SJRC Term 4 Week 2 - 20th October 2023

HSC Examinations

Last week, Year 12 commenced their HSC examinations which continue until Friday, 3rd November. I ask that you please keep them in your prayers as they continue to prepare and sit each exam. 

The staff of SJRC wish you, Year 12, all the very best. 

HSC Nominations

HSC students that enrol in practical courses have the opportunity for their major work to be selected for exhibitions in their area of study. This year we are thrilled to announce that we have six Year 12 students nominated for inclusion in the various exhibitions.

Callback (Dance) - Callback is a selection of outstanding performances and projects from the HSC dance students and will be held at the Seymour Centre in February 2024. Lily Monckton Nomination for three of her HSC Dance practical works: Core Composition Core Performance Major Study Performance

Encore (Music) - Encore is a selection of outstanding music performaces from the HSC music students and will be held at the Sydney Opera House in February 2024. McKinley Halls Nomination for her HSC music performance Shape  (Design and Technology) The Shape exhibition features a selection of students’ exemplary 2023 HSC major projects from Design and Technology, Industrial Technology and Textiles and Design Calum Aldridge Cooper Dimon Jakeb Kenny-Fyfe Brendan Walsh

Principal Appraisal

As a condition of my contract as Principal of St Joseph's Regional College in the Diocese of Lismore, I will undergo an appraisal on 27th November 2023. Please find attached a letter from the appraisal process chair, Michael Mullaly.

Appraisal Information Letter

Tanya Daley
Principal

Week 2 Extended PC: Wellbeing and IT organisation

Last week students in Years 7 - 11 enjoyed an extended Pastoral Care lesson in lieu of our usual school assembly. Students completed their VIA Character Strength testing and PCs then discussed how we can all draw on our inherent strengths to see us through challenging situations or difficult periods in life. We suggest that parents review their child’s character strengths (refer to page 6 of the student diary) and perhaps even take the VIA test yourself as a self-reflection and family discussion tool. The VIA Character Strength test can be accessed via the free VIA website. During our Week 4 extended PC, we will continue to explore our character strengths. Many thanks to our enthusiastic and dynamic Leader of Wellbeing (Wellbeing Programs) Adrian Ryan for leading our students with with the Positive Education framework, including our school-wide Character Strength workshops.

Students also took the time during the extended PC to participate in an IT workshop designed to assist them in organising their digital learning platforms to develop IT habits to support learning. Thank you to Mr Moore, Leader of Digital Pedagogy, who designed this workshop. Instructional videos can be accessed by the links below. Once again, we suggest parents follow up on this work at home to support students to arrive at school organised and ready for learning each day.

LINK #1 - Harness Google Chrome for organised learning.
LINK #2 - Get organised with Compass and Email to be ready for learning.
LINK #3 - Setting up your Google Classrooms and Google Drive for a user-friendly experience.

As we near the end of the year, it is timely to remind our students and families of the importance of regular school attendance. We know from a significant body of research that optimal learning and wellbeing are linked to optimal school attendance. Whilst there are times when a students is unable to attend school due to illness or others matters, it is important that these circumstances are discussed with the school and, where non-attendance is frequent or extend, that relevant documentation supports the patter of attendance Please be aware that, in line with current legislation, a family holiday is no longer an adequate reason from non-attendance of school.

Jennifer Furney
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care

Parish Retreat - Season of Renewal

Please see the flyer below for information on the upcoming Parish Retreat Day, along with a QR code to register.

Have you ever tried to talk with someone who speaks a different language to you? It can be pretty tricky and even embarrassing!

What does this have to do with prayer? Come along this Sunday night to find out!

• Sunday 6-8PM
• THE YOUTH HUB
• $5 for dinner
  
  

2024 school travel applications are now open

Students who need a School Opal card or travel pass for 2024 can apply HERE. A new application will need to be submitted if they are applying for the first time, or if they are requesting additional travel entitlement because of new shared parental arrangement (e.g. joint custody).

