Filter Content
Over the last few weeks I have often attended meetings with principals from schools from our Diocese that are located in the Greater Sydney area and am moved by the care and thoughtfulness they are giving to their school communities that are so affected by the COVID19 lockdown. Here at St John’s we have been so blessed by the freedom to education and connection that we have been gifted at a time that is so challenging for so many others. As a school we continue to express our gratitude for our situation whilst at the same time keeping those in lockdown first and foremost in our prayers.
Our school community has engaged fully with the COVID requirements and we are also called to continue to follow the guidelines to ensure that we are placing the wellbeing of others at the fore. I would like to acknowledge all the staff, parents and students who are socially distancing, wearing masks and doing all they can to ensure that we are all creating a safe environment.
‘BUSYNESS' AS USUAL
Life is still so very busy for our young people here at St John’s. I wandered around at lunch last week and visited Gooroon where students were getting assistance with their work and just spending time together. Down in the HSIE block Mr Zulian and the Mock Trial team were preparing for their next encounter, whilst outside the choir were practising a new song for assembly out in the fresh air with Miss Baker and Miss McKay. Next morning I saw the Indigenous Dance Troupe heading off in their cultural dress to dance at local preschools with Ms Coleman. The Year 12s are playing European handball with Mr Vaughan and the Year 12 Aboriginal Studies class are cleaning up the basketball courts with Mrs Kelly. A large group of students spend time together with Mrs Freshwater in Mindful Mondays and Youth Alpha is led by Mrs Honeysett in the chapel on Wednesdays. And this is just a snapshot of some moments spent wandering around.
So many of our young people are getting involved and they are so blessed to have the amazing staff who present them with such a wide range of opportunities.
Mrs Sandra Hogan
Principal
Click here to view Term 3 Week 4 OOAAA Nominations
Click here to view the Maths Pathway 200+ Club Nominees (Week 4)
TERM 3 2021
Monday 9 August - Monday 23 August: Year 12 HSC Trial Exams
WEEK 8 (Week A)
Monday 30 August - Friday 3 Sept: Year 11 Yearly Exams
This term we have divided our attention to a range of areas. From helping with social justice and the Vinnies Winter Appeal, to volunteering at the school canteen, supporting the Year 8 MPower Me Days and performing in the school production, Year 11 have been busy!
In addition to this, students have been focusing on a range of study & leadership opportunities. Leading up to the Year 11 exams held in Week 8, students have been encouraged to work on their revision and preparation. This includes allocating time after school for pure study and revision of what has been covered throughout this year across student subjects.
Also coming up this term is the process for electing leadership positions for Year 12 2022. This process will begin with the Year 11 Leadership Day, held at school on Thursday 12 August. At the conclusion of this day, students will be invited to take a leadership nomination form. The leadership nomination forms will be due by Friday 20 August to PALS teachers. Following this will be a leadership panel as part of the election process, held at school on Wednesday 25 August.
YEAR 11 HOSPITALITY
This week our Year 11 Hospitality students prepared a feast for the cast & crew of our 2021 School Production ‘Robin Hood & the Babes in the Wood’, showing gratitude for their incredible efforts! Well done to these students!
A reminder that the Year 11 Senior Retreat will be held from October 13-15 (Term 4, 2021) at Youthworks Shoalhaven Conference Centre, Waterslea. Retreats offer a rare opportunity for students to stop and think more deeply about the religious and spiritual dimension of their life. They are a compulsory aspect of the Religious Education Program of the School. Students are expected to make arrangements if part-time work, TAFE or other commitments clash. The permission note and payment information for this event is available for parents/carers on Compass. The final payment and consent is now due.
YEAR 11 DANCE
YEAR 11 EARLY CHILDHOOD
We wish to congratulate our Year 11 Early Childhood students on their positive approach to their practical placement in a local Early Childhood Centre last week. Thank you to the local businesses for hosting our students to develop their skills and understanding.
