28 August 2020 - Newsletter (Vol 37 No 14)
- Principal's Message
- Assistant Principal - Mission - Staff and Student Wellbeing
- Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
- School Evangelisation
- Catholic Studies
- Curriculum Matters
- School Counsellors
- Year Coordinators
- Music
- Food Technology
- Languages
- Science
- Visual Art
- PDHPE
- Sports Corner
- Office News
- Compulsory School Attendance
Every other day it seems new rules and regulations are coming out regarding what schools can and can’t do in terms of responding to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
I simply want to say to all families thank you for your patience, understanding and cooperation as we work through this together. Thank you for:
- keeping your children home when they are not well.
- not coming into the school buildings or spaces.
- letting us know when things aren’t travelling as well as they could be and what we can do to help.
- responding to our text messages regarding your child’s absence.
- understanding as we try to keep the experience at school as ‘normal’ as possible.
- engaging with staff via zoom, emails and phone calls.
It is so important that we remain as connected as we possibly can be, but to be honest I am missing our whole school assemblies and events where we can physically be together. Connection and belonging are important in building the culture of the school - it tells all people I am valued and cared for.
I have not had the chance to say it directly to our parents and students as often as I have in the past but I hope that you all know there is a place here at SJPC where you do matter and where your unique gifts are part of what makes us a community.
ZOOM P & F in Term 4
Unfortunately we haven’t been able to meet as a parent group since Term 1. I am planning on a zoom meeting in Term 4 to reconnect with parents as a way of staying abreast of developments and agendas in the College. I will have more on this early next term.
God bless
Michael Carniato
Principal
Recently the students in Years 7, 8 and 9 were visited by the Police School's Liaison Officer Senior Constable Snow. The topics that were explored included safe and positive social media use, violence in school whether it be actual or threatened, the use of drugs and alcohol and the legal ramifications involved with unacceptable behaviours in any of these areas. Senior Constable Snow addressed the students in a friendly yet forthright manner and we thank her for her work with our students.
While all these areas are very important, safe online use needs our particular focus. As parents we must remember that we are the primary educator of our children and the behaviour we exhibit will often be copied by our children. Two articles on The Parenting Ideas website entitled “Protecting your child’s online privacy” and “Creating healthy digital habits in kids” reminds us how to protect ourselves and more importantly our children. Some time reflecting on our own behaviour and the advice offered in these articles would be time well spent.
Parenting Ideas - Protecting your child's online privacy
Parenting Ideas - Creating healthy digital habits in kids
Last week the Year 9 and Year 11 SRC students cooked a pancake breakfast for some of the Year 11 Homerooms. This was a great time for conversation and a little break away from the normal way of life at school. We are looking to extend this practice over coming weeks and months to all students at the College. We thank the students for their efforts in this area.
Until next time:
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Psalm 32:8
Assistant Principal - Mission
Staff and Student Wellbeing
Why is attending school important?
In the last newsletter I wrote about the legalities of school attendance. I have included the CSO flyer with information for families of the specific requirements for secondary schools at the end of this newsletter
This week I would like to further extend this discussion by highlighting some academic reading backing up the need for students to attend and engage in schools.
"Everyday Counts" (Hancock 2013) when it comes to attendance, especially when we are relating it to student achievement and positive experiences throughout adolescence. Research suggests that good attendance correlates to growth in student achievement and promotes a sense of belonging and connectedness with their community.
Conversely, absenteeism can also contribute to social isolation, lack of engagement with learning and with the school community and peers, and emotional and behavioural difficulties (Carroll, 2013; Gottfried, 2014). It is also associated with an increased likelihood of ‘drop-out’ from schooling altogether (Keppens & Spruyt, 2017; London, Sanchez, Castrechini, & Castrechini, 2016).
Further information and research can be found at AITSL’s website dealing with Attendance matters
Year 11 Assessment
This week I met with Year 11 students and addressed some concerns on assessment as they conclude their Preliminary Course.
I referred students to the NESA Common Grade Scale for Yr 11 that is used to report on student achievement across their Preliminary Courses.
The College made a conscious decision earlier in the year to grade A-E style using a 'continuous assessment' approach to our courses. As a follow on effect there is no need for a final exam with weightings or an examination block.
Many students will have a variety of in-class tasks and submissions to be completed by the end of Term 3 but not in the traditional exam week of previous years.
Study Skills:
Visit www.studyskillshandbook.com.au to learn more about how you can make your life easier by being a more effective and efficient learner:
Username: stjohnpaul
Password: 89success
In addition, our subscription to Elevate Education may assist in this area.
This online platform contains resources and useful study tips that all SJPC students will find effective. We encourage them to access this Student Portal and try some of the strategies. Students have the password to this site. The password can also be found on the Curriculum Noticeboard.
