Open Night

On Wednesday night, our annual Open Night was held to showcase the school and initiate the enrolment period for Year 7, 2020. It was a wonderful evening, highlighting what a great school we have. A huge thank you to all the staff who organised such engaging activities and also to the large number of students who contributed to the night through demonstrations in classrooms and as tour guides. The enrolment applications are due on Monday 8 April 2019, please make sure you have noted this date as judging by the huge amount of interest in the school on Monday night, we will once again have a lots of interest for Year 7, 2020.

Community

At St Johns we have a strong focus on community and engaging with our parents and friends to enable it to be a rich and diverse community. This tradition has always been very strong and people readily engage at so many levels. Over the last few weeks and in the weeks ahead there have been and will be many opportunities for this engagement. I encourage you to come along, you are always welcome.

We hope you can join us by coming along and helping out at any future opportunities for parent and friend engagements. These may include: the swimming and athletic carnivals, helping on canteen, assisting with exam support and supervision and supporting sporting teams or excursions as required. Volunteering does help you become more connected to our school community.

Attending the Parents and Friends committee meetings is also a wonderful way to connect to the school. Many parents have used this opportunity and attended most meetings as their child moves from Year 7 to Year 12. They have engaged in the activities, been informed by the presentations and enjoyed getting to know other families at St John’s.

Congratulations to our new Parent and Friends committee, such a wonderful group of people who are so willing to support us by sharing their talents and time.

We had a wonderful crew at the working bee on Saturday. There were over 80 people who attended, worked hard and had some fun together. Our school looks amazing from the work they did and hopefully some of us made some new connections with other families. It is always wonderful to see so many of our students at the working bees. They take great pride in their school and they along with the many parents and friends, who over the years have maintained the beautiful grounds in which we live and work each day.

Mass with a Difference - Farwell to Father Duane

Our connection with parish was also celebrated  this week with a wonderful mass ‘with a difference’ to farewell Father Duane. We also had five students receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and first Holy Communion. What was also so special about this mass was the large members of the school community who came along. It was a wonderful celebration.

 

Verdict of Cardinal Pell

Following media reports of the conviction of Cardinal George Pell, a statement has been released by the President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Mark Coleridge, to the Catholic community. Click here to view a copy for your information.

There is no doubt news of this verdict of Cardinal Pell will give rise to a range of emotions and responses. The legal process will now run its course.

We should never forget, that in any matter of this nature our concern and prayers are with victims and their families. Please be assured, that our school system works tirelessly to ensure the safety of every child in our schools, and will continue to do so, as together we share the responsibility for the wellbeing of your children.

If you or your child requires support, please contact the Principal directly or you may also wish to contact the CatholicCare Sydney Parent Line NSW on 1300 1300 52. Concerns of child abuse and crimes must be reported to the relevant authorities which are the NSW Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS) and the Police.

Child Protection personnel at the Catholic Education Office in Wollongong are also available to provide confidential advice and support as required.

Mrs Sandra Hogan
Principal

Student pick up in the afternoon 

Please see below links to this weeks Parenting Ideas -

• Angry Boys (how boys can better manage their emotions)
• The use of Technology and screen time.

Click here to view a flyer on Angry Boys

Click here to view The Use of Technology and Screen Time

Mr James Eirth
Pastoral Care Coordinator

Year 12 Assessment Information

P&F AGM

The Annual General meeting of the P&F was held on Monday 18 February 2019. Thank you to all the parents and carers who attended, it was nice to see some new faces.
Thank you to the outgoing committee John Barak (President), Tracey Hall (Vice President), Nicole Callaghan (Secretary), Janet Gill (Treasure), Corey Carter (Parent Liaison/Publicity Officer). This team has worked tirelessly over the last twelve months and their work is greatly appreciated by all.
We would like to welcome and introduce our new P&F Executive Committee members for 2019, they are:

• President: Corey Carter
• Vice President: John Barak
• Secretary: Monica Oke
• Treasure: Janet Gill
• Parent Liaison & Publicity Officer: Jacinta Davis

P&F Meeting

The P&F meeting for Monday 11 March will be postponed and a new date is to be confirmed. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Working Bee

Our first working bee for the year was held on Saturday 23 February, it was a great success with over 80 volunteers turning up to support our school. The community support shown and the work carried out is truly wonderful. The day finished with a barbeque and get together. The perfect way to meet other members of the St John's Community.

