24 May 2024 - Newsletter (Vol 41 No 7)
- Principal's Message
- Assistant Principal - Mission
- Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care
- Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
- Literacy Matters
- Year 8 Science
- Leaders of Student Wellbeing
- Year 12 Fundraising - Trivia Night
- Sports Corner
- 2024 Annual Year 7 Men and Boys Camp Out
- The Kokoda Challenge
- Office News
- We're Hiring
- P&F Meeting
- 2024 Kawalazi Development Project
- School Traffic Management
- Safe on Social Parent Workshop
Why is Pentecost important for us as a Catholic School?
Last week we celebrated Pentecost Sunday, 50 days after Easter, it marks a significant event in the Christian calendar. It commemorates the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles, as described in the Book of Acts. This moment not only empowered the apostles to spread the teachings of Jesus but also signifies the birth of the Christian Church.
Understanding Pentecost is important for several reasons and can impact the lives of young people in a number of ways.
- Historical Significance: Pentecost is often referred to as the "birthday of the Church." It represents the beginning of the apostles' public ministry and the rapid growth of early Christianity.
- Spiritual Empowerment: The event highlights the importance of the Holy Spirit in providing guidance, strength, and wisdom. This can be an inspiring reminder for students about the power of faith and spirituality in overcoming challenges.
- Community and Unity: Pentecost emphasizes the coming together of diverse groups through a shared belief. It’s a powerful lesson in unity, showing how different cultures and languages can come together in harmony.
- Personal Reflection: For many, Pentecost is a time for introspection about their spiritual journey and relationship with their faith. It encourages personal growth and a deeper understanding of one's beliefs.
This week I invite all families to reflect on Pentecost’s profound impact on Christian history and its lessons on faith, unity, and spiritual empowerment.
An invitation to all parents to join us on Tuesday evening for our P&F meeting commencing at 7pm in the College Library!
God bless
Our 2024 College Mission Goal is “To Animate the Gospel through Our Catholic Traditions.” This means bringing the Gospel to life through the transformative power of the Holy Spirit. Last Sunday, we celebrated Pentecost, marking the birth of the Church and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. Inspired by this event, here are five tips to help students embody Christian values at school and in the community.
Be a Servant to Others
Jesus taught, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40). Serve others daily through small acts of kindness or participating in projects like Caritas and the Vinnies Winter Appeal.
Practice Honesty
Ephesians 4:25 urges us to "put off falsehood and speak truthfully." Honesty builds a safe and valued community. Whether in the classroom, on the sports field, or with friends, being honest strengthens your character and builds trust.
Work and Learn with Integrity
2 Corinthians 8:21 tells us to do what is right, not only in God's eyes but also in others. Do your best, even when no one is watching. Your integrity shapes how you are seen by both God and your peers.
Demonstrate Respect
Matthew 7:12 teaches us to "love one another with brotherly affection." Show respect by listening carefully, following directions, and being kind in your words and actions, acknowledging the dignity of each person.
Show Forgiveness
Colossians 3:13 reminds us to "bear with each other and forgive one another." Choose forgiveness over holding grudges to change the atmosphere of our school, including forgiving ourselves when we fall short.
Every day at school is an opportunity to reflect Jesus' teachings in our actions. By doing these things, we make our school a better place and draw closer to Christ.
Heavenly Father,
We humbly ask for the guidance of Your Holy Spirit in our lives.
Fill our hearts with wisdom, love, and understanding.
Help us to discern Your will in all that we do,
and grant us the strength to follow Your path with courage and faith.
May the Holy Spirit inspire us to live out the teachings of Jesus,
bringing His light to the world through our actions and words.
Amen.
Last Wednesday we launched our 2024 Kawalazi Development Project where the College community was informed of the ongoing support which has been given since 2002. During this assembly we renewed our commitment to help reduce poverty through the gift of education to the small rural catholic community in the village of Kawalazi in the tribal area of Chinyakula in Malawi, Africa. We were very fortunate to hear first hand the experience of Mr Mark Adams, who visited Kawalazi in 2023, as part of a working party. The work of the Kawalazi Development Project over the past twenty three years has made an enormous difference to the lives, hopes, aspirations and future of the children of Kawalazi. During our designated fortnight we both celebrate our friendship and renew our support through donation and sponsorship. The number of students needing sponsorship continues to grow and our target is to have every homeroom sponsor at least one student through your collection containers. Please help reduce poverty in our world and give children of Kawalazi the opportunity of an education. Individuals, groups of friends, family and community members may also sponsor a child’s education for an entire year for just $50. If a student or someone they know wishes to sponsor a child please obtain a sponsorship form from the office. We ask the College community to give generously.
