3 June 2022 - Newsletter (Vol 39 No 8)

This week interviews for Year 7 2023 began and we have the privilege of speaking
with many different families and students from different backgrounds and
circumstances. One thing that most families share in common is the desire for a
‘good school’ and a good education.

At SJPC it is so important that we don’t cut corners when it comes to learning and
education in all its forms whether it focuses on spiritual, academic, social or general
growth. Hard work is required by all involved including staff, students and parents.
Our attitude to learning is fundamental to successful outcomes.

How do I see what I am doing will make a difference? Am I in the right mindset to
ultimately contribute to my own success and the success of others?
Education is the ‘house’ we are building to live in for the rest of our lives. We must
build the very best house we can. It is vital that we keep in mind the big picture, to
understand the interconnectedness of everything we choose to do.

God bless

Michael Carniato
Principal

Attitude is Everything

As we approach the part of the school term where all the assessments seem to be due at once it is important for students to consider their attitude to learning. 

The attitude you bring influences your thoughts and actions and the approach you then take to your learning. Your attitude will affect how much time you put into your schoolwork, how you manage challenges, and ultimately your path to achieving your personal academic best.

Take the time to determine reasons to put in effort into your schoolwork.

Think about which of the following reasons might be motivating for you:

• To achieve the best grades you are capable of at school.
• To give you lots of options for what subjects you can choose in the senior years.
• To give you lots of options of what you can choose to do when you leave school.
• To have a personal sense of satisfaction about doing your best.
• To show your gratitude to your parents for giving you an education.
• To avoid getting in trouble from your teachers.
• To avoid getting in trouble from your parents.
• To avoid getting a curriculum detention or other negative consequences from not working.
• To avoid disappointing your parents.
• So you don’t feel bad about wasting your parents’ time and money giving you an education.

You may have heard about ‘carrot’ and ‘stick’ people. If you want a donkey to move forward, you can either lead it forward with a carrot (a reward) or tap it with a stick (punishment).

Some students are motivated by working towards rewards, positive consequences of doing the right thing, while others are motivated to avoid negative consequences. 

Which do you think you are? More importantly, which one do you think you should be?

Study Skills

Learn more this year about how to improve your results and be more efficient and effective with your schoolwork by working through the units on www.studyskillshandbook.com.au. Our College access details are:

School’s Username – stjohnpaul

School’s password – 89success

In addition, our subscription to Elevate Education may assist in this area.

This online platform contains resources and useful study tips that all SJPC students will find effective. We encourage them to access this Student Portal and try some of the strategies. Students have the password to this site. The password can also be found on the Curriculum Noticeboard.

AMDG

James Furey
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

LEAD Conference 19-20 May, 2022
Connected, Committed, Courageous
1 Timothy 4:12

Faith formation is key to developing a strong relationship with God, and opportunities to work on this relationship are part of what we do as a school and a diocese.

A group of keen SJPC senior students recently attended a 2 day LEAD Conference at McAuley College, Grafton. This event had been postponed once due to the floods in early March, and we were very grateful for sunny days and McAuley College hospitality.

Testimony, prayer and lots of games kept our students busy, reflective and connected. The band Wildfire played throughout the retreat, adding to the energy of the gathering through beautiful music and heartfelt lyrics. The LEAD 2022 Spotify Playlist is linked here.

Moments of high energy - lots of dancing! - were countered with prayerful times, and SJPC students were able to connect with students from across the diocese. Small group work was led by the wonderful YMOs (Youth Ministry Officers) including our own Darcy and Gabi, and the Proclaim Lismore team. 

Father Peter Wood- currently with the Murwillumbah Parish- celebrated Mass and Adoration, and his presence was key to the focus of this event.

Some comments from our students:

"Lead was the first religious retreat I've gone to and it was a very different experience but I enjoyed meeting new people and getting involved in the fun activities, and learning more about faith and listening to people talk about their journeys with their faith".

