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SJE COMMUNITY & THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
We generally refer to the students, staff and families connected with St John’s as the ‘community’ of St John’s. As a catholic school community we hold dear the Catholic social teaching of the Dignity of the Human Person.
The foundation of all Catholic Social Teaching is the inherent dignity of the human person, as created in the image and likeness of God. The Church, therefore, calls for Integral Human Development, which concerns the wellbeing of each person in every dimension: economic, political, social, ecological, and spiritual.
The renowned sociologist and author, Hugh Mackay, presents in his book “What Makes Us Tick” a well researched reflection of the ten key social desires.
The desire for love, says Mackay, is the deepest of all our desires that when freely given offers the most enduring contribution to a better world. He doesn't hide the allusions to 1 Corinthians 13 when he writes that love is about action as much as feeling and true love seeks no recognition or reward. He even borrows the language of the Apostle Paul when he surmises that when it's authentic, love is constant and faithful and perseveres.
The desire to be taken seriously, is the only one of the ten here that Mackay singles out and declares to be sovereign. "Take me seriously" is a cry from the heart that underlies so much human behaviour, he suggests. It's about a deep yearning for ways to be acknowledged as unique and significant. The belief that every person is a unique creature made in God's image - a life that is precious beyond all measure and utterly unrepeatable.
These concepts are foundational to our community. We build a community grounded deeply in Catholic Social Teachings. One in which we work together to ensure that all our members are valued and given every opportunity to grow and reach our potential in a supportive community that challenges us to excellence and supports us to reach it in a peaceful and caring community.
Also in this month of November the Catholic Church remembers those who have passed beginning the month with All Saints and All Souls day. We took time, as a community, to also pray for those in our community who had passed.
MANDATORY FACE MASKS
We wish to thank our students for the positive way they have followed directions for complying with Covid-safe regulations to ensure the safety of our school community.
We would like to remind students that it is the student's responsibility to provide their own face mask everyday to be worn indoors at school.
HSC BEGINS
How wonderful it was to see our Year 12 students back on grounds to finally have the opportunity to undertake their Year 12 exams. It has been a longer than usual journey however I am certain that they are well prepared and are excited about completing their HSC year and preparing for their post school options. We wish them all the best in the exams and plans for their futures.
STAFF COLLEGIAL LEARNING
The staff at St John’s constantly engage in professional learning. They develop professional learning goals as well as working collegially in teams. Many staff are developing new programs and currently improving teaching programs in 2022. Over a period of a number of weeks they have closely examined the surveys that have been collected throughout 2021 and are ensuring that strategies are developed to address any concerns that are identified. The middle leaders in all areas, curriculum and pastoral, undertake extra training and lead most often collegial learning that staff undertake. A focus on growth and improvement is evident at all levels at St John’s.
SJE POSITION VACANT - CANTEEN ASSISTANT
We wish to advise the position of School Support Officer - Canteen Assistant (70 Hours per fortnight) is currently available at St John's, with applications closing 15 November 2021 at 8.30am. For further details or to apply, please click here.
Mrs Sandra Hogan
Principal
We look forward to introducing a number of new initiatives in 2022.
EXTENSION
We will continue to offer opportunities for all students to be challenged at all levels. To enable this we support a number of extension classes in Stage 5 and we will extend the concept of cluster classes in Stage 4.
CONNECTIONS
After analysing our data from the Tell Them From Me Survey one of the areas we will be focusing on is the SJE Learning Disposition of Connects.
Year 7 will all be participating in the Connect program which explicitly teaches young people how to engage in positive relationships and builds their capacity in this area.
All Year 8 students will be immersed in Indonesian culture, learning the language and connecting with one our closest neighbours.
Year 9 students will participate in a number of Project Based Learning experiences with the emphasis on all SJE Learning Dispositions including Connects.
ICAS COMPETITION 2021
Due to the current COVID restrictions we have unfortunately had to cancel this year's ICAS Competition. All families who elected for their child to do these tests should have received an email with details explaining how to get a refund. The refund process is through ICAS and they have an early December deadline.
TERM 4 2021
WEEK 8A Year 12 HSC Continues
Wednesday 24 November Year 10 Reflection Day
WEEK 9B
Thursday 2 December Year 7 2022 Parent Information Evening via zoom 6pm
Friday 3 December Year 12 Graduation Dinner
WEEK 10A
Week 10 Year 10 Virtual Work Experience, Resume Writing Workshops
Monday 6 December Year 7 2022 Orientation 9:15am - 2:30pm
2022 RETURN TO SCHOOL DATES
Friday 28 January & Monday 31 January 2022: Staff Development Days
Tuesday 1 February 2022: New students in Years 8-11 attend (partial day for induction)
Tuesday 1 February 2022: Year 7, Year 10 Peer Support & Year 12 return
Wednesday 2 February 2022: All students at school
Year 11 has returned to onsite learning in a very positive way. Now that we have begun our HSC courses, the students have been busy keeping on top of their lessons and preparing for their first Year 12 Assessment Tasks. This week we have received the 2022 HSC Assessment Booklet, which details key assessment dates and relevant information for the 2022 HSC. Students have been encouraged to consider their organisational skills at this point in the term, in order to support their management of school work, assessment tasks, study and other activities they have outside of school.
