This week we have had some wonderful Reconciliation week activities. Our students participated in the Shellharbour walk and the taking of the whole school photo around the Sea of Hands was an incredible experience in logistics as well as education about the importance of reconciliation for the future of our nation. 

On the other side in the political arena there has been ongoing debate around the Voice referendum. It is good when there is open respectful discussion regarding the merit of the proposed changes. However it is disappointing to see some influential members use this as an opportunity to divide our community. Teaching young people how to engage with respect is more difficult given what they see on social media. Please discuss with your young  person the importance of being able to engage with meaningful dialogue and at times we can agree or disagree without impacting on relationships. 

At school we use the term ‘use your voice’ to make a difference or give them a ‘voice’ in decision making. 

Our Year 10 students are going through the process of subject selection. I encourage all students and families to make informed decisions - gather information, talk to the right people with knowledge rather than opinion  - listen to yourself (the ‘gut’) then make a decision and work towards being successful in that field. 

Year 7 enrolments for 2024 will be going out this week. It is pleasing to see that we are over subscribed. When parents/caregivers and students have been in for interviews the positive opinion of the school in the community is a pleasure as it demonstrates how our students are presenting themselves in the community.  

Keep an eye on the House scores! It is exciting to see students engage in House and CASA activities on a Friday. Parents/caregivers are very welcome to attend House Liturgy events and we are pleased to see you here. 

Kind Regards,

Ms Amanda Wilson

End of Semester Exams

Students in Years 7 and 8 are currently completing end of semester exams this week. Students in Years 9 and 10 will sit their exams next week. A reminder that students need to ensure they have all the required materials needed to allow them to successfully complete their set exams (eg; pens, pencils, rulers, calculators, etc). We appreciate that students do occasionally forget to bring items to school but we cannot guarantee that we will be able to provide these items for students in exams if they do not bring them - especially items like calculators or rulers if large numbers of students do not bring them. Organisation at home for any school day is a student responsibility and a key part of our ‘Ready to Learn’ requirements for students.

Trial HSC Exams

These are scheduled for Weeks 3 and 4 of Term 3. The exam timetable should be distributed to students next week. The remainder of Term 2 is a busy time for students with most subjects holding final assessment tasks in coming weeks. Students are encouraged to consider the impact of outside factors such as part time work to allow time to successfully complete these tasks and develop a home study routine to help prepare for these exams.

Year 11 2024 Subject Selection

The process of subject selection with Year 10 continues. Thanks to the students and families who attended our information night on Tuesday. We hope you found it valuable support for this process. This week students and parents were issued a copy of the Subject Selection Handbook. This contains all the information about Stage 6 education, courses being offered as well as the NESA requirements for HSC subject selection. Please take the time to review the manual and use it as a guide when looking to choose your subjects. Students were also issued a Subject Eligibility sheet outlining recommended levels of performance in various subjects linked to the courses being offered in Year 11.

In the coming weeks, we will be running mentor interviews for students and parents/carers with our school leaders. These will be face to face however parents/carers can zoom in if that is preferable. This will lead up to our initial subject selection towards the end of the term. More information on these steps will be provided closer to each event.

As always if you have any questions regarding curriculum matters please email or call the Curriculum Office at any time.

Photo Consent

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.

School Fees

This week was National Reconciliation Week. On Wednesday 31 May, we stood in solidarity and reflected on the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. To move forward, we need to acknowledge centuries of racism and injustice. The Sea of Hands activity is to inspire allyship for future generations towards reconciliation. 

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2023, Be a Voice for Generations, encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work, and socialise.

For the work of generations past, and the benefit of generations future, let’s choose to create a more just, equitable, and reconciled country for all. This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, Be a Voice for Generations, urges all Australians to use their power, their words, and their actions to create a better, more just Australia for all of us.

Last Friday on National Sorry Day our Aboriginal Education Officer Josephine paid a special visit to the MacKillop Learning Centre to discuss with the students the significance of Ochre to the Aboriginal people. They learnt about its many uses and even got to have some on their face.

