26 August 2022 - Newsletter (Vol 39 No 13)
The Future Is In Your Hands
One day a very wise old man was speaking to his people in the village square. A young man trying to fool the wise old man held up a clenched fist.
‘Old man, what do I have in my hand’ he said.
The wise old man looked at the young man and smiled. ‘You have a bird in your hand.’
‘You speak right old man, is it alive or dead?’
Knowing if he answered ‘alive’ he only had to squeeze his fingers and the bird was dead: or if he said ‘dead’ he would open his hand and the bird would fly away.
‘Is it alive or dead, old man?’
The old man looked at him with so much hope.
‘The answer to that is in your hand.’
Each of us has the power to choose life or to choose death. Perhaps not with the immediacy or finality as in the story, our actions day by day can be life giving or the exact opposite. As Christians and Catholics we are called to uplift life. ‘I have come that you may have life and have it to the full’ (John 10:10). My choice to welcome, to assist, to console, to share, to care. To forgive and to love can be life giving to another person. Such a daily decision can make another person feel valued and respected and can affect feelings of self-worth. The opposite can be said for choices to be gossiping, harassing, excluding, greedy, spiteful, hurtful, unforgiving and unloving. Each of these actions can cause a person to ‘die’ a little.
We are invited to be ‘people of the Kingdom’. This kingdom of God is in the here and now and is only realised through choices for life and love.
Have a wonderful fortnight
God bless
Michael Carniato
Principal
Last week at our College Assembly we were fortunate to hear from Mr Joseph Nolan who along with Ms Maggie O’Brien formed the Kawalazi Project (SJPC’s Catholic outreach program) some twenty two years ago. Both were long time teachers at SJPC and should feel rightly proud of the legacy they have left for the current students to maintain. Mr Nolan spoke of the importance of an education for all and the thrill the students received when they were gifted pens, pencils and books to assist their study. A highlight was the fact that one of the students SJPC sponsored throughout their high school years has gone on to become the Assistant Principal at Kawalazi Secondary School.
Thanks to the students and families who continue to give all they can during Kawalazi month. Following a profitable mufti day that included a successful sausage sizzle (thanks to the culinary skills of the maintenance staff) it is a sprint to the finish line with the hope of sponsoring as many students as possible by the end of the month. Please remember it only takes $50 to send a student to school for the whole year. The College Student Leaders were also able to sell well over $200 worth of purses and jewellery made by the local Kawalazi people.
Special mention to each of the Homerooms who are leading the fundraising stakes in their respective year groups:
Year 11 A - $295.65
Year 10 D - $54.65
Year 9 B - $77.50
Year 8 G - $66.45
Year 7 E - $62.00
Please continue to give all you can in the last week of Kawalazi month.
Thanks to the students, parents and staff who responded to the recent survey regarding the use of the toilets throughout the day at school. As of the beginning of this week the following changes will be in place for the remainder of the year:
- the C Block toilets will be open during class time for students to use
- vape detecting units soon to be fitted to the C Block toilets
- segregated stage toilets to remain in place
Throughout the recent changes, the College has found a noticeable improvement in graffiti and anti-social behaviour in the toilets. It is hoped that this improved behaviour will continue into the future as our main aim is to provide a safe Catholic education for all students.
Until next time:
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care
Having run over 5000 study skills seminars over the past twenty years, Dr Prue Salter has been asked many questions about study skills. Below are the top 5 questions parents ask. This would not be too dissimilar to our SJPC community and the areas around effective study. As follows:
How much learning should students be doing each night?
Families may have different expectations, but the general guidelines at SJPC are that junior students should be doing around 1 hour of self-learning most nights, seniors between 2-3 hours most nights.
But what if students say they have no homework?
In Primary school, students are used to just doing the work their teacher specifically tells them to do. Many students do not realise that things should be different in secondary school; there are actually two types of learning students should be doing. The first is compulsory work such as homework, assignments, and preparing for tests. The second type of work is independent learning work. If students have no homework that night, they are expected to undertake some independent learning in secondary school. This could be reviewing what they have learnt that week, making a mind map, reading ahead, researching an area of interest, making study notes or reviewing difficult concepts.
Can you listen to music while studying?
The general rule is that if students are undertaking learning that is not difficult, it is OK to listen to music. It makes them feel relaxed, makes them feel like the time is going quicker. However, if they are doing work that requires intense concentration or memorisation, it is best to switch the music off (or else have slower music with no vocals such as classical music) or otherwise it will take them much longer to absorb and learn the information.
