Kindness

Pope Francis says this about Kindness:

Kindness is an important aspect of the culture of dialogue, and dialogue is indispensable to live in peace, to live as brothers and sisters, who do not always agree – this is normal – but who nevertheless speak to each other, listen to each other and try to understand each other and to move toward one another.

In reality, sometimes it is hard to be kind to those who are not kind to us. Our young people struggle with the concept at times because as a society we talk about it - but often from a personal gain point of view  - how do you expect your young person to be kind? Do they know what it feels like when someone is kind to them?  How is it modelled in the world at the moment with what they see in American Politics? The conflicts around the world - what is the ‘big picture’ of being kind? It could be thought of the old phrase ‘what would Jesus do?” From this, comes the actions we show each other - the help and the support. Therefore in the spirit of kindness, I would ask you to contribute to Vinnie's winter appeal and give what you can.

This week we have had the Careers market in the gym with providers from employers around the Illawarra. Thank you to Mrs Kennedy for all her organisation. It was a wonderful opportunity for the students, not only from Joeys but attended by Corpus Christi and Holy Spirit.

This will be followed up next week with our Senior Subject Information night. It is an expectation for parents to be involved in your child’s education, so please attend with your child. Students need parental support for their choices but it should be a discussion rather than being dictated to a particular study pattern - our young people need to be passionate and engaged in their education as you never know where it can lead!

When parents enrol at SJCHS I have spoken about the need for alignment between the values of home and school. It is important for the ongoing alignment to make the education and support we offer for students to be worthwhile. It is a choice to be here and a privilege. This also gives responsibility to students to abide by the conditions of the school - to do the right thing - to engage in their education and be the best person they can be. If your child is not interested in engaging in their education, maybe SJCHS is not the place for them. There are educational options that they may be better suited to.

Making a stand against Racism

On Monday, we officially acknowledged Reconciliation Week at our school assembly. I would like to thank the staff and students who presented this assembly.At our school, we believe in fostering a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment where every student feels valued and accepted.

Racism, in any form, will not be tolerated within our school community. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that every individual, regardless of their race or ethnicity, is treated with dignity and respect. Our school is a diverse and vibrant community, enriched by the unique backgrounds and cultures of our students and staff. This diversity is one of our strengths, and we must celebrate and protect it.

We have implemented several measures to combat racism and promote inclusivity:

• Education and Awareness: Through our curriculum, assemblies, and special programs, we educate our students about the harmful effects of racism and the importance of embracing diversity. Understanding and empathy are the first steps toward change.
• Support Systems: We have dedicated support systems in place, including counsellors and our Pastoral and Learning Support leaders to help any student who may be experiencing racism or discrimination. Our doors are always open for anyone who needs to talk or seek assistance.
• Consequences: Our school has clear consequences for racist behaviour. We take every report of racism seriously and ensure appropriate actions are taken to address and rectify the situation.
• Inclusive Activities: We encourage participation in activities and events that promote cultural understanding and appreciation. These activities help build bridges and foster a sense of unity among our students.

I urge all members of our school community to stand up against racism. If you witness or experience any form of discrimination, please report it immediately through your PALS or a teacher. We need to ensure our school environment is one where every student and staff member feels safe, respected, and valued.

Well done to all students in Years 7-10 who have now completed their formal assessment weeks for Semester 1.

Teachers are now busy marking and grading tasks and starting to finalise the details to generate reports for Semester 1. Students are reminded that the work for Semester 1 is not done. As we always say, everything students do counts so tasks being done in class can still count towards the finalisation of grades for Semester 1. Students who missed any of the exams will be required to catch up next week.

Yr 11 2025 Subject Selection

A reminder that the Information Night for Year 11 2025 Subject Selection is taking place next Tuesday 11th June.

The night starts at 5pm with all our Leaders of Learning, Stage 6 Teachers and select Year 11 students available to talk to students and their families about the subjects being offered. Mrs Kennedy, our Careers/Transition and pathways coordinator, will also be available to answer any questions you may have. All Year 10 students and at least one representative from their family are expected to attend the event. Further details have been shared via Compass.

To support students with the subject selection process the Subject Selection Handbook has been finalised and distributed today. Students and parents/carers will receive a digital copy via Compass. Year 10 students will also receive a copy via their school email account. It is highly recommended that students and their parents/carers take time to review the information in the handbook to familiarise themselves with the NESA and school requirements for subject selection as well as review the range of subjects being offered to students for Year 11 2025.

Minimum Standards Tests

The next round of minimum standards test for Year 10 and Year 11 students will be coming up in Weeks 9 and 10. More details will be provided in coming weeks but students are expected to be at school on these days top complete these tests.