"LEAD was a wonderful experience for me personally. I am not usually an individual to leave my comfort zone, however, I did for LEAD. This allowed me to experience a new form of prayer through areas of song and dance, interactive listening and sharing, reflection time and just meeting other like-minded people. Subsequently, I broadened my faith and have a unique perspective on my confidence in God. It was definitely a worthwhile experience and I would encourage others to take part in LEAD if given the opportunity".

Janine Sawtell
Leader of School Evangelisation

On Wednesday Year 12 gathered to celebrate Pentecost and the birthday of the Church. The mass aligned with The Emmaus Project and their gospel focus, You are the light of the World (Matt 5:14-16): Igniting the future. 

During the mass our school chaplain, Fr Peter used the Year 12s upcoming retreat theme Quo Vadis (Where are you going?) and the celebration of Pentecost to inspire our students and remind them that just like the Apostles they are filled with the Holy Spirit. The spirit that will give them courage as they leave us and go forth to light our world with their gifts and talents. 

It was lovely to spend time after the mass with our seniors and celebrate the birthday of the church with a cake made by Abby Pocock (Year 11). Fr Peter also enjoyed talking with Year 12 and finding out what their plans were for the future.

Sarah de Byl
Leader of Catechesis

Year 10 CSYMA class visited Year 5 students at Mary Help of Christians Primary School on Wednesday 1 June. The groups displayed acts of stewardship through the service of others, working as an effective team, showing initiative and courage on the day. By the end of the day, the Year 5 students were left with nothing but smiles. It was wonderful to see the students living out their mission within the wider community and actively working on their youth ministry skills as young disciples of today.

Gabriella Majarich & Darcy Hartin
Youth Ministry Officers

Year 12

The HSC Trial examination timetable has been released to students via their Curriculum Matters Google Classroom.  Students are now able to create their personalised study plan in preparation for, what is for many, their last school assessment which will contribute to their final HSC mark. It is important for students to not only speak with their teachers about their study plan, but also access the many study resources the College has made available.

Year 11

Students are in the midst of a busy time regarding formal assessment. All students should be working on their studies each weekday evening and at least 1 day during the weekend, following a term and weekly planner to ensure they can prioritise their time, whilst maintaining balance between school and family commitments. Acquiring an HSC requires commitment, hard work and an organised approach, within a supportive environment.

If you feel your son or daughter requires extra support during this time, please reach out to the College for assistance.

Year 10

Later on this term, Year 10 students will be given opportunities to learn more about themselves and the world around them, by either participating in work experience or a study trip to Sydney. Next term, they will be asked to further consider what they want for their future. They will be presented with their Curriculum Guide to Stage 6 in preparation for selecting their 2023/24 pathway of study. Additional support for students will be provided via; access to a dedicated website filled with support materials, specific course information sessions at the College and a Curriculum Information evening early in Term 3 for students and their families.

REMINDER

Students in Years 10 – 12 are working towards the formal education qualifications of a RoSA or HSC.

Not only are the SJPC assessment policies for Years 10 – 12 designed to ensure equity across the SJPC cohort and the state, they are also required to follow NESA and CSO guidelines and advice. At SJPC we ensure that the policies and assessment schedules are;

• presented and explained to the students,
• accessible via their Curriculum Matters Classroom
• accessible via the Curriculum page on the College Website.

It is a student’s responsibility to follow the assessment procedures or ask for advice when required.

Advice, via the Curriculum Office, is always available to students, parents and staff around issues regarding assessment policies and procedures. A large part of my role as the Leader of Curriculum is to support students in fulfilling the requirements of these formal education qualifications, and I actively encourage them to drop in for a chat about anything to do with the curriculum or assessment.

Years 7 – 9 

As you know, the focus for students in Years 7 – 9 at SJPC is on developing healthy learning habits and skills, as well as understanding the content of their courses.

