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What a wonderful week of celebration!
Our Year 12 formal on Thursday night was a highlight with the most glamerous young men and women attending. The parents looked pretty good too! It was a community celebration as the students finished 13 years of schooling and now move to the next part of their journey.
Mrs Rasmussen has been magnificant with the group and thank you for all your work and thoughtfulness with the group.
On Wednesday afternoon I attended the Bishop's Student Award for Excellence, which went to a very deserving candidate Brooke Smith.
It was the last time Brooke put on her school uniform - the next night she was a lot more sparkly!! Brooke has worked hard at every aspect of school life and congratulations on your award. Mathew Robinson was named school based apprentice of the year on Monday night at the VET awards night - congratulations to Mathew and I wish him well as he continues in industry. He is a very hard working individual who truly deserves this recognition.
This week also Noah Casolin received a nomination for his Design and Technology project which is also very exciting - congratulations to Noah.
Friday finally brings on the Diocesan Sporting Awards, which we have students attending .It has been a very sparkly week!
We must all take time to celebrate the wonderful things in our lives, as that is just as important as the hard work - it creates balance and joy. For our young people it models hope in our future. That is what a catholic school is all about - a place of hope and joy.
Ms Amanda Wilson
Principal
ST VINCENT DE PAUL CHRISTMAS APPEAL
St Joseph’s is again, this year, supporting the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal. Each homeroom has been allocated a family that they are to donate gifts to create a hamper for local families in need.
We will be running this appeal until Friday 6th of December in preparation for the Giving Mass on the 10th of December
Each student is encouraged to bring in an item for a member of their homeroom’s family. Below is a list of suggested gifts that students can donate:
For children and teens:
Plush toys, rattles, clothes, underwear, stationary, building blocks, art and craft supplies, board games, sporting equipment, nappies, nail polish, hair accessories, lip balm, backpacks, dolls, books.
For women:
Toiletries (shower gel, shampoo/conditioner, body lotion, deodorant, toothbrush and toothpaste, sunscreen, sanitary items), perfume, makeup kits, makeup bags, face towels, towels, handbags, wet wipes.
For men:
Toiletries (razors, shaving cream, shampoo, soap, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, sunscreen), shoes, socks, thongs, bags/backpacks.
Food and general items:
Christmas pudding, tinned fruit, bon bons, tea, coffee, dried fruit, fruit mince pies, biscuits, candy canes, jelly, tinned hams, Christmas Cake, Christmas dinnerware, long life milk, pancake mix, confectionery, milo, Christmas napkins, muesli bars, cordial, vegemite, pasta and pasta sauce, blankets, gift vouchers, umbrellas, board games.
Please DO NOT wrap gifts!
Thank you for helping us make this Christmas special.
Gifts can be donated up until Friday, 6th December (Week 8)
SOLE GOALS OF THE WEEK
Community Gatherings and Celebrations
- Be punctual
- Arrive and leave respectfully and quietly
- Wear uniform correctly and be neatly groomed.
- Hats are not permitted to be worn in indoor assembly venues
- Participate appropriately
- Arrive promptly to the designated venue gather in the designated area as directed
- Keep hands off others and their property
- Follow teachers’ instructions
- Be respectful and listen attentively to all speakers
- Be actively involved and reflective at the appropriate times
- Follow the Student Responsibility Agreement for Digital Devices and the Mobile Phone Policy
- Show reverence and respect during Liturgy and Prayer
- Leave the space clean and tidy
Information regarding the Year 10 Pathways Program has been distributed to all Year 9 students. For students interested in participating in the program in 2020, their expression of interest form must be submitted to the Curriculum Office no later than Friday 22nd November 2019. We are very excited to offer this program at St Joseph's and we encourage as many students as possible to participate in 2020.
The Year 11 Presentation Evening will be held on Monday 18th November at 7 pm in the school Gym. Following the presentation of awards which formally marks the completion of the Year 11 Course, we will move into an Information session for Year 12 2020. It is an expectation that all students will attend with at least one parent. Students are required to wear full school uniform on the night as this is a formal occasion.
Year 10 students commence a week of assessment starting Monday 18th November. All students have now received their notifications. As per the school assessment policy, if you are going to be absent for an exam, please ensure you contact the school on the day of the exam to notify of your absence and medical documentation/Illness and Misadventure paperwork must be completed and handed in at the Curriculum Office.