James Furey
Assistant Principal
Learning and Teaching
In Year 10 at SJPC, students take part in Catholic Studies, or, Youth Ministry. In preparation for the Year 10 Youth Ministry elective in 2021, all of our Year 9 students will be introduced to this unique opportunity in the coming fortnight (Thursday 10th September). At the end of this brief, one period introduction, all students will receive an information and application form to take home. Students are encouraged to discuss this opportunity with their family and discern if they would like to participate in a valuable opportunity to deepen their own faith, with the intention of sharing God’s Love with others. Applications will remain open for the remainder of this term. Please contact myself or Mr Boshier if you have any questions about this exciting opportunity.
Thursday 10th September is ‘R U OK? Day’. To join in solidarity with one another, all Catholic schools in the Lismore diocese have been invited to participate in Christian Meditation on this day. Using this video prepared by St Mary’s College in Casino, our college will participate in #lismmeditates. Feel free to join us in meditation from your own home or workplace on this special occasion.
A couple of weeks ago, some of the Catholic Studies faculty attended some Zoom workshops given by Dr Edward Sri to further develop our knowledge and understanding of Scripture. It was a brilliant day full of rich insights that we have all gained from. I am aware that there are parents and carers who have also been looking for some resources to further their own faith journey so please find attached the recordings of all the workshops we attended along with links to some recommended titles you may want to try out.
Session 1 - Walking with Mary: From Nazareth to Jerusalem view it or download it from here
If you would like to read further on this topic, here are some recommended titles:
- Rethinking Mary in the New Testament: What the Bible Tells Us about the Mother of the Messiah - Dr Edward Sri
- Walking with Mary: A Biblical Journey from Nazareth to the Cross - Dr Edward Sri
- Queen Mother: A Biblical Theology of Mary's Queenship - Dr Edward Sri
- The Ignatian Catholic New Testament on Formed - Dr Scott Hahn
Session 2 - A Biblical Walk through the Mass: Understanding the Scripture Foundation of the Liturgy view it or download it from here.
If you would like to read further on this topic, here are some recommended titles:
- A Biblical Walk Through the Mass - Dr Edward Sri
- The Ignatian Catholic New Testament on Formed - Dr Scott Hahn
Session 3 - Salvation History view it or download it from here
If you would like to read further on this topic, here are some recommended titles:
- Bible Basics for Catholics: A New Picture of Salvation History - Dr John Bergsma
- The Ignatian Catholic New Testament on Formed - Dr Scott Hahn
Session 4 - The Bible Compass view it or download it from here
If you would like to read further on this topic, here are some recommended titles:
- The Bible Compass : A Catholic's Guide to Navigating the Scriptures - Dr Edward Sri
- The Ignatian Catholic New Testament on Formed - Dr Scott Hahn
God bless and peace be with you all.
Caroline Doyle
Leader of Learning – Catechesis
Week 6 of Term 3 has been a busy week for all things Curriculum.
Year 12
As you know all written Year 12 Trial HSC examinations have been completed this week with Year 12 teachers busy marking papers, ready to give feedback to their students on how they can improve their responses, techniques and approach to study.
We would like to thank the students for their diligence and co-operation over the past 2 weeks, and encourage them to continue to strive for improvement and excellence in all that they do.
Year 10
This week students have spent time in homeroom reflecting on their learning and their future goals. Parents of returning students received Confirmation and Reflection Packs on Wednesday. These packs have been designed in order to finalise the 2021 Stage 6 subject selection process. Usually we are able to meet with returning students and their parents to discuss what it means to be a senior student at SJPC. However, COVID-19 restrictions have, unfortunately, prevented this enriching experience from happening.
Year 8
Thank you to all students for being so well organised in regard to submitting their Elective preferences to the Curriculum Office. The vast majority of students received their first preferences or reserve choice, and those that needed to re-select have been counselled about their options. Three new 100 hour courses have proven popular and have been added to the 2021 pattern of study for Year 9 - Digging Deeper, Eat Around the World, and Sport Performance and Exercise Studies. Elective confirmation letters will be given to families early in Term 4.
Staff are now busily writing programs for these courses and are excited that students are willing to experience something new and challenging.
Stage 6 students studying HSC Japanese
This Saturday, seven of our students will be completing their HSC oral exams for Japanese. We wish them well.
Once again I would like to thank all those in our community who are supportive of the processes and changes that have been implemented by the College during these challenging times. Our focus is to support and improve the learning outcomes and wellbeing of students in our care. We cherish each and every student and approach all that we do with them in mind.Elevate Seminars
It is great to see so many of our parents making use of the Elevate Education Seminars!