In Week 5 we had the opportunity to celebrate the Year 11 Reflection Day. This was a valuable experience considering that the Senior Retreat has moved to Term 2 next year.
The theme of this day was around hope and unity, encouraging students to come together as a cohesive unit as we begin Year 12. The theme of hope is also significant as students are encouraged to consider where they see themselves in the future, and identify how they are going to get there. Students are reminded of the value of working together to help each other and also reaching out when they are in need of support.
During the Reflection Day, students received their ‘welcome to Year 12’ packs, which also included their Senior Passport for 2022. The Senior Passport is an integral part of senior life at St John’s. Students will use their passport to log any incidence of extra curricular activities, volunteer work and additional involvement as members of the school community. These passports play a significant role in determining the end of Year 12 awards and references.
Whilst we have not had the opportunity to to have whole year group assemblies on our return to school this term, we still have some deserving recipients of the Walk Awards. For these recipients, they have been specifically recommended to me as the Year Coordinator by students and members of staff. Congratulations to the following winners for Term 4:
UOW SUMMER MASTER CLASS
Congratulations to those Year 11 students who have been successful in their applications for the UOW Summer Master Classes. These students will be involved in the classes over the summer break.
YOUNG ENDEAVOUR
SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS
Well done to Madeleine Allen in Year 11 for her selection in the Tarsha Gale Cup Rugby League side, as a member of the Illawarra Steelers.
Good luck to Joshua Ludman, also in Year 11 as he continues to engage himself with Elite Cycling. Josh has been named as a member of the 2021-2022 Illawarra Academy of Sport Cycling Squad.
Ms Kate Davis
Year 11 Coordinator
I would like to thank Year 12, for being amazing and quietly talented in so many ways because you gave us all something, lasting memories.
You made it bright for me on most days in this last Year of challenges. Having arrived at the end of Year 12 and soon to walk out of here for the last time from a formal gathering, has given you options. These choices are available to you as you have come on the challenging path all the way to the HSC.
You may change ideas on what you want to do many times over. My message to you is that you have made yourself into a "chooser" by completing your HSC and experiencing life at St John's. You have created choices for yourself being at school, further study, straight into the workplace or travelling when that becomes possible again.
I still maintain that some of the most interesting people can be those who are over 40 years of age and still deciding what they might want to do. So there’s no rush, just go slow and enjoy life. The end of school won’t mean the end of your friendships, your true friends will always be there somewhere!
* Credit: Richard Bach, Goodreads.So well done on being who you have become and best of luck for the rest of your days when you leave our school. Please do your best to keep in touch, but farewell for now.
YEAR 12 GRADUATION
- Mrs Kinna (Assistant Year Coordinator) has communicated with students regarding table arrangements for seating at this event. Please check the Year 12 google classroom page for the seating layout and if you aren't yet on a table, please Ms Kinna by Monday 15 November.
- Note: If the Graduation Dinner is cancelled or cannot proceed due to current restrictions regarding COVID-19, refunds will be processed for all tickets. Special dietary requirements must also be registered on Compass.
- Usual school expectations apply and note that all Graduation and formal events are non-smoking and alcohol free.
- Please note that any behavioural issues deemed unsuitable during the evening may result in a request to leave, as is the case for any other school organised event.
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
BISHOP BRIANS MESSAGE TO YEAR 12
Last week Bishop Brian Mascord recorded the following message to Year 12;
MESSAGES OF HOPE TO YEAR 12 STUDENTS
Last week Mrs Hogan and the staff at the Catholic Education Office Wollongong proovided Year 12 students with messages of hope to inspire and encourage students as they begin their HSC final exams.
Messages of Hope for Year 12 students
CONGRATULATIONS EILISH NORWOOD
A deserving Year 12 PAX Christi Award recipient, Eilish Norwood has been offered 'an opportunity of a lifetime'.
Click here to listen to our Transition & Career Pathway Specialist, Mrs Carla Hill speaking with ABC Illawarra radio about Eilish's scholarship and the support provided at St John's for future study and career opportunities.
Mr Simon Vaughan
Year 12 Coordinator
There is so much happening now in Science at St John’s it is not possible to include everything here, so we would like to share a snapshot of a few things happening in and around F block, since the return to school. It looks a little different learning under Level 3+ restrictions, but the Science teachers were really keen to see their students and have them learning kinesthetically. The ‘Science prac’ is back.
YEAR 7
YEAR 8
Students in Year 8 have been eggs-perimenting hard in the completion of their unit of work on Forces, trying to reduce the forces exerted on Eggbert while studying vehicle safety systems and how Eggbeth can withstand the forces when thrown at high speed into a bed sheet hanging from the clothesline (without safety equipment).