YEAR 11 TECH MANDATORY
Year 11 Important Dates
Term 3
Week 5: Leadership Day -Thursday 12 August
Week 6: Leadership Nomination forms due - Friday 20 August
Week 7: Leadership Panel- Wednesday 25 August
Week 8: Year 11 exams - from Monday 30 August
Term 4
Week 2: Year 12 2022 Retreat - Wednesday 13 - Friday 15 October
Ms Kate Davis
Year 11 Coordinator
Firstly, we would like to acknowledge the wonderful way our Year 12 students have engaged in their preparation for the Year 12 Trial HSC examinations. There have been many positive remarks from teachers who are seeing both focus and resilience amongst our students. These exams are always challenging, but as we consider the additional hurdles posed by COVID - 19, we must feel blessed that we have been able to continue with our students at school and give them all those opportunities to continue their learning with each other and with staff.
We also wanted to reassure you that our aim in preparing the final events for Year 12 is to ensure that their final days at St John’s are memorable and celebratory. You would have heard in the media of the increased restrictions being placed on schools to enable the safety of all students and staff. These restrictions have not affected us to date however we have considered any possible effects that may present themselves and we are able to modify and adapt the ceremonies and events to minimise disruption if required. This ensures that graduation of our students will be a fitting way to farewell the Class of 2021.
Year 12 students will return to school Term 4 Week 1 for normal classes with the Graduation Assembly being held on Friday 8 October 2021. It is compulsory for all Year 12 students to attend school that week.
If at the time of Graduation Covid restrictions do not allow parents, families and friends to be physically present at the final events, we will use technology, with an aim to include the community wherever possible. We will obviously look closely at the Graduation Dinner which is planned for 11 November, after the HSC exams.
We have a team of dedicated and determined staff members at St John's working to make these final weeks and then days special for all. We encourage you to focus on the positives with your child, keeping the school’s approach in mind.
HSC TRIAL EXAMS
Year 12 HSC Trial exams will be held during Week 5 & 6. Please click below to access the Year 12 2021 Trial HSC Exam Timetable and information.
Year 12 2021 Trial HSC Exam Timetable
A signed COVID-19 HSC Exam Student Declaration Form must be completed and provided to a staff member before entering every exam. A copy of the form is available here. Students are required to print and complete a separate form for each exam, which must be provided before entering the exam room.
HSC EXAM TIMETABLE
In response to the Covid-19 epidemic NESA have amended the timetable for the Year 12 2021 HSC Written Exams, commencing exams on Tuesday 19 October, a week later than planned. Click here to access the Year 12 2021 HSC Exam timetable. Students may also access their individual timetable on the following link; https://studentsonline.nesa.nsw.edu.au/
Further information may also be found on this link.
STUDY SUPPORT
We encourage students to utilise the additional study support provided by our teachers, with;
- the library open until 5pm on Tuesday & Wednesday afternoons for collaborative study,
- Mathematics tutoring in B block Thursday afternoons 3pm - 4pm, and
- our Homework centre in Gooroon open Wednesday afternoons 3pm - 4:30pm (afternoon tea provided).
I'd like to commend Year 12 on their commitment to their studies and the support shown for each other. I wish you well throughout your HSC Trials next week and remind you to please reach out to your teachers if you require any assistance. We are here to support you.
Mr Simon Vaughan
Year 12 Coordinator
YEAR 10 WORK EXPERIENCE
All of Year 10 will undertake work experience during Term 4 Week 9, Monday 29 November - Friday 3 December. During extended PALS this week they went through the process of considering their work experience options, the paperwork that will be required and the due date of this paperwork being Monday 8 November. It is the student’s responsibility to organise their own. This responsibility teaches them what it is like to apply for a real job, dealing with people and facing rejection. PALS teachers and Mrs Hill are happy to assist with work experience placements.
YEAR 12
SCHOLARSHIPS
Year 12 students are encouraged to apply for as many scholarships as they are eligible for. Scholarships are available to all school leavers. They can be awarded for students from rural areas, families in financial hardship, sporting, academics, having a passion for a particular industry and many other reasons.
The following link has a list of current scholarships to consider.
EARLY ADMISSION FOR UNIVERSITY
UOW early admissions are now open, closing on Friday 13th August. Applying for UOW early admission is an automatic application for the Illawarra Principal’s Recommendation Scholarship, one student from SJE will receive this scholarship.