On Friday the 24th of May, the Youth Ministry Leaders participated in a spirituality retreat at the Jamberoo Abbey. The retreat was facilitated by the experienced Mother Hilda, a Benedictine Nun. The retreat day was developed to spiritually form the YMLs and also form their understanding of Scripture, as this is the core theme for Term 2. In reflecting on a scripture passage of Jesus helping a leper, students explored their role in upholding our school motto to “Act Justly” within our school community. Mother Hilda imparted three life lessons for the students to live by:

• Read scripture 
• Spend at least 10 minutes talking to God each day
• Actively see others as we are all made in the image of God

The YMLs experienced time for solitude in the beautiful Abbey for a conversation with God. For many, this was a time for expressing gratitude and others asked God for help in the trials they face. Mother Hilda led students through a guided meditation where they encountered Jesus in a home. Jesus offered the students a bottle containing the gifts from the Holy Spirit. Some students selected the bottles of “loyalty”, “kindness” and “compassion”

Before leaving the retreat, the Youth Ministry Leaders expressed one word that surmised their experience with Mother Hilda. Some of the words from our Leaders were “refreshing”, “enlightening” and “comforting”. Matthew Shepherd, one of our Year 11 leaders greatest takeaway from the retreat was the key message that “No matter how much our lives change God will always love us”. Chloe Norris believed it was a great opportunity to stop in the busyness of our lives to reflect and sit with God.

It was a truly rewarding experience being present with the leaders as they were open to encountering God and the various activities run by Mother Hilda. These students were respectful, willing and thoughtful throughout the experience. I would like to thank each of the parents of the Youth Ministry Leaders for supporting their roles and also their spiritual formation.

TERM 2 2024

Week 7

• Tuesday 11th June - Year 11 2025 Subject Selection Information Evening

Week 9

• Tuesday 25th June - Year 9 2025 Subject Selection Information Evening

Week 10

• Tuesday 2nd July - Years 7-10 Parent Teacher Interviews via zoom

School Fees

Thank you to all the families that make such an effort to ensure that their fees are up to date. School fees are essential for the financial viability of Catholic schools. School principals have the responsibility of ensuring school fees are collected. 

If you are experiencing financial difficulties and are unable to make payments, please contact the finance office or email accounts@sjchsdow.catholic.edu.au

Year 9 & 10 Food Technology

Year 9 & 10 Food Technology students made Chicken dumplings with a soy, lemon and ginger dipping sauce, garnished with curly shallots. It was a good lesson in preparation, and heat control.

Year 11 Cookery (Hospitality)

This week Year 11 Cookery (Hospitality) class prepare themselves a yummy lunch of chicken schnitzel, sauteed potatoes and a salad of sauteed broccoli, zucchini, capsicum and shallots.

Mackillop Class

The Mackillop students had lots of fun in their non-baked cooking lesson this week. They had lots of fun making various wraps including chicken and ham and the hit for the day was the egg curry wraps!

Get behind the SJCHS Push Up Challenge!

Below is a link to the SJCHS Community Page. You will be able to see the fundraising totals as well as which teams are taking the lead on pushing for mental health!

Each Friday at Lunch 1 in the COLA we will have a push up challenge with students and teachers. Come along, join the fun and push for better mental health!

https://www.thepushupchallenge.com.au/fundraiser/stjosephscatholichighschoolalbionpark

*Please note that fundraising is OPTIONAL

Want to know more about this challenge? Watch the video here

School Athletics Carnival

The annual school athletics carnival was held on May 23rd, at Croome Road Sporting Complex. The event saw enthusiastic participation from students across all grades, with a variety of track and field events including sprints, relays, long jump, and shot put.

The day began with a grand opening ceremony featuring a loud array of house chants and the revealing of our new Joey Mascot, each donning their distinctive house colours, banners, drums igniting a spirited rivalry for the day ahead. It was great to see Warrigal step up their chants this year and take the win. The competition was fierce, but camaraderie and sportsmanship prevailed throughout. Notable performances included Aiden Santana’s 100m sprint as well as Sam Shepherd taking out the 400m event.

The relay races, always a highlight, did not disappoint. This year we had some tough junior competition with many races being hard to split for points. We also introduced a mascot race which featured our newly appointed animal mascots for each house.

Off the track, the event was a testament to community spirit. We thank all parents who attended on the day to support their children and also assisted with some time keeping duties.

The athletics carnival was a resounding success, fostering school unity, showcasing talent, and inspiring a love for sports among students. Age champions and overall house winner to come.

