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- PRINCIPAL'S REPORT
- PASTORAL CARE
- FROM THE CURRICULUM OFFICE
- FROM THE FINANCE OFFICE
- UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER
- YEAR 7 NEWS
- YEAR 8 NEWS
- RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
- NEWS FROM DANCE
- NEWS FROM CAPA
- NEWS FROM OUTDOOR ED
- CAREERS NEWS
- NEWS FROM JAG
- ASSORTED NEWS
- CANTEEN NEWS
- NEWS FROM P & F
- SHOALHAVEN COMMUNITY OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS
- COMMUNITY NOTICES
NAIDOC
We had the most wonderful celebration on Tuesday this week. It was so lovely to have so many visitors from the community join us along with the students from St Mary’s in Milton.
Aunty Kerrie also came along. The stage showcased the artworks that she had done along with other artworks from previous events.
The boys and girls dance troupes performed. The theme of this year’s NAIDOC is Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!. The celebration highlighted people in history who had made a difference and as a community we were all called to Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! And make a difference.
YEAR 5 ST MICHAEL'S NOWRA & ST MARY'S MILTON IMMERSION
Yr 10 Peer Support Leaders & staff provided an outstanding experience including a visit to the farm, bushcraft activities, Science experimenting with bunsen burners, cultural activities in Gooroon and Drama games on Wednesday.
We ended the day with a special visit from Ziggy our Wellbeing dog and a performance from our students in the 'Curse of the Mummy' musical.
STAFF FAREWELLS
There are a number of staff who are leaving us at the end of this term and I would like to acknowledge their contribution to St John’s and wish them the best for their future. These staff are;
PRINCIPAL REVIEW
I would like to personally thank every parent and carer who completed the survey or engaged in a conversation with the review team. Your feedback is truly appreciated and I encourage you to share your thoughts and feedback in an ongoing manner.
HOLIDAY BREAK
I hope that all our young people has a restful break and enjoy the opportunity to renew.
Mrs Sandra Hogan
Principal
ZIGGY THE WELLBEING DOG
On Wednesday Ziggy made lots of new friends visiting from Year 5 at St Michael’s Nowra and St Mary’s Milton Primary Schools, enjoying loads of pats.
We would like to thank parents/carers and staff for their support of our young people this term and wish you all a relaxing and safe holiday break.
Mr Aidan Leishman
YEAR 7 -10 REPORTS
We wish to advise that the Year 7-10 Student Reports are now available on the Compass portal.
or
2) Access the Parent Portal via our school website. (www.sjedow.catholic.edu.au)
If you experience any difficulty accessing these reports please contact our school on 4423 1666 or info@sjedow.catholic.edu.au.
OOAAA AWARDS
MATHS 200 CLUB WINNERS
SCHOOL HOLIDAY YEAR 12 HSC WORKSHOPS
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'.
WEEK 2B
Thursday 28 July : Year 10 Immunisations
WEEK 6B
Friday 26 August: St John's Athletics Carnival
“We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Educating your child is a shared responsibility between teachers and parents, hence it is important for parents to have conversations with their child about their learning so that they are informed.
Year 7 Semester 1 Reports are now available on compass for parents/carers. Take the time to talk to your child about their report;
In PALS we will be working with the Year 7 students to set goals around what areas of their learning they would like to improve on (after reflecting on their report) and how to go about achieving this goal. It would be good if you could discuss this with your child so that you can support them at home in achieving this goal. And in doing so (as the quote says) “….we can build our youth for the future!”.
If you are having any problems accessing your child's report, please contact the school either by phone or email - info@sjedow.catholic.edu.au, and our amazing administrative staff will be able to help.
I was so impressed with the way that Year 7 fulfilled their responsibilities supporting and manning their PALS groups stall for Foundation Day. It is a special day for the St Johns community and Year 7 embraced the opportunity to be part of this special day, as you can tell from these photos included in this newsletter.
I would like to thank the extended family that came to join our school community for “G’Day Mass”. These shared experiences form special memories for everyone and strengthen connections for students and the special people in their lives.
“With strong minds and gracious hearts”
Mrs Wendy Isemonger
Year 7 Coordinator
SUBJECT SELECTION
Resource links as discussed on the information evening:
Study resources:
https://sites.google.com/dow.catholic.edu.au/sjelibrary/home
Managing digital devices at home:
https://www.esafety.gov.au/education-resources/iparent
Subject selection booklet available here:
https://www.sjedow.catholic.edu.au/
Selections were due to be completed by Thursday June 24 (T2 Wk10).
Return the signed hard copy confirmation of selections to PALS teachers.
If students need any further support with decision making please contact the following teachers:
UNIFORM
Please plan carefully day to day by referring to your timetable in your diary as to when your sports uniform should be worn. Reminder, wearing your sports uniform on the wrong day will result in a withdrawal. The wearing of the uniform across Year 8 has improved.
END OF TERM BREAK
To all students, parents and families please have a restful, relaxing and restorative holiday and we will welcome you back at the start of Term 3 on Monday 18 July.