Hidden beneath the city, an electronic labyrinth awaited in the abandoned railway tunnels below Wynyard Station, open to the public for the very first time as a Vivid installation called Dark Spectrum.

Year 12 Drama students got to experience this incredible display across eight monochromatic rooms, in a transportive multi-sensory experience inspired by the euphoria found on underground dancefloors. Guided through a progression of colour, each room is also associated with a new mood.

School Photo Day is Thursday 8 June. Group and portrait photographs can be purchased by following the link below or by returning the order envelope with your payment to our photographer on school photo day.

2 easy ways to purchase:

• Visa, MasterCard, or PayPal
• Cash – complete the envelope supplied and return it to our photographer on photo day

Or visit: www.advancedlife.com.au

And enter online order code: EYT LFZ GBV

School photography information:

Online orders - Do not require an envelope returned to your school.

Sibling Photos - Don’t forget to pre-order your sibling photos online up to 24 hours before photo day. We provide your school with a list of sibling orders right up to the day of photography, so no one misses out. If you miss the online order deadline, you can submit a completed sibling order envelope first thing in the morning of the day of photography, so your school is aware you want the photo taken and can bring your children together in time for it. Sibling photographs only apply to children enrolled at your school. 

Late fees - a late fee will be applied to each package purchased after photo day due to the additional cost of producing these packages separately.

Package delivery - School photographs will be returned approximately 6 weeks after the day of photography. Please note this delivery timeframe is dependent on proofing and additional photography days at your school.

Cadbury Chocolate Fundraising for the School Musical

School Musical - TICKETS go on SALE June 2nd
Tickets for our upcoming school musical - The Wizard of Oz -Youth Edition will go on sale Friday, June 2 at 7:00pm.

Buy Tickets Here

Students in the school musical will be selling chocolates in the coming weeks to raise funds to assist in the presentation of our school musical "The Wizard of Oz" Youth Edition.

The cast and crew (and teachers) have been rehearsing every Monday and Wednesday after school along with some Sunday rehearsals leading to the show at Roo Theatre in Shellharbour Village from 28th June - 1st July. Tickets will go on sale June 2 at 7pm.
If any parents/carers who have a business that may be able to help sell a few chocolate boxes, please get in touch with Mrs Elise Burns and she will organise these for you.

burnse01@dow.catholic.edu.au

Mrs Elise Burns

Last Friday we launched our first session of 'The Nook'. This is a student-voice, student-led initiative that aims to develop a sense of community within St Joseph's. Each session is built on a Josephite value where the Youth Ministry Leaders develop a session that promotes that value. Last week it was the theme of Justice where YMLs invited students that lacked connections with others or students in other year groups to join in relationship building activities.

Year 12 Hospitality 

Kofta 

The class tried a new recipe this week that involved new flavours and cookery methods. The eggplants were chargrilled to dry them out and create a smoky flavour and lots of new spices were used in the koftas. The students enjoyed the taste of the combination of spices, lemon, lamb and grilled zucchini.

Bread Baking

This week the students learnt a variety of bread making techniques under the guidance of Mr Ferderer to create a selection of baked goods for the staff! The breads created included:

• Chilli Cheese Twists
• Caramel Apple Swirls
• Brioche Bread - of French origin whose high egg and butter content gives it a rich and tender crumb.
• Focaccia - a flat leavened oven-baked Italian bread, similar in style and texture to pizza
• Naan Bread - a leavened, oven-baked, or tawa-fried flatbread that is mainly found in the Indian or Asian cuisine
• Challah Bread - a special bread of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, usually braided and typically eaten on ceremonial occasions such as Shabbat and major Jewish holidays.