Mrs Jacinta Davis 
P&F Parent Liason and Publicity Officer

Medical Alert

Impetigo: there has been a recent diagnosis of Impetigo and as such we would like to bring your attention to the attached NSW Health Fact sheet outlining the symptoms to be aware of. 

Click here to view the NSW Impetigo Fact Sheet

Finance

Year 11 were officially inducted into their Preliminary HSC year and as our school leaders. This commenced with a Year 11 Induction Day on Thursday Week 2 where students had the opportunity to engage with 2018 high achievers in a student forum. The cohort is to be congratulated for their behaviour at their Induction Assembly where each student received a leadership lapel pin and their passports. On this occasion I said to our senior students they all add to the leadership of the school and they all add to the legacy of the school. They were also provided with the opportunity to engage in our visit to UOW Ready to Learn Day where they were exposed to ways to study and time management. Well done, Year 11.

We would like to congratulate Reilly Hatwell of Year 11 on the release of the move “Bilched”. Last October Reilly auditioned in front of the casting director, film director and production manager for a teenage coming of age comedy. He secured one of the 10 main roles in the film. Reilly completed filming November 2018 through to early January 2019. Filming was both during the day and night, with many nights wrapping at 2am in the morning. Set locations included Coogee, Tamarama, Bondi and Waverly. This movie is being screened in Nowra on the 27 March and Milton on the 28 March.  The movie is described as a " Wild ride through the last days of Year 12 with our anti-hero Hal alongside his slacker/jock mates. Amongst the hilarious universal teenage stupidity and chaos of the penultimate end of school house party it becomes glaringly obvious Hal needs to stop cruising through life to face his fears and follow his heart." Tickets can be purchased via the website for these two local screenings! http://bilched.com/

http://bilched.com/tour-dates.php

Ms Sarah Blades
Year 11 Coordinator

I would like to welcome Year 12 back into their final year as a high school students. Although this will most likely be the most difficult year, it will also be the most rewarding.  A special welcome to Khy Antoniazzo who joins us again to complete his HSC. We welcome him back with open arms and are so please for him to be back at school.

I would also like to thank all of the parents and students who attended the Parent/Teacher interview night. The large number of families who attended is testament to the commitment students and parents achieving the best possible results in their HSC.

Every Tuesday we meet as a year group to recognise students who have achieved great things both in school and out of school. With such a wide variety of skills and personalities in the year group there is always something to celebrate. I encourage students and parents to share the good work of the students. Examples so far this year include,

• Working Bee - Congratulations to all students involved in helping make our school a better place to be.
  

  
• House Captains - Well done in your organisation of the house meetings and planning for the swimming carnival.
• Helpers for Open Night - Thanks to all who have welcomed our new families into our community.

We would also like to farwell Ms Banting who has been a member of the Chisholm house since Year 7. We wish her the best in retirement and look forward to seeing her again at graduation.

Mr Nick Garner
Year 12 Coordinator

Swimming Carnival

St John’s Swimming Carnival is on at the Nowra Pool on Monday 4 March, a reminder to all 100m freestyle swimmers to meet at the pool between 8.00am - 8.20am for an 8.30am start. All other students are to come directly to school, attend PALS and will be called to travel by bus to Nowra Pool. Year 7-10 students must wear sports uniform to and from school. Year 11 & 12 students can wear appropriate house colours. All students will arrive back at school in time for their afternoon buses. A school representative team will be chosen from this carnival.

Any parent interested in assisting at the 2019 carnivals please contact the school office.

