Term 2 Week 2 - 8th May 2020

Next week we begin the process of students returning to the College by welcoming back our Senior students. From Week 4, Junior year groups will be additionally attending school one day per week. Although it is the expectation that students return to school, the College will continue to use the Blended Learning model during this time. This will ensure learning is accessible to all, especially to some students whose family members may remain vulnerable. Courses will continue to be uploaded to the online learning platform on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Notwithstanding, I am sure that many students are feeling very happy about being reunited with their friends and teachers. I am hopeful that we will all return to a fulltime face-to-face program as soon feasibly possible.

A reminder all students are to return to Term 2 in full Winter Uniform.

Social Distancing and The College Office

While we don’t require students to socially distance themselves at the College, we are obliged to maintain this expectation for adults. For this reason, I would ask that parents attend the College Office for relatively urgent matters only and ask parents to be mindful of using other forms of communication wherever possible.

If you do need to collect your child in an emergency or for an appointment, you are most welcome to call the College Office and arrangements will be made for your child to meet you outside the office. 

There is currently a limit of three people in the office foyer at any one time.

How SJRC Teacher Assistants are Keeping Connected with Students. 

This week I would like to acknowledge the great work being done by Mrs Janine Handley and her team of Teacher Assistants during this time. How privileged we are to have such a dedicated group of professionals to give support to our students. 

Our Teacher Assistants have continued to work hard during Blended Learning, ensuring the students they work with at school under normal circumstances, are able to access their online learning.

The team are supporting and staying connected with students; enhancing and assisting their learning, by:

• Supporting organisation skills via their Google Classrooms and producing a day planner for each student.
• Joining students in zoom meetings to clarify points made by their teachers.
• Keeping in touch with families; ensuring the support meets the needs not only of the student but is appropriate for the family circumstances.
• Assisting via email. It's wonderful to see students using technology to reach out and seek help or clarification with a problem.
• Regular contact with all our Indigenous students via phone, zoom and email.
• Keeping connected by sending out a weekly email to all our students on a Personalised Plan offering any assistance that may be required.

In essence, our committed teacher assistants are not only doing whatever they can to assist the students with their online learning but more importantly, caring for their wellbeing by simply staying connected to them.

I would like to acknowledge and thank the St Joseph's Regional College Teacher Assistants team for all they are doing to assist and support our students in this uncertain time.

Rhonda Worthing, Nikki Williams, Deb Nicholson, Carly Taylor, Braden Saggers, Carol Avery, Nathan Thurlow, Kylie Joseph, Jeremy Bate, Leanne Hunter, Ebonie Green and Jason Berry.

Federal Government’s COVIDSafe App

As we return to College, I would like to refer you to the COVIDSafe app, which has been developed to minimise further spread of COVID-19 through early notification of possible exposure to the virus. St Joseph’s Regional College has recognised that the app could play a vital role of slowing down the pace of a potential outbreak. As such the Leadership Team is encouraging all families and staff to download the app. The app can be downloaded by clicking here.

Cancellation/Postponement of College Events

For the remainder of Term 2, there will be no extra-curricular activities, no assemblies, masses, year group meetings, parent functions or information evenings, representative sport or excursions.

Please find a list of events that were scheduled for this term.

12th- 15th May	Years 7 and 9 NAPLAN
12th May	Mid North Coast Careers Market
13th-17th May	Year 12 Retreat
19th May	Science and Engineering Challenge
5th June	Year 7 Jesse Manibusan Incursion
15th June	Year 8 Bell Shakespeare Incursion
16-17th June	Year 8 and 9 Retreat Days
18th June	Year 9 Metal Excursion to Newman Senior Technical College
18-21st June	Street Retreat Brisbane
25th June	Year 7 and Year 10 Poetry in Action Incursion
29th June-2nd July	Year 9 Canberra Excursion
29th June-2nd July	Year 11 Hospitality Work Placement
1st July	Year 12 Newcastle University schools visit
1st July	Year 11 Mass

Happy Mothers Day

Finally, I would like to wish all our mothers in the St Joseph’s Regional community a very happy Mother’s Day. Indeed, we are all very appreciative of the role mothers have played in guiding us through this very difficult time.

I said a Mother's Day prayer for you
to thank the Lord above
for blessing me with a lifetime
of your tenderhearted love.
I thanked God for the caring
you've shown me through the years,
for the closeness we've enjoyed
in time of laughter and of tears.

And so, I thank you from the heart
for all you've done for me
and I bless the Lord for giving me
the best mother there could be!

- Author Unknown

God Bless

Jim Dempsey

Principal

Blended/Online Learning Survey

Thank you for your ongoing support. This has been a time of significant change for families, as students have moved to a blended/online learning environment, learning from home. To ensure that the College continues to meet the learning needs of our students and families we would appreciate your feedback.

A survey for each Year group has been emailed to parents. We appreciate your cooperation in completing the survey by Monday, 11th May 2020.

A further survey focusing on your child's wellbeing will be emailed to families as well.

Students have also received a survey via email. I ask that parents please encourage your child to complete this if they have not already done so.

