Term 2 Week 6 - 3rd June 2022
Halfway through Term 2 already and our College is buzzing with activities and events across all KLAs. To name a few, these past two weeks we have seen visiting production companies for Years 8, 9 and 10, there has been a hive of activity around National Reconciliation Week, HSC Trial practices, educational excursions and sporting groups competing against other Diocese schools.
This week, we have the main focus of National Reconciliation Week. I sincerely thank our Indigenous Education team consisting of Mrs Carly Taylor, Mr Braden Saggers, Ms Kylie Wallis and Trainee, Nelson Young for an outstanding week of activities, conversations and education around 'What Is National Reconciliation Week' that they have provided to our students. I would also like to mention the great work that this team has done in establishing a morning breakfast club, known as 'Koori Breakfast Club'. A wonderful initiative for our Indigenous students. I refer you to the Indigenous Education team's report below.
National Reconciliation Week
At this week's assembly, our stage Prayer focus included Indigenous items, one extra special addition was a cross, hand-painted by Visual Arts teacher, Ms Toni Howard, a proud Bundjalung woman.
Ms Howard, Mrs Taylor and Mr Saggers collaborated to decide on how our College and its students could be represented on the cross. This beautiful design includes a number of items to symbolise significant landmarks and the journey our students take through school.
Using our College colours of yellow, aqua, black and white, the symbols represent the Three Brothers mountains - Dooragan, Mooragan, and Booragan, the ocean, reeds from around our school area, Aboriginal symbols for journey, meeting place and young people.
We thank Ms Howard for her beautiful work on the cross, which will be used at significant events for many years to come.
The National Reconciliation Week 2022 theme, “Be Brave. Make Change” is a challenge to all Australians — individuals, families, communities, organisations and government — to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians.
This year the SJRC Indigenous Education team has worked on a project that creates an interactive view of our shared history, the important dates, steps towards reconciliation and an eye-opening approach to Australia's shared history.
Commencing at our College Yarning Circle, the interactive experience begins with 26 different dates and significant events placed along the 'Link Road'. By using parts of the “8 Ways” Pedagogy approach, we have created a multimodal, outdoor learning resource appropriate for all year groups.
Throughout the journey, students have the opportunity to recognise symbols and discover more about why they're there and what they represent.
We hope this engaging learning resource will create a better understanding of our past and encourage further reconciliation to unify our future.
Reconciliation Week finished with a walk around the College. Students from our Mitjigan and Burray groups led students and staff along an Indigenous timeline and explained different events that have happened in Australia since the Dreamtime.
The walk finished with a barbecue and the money raised will be donated to The Indigenous Literacy Foundation. Thank you to all staff and students who attended and supported our Be Brave, Make Change reconciliation walk.
The Koori Breakfast Club
The Koori Breakfast Club, held twice a week in our College Hall, is a 'Closing the Gap' initiative. This initiative is designed to encourage attendance routines by assisting our Indigenous students before the commencement of the school day. Providing an opportunity for students to form bonds and develop relationships while also encouraging consistent school attendance and engagement.
SJRC Indigenous Education Team
'Let's Hang It' Year 11 - Lorena Dionigi
Congratulations to Year 11 Visual Arts student, Lorena Dionigi, whose artwork is amongst a group of 60 finalists in the 2022 University of New England School Acquisitive Art Prize. This is an outstanding result for Lorena, considering, there were 591 art entries this year, from 46 schools.
Lorena's work, titled ‘Untitled (end domestic violence against everyone)’, will now be judged in the Senior Secondary category at the New England School Acquisitive Art Prize Let’s Hang It! exhibition on Friday, 29th July at the New England Regional Art Museum in Armidale. The exhibition will be on display until Sunday 14th August.
Congratulations again, Lorena, on being a finalist at this prestigious art competition.
Mrs Tanya Daley
Acting Principal
St Joseph's Primary School - Coraki
As you may be aware, St Joseph’s Primary School at Coraki was greatly impacted by the floods earlier this year. As well as buildings being inundated by water, many of their resources and furniture were damaged.
The school became an evacuation and recovery centre to support the local community with much-needed food, clothing and assistance.
Many of the local homes were flooded and families were displaced. Local businesses were also greatly impacted. The school reopened for only one day before the next flood came and they had to move out again.
As part of the recovery and support process, St Joseph's Primary has supported students and their families by providing breakfast and lunches, as many had found it difficult to even meet this daily demand.
This week, our College Captains and Vice Captains participated in a zoom meeting to establish a connection with students and staff of St Joseph's Primary to offer support. As a College community, we have been able to donate $1000 to assist with the immediate support of their breakfast and meal program as well as assisting in the replacing of much-needed resources.
