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On Friday 3 June the community of St John's celebrated Foundation Day. The opportunity to share a school Mass is very limited and our young people honored this occasion in the most prayerful and respectful manner. Fr Joseph provided thoughtful insight in his homily. The Mass was also enriched with music from our choir and musicians.
The fair was such fun with all the students and staff engaged in stalls and activities that they themselves had developed. The showcase was outstanding; there were so many talented young people and even a staff band that performed.
The day was also a great success in raising funds for educational opportunities for people of Timor Leste and providing support for the Shoalhaven branch of St Vincent de Paul. Over $8000 dollars were raised.
As discussed in the last newsletter we hold our Foundation day to align with the feast of Pentecost, a time when the Holy Spirit came to support the disciples to go out and spread the news of Jesus Christ. Our calling is to live our faith, as St Francis said:
“teach the Gospel, and sometimes use words”.
This is what I witness in our community at all times. Over the last few weeks not only have we sent $4000 dollars to Timor and $4000 to St Vincent de Paul but they raised $1000 for SAHSSI to help women in need in the Shoalhaven, visited nursing homes to spend time with the elderly and also sold chocolate milk to raise funds for St Vincent de Paul. Students and staff are also bringing in food donations for the winter appeal.
It is encouraging to see how much these young people are empowered to show faith-in-action and truly live the values that they renewed in their houses on Foundation day.
PASSING OF ADORED STUDENT
It is with great sadness to have this week farewelled a wonderful young person, Alex Musitano of Year 8 after his battle with T-cell ALL (Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia).
Alex connected with his peers on many special occasions when his health was failing and they had a wonderful time. He also supported social events such as the volleyball competition. His positive attitude was contagious.
Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to all of those who were blessed to have known Alex, and to Joanne his mother, and brother Tai, also a student of our St John's Community.
Alex was farewelled in a service on Wednesday, with his close friend Will Page preparing the following eulogy;
We understand this is a difficult time for many, and remind you of the Pastoral support services available at our school.
Mrs Sandra Hogan
Principal
YEAR 12 HSC & BEYOND INFORMATION EVENING
Please find the following link to access the recording of our Year 12 HSC & Beyond Information Evening held recently on Tuesday 10 May 2022.
YEAR 12 HSC & BEYOND INFORMATION EVENING
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS AND ASSESSMENTS FOR SCHOOLS (ICAS)
We will not be offering these competitions this year due to the significant price increase. If you have any concerns please contact Mrs Murphy in the curriculum office.
YEAR 9 & YEAR 11 2023 SUBJECT SELECTION
The Year 9 & Year 11 2023 Subject Selection Information Evening for all current Year 8 & 10 students and parents/carers was held on Thursday 16 June 2022. Please take the time to read the booklet and engage in the process with your child.
OOAAA AWARDS
MATHS 200 CLUB WINNERS
NOWRA PARISH
Click here to access Nowra Parish
Click here to access Nowra Parish Facebook Page
MILTON PARISH
Click here to access Milton ParishMr David Comensoli
Religious Education Coordinator
TERM 2 2022
WEEK 9A
Wed 22 June : Year 7 & 8 G'Day Mass & Morning Tea
Tues 28 June: NAIDOC Morning Tea & Assembly 10:20am
Friday 1 July: Final Day for Term 2
TERM 3 2022
WEEK 1A
Monday 18 July : Staff & Students return for Term 3.
Please note, the Term 3 Staff Development Day will not be held on Monday 18 July as planned. This has been postponed with a date to be advised.
Wed 20 July - Saturday 23 July : St John's School Musical 'The Curse of the Mummy'
YEAR 12 RETREAT 2022
The Year 12 Retreat was a time for reflection, spirituality and pause from the busyness of the HSC year. Students were given the opportunity to further connect with their peers and the staff who attended through a range of small and whole year group activities. The students on retreat were outstanding in the ways they conducted themselves over the three days. Year 12 were respectful and insightful in the planned activities; they also had a great sense of adventure and spontaneity as they embraced the lighter aspects of the retreat, including the talent show and dress up night and Mr Eirth’s singing battle.
As Year Coordinator, I could not be more proud of the young men and women in this amazing cohort. They have a strong sense of justice and inclusion, as they worked so collaboratively together in the small groups and also as a wider team.
