Dear Parents and Caregivers

Welcome back to school for 2023! I hope your break has been restful and relaxing and you are ready for the year to be dynamic and exciting.

‘Accountability’ 

This year our theme is ‘accountability’. This is to take account of oneself, to be the best you can be, and to take responsibility for your actions. Accountability is different from responsibility as accountability requires evidence. Our young people today hear a lot about being responsible but not about being accountable. Some of the simple things are doing what you will say you will do - if you commit to catching up with someone you do it and do not ditch them for a better offer. What you do online - you are accountable for how you look towards others remembering that in the future it may be looked at by employers for what type of person you are! You are accountable for your learning. Learning is not something that is done ‘to you’ or ‘for you’ - you are accountable for your grades, your effort, and finally your results. Teachers facilitate by providing the curriculum but you are accountable to study and do your best. Sometimes there has to be short-term pain or missing out on things for long-term gains. To acquire bands 5 and 6 when you're in year 12 takes effort - they do not just happen because you are smart. It is hard work doing the study and it all starts in Year 7. 

Welcome to all our new families starting with Joey’s this year. Please be involved with your young person as they move through school. If you have any questions ask their Pastoral and Learning Support Coordinators (PALS) and get them assistance if they need it as early as possible. 

Welcome to our new staff - 

Miss Cristina Curcio - HSIE/ ENG/RE

Mr Gabe Akai - Maths/TAS

Ms Stephanie Powers - PDHPE

Ms Monique Hegarty - TAS

Mr Dimitri Zaris - TAS

Mrs Renee Logan - DLN

Mr Noah Casolin - Marketing Administration

Miss Sabine Abou - Faissal - Maths

Ms Helen Surma - Aboriginal Education Assistant

House System 

This year you will read a lot about the relaunch of Joey’s House system. This is to increase a student's sense of belonging to the community and being accountable to the community by contributing points to their House. This will be across all areas of the school, not just in the sports arena. All community members will be able to contribute points to their House and we are looking to develop a healthy sense of competition between Houses. Watch this space for the details moving forward. 

Uniform 

A reminder to please address uniform issues as soon as possible. In particular skirt length if your child has grown, and making sure that the haircuts are within the guidelines for the school. I would remind parents that on enrolment you all agreed to support the school policies in this area. School is not a ‘pick and choose’ what you do and don’t support; it is a package deal. If you cannot support this then I may suggest that St Joseph's may not be the place that is aligned with your family values. 

Goal Setting

We are asking all members of our community to set some goals for 2023 around their learning. This applies to teachers as well as students. Setting the goal is only the first step - it is then making a plan of how you are going to achieve that goal that is the important part. If you don't know how to achieve it then your second step is finding out what you need to do from a trusted adult or teacher. Goals across all our lives are important. If you ask your parents they may have goals they do at work. Some people in industry have KPIs that they must meet. In some families, there are recycling goals that they commit to or savings for a holiday. This list is endless but please discuss with your child what are going to be their learning goals and help them to find ways to improve their literacy and numeracy in particular. 

Our school goals for teachers in 2023 are

• By the end of 2023, the school reflected a school-wide commitment to the integration of a House System to increase the sense of belonging and engagement in learning. 
• By the end of 2023, data will be used to identify starting points and develop interventions in learning for improvement /growth in literacy/ numeracy and well-being.

These goals are supported by a plan that we as a staff will work through during the year. Parents will be asked to help us review the goals at the end of the year. 

Ms Amanda Wilson

Principal

Monday After School Study and Homework Sessions  

Last week, all students were informed that we are reintroducing 'Mundy' for all students in the school to support their learning. As of last Monday, 6th February, the School Library will be open every Monday afternoon from 3:30- 5:00 pm for students to study and complete homework and assignments. This is a supervised session and teachers will be present to help with research and give support with literacy and numeracy. All students are welcome to attend. However, in addition some students in Years 10, 11 and 12 may be placed on a Monday after school study / homework session if they have work that has not been completed. Parents and students will be informed if they been placed on one of these via email which will include the date they are required to attend.

