Term 3 Week 10 - 25th September 2020

Principal Appointment - MacKillop College

This week Mrs Cath Eichmann was announced as the successful candidate for the MacKillop College Principal position. It is important to acknowledge the contribution Cath has made to the St Joseph’s Regional College community in her role as Assistant Principal over a thirteen-year period. Cath has been a significant leader at St Joseph’s Regional College and indeed our entire secondary educational endeavour in the Parish. On behalf of the St Joseph's Regional College community, we wish Cath all the very best in her new leadership position, knowing she will do an excellent job.

2020/2021 Student College Leaders

On Wednesday, we gathered as a College community to witness the inauguration of our new Student Leaders for 2021.

Our College candle represents the light of Jesus and the life and faith of our College. It assists in lighting the way for our journey through our school years and into adult life. It also represents the leadership shown by our past Year 12 students.

At the Ceremony of Light, Cameron Hunt and Sarah Stewart, our 2020 College Captains, passed on this symbol to our College Captains, symbolising a formal hand-over of the responsibilities and leadership of a Year 12 group. As one group graduates and departs the College, another steps up to fill the role.

Once again, congratulations. We look forward to working with these tremendous young adults in their leadership roles next year.

Year 12

The St Joseph's Regional College community also gathered to celebrate and acknowledge Year 12 2020, as they complete their secondary education. Yesterday morning, students along with Mr Frank Johnston, our Year 12 Leader of Pastoral Care, and Senior PC teachers participated in a Mass at the College. Year 12 families joined us via a live-stream link for the occasion. 

In the afternoon, we welcomed Fr Paul Gooley, Parish Priest - St Agnes' Parish and Mr Stephen Pares, Executive Coordinating Officer, Educating and Training - St Agnes' Parish, to our Year 12 Major Awards Ceremony. Thank you also to Lucy Westcott, our Dux of 2019, who addressed our College community via a pre-recorded video. Again, families were able to celebrate with us via the live-stream link. A special thank you to Mrs Sharon Green for accompanying Charlotte Schrader who sung the College song and National Anthem so beautifully and to Lachlan Wright and Rory Woods for reading the Acknowledgement of Country. To our College secretaries, thank you for your professional and dedicated assistance.

Thank you also to our newly appointed College Captains for 2021, Joseph Lewis and Ella Handley, who shone in their first official duty as they assisted with handing out awards.

I invite you to read my College address below:

A warm welcome to our special guests with us here today, Fr Paul Gooley and Mr Stephen Pares, thank you for your continued support of our students in both their academic and spiritual development. Welcome also to families and friends of our Year 12 students who are watching the ceremony via a live-stream link as we gather for this special occasion.

I sincerely thank our Dux of 2019, Lucy Westcott, who was acknowledged for her outstanding achievement of being Dux of the College in a separate presentation.

To our parents who are with us for the last time today, thank you for your loyalty and support of our wonderful College; and most particularly during our most recent challenging times.

On behalf of the College community, I would like to congratulate Year 12 for enriching St Joseph’s Regional College. As a group, you have lived out the quiet, wise and humble spirit of St Joseph, through your genuine sense of care for others. This you have done during this time of bushfires and Covid with much personal dignity and spirit. For this, I sincerely thank you.

Now as you gather here for your final assembly, I believe it is fitting to say that you have had a stabilising and ground influence on our College community as a whole. In this regard, I would like to pay special tribute to our elected Year 12 leaders:

To College Captains: Cameron Hunt and Sarah Stewart, we thank you for your great service and loyalty to our community.

To our Vice-Captains: Zac Roach and Ebony Williams thank you for your support and leadership.

To House Prefects:
Flinders House Prefects - Harry Amon and Tyla Lewis-Bain
Hastings House Prefects - Matthew Strumolo and Hannah Sanders
Innes House Prefects - Isaac Plunkett and Chelsea Beecroft
Macquarie House Prefects - Lachlan Eggert and Gabrielle Coles
Oxley House Prefects - Matthew Burke and Natasha Small
Wilson House Prefects - Will Dakin and Ella Ippaviz

Thank you also to our other Student Leadership Team members; Max Roods, Nathan Garrett, Thomas Merkus, Rosie Smallie, Annabelle Instrell, Tara Young and Caitlin Moore. You have all simply been tremendous over these past twelve months.

I can only say that Year 12 as a whole has been an exceptional group whose families should feel justifiably proud.

I would also like to extend a special thank you to key staff members who have been instrumental in Year 12s achievements as senior leaders.

