24 September 2020 - Newsletter (Vol 37 No 16)

YEAR 12 GRADUATION

This year we celebrated Graduation COVID style!! Parents and friends were able to watch the ceremony via live stream and the number of people in the hall was greatly reduced. In spite of all of this it was a great send off for our seniors. I am so proud of all they have achieved in a really difficult year and so pleased that they were able to experience this important event together. Much was said and many tributes passed on to the class of 2020 but part of my main message to them was this;

My hope for you, is that as you mark this important milestone on your life long journey you leave with a sense of connection to the St John Paul College community to which you gave so much and a community which thinks so highly of each and every one of you.

Belonging is such an important part of who we are as a school but we also look forward to sending our year 12 class into the world.

As Dr Suess reminds us;

Don’t cry because it’s over
Smile because it happened

END OF TERM PRAYER

We thank you Lord, for this Term.

For the challenges, the successes and the mistakes from which we have learnt.

Be with us as we spend our time with family and friends.

Give is strength and courage to do what is right: to be witnesses of our faith.

Help us to be a practical Christian these holidays, to appreciate what others do for us, to give time and effort to help others.

To be peacemakers in our family.

Keep us safe in our activities; give us good rest and good fun.

Bring us back refreshed and ready for a new term.

We thank you for our friends, teachers and parents

And a community that cares for us.

May we always be conscious of your love in our lives.

Amen

Once again I wish to thank all staff, students and parents for another extraordinary term. For your willingness and desire to succeed in whatever challenges that came your way. Enjoy a well deserved break and I look forward to seeing you all in term Four.

Michael Carniato
Principal

This week we had the opportunity to farewell our graduating class of 2020. Graduation from school signifies the end of thirteen years of education and certainly something that needs to be celebrated. It has been mentioned several times already, but it has been a very difficult year for this group of students. However, they have failed to let the problems of the year affect the way they have conducted themselves while at the College. This experience can only arm them with the resilience that is necessary to face the many challenges life will throw at them from time to time. We take the opportunity to congratulate and thank them all for their efforts throughout their time at St John Paul College. Special mention to the College Leaders Jemillah, Keegan, Joseph and Maya for the time they have devoted to their fellow students and the College. Well done.

With the spring holiday break approaching, students are encouraged to take a well earned rest. During the term  it seems like a constant go, go, go with little time for kids to sit back and enjoy just being present. From the moment your child rises there is a constant pressure to be somewhere or do something. Being a student no matter what age comes with its stresses and not only for children but the parents who are responsible for making sure everything is tended to before night falls; before school, during school, after school activities and homework by the end of the day everyone needs a little bit of time to chill, relax and have a breather and the school holidays are the perfect time to do so.

These holidays may be a time to spend with family, try something new, sleep in or just relax with no routines. It’s amazing how the absence of uniform and lunchbox prep, alarms and timetables can ease stress levels in a house. However you decide to spend your holidays, please stay safe and take care.

Until next term

Remember everyday, remind yourself of God’s grace and relax in it. Rick Warren

Academic Reports & Parent Student Teacher Conferences 

This Term has seen many changes due to the COVID-19 restrictions and the variety of contingencies engaged to address the inability to host parents and carers on site for our normal College functions. 

One of these has been the way in which the College has responded by rescheduling the Semester 1 Reports and delayed PST Conferences. 

Although the process of replacing ‘face to face’ PST Conferences with remote contact via Zoom, email and phone calls has been a significant change, it has generally been accepted by our parent community. 

One opportunity that has arisen from this process has been the discussion of how the College reports on student progress and how we engage with parents and carers. From the start of next term, the College will introduce some improvements to student reporting and PST Conferences with the support of the CSO. 

I look forward to working with our staff to introduce some of these changes and provide opportunities for parent engagement in 2021 and beyond. 

