Term 3 Week 4 - 6th August 2021

Keeping our College Community Safe!

Families will continue to receive updated correspondence in regards to COVID restrictions as it becomes available. The safety and wellbeing of students, staff and visitors to the College are very important to us. We always enjoy parents and families being welcomed into our College for activities and events and are deeply disappointed that these current restrictions prevent this. However, these restrictions do not prevent us from our primary purpose, that is, the delivery of quality Catholic education to your children in a safe, caring, and supportive environment.

We thank you in advance for your understanding and support throughout this time. To keep our College community as safe as possible, we ask that:

• ALL visitors comply with the mandatory Two-Step QR Sign in.
  Under the current Public Health Order, all visitors must sign in to both the Service NSW COVID Safe Check-In AND WOL (Who’s on Location). This allows us to meet child protection and emergency management legal requirements, as well as Public Health Order requirements. Unfortunately, no one system will meet all current legal requirements.

• ALL visitors MUST wear a mask when entering College grounds unless they have been granted an exemption. If you cannot wear a face mask because of a disability, physical or mental health illness, or condition, you must carry either

  • a medical certificate or letter signed by a registered health practitioner (such as a doctor) or a registered NDIS provider or
  • a statutory declaration.

• Wherever possible, we ask that you stay in your car and call the office 5525 4100 for assistance. 

• Only three visitors in the College Office foyer at any time. 

Drop off and pick up students or items
Parents and carers are asked to follow changes to drop off and pick up including:

• If safe to do so, when:
  - collecting your child early, please stay in your car and call the office, we will send your child out to you;
  - dropping off your child, please stay in your car and call the office to notify us of their late arrival.
• Please phone the office if dropping off items for your child, a staff member will collect the item off you from your car.
• Maintain physical distancing by avoiding gathering outside of school gates.
• Remain outside of school grounds (note some exceptions may apply regarding schools for specific purposes, vulnerable students, or students with a disability).
• Follow mask-wearing requirements and wear your mask correctly.

Unwell students, staff, and visitors

If your child has cold or flu symptoms, please follow the health advice, get tested and stay at home while unwell. Students who are unwell and attend school will be sent home with the request to get tested. This also applies to staff who are unwell. Visitors who have cold or flu symptoms will not be permitted to enter the school.

Mask requirements

NSW Health and Catholic Schools NSW, although not mandatory, have recommended that all staff wear masks. ALL visitors MUST wear masks upon entering school grounds unless they have been granted an exemption.

• If you cannot wear a face mask because of a disability, physical or mental health illness, or condition, you must carry either

  • a medical certificate or letter signed by a registered health practitioner (such as a doctor) or a registered NDIS provider or
  • a statutory declaration.

Farewell Mrs Harmer

This week we farewell our Leader of Pedagogy, Mrs Chrsitine Harmer. Christine will take up the position of Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching at MacKillop College, commencing Monday 9th August.

Christine has been an exemplary teacher of Mathematics while at SJRC, and previously held the position of leader of Mathematics. Most recently, her dedication to the Leader of Pedagogy role has seen her lead innovation in improving student engagement and growth, mentoring graduate teachers and supporting staff in and out of the classroom. Christine will be sorely missed by all at the College and we wish her the best of luck as she begins her new leadership journey.

Uniform Changes 2022

As previously communicated, the St Agnes' Parish school uniforms have undergone a comprehensive review. The secondary schools uniform has been designed and is currently in production. We are confident the new uniform items will be ready for the 2022 school year.

The main changes include: 

The above extract is from communication sent to families earlier in the year, this information has also been available in the St Agnes' Parish Uniform article located at the end of the newsletter.

Please see the storyboard below for a visual representation of the new uniform.

St Agnes' Parish Street Retreat

My sincere thanks to Leader of Evangelisation, Mr Timo Gobius, Acting Leader of Pastoral Care (Executive) Mrs Kellie Croft and our College Youth Ministry Offices, Matthew Strumolo and Emily Burg for their flexibility in making this year's Street Retreat a workable event. 

I refer you to Mr Gobius' report below:

Food Connect at Wauchope Neighbour Centre.

This week on Monday, 2nd August, three Year 11 students, Youth Ministry officers and staff from the College attended a Homelessness Week event at the Neighbourhood Centre in Wauchope. Students unloaded boxes of clothes and toiletries, cooked breakfasts on the BBQ then served and chatted with 'friends' from all walks of life. It was lovely to see the students engage in great conversation. They have really appreciated the experience so far. 

I also would like to direct you to view the Port Macquarie Hastings Homelessness Facebook page where you will find further photos from our time spent there.

https://www.facebook.com/PortMacquarieHomelessness

Morning Mass at MacKillop College

On Wednesday, 4th August, our Year 11 Street Retreat students attended MacKillop College before school where they celebrated Mass together with the MacKillop College Street retreatants.

Father Peter celebrated the Mass and Deacon Prodensio spoke about serving as he commended each and every student for 'putting others before themselves' quoting Jesus from Mark's Gospel,.."Whoever wants to become great among you must serve the rest of you like a servant."!