Is it OK for students to do work with devices or in front of the TV?
Unless students are doing something mindless like sticking things on a poster or colouring in, it is best not to do work in front of any devices such as phones or TV. Instead, students should do their home learning in an environment that is as distraction-free as possible. It works well if students do their learning in distinct blocks of time and remove all distractions during those blocks. Some students find they have the self-discipline to manage technological distractions, others need a helping hand – such as their phone in a different room for the half-hour period where they are focusing on schoolwork.
How do I stop my student getting distracted when working on the computer?
Have a discussion with students about doing schoolwork in focused blocks of time so that they can really enjoy their time away from the books (or computer). If students find it challenging to be disciplined, they can also look at self-blocking software such as Self Control (MAC) and Cold Turkey (PC). If students are still struggling, parental management programs such as Family Zone allow families to block particular sites at particular times. These types of software and apps are continually updated and become more effective over time. They are worth searching if it has been some time since parents looked at such technology limiting services.
Study Skills
Learn more this year about how to improve your results and be more efficient and effective with your schoolwork by working through the units on www.studyskillshandbook.com.au. Our College access details are:
School’s Username – stjohnpaul
School’s 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.
AMDG
James Furey
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
Year 9 Reflection Day with Michael Fitzpatrick
Our Year 9 cohort was again privileged to participate in a Reflection Day run by Michael Fitzpatrick, a longstanding presenter at SJPC. Michael combines music and performance with some of the big questions students have about who they are and their place in our community.
Michael focuses on “growth as a whole person”, academically, emotionally and spiritually, and students were encouraged to walk together as a united group.
The BIG question asked of students was, “IS THIS GROUP READY FOR THE FINAL THREE YEARS OF HIGHSCHOOL?” Our students were also asked to reflect on each other and whether there is equity between genders within this cohort, whether there is respect, connectedness and a sense of belonging.
We were so proud of our students’ behaviour and the level of respect shown for Michael and for each other, with a reminder that the faith life of our college is placed firmly at the centre of our priorities.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the day, including the enthusiastic participation of teachers and YMOs.
SHINE GATHERING
It's been a busy term!
Last week was an extra big week with the twice Covid-cancelled SHINE gathering successfully and happening for the first time since 2019. SHINE is about connection with others, with faith, with God. SHINE is also a lot of fun for our students!
It was big, bold, musical and enthusiastically attended by 500 students from across the Lismore Diocese.
Classrooms became dorm rooms and meal times were meticulously planned by our own SJPC canteen manager extraordinaire, Tracey Baillie, with never ending lines of students snaking past generous servings of food. We also had lots of supportive staff helping out at meal times and we appreciate their commitment to our students.
There were many creative workshops available for students to nominate, including drama, dance, art and woodwork, and important sessions around the dignity of the human person, one of our Catholic social justice tenets.
Let’s let pictures and student testimonies speak for themselves:
“SHINE was so much better than expected. It was an amazing experience, there was so much love and support in that room. Wildfire was amazing, the breakout sessions were interesting and the opportunities were exciting. The worship music and adoration was uplifting and spending time with my friends was the best. I can’t wait to do it again.”
“SHINE was amazing. I had so much fun hanging out with my friends listening to live music and participating in the activities. I was able to come much closer to my classmates and shared lifelong memories with them, that I am so thankful for. I will always remember this and everything that happened. I am so thankful to have had this opportunity and I can't wait for next year.”
SHINE 2023 will be offered to Years 10- 12 next year. Be in it!
What’s Happening In Our Parishes?
For further information to our associated parishes please use the links below.
Here you will find ways to join with the local community, specially planned events and times for reconciliation and Masses.
St Augustine's Parish including St Francis Xavier
Mary Help of Christians Parish
Janine Sawtell
Leader of School Evangelisation
Santo Subito- A saint now!
Santo Subito! Santo Subito! Today we celebrated St John Paul Day and the patron and namesake of our college, the life of this great saint and the gifts he gave to the Church and it’s young people. As part of our celebrations we look at St John Paul II and see what we can learn from this man of the saints.
A Man of the Saints
Young people of every continent do not be afraid to be the saints of the new millennium! Be contemplative, love prayer; be coherent with your faith and generous in the service of your brothers and sisters, be active members of the Church and builders of peace…The Lord wants you to be intrepid apostles of his Gospel and builders of a new humanity.
—John Paul II ‘s World Youth Day message, 2000
During St John Paul II’s pontificate, he canonised more saints than all the previous popes combined! He canonised a total of 473 new saints, and beatified 1315 men and women.