Diocesan Cross Cross Country

A fantastic day out by our St Joseph’s students who gave it their all to complete the very tough Nowra Cross Country Course. We had some great successes with our senior students, with Grace Pomery, Tayissa Buchanan, Lachlan Haining & Bailey Miller all making it through the CCC later this term. Congratulations to all students who attended and competed on the day. Your points are invaluable to our school's overall tally in the Vince Villa trophy.

I would like to thank Mr Maguire and Mr Lewis for taking this team.

Grace Pomery - 1st Place U18s
Tayissa Buchanan - 2nd Place U17s
Lachlan Haining - 2nd Place U18s
Bailey Miller - 5th Place U18s

JNR AFL Teams

AFL is fast approaching with our boy's team Competing at Figtree Ovals next Wednesday and our girl's team competing in Week 8. These teams have been lucky enough to be training with South Coast AFL to improve their skills. Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent St Joseph’s.

Netball Teams

On Friday 16th June (Week 8), we have our Junior, Intermediate, and Senior Netball teams competing at the Diocesan Gala Day at Berkeley. Congratulations to the following students who have been selected to represent our school.

Upcoming School Team Events

Open Boys & Girls Hockey - Week 9, Monday 19th June

Open Boys & Girls Volleyball - Week 9, Wednesday 21st June

Wollongong Dance Eisteddfod - Saturday 1st July

Diocesan Athletics Carnival - Term 3, Week 2, Friday 28th July

Sporting Success

Emily Hollingsworth

Congratulations to Emily Hollingsworth who last week played as part of the NSWCCC U15s AFL team in Albury. Emily’s team won the tournament and she has been successfully selected into the NSW All Schools U15s Team. She is the first 13 year old to be selected for this team and will have the opportunity to make the Australian team at the end of July. Incredible work Emily, we wish you all the best.

Charlee Buckman & Zali Schofield

Congratulations to Zali Schofield and Charlee Buckman who have been selected to play in the NSWCCC Open Girls Hockey team later this month. These girls also recently played for the Illawarra U18s Team and won Division 1 NSW championships with a hard-fought win over Newcastle in the final.

Kobi Shaw

Congratulations to Kobi Shaw who recently played in the U15 Boys Illawarra Hockey team and won the Division 1 NSW Championships.

Indianna Surian

Congratulations to Indianna who recently competed at the Australian Gymnastics Championships and won the Senior International Women’s Trio. The trio was also awarded the 2022 National Level Group of the Year.

Mackenzie Best

Mackenzie Best recently represented our school as part of the Diocesan Girls Soccer Team. This took place in Sydney over a 2 day carnival. Well done Mackenzie.

Lewis Mercieca

Congratulations to Lewis Mercieca who has been selected for the U18s 2023 Performance Pathways Program for NSW Baseball. Lewis has also played in the U18’s Country team and competed at the Australian Youth Championships earlier this year. Congratulations Lewis, and we wish you all the best with your training in this team.

Mitchell Whalan

Congratulations to Mitchell who has had a fantastic cricket season. He was awarded the Under 12's Illawarra Rep Player of the Year. He then trialled for the Greater Illawarra Cricket Zone team and was successful in the U13s Illawarra Highlanders Regional Academy and Youth Championships Team. 

Shakira Buys

Congratulations to Shakira Buys who has been selected for the U15 Illawarra Storm AFL Representative team. She will compete against other regions from NSW in the coming months. 

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

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

St Joseph’s Sports Instagram Page 

For all things sports follow our new social media page.

