Last week I had the privilege of attending the Principal's retreat at the Hermitage in Mittagong. One of the points raised really made me consider my thoughts.         

It was talking about the ‘gift of indifference’. In the past I had always thought of indifference as a negative thing, it was not caring about people or things. That when we are indifferent we are not considerate to others.

The challenge of the concept of the ‘gift of indifference’ was really about knowing what matters, and what not to worry about. People who have the gift of indifference really have their lives in balance and are often moving towards goals at a faster rate than those around them as they keep the main game the main game and do not get as distracted by things that ultimately do not contribute positively to their lives.

If we actually keep to the teachings of Jesus we keep to the main game. In all aspects of our lives it can assist in reducing anxiety and help with personal growth. It is a really interesting concept to think about in our lives.

Last Tuesday I attended the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Year 12 student Mass with the Bishop. It was a wonderful occasion with students from around the diocese, a very moving celebration of students who are statistically above their peers in the completion of Year 12. The Bishop inspired these young people to continue to strive for life goals. 

Our Year 12 students have completed their trials and are now working to gain ‘one more mark’ in every section of their papers as it will make such a difference to their final results. It is imperative that they continue to study and attend all lessons as it is their HSC and they should be striving for their personal best in every course. It is never too late to improve. 

Congratulations to all staff and students who took part in the book week assembly - what a lovely celebration of the importance of reading! Thank you to our library staff for the organisation of this event. I hope you all enjoyed the photos on the socials of the event! 

Supporting your child to bounce back when results don’t go their
way. 

As parents, we all want to see our children succeed and reach their full potential. However, there will be times when their assessment results may not reflect the effort they’ve put in or the goals they’ve set for themselves. While this can be disappointing for both you and your child, it also provides a valuable opportunity to support their growth and resilience.

Our Year 12 students are currently receiving results from the recent Trial HSC Examinations. Whilst there are many areas for celebration, some students may be disappointed with their results. The window for bouncing back is open as students prepare for the HSC Examinations.

Here are some ways you can help your child navigate through this disappointing results:

Stay Positive and Encouraging: Your initial reaction can significantly influence how your child feels about their results. While it’s natural to feel disappointed, try to stay calm and focus on the positives. Highlight their efforts, improvements, and any areas where they performed well. Remind them that one assessment doesn’t define their overall abilities or potential. 

Open Up a Dialogue: Encourage your child to talk about their feelings regarding the results. Ask open-ended questions like, “How do you feel about your results?” or “What do you think you did well, and where do you think you could improve?” This will help them process their emotions and begin to think critically about what they can learn from the experience.

Focus on Growth, Not Just Marks: Help your child understand that assessments are just one measure of their progress. Discuss the importance of learning from mistakes and using them as a stepping stone for future improvement. Emphasise that growth and development are more important than a single grade or mark.

Set Realistic Goals Together: Work with your child to set achievable and realistic goals for future assessments. This might involve reviewing their studyhabits, time management, or seeking extra help in challenging subjects. Setting smaller, manageable goals can help them regain confidence and stay motivated.

Keep Communication Open with Teachers: Maintain regular communication with your child’s teachers to stay informed about their progress and any areas where they may need additional support. Teachers can provide valuable insights and work with you to develop strategies that will help your child succeed.

Remember, your support and understanding during these times can make a world of difference in how your child views challenges and setbacks. Together, we can help our students not only achieve academic success but also develop the resilience and determination they need for lifelong learning.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child’s education.

On Thursday 29 August the CEO held its inaugural VET awards for the diocese.

We had students nominated in the following categories:

Miah Williams - School Based Apprentice

Luke Kolts - Electrotechnology

Tyler Noone - Electrotechnology

Bella Sacco - Construction

Owen Micovski - Construction

Isaac Galea - Construction

Bella and Miah were successful in progressing through the interview stage and were awarded winners in their category.

Miah was awarded overall School Based Apprentice Student of the Year and Bella was awarded overall VET Student of the Year.