St John Paul II believed the examples of the saints are an important reminder to all people that the call to holiness is universal. Almost half of the people he canonised are lay people, including married men and women and single people who were not priests, or religious brothers and sisters. Many of the saints he canonised were alive in the 20th century, making them especially relatable to young people today.
St John Paul II was convinced that all are called to be saints – and he especially wanted to encourage young people to become more holy. One of the most significant ways he did this was by establishing World Youth Day. The first World Youth Day took place in Rome in 1985 as a gathering of young people with the pope. World Youth Day is now celebrated every year on Palm Sunday in local dioceses, and an international World Youth Day is hosted every two or three years in different cities around the world. At World Youth Day, young people experience pilgrimage and encounter the universal church. There are moments of prayer, catechises, the sacraments and celebration of different cultural expressions of faith.
At each World Youth Day, a number of saint patrons are chosen. St John Paul II said “The saints offer us precious insights which enable us to understand more easily the intuition of faith, thanks to the special enlightenment which some of them have received from the Holy Spirit, or even through their personal experience of those terrible states of trial…”
When St John Paul II was canonised himself on 27 April 2014, he was named patron saint of World Youth Days. Pope Francis told young people that “In the communion of saints [St John Paul II] will continue to be a father and friend to all of you.”
Dear young people, the Church needs genuine witnesses for the new evangelization: men and women whose lives have been transformed by meeting with Jesus, men and women who are capable of communicating this experience to others. The Church needs saints. All are called to holiness, and holy people alone can renew humanity. Many have gone before us along this path of Gospel heroism, and I urge you to turn often to them to pray for their intercession.
St John Paul II’s message to young people for the 20th World Youth Day.
As I watched our students today I couldn’t help but think of St John Paul II and how our celebrations would have made him proud. He loved young people and saw them as such an important voice of the Church. St John Paul II earned the confidence of youth because he took them seriously. They sensed that he understood their concerns. He challenged them to give their lives to Christ. He appealed to their high ideals, inviting them to take a lead in the New Evangelization. The day was a huge success and showed us what a great community we are, filled with the St John Paul II spirit.
Compass - New Office & Finance Procedures
Permission to Leave School during the Day - Early Departure
Please note early departures or late arrivals cannot be submitted as an attendance note via the Compass App. Only full day absences can be submitted using the attendance note via the Compass App.
Students must have a written note from their parents/carers, giving an explanation and requesting permission to leave the College at a specific time. Students must take the note to the College Office before school and a Compass reminder notice is uploaded on the students dashboard. At the allocated time, students must return to the College Office to formally sign out for the day and return the handwritten note. If students return to school later in the day they are required to sign in at the College Office.
For urgent appointments or requests to leave the College without a written note, parents/carers are required to collect their student from the College Office. Students will not be dismissed from class until parents/carers arrival at the College Office. Please allow enough time for the Office staff to retrieve students, as there could be delays leaving the Office. If students are able to bring a note in the morning this will alleviate any delay.
Finance
The Catholic Schools Office Fee Enquiry
Ph: 6653 1655 - Mell and Tess
Office Hours: 8:30am to 4:00pm
Email: cofhs-fees@lism.
ALL THINGS LITERACY, BECAUSE LITERACY MATTERS IN ALL THINGS
Effective communication through writing is more than just regurgitating content.
Word of the Week
Rambunctious adjective
DEFINITION - uncontrollably exuberant and boisterous, difficult to control or handle
ORIGIN - unknown but most probably from rumbustious
IN A SENTENCE- Tommy has evolved from a timid and mild child to a rambunctious and angsty teenager.
Dignity noun
DEFINITION - The state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect.
ORIGIN - Latin dignus - worthy
IN A SENTENCE- He is a man of dignity and calm determination.
Sharon Brennan
Teacher Librarian
Leader Learning Technology
Bill Turner Cup Football
Round 6 was played on the synthetic pitch in Coffs Harbour against Hunter Sports High on Tuesday 24 August. Despite the boys holding the opposition to 0 - 0 at half time, they were not able to repeat their performance going down fighting all the way, 6 - 0. Hunter Sports High went on to win Round 7 against Xavier 9 - 0.
Our boys had a second game on Wednesday 25th against St Pius X Adamstown, the same team they came up against in the CCC Football draw earlier in the term. Unfortunately, once again our boys went down but displayed excellent sportsmanship despite the heart breaking 5 - 3 loss.