Leader of Pastoral Care - Year 12, thank you for your stewardship and care, Mr Johnston along with all members of the Leadership Team and the Leader of Careers and University Transition and Pastoral Care teacher, Mrs Tinsey.

The Senior Pastoral Care teachers:  Mr Handley, Mrs Jensen, Ms O’Reilly, Mr Buckley, Ms Hyde, Mrs Tinsey, Mr West, Mr Toohey, Mrs Haydon, Ms Wallis, Mrs Freeman and Mrs Twomey. And let us not forget our House Coordinators who guided you in your junior years.

To all KLA Leaders and course teachers, thank you for your expertise, persistence and support, not only during Year 12’s senior years but throughout their entire time here at St Joseph’s Regional College. My thanks also to all Support staff for your generosity of spirit in assisting Year 12.

To Year 12 parents, thank you for entrusting your sons and daughters to our care, and guiding them through this most important part of their lives.

Year 12, this morning at your Graduation Mass, Fr Gooley spoke about your time here at St Joseph’s Regional College; he prayed that your time here has taught you how to live well. Not only how to survive academically, but also, your time here has taught you how to thank God, how to care for others, how to forgive and love others and how to give back to the community. He asked you to remember that the HSC and your graduation is a great thing, but there is something greater to strive for; happiness and contentment with just being the best you can be.

Finally, I hope that over the next few weeks, you will be able to approach your exams in a confident manner, so you are determined to demonstrate all that you have learnt over these past years. It is my hope after this past disrupted year that you will encounter all kinds of exciting things as you move beyond college life. But it remains a world awaiting your energy, your dedication and your generosity of heart.

May God bless you in your endeavours.

Major Award Recipients

Congratulations Major Award Recipients

First Place in Course Recipients 

Thank you to our very generous sponsors

Congratulations First Place Award Recipients

Academic Excellence Award

(East Coast Distributors - Street's Ice Cream and Expressway Spares)

Awarded to students who have ranked in the top two places or top 10% in four or more of their courses. Congratulations to:

Community Service Award

Community Service Award is awarded to those students who have volunteered their time for ten or more hours. Congratulations to the following students:

100% Attendance Award

100% Attendance Award is awarded to those students who have full daily attendance. Congratulations to the following students:

Photos of the Ceremony of Light, Year 12 Graduation Mass and Major Award Ceremony have been uploaded to our Facebook page.

Click on the following link:

2021 Trainees

Congratulations to the following students who were successful in gaining traineeships at St Joseph's Regional College in 2021 in the following faculties:

We wish all our students a safe and restful break and look forward to seeing them return on Tuesday 13th October.

God Bless

Mr Jim Dempsey
Principal

Term 4 Uniform

Just a reminder that students return to Term 4 in Summer uniform, i.e. ties are not required. Over the holidays please ensure growing girls have skirt hems lowered if necessary. Please ensure sports shoes are correct for next term, i.e. joggers. Skate shoes, canvas shoes and high top converse boots are not acceptable.

Holiday Homework

It has been a long term with many of our "normal" school activities put on hold or changed to meet COVID-19 restrictions. As a College, it has been amazing to witness the resilience and positivity of our students and staff. As we move into the warmer weather for the holidays, remember to tap into your Happiness Chemicals by doing some of these activities each day as your holiday homework.

Year 11 Changes to Patterns of Study

As Year 11 students draw to the end of their Year 11 Courses, they have the option of altering their pattern of study. In Year 11 they were required to study a minimum of 12 Units, whereas in Year 12 they are required to study a minimum of 10 Units of study.

I must stress here that students DO NOT HAVE TO alter their pattern of study, it is entirely optional for them. Having said that, at this time, many students do take the opportunity to reduce the number of units they are studying by discontinuing a subject, thus reducing their workload for Year 12. If students choose to do this, there is a form they need to complete which includes a parent signature.

I have addressed students about this matter and the change forms are now available to them. Please note also that students do not have to change their pattern of study at this time, they can discontinue a subject at any time through the HSC course, so they should not feel pressured into taking any action if they are unsure.

Should students or parents have any questions at all about changing their pattern of study, I would be only too happy to discuss the matter and assist where possible.

Year 12 Holiday Study Facilities

During the upcoming holidays, a number of staff members have volunteered to be available to supervise a study room for the use of our Year 12 students.

