On the Monday of Week 8, myself, my peers at St Joseph, and the students of 2023’s Year 7 (members of the Elite/Aspiring Athlete Program for 2023) attended BaiMed. Each term my peers and I go to this place, where the staff there (who are always super nice and are always happy to chat with everyone) run a series of different agility, strength, speed, and flexibility tests.

Then, the staff at BaiMed use the results to give us a personalized workout program which they run through and teach us how to use so that we can do it ourselves. I think that one of the best parts about this is that each term we get result sheets that show where we are improving or where we need to improve. The staff offer some great mentoring sessions that we all attend where they educate us on all of the different factors of our fitness. Some of the things we talk about are mental and physical health, what we can do to keep ourselves fit, how to help ourselves recover, how we can prevent injuries, and so much more. I have learnt so much from these sessions and they are extremely useful. Another exciting part of going to BaiMed is that sometimes we get different types of professional athletes like last term's women's Dragons Player who came and chatted with us about all of the different kinds of things that are a part of their sporting careers whether that is mental/physical or anything else.

It is an amazing experience that I, and the other students love doing. I think that it is a great opportunity for those who are passionate about a sport they play and would appreciate the support that the Elite Athlete Program and BaiMed offers.

Also, I would like to say thank you to all of the BaiMed staff for doing all of this for us, and the teachers for taking myself and the other students up to BaiMed each term because without them we wouldn't be exposed to this great opportunity.

Amy Jedrzejczak Year 7

Last week students in the Ignite Program travelled to iFLY in Penrith. The purpose of the trip was to learn about the physics and science behind flight and aerodynamics. We learnt about all 3 of Newton’s laws, how certain body positions affect how you fly and move up and down in the wind tunnel, the effect of surface area on lift and much more. If you stand upright in the wind tunnel the wind would easily move around you and there would be less area for you to catch wind, but if you lie on your belly with hands pointing out that increases the surface area the wind touches thus making it easier for you to lift up in the air. The concept of terminal velocity was also talked about with us. Terminal velocity is the maximum velocity you can have for a falling object.

The history of flight was also discussed from the greek mythology of Icarus who thought he could fly, to Leonardo da Vinci's sketches of flying machines to the first wind tunnels used to the invention of planes and eventually to the invention of indoor skydiving. We also learnt details about how the building generates the fast-moving air for the tunnel. Basically, the tunnel is in the middle and at the top of the building, there was a large fan that generates fast-moving wind and the wind travels through the sides of the building and is directed towards the bottom.

We also learned about the Bernoulli principle which simply states that if you have a gas or liquid that is moving out of a hole and if you make that hole thinner the pressure increases. This principle was used by the building to allow large air pressure to enter the tunnel to lift someone up.

The highlight of the day was spending time 'flying' in the wind tunnel. We put on special suits that are baggy which allows more surface area for the wind to touch and thus more air resistance and thus more lift. We also had to put in ear plugs so our ears wouldn't get harmed and also wear goggles and a tight helmet for more safety. When I entered the wind tunnel, I couldn’t hear anything except for the wind. It didn’t really feel like zero gravity because I could feel the wind pounding into my body. It was amazing to be lifted up only by the wind.

Overall I had a fun and educational experience that won't be forgotten. I highly recommend this for people to do if they can.

Brandon Smith (Yr 7)

HSC Assessment Requirement Reminders

Last week we spoke with Year 11 to remind them of NESA and school requirements around HSC assessment. In particular:

• Plagiarism - not only is it unethical to copy/submit work that is not your own, if caught engaging in this behaviour the consequences are quite serious starting with the loss of marks for the task. 
• Attendance - students are required to be at school. This is particularly important the day before a formal assessment task is scheduled (either hand-in or in-class tasks). Students not attending school are required to provide appropriate documentation (eg medical certificate) at all times on their return to school

A reminder that these matters and others are discussed in more detail in the school HSC Handbook, as well as the NESA HSC Rules and Guidelines, shared with students earlier this term. Please ensure you have familiarised yourself with both documents to decrease the likelihood of issues arising that may impact your progress in the HSC course.

Elective Finalisation

As the year draws to a close we start to look at preparing for 2023. One of the big details to finalise is elective classes for Years 9-11 2023. Choosing electives for 2023 has been an ongoing process throughout the semester. Students should be in a position where they have carefully considered their options and made the correct choices based on what classes are available. We encourage students to again reflect on their choices and if there are any issues or concerns that you would like to discuss, contact the Curriculum office before the end of the year.

We are currently doing a final round of interviews with Yr10 students to double-check their elective choices to ensure they meet HSC qualification requirements, match students' ability levels and are suited to their intended post-school pathways. Again students and parents are always welcome to contact the Curriculum office at any time to discuss any concerns you may have.

Minimum Standards Tests

We will be running a final round of HSC Minimum Standards Tests in week 10. Students needing to complete these tests are encouraged to keep preparing for these tests and refer to their emails in the coming days to identify the days these tests will be held.

2023 School Resources

We will be providing students and families with a resource list for 2023 before the end of the year. Please remember to check school emails and Compass before doing your back-to-school shopping for 2023!!

Year 9 Surf Awareness Program

As part of the PDHPE program at St Joseph’s, Year 9 students have been participating in a Surf Awareness program conducted by Illawarra Surf Academy. The program has included surf survival skills developed through swimming, surfing and bodyboarding. It is so important for all young people to be able to keep themselves and others safe whilst using our local beaches. Most students have really enjoyed the experience and have learnt lifelong skills.