The Diocesan Carnival will be held in Term 3, Week 2, Friday 2nd August. A bus will be provided for students to travel to and from Campbelltown.

Diocesan Cross Country

Despite the early morning, we were greeted with perfect weather for the Diocesan Cross Country on the 27th of May 2024.  The course was dry but had a few tricky sections that required the runners to manoeuvre through sand and some mud. Hot out of the gates we had Bianca de Swardt come home with silver in the 17s girls.

Spurred by this, the rest of the team gave it everything they could in their races - Jacob Stoneham ran so fast he lost a shoe! (While this may have cost him a 6th place and a spot in the CCC, he did a great job of retrieving it and coming home in a very respectable 8th).

The team showed a lot of spirit and gave it their all their races. They demonstrated teamwork by cheering their peers down the finish line. Overall, a fantastic day, with the team displaying sportspersonship and resilience as they tackled the challenging course.

A big thank you to our team, Ms Sneddon for her help on the day and managing the checkpoint, and to Ms Power for her organisation.

Boys Netball - NSW School Cup

Last week, three boys' teams from Joey's participated in the NSW Schools Netball Gala Day held in Berkeley. The teams included a Junior team, an Intermediate A team, and an Intermediate B team. For many of the players, it was their first experience playing netball, but their enthusiasm and eagerness were evident as they arrived at the courts.

Junior A Team: Jaxon Moran, Aiden Farraway, Blake knight, Lucas Fernandez, Noah sutherland, Jacob Vilella, Madela Mboro, Matthew McCabe

Inter A Team: Thomas Hoffman, Sol Liu, Flynn Whalan, Archie Fauls, Jacob Ong, Brady Tomasi, Nash Burling, Sam Shepherd, Jack Rabay, Aiden Smith

Inter B Team: Alexander Sipka, Austin Lewis, Rhys Braley, Caiden Judd, Christian Onea, Elliot Klein, Noah Jewiss, Travis McCabe, Mondre Gella

The Juniors and Inter B had a few wins and losses throughout the day and enjoyed their first Netball Gala Day.

The highlight of the day was the performance of the Inter A team. They displayed outstanding skill and teamwork, winning all their round matches and advancing to the much-anticipated final against The Illawarra Grammar School (TIGS). The final started at a fast pace, with both teams eager to take control. Joey's boys found it challenging to cope with the pressure initially, lots of stepping and turn-overs and were trailing 4-1 at halftime.

During the half-time break, the team regrouped and discussed how they could turn the game around. They knew the focus needed to be on slowing down and maximising every intercept. Nash Burling and Flynn Whaling were instrumental in defence, securing crucial intercepts. The team maintained their composure and effectively moved the ball down the court. Thomas Wellend and Samuel Shepherd capitalised on these efforts, with Samuel Shepherd scoring a decisive goal in the last minute, securing a dramatic 7-6 WIN for Joey’s. The sideline erupted and the boys were over the moon with securing the WIN! All the players need to be commended for their sportsmanship, teamwork and effort in every game. We all left the Gala Day on the biggest high and the boys can't wait to play again in August.

N.B: They also came together before each game in a typical team huddle. Instead of chanting they all prayed the 'Our Father’ as a team. It was wonderful to see.

Huge thanks goes to Steph Power for organising this event for the students and to Chloe Norris and Kiana Rieck for Coaching and Umpiring the Junior team and Mrs Robinson for coaching the Inter B Team. Your time and effort was greatly appreciated.

High Performance Camp

Last week, we took a group of 31 students to Sydney Academy of Sport in Narrabeen. This camp was to help students in their sporting pathways develop mental resilience, leadership skills as well as partake in a range of training activities.

Each day consisted of a range of training sessions including Gym, Pool and cardio sessions. The students were very excited to have access to the NSW Institute of Sport gym which is also shared with the Manly Sea Eagles NRL team. Our pool sessions focussed on students using swimming as recovery but also being a good cross-training opportunity for people who are injured, have had a high training load and post-competition movement. Our cardio sessions were team based sessions which focussed on building cardiovascular endurance and team spirit. Students participated in both boxing, timed runs and hill sprints. The students even got to meet Australian Olympic Runner Melinda Gainsford-Taylor which was pretty special for them. Melinda is still the 200m Australian Record holder.

One of the most memorable moments was the Recovery sessions. Students learnt about the benefits of proper recovery, particularly in high load weeks of training or around competition. Students experienced contrast showers (hot and cold) and then moved into cold water immersion. It was great to see the kids take on the challenge and try a new experience.

