Term 1 Week 7 - 12th March 2021

New Student Morning Tea

Last week, new students in Years 8-12 were invited to attend a special morning tea to welcome them to the College. The morning tea provides a wonderful opportunity for both students and staff to get to know each other a little better. 

Thank you to Mrs Avery for organising and serving the morning tea.

Parent-Teacher Connections

Last Monday evening, we welcomed parents/guardians of students in Year 7, Year 11 and Year 12 to the College for the first round of parent-teacher interviews for 2021. 

The night was very well attended. Parent-Teacher evenings are an opportunity for parents to receive some very positive and reaffirming feedback about their child. It is so easy to formulate the idea that if there are no obvious problems, there is no need to attend the interviews. However, I always think it is both affirming and encouraging for students to also hear the many positive comments from their teachers.

Attending Parent-Teacher interviews reinforces the notion of education as a partnership between parents, teachers and students. Of course, in a few cases, these interviews can also really focus on strategies needed to improve student learning outcomes and bring students closer to achieving their very best.

Parent-teacher interviews for students in Years 8, 9 and 10 will be held on Monday, 10th May 2021.

Rotary Club World Record Attempt

You may have heard or read about the Rotary Club of Port Macquarie West's attempt to break the existing world record for the 'Longest washing line of socks'. The attempt is planned for 4th-5th June 2021. We are asking families to check their washing machines, under beds and lounges for those missing socks. If you find a lonely sock, bring it in and pop it in the specially marked tub in the College Office. Together we can help the Rotary Club of achieving its goal of pegging 100,000 socks on the washing line.

Mrs Tanya Daley
Assistant Principal - Mission

The annual giant Easter Egg Raffle is on again!

Each year, students from two House groups are responsible for running and contributing to the raffle. This year, it is Innes & Wilson House turn to donate Easter eggs. All students are welcome to donate.

Our Easter Egg raffle is held in the College Hall, on Wednesday, 31st March 2021.

Tickets will be available for sale from Monday, 8th March during recess and lunch. All proceeds will go towards our Caritas Australia - Project Compassion fundraising efforts.

Together, we can make this year's Easter Egg raffle the biggest yet.

Tanya Daley
Assistant Principal - Mission

Caritas Australia is Hope in Action

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to alleviate poverty, hunger, oppression and injustice. With hope, support and compassion at the core of what Caritas does, they work towards a world where all people may thrive.

We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Families wishing to donate can do so online via the Caritas Australia website lent.caritas.org.au

Saint Oscar Romero is our inspiration for Project Compassion 2021, so in his words let’s “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.”

Third Week of Lent - (Week beginning 8th March)

We are now in the third week of Lent with the Project Compassion story of Oliva, a 22-year-old woman from Tanzania. She did not have the opportunity to go to school and was embarrassed that she was unable to read, write or count. As an adult, her business was losing money because she couldn’t add up her money and give the right change to customers.

Then Oliva enrolled in Caritas Australia’s literacy and numeracy classes. She also set up a home classroom to teach her neighbours, for free, because they were too shy to attend larger classes.

Oliva has now graduated, attendance at her classes are growing, her kiosk is thriving and she is helping her children with their homework. She aims to become a pastor and run for leadership in the next local election - to help her community to ‘Be More.’

• Approximately 260 million children don’t have the chance to go to school (un.org)

Fourth Week of Lent - (Week beginning 15th March)

Arsad, an Indonesian farmer, had no toilet in his house, so always had to walk into the forest to the open defecation area. His family was often sick and open defecation caused many neighbourhood disputes. With the support of Caritas Australia and its partner agency, Laz Harfa, Arsad took part in hygiene, sanitation and financial management training. He then funded the building of a toilet in his house and helped other community members to save money to construct their own toilet.

Now, Arsad’s family is healthier, their community no longer practices open defecation and is more harmonious. Arsad inspired his community to ‘Be More.’

• Around 17% of Indonesia’s rural population, or 45 million people, practise open defecation – going to the toilet outdoors in fields, forests and other open spaces. (World Bank)

“Aspire not to have more, but to be more.”

Please support Project Compassion: lent.caritas.org.au

Working together for justice and dignity. Walking together in hope. Building together a thriving future for all.

Walk with us towards a world of hope.

Mr Timo Gobius
Leader of Evangelisation

Every Friday during Lent, PC H05 is having a small morning tea with a gold coin donation for Caritas Australia, Project Compassion.

The H5 cherubs’ goal this year is to ‘Be More’ - this term we aim to be more kind and compassionate.

Thank you PC H05

Ms Karyn Mooney

Transitus is a retreat for invited Year 7 students from Parish Secondary Schools in the South of the Diocese to create a smoother transition to secondary schools, celebrate and be nurtured in their faith at a diocesan level.