In addition to this, Year 11 will be involved in running activities to raise additional funds during the rest of this term and early next term for the school. Money raised will go towards replacing many of the items that the school lost during the floods such as soft furniture, sports gear and gym mats.
As an acknowledgement of our College’s involvement during the recent Ironman Australia event, the College received a cheque for $1000 which Hannah Daikin and Mikayla Steele, presented to Mrs Daley on behalf of St Joseph’s Coraki.
The flood may be over however, the recovery process will continue for some time yet. More details about the fundraising events will be out soon.
Dignity Bags
At this week's assembly, we heard about Year 8 student, Paige Hudson's exemplary efforts to help restore human dignity in our community. Paige's journey started last year after attending one of her Year 7 Religious Education classes, where she heard of the everyday struggles of people in our community. This is when Paige set herself a goal to make a real difference in someone's life. Paige created 'Dignity Bags', hand-sewn cloth toiletry bags filled with essential everyday hygiene items. With the help of her family, friends and community, the donations started rolling in and with these donations, her initial goal of 15 bags ended up being 40 bags.
Paige did not stop there, she went further, with the assistance of a family friend, and received a grant for $1,000 from, Youthwell, an organisation that gives grants to young people aged 16 to 24. With this grant, she expanded to Dignity Bags for men and also purchased sleeping bags and blankets to help the homeless in our area.
To date, Paige has created 70 Dignity Bags which have been donated, along with 13 sleeping bags and 13 blankets to charities in our community that have been chosen by our College.
Congratulations Paige, you are truly an example of a young lady who is the hands and feet of Jesus.
Connecting to Faith with Fr Paul
Fr Paul’s 8 tips to feed your faith
Faith is like a seedling; without food, water, and protection it will always struggle to grow to maturity. It is not a rigid, solid, never-changing thing; Faith is fragile and precious.
For those who are unsure who God is, and what faith might mean to them, it can be a daunting task to begin this journey of discovery. Without nourishment, even those with years of faith experience may find themselves searching in a spiritual desert.
Christ knew this so he gave us examples throughout his life of ways we can nourish our own faith, especially in times of great challenge or difficulty.
Fr Paul shares his top tips here for anyone who wants to feed their faith
NSW Northern Rivers Flood Relief Concert
Some of Port Macquarie’s finest musicians and singers have been assembled under the direction of Robyn Ryan OAM and Jim Matsinos to present a special fundraising concert.
The concert will be held at MacKillop College, Ocean Drive, in the College Theatre on 4th and 5th June at 2.00pm and the money raised will assist the flood victims of the Northern Rivers of NSW.
There will be a special bracket of songs from the blockbuster Opera Les Misérables in which the two principal singers from the Taree Arts Council 1995 production of Les Misérables, John Thompson and Jim Matsinos will be joined by Elizabeth Ryrie.
MC for the concert is John Cross, an Australian actor, a master swordsman, who has appeared in numerous independent and feature films, Home and Away, Moulin Rouge and the blockbuster Hercules: appearing with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Each week the Parish produces a news bulletin. In this week’s bulletin:
- Be Brave, Make Change. Acknowledging past wrongs
- Thank you to our wonderful Volunteers
- Thoughts for those receiving their First Holy Communion
- Thank you to Matt Morretti for the beautiful church grounds
- Vinnies Winter Appeal 5th June
- Volunteers needed for Pre Marriage Education Team
- Annual training for volunteers
- Planned Giving receipts
- Fr Paul on leave
- Why do we pray the Rosary?
Click to read this week's Parish News Bulletin
Mr Michael Walsh
Acting Assistant Principal - Mission
Year 11, 2023 Enrolment
On Monday 23rd May I spoke to Year 10 students about the important decisions they are about to make over the coming weeks regarding their pathway into Year 11, 2023.
Please find below a timeline that outlines the transition process that will take your daughter/son into Year 11 either here at St Joseph’s Regional College or at Newman Senior Technical College.
Over the coming weeks, we will be meeting further with Year 10 to give them more detail about particular events outlined in this timeline.
Should you have any questions about your child’s impending transition into Year 11, please do not hesitate to contact me at the College.
Please click on the movie icon on the timeline to view a short film of past student experiences at St Joseph's Regional College.
Year 11, 2023 Information Night
The Year 11 Information Night will be held on Monday, 25th July at 6.00 pm in the College Hall. Please register your intention to attend by clicking on the image below or HERE.