The following events will be occurring during our Kawalazi fortnight.
to assist in raising these funds:
- Mufti Day Monday 27 May: Come dressed in Malawi flag colours of red, green & black with a gold coin donation. There will also be a sausage sizzle at recess to raise funds for schooling needs in Kawalazi.
- School Social Week 5 Tuesday 28 May: Again dress in Malawi flag colours. All funds will be supporting the education of students in primary and secondary school in Kawalazi.
- Sponsorship Wall: Located near the canteen, there will be a photo wall of children to sponsor. Your sponsorship will go towards one of these children.
- Homeroom Challenge: Each homeroom will be provided with a container in order to collect donations to sponsor a child assigned to each homeroom. The aim is for every home room to raise $50 to educate for the year. The homeroom that raises the most money will receive a free sausage sizzle.
- Raffle: Each time a homeroom/individual raises $10 they will receive a raffle ticket to go into a draw for a sausage sizzle. The more money raised, the more raffle tickets, the more chance to win a sausage sizzle. There will be 2 homeroom winners (on top of the homeroom who raises the most money) who will win a free sausage sizzle.
- Sale of Kawalazi goods: Throughout this Kawalazi fortnight the College Students Leaders will be wandering the playground selling a variety of Kawalazi made goods at lunchtime. These goods can be worn at the College for the two weeks of our Kawalazi celebrations.
We may ask ourselves why we should get involved.
Our Catholic Social Teaching Principles include that the preferential option for the poor reminds us of God’s love for the poorest and most vulnerable people. We believe every human person is made in the image and likeness of God.
The Kawalazi Project supports the head by learning about other people and their needs, the heart by giving us the opportunity to display the love we have for those in need and the hands by giving something to someone else.
The Kawalazi Development Project has continued to grow and inspire the compassion and generosity of the St John Paul College Community. From its humble beginnings, of sponsoring just eight students in 2002, we currently sponsor 151 students’ education throughout 2023-24.
Until next time:
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care
Lyn Sharratt’s Assessment Waterfall Chart
As the College continues with Lyn Sharratt’s AWC it is important that families understand this approach to assessment and feedback that has been making a positive impact on our students' literacy skills. In line with our commitment to student-centered education and continuous improvement, we have integrated Lyn Sharratt's Assessment Waterfall Chart and peer feedback strategies into our learning and teaching.
The Assessment Waterfall Chart, developed by Dr Lyn Sharratt, provides a clear and structured framework for assessing student work and providing meaningful feedback. It allows teachers to guide students through a process of self-assessment, peer assessment, and teacher feedback, enabling students to take ownership of their learning and become active participants in their literacy development.
One crucial aspect of this approach is the incorporation of peer feedback. Peer feedback allows students to engage in constructive discussions, exchange ideas, and provide valuable insights to their classmates. It empowers them to not only receive feedback from their teachers but also learn from and support one another's growth.
Here's how the Assessment Waterfall Chart and peer feedback work together to improve every students' literacy growth:
- Self-Assessment: Students begin by assessing their own work using the teacher’s criteria. This process encourages self-reflection and helps students identify their strengths and areas for improvement.
- Peer Feedback: Students engage in peer feedback sessions where they share their work with their classmates/critical friends. They provide constructive feedback based on the criteria from the Assessment Waterfall Chart, focusing on areas where their peers can enhance their literacy skills. This process promotes collaboration, critical thinking, and effective communication.
- Teacher Feedback: After the peer feedback stage, teachers provide additional feedback, highlighting key areas of improvement and offering guidance for further development. This step ensures that students receive comprehensive feedback from both their peers and their teachers.
- Reflection and Revision: Students reflect on the feedback received and make revisions to their work based on the insights gained. This iterative process encourages students to refine their literacy skills, reinforce their learning, and strive for continuous improvement.
By incorporating peer feedback into the AWC, our students benefit from multiple perspectives, diverse insights, and collaborative learning experiences. They learn to appreciate different viewpoints, develop empathy, and refine their critical thinking skills.
The aim of this approach is to foster a supportive classroom environment where students actively engage in their own learning and support one another's growth. It empowers them to become responsible, independent learners who take ownership of their literacy development.
As part of this continuing journey, I would like students to begin to utilise the options of where they can receive feedback beyond the traditional classroom teacher input. Our students can engage in every lesson’s Learning Intention & Success Criteria and then seek feedback from self assessment and peers as part of the AWC process.