Please note: there will not be BBQ food available at the swimming carnival. Canteen facilities are available from the Nowra Pool Cafe, however students are encourage to pack a healthy lunch as there are extensive wait times for cafe food.

Year 7 

Students are provided with many opportunities to learn about and practice ways of adopting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and a productive and active life. Term one students will  work in a range of simple movement skills being taught and revisited including some lead up work to the major school carnivals, Athletics, Cross Country and Swimming. During terms 2 and 3 students are provided with learning experiences that develop understanding around healthy habits in relation to nutrition and exercise, the current issues relating to drug use including the use and effect of alcohol, movement activities centred creative dance and Indigenous games.  In term 4 the focus shifts to physical and social/emotional issues around moving through puberty, in a relaxed environment where students are able to contribute ideas, thoughts and questions in a safe and positive learning environment.

Year 8 

Start the 2019 school year with the units; Health Matters and Strike/Catch/Throw. Health Matters provide students with an overview of what impacts their lives and how we can be proactive in decision-making processes. In term two students will commence the units Supporting Myself and Others and Athletics, in preparation for the athletics carnival. First aid quizzes in term 3 will test their knowledge on the skills taught in class, which empower them with life skills and awareness of first aid principles. The students will become the teacher in court games when they are given the opportunity to create their own game. Year 8 will finish the year with gymnastics and risky business where they explore positive relationships and communication methods to create a safe and supportive environment.

Year 9 

Students will have a physically challenging and mentally thought provoking year due to the diverse range of practical and theory units studied. Practical units include: Invasion Games, Active for Life, World Games and Celebrating Diversity. Each unit provided students with the opportunity to enhance decision-making and problem solving skills in game situations and participating in some unique non-mainstream sports. Theory units include HeadStrong, Drugs Use, Sexual Health and Celebrating Diversity, provide students with the opportunity to collaboratively discuss and individually research topics of great significance in their current lives.

Year 10 

Students have explored a variety of topics throughout the year. These topics will enabled them to challenge perspectives, develop deeper knowledge and build decision making skills to ensure they continue as lifelong learners in our community. The topics included: Planning for Safety, Road Safety Advocacy, Dance, Movement Composition/ Appraisal, Relationships, Overcoming Adversity, Planning for safety, Striking Games and Contemporary Games. The op shop ball is always a highlight in the calendar for year 10 PE and a quality fundraiser for St vincent de Paul and will take place in term 4.

Year 11 

This year we welcomed Mrs Isemonger and Mrs Frew will lead the preliminary PDHPE charge to the HSC. Year 11 PDHPE students are currently working through the unit Better Health for Individuals where they explore health behaviours and the influence of policy and promotion on individual and community health. In term 2 they will explore biomechanical principles in the Unit Body in Motion. The two options First Aid and Outdoor Recreation will be taught in term 3. Students will complete a walk from Durras to Kiola, camping overnight at Pebbly Beach - putting into practice the theory they will have learnt in the Outdoor Education unit.

Year 12 

Year 12 PDHPE students regularly challenge their knowledge and strive to expand their knowledge on the “Health of Australians” and the “Factors affecting Performance”.  The cohort is working hard in learning teams to challenge themselves and each other to work at their very best. Students demonstrate high work ethic and a passion to learn more about health, movement and sports medicine.  

Year 11 Community & Family Studies

Students are studying resource management and the intricacies that contribute to the wellness of individuals in our community. Students will identify the Individuals and Groups as to which our resources are diminished or built upon and how people can use techniques such as conflict resolution, leadership styles and group cohesion to influence overall wellness. We are analysing the effects of these techniques by viewing the Blind Side and submitting an assessment task displaying our findings. Lastly, we will study Families and Communities looking at stages of the lifespan, socialisation, the nature of change and the impacts these factors can have.