Each day, in every lesson, students have opportunities to develop as learners, improving their understanding of the world. We strive to teach students strategies they could use to develop their own agency and independence, through metacognition. This refers to a student’s knowledge of their own thought process. A metacognitive thinking process allows students to self-regulate and direct their thoughts, behaviours, and actions toward their goals.

Planning is an essential step in this process. Taking time to plan can help students avoid confusion, feeling overwhelmed or distracted. With the restrictions placed on schools due to COVID disrupting the usual socialisation and routines young students experience, re-establishing routines is even more important. To assist your child with some of the challenges they now face, please encourage the following;

• Consistent attendance
• A daily study plan – with breaks and rewards factored in
• A designated place to study
• Coming to school prepared

There is an advantage to setting up good habits in Years 7 – 9. If you receive a low achievement grade in a particular task, it is not telling you that you have failed, it is warning you, it is wanting you to act and figure out where the gaps in your knowledge/skills are so that you can improve.

It is the responsibility of all learners to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them.

 

Claudia Brown
Leader of Curriculum

Last week was Gifted Awareness Week. Gifted Awareness Week was founded in 2015 by the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented (AAEGT) to raise awareness of the identification, support and learning needs of gifted children and to celebrate the successes of our high-potential and gifted students.  Find out more here: Gifted Awareness Week

Sometimes we receive feedback asking why our high-potential and gifted students - a privileged group of students who are already positioned for a successful life - receive special attention. This assumption, that HP&G children are destined for success, is often far from reality. As educators we have an ethical imperative to celebrate the individuality of all students, each of whom has their own challenges, diverse needs, vulnerabilities, as well as gifts and strengths. The role of High-Potential & Gifted Leader of Learning offers students:  

• support in their uniqueness; 
• the opportunity to foster connections with like-minded people in a world which sometimes feels isolating, complex and distant; and 
• activities to develop their social consciousness to enable them to lead with ethical jurisdiction, an informed perspective and philosophical wisdom.  

This year’s Gifted Awareness Week particularly focused on the importance of connecting with like-minded students, especially after two years of social isolation due to COVID restrictions. As the AAEGT website opines: “With social and emotional wellbeing being one of the major focuses in education today, our national community needs to make sure gifted individuals are included and supported with opportunities to connect with each other… When gifted and high potential students are valued, understood, and nurtured, they are healthy and happy.”

The podcast, Busting Myths and Understanding the Challenges, Strengths and Untapped Potential Within our Gifted Children, featuring Melinda Gindy and Nina Thomas from AAEGT and Kylie Burrett from Splat 3, explores the lived experience of four women as they share their personal and professional understanding of the needs of gifted children, and discover the many ways we can identify and support their differences, to ensure they grow and develop and share their potential in the world: 

Busting Myths & Understanding the Challenges, Strengths & Untapped Potential within our gifted children

From a parent’s perspective…

Parent of gifted children, Melanie Hinze has written about her challenges and joys in this heartfelt blog: Giftedness is not what I thought it was?

The following three poems, written by Dr Rebecca D. Napier and shared by the AAEGT, reflects on Napier’s experiences as a qualitative researcher on the lives of gifted females. All three poems capture some of the challenges faced by HP&G students and the empowerment that comes from connecting with like-minded individuals.

3 poems written by Dr Rebecca D. Napier

Please note: the sentiment of these poems only represents the views of the author, and is not necessarily representative of the views of SJPC nor the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented.

Aaron Dewhurst
Leader of High Potential Learning

Throughout my time spent as a Year Coordinator/Leader of Student Wellbeing, the importance of families working alongside the College in their child's educational journey can never be understated.

Research has shown that students of all backgrounds achieve more if parents/carers are involved in their child’s education. All families can support learning. It can be as simple as asking your child, “What did you learn at school today?”

Parent/carer involvement is of great benefit to the school and can assist parents to deepen relationships with teachers, meet other parents and be closer to your children through joint experiences.

