Dear Parents and Carers, 

We are coming up to the final weeks of the school year. We will be arranging our classes for 2021 similar to this year; they will be banded around  students' interest areas. This weel, students will be filling in a survey asking if their preference is English/HSIE or Science.  Mathematics will be sitting separately in classes with a top group and mixed ability groups. If your child is interested in both areas that is ok they just have to choose one for the class. The work in all classes will cover the same outcomes, but some enrichment in the focus area will exist. 

Our Year 12 2020 finished with a beautiful Formal at the Fraternity Club. The students, or should I say the young men and women present, looked very glamorous. It was a real red carpet event and such a happy night. The gratitude that they expressed for the night was heartfelt and very much appreciated. 

COVID is not disappearing, considerations will exist throughout 2021 until there is a vaccine available for everyone or it is eradicated. With the lower infection rates we will be able to do more outside events with students such as sport etc but there has been a significant increase in the cost of running events for students with the regulations in place so they will be considered on their educational merit before increasing cost to parents. Please be aware that consideration does exist if you're under financial stress. We just need to talk about it and fill in the relevant paperwork. 

As we are coming into the ‘silly season’ up to Christmas I would remind all students that the behaviour expectations remain the same. Treat each other with respect and kindness.

Ms Amanda Wilson

Principal

• roast beef, parsley mayo, shallot, pimiento, cornichon
• avocado wedges, shallot, mango salsa, cilantro
• spinach hummus, pickled beets, roasted garlic & scallion
• a grilled vegetable wrap with pesto
• prawn pinwheel sandwiches
• ham pinwheel sandwiches
• salmon Checkerboard sandwiches
• grilled chicken and avocado Banh Mi sandwiches.

DUNK YA JUNK 

Young Change Agents Enrichment Program

In August, Alexia Petrovski, Angelina Moulas, Daniella Avtaroski, Emma Collins, Nicole Bourke and Occy Lucas participated in an enrichment program run by Young Change Agents. This program is based on design thinking and business development. It is a great opportunity to expose the girls to skills that could shape their future pathways.  During this day the students were asked to think about ways in which they could help the environment.  This is where Dunk Ya Junk was born. 

Feedback from the Judges: A very well defined problem with an innovative solution that is very likely to work. Rallying the troops at school around well known songs with altered lyrics is absolutely a fun way to attack an environmental  problem. The basketball approach is also clever and innovative. Enrolling a community to address a problem like this heightens your chance of achieving your goal. Your proposed rewards and consequences are also creative and actionable. 

Excitingly, Dunk Ya Junk was chosen to progress to the next round - Mini Youth Incubator where the girls were able to further build their idea.  During the Mini Youth Incubator, which was held in October over 2 days, the girls had the opportunity to engage with industry professionals, who guided and mentored the girls on their pitch of the final product.  

Mrs Brooke Tomajka

Report by Emma Collins

Dunk Ya Junk is an initiative we came up with to promote putting your litter in the bin, to help clean up schools' litter problems.  As a group we collaborated and went through the design thinking process to come up with the idea of Dunk Ya Junk including things like prototyping, understanding our why and creating a logo to help others identify our product.  We hoped this idea would help to create a movement that future generations could be a part of. 

The Dunk Ya Junk initiative consists of putting your rubbish in the bin in a fun way by having bins with detachable  basketball hoops which you throw your litter into to make it an inviting, engaging game for all ages. We hope that this initiative could help get young people involved to learn how important it is to put your rubbish in the bin. We also thought of other fun activities to interest people in participating in the Dunk Ya Junk concept with competitions of our school bell music etc. 

We also thought of the possibility of reaching out to involve other members of the community such as the Hawks basketball team, Shellharbour City Council etc. Therefore as a group we hope that Dunk Ya Junk could make a difference in our community if implemented and will provide the tools and resources we need to create a more sustainable environment for future generations.

Link: Dunk Ya Junk Presentation

There are many online resources for parents to access at any time. It is important to realise that resources and information during a crisis are different to general information that is suitable at other times and not in a period of crisis. 

People and places to contact in a crisis:

The website below provides information regarding hotlines and helplines for parents for a variety of mental and physical needs. 

Raising Children

Headspace 

If you are a young person aged between 12-25 and need information relating to general mental health, physical health, work & study and alcohol and other drugs, then Headspace is designed for you. No referrals are needed, just call or come into any of the offices in your local area. The website below provides some general information relevant to young people and the specific local centres are provided with the following links. Alternatively, e - headspace is also a very practical and easily accessed resource. 

https://headspace.org.au/young-people/life-issues/

Support services for teenagers / youth - Headspace Centres

https://headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/wollongong/

https://headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/campbelltown/

https://headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/nowra/

eheadspace

eheadspace is a national online and phone support service, staffed by experienced youth mental health professionals. It provides young people and carers with a safe, secure and anonymous place to talk to a professional – wherever they are.

eheadspace was launched to reach regional and remote young people who were unable to access a headspace centre. It has since grown in popularity with all young people – many of whom simply feel more comfortable accessing our services online.