Students who change address, school, campus location, have repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should renew or update their details before the end of Term 4. This will ensure that schools can endorse applications, and entitlements remain valid for the start of the 2024 school year. School Opal card holders will have the changes applied to their existing card.

If a student’s distance eligibility has changed based on their grade (i.e. grade two to grade three), the system will automatically update their entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, we will send them an expiry notification via email.

Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition that is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.

Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.

Students in the Opal network applying for an Opal card (including a Term Bus Pass) for the first time will receive their Student Opal card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2024.

Students living in rural and regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the start of the new school year from their nominated transport operator. It may come via the school or be sent directly to them at home. Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes. Students/parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Travel from Term 1 2024

We ask that parents plan ahead and make sure their child knows which service/s to use and has a valid ticket to travel; either a School Opal card or Child/Youth Opal card (within Greater Sydney) or a School Travel Pass (outside Greater Sydney), from the start of the school year.

Applications for 2024 School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) travel open at the start of Term 4 2023, so parents/students can apply or update details early and be ready for the start of the new school year.

Most students using the Opal network will not need a new Opal card and can continue travelling on their existing card each year.

The start of the year is a busy period for local transport operators, and students travelling without a valid ticket make service planning and operations difficult.

We recognise that for some families last minute changes to school enrolments mean they may not have a School Opal card or Travel Pass for the start of term. In the Opal network, we strongly encourage these families to have their children travel with a Child/Youth Opal card until they receive their valid School Opal card. If outside Greater Sydney, parents should contact their local bus operator to discuss their travel needs.

Bus operators are flexible and understanding, particularly at the start of the school year, and will ensure students can travel safely to and from school. But to best support our operators we encourage all students to have a valid ticket, as early as possible, from the start of the school year.

Schools Vaccination Program

Our College provides the venue for NSW Health to conduct the NSW Schools Vaccination Program. Students in Year 7 and Year 10 will have the opportunity to participate in a catch-up clinic on  Friday 27 October 2023

Students who have registered online and missed the previous clinics will be notified by NSW Health via SMS.

Term 4 – Friday 27 October 2023

• Year 7 HPV dose 2
• Year 7 HPV dose 1 & Boostrix - catch up
• Year 8 HPV dose 2 - catch up
• Year 10 & 11 Nimenrix (meningococcal ACWY) catch up

Mark Robertson
Leader of Administration

Sydney Swans First Nations Foundations program 

Port Macquarie - Tuesday 24 October, 5:00pm – 6:30pm. Wayne Richards Park, Port Macquarie

For more information or to register, click HERE

During the recent school holidays, Teleah Hicks attended the University of NSW Gateway Spring Program. This program for Year 11 students facilitates participants to get a head start in preparing for the HSC. They can discover UNSW degree options, get to know staff and the student community well before attending UNSW andbecome part of a community of like-minded and motivated Year 11 students.

Teleah describes her Gateway experience thus far:

I wanted to express my gratitude for the incredible trip to UNSW in the September school holidays. It was an unforgettable experience, and I am thankful for the opportunity. I’d especially like to thank the Hastings Education Fund and Country Education Foundation of Australia for making the trip possible and also the University of NSW. The trip was very informative and left a profound impact on me. It has allowed me to make connections with new people and has enriched my ideas of university life as a whole.

The activities and events that we were involved in allowed me to gain a better understanding of the courses I’m interested in pursuing in the future. The opportunity to talk to current university students and hear first-hand what it's like taking their individual courses was one of the highlights. Overall, I really enjoyed the time I spent in the UNSW residential program and would highly recommend it to any future country students wanting to gain insight into what a large university campus is like.

This week's alumni is Adam Hurd, Class of 2018

Former student Adam Hurd has worked hard since graduating from SJRC to become qualified as a Mechanical Engineer. He is now working on vital infrastructure projects contributing to our country's prosperity. Congratulations Adam - great work!

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.

The Canteen opens at 8.00 am every school day.

CLICK HERE for the Canteen's everyday menu.

Breeanna Stone
Food Services Manager

College Uniform 

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