Thank you to all of Year 12 for attending our retreat with such grace and enthusiasm.
My gratitude on behalf of Year 12 also goes to the staff who attended and also helped prepare for our retreat;
Mr Comensoli, Mr Lopez, Mrs Anderson, Mrs Frawley, Mrs Murphy, Mrs Kelly, Ms Lloyd, Mrs Frew, Mrs Honeysett, Mr Holden, Mr Fuller, Mr Eirth, Mr Leishman, Mrs Hogan, Mrs Millington, Uncle Rory, Mrs Phillips, Mrs Hill, Mrs Hodges and Mrs Whitehouse.
CAREERS EXPO
Thank you to Mrs Hill for organising and sending Year 12 to the Illawarra Careers Expo at the start of May in Berkeley. The event was attended by hundreds of senior students from the Illawarra, and was an excellent opportunity for our students to engage with their post school options as they prepare to further study and enter the workforce.
FOUNDATION DAY
Year 12 attended their very last St John’s Foundation Day in Week 6. It was an excellent event, led admirably by our Year 12 leaders and PALS groups. Thanks to the Year 12 PALS classes and teachers for their contribution of stalls on the day, which were a hit with the whole school. Year 12 provided the school with a range of stalls including party foods, lolly jars, a dance party, pancakes, spider drinks, donuts and some very entertaining sponge throwing.
At the end of the day, Year 12 lit up the hall with some outstanding entertainment at the annual talent showcase.
Well done to all students who participated in the showcase, and particular mention goes to Allira & Tom as the MC’s, along with the well-known band Electrik Boots.
UOW DISCOVERY DAY
On Monday 6 June, a group of Year 12 students attended the UOW Discovery Day at the Wollongong campus. Students were greeted by current UOW students who guided them around the very large campus. Students were able to attend their own lectures on the day, to get a feel for what it is like to be a Uni student. Lectures covered all sorts of disciplines including engineering, nursing, medicine, languages and creative arts.
BISHOP BRIAN'S VISIT
Last Wednesday the school welcomed Bishop of the Wollongong Diocese - Brian Mascord, the Wollongong Catholic Education Office Director Mr Peter Hill and St Michael’s Parish Priest, Father Joseph Pothenparampil.
Our special guests were firstly greeted by the school Captains and SRC leaders in the Chapel, where they discussed themes of challenges, faith, life stages and the importance of relationships and connections to others.
The entire Year 12 cohort then met with Bishop Brian, Mr Hill and Father Joseph. Students were given an opportunity to ask questions of Bishop Brian. Both guests were amazed at the quality of questions and thoughts displayed by our year group. Questions covered a multitude of topics including politics, religion and ethics. Year 12 also heard the story of when Bishop Brian first met Pope Francis at the Vatican!
As a school we are grateful for the time of both Bishop Brian and Mr Hill in meeting with our students and staff.
HSC DRAMA
Yesterday our Year 12 Drama students impressed, presenting their individual and group performances for their HSC trial assessment.
WALK AWARDS
Ms Kate Davis
Year 12 Coordinator
Words cannot express how proud I am of Year 11. The compassion and care for others which is demonstrated by the students every day is heart warming. The involvement of Year 11 students in our Social Justice initiatives has increased this year with many students now actively involved in Vinnies Youth, JAG and PAX.
Students from Vinnies Youth have had the opportunity to visit the residents of Johnathon Rogers Nursing Home which has had a positive impact on where students have felt the need to share their own very personal experiences.
The fundraiser for SAHSSI has been a wonderful success culminating in the Movie Night where Year 11 were well represented.
There has also been lots of hard work going on in classrooms this term. PDHPE did really well on their task as did the Biology students.
Early Childhood students got to go out on placement to get a taste of life in this career path.
Aboriginal Studies students have been working on their NAIDOC assessment and were privileged to have Aunty Chris, Aunty Janet Atkins and Aunty Sharon Bloxsome come and share their experiences and what this year’s NAIDOC theme, Get Up, Stand Up, Show Up, means to them.
Dylan Johnstone had the opportunity to sail on board the Young Endeavor and shared his experience with the school community at assembly.
9TH IN THE WORLD
I would like to thank all the students in Year 11 for the effort they have put in this term, you should all be proud of your achievements.
God has no hands but yours!