Study facilities will be available from 9.00am to 11.00am each day in the first week of the holidays, and from 9.00am to 1.00pm Tuesday to Friday of the second week of the holidays. I would encourage our Year 12 students to make use of this excellent opportunity to do some quiet study in the lead-up to HSC exams.

HSC Exams

HSC exams this year commence on Tuesday, October 20th. Year 12 students have all been issued with personalised HSC exam timetables, and it is essential that students familiarise themselves with their timetable, as no provision can be made for arriving late or missing an exam due to misreading their timetable.

Students have been reminded of the importance of obtaining a currently dated medical certificate to explain any absence from an exam.

This year, any student displaying flu-like symptoms should immediately get a Covid test, obtain appropriate documentation, and present for exams when they can present evidence of a negative result. Students who display flu-like symptoms in an examination room may be asked to leave the exam, and to follow the procedure outlined above. Students will be asked to sanitise their hands on entry to the exam room, and all desks and chairs will be cleaned between exams.

Tim McCosker
Assistant Principal - Curriculum & Administration

Ph: 5525 4100

Prayer through Music

Check out some of the great music featured this week on the SJRC Digital Ministry Blog https://sjrcministry.wixsite.com/digitalministry

Featured Music

Digital Ministry

We invite you to click on the links below to see the great resources on the SJRC Digital Ministry Blog and Instagram Page put together by our Youth Ministry Officers, Chloe Nash and Amelia Stennett.

SJRC Digital Ministry Blog https://sjrcministry.wixsite.com/digitalministry

SJRC Digital Ministry Instagram Page https://www.instagram.com/sjrcdigitalministry/

The Soul

Each week, the Catholic Schools Office, Lismore puts together 'The Soul' e-newsletter; packed full on great information and resources.

We invite you to click on the link below to check out this week's edition:

http://csolismore.schoolzineplus.com/_r/LYGE4/5f584c3aac278

Timo Gobius
Leader of Evangelisation

Fake News

In this digital age, fake news has become a problem, and it can be difficult knowing how to check facts and identify bias. Teacher librarians are well-placed to assist students to work through the process, and to locate and organise credible information from online sources. At St Joseph’s Regional College, we subscribe to a variety of credible sources contained in databases such as EBSCO, World Book Online and we encourage students in Years 10-12 to use online sources from the State Library of NSW. We are here to not only help students access reliable sources but then to think critically about the information they are consuming.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Library

Stay in touch with the wonderful work that our local library promotes.

Graduation

Meaning: The receiving or conferring of an academic degree or diploma.

We love catching up with past students and following their journeys since graduating from St Joseph's Regional College. The breadth and variety of career paths and life choices are amazing and make for such interesting reading. Our current students will find inspiration in these stories.

This week's alumni update is Georgie Arnott (nee Harris). Georgie has found that taking a leap and moving somewhere new in regional NSW has resulted in her finding wonderful opportunities in both her work and personal lives. Best wishes Georgie! #aHSC4opportunity #wherearetheynow

SJRC Literacy Enrichment Special Focus:
Where Can My Interest in Media and English Take Me?

The careers that fall under this banner and how to get there.

This week: The Australian Film and Television School (AFTRS)

What is AFTRS?

AFTRS finds, develops and supports Australian storytelling talent from early inspiration to the highest levels of professional practice, helping build the stories that connect, surprise and move us all.

The range of courses available at AFTRS may tempt those looking to study in a range of areas such as film, animation, radio, podcasting and writing.
And there are options to study full or part time, degree length courses and short courses.

Why AFTRS?

In an increasingly digitised and global world, professional training in content and production delivery is vital. AFTRS is an internationally recognised education and training institution open to students of all backgrounds.

Visit their website now for more information:

AFTRS https://www.aftrs.edu.au/

Wrapping up Term 3

Despite COVID restricting many face to face interactions and incursions, Literacy Enrichment activities at SJRC have been buoyed by success in the Annual Inter Collegiate Debating Competition held in Week 6 and the manner with which our students prepared and delivered.

Our library continues to remain a place of great vibrancy and creative possibilities. We have facilities to podcast and to engage in on line competitions such as the recent Kids Lit, and we have a huge range of books to keep the hungriest reading caterpillars among us quite sated!

Coming Up Term 4

Year 8 Writing Enrichment Day via zoom
Year 10 Writing Enrichment Day (tbc) via zoom

And One More Thing

Check out The Diary Files:

NSW State Library https://dxlab.sl.nsw.gov.au/diary-files/

A project launched by The State Library of NSW providing a platform for people everywhere to write about the changes wrought by COVID.

