St Joseph's Regional College Port Macquarie eNewsletter

Principal's Message

Thank you for embracing the change to Compass. We are navigating our way through the many great features of the program and adapting our practices where needed. Over the next weeks and months, new features will be available.

Parent feedback welcome:

If you have feedback on Compass please email the College on sjrhport@lism.catholic.edu.au

We realise there are still teething problems and areas we need to work on. Please be considerate and respectful of Office and Administration staff when working through concerns.

Year 7-12 Parent Teacher Interviews 21st August:

One of the new features is booking parent teacher interviews (conferences) through Compass. The following video may be useful for you when booking for the upcoming Parent Teacher Interviews.

https://watch.screencastify.com/v/4nQeOJjyhEj1YeTpiCwf

Attendance notes:

Attendance notes must be completed on Compass within 7 days (NB. if using the Compass App, go to the bottom right hand corner and click on MORE, then choose OPEN IN BROWSER. From there you add the attendance note) or a parent needs to contact the school to advise them of the reason for absence. You only need to notify of full day absences on Compass. Parents do not record partial day absence on Compass as the original method of sending in a written note or calling the office to advise of partial absence is the correct method.

Accessing the NEWSLETTER:

The fortnightly College newsletter will be placed on the Compass News Feed. Make sure to have your push notifications on so as to receive these important news feed items, event notifications and other important information as they happen.
NB. after you read the newsletter or any other information on your Compass News Feed, you do not need to delete anything.

Consenting to events on time and payment plan option:

All Events have a due date in which parents must consent and pay for the event. All parents must have access to Compass in order to view the consent. If they are unable to pay online due to technical issues only, the option to pay at the Office or over the phone is available with the paper version consent form to be handed in with payment.

Please note, a debit card can be used to pay for events if you do not have a VISA or Mastercard Credit Card.

Parents are encouraged to have push notifications active on the app to ensure that no events have been missed after the due date for consent and payment.

Events that are nil cost may still require consent if the students are leaving the College grounds or outside normal class times. Parents must provide this on Compass.

If the parent has not given consent and payment made on the due date they will be unable to attend the event.

Event payments and split families:

As we move to payment on consent of events it is the responsibility of the parent who consents on Compass to pay the full cost of the event and work with the other parent re. Sharing consent/payment across various events.

It is not the College’s responsibility to send two separate event consent forms to the same student’s parents, nor to split every cost. For events with significant costing (eg. camps, retreats) please call to request the possibility of splitting the costing.

Tanya Daley
Principal

Principal's Message Administration News

Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

Year 9 2024 (current Year 8 students) Educational Pathway Information Evening Monday 14th August 6:00pm

Year 9 is a significant milestone in a student’s academic progress in high school. This is the beginning of a student making subject decisions that will impact their Stage 6 pathway and university options post-secondary schooling. Next year will also see the implementation of a number of significant curriculum changes in the core subjects of English and Mathematics. To support students and parents during this period of change, an information evening will be held in the College Hall on Monday 14th August at 6.00 pm. During this evening the impact of the changes in English and Mathematics will be outlined and additional information regarding elective choices and future pathway options will also be outlined.

HSC Trials

Congratulations to our Year 12 students who have been completing their Trial HSC exams over the last two weeks. These exams help prepare the students for their HSC written exams commencing on the 11th October with the English Paper One. Over the next few weeks many students will also be undertaking their HSC performance exams and submitting major projects. After the trial exams are completed Year 12 students will go into an intensive revision program to identify any gaps identified in the trial exams and aim to fill in those gaps to ensure the best outcome possible in their HSC exams.

This week has also seen the conclusion of the Year 10 into 11 transition program for our Year 10 students. Most students have chosen their pattern of study for 2024 and we wish them well as they prepare for the start of Year 11 in 2024.

Ian Lutton
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

Year 9 Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care

Did you know that teenagers need 9.5 hours of sleep per night? We conducted our Wellbeing Survey with all students from Years 7 - 11 this week. The chart below represents students’ self-assessment of their sleep with 1 being “very poor” and 5 being “excellent”.

Research indicates that up to 70% of teenagers are sleep-deprived and we know that screen time is a significant factor inhibiting teenagers’ sleep routines. Click on the image below to access a short video about the importance of sleep for teenagers:

We recommend parents consider the following strategies to support positive sleep routines in their teenagers:

Impose a screen curfew that supports teens to disconnect from their screens one hour before they go to sleep.
Keep devices, especially mobile phones and other access points to social media, out of teens’ bedrooms at night.
Have regular bedtimes and wake up times.

The Office of the eSafety Commissioner, commission by the Council of Catholic Schools Parents NSW/ACT, is offering a free webinar for parents on the evening of Tuesday 15th August entitled, “Online relationships and consent: sending nudes and sexting”.

For additional information, and to register, click the link below.

https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/5491931265697591563

Assistant Principal - Pastoral Student Welfare

Assistant Principal - Mission

As you may be aware, through recent articles published in the Parish News and within our community, the St Agnes’ Catholic Parish will be welcoming a group of Ni-Vanuatu women to Port Macquarie this Friday, 4th August 2023.