On Friday we will join Port Outreach BBQ in the Kooloonbung Creek area of Port to continue serving.

Mr Timo Gobius
Leader of Evangelisation

Latest COVID-19 Information

God bless

Mrs Tanya Daley
Acting Principal

Paul Dillon (Paul Dillon is the Director and founder of DARTA - Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia) is facilitating a Zoom session for parents on Wednesday, 11th August at 7.00pm.

Please see the flyer below to register via the QR code.

Mrs Kellie Croft
Acting Leader of Pastoral Care

Vinnies Winter Appeal

Bacon & Eggs Roll were available today for breakfast as part of our fundraising effort for the Vinnies Winter Appeal.

$538.20 was raised. A huge thank you to our College community for your generous response to our Vinnie Winter Appeal this winter.

Thank you to our amazing Student Leadership team for cooking and serving this morning. Your work within the College community is very much appreciated.

The Evangelisation Team

English

Year 12 are currently revising all work leading into their Trial HSC. Ms Mooney's English class this week were loaded up with some fake money for our 'Module B' auction. Students 'bid' on quotes they could use to write their essays around.

Armed with their quotes the students wrote PEEL paragraphs, which were ultimately marked and assessed by their peers.

Congratulations to those students who were deemed to be most successful in the task:

Timothy Kobelke, Prada Hanlan, Jesse Budnik and Andrew Ammann.

The students were rewarded with a hot chocolate/coffee from the cafe.

Rising Stars Leadership Camp

Year 10 student, Mia Perkins, applied to attend The Rising Stars Leadership Camp to be held in Sydney in September. This 3-day camp is offered to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students throughout Australia. Students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in University life, learn more about their career and degree options, develop their cultural knowledge and leadership skills.

This is a wonderful opportunity, and to Mia’s credit, because of the considered effort and time she put into her application, she was accepted. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the camp has had to be cancelled. This is such a disappointment; however, Mia is to be congratulated for her application and acceptance. Especially considering applications were open to all students within Australia.

Mia will have the opportunity to apply again next year, which I have no doubt she will once again be accepted. Congratulations Mia!

This week, we would like to feature Year 10 iSTEM who have been working busily with their teacher Mr Niness to design and create some very impressive Skylap Planes. I refer you to the report below prepared by Mr Niness.

iSTEM

Year 10 iSTEM have been working through a project designing and making their own Skylap Plane. As part of this unit they have furthered their understanding of Aerodynamics and have learnt about how motors work also.

They have had to optimise their plane design so that it would be fast and generate lift, whilst not being too heavy also. This project will culminate in a dogfight battle which is sure to be an exciting day.

Harry Newman, William Howard and William Wilcox Skylap Plane.

Mrs Diana Walsh
Assistant Leader of TAS

Term 3: The Annual SJRC V Mackillop Debating Competition 

There’s been a buzz around campus as teams from Years 7-10 prepare to go into battle with Mackillop College to secure bragging rights as 2021 Debating Champions on Thursday, 19th August 2021 at MacKillop College.

Students have been refining their skills in persuasive writing, research, public speaking and teamwork. The competition is a great opportunity for students to represent their College, build school spirit and step out of their comfort zones.

Details about the day will go out to parents this week. Watch next week’s newsletter when we profile the teams and their coaches.

We congratulate all debaters on their selection and wish them well in the last two weeks of coaching.

Here’s how to keep your Literacy enriched:

1. Read: Anything. Especially from our great SJRC Library
2. Enter a competition: there’s always an opportunity to develop and pitch your writing skills up against like-minded peers. Check out SJRC’s own Literacy Enrichment website.
3. Plan: If you’re contemplating life in a literacy/arts-related field after school (eg journalism, film, writing) check out what’s on offer during the holidays. Students as young as Year 9 can benefit greatly from exploring any career options that might interest them. And some companies in the arts field offer work experience, immersion opportunities and specialised holiday workshops.

Just a peek at their websites can set you on a course of action that can change your life!

Sydney Theatre Company
Bell Shakespeare
Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS)
National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)
Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP)
NIDA:

And if you’re stuck for reading tips, check out:

Readings Australia

Don’t forget to check out the SJRC Literacy Enrichment page.

See you next week!

The SJRC Literacy Enrichment Team

Word of the Week: Postponed

Meaning: Cause or arrange for something to take place at a time later than at first scheduled.

Many activities have been postponed due to the COVID Pandemic.

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 on 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 Trading Hours

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

 6 Boronia Street, Port Macquarie

Uniform Changes 2022

Pathways to Post School Life Information Sessions

August activity calendar 

• ArtSPACE Term 3 – Fully booked. Waitlist for Term 4 available.
• CHORDS Learn to Play Guitar Group – 6-8 spots available FREE for ages 12-25yrs Starts Thursday August 12th 4:30pm-5:30pm
• Rainbow Youth LGBTQIA+ social group – 12 spots available FREE for ages 12-17yrs Starts Aug 11th 4:00-5:30pm
• Spill the Beans – 20 spots available, drop in no registration needed Free coffee from Ruins cafe, chats with headspace + card games. Starts Sept 9th at CSU. FREE for 16-25yrs FB event here