It has been a washout month with lots of cancellations and postponements of representative sporting events. Unfortunately the Boys and Girls Diocesan Touch football were cancelled and the NSW All Schools Triathlon Championships postponed. Hopefully the Diocesan Swimming Championships will proceed as planned this Friday 18th March and the Junior Soccer Championships on Friday April 1. We are also very much looking forward to our St Joseph’s Annual Cross Country Carnival next Tuesday 22nd March. 

Congratulations and Good Luck

• Grace Pomery and Tayissa Buchanan (Year 11) competed in the NSW Junior Athletics Championships in Sydney. Competing in a full field against some of the best Under 18 year old female athletes in NSW, Grace put in an outstanding performance to run a strong and consistent race to record a PB, collect the Bronze medal for the event and achieve a National Qualifying time to compete at the upcoming Australian Athletic Championships. Grace has committed to some hard training between now and then and is determined to lower her PB yet again.
• In the U17 age group, Tayissa produced a personal best performance in the 400m to finish 3rd. She also ran very close to her PB in the 800m to bring home the silver medal. Tayissa has also qualified for the National Championships. We wish both Tayissa and Grace the best of luck as they proudly represent both St Joseph’s and the State at the upcoming National Championships.  

• Alex Tololeska (Year 9) has been selected to represent the Diocese of Wollongong at the NSWCCC Touch Championships at Nelson Bay.
• Ethan Aleckson (Year 9) is representing St Joey’s at the Australian Interschools Mountain Biking Championships at Thredbo. This is Ethan’s chance as one of the young upcoming riders of the future to test his skills against some of the best riders in the country. Go for Gold Ethan!
• Good luck to our team of swimmers competing at the Diocesan Swimming Championships. 

Congratulations to Declan Bone of Year 9, who has been awarded the Surf Lifesaving Illawarra Branch Junior Lifesaver of the Year (an award which his sister, Halle of Year 12 won in 2019). He will attend a three day camp in April which focuses on self-leadership, socialisation, teamwork, surf lifesaving and self-awareness. He will also undergo an interview as a finalist for the NSW Junior Lifesaver of the Year, which will be announced at the end of the camp.  

Halle is also attending the camp as part of the Youth Opportunity Makers Workshop, which is run at the same time. This workshop explores the idea that Surf Lifesaving is more than just about the club level and focuses on small team leadership, developing their social network with Surf Lifesaving, pathways and opportunities within and awareness of those outside Surf Lifesaving.

Upcoming Events

St Joseph’s Cross Country Carnival

The St Joseph’s Annual Cross Country Carnival is being held at the Kembla Joggers Running Park at West Dapto on Tuesday 22nd March. It is a full school community event. The carnival is compulsory for all students in Years 7-12. Please be advised that the school office will be closed on this day. Students who have medical certificates will be allocated as officials. Students have formed teams and will participate in a tabloid of events including inflatables! Prizes will be awarded and the aim of the day is for maximum participation and enjoyment. Teams are encouraged to get into the spirit of the day by dressing up in fancy dress costumes. Judging for the best dressed teams will take place after the St Joseph's Day Liturgy at the start of the carnival. 

All students are required to complete this Google Form to assist with the organisation of the event. 

Students are reminded to bring something to sit on (e.g. tarp, towel, chair), sun protection and insect repellant.

Parents are most welcome to attend. 

Mrs Michelle Garbutt

Representative Sports Coordinator