SJRC Newsletter: Term 1 Week 6 - 8th March 2024
School Improvement and School Review
At the College and as a system of Catholic Diocesan schools, we are committed to continual school improvement. Each year, we develop a School Annual Improvement Plan (SAIP) to guide our improvement based on the evidence and data we collect. The plan is designed to directly impact each student's learning, well-being, and faith outcomes.
Our 2024 SAIP has identified three main priorities. These priorities have not changed significantly over the past three years and are our aspirational goals for our students.
The visual representation below is a summary of our 2024 School Improvement Plan.
Next term (during Week 3: 14th-17th May), our College will undergo a school review. This review is a process that each school in the Lismore Diocese undergoes every three years. The review is facilitated by ACER (Australian Council of Educational Research) and is guided by the School Improvement Tool. Evidence is gathered about our school based on nine Domains that are essential for a high-functioning school. We will be provided with commendations, affirmations and recommendations at the conclusion of the four-day review. Staff, students and families will attend meetings to discuss how our students' learning and wellbeing outcomes are being met. You will have the opportunity to volunteer for a meeting with a reviewer in the coming weeks.
Collection Notice for Parents/Guardians:
2024 Student Residential Address and Other Information
The Australian Government Department of Education will be undertaking a residential address collection in March 2024. The Catholic Schools Office will centrally collect, collate and furnish this data from the schools’ Compass system. The collection takes place in the week beginning 11 March, 2024.
It is a requirement to send a 2024 Student Residential Address and Other Information Collection Notice to all parents advising that the Department is requesting schools provide a statement of address.
A statement of address contains the following information about each student at the school:
- Student residential address (not student names).
- Student level of education (i.e., whether the student is a primary or secondary student).
- Student boarding school status (i.e., whether the student is boarding or a day student).
- Names and residential addresses of the student’s parent(s) and/or guardian(s).
Attached is the 2024 Student Residential Address and Other Information Collection Notice for parents (pdf).
Mrs Tanya Daley
Principal
This week, our College hosted visiting students and teachers from Higashi Handa High School. Thank you to Mrs Vanessa Gray, Mr Dale Hastings and Mrs Jessica Hulbert for organising the visit and host families. Below is a report by Mrs Gray.
Higashi Handa High School Visit
It was a privilege and honour to host 10 students and two teachers from our sister city, Handa, Japan, over the past week. The cultural exchange was a resounding success, and the bond between our communities has grown even stronger.
The warm welcome began with a quintessentially Australian barbecue at McInherney Park, where laughter and camaraderie set the tone for the days ahead. Our Japanese guests were pleased to meet and be welcomed by our esteemed town mayor.
Throughout their stay, the Japanese students enthusiastically embraced the local lifestyle, from patting cuddly koalas to painting rocks. Safety and awareness were also key aspects of their visit. Local lifeguards imparted essential knowledge about rips, tides, and swim safety in the Australian coastal environment. It was a valuable lesson that enriched their cultural exchange with practical insights into our way of life.
Of course, no Aussie experience is complete without a game of beach cricket, indulging in the irresistible delight of Tim Tams and savouring the sweetness of Caramello Koalas. These shared moments of joy and laughter further strengthened the bonds of friendship between our communities.
A heartfelt thank you goes to the Gleeson, Towey, Keogh, McDonnell, and McDonald families, whose extraordinary generosity opened their homes to our Japanese guests. Your warmth and hospitality showcased the true spirit of our Australian way of life and made this cultural exchange a memorable success.
As we bid farewell to our friends from Handa, let's cherish the memories created and look forward to fostering even deeper connections between our communities in the future.
Vanessa Gray
Japanese Teacher/Organiser
Elevate Study Seminar
Year 11 & Year 12 students have participated in study sessions run by Elevate Education. The high-impact seminars help students improve their study techniques, increase motivation, build confidence, and lift exam performance. Elevate’s study skills seminars are designed to achieve behavioural change amongst students. It isn’t enough for students to simply understand what they need to do in their studies.
Parents are invited to attend the FREE webinars hosted by Elevate Education. These webinars will show you, as parents, how to best support your child through school.
For more details, please visit their website: https://go.elevateeducation.com/auparentwebinars
NAPLAN 2024
Each year the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is undertaken by students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9. Students will participate in tests for writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy.
Our school will be participating in NAPLAN between Thursday, 14 March to Tuesday, 19 March 2024, and the following tests will occur on the dates indicated:
- Thursday 14 March – Writing
- Friday 15 March – Reading
- Monday 18 March – Conventions of Language
- Tuesday 19 March – Numeracy
Additionally, students who miss a NAPLAN test will sit a catch-up exam during the testing period from Wednesday 13 March until Monday 25 March 2024.
All students require a working set of wired headphones and a fully charged laptop for each test.
NAPLAN tests are just one part of our school learning assessment program, and questions are primarily based on knowledge, understanding and skills gained from the prior year of schooling.
Students and parents can access the public demonstration site https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN and the types of questions and tools available. Excessive preparation for NAPLAN is not required nor recommended.
