St John the Evangelist Catholic High School Nowra eNewsletter

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to Term 3! It’s hard to believe that half of the school year is already behind us. As we step into the second half of the year, it’s a valuable time for reflection on the journey so far and the aspirations we hold for the months ahead.

At our recent school assembly, we took a moment to celebrate those students who were recognised last term for either excelling in their learning demonstrating remarkable perseverance and growth. Their commitment to learning, even in the face of challenges, is something we deeply admire.

I also spoke to our students about the importance of personal reflection. Semester 1 offered each of them unique experiences and lessons. I encouraged them to consider:

What worked well for them in their learning and what can I continue to do?
What habits or distractions might they let go of to better support their growth as we move forward with our learning?

We also think of our Year 12 students who embark on their HSC Trial Examinations next week. We hope that the work you have put in over the last few terms comes to fruition. Your dedication and resilience have not gone unnoticed, and we wish you every success. In preparation for this, it was great to see our Year 11 and 12 students take full advantage of their new study space - the furniture has truly created a vibrant learning environment!

Finally, on Thursday 31st July, we celebrated 50 years of NAIDOC—a truly special moment in our calendar year. This year’s theme, “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy”, beautifully embodied all that we are here at SJE. It is not something that we do—it is who we are: bugiya, nhaway, buraadja. Yesterday, today, tomorrow.

We took this opportunity to thank all of the staff who work tirelessly every day to support our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Special thanks to Mrs Ramognini, our Gooroon Coordinator, and to Uncle Archie, Uncle Sean, Aunty Deb, Aunty Katey, Aunty Jo, Aunty Lizzie, and Aunty Chris, who continue to be the holders and teachers of our culture. Their leadership in opening cultural programs—such as boy’s didj and dance, girl’s dance, and our choir to all students, irrespective of background, is a testament to the inclusive spirit of our community.

The pride and dedication of all students involved in the NAIDOC celebration were on full display during our ceremony. It was a true example of black feet and white feet walking soft upon the land, keeping our culture alive and well. And while we will always honour and celebrate the elders of bugiya, as Aunty Chris so beautifully said, it is our young people who are our nhaway, our buraadja.