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To save uncertainty on the day, we ask that if you haven't already done so, you have a conversation with your child/ren about your plans for their transport home in the event of a school closure. A reminder that senior students will not be permitted to give other students lifts home, except for their siblings if this is what your family decides.
To assist us in coordinating student departures should a temporary school closure be required, if parents/caregivers who have not already done so could please nominate your preferred method for your child/ren’s transport home by clicking this link, Nominated Transport Form.
You will then only need to text your student’s mobile phone or call the school if there is a change of plans for some unexpected reason on the day.
To minimise vehicle congestion, a reminder we will be asking that A-K surname students be picked up in Macquarie Street and L-Z surname students to be picked up on Church Street. In the case of Macquarie Street, the direction of traffic flow needs to be into Amaral Avenue and out of Macquarie Street.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the school. Thank you again for your ongoing cooperation as we overcome the challenges of COVID-19 together.
Parent Teacher Interviews Years 7-10
Parent Teacher Interviews will be held on Wednesday 22 July 2020 via Zoom Conference. Interviews will commence at 3:45 pm with last bookings at 8 pm. Bookings are to be made through Compass now. Bookings will close on Tuesday 21st July at 3 pm. Detailed instructions on how to make your bookings in Compass are below.
Full instructions for the Zoom Conference and Parent links were sent out via Compass earlier this week to all parents and students. They are also below for your information. We encourage students to attend the Zoom Conference with their parents and we hope that families will take this opportunity to meet with teachers to discuss their child's progress.
Student reports for Years 7-10 will be posted in the Compass portal on Friday 3rd July.
If you need assistance accessing Compass or making your appointments please contact the school office 4230 8500.
CURRICULUM NEWS
As the semester comes to an end we would just like to take this opportunity to congratulate students and their families for their efforts. Whilst we do not need to elaborate on the challenges we have all faced so far this year the approach of many of our students during the remote learning phase, the adjustment to the gradual and then full return to school plus new timetables and school structures has in the main been phenomenal. A big part of this has been the support of families and carers and we would again like to highlight and thank you for the role you have played in supporting our students during this semester.
With Semester 2 starting after the holidays it is a good opportunity to put the distractions of Semester 1 behind us, set new goals for the remainder of the year and start afresh. Have a restful break and we look forward to seeing everyone back ready to get back into the classroom in Term 3.
7-10 Semester 1 Reports
Year 7-10 Semester 1 Reports will be available via the Compass portal from 3:30 pm on Friday 3 July. It is worth pointing out that the data in these reports are somewhat different from our regular report structure. This is due to the extended period of remote learning, modifications to assessment schedules and the like. Reports are still an accurate reflection of student progress during the semester.
Students and families are encouraged to use these reports to evaluate current progress, reflect on the feedback provided by teachers and develop some goals for Semester 2 that will assist in enabling students to work towards their full academic potential. For Year 10 students the reports will provide a valuable resource to reflect on as you consider your subject selections for Yr 11 2021.
Year 11 2021 Subject Selection
Year 10 students have now been provided with a vast amount of information regarding subject selection for Year 11 2021. The Subject Information Handbook was distributed via email last week. This week we had a Zoom year meeting where we discussed the structure of Stage 6 education (RoSA, HSC, ATAR) as well as all the requirements to qualify for a HSC such as the Minimum Standards Test and All My Own Work.
We have also opened a Subject Selection section on our school website. This has been set up as an automatics pop-up or can be found by clicking the For Parents, For Students or Curriculum tabs on the school home page. Here students and their families will find a range of support material to assist with understanding Stage 6, HSC structure and requirements and other resources to support students with this process. In particular, each Faculty has a page with a message from the KLA Coordinator. Each subject we offer has a link with an outline of the subject, content covered in Years 11 and 12 along with a brief video providing detail for each subject we offer.
With the holidays upon us, this site is a great resource to support students through the selection process. Students are encouraged to take the time to review this detail to assist them to make informed choices. Students should also be accessing other resources such as Universities, TAFE etc to ensure they understand any requirements associated with possible pathways they are considering.
Year 10 students and parents are strongly encouraged to make appointments with their teachers on our upcoming Parent-Teacher Interview night to discuss current levels of performance and their suitability for any subjects they may be wishing to undertake in Year 11.
We would like to make it clear that at St Joseph’s we offer a full suite of subjects for students to consider for their Stage 6 studies. These subjects are listed in our handbook and on the website. We offer, within reason, the same subjects as all other local schools (some speciality subjects eg Dance withstanding) on site. In some circumstances, students can undertake a course via distance education if they are the only student wishing to undertake that course. In saying this we also have a greater capacity to run subjects with smaller class sizes such as music and extension subjects as we have a greater staff capacity than other comparable schools. We are also able to ensure we have qualified teachers for each subject we are running.
In the handbook and on the website you will find the email addresses for all our KLA Coordinators. The Curriculum Office is also available so please feel free to email any questions you may have regarding subjects and the Curriculum but note that responses may not be returned immediately due to holidays.
Vinnies COVID Winter Appeal
Each year at St Joseph's we support the St Vincent de Paul Society with their various fundraising initiatives. This year has been strangely different for everyone, including St Vincent's de Paul! So, we would like to continue our support of this wonderful charity. We also have some things planned for Term 3. The Vinnies COVID Winter Appeal is currently calling for donations and all money raised from our Fluro Friday today will go towards this appeal. If you, as a family would like to contribute further to this appeal, please visit the Vinnie's website to make a donation online. Even the smallest donation will make a huge difference to a local family.
