CSDA REGIONAL DEBATING - YEAR 11
On Tuesday 22 October 2019, four Year 11 students, Mayha Podolski, Dominic Plattner, Ethan Westlake and Zachary Johnson, attended the Catholic Schools Debating Association Regional Competition held at St Mary’s Star of the Sea College. The students participated in three debates on the day, one prepared and two impromptu, focusing on issues relating to ‘Success and failure’, ‘Pill testing at music festivals’ and ‘Foreign ownership and Investment’. Our team finished equal third with Corpus Christi Catholic High School, behind St Mary’s and Edmund Rice College.
This competition gave our students the opportunity to develop their debating skills as well as mix with like-minded students from across the region. Each of our students spoke extremely well and proudly represented our school.
CONGRATULATIONS TO MR ZACHARY ELLUL
Congratulations to super teacher Zachary Ellul on being awarded the Teachers' Guild of NSW Award for Teachers in their Early Years of Teaching - Secondary.
Zac is a qualified PDHPE teacher who has been teaching primarily in the Science faculty since joining St Joseph's in 2017. Since then he has also taken on the role of Sports Coordinator, taught RE and PDHPE as well as Science, run STEM day activities, attended camps and retreats and built excellent relationships with staff and students. Zac was recognised for his outstanding contribution when he took out the Early Career Teacher award at the inaugral Lighting the Way - Faith and Learning Awards - Early Career Teacher Award, so his nomination for the Teacher's Guild of NSW award by his colleagues indicated that he has not slowed down at all!
After submitting a written application and attending an interview, Zac placed on a shortlist and was invited to attend the Annual Dinner and Presentation last Friday evening at Concord Golf Club. When Zac was announced as the winner, the Science crew went wild!
Congratulations Zac on your nomination and success. The Diocese of Wollongong and indeed all of your students are lucky to have you!