The retreat will be a chance to bring students together to meet like-minded peers and to celebrate with other young people who want to grow and be supported in their Christian faith. The activities will be a mixture of large and small sharing groups as well as celebrating the Eucharist together. The program has been geared to meet the needs of these Year 7 students.

The gathering will be an overnight experience that will allow students to build relationships with other students from throughout the Diocese as well as a chance for students to talk and share about their faith journey.

What: Transitus – a youth retreat for Year 7 students from every Parish school in the Southern Region of the Diocese.
When: Wednesday 24th – Thursday, 25th March 2021
Where: Yarrahapinni Adventist Youth Centre.

Cost: Nil All transport and booking expenses met by the Catholic Schools Office.

This retreat is for students who:

• Wish to learn more about their faith and attend BOOST at lunchtime
• Are involved in some other form of Church involvement either at school or in the parish
• Show initiative, common sense and maturity, and
• Are seeking to grow in these areas

A large number of St Joseph’s Regional College students have already expressed an interest in this retreat. We can, however, only offer 19 places. Any student who would like to be considered is asked to complete the Student Application Form provided by Mr Gobius, and available at the front office. Attention should be given to the stated selection criteria. Nominations should be handed to the office no later than Monday 15th March.

Mr Timo Gobius
Leader of Evangelisation

On Wednesday, 10th March, St Joseph's Regional College hosted an Indigenous Touch Football Day against MacKillop College. Indigenous students from Year 8 & 9 along with Indigenous Education Workers, Lynda Young and Tristram Morris enjoyed a friendly game of Touch Football. After a delicious BBQ lunch, students and staff came together for a yarn in our Yarning Circle. The day was a great success and provided an opportunity for students from both Colleges to connect.

Thank you to our senior Indigenous students Nelson Young, Lillian Sadler and Luke Banks for helping to referee games and the strong leadership qualities you all displayed throughout the day. 

Carly Taylor & Braden Saggers
Indigenous Education Workers

Year 12 Geography

As part of their HSC study of Urban Places, students visited Sydney to undertake fieldwork on their case study of urban dynamics in a large city selected from the developed world and the characteristics that determine that a city is a World City. Activities that students participated in included a guided Walking Tour through Pyrmont and Green Square, a suburban tour to Bondi Beach and Port Botany, a cruise on Sydney Harbour, a visit to Cabramatta, a Virtual Reality experience and a night at SkyFeast Restaurant, Sydney Tower including dinner. A wonderful time was had by all.

I would like to thank Jason Warneken, Leader of HSIE, for accompanying us on this excursion.

Heidi O'Reilly - HSC Geography Teacher

Girls’ Day out in STEM 2021

Last Sunday, some girls in Years 7 and 8 took part in an online Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) event. These girls are to be commended for their initiative, spending part of their weekend exploring the study and career opportunities available to them. We look forward to seeing what these amazing students can achieve!

Amanda Cassegrain
Leader of High Potential Learners

In the words of two of the participants:

I really liked the nurse pitot course as it presented an option as a career after I graduate. This was probably my favourite course because it showed us what it was like to be in their shoes and how they loved what they did for a living. In the end, I had learned about so many new career paths and I am so grateful that I had this opportunity. It was one of the best days ever.
- Tahlia Van Den Boom, Year 7 student

I have always wanted to choose a career in Science and this gave me an opportunity to see what options and pathways I have when I go to university.

We started the day with an Acknowledgment of Country and then we heard from Jennifer Rossiter- Senior Executive, Queensland Government about the need for more women in the field of STEM. We then had the opportunity to attend lots of different masterclasses throughout the day that were presented by women in Paramedicine/ Aeromedicine, Science Communication, Artificial Intelligence with Google, Civil Engineering, Marine Biology, Mathematics and Data. We were able to participate in the masterclasses that we were interested in and hear about the different careers that STEM could lead to. At the end of the day, we had a live Q and A where girls from all around Australia could ask questions to some of the women who presented masterclasses. We also got to know more about their personal experiences, the challenges they faced and how they got to where they are today. I really liked how I could choose which masterclasses I could participate in. There was a Marine Biology and a Molecular Bioscience class and I found it really interesting as I am interested in careers like that.

I would recommend this to other girls in the future as there is something for everyone and there is lots of valuable information in the field of STEM that people can learn and take on board for the future.
- Esther Cummins, Year 8 student

Design and Technology is a new elective in Year 9, which is running for the first time this year.

The course enables students to identify problems, and students are given opportunities to research and investigate existing solutions, analyse data and information, generate, justify and evaluate ideas, and experiment with technologies to manage and produce design projects.

The students have hit the ground running learning new software and developing their skills in preparation for their first Design Task. Class members have branded themselves as a design company by creating a logo. This logo will be used throughout the course instead of their name, and all projects completed by them will be identified by the logo. Adobe Illustrator has been used to create these logos. Well Done Year 9 DT.