This week, students in the Elite Athlete Program attended a Sport Psychology Zoom session with David Barracosa from BaiMed.
The session gave the athletes information and strategies in relation to building confidence. They learnt about the importance of stepping outside their comfort zone and taking risks. Recognising that making mistakes is part of the learning process and is necessary to becoming a better athlete. Hopefully the athletes can implement some of the confidence building strategies suggested in the session such as:
- keeping a training log as a way of tracking workload and giving yourself personal feedback
- knowing the purpose of training sessions
- setting goals that focus on getting better at what you are already good at
- building on the confidence that you already have to help foster more self belief
I would like to thank Mick Baines and the BaiMed staff for the additional support they have given our athletes during COVID-19. They have provided the opportunity for our students to receive updated training programs via individual consultations with their expert staff. This has resulted in excellent gains in strength and conditioning for some of our athletes. At present, the Elite Athlete Program is offering individual consultations in the areas of physiotherapy and psychology services. Please email Mrs Garbutt (garbuttm01@dow.catholic.edu.au) for information about how to access these services.
Update on Representative Sport
CEDoW will be assessing the resumption of inter school sport days from mid-term 3. This will involve championship days in junior boys cricket, girls and boys AFL and girls and boys basketball. In each case a COVID-19 safety plan will be developed inline with normal risk assessment procedures. These events will be subject to existing NSW government restrictions and advice along with CEDoW leadership input. Stay tuned for more information next term regarding selection trials for these events.
Mrs Garbutt
Representative Sports Coordinator
JOEY'S RACE AROUND AUSTRALIA
Please be aware that the Aboriginal Dance group is running and meets every 2 weeks. We will also be able to have an Aboriginal dance teacher come in to help create and instruct our dancers.
Dance Takes place every 2nd Friday during lunch in the Hall. All students are welcome and encouraged to join in the fun.
We also have a weaving session every Wednesday and Friday at lunch.
Term 3 will also see the return of excursions and we are busy rescheduling our excursion to Eora Nation in La Perouse.
Thank you.
Kane Brown - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Coordinator
Dakotah Acevedo - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Contact
Uncle Kevin Butler, Josephine Ball, Toumanda Fohrman -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Education Assistants
Student Absences and Medical Clearances
If you have reported to the school (through Compass or to the School Office) that your child is absent from school due to any of the reasons listed below you must provide a medical certificate which states that your child is fit to return to school.
- a sore throat; or
- a runny nose; or
- a cough; or
- a fever; or
- they have cold/flue like symptoms; or
- fatigue; or
- shortness of breath; or
- they have been required to undergo a COVID test
Similarly, any students who are sent home from school because they have any of the above symptoms, are required to provide a medical certificate clearing them for return. The certificates can be emailed to the school email address, or students can take the notes directly to the school office on their arrival.
We thank you for your ongoing community support during this period.
School Activities and Excursions - Restrictions Easing
For an update on the easing of restrictions for activities and excursions within the school, please read the information in the parent update below.
The careers room is open through lunch times or email me for an appointment if you want more information or a chat about future careers.
Students can book appointments for a career interview via email to: kennedys01@dow.catholic.edu.au
UOW Early Admission
The UOW Early Admissions Applications open July 20 and close Aug 14 2020.
https://www.uow.edu.au/study/high-school/uow-early-admission/faqs/
UAC
Students in Year 12 were given access to their own copy of the UAC Guide, if you need a copy please pick one up from the Library or Careers Room.
This is how you apply for universities in NSW, see this link for more information:
https://www.uac.edu.au/current-applicants/undergraduate-applications-and-offers
Changes to University Admissions
See document attached, this is also on the Future Me Google classroom.
Nursing - changes to note
The English language criteria for nursing has recently changed, please see the link below to the UAC information.
https://www.uac.edu.au/future-applicants/admission-criteria/requirements-for-certain-courses
Year 12 Future Me Google Classroom
Parents andstudents have access to career information via our Google Classroom – the code is: 46kkzbw
MEGT vacancies
Illawarra
Sarina Russo Apprenticeships
Current vacancies below:
CANTEEN ONLINE ORDERS
There are no counter or cash sales in our canteen during Term 2 and this will be revised in Term 3. If you wish to buy food from the school canteen you must order it by 9.30am each day through our online canteen.
An information flyer is attached.
If you do not have an account, please click here to access an online form.
PARENT VOLUNTEER ROSTER
| Date | Volunteers |
| Monday 20 July | Leisa Smith |
| Tuesday 21 July | Christine Brown |
| Wednesday 22 July | Linda Pallone |
| Thursday 23 July | Nicole Oswald |
| Friday 24 July | Peta Priest |
| Monday 27 July | Tracey Sumner |
| Tuesday 28 July | Colleen Walsh |
| Wednesday 29 July | Kellie Mundt, June Wilson |
| Thursday 30 July | Volunteers required |
| Friday 31 July | Raechel McPhan, Julie Norris |
UNIFORM SHOP
COVID safe trading at St Joseph's
** MAXIMUM 4 customers in store at one time ***
Online orerding available as well as walk-in orders which may have to line up and wait.
New item instore for winter
Navy Blue Snood cost $38.00
Monday 12pm-4pm
Thursday 8.30-1.30pm
New Uniform Shop phone number is: 0413 441 892