Year 12 Community & Family Studies

Students are  involved in a number of learning experiences, assessment tasks and activities that will enrich their knowledge and understanding of matters concerning our local, national and global matters within communities and family groups. The students are currently  involved in completing a class Independent Research Projects (IRPs) and will have the informal task of taking home and caring for a robotic baby overnight. Both classes are demonstrating great enthusiasm and dedication to their learning and studies.

Physical Activity Sport Studies (PASS)

The Physical Activity Sport Studies (PASS) program is a two year elective subject for students in Years 9 and 10. This subject allows students with an interest in physical activity to deepen their knowledge and skills further than the PDHPE compulsory course. PASS encourages students to be involved in new and different sports encouraging them to apply their skills and thinking in a new way. The information that students learn in theory are applied to practical lessons giving them a strong foundation of knowledge and a real-life basis for what they are learning. Students in Year 9 are studying the anatomy and physiology of the human body, Australian sporting identities and issues in sport, such as drug use and financial inequalities between athletes. In the practical setting we are looking at the intricacies in sports officiating, how to outsmart and outplay our opponents with strategic and tactical development, Hockey and lastly we undertook our Bronze Medallion. The very competitive 2019 Year 10 PASS cohort are engaging in Coaching, Tournament Games, Team Play, Nutrition, Technology in Sport. The students will draw on knowledge explored in theory classes to coach skills to the class, analyse their peers movement performances, along with organising and running sport tournaments.

Child Studies

Learning in Child Studies promotes, in students a sense of empathy for children, their parents, caregivers and those that have the potential to influence the learning environments. Students had the opportunity to put theory from the unit, Conception and Newborn Care, into practice when they will be assigned a robotic baby that they will have to care for overnight. The unit, Child Nutrition student’s will  given practical experience to create and share a nutritious meal created for a child. In the unit, Chid Service and Career Opportunities Mrs. Fulop, Mrs. Prayetno and Mrs. Gray will guide students through child care activity stations aimed to develop fundamental motor and social skill of children.

Year 10 Bush Craft

Year 10 have been busy preparing and refining their leadership skills in anticipation for the Year 7 and 9 camps. All of the students in Year 10 have been assigned activities in which the campers will participate in. Some of these activities include Canoeing, Abseiling, Bush Walking and Swimming. The maturity and care our Year 10 Bush Craft students have shown in organising engaging, fun and educational activities is extremely impressive. Well done Year 10!

Year 9 Bush Craft

Year 9 have commenced their two year course in Bush Craft with enthusiasm and high energy. Over the coming months they will be learning the basics of what Bush Craft has to offer ranging from wilderness first aid, navigation, ecology and canoeing skills. We look forward to seeing the new group of Bush Craft students achieve personal goals and learn invaluable skills!

Mrs Rachel Frew
Acting PDHPE Coordinator

MY BUSINESS @ SJE

During Week 10 Term 2, Year 10 will be involved in a week long program called “My Business @ SJE” Where student groups will need to create/run a business. The week involves a range of business activities such as filming a commercial and culminates in a trade display.

We are seeking business owners & business managers of all types; HR managers, Operations managers, Marketing managers, Finance managers who would be willing to present to the students about their business and/or career.  If you are able to present or share what a day in your life looks like and are available during July 1st to July 5th: Please contact Ms Carla Hill (Careers Advisor).

Ms Carla Hill
Careers Advisor

This week has seen our Girls Touch and Triathlon teams in action. Congratulations to all students involved and thank you to the parents and staff who have supported these events. Reports from the Girls Touch Gala Day and the NSW All Schools Triathlon will be found in the Week 7 Newsletter.

Representative teams have now been selected for Boys Touch, Girls and Boys Futsal, Swimming and Tennis. Please note that Tennis teams have been selected via a paper trial based on representative experience. Students selected in the above teams will be required to return their permission note and payment by the due date as stimulated on the note. They are also required to attend any training sessions or meetings held by the organising teacher/coach.

Google form nominations have now closed for the school Soccer (football) sides. Trials will take place in the coming weeks. Students who have nominated will need to be aware of daily notices and the rep sport google classroom page for updates.