The 15 ladies have embarked on this amazing opportunity to live in Port Macquarie and work with us in our Aged Care Services, for four years as part of the Parish’s participation in the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme.

As a warm welcome for these ladies, and to support them whilst they settle and adjust to their new lifestyle in Port Macquarie, we have organised a couple of practical arrangements and welcome you to participate and/or donate if you would like to:

Provide a home-cooked meal for a house to share (7-8 ladies per house). Click the link to join our ‘Meal Train’, which includes specific details (dates available, likes and allergies): https://mealtrain.com/lk8dem
Preloved warm women’s clothing in good, clean condition from sizes 10-16, as they will be arriving in our winter (although our days have been quite warm lately, we expect they may feel the cold)
Excess craft supplies used for jewellery making such as beads, wires and pliers or unwanted sewing machine
Unused sturdy flower pots to be used in the house gardens
Crocheted or knitted lap blankets to create a homely atmosphere
Reusable heavy-duty shopping bags in good condition
Fresh fruit or vegetables if your home goods are in abundance

We fully appreciate if any assistance is able to be provided in the above ways and understand this is not always possible. Other ways you may offer support is by acknowledging them with a friendly smile or welcome them if you see them around our Parish grounds.

If you are interested to know more about our PALM workers, you can read more on the attached document or by clicking here:

Parish kicks off PALM program with JHI training in Vanuatu | St Agnes’ Parish (stagnesparish.org.au)

Vanuatu Women’s Centre delighted with St Agnes’ Foundation gift packs | St Agnes’ Parish (stagnesparish.org.au)

St Agnes' Church Gospel Reflections

Fr Paul Gooley is continuing to provide Gospel readings and reflections via email and online Monday to Saturday for those interested in connecting with their faith in this way.

Click to watch Fr Paul's Gospel Readings and Reflections.

St Agnes' Parish News Bulletin

Each week the Parish produces a news bulletin. In this week’s bulletin:

Update on Church Roof
Confirmation
PPC Commissioning
St Mary of the Cross Feast Day
Homelessness week
WYD 2023 - Pilgrims' Update
Youth Adult Ministry
Mass times and more!

Click to read this week's PARISH NEWS BULLETIN

Matthew Bushe
Assistant Principal- Mission

Evangelisation Assistant Principal - Mission

Evangelisation

Festa Christi

Festa Christi was a gathering for selected Year 8 students from Parish Secondary Schools in the diocese to celebrate their faith at a diocesan level. The gathering was an overnight experience which allowed relationships to be built with other students from throughout the diocese as well as a chance for students to talk and share about their faith journey.

The two-day retreat experience involved activities that focus on ‘walking in another person’s shoes’, having the students overcoming their fears and gaining a greater awareness of social justice and Catholic Social Teaching (CST) principles. Activities included working as teams to get through a Commando Course with mud run and obstacles, a giant swing and ladder climb. All activities helped students to focus on helping each other and being the best people they could be while focusing on the CST principle of the ‘Common Good’.

The CST principle of ‘Solidarity’ was explored through a simulation of a Refugee Family Journey while escaping war and oppression. Students were each allowed to pack a bag with six items to take. Each family experienced all sorts of difficulties along the way and kept losing items and bags while also being split up as a group. Every student was able to “walk in the shoes” of a refugee during the simulation.
Festa Christi allows time for prayer and reflection and concludes with the celebration of the Eucharist which was planned and run by students. The experience invited them to challenge themselves to "do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with God"- Micah 6:8

Mr Shane Hyland
Leader of Evangelisation

Web Article Evangelisation

Careers News

Former student Kirrilly Cutler returned to the College last week in her role as Building Cadet with BESIX Watpac, along with Chelsea from the company's Human Resources section to talk to interested students about the many and varied roles and opportunities that exist within the Construction sector.

From apprenticeships in carpentry to Managing Director roles, there is huge scope in Construction for people with initiative and drive. Our students are grateful for the opportunity to find out more about possibilities, and also to witness the non-traditional pathways that can lead to rewarding, challenging and satisfying careers. Many thanks to Kirrilly, Chelsea, and to Besix Watpac.

Web Article Careers

Library News

Karyn Mooney
Teacher Librarian

Library

Canteen News

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 Breeanna Stone through the College Office on 5525 4100.

Weekly Lunch Specials

Term 3 Week 5 Lunch Specials
Monday	Ricotta & Pumpkin Ravioli in Tomato Sauce
Tuesday	Chicken Parmi Burger
Wednesday	Thai Green Curry
Thursday	Chicken Quesadilla's
Friday	Chicken, Sweet Potato, Caramelised Onion & Almond Salad
Term 3 Week 6 Lunch Specials
Monday	Chicken Pesto Pasta
Tuesday	Meatball Subs
Wednesday	Chicken BLT Salad Bowl
Thursday	Beef Nachos
Friday	Beef Stroganoff