YEAR 10 - MARINE STUDIES

Last week Year 10 Marine Studies students participated in a lesson where they were dissecting fish.

DA VINCI DECATHLON

The Da Vinci Decathlon is an academic competition which challenges the minds of students. Teams compete across 10 disciplines: engineering, mathematics and chess, code breaking, art and poetry, Science, English, ideation, creative producers, cartography and legacy. The event was held in term 1 week 11 at The Illawarra Grammar School.

The two days of competition saw competing students engaging in critical thought and appling collaboration skills. Across the two days the behaviour, attitude and engagement was exemplary and all the students that were involved are to be commended.

Congratulations to our year 7 team that achieved 3rd place in Code breaking and Creative performers

Year 7 team members

Marlon Campion

Georgia Hayburn

Baylee Hong

Liam Oliver

Riley Spurway

Luca Sullivan

Ace Weissel

Channing White

EVATT UN COMPETITION

On the 23rd May, St Johns was host to the South Coast Round of the Evatt UN competition. We welcomed 5 schools including Bowral High School, Wollongong High School, Redbend, Corpus Christi and Edmund Rice. Delegates debated UN resolutions related to Universal Health Care, Refugees and Plastics. Part of the competition involves an understanding of the UN, Veto powers, Diplomacy and current world affairs. The level of debate was outstanding. Well done to all delegates on the day.

St Johns was represented by five teams.

Republic of Korea: Bridget Fairs and Issac Sleath, 

Algeria: Madeline Pakes and Georgia Kelly

Japan: Deeya Shrestha and Isabelle Luke

“Loved meeting new people and getting to debate with them, sharing different ideas about the crisis of the world. practising our public speaking skills was also good! We really enjoyed this experience and are excited to do it again next year!”

Russian Federation: Kymmie Kilpatrick and Megan Balang-Dayusan

“It was an enjoyable experience that granted us various opportunities to learn more about the world, public speaking and debating. We would recommend it to anyone looking to expand their skills in the realm of public speaking.”

France: Malinda Su and Amelia O’Neill

”We did not talk once.. But it was fun passing notes.”

YOUTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING

The Youth Advisory Committee Meeting was held at the Shoalhaven City Council Chambers on 15th May, 2024. Representatives Georgia Szymoniczek and Lachlyn Bisat attended on behalf of St Johns. The Strategy Planning Team presented a draft of the Shoalhaven Affordable Housing Strategy to the committee as at the last meeting this was highlighted as a concern for youth in our area. This provided a valuable insight to the problem and what our Council is considering to support the issue.

2024 STEER SPECTACULAR

Amidst rain and mud, the St. John the Evangelist Catholic High School Agriculture Show Team triumphed at the South Coast School Steer Spectacular Event on May 7th and 8th 2024. With steers generously donated by Lee Pippard of Tannoch South Devon, the students showcased their unwavering dedication and hard work, defying the weather to shine in the competition. Their commitment and passion were not only recognised but celebrated as they clinched the Gold in the Report Writing and Presentation section. Additionally, one of the steers proudly brought home a bronze medal in both the lightweight breed carcass and carcass class, exemplifying the excellence nurtured within the team.

Behind these achievements lies a story of hard work and determination. Over the span of five months, the dedicated students invested countless hours into the meticulous care and training of the steers. From the moment the steers arrived at school in January, the students took on the responsibility of ensuring their well-being and preparing them for the competition. Feeding schedules became a daily ritual, with students committing their mornings, lunch breaks, and afternoons to ensure that the steers received the feed ration needed for optimal health and growth for beef production. Alongside feeding, rigorous training regimes were implemented to refine the steers' handling and presentation skills, as well as loading and unloading the steers onto trailers safely. From halter training to parade practice, our students honed their abilities to showcase the steers' best qualities in the show ring. Each session was not just about physical training but also about building trust and forming bonds between the students and their steers. This hands-on experience not only enriched their understanding of animal husbandry but also fostered invaluable life skills such as responsibility, patience, and resilience.

The student's efforts were not just about winning awards but also about fostering camaraderie and forming lasting friendships. Under the guidance of their Agriculture Teacher, Ms. Kristy Hall, who is immensely proud of their achievements, the team worked tirelessly to prepare and present their steers. Ms. Hall shared, 'I am so proud of the student's hard work and dedication. We are so fortunate to be able to offer Agriculture as a subject at St John’s, providing our students with a unique opportunity to gain insight into Australia's remarkable agriculture industry.' The involvement of the students in the Agriculture team not only highlights their passion for the industry but also lays the foundation for their future studies. For some, this experience paves the way for a future in agriculture at the university level.

Congratulations to the St John’s Agriculture Show team for their exceptional achievements and for representing their school with pride and determination.