwriting session, where our students worked alongside Year 4 students from St Joseph’s Primary School, Port Macquarie to brainstorm ideas and write lyrics about safe bus travel. Following this, our students took part in two workshop days with professional musicians CJ Shaw and Mr Motion, where they performed, recorded, and filmed the music and video for the project.

This initiative combined an important educational message with creativity, giving our students a memorable and meaningful experience. Not only did they share their talents to promote bus safety, but they also had the opportunity to collaborate with industry professionals and gain valuable, first-hand music studio experience.

RU OK Day?

This past Thursday, our school community was reminded of the power of a simple question: "R U OK?"

Our amazing Student Wellbeing Team, led by Mrs Jensen and Mrs Philpott, and the other Student Wellbeing Leaders, greeted every student with a smile, a yellow hair tie, and a lollipop. It was a simple yet powerful gesture that inspired us all to look out for one another and engage in the conversation around mental health.

We hope this message resonates with everyone in our community. Remember, a single conversation has the power to change a life. You don't need to be an expert to ask if someone is okay—all you need is to be a good friend and a great listener. Let's keep the conversation going and continue to support one another every day.

Following is a report written by Year 9 Leader of Innes and Leader of Student Wellbeing, Haylee Vos.

Recently, at SJRC, we celebrated R U OK Day. This eventful day was jam-packed with a number of fun, interactive and informative activities aimed to educate our peers on the impacts of asking R U OK? Starting off with a bang, student leaders spent their morning greeting those arriving by spreading plenty of enthusiasm in order to lighten the mood. A little while later, PCs participated in a Kahoot, bringing out the competitive spirit while also raising awareness on how to ask if someone is okay. During lunch, activities such as Just Dance and an ‘R U OK?’ themed raffle brought students together to spend time and celebrate the day as a community. Additionally, our handball Grand Final was run alongside these games, attracting further spectators, really enhancing the support shown throughout the school. Finally, in Period 5, student leaders took some time to treat the Year 11 and 12 students to a much-needed break, by supplying them with a Kit Kat each. Overall, R U OK Day was a huge success, educating the students of SJRC on the day's importance through a variety of engaging activities. Haylee Vos

Mrs Jennifer Furney
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care

On Tuesday 2nd of September, the SJRC Athletics Squad travelled to Coffs Harbour International stadium to compete in the 2025 Diocesan Athletics Championships.

After an early departure, students were greeted with warm dry winds, sunny skies and a top of 21 degrees.

The SJRC Squad finished the day 2nd Overall in the Diocese, behind MacKillop College, Port Macquarie.

Special mention to the following students who finished the day as Age Champions

Age Champions

- Jack Wilson, Shaylee Wilcox, Saxon White and Bella Fede

Runner Up Age Champion

- Lachlan Wilson, Teleah Holbert, Ruby Holmes

Teleah has also re-broken her own College Javelin record.

A large number of students have qualified for the NSWCCC Athletics Championships as part of the Lismore Diocesan Athletics Squad. These students will compete at Sydney Olympic Park in Homebush on the 15th of September.

For a full wrap up of results, please click on the link below

2025 Lismore Diocesan Athletics Championships

Thank you to Mrs Furney, Mr Cannon and Tom Jenkins for accompanying the squad and for running Diocesan events.

8rd September, 2025

Damien Kelly

Leader of Sport

The Diocesan Junior/Intermediate Basketball Gala day was held in Port Macquarie on 12th - 13th August.

Congratulations to all four teams from the College who competed across the two days and represetned the College with pride. Unfortunately, none of our teams will progress to the CCC championships in 2025.

A sincere thank you to Mrs Gray, Mrs McLeod, Mr Harvey and Mr Ratliff for coaching our teams and giving up your time for training.

The following report was provided by Mrs Gray regarding the 9/10 girls campaign.