School Uniform 

Thank you for your continued support by ensuring that your child is wearing the correct school uniform each day. All girls' skirts should now be of the correct regulation length to the knee. If your child presents out of uniform you will be notified via email and if the issue persists, your child's Homeroom Teacher will be in contact to request your support in correcting the issue. We thank you for your support with this school expectation which all parents, carers, and students have agreed to support upon enrolment at St. Joseph's

School Bus Travel - OPAL Cards

This week students were reminded that to be permitted free bus travel to and from school, the Department of Transport NSW has a compulsory requirement that each student has an OPAL card that they tap onto the bus for every trip to and from school.

Premier Illawarra will have inspectors on the buses in the near future, so parents are asked to ensure that your child has an OPAL card and remind them to make sure they are bringing it with them and tapping it every day as required.

2023 PARENT HANDBOOK - NOW AVAILABLE ON COMPASS

To support our parents, carers, and students to know where to find information regarding our School expectations and procedures the St Joseph's Catholic High School Parent Handbook can be accessed under School Resources on Compass. We hope our families will find this a helpful source of information. 

If you need assistance accessing the St Joseph's Compass Portal please call or email our SSO-Curriculum, Mrs. Penny Corradini via corradinip01@dow.catholic.edu.au

Jenny Bell

Assistant Principal

Dear Parents and Carers,

There are still some outstanding approvals for photo consent. No pictures can be posted online unless these consent forms are approved by you through your compass portals. Please ensure this is checked if you are still yet to do so.

Compass

Please ensure you are checking Compass regularly. All Important information and urgent announcements including Events, wet weather arrangements, cancellations, and any other general announcements will be posted through Compass.

Our Joey's girl's team got off to a strong start winning the opening doubles set and the first round of singles against St Benedict's. The following sets proved tough and we ultimately lost to St Benedict's despite some good rallies. Moving into the consolation round, we stepped our game back up beating Mt Carmel with some strong teamwork in the doubles. As the rain started sprinkling down we progressed to the finals and found ourselves against another tough opposing team. We, unfortunately, lost to St John's despite the determination demonstrated by the girls. Congratulations Madeleine Varga, Katelyn Blissett, Cadence Hardy, Stevie McLaren, and Talisha Ristevski. These girls played well, displayed great teamwork and a positive attitude, always encouraging each other and never giving up.

The boy's open tennis team consisted of the following players Austin Lewis, Noah Jewish, Keiran Blissett, and Cameron Culshaw. The Boys played extremely well throughout the day especially playing against much older students. The team lost their first match against an experienced Corpus Christi team with most of their games going to deuce.

The boys started to find their rhythm in their second match against St John's Campbelltown. The sets were evenly split however the total of games went to the opposition.

Thanks to all the students who competed in the three school trials and Mr Moran and Michelle Edwards for helping run the trials and picking the team.

A big thank you to Mr Lowrie and Mrs Hensman for coaching the students on the day.

We have a big and exciting year ahead of us for both school sport teams and individual athletes. 

Please note the school website will have relevant links and information for both school sport team selections and those wishing to nominate and register for a Diocesan team (Rugby, AFL & Netball) or NSWCCC sport.

Any issues regarding 2023 sport rep teams please contact the Sports Coordinator Miss Power.

Email: Powers01@dow.catholic.edu.au

Important links:

• Diocesan Sport

• CSNSW Sport

Elite/Aspiring Athlete Program Update

We have just locked in our date for the Term 1 workshop at Bai Med. This will occur in Week 7, Tuesday 7th March. We are looking forward to a big year ahead with many exciting events in the works. 

Sporting Success

Congratulations to Mackenzie Best who last week competed at the Regional Little Athletics Carnival in Griffith. Mackenzie had a very successful campaign achieving 1st place in the 1500m race walk with a season-best race. Later on, in the weekend, she threw a 1.6m personal best in the shot put to come away with 2nd place and another qualification for state championships. She also had great success in the 100m, long jump and triple jump placing in the top 8 for all three events and setting new season bests in the long jump and triple jump. 

Mackenzie will compete at the state championships in two events later on in March at Sydney Olympic Park. 

Well done Mackenzie and we wish you all the best in this competition. 

If your child has had sporting success outside of school we want to hear about it. 

Please email details through to Miss Power (powers01@dow.catholic.edu.au)

St Joseph’s Sport Instagram Page 

For all things sport follow our new social media page.