Study Skills
Learn more about the ‘managing stress’ resources 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
Assistant Principal
Learning and Teaching
All things Literacy, because Literacy matters in all things
THE POWER OF READING
Reading literature transports us to glorious new places in our minds and our hearts and transports the spirit and soul to new realms of experience and emotion.
Reading enriches our lives. Reading is knowledge.
Writing encourages understanding. Writing allows for self-expression and allows us to have a relationship with the mind.
Word of the Week
Anxious adjective
DEFINITION: feeling or showing worry, nervousness or unease
In a sentence: He was extremely anxious about his exams.
There were some anxious moments
Philippians 4:6-7: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus’
Respectful adjective
DEFINITION: showing deference and respect; showing consideration and regard for others; being kind, courteous, considerate and polite.
In a sentence: The students were respectful and polite while listening to the Principal’s address.
Peter 2:17 “Show proper respect to everyone. Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honour the King.’
Questacon Visit - 16 - 17 May
Year 8 students were treated to two days of 60 minute workshops run by Questacon, the national science and technology centre from Canberra.
The Questacon team of Emily, Len, Sam and Jodie encouraged students to explore the concept of working technology where students built a prototype of a rollercoaster and were encouraged to think, make, try and refine their models.
This was a hands-on innovative and creative workshop where students were encouraged to build, try and test prototypes in order to view failures as ways to improve, build resilience and work things out for themselves!
The finished Rollercoasters were presented by the students, who explained the concept design, aesthetics, and workings of their models.
Here are some testimonials from our students:
 Oscar Oxenford “It was really fun, I liked building the rollercoaster. I was creative, quite engaging and helped us to collaborate and work together to solve our problems”. |
 Ruby Howard "It was a good experience and it was cool to work with the resources given to us to solve a problem in a short timeframe”. |
 James Ward
“It really tested us to use our brains to come up with creative solutions, it was so fun”.
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 “I had fun creating and designing a roller coaster that I could present to my classmates. I found it challenging with the short timeframe and resources provided, it was so fun!”. |
Click on the link to view the Questacon site if you would like to see more of what they do. You can plan a visit on your next family holiday and explore the world of Scientific technology.
Much fun was had and we are so grateful to the Questacon team for their visit.
Teacher/Assistant Leader of Learning - Science
Year 8
Year 8 students continue to impress me with their excellent behaviour. In the past two weeks close to 600 class awards were issued by their class teachers which is a fabulous effort! A reminder to students to keep all your certificates in a safe place because they are great to have in your resume when you apply for casual jobs. Congratulations to all students who received awards these last two weeks.
On Tuesday 8B attended Mass and Reconciliation followed by morning tea. All students participated with reverence and maturity and most took the opportunity to receive the sacrament of penance/reconciliation. I would personally like to thank them for their outstanding behaviour and look forward to 8C doing the same next week. Fr Joe was so impressed with 8B and the way they behaved and participated in the Mass, commenting on how they were one of the best groups he’s ever had. Well done 8B! I would especially like to thank the parents who came along to Mass and assisted with the morning tea.
8B & 8C Mass and Reconciliation
On Wednesday Year 8 took part in some pastoral activities around relationships and what it means to be a good friend. Sometimes you just need to ask your friend “Are U OK?”. It is important to remember that we don’t always know what our friends are going through and sometimes they need you to be there just to listen. Our activity on Wednesday was a good way to practice this concept.
Our best all rounders for the past two weeks were Jack Howe for excellent creativity in Art and Music and Isabella Howard for showing great initiative at Sport and great dedication in Art. Congratulations Jack and Isabella you’ve both won a $5 Canteen voucher! I will add that Jack actually won this award two weeks in a row however, he chose not to accept the second $5 canteen voucher so that someone else could enjoy it. What a champion!!
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Finally, in the last newsletter I asked a couple of questions for the chance to win a $5 canteen voucher and only one student was able to answer correctly, that being Zali Allen. Congratulations on winning the voucher Zali!
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Here is the question challenge to win a $5 canteen voucher for this week’s newsletter. The first student to answer both questions correctly wins the prize. Good Luck!
Q1 What is our 2024 College Mission Goal?
and secondly
Q2 Who is the Director of Emmanuel City Mission?
SJPC Athlete spotlight
Congratulations to Dominic Omtha from Year 10 who was recently invited to attend trials for the State Youth Football Team. For the trials, 16 athletes from the Northern NSW region compete against 16 of the Newcastle Jets' Youth team to make the squad for the National Youth Championships. Making the team means representing the Northern NSW region against ‘A League’ academies and the stronger state teams, such as Central Coast Mariners and Sydney FC.