Claudia Brown
Leader of Curriculum
This newsletter we would like to share with you about a program that we offer at St John Paul College called Seasons for Growth. This is a program that has been run at the college since 1996 by our Seasons for Growth trained School Counsellors and Teachers. We recognise that life can be difficult for a while when changes occur in families or in our lives through death, separation, divorce or related circumstances. The Seasons for Growth program is an opportunity for students to learn with a small group of peers who have experienced similar issues. The program helps students learn new skills to cope effectively with change and loss. A core message is that change and loss are a part of life and grief is a normal response to loss. The program focuses on developing strengths in areas such as self-esteem, managing feelings, problem-solving, decision-making, communication and building support networks. Seasons for Growth is not counselling. It is an education program that uses a wide range of creative activities to help students learn how to manage well in times of change.
Comments from students who have attended Seasons for Growth include ‘I can feel happy and sad about my family change. Every feeling I have is normal’ and ‘I would say that it was an amazing experience and that I got a lot out of it. I would definitely recommend it’. A parent shared ‘This program has been so beneficial for my son. It has helped him make sense of his feelings, what they mean and how to deal with them in a way that we as his parents have not been able to show him. I would highly recommend this program.’
This term we are offering students in Year 9 and 10 the opportunity to participate in Seasons for Growth. In future terms we will offer this program to other year groups. We will notify the relevant families at this time.
If you would like to explore the program further you can visit the website https://www.goodgrief.org.au/seasons-for-growth
You are also welcome to contact us if you have any questions.
Year 12
Throughout this year our senior students have had to face a reality that hasn’t been faced before. This week they are finishing off their Trial exams and now await results, however this is only one part of their final term at school.
The next few weeks will be unprecedented but this should be embraced. We have the opportunity to set new standards and make awesome memories.
Of course the final few weeks of Term three is an opportunity to get feedback from trial exams, identify strengths and weaknesses, and utilise the dedicated classroom teachers before Term four, but it is also some of the most memorable time that students spend at school.
It’s a time when our seniors are celebrated and lauded for their efforts and achievements across their schooling life. So enjoy the time because it will go very fast and I look forward to sharing it with you.
Year 12 fundraising would like to thank everyone who purchased something from the recent Pie Drive. Sharon Scipione and the team from Bananacoast Hotbake did a fantastic job and the students would like to thank them for their support.
The College also supported our seniors via a College mufti day and supporting cake stall. The day was also made a great success by the Maintenance team of Kris, Rod and Rogan (along with some Yr 12 helpers) running a sausage sizzle for lunch, all Covid safe of course. The efforts of all the students raised nearly $2000 of much needed funds for their chosen charities.
Their fundraising efforts are finishing up over the next two weeks with an online auction of items that were donated for the cancelled trivia night. This week the auction contained a pack of Wests Tigers NRL items including a signed jersey and also a $300 gift voucher from Rebel Sport.
Information was emailed out to parents this week and you can view and bid on next week's auction of a signed Sydney Thunder BBL cricket bat, $300 Rebel gift voucher and Stihl gift pack at Year 12 Fundraising Online Auction.
Another big thanks goes to Newcombe Coachlines for their continued support to our Year 12 fundraising efforts.
I’d like to take this opportunity to remind both parents and seniors alike that the College remains supportive to you over the next few weeks and months and don’t hesitate to seek assistance anytime.
NESA home > COVID-19 > Coronavirus advice > Year 11 and HSC also continues to supply students and families with important information and links regarding the HSC and senior study programs. It’s well worth checking it out via the link above.
Mark Coster
Year 12 Coordinator
Coffs Harbour and District Eisteddfod
This year’s Coffs Harbour and District Eisteddfod was held at the Jetty Memorial Theatre from 17th - 20th August. The program featured many of our very talented students who competed and performed across a number of sections. These students and their achievements are as follows:
Congratulations to all of our students on their achievements.
Mark Hoare
Leader of Learning - Music & Drama
Children’s Birthday Cake Creations
This term the Year 9 Food Technology classes have been studying a unit on Celebrations Around the World. Throughout the unit they are looking at why and how we use food to celebrate, as well as the many and varied ways that different cultures celebrate particular occasions.
The main focus of this unit has been designing a children’s birthday party, with the practical component being the creation of a themed birthday cake.
The four classes worked tirelessly in their party planning, creating beautiful invitations, delicious menus, and of course producing stunning cakes.
Students were able to use their cake decorating skills learned in the week 1 workshop to showcase their chosen themes through a wide variety of cake designs.
A vast array of themes were explored and the students were able to take home their amazing creations to show their families. All should be very proud of the work they produced!
Susan Haley
Teacher - Technology & Applied Studies
Onigiri making with Year 9
This term Year 9 Japanese students are learning about school life in Japan and comparing it with ours here in Australia. One of the biggest differences our students have noticed is that in Japan they do not have recess - instead they enjoy a 10 minute break between each lesson. They also have 2 homerooms each day, with the final one at the end of the day to allow time for students to clean their classrooms - yes, that’s right, students do the cleaning!! It goes without saying that graffiti and litter are not issues in Japanese schools!