St Joseph's have featured in winning categories three years in a row. A big congratulations to the VET team and dedicated students.

Subject Selection 2025

The subject selection process for 2025 has all but finished. We are just finalising final lines and classes at the moment. Students in Years 8-10 will be advised of the electives that they have been placed in, in coming weeks.

Students in Year 10 considering distance education courses need to see the Curriculum Office (for NESA HSC courses) or Mrs Kennedy (for TAFE/EVET courses) to begin the application process for these courses. This needs to be actioned ASAP as these courses can fill quickly.

Year 11 Exams

Year 11 end of year exams are scheduled for Weeks 9 and 10 of this term. Students received the exam schedule via email last week. During the exam block students will have flexible attendance meaning they only need to be at school when they have an exam. The only exception to this is the two assemblies in Week 10 (CASA assembly and Year 12 final assembly) ALL students are required to be at school for these events. The library will be available throughout the day for private study if required.

Students in Year 10 doing pathways subjects will attend school as normal. They will be given one day of flexible attendance to prepare for their exam - this process will be explained to them prior to the exams commencing.

Year 12 Intensive Sessions

Year 12 are now in the process of finishing their course work and transitioning into study and preparation for their final HSC exams. Attendance at school is a key component of this process. Not only does it support individual students, it also supports the class teacher and other students in the class as working collaboratively at this time is more effective.

To further support students we will again be running HSC Intensive sessions in Week 8. This will see students do half day blocks for each of their subjects focussing on improving areas of concern from the Trial HSC exams as well as reinforcing key concepts from courses and supporting ongoing revision and study. Teachers have put a lot of work into these sessions, in some cases booking guest speakers/presenters and creating a range of suitable resources. Again we are emphasising the need for all students to attend these sessions. This also includes Year 11 students who do pathways but will be on flexible attendance for their end of year exams - the intensive schedule sessions have been planned around these exams.

Year 11 Cookery

Year 11 completed their practical assessment task; Thai Beef Salad. 

A range of competencies were met and most of the dishes were completed to a high standard.

Students in junior classes will be given an opportunity to participate in novel science experiments and activities as the Science Faculty celebrates Science Week 2024.

This year's theme is 'Species Survival - More than just sustainability', and classes will be looking at how we can improve our stewardship of the natural world and sustain our shared biosphere for future generations.

Year 7 students will also be going on an excursion to Symbio Wildlife Park as part of our Science Week celebrations.

Transport STEMC Day 

Students interested in STEMC (Science, Maths, Engineering,Technology and Construction) careers had the opportunity to go to Sydney Olympic Park for a careers expo that was hands-on and provided many great activities and information about career paths at NSW Transport. Students learnt about job opportunities and were amazed by the activities.

Upcoming UAC Webinar - Year 12 to Uni

Upcoming deadlines and application strategies for success

11 September
Join us to learn the essential tips, tricks and critical deadlines for your UAC application for uni entry in 2025. Watch all UAC's live Webinars on the UAC Digital YouTube channel.                           

University of Wollongong - Maths & Physics Support Sessions                                          

Sessions on Thursday throughout Term 3
Calling all Illawarra Year 11 and 12 students studying Mathematics Advanced, Extension 1, Extension 2 and/or Physics!
UOW’s Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences are hosting FREE weekly drop-in sessions to assist you with your HSC studies on the Wollongong campus.                                                 

University of Sydney - Scholarships at Sydney Webinar                                                     

18 September
At the University of Sydney, we offer over $135 million worth of scholarships every year. We’re dedicated to sup- porting you throughout your time at university and offer a variety of scholarships for domestic undergraduate students. To make the process easier and more accessible, we've created a centralised form where you can be considered for a scholarship through one simple application.
Additionally, some of our scholarships require no application at all! In this webinar you will learn about the scholarships we offer, find out about your eligibility, get tips on writing a strong scholarship application and have your questions answered by our team.

