Filter Content
Thank you to the parents who attended the information evenings held throughout the week. They are an important part of your child’s education in order to achieve a sense of the expectations of the year. Thank you to our High Achievers for returning to school for the opening liturgy, and to our Dux for 2018 Lleyton Callaway for his inspiring speech. What a wonderful achievement and well deserved through his perseverance and hard work. Congratulations to Toumanda Forman for receiving her high achieving award – please see separate link for details.
As our school year opens, it is a time to set goals for the year and to reflect on what I can change to move forward as a learner. The staff is participating in a Staff Development Day on Monday 25 February. A reminder that this is a pupil free day. On this day staff are moving to eight different presentations at eight different venues, examining students and their learning. I am really looking forward to the day and the ideas it will generate to improve classroom delivery of content.
We have also started our enrolment drive for 2020 and 2021. A change this year is that St Joseph’s is also taking enrolments from Year 5 students for 2021, and Year 6 for Year 7 for 2020. This will assist parents in allowing their young people to be more settled and certain about the future, rather than worrying about where they are going to go to high school.
Miss Madaschi and Year 8 are visiting our Primary Schools and they are wonderful ambassadors for the school. St Joseph’s is really a ‘hidden gem’ –we are not on a main road, our students are the best advertisement as they are wonderful human beings who are growing into their potential, and the environment is a parkland with a focus on sustainability. It is a community that supports, encourages, is inclusive of difference and celebrates together.
Our STEAM resources are excellent and with the new TAS block will be state of the art. We are a Catholic school, in the truest sense of the word - universal where everyone is welcome. The teaching staff are passionate and go far beyond their roles for students at the school and I am very proud to be Principal of such a wonderful community. Parents, please advertise this change of enrolment to family and friends and encourage them to apply if they would like to join our community.
It is with great pleasure that we can communicate some outstanding and exciting news. St Joseph's Year 12 2018 student, Toumanda Fohrman has been awarded the President's Award of the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group. This award is given by NESA to Toumanda for being the first Indigenous Student in New South Wales for Aboriginal Studies in the 2018 HSC. This is an exceptional achievement, made even more outstanding given that Toumanda studied this course by Distance Education. Toumanda was supported at school level with assessments and course requirements by Mrs Sue Kennedy.
Toumanda has a bright future ahead. She has been employed by the Catholic Education Office and is working at St Joseph's in 2019 as an Aboriginal Education Assistant and will commence studies at the University of Wollongong studying Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Cultural Studies) and Bachelor of Law.
Toumanda will be attending the Award's Ceremony in Darling Harbour in March. Congratulations - the St Joseph's Community is extremely proud of your achievement!
Collect your enrolment package from our Administration Office
Come join us @ Joey's!
Assessment Manuals
Assessment Manuals for Year 11 have been emailed to all students and parents/carers. Please ensure that you are familiar with the procedures for assessment tasks and Illness/Misadventure. Students are asked to save the document to their desktop for quick access when required. If you any questions regarding the document, please contact the Curriculum Office.
Assessment Manuals for Years 7-10 are being finalised and will be distributed by email to students and parents/carers next week.
Year 7 Best Start
Year 7 students will be participating in Best Start which is an online literacy and numeracy assessment. Best Start will be held on Thursday 28th February (Numeracy) and Friday 1st March (Literacy). We request that students not be late to school on these days as students will only have a short homeroom before we head into testing. Students are required to bring headphones or earbuds that plug into their device to enable them to hear audio and all devices must be fully charged for the start of the day.
Uncle Kevin Butler is back at St Joseph’s finishing off another mural and also being involved with teaching some students art. He will be painting five large Message sticks for the front of the school.
Mrs Josephine Ball, is our New Aboriginal Education Assistant. Josephine comes to us from working at a local Catholic Primary School. She is a local Dharawal Woman, who has experience in Aboriginal Dance and Art. Toumanda Fohrman will be supporting me in my role at St Joseph’s. In particular, she will be developing a dance program for all Aboriginal students and teaching them the Anthem in Language.
Don’t forget your Sons have the opportunity to take part in the “Didge in a Day” program. Check out the video of last year’s program below.
In 2019 we will be running this program again and have made it a bit easier for families to pay for this wonderful experience by allowing the cost of the program to be added to your school fees for 2019. Please visit the school website or your Sentral notices to download the note and return to the office as soon as possible.
Swimming Carnival
- The carnival is for competitors only - students who do not nominate to swim in any events will be required to attend school as normal
- Students need to nominate for the events they wish to swim in. This is done by completing the online form shared with them via email this week. Nomination forms are to be completed and submitted by the end of period 6, Friday 15th February
- Students can come directly to the pool or catch the bus to school as normal. Students attending the carnival who come to school will walk to the pool under teacher supervision after homeroom
- Students attending the carnival are to wear school uniform. Appropriate swimwear is required in the water. One piece swimwear is preferred, if students only have a two piece then a rash vest should be worn
- Students attending the carnival need to complete and return the Annual Permission Note.