Ms Lynette Kelly
Year Coordinator
HANNAH KICKING GOALS!
NSW CCC CROSS COUNTRY
NSW ALL SCHOOLS STATE SWIMMING
Following success at the NSW CCC Swimming Championships, Talika Irvine (Year 10) and Oskar Driscoll (Year 7) went on to represent at the NSW AllSchools State Swimming Championships on Friday 3 June, competing against swimmers from all Catholic, Independent and Public Schools in the state.
Talika and Oskar did us proud, achieving the following outstanding results;
AFL NAIL BITER
Our Under 15 Girls AFL team played a very closed game against Ulladulla last Friday 10 June, with Goals to Hannah Phillips, Ella Mansfield & Anya Ellerington.
Mr Craig Holden
Representative Sport Coordinator
LUNCH ORDERS
CANTEEN ROSTER
We would like extend our gratitude to the parents/carers, grandparents, staff and students who kindly assisted in our school canteen this term.
If you or any family members, grandparents etc may be available to assist, it would be greatly appreciated. No experience is necessary. Tasks are not difficult and mainly include assisting with food preparation to ensure our lunch orders are ready for collection. Even if you're able to spare just an hour or two in the morning, this would be extremely helpful.
Please contact our school on info@sjedow.catholic.edu.au or phone 4423 1666.
EARLY TEACHERS RECOGNISED
Last week the Daily Telegraph recognised some of the early career teachers ability to 'rapidly rethink their approach to learning' during COVID lockdowns over the past couple of years.
St John's teachers Ms Abbey Baker and Mr Jacob Stephenson prominantly featured within this article. Click below to view.
VINNIES HOT CHOCOLATE FUNDRAISER
Each Wednesday morning from 8am throughout Winter our students have been selling hot chocolate for $2 to raise funds for the Vinnies Winter Appeal.
Remember to bring your coins and support this fabulous charity!
PAX MOVIE NIGHT FUNDRAISER
Last week our PAX group organised a movie night to raise much needed funds for the SAHSSI organisation, supporting Homeless and Volunerable Women and Children in need. Screening the movie 'Tangled', the night was a great success, raising over $1000!
Thank you to everyone who supported this fabulous event!
2013 GRADUATE STARS IN LOGIE CONTENTION PROGRAM
2013 St John's graduate Natalie Abbott has been praised for her incredible performance in comedy program 'Aftertaste', a show now in the line up for the Logies Most Popular Comedy Program!
On Thursday 18 May, Year 10 Students Craig Sutton, Georgia Coleman, Cameron Nelson and Serena McDonald attended the Youth Advisory Committee meeting held at Shoalhaven City Council. Students met with members of Council, and other delegates from various schools and organisations, to discuss topics such as Climate Change and Sustainability for our local and wider community.
MINISTER FOR REGIONAL YOUTH MEETS WITH LOCAL YOUTH
BOMADERRY COMMUNITY PRESCHOOL PERFORMANCE
On Wednesday 1 June St John’s Boys’ and Girls’ Indigenous Dance members were invited to perform at the Bomaderry Community Preschool for students, parents and families. Dancers expressed Culture in a variety of performances with the accompaniment of song and Clap Sticks.
SORRY DAY, NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK
On Thursday 26 May students, staff and community members remembered and acknowledged The Stolen Generations at our National Sorry Day Assembly.
We are fortunate in the TAS Faculty to provide a different type of learning environment. In most courses a ratio of 2:1 practical to theory lessons sees students engage in projects and learning experiences which sees them motivated by tangible products and a sense of achievement.
The Year 12 Design and Technology and Timber classes are well on their way for their Term 3 submission. Any subject with a Major works component requires a sustained effort and dedication to the subject from each student. The learning goes beyond the making, in development of ideas,testing and evaluating.
The Year 10 engineering class tested their bridge designs against static weights.
The Year 8 materials class came up with uniques designs in their tie dying. The bespoke designs in some of the e eco lamp projects are inspirational for Year 8 students. There are always lots of happy faces, quality learning and innovative designs when students are in their respective TAS classes.
Mr Phil Gould
IMMUNISATIONS - YEAR 10
NEXT P&F GENERAL MEETING
Keeping in touch with the Catholic Primary Schools within the Shoalhaven District.
Please select below links to the Shoalhaven Catholic Primary Schools websites.