Another major difference is what they eat for lunch. These days in Japan it is popular for parents (mostly Mums) to make Kyara-Ben which are bento boxes with an animation or cartoon theme. A huge amount of time goes into ensuring the food is highly nutritious and looks cute too.
To experience Japanese lunches first hand, last Wednesday the Year 9 class made onigiri - Japanese rice balls, which are a common food item found in Japanese lunch boxes. While practicing excellent Covid-safe hygiene we had a whole lot of fun creating these simple yet delicious snacks.
Leanne Gennat
Leader of Pedagogy / Japanese Teacher
Yr 7 Science - Practical Investigations
Students have been learning about unicellular and multicellular organisms.
Questions were raised about the difference between bacteria and viruses from various students and how they get passed from one person to another. This led to a discussion on the use of hand sanitizer and reasons for not touching our face.
Two classes decided to run an experiment with plain white bread. The class had to talk about the importance of using a control (untouched bread) as a reference for the experiment. They chose to touch bread with unwashed hands, touch bread with hands cleaned with hand sanitizer and one piece of bread was touched to the face. These samples were placed in labelled and sealed zip-lock bags and left for four days. Students wrote a hypothesis for the experiment and discussions around prediction and past experience were enthusiastically debated.
Results can be seen below, class reactions wavered between excitement and disgust! Clearly, the importance of not touching your face is something that students will be mindful of from now on!
Teacher - Science
Early last term, Yr 7 students learned about the elements of art and design, line and tone and the myriad of effects they create in artworks. In applying their knowledge of these elements through their artmaking.
The word ‘Neurographica’ comprises two words: neuron = “a cell that carries messages between the brain and other parts of the body and that is the basic unit of the nervous system”; and ‘graphics’= “the artistic use of pictures, shapes, and words”. It was developed by Russian psychologist Pavel Piskarev in 2014 and is often used as a form of art therapy. From a brain perspective, solving a problem means “switching on” a number of neurons that connect to each other & the more neurons connected and involved in the task, the more energy we have to approach it, the more motivated we are. From a graphic perspective, neural networks are represented by circle-like shapes connected by lines.They look like any natural structure such as atoms, molecules, etc.
I think you would agree that the students have created some dynamic artworks.
Year 11 SLR & 11 PDHPE Outdoor Education Excursion
This term over 60 students travelled to Sealy Lookout in Coffs Harbour for their annual Outdoor Education experience. TreeTops Adventure Park aims to maximise the potential for excitement in a natural setting whilst having a minimum impact on the environment. The facilities offer a unique combination of adventurous fun for all ages and abilities. Students were given a safety and technique briefing, provided with their equipment and were quickly in the trees. They were then free to explore their limits and work together to overcome the many different challenges at their disposal. The variety of courses involved a mixture of climbing, zip lining and swinging through the tree tops. The weather was fantastic and the student’s attitude and involvement was excellent throughout the day.
Kurt Marle
Leader of Learning - PDHPE
Year 9 and 10 Sport
Permission and payment notes have been sent home this week. Students are to return the signed note to the front office regardless of method of payment. Both student and parent must sign the note.
Only students who are involved in payment sports will receive a note.
Any students who want to change their sport must do so before the end of Week 9. After this date, students will be charged for the sport they have signed up for.
Thank you in advance for your understanding. As you can appreciate, COVID restrictions can change at any time. We have put forward the sports we have for Term 4 believing they will all run. Should a sport need to be changed or cancelled, we will do our best to reallocate sport to those students involved.
Due to the changes to the school calendar, the Year 10 Canberra and work experience will not be going ahead in Term 4. As a result, the original quoted price for sport will need to be changed to account for the extra week of sport the students will now undertake. If you have any concerns, please contact the school.
More Cancellations
With renewed restrictions in place, a reminder the following Diocesan carnivals have been cancelled:
- Diocesan Volleyball (normally Term 4, Week 1)
- Diocesan Gymnastics (normally Term 4, Week 3)
For the latest cancellations, please regularly check the Diocesan sport website and the CSNSW sport website.
Coming up
28 August - Permission and payment note sent home to paying sports
11 September - Permission and payment notes due to the College
18 September - No changes to any sports for Term 4 will be made after this date
Danielle McAra
Leader of Learning - Sport
Planning continues for the Top End Safari for 2021. We are looking forward to the trip with the two year groups (Year 8 & 9 2021).
A reminder that the next instalment of $275.00 is due on the Friday 28 August 2020. Payment can be made via BPAY or direct bank transfer or Cash, Cheque or Card at the College Office.
If you require any further information contact the College Office on 6653 3155.
Below photos were taken from our 2018 trip!