Well done to the whole squad, Mr Louis Van Dartel (manager) and Mr Sultana (coach). Round 6 is an awesome achievement!
Diocesan Athletics Carnival
Congratulations to all our athletes for the amazing achievements witnessed at yesterday’s Diocesan Athletics carnival.
Particular congratulations to:
| Joint 12 years Age Champions | Danica Harrison and Evie Hil |
| 14 years boys Age Champion | Lincoln Henry |
| 14 years boys Runner Up Age Champion | Cooper Moore |
| Joint 15 years Runner Up Age Champion | Riley Woods |
| 17+ Age Champion | Laila McDonald |
The following students have also qualified to represent the Diocese at the CCC Carnival on Monday 12 September:
| Lincoln Henry - 100m, 200m, LJ, TJ | Cooper Moore - 100m, DT, SP |
| Riley Woods - 800m, 1500m | Finn Klinkers - 800m |
| Harrison Colyer - 1500m | Blake Carter - JT |
| Davis Flanagan - JT | Danica Harrison - 100, LJ |
| Evie Hill - 100m | Laila McDonald - 100m, 200m, 400m |
| Dayna Loy - 200m | Matilda Newton - 1500m |
| Brooke Mulholland - 200m | Sia Wilson - JT |
| Darcy O'Rorke - JT |
Students are reminded that if they plan to withdraw from any or all events, please follow the steps outlined on the permission note. Extra notes can be collected from the Palace on Friday.
CCC Open Netball 2022
On Monday 15 August, our Open Girls Netball team took to the road and ventured to chilly Penrith for the Open Championship Division CCC Carnival. Despite being a team fully made up of Year 11s, our girls more than held their own against many talented Sydney based Year 12 teams. Over all our girls dropped two games, resulting in an approximate 5th out of 32 Open teams who played in the Carnival. The exciting concept is that all of the girls have the ability to return knowing what to expect and how to overcome the opposition. This is an outstanding result, of which the girls should be proud.
Thank you to Mrs Slaviero who accompanied the team as manager and to all the parents who ventured down to support our girls.
Basketball Referee Representative
Recently Cooper Gater was selected to referee at the Australian All Schools National Primary Basketball Championships in Bendigo, Victoria. This is an especially impressive achievement as he was only one of four referees selected from NSW to officiate at this event. Well done Cooper!
NSW Netball Cup Regional Finals
On Thursday 25 August our 4 teams travelled to Port Macquarie to participate in the New South Wales Netball Cup Mid North Regional finals. All teams performed exceptionally well, learning new skills, challenging themselves and enjoying the day of Netball.
Our 7 & 8 girls performed particularly well despite dropping a game in the pool matches. They rallied to make it through to the finals, where they dominated. The girls are now with Northcoast Champions and have won a spot in the New South Wales Netball Cup State final in Sydney in November. Congratulations to all the girls and their coach Mrs Tanya Slaviero.
Particular thanks must go to coaches Mrs Lynn Brockman, Mr John Baldwin and Mrs Alana Johnson who have trained the students since March, sharing their passion for the sport of netball.
9/10 Sport selections
Year 9 and 10 are reminded that permission notes and payment for Term 4 sports will be dispensed through COMPASS in the coming days. Please pay online before Friday 9 September to avoid being moved to Fitness.
Coming Up
| Thursday 25 August |
NSW Netball Cup Regional Finals, Port Macquarie |
| Wednesday 31 August |
Rugby 7s Gala day, Coffs Harbour |
| Tuesday 6 September |
Secondary Schools Squash Challenge, Coffs Harbour |
| Thursday 8 September |
Diocesan Netball Gala Day, Port Macquaire |
| Monday 12 September |
NSWCCC Athletics Carnival, Homebush |
| Friday 14 October |
Dicoesan Volleyball Gala Day, Coffs Harbour |
| Tuesday 25 October |
Diocesan Gymnastics, Grafton (TBC) |
| Monday 31 - 1 November |
CCC Junior Basketball Championships, Penrith |
| Thursday 10 November |
Diocesan Junior Waterpolo, Alstonville |
| Tuesday 15 November |
Diocesan Golf Championships, Coffs Harbour |
| Thursday 17 November |
Diocesan Senior Waterpolo, Alstonville |
Danielle McAra
Sport Co-ordinator
You are warmly invited to attend the HSC Major Works Showcase evening on Thursday, 1 September at 5pm - 7pm. There will be drinks and canapes in the library. Would you kindly RSVP for catering purposes on the link below:
HSC Major Works Showcase Evening - RSVP