Mr Tim McCosker
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
Visiting Wellbeing Speakers
This week our Year 8 and 10 students attended an engaging presentation with our visiting speaker Gerard from Real Talk Australia. Content covered included:
- Respectful Relationships;
- Consent Education;
- Cybersafety; and
- Respectful participation in online social media platforms.
Students listened respectfully and asked some great questions during the Q&A at the end of each of the sessions.
We were also visited this week by our School Liaison Police Officer, Senior Constable Steve Jeffrey. Steve spoke with our Year 7 and 8 students about how to be safe online and the laws sitting around risk-taking adolescent behaviours including vaping, bullying and violence.
Uniform Reminder
Our students understand that wearing the College uniform with pride creates a positive mindset for learning and provides a visible reflection of the commitment of each student to our shared communal values and standards.
This week students were reminded of the following detail of our Code of Presentation for Students:
- Sports shorts are to be “mid-thigh length”
We have purchased a supply of sports shorts so students who present to school with sports shorts that are too small may swap out their old shorts for a new pair.
We appreciate your partnership in ensuring our high standards of presentation are adhered to.
HeadSpace
Please see the below flyer for upcoming June activities and workshops including 2 Art workshops held at the Wauchope Arts Hall.
For additional information please head to our website: headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/port-macquarie/june-2022-whats-on/
This month we are also excited to host at our centre parent, family and community education sessions, which are free and refreshments provided:
- Tuning in to Teens
- Navigating Uncertainty & Change
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care
Year 7 Positive Education (Pos Ed) - Knitting
Year 7 Pos Ed classes are currently learning about fixed and growth mindsets. A fixed mindset occurs when people believe their personal skills and qualities can’t be changed no matter how hard they try. They are the people that believe talent alone leads to success, and effort is not required. This mindset often leads to extreme fear of failure and mistakes.
Alternatively, we can view our traits as qualities that grow and develop over time. This way of thinking is called a growth mindset and is associated with a willingness to tackle challenges, a passion for learning, and greater achievement. People with a growth mindset, understand that not knowing or not being good at something can be a temporary state—so they don’t have to feel ashamed or try to prove they’re smarter than they currently are. These people put in extra effort to improve their skills and this often results in higher achievement.
To challenge ourselves to develop a growth mindset we are learning how to knit beanies for premature babies, that will hopefully be good enough quality to donate to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Port Macquarie Base Hospital. Our teachers who are usually experts in their subject are also learning to knit, and together we have found it requires a lot of patience and perseverance. There have been a lot of speedbumps along the way but we are all working together to make sure no one gives up.
We welcome and encourage students from other year groups to get involved and be a part of this positive initiative and join us in knitting beanies for premature babies. Please see Ms Wallis, who will happily help you get started.
Ms Wallis
Leader of Student Wellbeing (Intervention)
Transitus
The Transitus retreat for invited Year 7 students from Parish Secondary Schools in the South of the Diocese was held from Thursday to Friday of Week 4 this term. 18 students from the College attended the retreat and met with another 50 students from other schools across the southern part of the Diocese at Yarrahapinni Youth Retreat Centre.
The retreat brought 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 were a mixture of large and small sharing groups as well as celebrating the Eucharist together in Mass.
The retreat was an overnight experience that allowed students to build relationships with other students from throughout the Diocese as well as giving a chance for students to talk and share about their faith journey,
Thank you so much Ms Gill for taking the students to Transitus and for stepping in at the last minute for Mr McKee.
Students responded very positively to the experience and shared their answers below:
What was the best thing about Transitus?
- “Meeting new people”
- “Our small groups were an opportunity to get to know others while doing activities together”
- “Learning more about God”
What do you remember the most?
- “Being able to bunk in overnight with others”
- “We really enjoyed the Mass”
- “Meeting new people from other schools”
What was one thing you learned?
- “A lot about the Bible”
- “I learnt there were lots of sections in the Bible”
- “There is so much in the Bible”
- “There are so many lessons you can learn from it”
- “Every story in the Bible is different”
What would tell others?
- “Definitely go, it was so much fun and you meet new people!”
- “It was a safe environment where we could safely learn more about our faith!”
- “The early morning beach walk was so great!”
- “Ms Gill was so great to have along, she was so open and answered all our questions, it was great having a young teacher we could relate to!”
LEAD Conference 2022
The Proclaim Lismore Students LEAD conference is a Student Leaders Conference that enhances Senior Ministry Teams of Year 11 and 12 students to be equipped for ministry in their schools by nurturing their own faith and developing them into supportive communities.
Eight members of the SJRC Senior Youth Ministry team joined over a 100 other students from all of the High Schools across the Diocese to stop, reflect and fill their spiritual tanks, as well as have the opportunity to be inspired to brainstorm ways we can help our own school community to shine with the light of the Holy Spirit.
