St Joseph's Regional College Port Macquarie eNewsletter

Principal's Message

Bushfire Planning

As summer is approaching our school has commenced preparations for the upcoming bushfire season. We are developing a plan should a fire emergency occur in our area during school hours. Our Bushfire plan takes into consideration the safety of students and staff while at school as well as families needing to collect their children from school and make their way home safely.

In general terms, should the Rural Fire Service or relevant Authority escalate a Fire Alert Level to ‘Watch and Act’, our school leadership team, in consultation with the Catholic Schools Office, will determine if it remains safe and viable for our school to remain open. Please be assured that our Bushfire Management Plan will always err on the side of caution.

Should we need to change the opening status of the school, you will be advised via Compass and text message. We ask that all parents or adults in a household download Compass and have their phone on and available throughout the summer bushfire season. This message will clearly state that if the school will be open or remain closed for the next day, or if the school is closing and the request and instructions to collect your child/ren.

Should the opening status of the school change, this will also be posted on our school website (and social media). I take this opportunity to remind you during this time to avoid calling the school to ask if the school is open or closed as we must remain easily contactable to first authorities. Please rely on the information distributed via Compass, text message, school website and school social media.

It is strongly recommended that you and your family consider developing your own plan of what you will do in a bushfire event. Please talk to your children about what to expect if there is a bushfire near your home or the school. The Rural Fire Service has resources available to help you with your Family Bushfire Plan

We are confident in our planning and also hopeful we will not need to action it this coming season.

2023 Bill Turner Cup Soccer Final Results

On 5-6th September, the SJRC Boys Bill Turner Soccer team travelled to the Lake Macquarie Regional Sporting Complex to contest the Finals Series of the nationwide competition.

The tournament began back in March, with over 800 schools entered into the largest amatuer Soccer competition in the Sourthern Hemisphere. The Finals Series brings together the winners of the NSW Metro, NSW Country, Victorian and Queensland regions. As qualifiers, the team etch themselves into SJRC history as the most successful Soccer team ever!

In the Semi Final, our boys came up against a very polished Endeavor Sports High. The team started strong, equalising 1-1 with a classy Zac Lovett cross and Jaxson Clay goal. Unfortunately the game drifted away going into half time 6-1. The team showed outstanding resilience in the second half, keeping Endeavor scoreless, with Josh Baxter sneaking a late goal to leave the final score a 6-2 loss.

As a result the team played off for 3rd against Maribyrnong College (Victoria) the following day. Despite a half time lead thanks to a Josh Baxter goal, the boys eventually went down 3-1.

While not the result they were hoping for, the team should hold their heads high and know that as a community we are immensley proud of their achievements. A top 4 in the country finish is no small feat for a regional NSW school. I am confident the team will be spoken about for years to come, not only for their skill but the legacy they leave as young men.

Congratulations boys, Coach Mr Cato and Manager Amahli for your successful campaign this year. We hope to see your names on team sheets in the A-League or overseas one day.

2023 Yearbook

Preparations are underway for the 2023 Yearbook which is a wonderful way to preserve memories and commemorate the events of the year. All families will be billed $20 for the Yearbook which covers the production cost. I'm sure it will be another fantastic Yearbook, and families will cherish it when it becomes available early in 2024.

Nathan 'DUBSY' Want

All parents are invited and encouraged to attend a parent workshop at MacKillop College on Wednesday 14th September from 6pm. The focus for the evening will be “Support Your Teen to Foster Growth and Resilience.”

Tanya Daley
Principal

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Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

Year 12

As our Year 12 students enter the final few weeks of schooling prior to their HSC written exams with English Paper 1 commencing on Wednesday 11th October, it has been pleasing to see many students continue to focus on their studies and take advantage of the opportunities provided at the College. Next week as part of the Food for Thought program afterschool, a revision tutorial for HSC English will occur in the library and mathematics students will undertake a 3 hour ‘practice HSC’ exam paper. Students are strongly encouraged to continue to access the full range of support services at the College and make the preparation for the HSC exams their core priority over the next month. To further support our Year 12 students, the College will be open throughout the Term 3 Semester holidays from 9.00 am until 1.00 pm each day (excluding the public holiday on Monday 2nd October) to provide a quiet supervised environment for students to prepare for the exams.

Congratulations to our HSC Drama students who had their HSC performance exams and Industrial Technology Timber students whose major works were marked over the last two weeks. Finally, good luck to our Year 12 Music students who have their HSC performance exam next Friday and our Design and Technology students whose major projects will be marked this week.

Year 8 2024 semester electives

Year 7 students will begin the process of choosing their Year 8 2024 semester elective courses. To support our year 7 students in this process, I have spoken with them in their class groupings and they have been provided relevant information about the elective choices available and the process they will undertake. This period is the beginning of students increasingly choosing their own pattern of study over the five years of their secondary education.