2022 Joey’s Sports Awards

Sportsperson of the Year

This year, we will be reverting back to how we used to determine the “Joey's Sports Person of the Year”  prior to Covid. Only school pathway events will be included. This award will be announced at the beginning of the year school liturgy. The recipient and their parents will be notified prior to this event. 

Sports Awards

Students who have represented Joey’s this year in sport will be eligible to receive an award. One member of each team has been selected by the coach to be recognised. We will also recognise: 

- our swimming, athletics and cross-country age champions

- Diocesan and NSWCCC representatives

Students will receive their award on presentation day

Year 12 Hospo big pizza prac

Year 12 Hospitality students produced a range of pizzas, savoury and sweet much to the delight of the teachers.

Pavlova

Year 10 Food Tech students stretched their listening, attention and cookery skills to make some meringue baskets filled with fresh fruits and cream.

Creative and Performing Arts are holding CAPAversary celebration events from 5 - 9 December.

On Thursday 8 December, CAPA students will be showcasing highlights from their learning in 2022. This will be held in the Creative Arts building from 1.00 pm to 3.25 pm on Thursday. We will have displays of work including printmaking, drawing, painting, and sculpture from Visual Arts students in Years 7 - 12 including the Body of Work submissions from our HSC Art students. In the afternoon attendees will be able to listen to vocal pieces, guitar and dramatic performances from a range of students in CAPA. Parents of students in all elective classes in CAPA are cordially invited to attend.

On Friday we are holding our CAPAversary Immersion trip. This is being run for current stage 6 CAPA students and students enrolled for Yr 11 CAPA subjects next year. The day will expose students to exciting and relevant arts facilities including the Sydney Theatre Company, The Australian Institute of Music and The Museum of Contemporary Arts, all located in The Rocks area in Sydney. This should allow students to view real-world experiences and see opportunities for extending their creative lives beyond school. We are looking forward to exploring this with our senior students.

Wings Over Illawarra Career Day

Students wishing to explore a career in aviation, engineering, defence and policing were keen to attend the WINGS OVER THE ILLAWARRA CAREER DAY 11/11/22.
The students were able to ask questions of industry providers in the career expo and then explore the HARS Museum. The highlight of the day was the rehearsal for the air show.

Two students said their favourite parts about the day were "being able to explore the inside of various planes" and "talking to people and learning more about my passions."

Year 12 2023 Discovery Day 13/2/23

All of Year 12 will be attending Discovery Day at UOW on February 13 2023.
Students will be notified of this next week and the parent portal will also have details. Please check this next week and give permission for your child to attend.
Discovery Days at UOW gives Year 12 students the opportunity to experience firsthand what a day at university is like. Students build a personal timetable and attend lectures as if they were a UOW student.

On Wednesday 23 November year 11 attended the Gallipoli Mosque and the Islamic Sciences and Research Academy (ISRA) in Auburn.

They attended a guided mosque tour and engaged in great discussion and question time with the guide. At ISRA they attended 3 lectures on various topics relevant to their studies including Aisha, Hajj and Bioethics. During these lectures, students were very engaged in discussion. They asked questions about the workings of the Islamic faith all of which will be very helpful to them in their studies.

An interesting and worthwhile day!

This a reminder about school fees for those families who have significant amounts still outstanding.

With the end of the year approaching, we have been asked by the Catholic Education Office to follow up on outstanding school fees. We ask that you address any outstanding fees as soon as possible.

We appreciate your support with the payment of your fees. If you are experiencing significant financial difficulties, please do not hesitate to speak to the finance office.

Saver Plus - What will it do for me?

This short sharp 15 minute presentation is an excellent opportunity for you to discover the many benefits of the SaverPlus Program and how you can be rewarded with up to $500 to spend on educational expenses such as textbooks, laptops, excursions, extracurricular activities and more.

Presented virtually by experienced local SaverPlus Coordinator, Kerre Burley, your questions and queries can be addressed in this "Live" session. Find out,  if you are eligible and how to take the next steps.

Don’t miss it,  Monday 5  December starting at 06:30 PM – 6.45 PM (Sydney Time)

We highly recommend you register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcpc-ytrz4rHtNIolAVvySxLe5jk4vNW2D2 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email.

The program is determined to continue to assist in empowering families and adult students, with building their financial skills in these challenging times. Saver Plus is the longest-running Financial Education and Matching Program in Australia with over 55,000 successful participants.  Look forward to seeing you there!

Kindest Regards

Kerre Burley

Saver Plus Co-ordinator

The Smith Family

Suite 5 160 – 162 Princess Highway

Dapto 2530. N.S.W

Mobile  0427 439 234

kerre.burley@thesmithfamily.com.au Make a booking to speak with Kerre today!

Check out a quick two minute YouTube video on our program.https://youtu.be/508bAIW2eGA

Discover more about Saver Plus on our Website: https://www.thesmithfamily.com.au/programs/financial/saver-plus

Aquathon is back

Wollongong Harbour - Thursday, January 26 Public Holiday

Illawarra’s favourite all-age community fitness event, MMJ Aquathon is back for 2023 and open for entries.

MMJ Aquathon is a fun, family-friendly, inclusive, community fitness event all ages can take part in and support Lifeline Southcoast.

Held in and around the beautiful Wollongong Harbour there is a fun mix of Aquathons (swim and run) with distances suitable for kids, beginner’s to those out for a longer challenge.

You can do both parts or tag team and split the swim and run.

For those that prefer dry land, the new Blue Mile 5 Funrun or walk is perfect.

Finisher medals, safety and professional services, stalls, a fun vibe and awesome community spirit are just some of what makes Aquathon so special.

Check out all you need to know and join in aquathon.com.au