Google form nominations are also available on the Representative Sports Google Classroom page for long distance Swimming events at the NSWCCC and NSW All Schools level. Nominations for the NSWCCC long distance events will close 2.00pm on Friday 15 March, 2019. Nominations for the NSW All School long distance events will close 3.00pm on Monday 29 April, 2019.

Please note upcoming events for Representative Sport:

For any NSWCCC Closing dates visit https://www.csss.nsw.edu.au/nswccc-home.aspx to register.

Term 1

Week Six:

4 March: School Swimming Carnival (New Date).

5 March: BASEBALL -  NSWCCC Closing Date.

7 March: BOYS TOUCH - Wollongong Diocesan Gala Day.

7 March: NOTES DUE FOR TENNIS & SWIMMING.

8 March: NOTES DUE FOR FUTSAL.

8 March: Volleyball- NSWCCC Closing Date.

Week Seven:

14 March: WATER POLO - NSWCCC Closing Date.

14 March: TENNIS TEAMS - Wollongong Diocesan Gala Day.

14 March: SWIMMING - Wollongong Diocesan Carnival.

15 March: FUTSAL - South Coast Schools Championships - Open Boys & Girls.

Week Eight:

20 March: Hockey - NSWCCC Closing Date.

20 March: RUGBY LEAGUE 15’S and OPENS - Wollongong Diocesan Selection Trial.

22 March: Golf -  NSWCCC Closing Date.
Week Nine:

26 March: CROSS COUNTRY - St John’s Carnival.

Week Ten:

3 April: Diving -  NSWCCC Closing Date.

5 April: NSWCCC Swimming.

Term 2

Week One:

29 April : AFL Girls  - NSWCCC Closing Date.

30 April: AFL Boys Girls  - NSWCCC South Closing Date.

2 May : NETBALL - NSWCCC Closing Date.

2 May: BOYS Football (SOCCER)- Wollongong Diocesan Gala Day.

3 May: GIRLS Football (SOCCER)- Wollongong Diocesan Gala Day.

3 May: BASKETBALL- OPENS TOURNAMENT NSWCCC Closing Date.

3 May: RUGBY - NSWCCC Closing Date.

Week Two:

6 May: CROSS COUNTRY - Wollongong Diocesan Carnival.

The New NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy

Food and Drink Benchmark

Term 1 2019 there will be a few changes to the canteen menu, to comply with the new NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy, which replaces the old Traffic Light criteria of food and drinks that can be sold in school canteens. This means three quarters of the menu is everyday food from the five food groups and one quarter of the menu is occasional foods with a 3.5 or higher food star rating. Some food items high in sugar, salt and/or saturated fats that do not reach a 3.5 food star rating will be removed from the menu, eg. iced tea, Ovaltinis, cough lollies, JJ's Jumpies and some ice creams, so not too many changes. The canteen staff are working hard sourcing new and nutritious snacks and ice creams to add to the menu, eg. dip & nibbles packs, cheese dip & biscuits, fruit pikelets & scones, house made pasta dishes & salads, frozen juice cups and coconut juice ice blocks. There will be lots of new items to choose from. If you have any questions, ideas or a few hours spare to volunteer in the canteen, please contact the Canteen Manager on 4423 1359.

The school offers the convenience of online lunch orders for all students. If you wish to order online please click on the school lunch online image on the website to register. 
Close off for orders is 8.30am daily, a 25c transaction fee applies. If there are any discrepancies with your order, please contact 1300 787 939.

Volunteers please note: Sign in at the School Office on the computerised system before you commence your shift. Please wear enclosed shoes, long hair tied back, no excessive jewellery (i.e. rings, bracelets).

Click here to view the Canteen Menu

Click here to view the Canteen Volunteer Roster

Click here to view the Bombers AFL Flyer

Click here to view the Harmony Day Flyer

Click here to view the Magpies Rugby League Flyer

Click here to view the Shoalhaven Netball Flyer

Click here to view the Cross Country Flyer