Mrs Diana Walsh
Assistant Leader of TAS

Like us on Facebook – St Joseph’s Regional College Library

Follow us on Twitter – @sjrcexchange

Follow us on Instagram - @sjrcexchange

Mrs Karen Bale (Monday-Thursday)
Mrs Michelle Lawler (Friday)
Teacher Librarians

On the Literacy Enrichment radar this week:

Sydney Literacy Links Excursion 3-4 May 2021:

Open to Year 10 and 11 students. This overnight excursion involves attendance at 'The Sydney Writers Festival Secondary Schools Day' and a possible 'Ghost Tour' around The Rocks as a stimulus for creative writing.

Offered to students with an interest in and an aptitude for creative writing, this excursion is combined with like-minded students from Mackillop College. Places are limited to 12 students only and will be offered on a first-come-first-served basis.

The cost for each student is approximately $180 and includes:

• Transport
• Accommodation plus breakfast
• Entry to The Sydney Writers Festival Secondary Schools Day
• Entry to The Rocks Ghost Tour (TBC)

Expressions of interest are welcome. Please contact Mrs McKee at the College of via email: penny.mckee@lism.catholic.edu.au

For more on The Sydney Writers’ Festival Secondary Schools Day visit:
https://www.swf.org.au/secondary-school-days-2021/

Have you checked out these writing challenges?

1. Little Stories.Big Ideas - a Flash Fiction Competition for all students 7-12
   Visit: https://littlestoriesbigideas.com.au/
2. Kids Lit Quiz (KLQ) - This was conducted for the first time last year with great success, and we’re thrilled to be organising teams to participate in it again this year.

3. What Matters? Writing Competition (Closes May 14)
   WHAT MATTERS? is an online writing competition open to students in years 5-12. What Matters? is a 'catalyst for young thinkers and young writers to develop a perspective, a point of view, on where we're heading as a society'. 

   What Matters? is an exciting way for our students to have a say, challenge themselves and develop their writing skills.

Coming Up:

1. Week 9 - Thursday, 25th March 9.00am
2. Year 10 English Incursion: Bell Shakespeare presents ‘Macbeth in Rehearsal’
3. What Matters? Writing competition closes 14th May
4. Kids Lit Quiz
5. Year 8 - Poetry in Action performance 21st April

How Can Students Participate in Literacy Enrichment: It’s easy!

1. Visit the SJRC Literacy Enrichment website
2. Check daily notices on Schoolworx
3. Read the SJRC Newsletter.

See you next week!

The SJRC Literacy Enrichment Team

For all things Sport please visit the SJRC Sport Website.

Pages include:

• Upcoming events
• Links
• Sport News
• Representative Sport
• Sport Program
• Sport Records
• Sport Awards
• Jim O'Brien Cup

Michael Cannon
SJRC Leader of Sport

11th March 2021

The annual SJRC Cross Country will be held on Tuesday 20th April (Term 2 Week 1) here on the College ovals and surrounds.  It is a compulsory event for year 7 – 10.  The top five runners in each age group are eligible to attend the Diocesan Cross Country Carnival held at Grafton on the 21st of May (Term 2 Week 5).  It is a house competition with bonus points awarded for 1st to 10th and everyone else receiving a participation point towards the tally.  There is a cut off time for participation points.

All students may wear their sports uniform all day.

The program for the day is as follows:

• Period 1 & 2: Yr 10 Races (3km) - Ages 15s & 16s
• Period 3 & 4: Yr 9 Races (3km) - Ages 14s & 15s
• Lunch: Yr 11 & 12 (3km) - Ages 16s, 17s & 18+
• Period 5: Yr 7 & 8 Races (3km) - 12s, 13s & 14s

Most events are timed.  Age champions, runners up and SJRC Cross Country Squad will be named on times unless one complete age group runs at the same time (probably only 12s).

2021 SJRC Cross Country Program

Course maps follow:

All age groups will run approximately 3km.  SJRC oval number 3 is out of action (water) so the course will run behing the tennis courts instead of doing the loop near the marine shed.  The rest of the course is as per program.

3km Cross Country Course

Michael Cannon
SJRC Leader of Sport

11th March 2021

Last week the SJRC Swimming Squad traveled to Lismore to compete at the Lismore Diocesan Swimming Carnival.  Congratulations to all students on your efforts. In particular to Phoebe Bentley and Arden Gloster-Horne who qualified for the Diocesan Team to compete at Homebush on Monday the 29th March.

There were stand out performances from:

• Arden Golster-Horne
  • Qualifying for two CCC events
  • 12 Boys Age Champion
• Phoebe Bentley
  • Qualifying for nine CCC events
  • Broke three Diocesan Records
  • Broke or set nine SJRC Records
  • Open Girls Age Champion

Thank you to our staff members who traveled with the team – Mrs Claire Goldie & Mr. Michael Cannon.