This year the LEAD conference was a gathering which included:
- Dynamic keynote speakers
- The Lismore Diocese Youth Ministry Officers
- A ‘SHINE’-style rally on Thursday night
- Mass celebrated by Father Peter (ex-St Agnes' Parish)
- Several Small Group Discussions
- Seminars and Interactive workshops to provide formation in Youth Ministry Skills
Returning from LEAD, the eight students will be encouraged to meet regularly with the SJRC YMOs to support each other and facilitate Youth Ministry initiatives within our own school community and at regional events over the next year. As the supervising teacher at this conference, I would like to offer a huge vote of thanks to the students that attended in their level of openness and maturity in engaging in all areas of the two days, and I look forward to the fruits of their labour in the formation of their ideas for the remainder of 2022.
The Ignite Conference is one of the largest Catholic events of its kind in Australia for young people - adults, teenagers and children. The conference includes live bands and awesome speakers, with streams and workshops in areas such as leadership, worship, creative arts, mission, culture and prayer!
This exciting conference is back again from 22nd - 25th September at St Laurences' College, South Brisbane. The CSO will be organising a trip that is open to students from Years 9-12. The trip will be subsidised by the CSO to make it more affordable and accessible. Student participants will be asked to make a co-contribution of $245.00. This contribution will go towards the registration cost. Transport and accommodation are fully subsidized.
To secure your registration for Ignite, students will need to collect a form from the College office and return it by Friday 10th June. Please include a $245.00 (non-refundable) payment with a permission note and return it to the College office. Registration online using the coupon code provided on the permission note is required as part of the application.
More information online at igniteconference.com.au
To see a video of the conference click the link. Or see the Ignite website for more information.
Journey into the Catholic Faith for Teens
Mr Timo Gobius
Leader of Evangelisation
Push-Up Challenge
Port Macquarie Parent/Carer session: Navigating uncertainty and change
Tuesday 21st June 2022 at 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm
Headspace Port Macquarie 12 Short Street
About this event
Headspace National is hosting a FREE mental health education session for Parents and Carers of young people to support their mental health.
The session aims to:
- Strengthen understanding of how young people can be affected by change and uncertainty
- Build skills and strategies to support young people who are navigating change
- Identify signs that young people may need additional support
- Build awareness of local, state, and national supports available to young people
Following the session, all those who register will be supported by a digital pack of information that will be sent out via email within five days after the event.
Please note: these sessions are for Parents and Carers of young people between 12-25 years old. This is a live event and will not be recorded.
Ms Wallis
Leader of Student Wellbeing (Intervention)
Year 8 Bell Shakespeare
Last week, Year 8 students were treated to a dynamic performance in the PAC presented by Bell Shakespeare, Australia’s premiere Shakespeare performance group. Students were introduced to a host of Shakespeare’s plays and characters, including a crash course in iambic pentameter!
Throughout the one hour presentation, the Bell presented key scenes, soliloquies and the world in which Shakespeare wrote his plays. There was even an impromptu performance from our Ms Twomey!
Attendance at this performance will enrich students' study of Shakespeare in class next term. Students were highly engaged and keen to participate in the performance opportunities with the Bell Shakespeare players.
Mr Cameron McKee
Literacy Enrichment
The Santos Science Experience is a one day or multi-day science camp for students in Years 9 and 10.
More information can be found at https://www.scienceexperience.com.au/
Applications close soon and some sponsorship may be available through Rotary Australia. Please contact Mr Kobelke if you are in Year 9 or 10 and would like to attend.
Mr Norman Kobelke
Leader of Science
Year 10 Work Experience
I have received glowing appraisals from employers regarding Year 10 Work Experience students, Dereje Thompson and Charlie Cassar. They are to be congratulated on their organisation and management of their time in completing the preparatory work required before undertaking their Work Experience.
If you are thinking about participating in Work Experience in Year 10, please go to the following link and access the tab – ‘SJRC Checklist for Students’ and complete the Work Readiness Booklet and Online Work Experience Certificate (Steps 1 and 2), prior to making contact with Mrs Tinsey.
Dereje Thompson recently participated in the program, learning valuable skills during his week working with Troy from T&T Plumbing. Troy stated, "Dereje was a pleasure to have. It was refreshing to have a young man who was so switched on for the whole week. Well done, Dereje".
We asked Dereje, what he thought about his work experience?