Student Achievements

Following on from the delayed Semester 1 Reports and PST Conferences, the College has had a limited opportunity to acknowledge the academic achievements of students in Semester 1, especially with College assemblies being presented remotely via Zoom to each Homeroom. 

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the following Year 7-10 Students for their Semester 1 Report achievements, published earlier this term. 

Year 7: Grace Fuller 7A, Riley Woods 7H

Year 8: Alexandra Nealand 8E, Michael Simmons 8F

Year 9: Stephanie Bataglia 9F, Lily Betland 9B, Madeline Scarlett 9B, Amelie Smith 9C, Ella Hewitt 9C, Zara Temesi 9C 

Year 10: David Gilliland 10A 

Congratulations to all of these students for their excellent academic performance in Semester 1 2020. 

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

Year 12

During the upcoming spring school holidays, the College Homework Centre will be open from 9:00am - 12noon on the following dates;

Year 12 students are advised they are required to sign in at the Homework Centre. Some HSC courses will also be offering optional workshops during these times.

We encourage all students to take a balanced approach to their study during the next three weeks leading up to the HSC exams. Eat well, get enough sleep, maintain a morning routine, get outside and exercise, and make your study area a comfortable space. It is never too late to make a difference!

Parents can also find it stressful, so tips for parents can be found by clicking the link below: Advice for Parents of HSC Students

Year 11

Students have finalised their Year 11 work and will start their HSC pattern of study first week back next term. To ensure students are ready for the responsibilities and commitments required by HSC course work we recommend that they use the time during the holidays to set up their study area, and get organised.

Remember that the Elevate Portal  (password RONDO) and Youth central have some great tips to help you in your HSC journey.

HSC assessment information and protocols will be given to Year 11 students in Week 1 Term 4.

Years 7 - 10

Students are definitely ready for a break after a seemingly endless term of changes and readjustments. They have been outstanding in these challenging times and deserve a good rest before they complete their final term of schooling for the year.  We encourage all students to reflect on their learning and to start to put strategies in place that will support them as they prepare for the new experiences and challenges of the future. A willingness to take risks in the classroom and a positive frame of mind will always support an individual’s learning.

Claudia Brown
Leader of Curriculum

Last Friday saw Year 12 take part in what is traditionally the Fundraising and Picnic Day. Unfortunately due to Covid restrictions we were not able to have some of the activities we would normally have but this didn’t deter the students from having fun.

Friday started with the normal breakfast for students but this year we were fortunate to have the hard working SJPC staff cook for the kids. I’d like to thank those staff that came along to help out as this was a perfect way to start the day. It’s worth noting that Mr Steve Verbruggen’s past skills on the McDonald’s grills came in extremely handy with the fried eggs on the BBQ, that's for sure.

The students still took the opportunity to ‘dress-up’ on this day as well, although looking at some of the outfits and high heels, it was more like dressing down, down to not much. Skimpy mini skirts and stockings were popular with some of the boys, whereas the girls went for more sensible attire and costumes.

The morning contained practising for the upcoming Graduation and Formal ceremonies before we were treated to a fantastic cake, kindly donated by our Pie Drive supporters, Sharon and her team from Bananacoast Hotbake.

After recess Year12 took part in the inaugural SJPC Picnic Day Homeroom Mini Olympics. It was an Olympics with a difference. Blindfolded basketball, pin the head on the teacher (not literally), dizzy relay, balloon balance and sled relays were just some of the events that challenged the students, with Mr Adams’ homeroom taking out the trophy, with Mr Muschal’s close behind in second.

It was great that the students were able to be visited by Julie Ferguson from our major charity OzHarvest Coffs, who was there to speak with the students and thank them for their fundraising efforts this year. She was also gracious enough to present the winner's trophy to Nathan from 12MAD.

It was a great day to finish up their ‘school’ time here at the College and release some stress before a big few days of Retreat and Graduation the following week.