MRS HILL- NOW IN STUDENT FOYER
Mrs Carla Hill
Transition & Pathway Specialist
MATHS PATHWAY
With the issuing of Semester 1 reports we have had some enquiries from parents of Year7 and 8 students about the grading. Students in Years 7 and 8 have their average growth reported as well as an overall grade. These are 2 very different measures. The growth reflects how much the student has grown in their mathematical skills over the semester. An average growth of 200% over the first semester shows that this student has had a years growth in mathematics over that semester. Essentially the growth shows how consistently the student has applied themself to their studies.
Alternatively, the Overall Grade shows the level of Mathematics skills and knowledge demonstrated by the student as measured by the NESA Common Grade Scale. So it is possible for a student to be awarded an A with a very low growth rate and vice versa.
YEAR 9
Recently Year 9 students have been doing a project based on Olympic Games data. They are finding data to verify the statement that;
“the number of Olympic Medals won by a country is determined by the wealth of that country”.
This has required them to work with spreadsheets with vast quantities of data. The spreadsheets they use have over 13 thousand lines of data. The students have learned skills to extract the information they need using pivot tables and formulas.
YEAR 11
Students studying Mathematics Standard are investigating the cost of buying, running and maintaining a car. The students report that this is a particularly useful project as they are learning about practical aspects of repaying a loan, registration, insurances and other costs.
HOMESTUDY
Years 7 and 8: As students have access to their own learning program they have homework to undertake each day. It is advised that students complete at least 15 minutes of maths homework every weekday evening (5 nights per week). Any issues that arise should be discussed with the teacher the next day.
Years 9 and 10 can be expected to do about 20 minutes each weekday evening whilst Years 11 and 12 would expect at least 30 minutes each night.
MATHS TUITION
Parents often enquire about extra assistance for their child. The Maths staff very generously offer their time every Thursday afternoon in B-block until 4pm. Students come along and do homework or study and have teachers readily available to help. This is always spoken of by departing Year 12 students as being of real benefit to their studies. Here is a link to the permission note.
NSW STATE CHAMPION - SIENNA CLARKE
Congratulations to Sienna Clarke of Year 10, crowned NSW Combined Catholic College Female Golf Champion after completing a 3-day tournament in Bateman’s Bay!
Sienna also recently defended her titles of Women’s Club Champion at both Vincentia & St George’s Basin Country Clubs and broke the Basin Women’s (2005) course record with a round of 73!
An incredible achievement Sienna!
WELCOME LISA !
Following the appointment of St John's Canteen Manager Gerri Hart, we wish to also congratulate 2020 St John's graduate Lisa Burge on her appointment as St John's new Canteen Assistant!
WELCOME FATHER JOSEPH
YOUTH MINISTRY'S 'YOUTH ALPHA' PROGRAM
All students are welcome to attend our Youth Ministry’s ‘Youth Alpha’ Program in the Chapel during Wednesday lunchtimes.
During Week 3, 34 students attended & enjoyed a pizza lunch!
NOWRA PARISH
Click here to access Nowra Parish
Click here to access Nowra Parish Facebook Page
Click here to read the latest Nowra Parish Bulletin
MILTON PARISH
Click here to access Milton ParishClick here to access the Milton Parish Facebook Page
Mr David Comensoli
Religious Education Coordinator
LUNCH ORDERS
The canteen accepts only online lunch orders. While there will still be lunch food available at the canteen, specific, handwritten lunch orders, will not be accepted.
- To register for online lunches, please click on the following link and register; http://www.
schoollunchonline.com.au - Please note, all orders are to be placed by 8.30am.
PARENT VOLUNTEERS & CANTEEN MENU
Under the current Covid-19 guidelines we are unable to allow volunteers onto the school grounds at the present time . We wish to thank those who have offered their assistance in filling our canteen roster. Once the restrictions are lifeted we will be in touch to re-instate our canteen volunteer roster.
As we are operating our canteen with limited staff, our canteen menu has been revised to enable the service to continue.
Keeping in touch with the Catholic Primary Schools within the Shoalhaven District.
Please select below links to the Shoalhaven Catholic Primary Schools websites.