Year 11 exams

Year 11 students will commence their end of course exams starting this Monday. These exams will provide valuable feedback on how a student has progressed over the three terms of the Preliminary course, as well as providing invaluable practice for the Trial and HSC exams that they will undertake as part of their HSC. As they transition into their HSC pattern of study, students will look at adjusting the subjects they will continue into the HSC. Students are advised to think wisely about this choice and to ensure that they take the time needed before deciding to discontinue a subject. Please see the below the end of year exam timetable for Year 11.Ian Lutton
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

Curriculum Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care

RUOK Day @ SJRC: Report by Year 12 Leaders

At Assembly this week we heard from our Year 12 Student-Leaders about R U OK? Day, a charity that encourages people to stay connected and have conversations that can help others through difficult times in their lives. Next week we will be promoting the importance of having these conversations. There will be activities that students will participate in during PC to assist them in having a chat with someone they are worried about. Additionally, the Year 12 Leaders will be wearing their R U OK? yellow shirts all week and will be roaming around the playground to check-in on students and encourage kindness in our school community.

On R U OK? Day, Thursday 14th September, we will be greeted with a smile and a Chupa Chup to the day. At Recess, there will be live music in the Amphitheatre from Hagglunds and a hacky sack competition. Lastly, at Lunch, there will be a BBQ where you can purchase a sausage sandwich for $2 dollars and take part in a paper plane championship with more tasty prizes to be won. Let’s get behind this great initiative and support each other here at St Joseph’s Regional College!

Macquarie House - Introducing Mr Dylan Sainsbury

This week we welcomed Mr Dylan Sainsbury into the role of Leader of Student Wellbeing (7 - 10) for Macquarie House. Mr Sainsbury is a long-term, well-respected member of our SJRC staff and we are confident he will flourish in his student wellbeing role. Parents of Macquarie House students in Years 7 - 10 are encouraged to contact Mr Sainsbury by phone or email if they feel their child would benefit from additional wellbeing support.

dylan.sainsbury@lism.catholic.edu.au

Reminder for Year 8 parents: Camp Information Night is scheduled for Tuesday 12th September in the College PAC at 6pm.

The session will run for around 45 minutes with light refreshments providing an opportunity to ask questions or connect with other parents immediately following the information session. Ideally, each Year 8 child would be represented by a parent or carer.

Jennifer Furney
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care

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Assistant Principal - Mission

SHINE 2023

On the 24th and 25th of August, Mission Services, Mission Assistants and College Youth Ministers throughout the Diocese organised and facilitated the SHINE Gathering for 2023. Held at St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour, SHINE is an element of the Student Discipleship Continuum, bringing Year 9 and 10 Youth Ministry (CSYMI) students together to learn what it means to be part of youth ministry in the Diocese of Lismore. SHINE provides an opportunity to connect with other students and to encounter Jesus in new and dynamic ways.

46 students and 3 staff from SJRC attended including 12 Year 9 students, the Year 10 Youth Ministry Class and 11 members of the Senior Youth Ministry Team attended the gathering. The Senior students and a number of Year 10 students played a vital role as small group leaders where they were given the opportunity to share a faith experience while practising and developing their skills as intentional disciples and leaders.

The theme for this year’s SHINE was ‘House’, referring to the way in which God’s love feels like home for us. This year, 500 students and 50 teachers, as well as special guests and keynote speakers, including Roby Curtis from Emmanuel City Mission in Brisbane attended. SHINE included music from the diocesan worship team ‘Wildfire’, games, engaging videos, 3 breakout sessions/workshops, dramas, adoration, prayer experiences and a very special concluding Mass. It was great to attend SHINE this year and we now look forward to attending IGNITE with some 35 students in the last days of Term 3.

Mr Hyland, Mr McLeod and Miss Gill accompanied the students.

Check out the Proclaim Lismore Students Facebook page for more great content from SHINE.

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:

An update on the Church roof
Children welcomed at Mass
St Agnes' Foundation Raffle
Young Adult Ministry
Mass times and more!

Click to read this week's PARISH NEWS BULLETIN

Matthew Bushe
Assistant Principal- Mission

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Junior Student Leadership

Last week St Joseph's Regional College went BLUE!!

Over the course of Week 7, Yr 11 and Junior Leaders led an awareness raising Project regarding mental health.

The original Blue Tree Project operates throughout Australia and other countries of the world with the aim of:

‘kicking the stigma of suicide and depression one blue tree at a time’.

The Blue Tree Project paints trees blue as a way of raising awareness and changing the way we talk about mental health and the impact of depression and suicide in our global community. The idea of the blue trees is simply to generate conversation - to remove the ‘hidden’ nature of mental health and the shame that has previously been associated with it.

The Blue Tree Project has flourished into a charity with Blue Trees now dotted across Australia and other parts of the world, to act as beacons of hope and conversation starters.

Our project has been student generated and student run with the aim of starting conversations amongst students about issues associated with mental health and providing an avenue to offer support to those who may be experiencing challenges in their lives.

All Students in the College were given the opportunity to contribute ideas and messages of support and positivity to make our Blue Tree grow and flourish.

‘What started as an outline of a bare Blue Tree on Monday, blossomed with positivity and support by Friday’.

Student leaders in the College are congratulated on their dedicated focus and involvement in the project - without their leadership, our tree would not have grown.

