SJRC News in Brief: Term 3 Week 5 - 23rd August 2024
SAPSS Music Ensembles success at Queensland Catholic Schools Music Festival!
Last weekend, our students joined MacKillop College students and travelled to the QLD Catholic Music Festival, where they achieved outstanding results all round. Congratulations to all students who participated and to our teachers and tutors, Sarah Butler, Emily Young, Michelle Barn, Frank Johnston, Mark Spence, Chris Trotman and Cocurricular trainee Callum Pender-Buchan, for their hard work preparing and organising our students to attend this event.
I commend to you the following report written by, Rob Denham - Excursion Lead Teacher & Leader of Co Curricular Music - Mackillop College, and thank Rob for his overall organisation of the event.
61 students from St Joseph’s Regional College and MacKillop College participated under the St Agnes Parish Secondary Schools banner in the Queensland Catholic Schools Music Festival at Villanova College Brisbane across the weekend of 16th - 18th August.
Spearheaded by the exceptional musical leadership of Sarah Butler, Mark Spence and Chris Trotman the SAPSS concert band, jazz band, drumlines and senior percussion ensemble all performed at the festival. In addition, the concert and jazz bands performed a short but well-received concert at St Joseph’s Primary School Tweed Heads en route to the festival on Friday 16th.
Arriving in Brisbane early in the evening on Friday provided students with an opportunity to attend the Queensland Conservatorium of Music Concerto Festival staged at ABC Brisbane (Southbank) in the rehearsal studio for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra. This amazing concert provided students with an insight into classical music performance at tertiary level and provided access to a live music scenario that many had never experienced before. The concert featured a range of music styles with soloists accompanied by a full symphony orchestra comprised of students from the conservatorium of music - what an experience!
The schedule was packed on Saturday, with junior and senior drumlines performing at the festival in the morning, followed by the jazz band and percussion ensemble in the afternoon/ evening. Among these performances, concert band members visited the Queensland Conservatorium of Music at Southbank. They sat in on several ensemble rehearsals, including woodwind, brass, and percussion. This was a unique behind-the-scenes experience, allowing students to get a feel for what it is like to study ensemble music at the Conservatorium. In addition, students visited the main concert hall and witnessed the bump-in process for an upcoming Puccini Opera to be staged at the conservatorium. Here, they gained insight into music courses available for study at the university and how to access more information.
The concert band performed at the festival on Sunday morning and there was an opportunity to enjoy some other school rock bands perform on the outdoor stage before making our way back down the highway to Port Macquarie.
Whilst the trip moved at a frenetic pace, it provided students with amazing musical experiences. It proved that the musical talents and skills of students within our St Agnes Parish Secondary Schools are up there with the best that Queensland Catholic Education has to offer.
Results at the festival…
Results at the festival…
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- Drumline A division - St Agnes' Parish Secondary Schools - Port Macquarie Vanguard - GOLD AWARD
- Drumline B division - GOLD AWARD
- Jazz Band 1A(1) - St Agnes' Parish Secondary Schools Jazz Band - GOLD AWARD
+ Special Recognition of Excellence Awards to Samuel Duff (Drums) & Dominic Matheson (Alto Sax) - Percussion Ensemble 1B(3) - St Agnes Parish Secondary Schools - Senior Percussion Ensemble - GOLD AWARD
+ Special Recognition of Excellence Awards to Liam Delandemare (MacKillop-Drumset) - Concert Band 1B(4) - St Agnes Parish Secondary Schools - Concert Band - SILVER AWARD
Thank you to Emily Young, Michelle Barn, Callum Pender-Buchan, Frank Johnston, Sarah Butler and Mark Spence for the support you provided our students in attending this event. Also, a special mention to Chris Trotman who has been directing the jazz band in rehearsal but was unable to attend and much gratitude to Rob Denham who led this excursion.
Rob Denham
Excursion Lead Teacher & Leader of Co Curricular Music - Mackillop College
Year 12 Award Sponsorship Opportunity
I invite family and friends of St Joseph's Regional College to become a sponsor of our Year 12 Major Awards.
Payment for sponsorship may be made through the CompassTix platform via the following link: Year 12 Major Award Sponsorship. I kindly ask that if you are considering sponsoring, that we receive your support by Friday, 30th August 2024.
Principal
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:
- The Jubilee Prayer and reflection
- A reflection on the Eucharist
- Absent from the table
- Thinking about becoming Catholic?
- Ecumenical Dialogue
- The Parish Pastoral Council
- Music & Media Ministries
The latest edition is available via this link Parish News Bulletin
Assistant Principal- Mission
Parent-Teacher Interviews - Years 7-12
Monday, 26th August 2024 4:00pm- 7:00pm
Parent-teacher interviews are an important opportunity for parents to discuss the progress of their sons/daughters with teachers and to help formulate strategies to assist their children in their educational journey.