The Year 9/10 Girls Basketball Team proudly represented our school at the Lismore Diocesan Basketball Championships, held over two action-packed days in Port Macquarie.

Day 1 – Finding Their Rhythm

Our first day on the court saw the girls come up against Murwillumbah and the Mackillop B team. These early games gave the team an excellent opportunity to settle in and build their confidence—particularly valuable for players who were new to basketball, with some experiencing their very first competitive matches. Despite the varying experience levels, the team gelled beautifully, demonstrating strong communication and team play. Both games were won convincingly, with the girls dominating by over 40 points in each.

Day 2 – Tougher Competition and Determined Spirit

Day 2 began with a high-pressure match against reigning champions John Paul College. The girls took the first two quarters to find their rhythm, but once they settled into the game, their intensity lifted significantly. Had they brought the energy and cohesion from the second half into the first, the result could have looked very different. Nevertheless, the girls walked away proud of their fight and determination.

Their strong performances earned them a spot in the semi-finals, where they faced a formidable Xavier College side—who ultimately went on to win the entire competition. Despite their best efforts, the girls were outclassed on the day. Compounding the challenge were several injuries, including a dislocated finger and some pre-existing conditions, which led to key players being on the bench or in foul trouble late in the final quarter.

Team Spirit and Sportsmanship

Throughout the tournament, the girls played with heart, integrity, and the true spirit of Regional representation. They supported one another on and off the court, encouraged their less experienced teammates, and upheld sportsmanship in every match. Their resilience in the face of injury and adversity was commendable, and they should be extremely proud of their efforts.

Full results from the day can be accessed here

Damien Kelly
Leader of Sport

8th September,  2025

We have a delicious variety of 'Lunch Specials', available for $7.00 from Wednesday to Friday, and an everyday menu.

CLICK HERE to view the Canteen's everyday menu.

Breeanna Stone
Food Services Manager

Ask an Alumni - James Merkus

We continue our AAA program (Ask an Alumni) with a presentation from former student James Merkus, who graduated in 2024.

James was an outstanding Engineering Studies student, and today he returned to St Joseph's Regional College to address our current Year 11 and Year 12 Engineering Studies students about the course he is undertaking. James is enrolled in the prestigious Charles Sturt University Bachelor of Engineering (Hons), based at the Bathurst campus. He has selected a major in Mechanical Engineering, and today his address included relevant information about the course itself, living in Bathurst, the university, accommodation, his experience, and his aspirations. The course is unique in that students spend two years on campus, and then two years in a paid cadetship, which could be anywhere in the state.

We are so grateful to these alumni who return to the college to share their experiences. Many thanks, James.

Port Macquarie Hastings Council Entry Pathways Session

We recently had Nikia, Mickayla and Byron from Port Macquarie Hastings Council visit our College to speak to students about apprenticeship, traineeship and cadetship opportunities at Council. Students who attended were advised about the application process, given ideas about qualification expectations, and were able to listen to the personal stories of Byron (Tradesman Fitter) and Mickayla (Environmental Engineer).

I encourage students thinking of this pathway to attend this FREE information session.

Port Macquarie Hastings Council 2026 Apprenticeship, Traineeship & Cadetship Program Information Session
Tuesday, 16 September 2025
6:00pm–7:00pm
Glasshouse, Port Macquarie

The session is designed for school leavers and their families to explore a wide range of pathways with Council, including:

• Water Operations
• Mechanical Fitting
• Electrical
• Parks and Gardens
• Civil Construction, and more!

Students will hear about the benefits of “earn while you learn,” gaining nationally recognised qualifications while working in a supportive environment. 

Register HERE

St Joseph's Regional College has a number of different social media platforms. We would love for you to follow us.

Encounter Youth

The Encounter Youth Program is held every Friday at the Youth Hub. 

Come along and join in the fun.

Encounter Kick-on’s (Sunday’s after the 5:00 pm Mass)

 Group games and supper. Come join us.

Zac Parnell