More information will be emailed to competitors closer to the carnival. Parents are most welcome to attend. If you are also able to assist with any duties on the day such as timekeeping, starting etc please email Mr Moran or Mr Armstrong or leave a message at the front office with your name and times you can assist.
Representative Sport
Tayissa Buchanan and Grace Pomery both of Year 8, competed at the Regional Little Athletics competition in Griffith from the 8th -10th of February. Tayissa and Grace left no stone unturned with both outstanding athletes qualifying for State Athletics in March for all their events. Tayissa achieved Silver in the Long Jump and 400m events (coming second only to the National Champion in both). Tayissa was also won gold in 800m and the Senior 4x100m relay events. Grace competed in the 400m, 800m and 1500m events where she triumphed and won gold across all of her events.
This week we acknowledge and congratulate Robert Frew of Year 8 for his recent success in Indoor Hockey. Robert was a member of the NSW Indoor Hockey Team who recently won the National Indoor Hockey Championships. Robert has a very bright future ahead of him in hockey and as a member of the St Joseph’s community, we wish him very well for his future hockey endeavours. Well done Robert!
Year 12 High Achievers 2019
At our opening school liturgy who took some time to acknowledge the High Achievers of the HSC 2019. We would like to congratulate the following students for their outstanding efforts:
LLeyton Callaway
DUX 2019
Lleyton Callaway, Teresa Carter, Ryan Castles, Toumanda Fohrman,
Jacob Nunes
Band 6 Awards
We wish these students and all the students of the Class of 2018 the very best for the future.
Year 12 Discovery Day at UOW
As part of their transition from school to the workforce, Year 12 students had a unique opportunity this week to be a ‘uni student for a day’ on campus at UOW for Discovery Day. This experience challenged them to think about their goals and aspirations as they approach the end of their school career. The students were involved in ‘taster style’ lectures through the day, giving them an insight into what is offered at UOW and the options they have for their future. The student’s commented on how beneficial the experience was for future UOW students as it gave them an opportunity to experience life at ‘Uni’. They also said that it was a great look into what UOW and Uni have to offer and they appreciated the opportunity to do some career planning away from the busy life of a school. Research suggests that those who visit a university campus are more likely to access tertiary education, whether that is immediately post-school or twenty years down the track. Students wanting help with their career planning are welcome to email Mrs Kennedy, for an interview.
Women in Defence Information Session
Looking to develop your skillset or simply progress your career? Speak with current serving Women in the Australian Defence Force and learn about opportunities in the Navy, Army or Air Force. Head to Defence Force Recruiting Wollongong for the Information Session:
Location: Level 2 96 Crown Street Wollongong
Date: Monday 18th February 2019
Time: 6:00pm
Trades Information Session
Get your hands on amazing machinery and help keep the world's most exciting ships, subs and aircraft operating in a Navy Technical Trade role. Head to Defence Force Recruiting Wollongong for the Information Session:
Location: Level 2 96 Crown Street Wollongong
Date: Thursday 21st February 2019
Time: 5:30pm
Australian Defence Force Academy Information Session
World-class education? Uni lifestyle? Access to quality facilities? All this is possible at the Australian Defence Force Academy. Head to Defence Force Recruiting Wollongong for the Information Session:
Location: Level 2 96 Crown Street Wollongong
Date: Friday 22nd February 2019
Time: 6:00pm
Army Reserve Information Session
Enjoy unique rewards and earn tax-free pay with part-time work in the Army Reserve. Head to Defence Force Recruiting Wollongong for the Information Session:
Location: Level 2 96 Crown Street Wollongong
Date: Tuesday 26th February 2019
Time: 6:00pm
Gap Year Information Session
Have a fulfilling paid job straight out of school through the ADF Gap Year. Head to Defence Force Recruiting Wollongong for the Information Session:
Location: Level 2 96 Crown Street Wollongong
Date: Thursday 28th February 2019
Time: 6:00pm
Please click the link below to be directed to the School website for access to current Permission Notes.
Mental Health First Aid Courses
Have you been concerned about the mental health of a family member, friend or co-worker? CatholicCare has accredited Mental Health instructors that will teach you how to assist others who are experiencing a mental health crisis. You will learn how to recognise the symptoms of mental health problems, improve your confidence in being able to support someone who needs help and what sort of help is effective. CatholicCare's course dates for 2019 are now available for Wollongong, Campbelltown and Nowra. Please find the list below and call 4254 9395 for bookings.
Albion Park Show Society's Debutante Ball 2019
Wings over the Illawarra will be held be held on the weekend of 4-5 May. This is a great day out for the whole family. Details are attached.