@SJCHSSPORTS

My name is Sue Kennedy and I am the Transition and Pathways Specialist at Joey’s. This is the role of Careers Adviser, which may be more the role you are familiar with as parents and carers. My role is to support your child in career planning for their transition from school to the next stage of their lives. Examples of what this involves include :

- Interviewing students on a one to one basis from referrals usually from staff
- Conducting small group workshops
- Organising events to create awareness of career paths available
- Career planning with Year 12
- Organising career lessons for students Yrs 7-10

This fortnight the following events are planned :

- Year 10 are going to be on Campus at UOW for the Future Finders Day June 7. This
aims to support Year 10 with their subject selection and will explore pathways at
UOW, UOW College and TAFE. Students need to be at school at 7.40am on the day
to board the bus for an 8am start.
- Year 10 Careers Lesson,June 7 to support subject selection for senior studies
- Ongoing Year 12 career planning one to one interviews
- Expressions of Interest have been emailed to all Year 10,11 and 12 students for
coming events including apprenticeship support and BlueScope Engineering
Cadetship talks at school

The following information may be useful to some of our community :

University of Sydney | Pathways to Studying Law
June 7, 2023
Are you interested in pursuing a career in law? Join us to find out about the University of Sydney’s Bachelor of Laws and how it will provide you with the skills, knowledge, and
connections to become an internationally focused lawyer.
Find out more

University of Sydney | Pathways to Oral Health and Dentistry for Indigenous Students
June 7, 2023
The Faculty of Medicine and Health has introduced an entry pathway for Indigenous and
Torres Strait Islander students who aspire to become dentists. This pioneering program
starts with a TAFE Certificate III in Dental Assistance, which provides the foundation for
admission to the Bachelor of Oral Health (BOH) at the University of Sydney. After completing the BOH, students can apply for entry into the Doctor of Dental Medicine program that leads to becoming a qualified dentist. This initiative is the first in Australia to offer pre-high school to postgraduate dentistry qualifications for Indigenous students, providing an unparalleled opportunity to pursue a fulfilling career in dentistry.
Find out more

Charles Sturt | Charles Sturt Advantage Information Session
June 7, 2023
Applications for the Charles Sturt Advantage early offer program are now open! This
information session will give more detail about the program, including how to apply, what makes a strong application, and some frequently asked questions.
Find out more

ADF | Women in Defence Virtual Information Session
June 8, 2023
Consider a career in the Navy, Army or Air Force and work alongside likeminded, supportive, proud serving men and women. Tune in for a virtual info session to speak with current serving women in Defence to learn more.
Find out more

NSW Mining - Careers

Find out more

The Women's College

The Women’s College Applications for 2024 are now open. Find out more

UAC Digital | Let’s Chat – Applying to the Schools Recommendation Scheme

Coming up in a few months. While the ATAR is still the main selection tool used by most universities, there are other ways for you to show that you’re ready to succeed at uni. Many institutions have one or more early offer schemes for Year 12 students. Through these schemes, institutions assess you using criteria other than (or in addition to) your ATAR. We’ll give you an overview of the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) and discuss:
● how to apply
● whether you’re guaranteed early entry if you apply
● other universities’ direct early entry schemes
● how many early entry schemes you can apply for.

Find out more

Charles Sturt | EngFest 2023

June 6 to June 8, 2023 : EngFest is Charles Sturt’s annual three-day celebration of civil engineering, with exhibitions and presentations of student works and research, school visits and information sessions, a careers expo, industry networking, professional development events and more. It brings together students, cadet and professional civil engineers, researchers, representatives of Engineers Australia, interested members of the public and school students. We invite you to come along to meet the engineers of tomorrow and see what the future of engineering holds.

Find out more

Scholarships

Scholarships for Underrepresented Students in Australia

We believe that education is a journey that should be accessible to all. Recognising the
importance of diversity and inclusivity, lots of organisations and universities have established scholarship opportunities to support students from underrepresented backgrounds. These scholarships aim to empower students from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that their potential is realised and their dreams are within reach. In this article, we’ll explore some of the scholarship opportunities available for different underrepresented groups.