And have a look at the MNC Book of the Year Reading Challenge information attached before you go.

Happy holidays everyone!

Debating

Literacy Fun

SJRC Staff Quick Picks September 2020
Reading | Watching | Listening

Here's a glimpse at what SJRC staff are now reading/watching/listening

Name	Reading	Watching	Listening (podcasts and music
Karen Bale	American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins	The Split (ABC iView)	Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings Radio [Apple Music]; The Night Driver [podcast]
Julian Cole		Studio Ghibli Somebody Feed Phil - Netflix	James Herriot - All Creatures Great and Small (audiobook) Composer: Joe Hisaishi
Wendy Westman		Away on Netflix
Christine Harmer	Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg	Away on Netflix
Penny McKee	Storyteller -  The Roald Dahl Biography	The Social Dilemma Schitt’s Creek	Podcast: America, If You’re Listening.
Nikki Williams		Mother Father Son on ABC iView
Joanne Middleton		The Bureau on SBS Cardinal on SBS Away on Netflix
Lisa Mahon		The Feed - SBS on Demand
Karyn Mooney	Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman	Back in Time for Dinner (ABC iView)	Conversations - ABC Radio Podcast
Brigitte Rieger			Insights at the Edge Podcast hosted by Tami Simon
Leanne Tinsey	Phosphorescence - Julia Baird I Met a Monk - Rose Elliot Where the Crawdads Sing - Delia Owens	Any trashy reality TV LOL! Australian Story - last 2 weeks was on Beenham Valley Road Podcast material.	Blind Spot - The Road to 9/11 I Catch Killers - Gary Jubelin The Night Driver - Janine Vaughan

Today Mr Dempsey presented our Indigenous students, Lachlan Wright, Jessica Olsen, Aliya Morris-Boyd, Cara Dowse-Collyer & Rory Woods with their certificates and commemorative bags from the Catholic Schools Office. We are extremely proud of these young men and women and their achievements. All five have applied for university in the fields of medicine, teaching, midwifery & business and two have received early entry into physiotherapy and TAS teaching.

We wish them all the best in their future endeavours.

Mrs Carly Taylor
Indigenous Education Officer

Secondary Schools Division Country Region

A number of elite Greater Public Schools and Colleges competed in the NSW Country Secondary Regional Semi-Finals. The final result has seen St Joseph’s Regional College placing 2nd behind Central Coast Grammar. Our final results were Arin Parchure placing 3rd, Jack McManus 6th, Sam Kobelke 7th, Sea McManus 10th and Harry Freudenstein 15th. A somewhat challenging experience for the team playing their first online tournament, the majority of the team managed to excel under the pressure whilst Harry Freudenstein failed to master this new platform. Coach, Mr Battiston was pleased with the efforts of all cognitive athletes on the day.

We are now looking forward to the finals which are to be held in Term 4 in Sydney. A hopeful Harry is sweating on this not being online.

What is a Prayer Sponsor?

It is someone who prays for another person with a specific intention in mind and at specific times. When someone is sponsored they know that someone else is praying for them at a certain time.

The Scheme

Each year, we invite our Year 12 students who wish to be sponsored in prayer to submit their names and times of their HSC exams to us. We will then allocate their name to a sponsor who has volunteered to pray for a student at this time. Each sponsor will receive information with:

1. the name of the student
2. the prayer offered
3. the times of the student’s HSC exams

A strong aspect of our Catholic Faith is the efficacy of prayer (i.e. prayer does make a difference). At the same time the injection “Pray as if everything depended on God; work; as if everything depended on you” has its own wisdom.

We appeal to parents, family and friends of our Year 12 HSC class to make themselves available as a prayer sponsor. Knowing that someone is praying for you at a difficult time is a source of great strength and consolation.

If you are interested in being a Prayer Sponsor for one or several of our Year 12 students from a St Agnes' Parish Secondary School, please contact the College Office on 5525 4100 with your details.

You will receive the following information (student name, exam times and prayers to be offered) before the commencement of HSC exams on Tuesday, 20th October 2020.

Leaders of Evangelisation
St Agnes' Parish Secondary Schools

Weekly Lunch Specials

The Canteen opens at 8.00am every school day.

Volunteering in our Canteen

In the current climate, Canteen volunteers will not be required until further notice.

Thank you for your understanding and take care.

Ms Donna Hamlin
Food Services Manager

The St Agnes' Uniform Store is open from:

12.00pm - 5.00pm Monday to Friday

9.00am - 12.00pm on Saturday.