We also had a range of education sessions that focussed on stepping up as a leader within a team and being a role model for other students. Students were challenged to step into leadership roles for activities and explore what a being a ‘good’ leader truly means. They also learnt about social media as an athlete and key tips for keeping themselves safe as well as strategies to deal with negative criticism. Our last focus was using a growth mindset for their lives. We looked at what it means to have a fixed mindset and how to improve this so they are constantly improving and challenging themselves.

The camp was a great success and I hope the students had fun and learnt lots.

Sport Value Awards

The Term 1 Sport Value Awards recognise students in our sporting teams who show respect, courage and service. These students have been nominated by their coaches over sporting events from this term.

Respect:

The respect awards go to students who show exemplary behaviour towards their coach, team members and also students and staff from other schools. These students are committed to their training and making the team better as well as being a role model of what it means to be a Joey’s student.

• Junior - Maya Huetter
• Intermediate - Katelyn Blissett
• Senior - Kiana Rieck

Courage:

The courage awards go to students who show leadership in training, who continually get out of their comfort zone, students who work hard to improve and students who are willing to try new things.  

• Junior - Lucas Glover
• Intermediate - Te Ari’i Aperau-Bob
• Senior - Bella Sacco

Service:

The service awards go to students who assist others who are in need. This may be coaching other students, assisting their coach with equipment and training as well as serving the school by refereeing or coaching duties at sporting events.

• Junior - Tehani Aperau-Bob
• Intermediate - Kayleigh Alaban
• Senior - Mackenzie Best

U16's & U18's Girls Rugby 7s Nominations

We are seeking nominations for girls to trial for our Rugby 7s Teams.

Prior experience is not necessary but is recommended. You will be given proper contact/tackle training to prepare you for the game.

Please note you MUST be 13 or older to nominate

https://forms.gle/UGrQ1EicwkAAUagY6

Nominations close: Friday 14th June

This event will take place on 29th August.

Sporting Success

Congratulations to Emily who has been selected in the NSW All Schools AFL team. We wish her all the best up on the Gold Coast at Nationals in Week 1 next term.

Lucinda is one of our students who is currently in our Athlete program. She is excelling and is currently playing in the NPL1 for Illawarra Stingrays. She has a bright future ahead of her and we are glad to have her in our program working to improve herself physically and mentally as an athlete.

Congratulations to Sam and Max who have both been selected into the NSWCCC Boys Hockey team. They have been away this week trialling for the NSW All Schools team.

Congratulations to Bianca who placed 2nd at the Diocesan Cross COuntry Carnival and has since progressed and competed at the NSWCCC carnival where she placed 8th. She will now move on to compete at NSW All Schools next term in Week 1. We wish you all the best of luck Bianca.

Tyler recently competed in the Crossfit SemiFinals against the top 200 qualifying 14-15 year olds around the world. Tyler started in the Crossfit Open and completed his first series of workouts and ranked 167th in the world. From that he had qualified in the top 25% of the world to compete in the quarterfinals. After completing the 4 workouts, Tyler ranked 136th in the world which put him in the top 200 who qualified for the Semi's. In the semis he completed 4 workouts and ranked 3rd in Australia and 95th in the world.

If your child has had sporting success outside of school we want to hear about it. 

Please email details to Miss Power (powers01@dow.catholic.edu.au)

St Joseph’s Sports Instagram Page 

For all things sports follow social media page @SJCHSSPORTS

ANNUAL APPRENTICESHIP SUPPORT MORNING

Students from three schools gathered at St Joseph's for the third Annual Apprenticeship Support Morning this week. Thirteen employers were onsite to discuss apprenticeship opportunities with the students. The feedback from the event was fantastic, with many students gaining valuable contact details, hints on resumes and job interviews and building an awareness of upcoming dates for applications. Employers included:

• BlueScope
• Endeavour Energy
• IRT
• Defence Force Recruitment
• Jamberoo Action Park
• ZEAL (formerly HVTC)

A big thank you goes to Jennifer Watts from RIEP for her involvement in securing the employers for the event.

NOTRE DAME INFORMATION SESSION

Year 12 students intending to apply to university had the opportunity to become aware of courses offered at this university located close to Central Railway Station, Sydney.

In particular, Nursing and Teaching degrees were discussed. Consequently, this information should be considered alongside scholarship opportunities. An example of which is the CEO Step Up into Teaching Scholarships Program.

UPCOMING EVENTS

June 26th

UOW Year 10 Discovery Day and WORK READINESS PROGRAM

Year 10 students who wish to go to the UOW Campus have been identified and parents will be given information about costing and logistics next week.

Those students keen to remain at school for the Work Readiness Program will be given more notice next week. If your child has not filled in the EOI about these events please ask them to do so asap.