Years 9 and 10 Presentation
9:20 am
We look forward to seeing Year 12 students at our celebration morning tea on Tuesday 17th December @ 11 am.
YEAR 11 RETREAT
Our Year 11 students attended their Senior Retreat in Week 3 this term. A retreat is designed to help with team building, recognition of differences, enable students to discover and unpack who they are and develop a relationship with God.
This year students got to experience mask making, small group chats, a Halloween themed trivia night, a group liturgy and multiple activities where students engaged in what it means to become an adult and discover who they are in connection to others and the various communities they belong to.
Our theme this year was: “Light of the World” - Matthew 5:14-16:
You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
During retreat students were asked to recognize that it is a gift to shine brightly for the world and they are encouraged to do so throughout their life but especially during their HSC year.
Congratulations to the Year 11 (Year 12 - 2020) cohort for being amazing at retreat! The level of engagement, kindness, care and compassion that was shown throughout the retreat was truly amazing. Also a big thank you to staff and students who attended the Mulgoa retreat in their support of students who were unwell.
Thank you to parents who supported Retreat. It was a very meaningful three day event and meant a lot to students.
Eliza Biddle (REC)
YEAR 9 AND 10 PASS CAMP
Year 9 and 10 PASS Students went on a three day expedition through Morton National Park last week. In the lead up and preparation for this camp, there was fear from many of the students about the mountain biking, sleeping on a thin mat, toileting in the ‘bush’ and our Australian wildlife. But once we got there, there was not much time for fear. They had to get their bike brief, and off they went.
This was my first PASS camp and I was amazed at what the students achieved over the three days. Not just physically, but mentally too. The way the students encouraged and supported each other and pushed themselves to their limits was commendable. This camp immersed the students in experiences that encourage them to participate and derive their own meaning. It encouraged them to think critically, make decisions, demonstrate responsibility and engage meaningfully with people around them.
The students participated in mountain biking, abseiling and canoeing. The mountain biking was a challenge for many of the campers. Some had not ridden a bike much, some were afraid of the steepness and terrain of the tracks and some were not quite fit enough. But in the end every student, and teacher, pushed themselves to make it all the way. The abseiling was also a challenge for many of the campers who were afraid of heights. Joel, the instructor had a magical way of talking to the students and encouraging them to ‘take the plunge’. Almost all students abseiled and were so proud and happy that they did it, with some even wanting to do it again.
The Year 9 students were fortunate on the second day to set up camp at Beehive Point and enjoy a refreshing swim in the river. They pitched their own tents and cooked delicious meals on the Trangia camp stoves. Mrs Garbutt said that it was great to see so many ‘Masterchefs’ in action cooking healthy and sustaining meals for their group. They were also treated to a comedy show by their instructor, Jake, which was hilarious.
We were very lucky to have a tail wind for the duration of the canoeing. Permitting the instructors to set up a raft and a sail with all of the canoes, arriving at our destination hours earlier. This allowed for one of our instructors, Will, to give the Year 10’s a Bushtucker lesson.
Outdoor education is not about teaching for content, but teaching for students’ personal development. It is about learning how to work together, how to bounce back, and what to do when things are difficult. These skills are applicable no matter where you go—they are essential to almost every aspect of living and working with others. This camp has allowed our PASS students to develop these skills.
CONGRATULATIONS
Matthew has been working as an apprentice fitter with Prysmian Australia (including a 3:30am start) one day a week, completing TAFE one day a week whilst still finishing his Higher school Certificate including producing a Major Project. A huge effort!
STEM Day! Whew! It was a big day filled with lots of excitement, problem solving and creativity.
We had nearly 300 students from St Paul’s, Stella Maris, St Francis, Amity College and Tulimbar Public School, along with 15 students from other local Schools, who have had a great time and enjoyed all STEM-related activities.
We would like to thank ALL those involved, our wonderful teachers who just get better and better every year, our support staff, student volunteers and ex-students Callum Elliss and Noah Casolin. Everyone's hard work in preparation and enthusiasm in running these STEM activities were noted by all. We would also like to thank the Catholic Education Office for their support and attendance.