• SJRC Results
  
  • all swimmers
  • includes
    • Diocesan Team Qualification &
    • New SJRC Records
    • New Diocesan Records
• Age Champions
• Multi Class Champions
• New Diocesan Records
• Full Results

New Records:
Diocesan

SJRC

Michael Cannon
SJRC Leader of Sport

10th March 2021

The School Sport Australia Board met earlier today to discuss the status of the 2021 Championship program. Please find below a statement announcing the decision that all 2021 Championships have been cancelled.

“It is with regret that School Sport Australia is cancelling all 2021 School Sport Australia National Championships. The Board considered that running Championships in 2021 was not viable because of the ongoing volatility caused by COVID-19 outbreaks, hot spot declarations and border closures. School Sport Australia’s priority is on the wellbeing of students, teachers and other officials.

The complex implications caused by the possibility of sudden border closures while teams were out of their home state, weighed heavily on the Board’s decision. Several Education Departments are not yet prepared to endorse interstate travel for students and staff. This is making it challenging to confirm existing Championship hostings and impossible to secure new dates to reschedule the 27 events on the School Sport Australia calendar for later in the year.

School Sport Australia sends its utmost appreciation to each of the States and Territories who have been involved in the planning and preparation for the Championships that were to be held this year. Each State and Territory will continue its program of intrastate activities and we wish them well with these programs. We are optimistic about a resumption in 2022.”

Michael Cannon
SJRC Leader of Sport

10th March 2021

Congratulations to the following students who were selected into Diocesan teams after trials held yesterday at St. John’s College Woodlawn and SCU Football Fields Lismore.  They now go onto play in NSWCCC trials in Smithtown (League) and Sydney (Soccer) for a place in CCC teams.

Open Girls Football Team (full team)
Sophie Batchelor
Jess Watts

Open Boys Football Team (full team)
Chester Wade

15 Boys Rugby League Team (full team)
Kayden Jones-Moore
Harrison Nevins
Jackson Roberts
Sam Watts
Jack Alchin (shadow)

Open Boys Rugby League Team (full team)
Ty-Jesse Brabant
Joe Lewis

Michael Cannon
SJRC Leader of Sport

10th March 2021

The Diocesan Tennis Championships are coming up on Tuesday the 9th March.  They will be played at Arkinstall Park in Tweed Heads.  Please find more information and a link to LIVE SCORING below:

• 2021 Diocesan Tennis Guidelines
• 2021 Diocesan Tennis Draw
• 2021 Diocesan Tennis - Live Scoring

Final Results:

Junior boys 

Winners - Woodlawn

Runner up - St John Paul

Open Girls

Winners - Mt St Pats

Runners up - St Mary's

Open Boys

Winners - St John Paul 

Runners up - St Mary's

Our boys were a credit to themselves and to the college due to their sportsmanship and conduct during the seven double's matches they played throughout the day. Both the juniors and the opens managed to improve in their tennis throughout the day, working together as doubles partners who communicated and backed each other up all over the court. Our opens did manage to best the MacKillop opens team but our juniors went down in the friendly rivalry. St John Paul College was the strongest school on the day. The boys expressed gratitude for the opportunity to travel to the tournament. We were all grateful to Mr Rob Irving from MacKillop who drove their minibus and to Mrs Lisa Bulley for coordinating the travel arrangements. 

Mr Matt Bushe 
SJRC Tennis Coach

10th March 2021

Tom Jenkins (Yr9) is excelling in a number of sports.

Last Friday Tom competed in the "Rocky Trail Academy Mountain Bike Event" at Mt Buller.  He took out the race and rode the fastest time of all divisions on the day.

Over the next three days Tom competed in the "Rocky Trail Superflow".  He competed in the U17 division - a big ask for a fourteen year old.  Tom finished second ahead of twenty other riders.  Most of his fellow competitors were from the area and had raced the track before making this an even bigger achievement.

Tom is training hard for the NSW All Schools Trialthlon to be held at Penrith Lakes on the 30th March.

Tom has recently taken up rowing and is presently training for the NSW Grade Championships to be held at Penrith Lakes on the 17th & 18th of April.

We wish Tom luck in his upcoming events.

Michael Cannon
SJRC Leader of Sport

10th March 2021

Our College canteen is in need of volunteers. If you are able to spare an hour or so of your time, we would love for you to join us. Please contact Donna Hamlin through the College Office 5525 4100 to arrange.

Weekly Lunch Specials

The Canteen opens at 8.00am every school day.

Ms Donna Hamlin
Food Services Manager

The St Agnes' Uniform Store is open from:

Monday to Friday - 12 noon-5.00pm
Saturday - 9.00am-12 noon

 6 Boronia Street, Port Macquarie