From the Principal and Assistant Principal
On Tuesday, 11 February, we marked the beginning of the 2025 school year with our Opening Liturgy and HSC High Achievers Presentation—two significant events that set a positive and inspiring tone for the year ahead.
During our Opening Liturgy, Deacon Lawrie reflected on the importance of being a good neighbour, drawing from the parable of the Good Samaritan to reinforce the values of compassion, respect and service to others. We also welcomed our new teaching staff to the community with a lantern as they can let their light inspire our students.
In our HSC High Achievers Presentation, we celebrated the outstanding achievements of the Class of 2024, acknowledging both the cohort's collective success and exceptional individual performances. A highlight of the event was the formal announcement of Jessica Stojcevska as our Dux of 2024.
We are pleased to share a portion of Jessica’s speech with you—a truly insightful and inspiring reflection on her journey and the dedication required to achieve academic excellence.
If you told me I’d be standing here a year ago, I would have laughed. I could have only dreamed of this moment. However, standing here did not occur on the basis of luck, it came with hard work and perseverance, as school didn't always come easy to me, just read any primary school report:
“Jessica distracts others and is easily distracted”.
However, I’d set a large goal for my HSC journey of growth and determination alongside hardship and anxiety as the HSC is like climbing a mountain: steep and sometimes exhausting, but the view from the top is worth it. As my partner Matt quoted regularly “short-term stress leads to long-term success”. Although the HSC is not always easy, there are ways to reduce stress and attain success.
First, organisation is your best friend. I liked to organise my notes, desk and device, creating a more organised mind to retain information. Use whatever suits you: schedules, countdowns, desktop applications like Notion, folders or pretty colours. Simultaneously, you’ll discover study methods that work for you. Also, don’t listen to Tik Toks saying you can’t get a high ATAR without certain study methods, they’re inaccurate, I’d know.
When studying, I took regular breaks and downtime. I suggest the Pomodoro method, it’s crucial for refreshment and super helpful when having high personal expectations. During your breaks, it’s important to stimulate your mind by going outdoors, exercising or conversing with others.
Take some life lessons from the HSC or large changes in your life. Personally, I discovered the importance of perseverance through challenges and balancing it for my mental health.
Through balance, I tried harnessing my anxiety to not always hold high expectations for myself and to continue even when it’s tiring. Slowly, I learnt to healthily outgrow my comfort zone and prioritise relaxation.
Another piece of advice is when selecting senior subjects, ensure you enjoy them or they’re prerequisites for future studies. I wouldn’t recommend choosing them because you think they are going to scale well, you don't always need demanding subjects to get a high ATAR if you pursue what you love with determination.
Finally, utilise support. Your teachers will be happy to provide feedback, emails, study time and explain in more suited ways, take advantage of these opportunities as they are beneficial. Your family and friends are also crucial for assistance and providing motivation, and I could not present this speech without acknowledging support systems at school and externally for their encouragement and guidance.
Year 7 2026/2027 Enrolment – School Tours & Information Evening
We’re enrolling now for 2026 and 2027! Applications are fee-free and can be made online. If your child is due to start Year 7 next year or the year after, the best time to make your application is in Term 1 this year.
Learn more about our school and the enrolment process here: http://www.sjchsdow.catholic.edu.au/enrolment/
Clubs and Co-Curricular Opportunities at Joeys
At Joeys, we offer a diverse range of lunchtime activities designed to engage students in creative, social, and sporting pursuits—all in fully supervised environments.
Lunchtime Activities
- Games Club – Daily at lunch, back of the Library
- Art Room, Music, and Drama Spaces – Open Tuesday & Thursday at lunch
- Makerspace – Open daily (unless otherwise noted on the door)
- Library – Open every day for quiet study, reading, or group work
- Writing Club – Friday at lunch (check Compass notices for venue)
- Sport Trials & Training – Various sessions; check Compass notices for details
Additionally, students can participate in Environment Club, SRC, and Science Club, which hold meetings at various times throughout the term. Keep an eye on Compass Newsfeed for updates.
Playground and Activity Areas
To ensure a safe and structured lunchtime environment, our playground spaces are designated by year groups:
- Years 7 & 8 – Netball Courts
- Year 9 – COLA
- Year 10 – Passive Area
- Years 11 & 12 – Front of School
- Basketball Courts & Oval – Open daily at lunchtime for all students
At Joeys, we strive to provide a wide variety of experiences for students during lunch, along with supervised activity areas.
To support a positive lunchtime experience, students should eat their lunch before heading to an activity area, unless they have made prior arrangements with a supervising teacher.
If your child is finding it difficult to connect with peers at this stage of the term, please reach out to the PALS team for guidance and support in helping them engage with their peers.