Principal's Message
Welcome to Term 2
I would like to welcome back all families to Term 2. A special welcome to new students and families who have joined the St Joseph's Regional College community this term.
Term 2 is always a very busy term. One highlight is the opportunity to showcase our wonderful College at the Year 7 2022 Information and Open Evening to new parents and Year 6 students next Monday 26th April. I know our senior students have volunteered to assist on the evening and I appreciate their pride in their school and desire to ‘show it off’ to future students and their families.
Statement of Intent: Our Shared Commitment
Dear families of St Joseph's Regional College, please find below a Statement of Intent which is reflective of our ongoing attentiveness to responding to sexual assault and sexual violence among young people. Be assured of our continued support.
The role of schools in strengthening children and young people’s understanding of consent, and preventing and responding to sexual assault and sexual violence among young people.
A Statement of Intent was signed on Friday, 26 March 2021 by the Government, Catholic and Independent Schools to strengthen school-aged children and young people’s ability to form healthy relationships, understanding of consent and harm prevention. The Statement acknowledges the key role of school staff, in partnership with families, in supporting change.
This Statement is our system commitment, which recognises the innate dignity of the child and young person and their inherent goodness, ‘to enable each to achieve the fullness of life’. The Statement acknowledges the key role of school staff, in partnership with families, in supporting children and young people to reach their full potential by strengthening their ability to form healthy relationships, understand consent and harm prevention.
As a system of Catholic schools, we recognise our duties and responsibilities as educators and the growing concerns in the community in this area. We believe that each person is made in the image and likeness of God and deserves to be treated with dignity and respect regardless of race, gender, religion or ethnicity.
At St Joseph's Regional College, we believe in delivering a robust curriculum across stages. Healthy relationships, understanding of consent and harm prevention is in the following PDHPE units: Year 8 Relationships, Year 9 Better Safe than Sorry and Year 10 Respectful Relationships. We will supplement the curriculum by engaging the services of appropriate community-based organisations. In 2021 we have engaged with YOURCHOICEZ - Year 11, Real Talk - Years 8 & 10 and Safe on Social with all students in Years 7-10.
The voice of parents/carers is valuable as the first and continuing educators of their children. We encourage families to complete a survey to support our future direction in driving cultural change around respectful relationships.
The survey is open until Friday, 7th May and the link to access the survey is located below.
If you have any questions please email the College at sjrhport@lism.catholic.edu.au and a College leadership member will contact you.
Student Leaders Forum
On Wednesday, 21st April, College Captain, Ella Handley and Vice Captains, Luka Marshall and Mia Watts, attended the Student Leadership Forum at St Columba Anglican School. The Forum is designed to provide practical lessons on leadership and open communication between Port Macquarie’s student leaders so they may plan and present student concerns and initiatives, while creating greater links between the schools in the local area.
In addition to connecting with other student leaders, Ella, Mia and Luka were able to connect with the local, state and federal tiers of politics as guest representatives, Port Macquarie-Hastings Mayor, Peta Pinson, Port Macquarie MP, Leslie Williams and The Federal Member for Cowper, Pat Conaghan, attended the event. The forum explored topics such as successful leadership, government support following natural disasters, connecting youth to local support services, and respecting our local heritage and history.
I sincerely thank Ms Heidi O'Reilly, Leader of the Student Leadership Team for accompanying our leaders at this very important community meeting. Ms O'Reilly, said, "It was delightful to hear students passionately express their views on the issues that matter to them and their local community".
Year 12 Graduation Dinner
I would like to advise that the 2021 Year 12 Graduation Dinner will go ahead this year at Panthers Port Macquarie on Friday, 12th November. Further information regarding the graduation dinner will be relayed to families later this term.
God bless
Mr Jim Dempsey
Principal