Our student volunteers who helped on the day were outstanding, a great advertisement for our school community.
We hope everyone enjoyed STEM day and plan to continue to grow it every year!
Stem Day two will take place later in the term.
Wow what a year!
We have been incredibly busy and active this year in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. A recap of events is detailed as under.
AIME started and finished all in the same term. AIME had 3 visits to UOW for AIME days, which were a fun experience for Year 7 students.
We participated in the reconciliation flag walk at Shellharbour, and held a reconciliation liturgy at school.
The NAIDOC assembly showcased St Joey's young men and women who learnt new dances and performed them in front of the whole school. Next year we have been invited to perform at Shellharbour Relay for Life, and the students have been busy learning and practicing new dances.
Visiting Bangarra Dance company in Sydney was amazing experience. We watched a performance about the life of David Unaipon, who was an Aboriginal designer and inventor of the modern shearers tool.
An excursion with Corpus Christi and Holy Spirit was orgnaised to the local significant sites for Aboriginal people of this area. We visited Hill 60 and learnt about the 5 Islands Dreaming Story, visited Coomaditchie Lagoon and community centre then finished the day at Killalea State Reserve. We are planning to do this earlier in the year and take advantage of the warmer weather with a swim at Bushrangers Bay.
Year 9 Food Technology went to the Wollongong Botanical Gardens to learn about bush tucker and medicine.
St Joey's held our first Cultural Day for Year 5 and 6 students. Students learnt how to paint in Aboriginal style, make a fish out of bamboo and raffia and sampled some amazing bush tucker.
This year, all year students have had the opportunity to assist in painting our message sticks that will be placed in the garden at the front of the admin building. They will be finished in 2020 and installed in a new garden space early in Term 2.
The final activity this year will be Didgeridoo making next week, where three students will be making their very own didgeridoo at school.
A final celebration afternoon tea will be held in early December. A brief snapshot of what’s coming in 2020 will be announced.
Many thanks for a wonderful 2019.
Kane Brown
Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Education coordinator
Jo Ball, Uncle Kevin Butler and Toumanda Fohrman
Aboriginal Education Assistants
ARTSTOBER
Take a look at this wonderful article written by the Catholic Education Office about art-standing Artstober celebrations at St Joeys!
Please click on the following link to access the article.
Microsoft Traineeships
https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/microsoft-traineeship-program?mc_cid=e7e036769f&mc_eid=7686042b6b
Reminder UOW Learning Labs Open Now - visit the UOW website for more details.
Fulton & Hogan Work Experience Opportunity
Two of our Year 10 students will be working with 8 students from other schools to work on a project designing a rest area for the new by -pass.
Emma Schultz and Colby Hurst will be on site at the Fulton & Hogan office next week. Photos next newsletter- all the best for a great week.
Congratulations to Alycia and Bureieta who have secured a training opportunity in Childcare.
Our lost property box is overflowing. If your child has lost iPod air buds, glasses, a sports jacket or blazer, a drink bottle or a mobile phone we may have it. Please ask your child to come and see us in the office.
Any lost property items will be disposed of at the end of the year.
Thank you.
SCHOOL FEES
Your URGENT attention to school fees payments is requested. For those falling behind we urge you to make every effort to bring your account up to date.
For those experiencing difficulties it is most important that you make an appointment with the Principal, Ms Wilson to discuss the matter.
Thank you.
UNIFORM SHOP IMPORTANT DATES
The last day the Uniform Shop is open for 2019
| Monday 16 December 2019 | 9am - 2pm special hours |
(students finished school and parent teacher interviews this day)
Back to school 2020 trading hours
| Tuesday 28 January 2020 | 9am - 2pm special hours (no students) |
| Wednesday 29 January 2020 | 11am - 4pm special hours (no students) |
| Thursday 30 January 2020 |
Normal hours 8.30am - 1.30pm (Year 7 students started) |
UNIFORM SHOP BOOKINGS
New Uniform Shop phone number is: 0413 441 892
Hours: Monday 12pm - 4pm and Thursday 8:30am - 1:30pm
Please click the link below to be directed to the School website for access to current Permission Notes.
COMMUNITY INFORMATION FROM THE POLICE - FRAUDS