The pathway to being selected for these trials is through NPL, also known as the Premier Youth League. Once identified for TSP (talent support program), athletes are coached by high-level coaches and play against the best of the best in the age group from around the state. It is an honour to be selected to attend the trials. Well done and good luck, Dom!
CCC Representatives
Congratulations to Alexis Plater (Year 11) and Kira Juffermans (Year 10) who recently attended the NSWCCC Open and 16s Girls basketball trials in Sydney, where they were successfully named in their respective teams. As a part of their CCC team, they will now play against CHS and CIS to determine the top school system. Well done, ladies.
Congratulations to Arlo Dent from Year 7 who ventured to Bathurst to trial for the U15 NSWCCC Hockey team. Despite being at the bottom of the age group, he was successful in being selected for the team. He will also participate in a tri-series against CIS and CHS. Congratulations, Arlo! Well done to Harper Dent, Lincoln Perry and Max Miller who also stood for selection.
Congratulations to Ms Kirsten Binnie who has been named the NSWCCC Girls Waterpolo coach again. She heads to Sydney next week to select her team who will compete in the Australian Schools Waterpolo Championships.
Diocesan Cross Country
On Friday 17 May, our Cross Country team travelled to Grafton to compete in the Diocesan Cross Country Championships. Our runners completed courses of 3, 4, 6, and 8 kilometers across tough country terrain, which was also very muddy from recent rain. We had many excellent results, particularly in the 12-year-old age group. Stella Scheepers and Eric Greenwood finished second overall in their races out of 21 runners, making them both 12 Years Diocesan Runner-Up Age Champions. Congratulations Stella and Eric!
The following students finished in the top 6 places for their race and earned a place on the Diocesan Cross Country team competing in Sydney on Wednesday 5 June:
Stella Scheepers, Adelaide Keating, Josie Straw, Eric Greenwood, Alexander Greenwood, Thomas Joyce, Louis White and Nazrawi Gebremichael. Well done and good luck to all our representatives.
SJPC Cross Country Age Champions
Due to the nature of the College Carnival, the SJPC Cross Country Age Champions are decided by the results achieved at the Diocesan Carnival. Congratulations to the following students:
 Eric Greenwood 12 years |
 12 years |
 Nicholas Dobson |
 13 years |
 14 years |
 14 years |
 15 years |
 15 years |
 16 years |
 16 years |
 17 years |
n/a 17 years |
 18 years |
 18 years |
AFL State Finals
On Monday 13 May, our Open boys and girls AFL teams competed in the Mid-North Coast Senior Schools Cup AFL finals. The girls' determined efforts saw them take on BDC in the final but despite their valiant efforts, they were defeated. The boys were commanding all day and found themselves in the final against a very polished MacKillop Catholic College from Port Macquarie. The game was tight until the end with the boys scoring a goal in the final seconds to secure the victory. The boys, as the Mid-North Coast Champions, now attend the Senior Schools Tier 2 State Championships in Tuggerah on 11 and 12 June. Congratulations to all players and coaches and good luck to our boys.
Coming Up - Term 2 2024
| Thursday 30 May | Futsal Schools event (16, 19’s), Coffs Harbour (Pupil Free Day) |
| Friday 31 May | Futsal Schools event (13, 14 and 15 years), Coffs Harbour |
| Monday 3 June | Bill Turner Cup Rd 3 v McAuley, SJPC oval (kick-off 11am) |
| Tuesday 4 June | BNSW Schools basketball (Open boys), Coffs Harbour |
| Wednesday 5 June | BNSW Schools basketball (Open girls), Coffs Harbour |
| Thursday 6 June |
Cochrane Cup (14s), Port Macquarie |
| Open League, Port Macquarie | |
| Friday 7 June | Bill Turner Trophy Rd 3 v BDC, Synthetic field (10am kick-off) |
| Mountain Bike Event, Nambucca Valley | |
| Tuesday 11 - 12 June | AFL Open Boys State Championships, Tuggerah |
| Wednesday 12 June | Diocesan Football (Juniors), Coffs Harbour |
| Tuesday 18 - Wed 20 June | CCC Open Basketball (Boys and girls), Penrith |
| Friday 28 June | Fast 5 Netball (Year 11 and 12 only), Port Macquarie |
Leader of Sport
Last Friday 19 May a group of Year 7 boys and their dads braved the unpredictable weather to participate in our 6th annual Year 7 men and boys camp out.