- As many teachers have a full programme of interviews through the night, I would ask that parents respect the 5-minute time allocation for interviews (if an extended discussion is needed, a separate time should be booked through the College office to see the teacher).
- Also, I would ask that parents adhere to the allocated time slots – if a teacher appears to be “free” it may be the only break they have all night
How to book a Parent-Teacher Interview:
All interviews are to be booked via the Compass App.
Further information regarding the evening and the link to book an interview will be sent out via the Compass App on Monday.
Bookings are open
and will close on Monday, 26th August at 10:00am
We look forward to meeting with you.
Year 9 2025 Electives
This week, families of Year 8 students received the below correspondence regarding the selection of elective subjects for Year 9 2025. A reminder that students must register their choices by 5:00pm Friday, 30th August, if they wish their priorities to be considered.
Ian Lutton
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
Busways encourages schools to remind high school students and parents about the importance of road rule refreshers and driving around buses.
With nearly 1,350 buses operating across the network in 2024, this week provides a perfect reminder about road safety in your community, particularly regarding bus safety and commonly misunderstood road rules.
Many people believe they understand road rules, but a refresher on commonly misunderstood rules can play a crucial role in reducing road accidents. Busways would like to remind motorists:
- buses are large, heavy vehicles that cannot stop quickly,
- to give way to buses,
- to slow down to 40km/h when bus lights flash, and
- to hold on while travelling and to remain seated until the bus stops.
Downloadable Road Safety Handbook
Test Your Skills - Road Awareness quiz
Jennifer Furney
Assistant Principal- Pastoral Care
ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: Matt Burke, who called Beechwood his home, graduated from St Joseph's Regional College in 2020, and from there proceeded to engage with a couple of very different programs of study :-
- 2021 - Forklift Certification Certificate
- 2022 - commenced a Bachelor of Game Design and Development at Macquarie University. (Awarded QTAC Regional and Remote Enterprise Scholarship).
- 2023 - Transferred to a Bachelor of Security Studies at Macquarie University. (Awarded Macquarie University Regional and Rural Equity Scholarship).
- 2024 - maintained a distinction WAM. Accepted into a Masters of Counter Terrorism starting in 2025.
In Matt's words "I enjoy security studies so much because not only does it follow real-world events like the Russian invasion of Ukraine and Israeli invasion of Gaza, it provides an understanding of both our own government's response, and also the responses of governments around the world whilst training us to join agencies such as the AFP, ASIO and ASIS. Security Studies is really relevant in today’s world and will only become increasingly so in the future. It also sounds pretty cool when you tell people you study counter-terrorism and national security."
To date, Matt's proudest moment was achieving a High Distinction in one of his assessments in the unit 'Security in the Indo-Pacific'.
Having the courage to change degrees has resulted in a more motivated and focused approach leading to greater academic success. Well done Matt!
#counterterrorism #SecurityStudies #aHSC4opportunity #wherearetheynow
| Term 3 Week 4 Lunch Specials $6.00 | |
| Monday | Vegetarian Nachos (GF) |
| Tuesday | Butter Chicken & Rice |
| Wednesday | Zucchini & Feta Fritters w/ Yoghurt Dressing |
| Thursday | Chicken Carbonara |
| Friday | Meatlovers OR Cheese Pizza |
The Canteen opens at 8.00 am every school day.
Breeanna Stone
Food Services Manager
Encounter Youth
Where: The Youth Hub
When: Every Friday from 5:30-7:30pm
What do we do: Dinner, games, and a great time
Who can come: You and your mates
Cost: $5 for dinner.
ENCOUNTER YOUTH - CANCEL
There is no Encounter Youth this Friday, the 23rd of August.
Many of our leaders will still be making their way back from the
SHINE Conference in Coffs Harbour.
See you next week!
Small Seeds Mighty Deeds - Friday, 30th August
Just like a tiny seed can grow into a mighty tree, our small faith can grow beyond measure and make a big impact.
We’ll discover how even the smallest acts of faith can transform our lives and the world!
Come and see how your faith can flourish and reach new heights at Encounter Youth.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Encounter Kick-on’s (Sunday’s after the 5pm Mass)
Encounter Kick-on’s is continuing in Term 3.
Each Sunday after the 5:00pm Youth Mass, at the Youth Hub, there will be a large group games and a supper for all who attend.
Zac Parnell
Youth Coordinator
St Agnes' Catholic Parish
49 Hay Street, Port Macquarie NSW 2444
T 02 6588 7444
E zac.parnell@stagnesparish.org.au