Welcome Back BBQ

Uniform Reminder

A reminder to our Senior Students that they are required to wear their full Winter Uniform for their return on Monday.

All Students who have taken the opportunity to experiment with "ISO haircuts and colours" need to ensure they are able to follow the College Code of Conduct upon their return to school.

Return to School Weeks 3 & 4

Please refer to the below flyer with the planned return to school dates for all year groups. Further information regarding Week 5 and beyond will be distributed as soon as possible.

Tanya Daley
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care and Staff Support

Change of Date for Trial HSC Exams

Each year, our College orders Trial HSC exam papers from the Catholic Secondary Schools Association Exam Division. This year, in response to the current situation in education, the CSSA has delayed the Trial Exams for two weeks, thus giving students some valuable time to catch up or consolidate any work that they may need more help with after their online experience.

This year, the Trial HSC Exams will now commence on Monday, 17th August 2020 and will conclude with the final exams on Monday, 31st August 2020.

Year 12 students should ensure that they adjust their planning to accommodate these new dates. Individual teachers will be working to adjust teaching and revision programmes to allow for best use of learning time in Term 3.

College Reports

Years 12 will be issued with a Mid-HSC Course report. Reports are now available to view via our Parent Portal. If you haven’t already registered for access to the parent portal, please see the instructions via the following link.

http://www.pmreglism.catholic.edu.au/parent-portal/

Mr Tim McCosker
Assistant Principal - Curriculum & Administration

FREE Online HSC Subject Sessions

The University of Wollongong is offering 30 FREE subject-specific online sessions designed to help students improve their knowledge and understanding of key subject content and discover what HSC exam markers and assessors are looking for. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive tips and strategies directly from education professionals with years of experience.

Students must REGISTER for each online session. These webinars are anticipated to go for an hour, commencing at 7:30 pm on their respective dates. Webinars are currently running with the final session (An English Writing Module) on 1st July. Visit this link for more information and to register for relevant courses.

https://www.uow.edu.au/study/events/hsc-support-series/

Assessment Planners

All Assessment Planners for Years 7-12 are now available for students to view on Moodle. Both students and parents are able to access the planners through our College website, under the Parents tab - http://www.pmreglism.catholic.edu.au/assessment-exam-timetables/, and also via the link in the side menu of the College newsletter.

It is important that students check their planners to see when each task is due and start on each assignment as soon as possible. If you know in advance that you will be absent from school when a task is due then you should contact me as soon as possible at the College.

A further reminder that if a student misses an assessment task they need to contact the College and see me at school at 8.45am the very first day they arrive back at school to complete the task.

Ian Lutton
Leader of Curriculum

The enrolment process has commenced for our Year 7 2021 cohort. All students wishing to attend our College must complete a 2021 Enrolment Application Form.

Cancellation of Enrolment Information & College Tour

The planned Enrolment Information Night and College Tours that were scheduled to take place for St Joseph's Regional College on May 4 and McKillop College on May 5, are, unfortunately, unable to go ahead this year. However, we do plan to give families an opportunity to visit the College and tour our facilities later in the year.

Enrolment Interviews

We are currently planning to commence the enrolment interviews, possibly via ZOOM, and will communicate the plan as it unfolds depending on social distancing restrictions. We hope to commence interviews in mid to late May and will continue into Term 3. Parents will be contacted by the College Office.

Enrolment Packs

We encourage all parents of Year 6 students wishing to attend the College in 2021 to collect an Enrolment Application Pack which must be completed and returned to the College Office. 

Places will fill quickly so it is imperative that you return packs as soon as possible. Please note: we can not move forward with your Enrolment Application until we receive all completed Enrolment paperwork.

It is important that the instructions enclosed in the packs are read and carefully followed. Please supply photocopies only of the required supporting documentation.

Please return completed applications to the College Office if possible, alternatively, applications can be mailed to the College or scanned to pmreg-enrolments@lism.catholic.edu.au

Our College Office is open between the hours of 8.30am-3.30pm. We look forward to receiving your application.

We thank you for your patience and understanding during this difficult time.  As new information is coming to hand, our College community is being informed. Please find below a link to the latest Parent Correspondence relating to COVID-19.

Word of the week:

Stagger or Staggering

Meaning: Arrange events or hours so they do not occur at the same time.

The school will start to stagger or commence staggering the return of students.

Are you able to help?

One of our HSC Visual Art students is in need of old Barbie dolls for her Body of Work. If you have any old dolls lying around that you are happy to part with, please drop them off at the College Office. 

The St Agnes' Uniform store will be resuming trade from 1.00pm, Monday, 11th May with revised hours of operation.

The store will be open Monday to Friday from 1.00pm - 5.00pm.

Online ordering has also resumed with a click and collect and delivery available. Please visit our webpage for online orders - https://stagnesparish.org.au/st-agnes-uniform-store/

St Agnes’ Catholic Parish has been supporting the community for more than 130 years. With COVID-19 we are with you now more than ever. No matter what life’s challenges are, we are with you for life.

You can contact us on 6583 1024.