Black Dog Institute

Black Dog Institute has invited people to tell their stories about mental health: https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/education-services/podcasts/being-well-podcast/

Raising Learners Podcast

Help your child learn and thrive at school and at home with the Raising Learners podcast.

Supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing in difficult times

VINNIES CHRISTMAS APPEAL

SCHOOL FEES

STUDENT CONCESSION CARDS

Student concession cards are being handed out to students on Monday 23 November 2020. Pass entitlements are valid until the expiry date printed on the card, providing the student is currently enrolled at St Joseph's.

Concession Entitlement

• Concession fares on train, bus, light rail, metro, Sydney Ferries and NSW TrainLink Services
• Concession fares on rural and regional bus services
• Concession airport station acess fee
• Child/Youth Opal card fares
• NOT AVAILABLE on Manly Ferry fast services, special Event services or charter buses

Privately owned and operated services may offer concessions at their own discretion, check with the operator before travelling.

Senior Secondary Students

• Senior Secondary Student Concession is applicable for students 16 years or older
• Cards display product code (SSS) 

Mature Secondary Students

• Senior Secondary Student Concession is applicable only for students 18 years or older

Proof of Age

• Enables students to verify to transport staff that they are under 16 years of age
• Cards display product code (POA)

Conditions of Use

• The Concesion Entitlement is not transferrable and may only be used by the pass holder named on the card
• Valid only when showing all holder details, school information and expiry date
• A pass is rendered invalid by alteration
• The card must be carried at all times when travelling, and must be produced when purchasing tickets or as requested by the Transport Officers or transport Police
• Improper use of the card may result in forfeiture NSW travel entitlements.

CONSENT FOR FORM USE OF STUDENT'S IMAGES AND/OR WORK

It is an annual requirement that we have parents and carers complete the consent form for use of image and work.

Please find the form attached.  Once completed and returned to the school office, it will last for a year until term 4 2021.

Thank you for your assistance with this requirement.

IMPORTANT OPAL CARD INFORMATION - FROM TRANSPORT FOR NSW

From January onwards, there will be a number of School Opal cards expiring, as the physical card has reached its lifespan.

These are cards for students who will be in years 8 to 12 in 2021, and only those Opal cards which haven’t been replaced in the last five years.

Impacted students and/or their parent/guardian will be contacted directly by Transport for NSW via email or post. They will be asked to confirm their details online in order for a new School Opal card to be sent to the correct postal address in time for the new school year.

If contacted by Transport for NSW, details should be submitted online by December 1, 2020 at the latest. Affected students who do not confirm their details in time will have a new School Opal card posted to the address we currently have on file.

2021 SCHOOL TRAVEL APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN

Applications for student travel in 2021 opened on Monday 12 October 2020.

Students who require a School Opal card or travel pass for 2021 can now apply online. A new application should be submitted if a student is applying for a school travel pass for the first time or requesting an additional pass as a result of a new shared parental responsibility situation (e.g. joint custody).

Students who have changed school/campus, changed address, repeated a year or received an expiry notification from Transport for NSW for their school travel entitlement should re-apply or update their details.

Where there is a change of distance eligibility based on a student’s grade, the system will automatically update a student’s entitlement if they meet the new criteria. If they do not meet the new eligibility criteria, they will receive an expiry notification via email.

Students who have an entitlement approved under a medical condition which is due to expire will receive a notification advising them to re-apply.

Term Bus Pass holders will receive a notification to re-apply.

Applications need to be submitted before 31 December 2020 to ensure that current student entitlements are updated and their current entitlement/card remains valid. If their application is submitted after 31 December 2020, the system will automatically cancel an entitlement/card and a new one will need to be issued.

Students in the Opal network applying for a SSTS or Term Bus Pass entitlement for the first time will receive their card at their nominated postal address. Cards will be mailed out from January 2021.

Students residing in Rural and Regional (R&R) areas should receive their travel pass at the commencement of the new school year from their nominated operator, this may be distributed via the school or sent direct to their address. Note: some R&R operators do not issue travel passes. Students/Parents should confirm with their nominated operator if they do not receive a pass.

Please refer to flyer attached for further information.

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UNIFORM SHOP 

Year 7 and 11 in 2021 are required to make a booking for their uniform shop fitting. Please see attached information for further details.

Year 10 parents are required to make an online booking for their Uniform fitting. Year 10 students can be booked in on a Thursday whilst at school if they do not need parent assistance. The student will leave class for the booking at the selected time. Each booking is for 30 minutes. Parents of year 10 students already fitted can then buy online if the child does not pay on the day. They are provided with a sheet listing all the sizes of the items they were fitted for on the day.

Please see attached information advising how to make your booking online.

Monday 12pm-4pm

Thursday 8.30-1.30pm

New Uniform Shop phone number is: 0413 441 892

CANTEEN ONLINE ORDERS

The canteen will be opened as usual for recess but only opening first half of lunch for drinks and snacks.  Online orders are still necessary. 

Thank you.

Donna Niceforo - Canteen Manager

An information flyer is attached to order your lunch online.

If you do not have an account, please click here to access an online form.