"Work experience was great! I did work experience for one week with a plumber to see if I would like it or not. If school isn’t for you, it shows what it is like in the real world working. It’s hard work, much harder than school is. I highly recommend doing work experience as it helps you decide on what path you would like to take later down the track. If you want to do work experience plumbing I recommend T&T plumbing. Troy put a lot of time and effort into showing me how it’s all done."
- Dereje
Charlie Cassar has been participating in a work experience. Working with Shaun from Blue Ribbon Bricklaying one day a week on a weekly basis. Shaun has reported that he is very impressed with Charlie's work ethic.
We asked Charlie, what he thought about his work experience?
"Work experience at Blue Ribbon Bricklaying is really awesome as it gives me great experience to learn new skills. It has helped me work out if this is something I'd like to do in the future."
- Charlie
Mrs Leanne Tinsey
Leader of Future Pathways
It is very appropriate in this week, Reconciliation Week 2022, that we focus our Alumni lens on the great achievements of former student Thomas Hooper. Thomas is a proud Birpai man who has now graduated from the University of Newcastle with a Bachelor of Medicine. Thomas has a goal to practice in rural areas and give back to the communities that have supported him in his journey.
#doctor #aHSC4opportunity #wherearetheynow
Volunteers Wanted
We cannot run the canteen without you; as the saying goes:
"Many Hands Make Light Work".
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.
Weekly Lunch Specials
Term 2 Week 7 Lunch Specials | |
Monday | Tandoori Chicken & Rice |
Tuesday | Tuna Pasta Bake |
Wednesday | Pasta Salad & Tuscan Wings |
Thursday | Chicken Pumpkin Feta Macadamia Salad |
Friday | Massaman Beef & Rice |
Term 2 Week 8 Lunch Specials | |
Monday | PUBLIC HOLIDAY |
Tuesday | Bacon & Cheese Burger |
Wednesday | Chicken Pesto Pasta |
Thursday | Meatball Sub |
Friday | Butter Chicken |
The Canteen opens at 8.00 am every school day.
Ms Donna Hamlin
Food Services Manager
St Joseph's Regional College has a number of different social media platforms. We would love for you to follow us.
St Joseph's Regional College
Website - https://www.pmreglism.catholic.edu.au/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SJRCPort
Instagram - @sjrcport
St Joseph's Regional College - 50 year Celebrations
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SJRC50years
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sjr50years/
Digital Ministry
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sjrcdigitalministry
Library
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sjrcexchange
Instagram - Instagram - @sjrcexchange
Twitter - @sjrcexchange
Careers
Website - https://www.sjrcportcareers.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sjrcportcareers
Twitter - https://twitter.com/sjrcportcareers
Monday to Friday: 12 noon - 5.00pm
Saturday: 9.00am - 12 noon
6 Boronia Street, Port Macquarie
Uniform 2022
Purchase of new Uniform Items for 2022
Volunteers needed!
There is a fabulous event next Friday 10th June, ArtWalk, in Port Macquarie’s CBD from 5:00pm - 9:00pm.
The event organisers are in need of some extra volunteers to help on the night, and it would be perfect for students aged 16 and over.
For those interested, further information can be found on this link, Please complete the Volunteer Registration Form. It is best if students pair up to volunteer. If there are enough students interested from SJRC a separate induction will take place.
Ride the Wave Festival - 18th, 19th, 24th & 26th June 2022
The festival features an open division surf competition, a skateboarding and scooter competition, market stalls, food vendors, family fun zone (free entry) and an ALL AGES live music festival
Ride The Soundwave
The inaugural Ride the Wave Festival set out in June 2021 to establish itself as a premier annual festival at Town Beach Port Macquarie. With approximately 2,000 attending the festival across three days, the inaugural festival was successful in raising funds to complete the Make a Difference PMQ food van and contributed towards an accompanying food trailer.
Follow our social media pages and keep an eye on our webpage - https://www.ridethewavefestival.com.au/ updates for information.
St Agnes’ Parish Careers Expo
Learn more about job opportunities with one of the largest employers in Port Macquarie. Opportunities range across aged care, disability and therapy services, education and training, business and administration.
John Henry Institute, the registered training provider of the Parish, will also be present to show you how they can help you train for a new role or get a work placement.
- Date: Wednesday 15th June 2022
- Time: 3.00 pm - 6.00 pm
- Venue: Glasshouse, Hay Street, Port Macquarie
The event is aimed at individuals who
- might have already finished school and are still deciding on a career path.
- might already be working in an industry and are looking to learn new skills and change career paths.
- might be looking for flexibility, and working part-time provides the best lifestyle for you.
Registration: www.stagnesparish.org.au/careers/ or call the Parish Administration Centre on 6588 7444