UTS Early Entry Closes Soon

Closes 9 September
Designed for students who have excelled in Year 11, our Early Entry Program recognises and rewards the hard work that you have put in to your studies, while providing you with some certainty about your next steps after school.

Charles Sturt Advantage - Closing Soon

Applications Close 31 August
At Charles Sturt we want you to have the best possible start to your next chapter. With the Charles Sturt Advantage you can get a guaranteed spot in your course before you sit your final exams.

NIDA Holiday Courses

28 Sept - 8 Oct

Our Holiday Program offers fun and engaging skills-based training for all ages and aspirations. From 1-week programs to 2-day short courses for adults, children and young people, our Spring courses have something for everyone.

​​Sydney Actors School Open Day 14 September

AIT Early Entry 2024 Secure your place now in either our Film, 3D Animation, 2D Ani- mation or Game Design Bachelor or Diploma Programs.

COMING EVENTS

Mindflight7 VR experience September 11

Students in Yr 9 & 10 have been invited to attend via a google form emailed to them.This is an opportunity to explore a career pathway.

SHARK TANK September 5

Eight students have progressed to the shark tank for the Young Eyes Festival of Innovation.This is awaiting permission on compass for parents to give consent.

 

School Trivia Fundraiser

We are so excited to get this event up and running!!

Come join our St Joseph’s Catholic High School Trivia night that is fundraising for our sporting teams for 2025. All funds raised will go towards new team uniforms, updated sporting equipment and assisting with transport costs.

The theme for the night is ‘All Things Sport’, so come dressed in your best sporting attire.

Tickets are $80 per table with 8-10 people. BYO snacks and table decorations.

Booking link: https://www.trybooking.com/CUMYZ

If you or someone you know is able to contribute to prizes/donations on the night, please get in touch with me at Powers01@dow.catholic.edu.au

Aspiring/Elite Athlete Program

Last Thursday students headed to Bai Med Performance Centre for their last testing day. Students showed great improvement in all areas and it has been great to see them strive for this over the past 4 terms. Students also complete a speed and agility workshop which looked at their sprint technique and ways to improve for their sport. Students finished the day with a team bonding fitness session. It was great to see them work together as a team for their last session together.

On Monday, we had Jess Cunnigham from Optima Female Performance come in to work with our Female athletes about female health in sport. Jess works with a range of Elite teams and individuals including Torah Bright and Sean White (Snowboarding), GWS (AFL), Geelong Cats (AFL), Giants NEtball, Swifts Netball. This focussed on educating the girls around what is and isn’t normal for their health (Menstrual and breast health) and some positive strategies to keep themselves in sport for longer.

Our 2024/2025 Aspiring/Elite Athlete Program Applications are now open!

Once again our 2024/25 Aspiring/Elite Athlete applications are open. Please see Compass for more information. Click below to download application.

Aspiring/Elite Athlete Program Application

Aspiring/Elite Athlete Program Application 4.11 MB

Applications close: Friday 6th September by 4pm.

No LATE applications will be accepted.

St Joseph's Catholic High School has partnered with several local businesses to develop our Aspiring/Elite Athlete Program. The program is for students who are aspiring to or participating at elite level in their chosen sport. The program encompasses not only their sporting achievements but creates a viable future pathway which includes their academic studies.

Students in the program will have access to:

• 2 x excursions to Bai Med Performance Centre for fitness testing
• Several education programs on a range of topics to develop the athlete (including mental health, time management, leadership)
• Strength and conditioning training programs
• School teacher mentor meetings to help students cope with school and training workload
• Female athletes will gain access to a female health workshops
• Recovery workshops
• Nutrition practical and theory workshops with Embody Nutrition
• Guest Speakers

Sport Value Awards

The Term 2 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 - Jayda Stringer

Intermediate - Lily Mowbray

Senior - Bella Sacco

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 - Liam Baker

Intermediate - Mia Tarlinton

Senior - Kiana Rieck

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 - Quinn Rippon

Intermediate - Ebony McCloy

Senior - Thomas Frew

Primary School Soccer Gala Refereeing Day

Last Friday we had 40 students volunteer for the Primary South Coast Soccer Gala Day at Terry Reserve. It was great to see so many of our students keen to get involved in this refereeing day.