CAREER SPOTLIGHT FROM A STUDENT IN YEAR 10 

Software Engineer

Software engineering is the process of designing, creating, testing, and maintaining software applications and systems using programming languages and development tools to solve problems and fulfil user needs. Skills that you have that could be highly beneficial for this course include problem-solving to identify issues and come up with effective solutions. If you pay a lot of attention to detail this could be the perfect job for you, as precision is key in coding and troubleshooting.

Effective Communication helps you engage with team members and stakeholders. This then promotes Teamwork and Collaboration with cross-functional teams. UNSW offers a three-year, full-time degree that will give you the skills to shape the computer systems required by individuals and organisations of tomorrow called Bachelor of Science (Computer Science). Around 92% of people employed as Software Engineers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. There are currently 55,200 employed in Australia and only 16% of them are females. If you are interested in STEM, design, and technology, software engineering may be the job for you.

For more information or to book an appointment, please contact:

Sue Kennedy

Transition and Pathways Specialist/ Career Adviser

kennedys01@dow.catholic.edu.au

• The Premier's Reading Challenge - 26/2/24 -23/8/24
• National Reconciliation Week - 27/5/24 - 3/6/2024
• NAIDOC Week - 7/7/24 - 14/7/24
• The Paris Olympics which begins on 26/7/24
• CBCA Book Week "Reading is Magic" - 17- 23 August 2024

Being a part of the Saint Joseph's School vocal ensemble has a myriad of benefits that extend beyond musical proficiency. The Saint Joseph's School vocal ensemble fosters a sense of community and camaraderie, offering a supportive environment where individuals collaborate towards a shared artistic goal.

Through regular rehearsals (every Wednesday Week B Lunchtime in Music room E01) and performances, students develop discipline, time management skills, and resilience in overcoming challenges. Vocal groups also provide a platform for self-expression, allowing students to explore their creativity and build confidence in their abilities. Not to mention singing is also loads of fun!

All levels of vocal ability and every year group from 7-12 are invited to attend. 

Happy Singing!

Mrs Minns 

Students from the Environment Club baked environment-themed sweets which Environment Club students helped sell in the COLA to mark the start of Environment Week at Joey's.

The cakes and biscuits were so popular that there were long queues waiting to pay. We raised around $340 which will be donated to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund to help provide money to help people affected by disasters such as bushfires and floods. Scientists predict that global warming will mean an increase in the frequency and severity of disasters such as floods and fires.

Apart from selling cupcakes and donating to help people affected by these disasters, we can all do our bit by reducing our reliance on fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas.

This week our Joey's students celebrated Reconciliation Week. On Monday, we participated in the 2024 Reconciliation Walk from Warilla Surf Club to Reddall Park.

This year's event featured a significant moment as Thomas Hofman and Aiden Smith exchanged flags with a local Elder, symbolising our ongoing commitment to unity and reconciliation.

At school, we set up our Sea of Hands display in the memorial garden outside the library. The display was of the Aboriginal flag.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this event a meaningful step towards fostering mutual respect and understanding within our community.

Also, a big thank you to Riley Hofman and the Commbank team for providing refreshments to our students attending.

In June 2024, hundreds of thousands of Australians will participate in The Push-Up Challenge to improve their physical and mental fitness, have fun and raise funds to make a difference to mental health in Australia. This year, the St Joseph's Community will join this challenge with our two student ambassadors being Tyler Morris and Thomas Hofman.

SJCHS will again celebrate Book Week this year between 17th-23rd August 2024. The theme is "Reading is Magic". So put on your thinking hats and start thinking of ideas for this year's dress up!

SJCHS is also participating in the Premier's Reading Challenge for 2024, so don't forget to log all the books you are reading into the PRC online. Your English teacher will have your username and passwords.

The Library Staff

SCHOOL BACK PACKS ARE BACK IN STOCK!

If you require a new back pack, please visit the Uniform Shop.

UNIFORM REMINDER

A reminder to all students regarding your Blazers. Please ensure your Name is clearly labelled on your blazer incase you misplace it. There have been blazers handed in with no name and it is important that they have a name on them so they can be returned to the student.

NORMAL TRADING HOURS

Monday 11:30 am - 4:30pm

Thursday 8:30am - 1:30pm

ORDERING UNIFORMS

Online Ordering - click link below

ONLINE ORDERING

By Appointment - click link below

BY APPOINTMENT

This is an opportunity for you and your supervisor to experience a variety of driving conditions including night time driving to increase safe driver behaviour.

All learner drivers must have 40 or more log book hours.

Bookings are essential click on the link to register. https://forms.office.com/r/kBM2Vdzgr8