Mr Simon Vaughan
Year 8 Coordinator
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
It’s been a big week for the dance students at SJE! Our extra curricular dance teams spent last week in Campbelltown at the Sydney Catholic Schools Dance Festival, performing an 8 minute piece! They were amazing and had the opportunity to watch 15 other schools in the festival. The atmosphere was so encouraging and positive and it proved to be a valuable experience for all involved.
Last weekend our Wednesday morning dance company were selected to perform in the ‘Stars of the Shoalhaven Eisteddfod Showcase’- after their win early this term. Yet again they represented the school impeccably and it was an honour to watch them shine on the Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre stage, it was a huge privilege to be invited for this prestigious event.
We now kick off rehearsals for Wakakirri, one of our favourite events of the year happening at the end of Term 3!
Our Year 12 class is busily preparing for their HSC practical examinations, they have now officially finished all practical school-based assessment tasks and are only 6 weeks out from their exams, I am so proud of them and know they will give it their absolute all.
Year 11 are currently studying composition and are to be commended on their diligence, self-direction and motivation- developing motifs and learning how to manipulate movements into abstracted phrases.
Year 9 dance has been exploring group composition through stimuli and I am blown away by the work they are producing. We are loving expressing ourselves through dance and the bonds we are all building with each other, all across different year groups. I am very proud of the dance team and look forward to witnessing their continued growth throughout the year!
Ms Savannah Lloyd
Dance Teacher
DRAMA
Students in Year 12 are currently working on developing and rehearsing their group performance pieces for assessment next week. The students are required to devise an original 8-12 minute performance using an item from the NESA topic list as their initial stimulus. The group performances are quite diverse in both content and performance style and include a comic piece that tells us the story of a somewhat bedraggled company of Shakespearean actors who are desperately trying to find a new playwright to sustain them into the future before Shakespeare dies. Another darkly humorous piece explores just what lengths a funeral home will go to so that they maintain their profitability.
In their individual projects and performances one student has chosen to write a play that is a satirical examination of a former prime minister and their handling of disasters that impacted our community. It is set in a dystopian world where the past, present and future merge and collide in a way that challenges us to consider our own perspectives on the issues raised. Another student has selected costume design as their individual project or performance. They are designing Victorian style costumes for a range of characters in Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew. The other students are doing individual performances. They include pieces about Joan of Arc as imagined by a schoolgirl who helps her through a traumatic time, a young man with OCD and his first love, a young lady who is infatuated with cacti and her ex and a rather psychotic eastern European lady who is out for revenge for the injustices served upon her and her husband by his employer. All of the performances have a wonderful blend of humour, warmth and pathos. They really do explore the human condition and reveal the layers beyond the surface that perhaps we don’t take the time to consider in our own lives.
I congratulate and thank all of Year 12 Drama for their unbridled enthusiasm, commitment, camaraderie and collaboration, both in the classroom and beyond. You are outstanding leaders of both Drama and CAPA in our community. Thank you.
VISUAL ARTS
Year 8 have been making masks that explore the concept of identity and how their ideas about themselves can be symbolically represented. Students enjoyed the challenge of first designing their mask designs and creating them in three dimensional form.
Now fired the students have been learning about glazing.
CAPA TASTER WORKSHOPS
Last Friday Year 10 students were offered the opportunity to attend our ‘Taste of CAPA’ workshops, providing an insight into CAPA subjects available for the HSC & careers in the CAPA industry.
Mr Mark Burian
Our students have had a huge range of successes and learning experiences in the outdoors this term; it's awesome to have so much positivity to reflect upon. No longer is it all the things we missed out on with lockdowns and restrictions, but all the wonderful things we have done and achieved. We’re seeing students thrive and there’s little better feeling for a teacher than to see growth in our young people.
YEAR 9 CAMP
Camp occurred earlier this term for our Year 9 students. Flooding squandered our first attempt at the usual time in Term 1, necessitating a change of venue and effectively a new camp. Our Year 10 students who lead the activities as part of their Outdoor Leadership topic adapted quickly to the changes and were exemplary leaders over the three days. Our Year 9’s were outstanding on camp and are to be commended on their enthusiasm, responsibility and participation.
YEAR 9 BUSHCRAFT
Our three Year 9 Bushcraft classes have made huge progress this term, building a range of outdoor skills relating to camping, including cooking on a metho stove, knots, navigation and shelter building. The students are assessed via a “competency” system, where they must individually demonstrate a given skill to a high standard before being deemed competent. It demands students to persist with their learning, practice, seek feedback and persist - only then do they grow as learners. Particularly outstanding progress has been made by Lachlan Campbell, Kiki Macas, Kymmie Kilpatrick, Matilda Strode.
One of our Year 9 classes unfortunately missed out on their bush walk in Term 1, which was rescheduled to this term. The relentless westerly wind resulted in a new bushwalking location - this time to Seven Mile Beach National Park. The students handled the 12.5km walk impressively well.