Mr Mark Coster
Year 12 Coordinator

Army Reserves 

Defence Force Recruiting are holding an Army Reserve Career information session at Fitzroy Barracks, 24 Duke St Coffs Harbour on 29 September 2020. The local unit are seeking expressions of interest including from young people aged 17+, to serve a 'gap year' working part-time in the Army Reserve based on the North Coast. Registration to attend the session can be made via Defence Force Recruiting, on the Defence jobs Facebook page or by contacting Defence Force Recruiting on 13 19 01. Further information can also be provide by training staff at Fitzroy Barracks by calling 0266521195.

The STEM Careers Guide 

GradAustralia have just published the 2020 STEM Careers Guide and it contains a wealth of information regarding employment opportunities that relate to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. For example, are you aware that engineering degrees have a lot of diversity? When you study engineering we are not just talking about aerospace or chemical or civil engineers. For those of you who have a love of maths, discover where that passion could take you – a career in actuarial science or statistics. And then we have all of those degrees that come out of the technology suite such as artificial intelligence, graphics and animation, cyber security and data science. Alternately, there are a host of degree paths in science - it’s not just all about agriculture and biochemistry. I strongly encourage all of our students who are beginning to explore their future career options to spend some quality time perusing the STEM Careers Guide. The STEM Careers Guide

Paul Corsalini
Careers Adviser

Congratulations to the 2020 Tournament of Minds (TOM) team who have received Honours in the Mid North Coast division of the international tournament.

The team received excellent feedback for the “creative choice of plot and engaging performance” as well as fantastic evidence of teamwork.

They were also noted for their creativity and critical thinking skills to make the best use of the presentation time to “solve” this year’s challenge.

During their six week preparation time they wrote several songs and a script, made costumes and props and worked out a dynamic performance that was not only creative and fun, but also reflected the team’s personality and individual approach to life.

The award was a wonderful finish to the year for the students who have learnt a great deal of cooperative strategies and promoting their individual skills to create the finished product.

The 2020 team were Samara Satyanand, Autumn Searle-Domberelli and Lilly Gleeson from Year 9 and Kai Robinsen, Harrison White, Ava Harrison and Connor Gleeson from Year 8.

Linda Gleeson
English and History - Teacher

Term 4 Sport

Parents and students are reminded that any Year 8 student who does not participate in and pass their OSSA will be ineligible to undertake any aquatic sports (Stand up paddle boarding, Kayaking, surfing, snorkelling, canoeing, waterpolo etc) that may be offered in Year 9 and 10.

Year 8 Girls

For the first two weeks of Term 4, the Year 8 Girls will be involved in finishing their OSSA award. On these days, students will need to bring their swimwear and towel to school and get changed at lunch time. Students will not be able to get changed at the beach and will need to dry off before wearing their sport uniform back on the bus (current COVID restrictions). Should this change before Week 1 sport, we will notify the students. 

Year 8 Boys

The Year 8 boys will be undertaking their OSSA qualification throughout Term 4. In week 1, boys will meet at the theatre to undertake their compulsory theory component. In week 2, the boys will need to bring their swimmers and a towel as they will complete their swim trial to determine which beach they will attend for OSSA. Students who miss out on either of these components will need to catch up on the work or bring in a swim timed by a swim coach or parent for a 200m swim in a 25m+ pool. From Week 3 onwards, the boys will be attending the beach to learn and be tested for their OSSA.

Year 7 

The normal Year 7 sport program has been altered due to COVID. As such, students will participate in a minimum of 3 activities this term. The schedule is attached. Students are reminded that they must bring their swimmers, towel and goggles (if they have some) when they participate in Aquatics. At the time of writing, COVID restrictions mean that students can not get changed in public change rooms, so will be encouraged to thoroughly dry off at the pool and wear their sport uniform back to school over their swimmers. They will be able to use our changerooms once back at school. While we know this is not ideal, it is what we are currently working with. Should this change, students will be notified. 

Term 4 Sport - Year 7 Sport Allocations

Danielle McAra
Leader of Learning - Sport