Investigating simple machines, such as pulley systems, inclined planes and an attempt to build a DC motor to demonstrate how an electric coil can generate a magnetic field that interact with magnets to generate rotational motion. Pretty Cool Stuff!!
YEAR 9
Students in Year 9 have been busy building and understanding the different types of electrical circuits, series and parallel. They have investigated the way in which voltage and current behave in each type of circuit, to help them decide how to get the best results from different types of circuits for different uses. Students then applied Ohms Law to calculate the resistance of electrical components, how this relates to both the voltage and the current in a circuit and finally electrical efficiency. Students have done really well applying their mathematical thinking skills while working scientifically, applying a number of formulas to their calculations.
Students then turned their investigations to Electromagnetic Waves and the wave equation, calculating the length of the radio waves from local South Coast radio stations. Students have also investigated the effects of reflection and refraction, and its effect on light passing through prisms and perspex blocks. With their new understanding students were able to build a small telescope using 2 lenses.
YEAR 10
Students in Year 10 are exploring the phenomena of Space from the beginning of time with the Big Bang, to exploring evidence to support the expanding universe. Students used a pinhole camera to accurately measure the diameter of the Sun.
The class also conducted chemical flame tests to help them understand how different elements emit a specific colour spectra, to help them understand why stars come in all different colours.
YEAR 10 SCIENCE BATTLE
SENIOR SCIENCES
Biology students have continued their start to their HSC year by investigating the cell’s heritable characteristics of mitosis and meiosis, images below show students preparing and viewing a wet mount of an onion root undergoing cell division by mitosis. Also modelling these processes as wall posters to hang in their classrooms throughout the HSC year as a reference point as they progress through the units.
HSC Chemistry (2021) students undertake their final practical revision activity, investigating carbonated soft drinks and the effects of disrupting the chemical bonding in proteins to enable us to make yummy treats like meringue.
Plans for National Science Week 2021 were disrupted due to the latest lockdown, the theme for this year was; 'Food - Different by Design', and so the Science staff decided that in light of the Climate Crisis we would offer our students and staff an alternative protein source to Beef and Lamb, by way of a Blind Taste Challenge. Check out some of the videos of this event below!
Technology use is popular with the student population. The link below provides Cyber Safety information explaining the common apps/platforms used by our students such as Tik Tok, SnapChat, Facebook, Instagram, Fortnight, Roblox, Calculator%, Discord and Youtube. This document explains what these platforms do, the challenges/problems with these platforms, and how to access settings for controlling safety and privacy.
YEAR 10
WORK EXPERIENCE
The Year 10 Work Experience week that was to take place in Week 9 this term has been cancelled. Under the revised NSW Health orders we are still unable to approve work experience while we are under Level 3 Covid-19 restrictions. It is acknowledged that many students and families worked hard to secure work experience placements and it is regretful that this can not go ahead this year. Hopefully there will be opportunities for students to undertake work experience placements during the holiday periods in 2022.
All Year 10 students will be required to attend school and follow timetabled classes in Week 9. During Week 10, the transition week, students will undertake a work readiness course, participate in virtual work experience, create a resume and learn interview skills. Should you have any queries about this please contact me.
Mrs Carla Hill
Transition & Pathway Specialist
FABULOUS PERFORMANCE BY SEREN
Congratulations to Seren Price of Year 9 for her fabulous performance on PowerFM radio last Friday.
ILLAWARRA ACADEMY OF SPORT (IAS)
We wish to congratulate the following students on their recent selection in the Illawarra Academy of Sport Squad for 2022;
Phoebe Szymoniczek (Netball), Oliver Driscoll & Harry Frew (Basketball).
Phoebe trialled for a position in the 2022 Netball squad at the University of Wollongong last Saturday and will now commence training with the squad next week to prepare for representing in Academy Games. Congratulations to these fabulous athletes!
GOOROON
We wish to thank Waminda for providing our Indigenous Girls with a Youth Program on Tuesday.
The workshops for each grade included connecting through a yarn circle 
, Indigenous art and more!
Click here to access Nowra Parish
Click here to access Nowra Parish Facebook Page
MILTON PARISH
Click here to access Milton ParishClick here to access the Milton Parish Facebook Page
Mr David Comensoli
Religious Education Coordinator
SCHOOL CANTEEN - VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED
We are really excited to see students back at school and pleased to advise that our canteen service is available.
Canteen access is currently staggered with each year group allocated an area for distribution of lunches. There is a limited range of food available for purchase. Students and families are encouraged to use the online lunch orders to purchase lunches. This helps with the distribution of lunches and staggered access to the canteen.
Click here to access the online ordering system and current menu, available on our school website.
In order to continue providing our canteen service, we are seeking the assistance of volunteers. Current guidelines allow only volunteers who have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. Parents, Grandparents and Friends are all welcome to assist!
If you may be able to help, even as little as an hour or two, please click here or contact our school on 4423 1666 or info@sjedow.catholic.edu.au. We look forward to hearing from you!
Keeping in touch with the Catholic Primary Schools within the Shoalhaven District.
Please select below links to the Shoalhaven Catholic Primary Schools websites.