YEAR 10 BUSHCRAFT
Year 10 have had an extremely busy term, simultaneously planning their expeditions in addition to a very full schedule in the “Rockcraft” unit. Our expedition this year is being held in Heathcote National Park, with 10BSH2 completing their 27km overnight backpack walk this week. Expeditions are intended to challenge students and are often an intense experience that requires students to dig deep and support each other through the challenges. What better training ground for life?!
I genuinely believe these experiences help build better people, and the grit, camaraderie, teamwork and achievement they experience will help set these students up for success in their lives. I cannot wait to hear of their experiences upon their return! 10BSH1 will have a date set for their expedition in Term 3.
The Rockcraft unit is part way complete, with students having undertaken climbing at “Indoor Climb South Coast”, in addition to a glorious day on some of the Shoalhaven’s renowned sandstone cliffs. Climbing challenges everyone no matter their ability, and challenge brings growth. The sessions were flawless with our students demonstrating exemplary behaviour, safety and maturity. Particularly noteworthy climbs were made by Oscar Tunney-Roberts, Holly Singleton, Charli Butler and Huge Vaughan. Next term we will continue the topic with abseiling, vertical mobility and a little more climbing thrown in!
What a term it has been - but with so many successes amongst our students, it is great to conclude the term with such positivity. I am personally fueled by the successes of our young people and I love every moment I can spend with them in our bush, facilitating and watching them grow as people.
OUTDOOR LEARNING EVENTS COMING UP IN TERM 3
- Year 11 PDHPE Outdoor Rec Camp at Kiola (overnight walk)
- Year 9 Rogaine Day (parent volunteers needed!!! Please contact Mrs. Semmens for more information, but plenty of info to come early next term)
- Year 10 Rockcraft Assessment Day at Yerriyong.
Mr John Higgins
Bushcraft Teacher
to ‘Media for Millennials’ for this brilliant opportunity and congratulations to our students for the amazing work produced during the workshop!
JOHNNIES ACTION GROUP (JAG)
Last week, JAG students had the opportunity to work in the sustainable garden for a double period. The aim was to get as much weeded as possible and prepare an area with mulch to get ready for spring planting next term. JAG students worked so well as a team and made a huge amount of progress in our garden. Thanks to all students involved!
JAG is also very excited to introduce the SJE BEES, a student run group who have a passion for bees and the environment, as well as a few thousand tiny fuzzy friends. This year, JAG is hoping to get a native bee hive for the school. The species will be sugarbag bees, a small, stingless native species, 1 of the only 2 social species in the country. SJE Bees aims to educate our school community on the importance of these little guys, they will be having weekly meetings to discuss the management, care and impact of the bees. Any interested students are invited to join the JAG google classroom (4qfg7ep), speak to Miss Freshwater or come along to a JAG meeting on Fridays (Week A).
Ms Amy Freshwater
NSWCCC CROSS COUNTRY
SAILING SUCCESS
POETRY PERFECTION
Wow, here are some beautiful visual representations of Robert Frost poetry by Year 10 students Yianna, Jessica, Lola & Kate. Fabulous work!
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 those in need.
During Term 3 we will continue to collect canned food to contribute to the Vinnies Winter Appeal and reach our target of 1,035 cans. Cans may be delivered to the student foyer or library in the first 5 weeks of Term 3. We appreciate your generosity.
CATERING EXCELLENCE
VALUES IN ACTION
LUNCH ORDERS
CANTEEN ROSTER
We wish to thank all parents/carers, grandparents and friends who have assisted in our school canteen this term. We are in the process of creating our Term 3 Canteen Roster and require assistance on the following dates;
Week 2
Tuesday 26 July
Wednesday 27 July
Friday 29 July
Week 3
Tuesday 2 August
Friday 5 August
Week 4
Tuesday 9 August
Wednesday 10 August
Friday 12 August
If you may be able to assist, please contact our school on 4423 1666 or info@sjedow.catholic.edu.au.
As we reach the end of another term it’s a good time to reflect on what has been achieved. This term we have been able to return to holding School Working Bees and other in-person events within the school grounds. It has been lovely to see all the families, especially in the canteen where they are always in need of more helpers, so if you have any spare time to assist please call in and lend a hand.
Thank you to all of our wonderful parent and carer volunteers for their assistance throughout the term. Wishing you all a safe and happy break, we look forward to seeing everyone back for Term 3.
Keeping in touch with the Catholic Primary Schools within the Shoalhaven District.
Please select below links to the Shoalhaven Catholic Primary Schools websites.
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Book your childs School Holiday camp today!
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The NSW Government is pleased to announce the return of FREE kids camps for this Winter School Holidays.
Holiday Break camps are available for kids 12-15 years from regional NSW communities. The camps are a combination of day and residential camps across seven Sport and Recreation Centres and include all meals, accommodation (residential camps only) and activities. Kids will get to participate in activities such as archery, kayaking, mountain biking and much more! So why not get the kids to take a break, get active, and have some fun this Winter school holidays. Free Holiday Break camps are being offered at the following Office of Sport, Sport and Recreation Centres:
Click here for details and registration. |