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PDHPE News

Our Year 9 female students recently attended an informative talk hosted by the Pelvic Pain Foundation Australia. This session aimed to break down the common misconceptions and lack of understanding surrounding period pain.

The talk was incredibly insightful, providing our students with valuable knowledge about a topic that is often overlooked. It's essential for young individuals to have access to accurate information about their health and well-being.

To build on the knowledge gained at this talk there will be a follow-up session, which is open to all interested students. This session will be conducted via Zoom, making it accessible to everyone. We encourage students to join and continue expanding their awareness of this important issue.

The Date is the 13th of September and details for the Zoom session are outlined on the attached flyer.

Thank you for your continued support in our efforts to empower our students with knowledge and promote their overall health and well-being.

Learning Enrichment

The School to Work Workshop is for parents, family members, educators and allies of secondary students with disability and those who recently left school. The workshop aims to demonstrate that real, meaningful employment is possible for young people with disability.

The School to Work Workshop are NSW wide disability advocacy organisation which focuses on sharing valuable tips and strategies families and allies of young people with disability can utilise, to help support better employment outcomes. I have included further details below and the workshop flyer is attached. We are eager to reach as many people as possible when we are in the area and appreciate you sharing this information widely.

In the workshop attendees will:

Uncover the strengths and interests of your secondary school student
Connect these strengths and interests to potential work roles
Learn about 'customised employment'
Identify contacts in your community and networks to approach for work
Learn how to approach employers
Identify conditions that help set up a student for success in work
Explore what good employment support looks like
Connect with other families and hear their stories and ideas
Make a plan for your student to find work, in the workbook provided.

Port Macquarie Location Details:

Tuesday, 12 September 2023

Panthers Port Macquarie, 1 Bay Street, Port Macquarie

9:15am – 3:30pm

To register for the workshop click HERE

Cost:

$35 for students and families - if cost is a barrier for families, they can contact us directly to discuss options
$50 for professionals

Includes morning tea, lunch and resource booklet.

Learning Enrichment

Rock Youth Group

Have you ever made a mistake that could have cost you $20,000?

Come along to youth this week for food, games, good vibes, and to learn from the wisdom of our mate Tom who will be pointing out some tripping hazards you might come across whilst running the Christian race.

Don’t forget we have Youth Band Auditions on Sunday from 2-4pm! Please get your parents to fill out the parent permission form in our bio for Youth.

Digital Permission

As usual, here are the deets for Sunday:

St Agnes’ Catholic Parish Hall
This Sunday from 6-8pm
$5 for dinner

Sunrise Hastings Sports Awards

Nominations are now open for the 2023 Sunrise Hastings Sports Awards!

This is a great opportunity to recognise our local athletes, teams, and volunteers for their achievements over the last year. Please see the flyer below and here is the link to nominate: https://sunrise-rotary.org.au/sportsawards/

Creative Arts Nest - Workshops

Ignite Your Creativity at The Wednesday Nest - Creative Workshops

Starting Next Term, Week 1, Term 4: Wednesday, October 11th

Are you ready to unleash your inner artist, actor, musician, or filmmaker? The Creative Arts Nest proudly presents a fantastic lineup of Creative Workshops, and your opportunity to dive into the world of creativity is just around the corner!

Workshops Include:

Watercolour: Express yourself through the beauty of watercolors.
Drama Improv: Explore your acting talents and quick thinking.
Intro to Film & the Photographic Darkroom: Discover the magic of black and white photography.
Group Vocal Lessons: Learn the fundamentals of singing and let your voice shine.
Beginner Jazz Dance: Get moving and work on the fundamentals of dance.
Beginner Ukulele: One of the easiest instruments to learn, and it is fun!
Foundations of Makeup: Master the art of makeup.
Short Films 101: Learn the art of storytelling through film.
Surf, Skate & Create: Discover how to upcycle surf and skateboards.

These workshops are open to all MacKillop, Regional, and Newman College students. Plus, here's the exciting part – ANY student from ANY of the above schools can attend ANY workshop at ANY location!

Starts: Week 1, Term 4: Wednesday, October 11th

When: Every Wednesday from 3:45 pm to 5:15 pm (90 minutes per week).

Duration: Running for 8 weeks

Experience Needed: No previous experience required for any class.

Each workshop is led by a leading industry professional in their respective field, ensuring you receive top-notch guidance and inspiration.

Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to nurture your creativity and expand your horizons. Whether you're a budding artist, actor, musician, or filmmaker, there's a workshop just for you.

For more information and to register, visit our website at https://artsnest.com.au/nest-workshops/

Join us in igniting your creativity and making Term 4 truly exceptional!

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Alumni

This week's Almuni is Olivia Lawler, Class of 2016

Former student Olivia Lawler is using her skills and qualifications in the area of Communication to contribute positively to the facilitation of connection, growth and resilience building for women in the rural and remote areas of NSW. Prior to this, in her previous position with Port Macquarie Hastings Council, she was involved in some well-recognised local projects such as the Westport Park Water Playground and the Town Green Playground Upgrade. How affirming to see Olivia being involved in hometown projects and beyond. Congratulations Olivia.

#aaHSC4opportunity #wherearetheynow #events #engagement