One of our students Hayley Frendo has written the following student report: 

Last Friday, students of St Joseph’s, volunteered to help out and ref the soccer gala for some of the local Catholic primary schools. This gave us an opportunity to share our love for soccer and allow the younger students to have some fun with their friends while getting active. We reffed a variety of ages from junior to senior and boys and girls. The primary students had a fantastic day and showed great sportsmanship.

SJ Fit Club!

Sj Fit Club has been heating up these past few weeks. It has been great to see so many students showing up consistently and getting better each week. Thank you to Mrs Foster and Mrs Smith who have helped out running this program this term so far.

This program is open to any student who is looking to improve their fitness and body strength as well as their self-confidence. It is a great way to start the day and research shows the improvement in academic study due to exercise. We meet in the gym every Thursday at 7:45am. Students can remain in their sport uniform the day.

Primary Basketball Refereeing day

Please complete the form below to be considered as an referee at the 2024 Primary Junior and Senior Coast Boys and Girls Basketball Gala Day. The gala day for Juniors (Years 3 & 4) is held on Thursday 19 September

Referees will be able to asked nominate to the allocated date and venue for our school

Thursday 19 September - St Joseph's ONLY: 16 students required

It is encouraged that students who nominate have reasonable level of basketball experience either playing or refereeing. All student umpires will be required to arrive at venues by 8.20am. The gala day concludes at approximately 2:00pm. Students will require their own whistle.

CLOSING DATE: FRIDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2024.

VENUE: Shellharbour Basketball Stadium, Croome Road

NOMINATION FORM: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf23pdKGiPxcBe0kqKXX8e_ORQFXQOdjT2qCJHMrKN-p9_r5w/viewform

Individual Sporting Success

Callum Attard was selected on the Illawarra Ironbirds Junior League Country Baseball Team. They will be playing a 3 day tournament in Coffs Harbour over the long weekend in October. Good luck Callum!

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

Please email details to Miss Power - Sports Coordinator powers01@dow.catholic.edu.au

St Joseph’s Sports Instagram Page 

For all things sports follow social media page @SJCHSSPORTS

SCHOOL FEES

Payment can be made by eftpos, Bpay and in cash. School fees are important, the school relies on fees and the payment of fees is part of the agreement you signed with the school upon enrolment of your child/ren.  If your account is overdue please contact the finance office to discuss a payment plan.

REMINDERS FOR LATE PAYMENTS

These reminders are automatically generated based on the number of days a payment is overdue and are distributed by the Catholic Education Office.  For those families that may have difficulty in paying their school fees, these reminders may cause some distress. This is not our intention.  Our intention is to manage the collection of school fee accounts with new technology.

DIFFICULTY WITH PAYMENT

If you are experiencing financial difficulty and unable to increase your payments or pay, there are concessions available. We encourage you to contact St Joseph’s to discuss an arrangement that will assist you meet your commitments.  This includes the completion of a Diocesan Application for Fee Concession which is available from the holder on the wall at St Joseph’s finance office or on school website.  

Once the completed Fee Concession form is received, the school may be able to write off some of your outstanding fee balance. Be reassured that your situation will be treated with strict confidentiality and respect for your circumstances. 

TERM 3 2024

September

12th - R U OK? Day

16th - 27th - Year 11 Preliminary Exams

16th - 20th - Year 12 HSC Intensive Week

20th - Final House Assembly, Year 12 Activity Afternoon

25th - Year 12 Final Assembly & Year 12 Graduation (Day Events)

27th - Last Day Term 3

The Youth Ministry Leaders reverently led our Mary MacKillop Feast Day liturgy this term. As a Josephite school, we embody the spirit of Mary MacKillop, living out central values of Justice, Respect, Service, Courage, Humility, Compassion and Hospitality. Mary MacKillop was a fierce woman, who courageously and actively responded to the various needs in her community. As a community, we are given the challenge and wonderful opportunity to continue the work of Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of St Joseph by being a good neighbour, live simply, travel lightly and to make room for all.

