St Joseph's Catholic High School Albion Park
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16 Macquarie St
Albion Park NSW 2527
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Email: info@sjchsdow.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 02 4230 8500

From the Principal and Assistant Principal

NAIDOC Week 2025 – Celebrating Culture and Connection

Last week, our school community came together in a vibrant and moving celebration of NAIDOC Week 2025, honouring this year’s theme: “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy ” The event was a powerful reminder of the richness of First Nations cultures and the importance of truth-telling, respect, and unity.

We were honoured to welcome Community Elders to our school, whose presence brought wisdom, warmth and deep connection to Country. Aunty Jo and Sam led the celebrations alongside Ms Smith, guiding students and staff through a series of cultural experiences that were both joyful and deeply respectful.

One of the highlights was the playing of the didgeridoo, its ancient sounds echoing through the school grounds and stirring a collective sense of reverence. Our students also had the special opportunity to dance with our sister school, Corpus Christi, sharing in movement and story that celebrated connection and culture.

These moments not only honoured the First Nations peoples of this land, but also strengthened the bonds within our school community. It was a wonderful acknowledgment of the continuing contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – past, present, and emerging.

We thank all who attended and participated, especially our Elders and cultural leaders, for generously sharing their stories, language and spirit. May the fire continue to burn brightly in our hearts and classrooms.

Remembering Fr David Catterall – A Life of Faith and Service

This past week, members of our school and wider diocesan community gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of Fr David Catterall, whose funeral was held with deep reverence, gratitude, and love.

Fr David was a man of quiet strength, deep faith, and unwavering commitment to the service of others. His pastoral care, joyful spirit, and heartfelt preaching touched the lives of many — students, families, colleagues, and parishioners alike. He lived out his vocation with humility and generosity, always making time for a conversation, a prayer, or a word of encouragement.

The funeral Mass was a moving tribute to a life dedicated to God and God's people. Surrounded by fellow clergy, family, friends, and members of the Catholic community, Fr David was honoured through prayer, song, and shared memories. His presence was felt deeply — not only in the rituals, but in the silence, the tears, and the gentle smiles of those who knew him.

As a school, we give thanks for the time we shared with Fr David. Fr David was a student of St Joseph’s and he had a special place in his heart for our community. It was a privilege to have his wake in the school hall he grew up in. Thank you to all the staff who prepared for this event. It was greatly appreciated. On the day the Year 9 and 10 SRC were outstanding ambassadors of our school guiding visitors to the Hall - thankyou. We hold his family and brother priests in our prayers and commend his soul to the loving embrace of God.

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen.

Year 12 Trial Exams – A Time for Focus and Growth

Over the next two weeks, our Year 12 students will undertake their Trial HSC Examinations, marking a significant milestone in their academic journey. These exams are not only a key part of their assessment but also a valuable opportunity to reflect on their progress and prepare for the final HSC exams later in the year.

We wish each student clarity of thought, the ability to study effectively, and a sense of calm and confidence as they navigate this important time.

The trials provide a realistic insight into the HSC experience and help students identify the areas where further focus and improvement are needed. It's important to remember that the effort you invest after the trials can make a significant difference to your final results.

How you respond to your results matters. This is a time to build resilience, take feedback on board, and persevere with purpose. True growth often comes through challenge, and this is an opportunity to strengthen both your academic skills and your personal character.

We encourage all students to reach out to their PALS, mentors or subject teachers if they need support, clarification, or encouragement. You are not alone in this journey — we are here to walk alongside you.

Best wishes to all our Year 12 students — you’ve got this!

Hospitality Students Shine at SSO Appreciation Lunch

Last week, our talented Hospitality students hosted a beautiful three-course meal to show appreciation for our incredible School Support Officers (SSOs) — and what a celebration it was!

Held in the school hall, the event was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the students’ culinary skills and hospitality service. The SSOs were treated to a delicious, restaurant-quality meal that they truly raved about, with many commenting on the exceptional food presentation, warm service, and the joy of being so thoughtfully spoiled.

A special thank you goes to Mr Milburn and Mrs Rogers, who supported and guided the students in preparing and serving the meal. The highlight of the afternoon? An amazing selection of desserts that left everyone smiling and satisfied!

Events like this not only recognise the dedication of our support staff but also give our Hospitality students invaluable hands-on experience in catering, service, and teamwork. Well done to everyone involved on a job exceptionally well done!

Amanda Wilson
Principal

Fortnightly Focus Initiative – Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L)

As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting growth in student learning and wellbeing through the Positive Behaviour for Learning (PB4L) framework, we are introducing a new school-wide initiative: the Fortnightly Focus. 

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Each fortnight, we will highlight two specific areas of focus:

  • A Learning Focus that promotes positive academic behaviours in the classroom, moving beyond our Ready to Learn principles.
  • A Uniform Focus that supports pride in appearance and a respectful learning environment. There are no changes to the existing Uniform and Grooming policy.

These focus areas will be communicated to families before the end of the preceding week via Compass notifications, email, and school social media platforms. This allows students and families to be informed and prepared for the focus areas of the fortnight ahead.

In classrooms, teachers will actively recognise and reward students who demonstrate the targeted Learning Focus through positive reinforcement and merits. This recognition aims to encourage persistence, academic responsibility, and classroom engagement. There will also be a school-wide focus on teaching these important learner attributes to our students.

At the same time, students who are not meeting the Uniform Focus expectations will receive reminders and corrections during lunchtime playground withdrawals. Repeated issues will lead to an after-school community service being assigned. The points incurred for uniform focus area breaches will reset each fortnight. It is our hope that students comply with the uniform and grooming policy in full so that our teachers can direct their energy into teaching and learning.

Thank you for your continued support in working together to help our students thrive.

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Semester 1 Attendance Update

At a recent assembly, I shared our Semester 1 attendance data with students. While we began Term 1 with a strong start, the onset of winter, and with it, the usual cold and flu season, has understandably impacted student attendance. We acknowledge that when students are unwell, staying home is the right decision for their wellbeing and the health of others. However, some patterns of absenteeism can and should be addressed.

During the final week of Term 2, a rainfall event affected the Illawarra region. Our data shows that many students were absent on Wednesday and continued to stay home on Thursday and Friday to close out Term 2. While the school always monitors conditions closely and will communicate with families if access to Albion Park or the safety of our school site is compromised, this particular event did not meet that threshold. In this instance, the expectation remained that students should attend school as usual.

It’s important to reflect on the long-term impact of absenteeism. While occasional illness is unavoidable, sporadic absences, even just a day here and there, quickly add up. Over time, this can lead to significant disruptions in learning.

To put it into perspective: Semester 1 included approximately 100 days of schooling. Each day a student is absent equals around five hours of lost learning.

As shown in the graph below, students in Year 9 and Year 12 have recorded an average absence rate of 12%. This equates to around 12 days and 60 hours of lost learning, well outside our school’s target of 95% attendance.

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Thank you for your continued commitment to helping your child ‘Arrive to Thrive’ every day.

Christopher Shelton
Assistant Principal

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