Further information about NAPLAN is available on the NESA Website (https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/k-10/understanding-the-curriculum/naplan/parent-information).
If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact our NAPLAN Coordinators.
| Anne Marchment Leader of Curriculum |
Lisa Freeman Leader of Numeracy |
Sarah McLeod Literacy Coach |
Mr Ian Lutton
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
Spotlight on Student Diaries
At SJRC, our students' diaries are a vital tool for two reasons:
- Organisation: Students in Years 7 - 10 are asked to write up their subjects for the day each morning as part of the learning readiness routines in PC. As part of this, students interact with their Compass schedules each day, noting due dates and variations to routines. Students are then encouraged to record homework tasks and learning activities in their diaries next to each subject.
- Wellbeing: The student diary contains our school-wide wellbeing program based on the principles of Positive Education. Twice a week in PC, students complete a “Big 5 check-in” to assess their well-being across the domains of sleep, nutrition, hydration, exercise, and positive emotions. Students apply a rating out of five to each domain, allowing staff and peers to respond to any self-identified well-being concerns.
We encourage all parents to regularly check student diaries and to discuss organisation and wellbeing materials within the diary with their child.
eSafety
The Office of the eSafety Commissioner is a fantastic resource for parents of young people. Please click on the picture above to register for an upcoming free webinar hosted by the Council of Catholic Parents NSW/ACT and delivered by expert staff from the Office of the eSafety Commissioner.
The first webinar is on Tuesday, 26 March 2024, commencing at 8:00pm. To register visit: the eSafety website
Year 7 Positive Education Day
Today, our Year 7 students are enjoying their Positive Education or “Pos Ed” Day. Thank you to Mr Adrian Ryan, Leaders of Student Wellbeing (Wellbeing Programs) and our Student Wellbeing Team for organising and running this valuable and fun day for our Year 7s. Watch out for student reports and more information in our next newsletter.
Council of Catholic Schools Parents
Fourth Week of Lent
This Sunday is the 4th Sunday of Lent - Laetare Sunday
We warmly invite our College community to join our St Agnes’ Catholic Parish community as our school hosts the music ministry for the 5:00 pm Mass on Sunday. Encounter Youth will be on after Mass from 6:00pm to 8:00pm as you will see in a promotion below.
This Sunday is known as Laetare Sunday for the first word of the Entrance Antiphon Laetare (rejoice); it is a Sunday of joy. The priest will typically wear rose (pink) vestments as a sign of joy because we are on the downhill run through Lent in our journey towards the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This Sunday, we hear the Gospel that sits at the very heart of Christianity. It is a passage from the Gospel according to John (3:14-21). This contains the famous John 3:16 quote - “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
This is the absolute core of Christianity. We worship the Creator of heaven and heart, who loves us so much that God gives us Jesus’ life so that we may have salvation. So as a parent’s love for their child is unconditional, God’s love for us is also unconditional, universal, forgiving, and merciful. During the last few weeks of Lent, the challenge for us is to try to live out these qualities as we love others including those who we might see as enemies.
The other key point in this Gospel is that Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus. This man was a Pharisee. A member of the Jewish leading class. It was the Pharisees who are often pitted against Jesus throughout the Gospels. Here, he is very representative of us - seeking to understand the theological implications for the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Nicodemus’ mind was ‘half-opened’ to what Jesus was saying - and in the end, that was enough for the love of God through Jesus to enter this man’s heart.
Perhaps all we need is a heart and mind half-opened to the possibility of accepting Jesus’ teachings, and that will be enough for us. So this Lent, may we all try to be opened to the possibility of accepting Jesus into our hearts.
Project Compassion
Memory's story - Malawi
As the eldest child in a low-income farming family, Memory faced many barriers to her education. But with the support of Caritas Australia and CADECOM, she enrolled in a technical school and became the first female carpenter in her village.
This is Memory's story.....
With your support, Caritas Australia has assisted communities worldwide through income generation, water and sanitation, food security, education and disaster risk reduction programs.
Please give generously to Caritas Australia. Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow for all future generations.
You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes and online by visiting caritas.org.au/project-compassion or by calling 1800 024 413.
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
The Parish news bulletin is produced weekly. In this week's bulletin:
- Jesus' divine mission
- Project Compassion
- Adult Formation
- Young Adults Retreat
The latest edition is available via this link. Parish News Bulletin
Assistant Principal- Mission
Donations wanted:
One of our Year 12 Visual Art students is wanting your help with donations of the following items for her Major body of Work.
Old toys, bits of broken technology, keys, makeup containers, unwanted jewellery or beads, lids from drinks, bits of metal, fabric, unwanted clothing, etc.
Please drop off the items at the college office if you can assist.
CALLING ALL STUDENTS & STAFF!
Calling all Students and Staff! It is time to dive into creativity with the 2024 A4Art Prize! The 2024 A4Art Prize aims to spark the flames of creativity among young artists and staff across our six St Agnes’ Parish Schools. Unleash your skills on a single A4 sheet of paper and stand a chance to win over $5000 in prizes!