@sjchssports

Upcoming Sporting Events

2023 Year 12 Future Me Program (Applications opening on February 5 th , 2023, details below)

This program will commence in Week 2 Term 2 (week commencing 1 st  May 2023)
and will run during all NSW designated term weeks up to and including Week 4 Term
3 (week of August 7th 2023). In 2023 the program will run for 12 weeks on an
alternating weekly schedule of on-campus (odd weeks) and online (even weeks)
delivery, allowing students to flexibly access the program on various weekly
timeslots that suit them. UOW will also provide the option for a purely online cohort
of students to access the program delivery weekly if they have extenuating
circumstances restricting their transport or ability to access campus.
Applications for this free 12-week program for Year 12 students are now open.

 
Key Program Benefits

• Students who successfully complete the Year 12 Future Me program will be
  eligible for a guaranteed offer through the Early Admission program at
  either the University of Wollongong or UOW College (UOWC).
• Up to 20 hours of free Year 12 and beyond skills development under the
  guidance of our In2Uni mentors who are current UOW students with
  wonderful experience in navigating the HSC/IB, university life and post-
  school decision-making.
• Face-to-face and online subject resources to assist with the HSC.
• Opportunity to sit a ‘Mock HSC Exam’ prior to sitting the HSC Trial Exams to
  receive HSC marker feedback and advice.
• Assistance completing your post school admissions and UAC online
  applications.
• Mentoring to explore post-high school options, including higher education and
  pathways options based on your Year 12 academic performance.
• HSC study skills and academic strategies sessions

Program Flyer attached

This brochure will direct students to the Year 12 Future Me Website via a QR code
where they can access program information and apply.

Applying to Future Me Program (FMP)

https://www.uow.edu.au/engage/outreach-pathways/year-12/year-12-upp/

Applications open on February 5 th , 2023: 
Applications will close 11.59pm on Sunday 12th March 2023 

Students will be required to upload following with their application:
Australian Citizens - a copy of their birth certificate or CURRENT Australian
Passport.

Monday 13 th February all Year 12 students will be attending the UOW Discovery Day.
The day aims to give the student experiences similar to being a university student.
Students will be involved in sessions/ lectures during the day.

• Students need to be at school ( Church St) by 7.45 am.
• Full School uniform is required.

A Free 2hour Helping Learner Drivers Become Safer Drivers Parent Workshop is scheduled for Monday 13 February 2023 at 6pm in the Shellharbour Civic Centre Auditorium.

The Workshop aims to help you with practical advice about:

• Supervising learner drivers
• Completing the learner driver log book
• Providing on road driver practise
• L & P Plate licence laws

Bookings are essential

Book online: https://forms.office.com/r/Es4Vh9UU61

A big step towards achieving your goals is developing and maintaining a goal-setting mindset as the attitudes you develop will influence the way you view goal-setting. Approaching a task with a negative and self-defeating attitude makes it much harder to actually be successful at that task.

Try to foster a positive attitude when setting and trying to achieve your goals. A positive attitude means you are looking for ways to SUCCEED rather than focusing on the

difficulties and obstacles that could be in your path.

To create a more positive attitude:

- Each day, note down something you did towards achieving your goals.

- Note down any changes someone else has noticed e.g. your teacher says well done on

your work.

- Don’t stop trying if something goes wrong, rather, reassess your goals or decide if you

need to work harder to achieve them.

- Find a mentor or helper to encourage you to achieve your goals, possibly someone who

is interested in the same things or is good at the same subjects but is a bit further ahead

of you.

Other reasons why we don’t achieve our goals:

- No action plan.

- No true commitment to the goal.

- Not rewarding yourself along the way.

- Trying to focus on too many goals.

- Not preparing yourself for success.

- Fear of failure.

If you are still not achieving your goal, try this:

- Clarify your goal.

- Write a list of actions.

- Analyse, prioritise and prune.

- Organise your list into a plan.

- Monitor the execution of your plan and review your plan regularly.

- Ask for help!

You can learn more about goal setting and many other topics to help you achieve your best at school at www.studyskillshandbook.com.au, logging in with these details:

School's Username: stjosephsalbionpark

School's Password: marymackillop

Remember too that our school also has access to all of the video lessons in the Study Samurai Library. Just click on the green link at the top of the page when you log in.

To access the online library, go to studysamurailibrary.com and login with the above username and password.

Please note, the above username and password is for the use of the parents and students AT OUR SCHOOL ONLY – please do not pass our school’s details onto students or parents from other schools or other individuals or organisations as this is a prosecutable breach of copyright and also will result in frequent password changes for our school.