Term 3 Week 5 - 13th 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.

Staff Changes

We have received notification that Mr Jim Dempsey will continue his leave until November. In his absence, the following staff will continue acting in Leadership positions.

Acting Principal: Mrs Tanya Daley
Acting Assistant Principal- Mission: Mr Michael Walsh
Acting Leader of Pastoral Care- Executive: Mrs Kellie Croft
Acting Leader of Pastoral Care - Year 11: Ms Chery Hyde

I would like to congratulate the following staff members who have moved into Leadership positions. 

Leader of Pedagogy: Mr Matthew Cato
Acting Leader of Learning Technologies: Mr Ryan Moore

Year 12 2022 Student Leaders Process

Each year as a College we go through a process to elect our new College Student Leadership team for the coming year. 

I would like to thank Mrs Heidi O'Reilly, Mrs Kellie Croft, Ms Heidi Flanagan and Mr Tom Inatey for their organisation and support of our young future leaders. I refer you to the below report by our Leader of the Student Leadership Team, Mrs O'Reilly.

Congratulations to the 24 self-nominated students who have been selected to be a member of the Student Leadership Team as a result of their commitment to the College in a variety of domains. 

As part of the Student Leadership election process, students are required to attend meetings and present a speech of an example of a leader and what qualities that they identify and admire. Students also attended a Leadership Formation Day held at Port Macquarie Youth Hub. Throughout the day students engaged in a variety of activities that fostered teamwork and leadership skills, while considering how they can make St Joseph’s College a more inclusive, joyful and productive environment. All students present demonstrated a willingness to connect, converse and collaborate with their peers, confirming their ability to be Student Leaders in 2021- 2022. 

Year 11 students and staff will now cast their votes to elect students to the various leadership positions. I wish all students the very best and I congratulate them on their mature approach to this process.

Heidi O’Reilly
Leader of the Student Leadership Team

'Let's Hang It' - Lorena Dionigi

Congratulations to Year 10 student, Lorena Dionigi, whose artwork was selected as a finalist in the University of New England Acquisitive Art Prize (UNESAP) The exhibition, 'Let’s Hang It!', was held at the New England Regional Art Museum (NERAM)and displayed the work of the 60 finalists. The exhibition is open to students in Years K-12 in Regional NSW from the Hunter/Central Coast, New England, North Coast and Western NSW regions. 

Lorena's self-portrait was completed as a school assessment task when we decided to enter it into the competition. It was chosen in the final 60 from 471 entries and has now been sent to NERAM (New England Regional Art Museum) for the exhibition and judging.

What does Lorena's teacher, Ms Howard, think:

"Lorena is an exceptional Art student. She is competent in many expressive forms including watercolour, the media used in this self-portrait. She is very motivated and is always learning new techniques and methods in creating artworks. We are super excited that she has been selected as a finalist."

A word from Lorena:

"I'm very excited to have been selected in the 60 finalists of the UNESAP and extremely thrilled that my work is being exhibited in the Let's Hang It! exhibition."

I encourage you to visit the UNESAP website to view all the finalists-  UNESAP finalists and winners

Consent Education Review by Catholic Schools NSW

God bless

Mrs Tanya Daley
Acting Principal

Street Retreat Closing Session

The St Agnes' Parish Street Retreatants from MacKillop and St Joseph's Regional College got together in the Chapel for a final time to share their experiences and reflect on what they have learned. Mrs Gobius and Mrs Eichmann from MacKillop College attended along with our very own Youth Ministry Officers, Matthew and Emily and Mr Gobius.

Students all agreed that the experience taught them how important it was to listen to others and their stories, were struck by the friendliness and gratitude of the people they served and felt that they would definitely look for further opportunities to be involved in serving others going forward.

After a time of sharing and reflecting on our call to service by Jesus in our Gospel passages, we shared a slice or two of pizza together to end the night. A massive thanks to Mrs Gobius who conceived of the idea last year and allowed us to participate this year.

Vinnies Winter Appeal

Today we held a Bake Sale. Once again thank you to the staff and students of SJRC for your generous support of our fundraising efforts for the Vinnies Winter Appeal.

Thank you to our amazing Student Youth Ministry team and Mr David Constantine for cooking up a storm and serving at the fundraiser. 

The Evangelisation Team

Year 9 Visual Art

Paper Coloured Sculptures

Year 9 Visual Art have been inspired by the Australian sculptural artist, Robert Klippel, and his 93 coloured cardboard constructions from 1980. The two classes were asked to create a collaborative artwork where all of their mini paper sculptures have been displayed together on mass. These sculptures show their understanding of the basic elements of art whilst still maintaining aesthetic interest.

Cardboard and Timber Sculptures

Year 9 Art also studied the work and practice of American artist, Richard Serra, and his 'verbs' to design and construct a 3D sculpture. The students had to 'play' with the different mixed media materials they were given and concentrate on the line, form and shapes. They also had to choose three of Serra's verbs and demonstrate them in their design and construction.

Thank you to Mrs Renee May for preparing the above report.

Food Technology – Year 9

There was a lot of fun and creativity happening this week in our Food Technology rooms. Year 9 students firstly baked cupcakes, then the following lesson decorated them as part of an assessment task.

Students chose a theme for their cupcakes, then got to work on their design using a number of different piping and decorating techniques.

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.

Our SJRC 2021 Debating Teams:

Year 7: Oliver Koivu Elijah Koivu Sam Duff Ethan Begley Abbey Brooks  Imogen Baker Coach: Miss Lewis

Year 8: Kieran Copeland Alannah Steele Mason Clarke Mia Lawrence Sienna Monk Isabelle Skinner Lucinda Murphy Esther Cummins Coaches: Mr McKee and Mr Bedwell

Year 9: Zoe Copeland Maisy Taylor Lauren Johnston Cora Puttick Brock Holliday Arin Godbole Coaches: Mrs Twomey and Mrs McKee

Year 10: Findlay Marshall Siena Cooper Chelsea Lewis Emily Edmed Harrison Brown Jeff Keena Coaches: Mrs Marchment and Ms Gerke

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: National Science Week

Begins 14/8/21 to 22/8/21

The theme is Food

Food is different by design.
Science plays a big part in the foods we eat.

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