Find out more

Indigenous Scholarships

Australia’s rich indigenous heritage is celebrated through various scholarships designed to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. These scholarships aim to create pathways for Indigenous students to excel academically and pursue their aspirations. Some examples include:

● The Charlie Perkins Scholarship
● The Australian Indigenous Education Foundation

Women in STEM Scholarships

Encouraging gender diversity in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and
Mathematics (STEM) is crucial for a thriving future. Several scholarships are specifically
targeted towards young women with a passion for STEM. Here are some you might like to apply for:

● The Elevate: Boosting women in STEM Scholarship
● The Defence Women in STEM Undergraduate Scholarships

Scholarships for Students with Disabilities

Recognising the talents and potential of students with disabilities, scholarships have been established to remove barriers and create equal opportunities. These scholarships provide financial support and resources to help students overcome challenges. For instance:

● The Maple Scholarship Program
● Vision Australia’s Further Education Bursaries

Scholarships for Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds

Many scholarships are dedicated to supporting students from disadvantaged backgrounds, ensuring they have the opportunity to pursue their educational goals. These scholarships provide financial aid, mentorship, and guidance. Examples include:

● The Smith Family Learning for Life Program
● The Pinnacle Foundation

Scholarships can play a vital role in fostering inclusivity and diversity in education. They can empower underrepresented students and open doors to a world of opportunities that might otherwise be inaccessible. We encourage anyone to explore the scholarship opportunities available – you never know what might be out there. You can find more scholarships on our database here.

2024 Junior Accountant role at BLG

Applications are now open for Junior Accountant roles in our team. Successful applicants will start in February 2024 in a full-time position while you study part-time. Our strong mentoring and learning culture means you get to learn on the job what you study at University, plus gain a wealth of experience to get your career well underway.

Find out more about the position and apply here now - don't wait until it's too late! Early applications are favourably looked upon. Applications close on Monday, 19 June 2023.

Apply Here

Please email kennedys01@dow.catholic.edu.au for more information

UAC HELP

Year 12 Students have been made aware that if they need support with their University Admission Process to email kennedys01@dow.catholic.edu.au

Singing Lessons will be held in the music rooms every Friday at lunch time with Mrs Minns. All students are welcome regardless of experience or training.

Habits of Highly Effective Students

Effective students are those who have learnt to study smarter rather than harder. Below is a list of the top habits that effective students do.

MAKE THE MOST OF CLASSTIME: You are going to be sitting in class anyway, so you may as well make the most of the experience! Time wasted in class is lost learning opportunities or time you need to make up at home. To make the most of classtime stay on task and be as involved as you can in the lesson.

ASK QUESTIONS OFTEN: Students who are effective will ask questions when they don’t understand something, they don’t wait until 3 weeks into the topic then say ‘I don’t understand any of this!’. So if you aren’t sure about something, then ask your teacher.

COMPLETE ALL HOMEWORK: Your teachers are giving you the homework for a reason, even if you are unsure what the reason might be! It is all part of building your learning in the subject. Focus on putting 100% effort into completing all homework to the best of your ability.

DO INDEPENDENT LEARNING: Students who do well academically do more than just the set homework. Rather than cramming just before an exam, they learn as they go. This means the nights they don’t have much homework they step up and take responsibility for their learning and ask themselves ‘what else could I be doing to help me understand and learn my subjects?’. Often this entails reviewing previous work that was difficult or preparing study notes in advance.

ARE FOCUSED WHEN WORKING: Students who are effective usually work in blocks of time at home, anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, but in that time they focus on the task at hand. This means they have removed all distractions and commit that when they are working on schoolwork, they are just working on schoolwork – no personal activities at the same time.

WORK SMART FOR ASSESSMENTS: Effective students spend time when they are given an assessment ensuring they understand the requirements and the marking criteria. They work to the guidelines of the assessment and approach the task systematically, making a plan and setting targets for when they want to complete each step.

NEVER CONFUSE ‘READING’ WITH ‘STUDYING’: Effective learners know how to study properly for a test. They know that just reading your notes over and over is not an effective way to learn. Instead, they read a section then test themselves on it, seeing what they can say out loud or write down. They also do lots of revision questions or past exam papers so they can practise the skills of the subject and identify areas of weakness.

www.studyskillshandbook.com.au

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.