It’s for these reason we organise and coordinate opportunities for family engagement, via events like Belonging Night in Year 7, Mother’s Day breakfasts etc, as the first contact families have with schools sets the tone for how they engage for years to come. As staff, we are aware how important these first conversations and interactions are to families looking for signs of how they can embrace their young person’s learning and their own connection to a school.

Research and experience tells us that a parent’s connection to the school and their child’s learning can drop off as their children become teenagers. It is important that parents remain engaged with their young person’s learning throughout secondary school.

From the article Helping children and young people learn, it encourages families to take steps including:

• Be sensitive to how teenagers want to be more independent, while giving them structure and support.
• Value education and show that you do.
• Discuss aspirations and expectations for your young person’s education and future achievement.
• Aim to provide a stimulating and supportive home learning environment.
• Have conversations and participate, with them, in activities relevant to learning and the wider world.
• Keep connections and communication open with teachers and support staff in secondary school.
• Balance support for school expectations such as homework with the need adolescents have for independence and other parts of life such as sport or work.

We look forward to working with you in the rollercoaster that is the secondary school journey.

Best wishes

One of the most affirming experiences as a teacher and Leader of Student Wellbeing is witnessing the great potential and talents of young people entrusted into our care.

Last week at camp, staff were privileged to bear witness to the amazing gifts the young men and women in Year 9 bring to our college and the wider community. We are so proud of the way they conducted themselves and how they responded to the challenges they faced. Stepping outside your comfort zone is never easy however, it allows each of us to grow in confidence, build resilience and encounter the rewards of new experiences. When the students were asked “how did you feel when you pushed yourself outside our comfort zone?”, overwhelmingly the responses were positive. Students explained that they felt “fulfilled”, “accomplished”, “proud of myself”, and “more confident”.

Year 9 is a time of transition and self-exploration and discovery. I feel that for many camp was the perfect opportunity to better understand themselves and their peers and the strengths that they all possess, particularly in the face of adversity. This was again highlighted in the feedback received from the students when asked “what did you learn about yourself and your peers?”. Answers included: “That I can do things if I put my mind to it". "That I can push my limits". "I learnt that I can do anything if I push myself". "I can do more than what I thought I was capable of". "I learnt that I will never give up, and that I can do things when I put my mind to it". 

Another great aspect of camp was the opportunity to interact with peers in varied environments. The purpose of camp was for students to build upon relationships with one another and to develop a better understanding of their capabilities through the challenges on offer whilst building upon empathy and understanding of those who accompany us along our schooling journey. This was so evident in the feedback about their experience of interactions with peers. “I learnt that we are all very supportive of each other & that we work really well together". Another student observed that “there is another side to them (peers) that I don’t really get to see at school and it was great to see some people come out of their shells”. More responses included; “I learnt a lot about my peers, they are really fun and enjoyable to be around and simply “that they're a good group of people”.

I want to show my gratitude for the parent community in preparing your children for this camp. It was wonderful to see the organisation, support, and communication about the experience. Thank you. 

Finally,  I would like to acknowledge the commitment, patience, support and guidance of the staff and students who attended the camp. We are all left with the confidence that this group of young men and women will bring so much to the future of the communities in which they live and enrich the lives of those around them. 

Nick Haworth

Year 9 Leader of Student Wellbeing

Year 10

Pastoral Assembly

During Week 4 Year 10 participated in a hands-on homeroom challenge where the students had to work together as a team, smashing challenges and defeating other homerooms. Some activities we included the spoon race, balloon games and a plate run. This pastoral assembly really focused on bringing the students together not just as homerooms but as a year-group through challenges, and we bonded over victory or loss. - Tulli Scott & Lily Booth

Tulli Scott & Lily Booth
Year 10 Students

Trish Furey
Year 10 Leader of Student Wellbeing

Australian Futsal Championships

Recently our Junior girls and boys teams and our Senior boys team competed in the Australian Futsal Schools Titles for the first time. Teams played a round robin format against teams from schools including Oxley High from Tamworth, Armidale Secondary school, Nambucca Valley Christian College, Bellingen High and Bishop Druitt College. As new comers to the competition we did more than hold our own with both the Junior boys and Junior girls teams coming away with the silver medal and the Senior boys achieving gold in the 19 years boys competition!