We heard profound testimonies from staff and students who are personally inspired by Mary MacKillpp and we importantly recognised students and staff who demonstrate our Josephite values on a daily basis.

A heartfelt thank you to Hineana from Vinnies, our guest speaker, who shared her valuable insight into the reality of homelessness and the wonderful work Vinnies do. We also would like to thank Tony Young and the Albion Park Vinnies Chapter for spending their time with us and sharing their stories with the students. Students gained a glimpse into the homeless experience by sharing a cup of soup before creating cardboard shelters, of which they spent an hour in, on a winter’s night. It was a memorable experience that promoted Catholic social action, enabling our students to live out our motto ‘Act Justly’.

We thank the parents who supported the event, families for donating, staff for supervising and the students for participating.

Bangawarra was an enriching Aboriginal Cultural Day designed for Year 7 to 9 students, offering a unique opportunity to engage with and learn about the rich heritage and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Through interactive workshops, storytelling, and cultural activities, students gained a deeper understanding of Indigenous knowledge, art, history, and the significance of land and community.

This experience fostered respect, awareness, and a stronger connection to Australia's First Nations cultures, encouraging students to appreciate and celebrate the diverse cultural landscape of the nation.

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

Part-time employment opportunity – Parish Secretary 

Parish of St Paul’s Albion Park

Albion Park parish is seeking the services of a part-time secretary for 16 hrs per week – Tuesday to Friday, start and finish times negotiable.

The position requires skills in administration. bookkeeping, maintaining a database, and high skills in MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint. The parish secretary needs to be a person who is supportive of the Catholic ethos of the Parish, who bears witness to Christ and Christian values in their own lives and in their work.

If interested, please make contact via email to request an application pack for this position to frances.vanleerdam@dow.org.au

Applications close 5pm Tuesday, 3 September 2024.

Growing Good Men - Father and Son Weekend

One of the most important influences in the lives of men is the relationship they have with their father or signifigant father figure. The encouragement and affirmation that this relationship could, and should, provide, is a key ingredient for how young menview themsleves andembrace their faith andgisfts as they take their place in the world. 

Don't miss this life-changing father and son weekend! Spots are limited to just 25 fathers with their sons aged between 12 and 17 years. This is a unique opportunity for dads and their sons to embark on a quest of discovery with Robert Falzon and the team from menALIVE.

Clich HERE to register online or print flyer below.

Compass Catholic Family Camping Weekend

13 - 15 September 2024

Held at Guntawang Catholic Youth Centre - Woolgemai Campground near Picton.

This weekend is growing in popularity and bringing Catholic families from around the Diocese together for food, fun and fellowship with camping andbunk accomodation options. 

Click HERE for more information and bookings.

Uniting has launched all-day Info Hubs in its Illawarra and Shoalhaven offices to ensure community members can easily access information about the NDIS and other resources. No bookings required! Potential NDIS participants will:

• Learn more about the NDIS and how to apply
• Understand your options if you do not meet NDIS eligibility criteria
• Discover how to use your NDIS plan to its full potential
• Speak with an industry expert about your NDIS or Disability-related questions

Here’s when and where to find the Info Hubs in the Illawarra-Shoalhaven:

• Where? 1/1 Burra Place, Shellharbour City Centre
• When? Every first Tuesday of the month
• What time? From 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
• Where? 35 Kenny Street, Wollongong
• When? Every third Wednesday of the month
• What time? From 9.00 am to 5.00 pm
• Where? Level 2b, 57 Graham Steet, Nowra
• When? Every second Tuesday of the month
• What time? From 9.00 am to 5.00 pm