Selected artworks from the finalists will be showcased in a travelling exhibition, offering emerging artists a unique platform to display their talents. Once again, you will have the chance to cast your vote for your favourite pieces during the exhibition at our school.
Boasting a prize pool exceeding $5000, thanks to the support of both new sponsors like Port Macquarie Surf School, Twotriplefour, and Antonjia Gros Studios, and returning sponsors such as Seed Creative, Drawn to Art, The Wauchope Creative Hub, Innervision Surf and Skate, Sunset Gallery, Alice in Paperland, Wildnets, and Stoney Aqua Park, this competition presents an exciting opportunity for artists to win some fantastic prizes.
The A4ART Prize is now officially open! For more details on categories, prizes, and terms and conditions, visit artsnest.com.au.
Let your imagination run wild – it's time to turn a simple piece of paper into a masterpiece!
Madge appreciates the awesomeness of A4Art, especially how it allows a different way for students and staff to tell their story.
What do you think Madge’s story might say?
Visit www.artsnest.com.au for competition details.
You will need to download the flyer to access the clickable links.
Website - artsnest.com.auFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/creativeartsnest
Alumni - Where are you now?
St Joseph's Regional has a rich tradition spanning over 50 years, so if you're a parent, grandparent, community member, interested bystander, and a former student, we would love to hear from you. Our alumni program showcases former students with a story about their post-school journey. Our ex-students can be tradespeople, business owners, entrepreneurs, professionals, and more. They can be dealing with people on a daily basis, researching in a scientific lab, caring for our vulnerable members of society, keeping a protective eye on our communities, writing the stories that make up our history, caring for our environment etc.
If you would like to have YOUR story showcased in our fortnightly newsletter, broadcast across our social media channels, used in information sessions for our students, and spotlighted in our Senior Study, then please send the following to pmreg-careers@lism.catholic.edu.au:
- a bullet point list of what you have done since leaving Regional (please include the dates)
- a short statement outlining advice that you would give to your younger self, knowing what you know now, and
- an appropriate photo of yourself, possibly depicting you undertaking the work that you conduct as part of your career.
Mrs Leanne Tinsey
Careers Pathway
St Joseph's Regional College has a number of different social media platforms. We would love for you to follow us.
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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
Website - https://pmreglism.libguides.com/home
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sjrcexchange
Instagram - Instagram - @sjrcexchange
Careers
Website - https://www.sjrcportcareers.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sjrcportcareers
Teacher Librarian
| Term 1 Week 7 Lunch Specials | |
| Monday | Spaghetti Bolognese |
| Tuesday | Chicken Schnitzel Salad Bowls |
| Wednesday | Tandoori Chicken Wrap |
| Thursday | Bacon & Cheese Potato's |
| Friday | Chicken Parmi Burger |
| Term 1 Week 8 Lunch Specials | |
| Monday | Vegetarian Ravioli |
| Tuesday | Caesar Wrap |
| Wednesday | Hawaiian Chicken Burger |
| Thursday | Mexican Chicken Quesadilla's |
| Friday | Cheese or Meatlovers Pizza |
The Canteen opens at 8.00 am every school day.
Breeanna Stone
Food Services Manager
The Encounter Youth Program is on every Sunday at the Youth Hub. Come along and join in the fun.
Week 6: Treat Yourself 10th March 2024
What’s your go-to comfort food when you’re bored, sad, or something bad happens?
Why do we reach for food, T.V, social media, games, and other comforts when we experience uncomfortable emotions?
Come to Encounter this week have some fun, eat some food, and find out why.
- - Sunday 10th March
- - 6:00 - 8:00pm @ The Youth Hub
- - $5 for dinner
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RIDE THE WAVE FESTIVAL: TUESDAY 2 - SATURDAY 6 APRIL 2024
Now established as an annual event on Birpai Country in Port Macquarie Ride the Wave Festival held across five jam-packed days raises funds to support local charity Make a Difference PMQ in advocating for the disadvantaged and marginalised members of the community.
In this way, all money raised goes back to the local community.
The hugely popular Ride the Wave festival will deliver a day of music, culture, and community at the Ride The Sound Wave event which sold-out in 2023, as well as three days of surf with a Ride the Wave Junior Pro Surf competition that is run in conjunction with Surfing NSW and sells out nearly as soon as entries are opened, and a Ride The Wave skate competition – all staged at the beautiful Town Beach site. Ticket Sales and Info
MOTHER'S DAY CLASSIC
The Mother's Day Classic has become a significant initiative and has raised over $44 million to the National Breast Cancer Foundation since 1998. Each Mother’s Day, thousands of Australians unite to walk, celebrate, and raise awareness and funds to support ongoing research.
In 2024, we’re extending our support to also contribute to the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation. Breast and ovarian cancer take the lives of 12 women each day. This year, we’re putting our foot down to raise vital funds for research, and work towards a day where no lives are taken from cancer.
We extend a warm invitation to have your school participate in the Mother's Day Classic event in Port Macquarie on Sunday 12 May.
When you sign up in February, you will receive up to two FREE Child registrations (age 12 and under) with every paying Adult or Concession registration transaction.