Throughout the days selectors watched the students play and selected a NSW Northern team to compete at the upcoming National Titles. One team from every state except NSW (who have two teams selected) will compete at the school state titles in Brisbane. Congratulations to the following students who were named to represent the State in the Northern NSW teams:

Junior Girls > Cooper Andrews, Evie Hill, Lily Mackay
Junior boys > Ace Bodnar, Evan Hunter, Jack Hartmann, Iggy Hibberd
Senior boys (the WHOLE TEAM) > Taj Buck, Loki Marchant, Dayne Watson-Sinclair, Rory Green, Charles Shipperlee, Jak Snowling, Gurkirit Dhariwal, Ben Dove, Weston Bodnar

A massive thank you to Mr Rod Abbott, Mr Matt Fowler, Ms Jana Elling and Mr John Podesta who led the students to their outstanding results over the two days.

Sporting Success

• Congratulations to Max Miller (Year 8) and Dylan Nicol (Year 11) who were named in the NSWCCC Hockey team. They travelled to Bathurst to attend the trial and battle the extreme cold conditions of the area. Well done boys and good luck at All Schools!!
  
  
• Congratulations once again to Zara Temesi (Year 11) who recently received a gold medal as part of the NSW Junior (U20) team competing at the National Fencing Championship in Melbourne. Well done Zara!
  
  
  

CCC Hockey

Danielle McAra
Sport Co-ordinator

From Left: James Watson, Marlon Frost and Jaxon White

Ultimately only 1 player from the Northern NSW zone was selected in the final squad which was a reflection on the calibre of the competition.

Thanks must go to the organisers and officials but particularly mention must be made of the families of boys who travelled south for the trials, their sacrifice to facilitate opportunities like this for their children is to be commended.

Hopefully with improved weather and the covid restrictions lifting, next year's Northern Zone Boys and Girls trials can unearth some more Australian Football talent to take south and compete in this trial.

Tim Davis
Northern District Australian Football NSW CCC Manager

This week our students in Years 8-12 who are studying Japanese were treated to a special performance and workshop by Games Boy Japan (Sean Murphy). Sean introduced the students to many elements of the Japanese language and culture in a fun presentation that included games and activities such as janken (rock, paper, scissors), shinobi (stealth - like a ninja) and the kani (crab) game (a bit like ‘claim the flag’). 

Students had a great time and really got into the spirit of the day. Here are some of their thoughts:

Damian Brewer (Year 9): “Sean introduced a lot of information we didn’t know about Japan as well as to some new games”.

Koby Lindsell (Year 8): "It was an amazing learning experience".

Oscar Morley (Year 8): "The best bit was the kani game. It was so much fun".

Eden Hoskins (Year 8): "I loved the janken game".

Pearl McGrory (Year 8): "It was really entertaining. I loved the “shinobi” game".

Layla O’Sullivan, Diya Sijo, Amelia Tall and Diva Pillai (Year 8): "It was really fun. We learnt lots of new things including janken and now we know how to do it in Japanese. Sean was very funny and cool". 

Fun facts about Japan that we learnt:

Emoji originally comes from Japan - the word ‘e’ means picture and ‘moji’ means letter or character. Emoji have been popular since they first appeared on Japanese mobile phones in the late ’90s, and in the recent times they have become a hallmark of the way people communicate all around the world.

Souji (Cleaning) Did you know that in Japan, there is a tradition that the students themselves clean their schools? Students use brooms, vacuums, and cloths to clean the classrooms, bathrooms, and other school spaces at the end of every school day. The tradition is based on the 17th century philosophy that a clear mind comes from keeping clean and clear surroundings. It is also a way of showing gratitude to people and objects that enable learning. Others believe that if students are responsible for their own mess, they are less likely to make it in the first place and will show respect for their surroundings. What a wonderful tradition!

Ketsuekigata (Blood type) Do you know what blood type you are? What about the blood type of everyone in your family? In Japan, blood types are considered an important indicator of a person's personality.Though this may seem far-fetched, a lot of people believe in it. Its very similar to our custom of knowing each other's star sign. Understanding Japan's obsession with blood types can help you make new friends and fit in with Japanese groups.

Kirsten Binnie
Leader of Learning - Languages

A massive round of applause to our talented and hard working SJPC Drama students who triumphed at the 2022 Coffs Harbour Drama Eisteddfod.

The Eisteddfod is a friendly competition between local schools to showcase students' amazing Drama performances. 

We are incredibly proud of our talented Year 9, 10, 11 and 12 Drama students, who demonstrated outstanding creativity, teamwork and diligence at the event. Students competed in individual solos and group scripted, devised and improvised sections. SJPC was awarded handfuls of first, second and third places and took out 6  major awards and scholarships. We are hoping to showcase the performances at some parent evenings soon. Congratulations to everyone who performed at the Eisteddfod. 

Special Awards and Scholarships

*  Yr 10 Excellence in Drama award

* Yr 11 Excellence in Drama award

*  Best overall Drama group

*  Term scholarship to Liberty Theatre Co Year 10

*  Term scholarship to Liberty Theatre Co Year 11

*  Term scholarship to Liberty Theatre Co Year 12

A big thank you to Talia Saban for her organisation of the excursion and to all of the SJPC Drama teachers for preparing the students for the big event.

Melissa Cotton, Markus Muschal & Talia Saban
Teachers

Stage Band

SJPC Stage Band, Year 9 and Year 10 groups performed at the Coffs Harbour Eisteddfod and took out first place in the Years 9/10 division.

Choir

SJPC Choir spent a lovely day on Tuesday singing with 15 other schools from around Coffs Harbour for the annual Coffs Harbour Choir Eisteddfod - the 50th anniversary of Creative and Performing Arts Eisteddfods in Coffs Harbour. Some amazing school and community choirs presented and we were so pleased to be given first place in our division. Our choir students represented their families and our college with great warmth and humility. Life is short - sing in SJPC choir.

SJPC Choir blessed the Office

Welcome Alee Isgro

This week Alee Isgro, our new part-time School Counsellor, started work at St John Paul College. Alee will be working at the College on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We are so pleased to now have two counsellors to support our students.  

Alee is experienced in working with children, young people and families to support them through a variety of challenges that they face. It is important to Alee to take a holistic approach when working with children and young people, while keeping the child at the centre. 

If you would like to find out more about your College Counsellors please click on the link to the St John Paul College website College Counsellors

Andrew Hart & Alee Isgro

AND SO WE BEGIN!!!!

The 2022 Push-Up challenge started on Wednesday and we have already started pushing in support of mental health and suicide prevention. We love being a part of this extraordinary fundraiser.

During the month of June our SJPC staff team will be doing 3139 push-ups. This number represents the number of deaths by suicide in 2020.

Our team consists of: Maree McKelvie, Jana Elling, Paul Harrison, Brendan Goswell, Gabriella Majarich, Claudia Brown, Sharon Reeves, Charles Boshier, Daniel Hickson, Darcy Hartin, Matt Fowler and Nataleigh Baxter.

Already over $2 million dollars has been raised. Our team has surpassed our original target of $500, so we are now aiming to raise $1000. Please support us by heading to the following link.

SJPC Staff Push-up Team

Thank you in advance.

Rescued Retreat 16-17 July, 2022
"When you go through deep waters, I will be with you"
Isaiah 43:2

Janine Sawtell
Leader of School Evangelisation

Shine Retreat 18-19 August, 2022
"SHINE unites Year 9 & 10 Youth Ministry students"

Janine Sawtell
Leader of School Evangelisation