The initiative has grown out of the awareness that it is vital for boys to have positive male role models in their life who devote time to them in order to model, support, encourage and assist them as they journey towards becoming the good men that our society needs.
The camp out was an opportunity for boys in Year 7 to invite along their father or another male mentor to spend the evening simply hanging out together, playing dodgeball, basketball, table tennis, and enjoying some good food and conversation. As well as this, the boys and their mentors worked together on challenges that pitted them against other boys and their dads/mentors.
The whole experience was not only a lot of fun for the boys, but the dads and mentors also enjoyed the opportunity to get to know one another.
An extra challenge this year was getting the bonfire going with damp kindling and greenish timber. But with much hard work and plenty of advice from the bleachers,...the hand held Makita Blower did the trick!
Eventually everyone bedded down in their tents for the night with varying degrees of sleep achieved.
It was an early rise on Saturday morning to pack down tents and enjoy a bacon and egg breakfast before venturing home to enjoy the rest of the weekend with families.
Various staff members must be thanked for their assistance with preparation, logistics and practical support including Catherine from the canteen, Kris, Rod and Dan from maintenance, the team in the Finance office and the ever reliable and helpful front office staff. Thank you also to Mr Stubbs for coming along once again and supporting the initiative and to his ‘sidekick’ Mr H for helping to cook a tasty BBQ dinner on the Friday evening.
But most importantly, thank you must go to the boys for their attendance and the dads/mentors who took time out to participate at the end of a busy week, I know that the boys really appreciated it and I am sure will have grown a lot from the experience and investment of time that you put into them through this opportunity.
God bless
Tim Davis
Teacher
Kokoda Challenge – Training for Toughness
While most people have been at home cosy and dry on Wednesday evenings over the last month, SJPCs Kokoda Challenge team have been out hiking the hills around Coffs, training for the upcoming event in Brisbane on 1 June. The Kokoda Challenge is an endurance event and fundraiser designed to push limits and challenge teams over a hilly 48km track, with around 2000m of elevation. It aims to honour some of the difficulties faced on the legendary Kokoda Track. To make it challenging, we do it in one day.
Training sessions have been designed to be punchy and tough to build strength in our legs and resilience up top. If the team can become comfortable in uncomfortable conditions including the rain, at night and on steep gruelling trails, they can be comfortable with whatever we face come event day.
A promising sign that we have the right team with the right attitude to tackle such a challenge, is Ty and Flynn rocking up each session with 10kg weight vests ‘just to up the ante’. When I talked to the year groups about the event, while students around them were saying “No way! who’d want to hike 48km”, Parker and Jasper looked at each other and said “Heck yeah!”.
Our first session delivered. It was rainy and slippery heading straight up Wedds Rd to Friday Creek tower in fading light with not a square foot of leech free earth. Despite having multiple leeches at any one time on our shoes, there was only 1 case of a leech finding its mark. The trick, a good layer of Aerogard/Rid/Bushmans’ on your shoes, socks and legs.
Other sessions have been out from The Gap at Bruxner Park utilising forestry trails. All sessions go into the night and it’s amazing what you come across. On our last night hike, not only did we net 588m elevation in 11km, we came across 3 ‘small eyed snakes’ (one of only a few Australian nocturnal species), either a trap door or funnel-web spider (body approx 30mm) and a scorpion. Welcome to Australia!
With only a couple of training sessions left, we wish our team well. Students completing this challenge include: Ty Stephenson and Flynn Oates in Year 12, Parker Swan and Jasper Harris in Year 8 and Sally Poidevin and myself as the teachers.
Brad Poidevin
School Counsellor
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To start following St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour please click on this link
Compass
Attendance and Permission to Leave School during the Day - Early Departure
Please note early departures or late arrivals cannot be submitted as an attendance note via the Compass App. Only full day absences can be submitted using the attendance note via the Compass App.
Students must have a written note from their parents/carers, giving an explanation and requesting permission to leave the College at a specific time. Students must take the note to the College Office before school and a Compass reminder notice is uploaded on the student's dashboard. At the allocated time, students must return to the College Office to formally sign out for the day and return the handwritten note.
For urgent appointments or requests to leave the College without a written note, parents/carers are required to collect their student from the College Office. Students will not be dismissed from class until parents/carers arrival at the College Office. Please allow enough time for the Office staff to retrieve students, as there could be delays leaving the Office. If students are able to bring a note in the morning this will alleviate any delay.
Arriving Late or Returning from an Appointment
Students MUST sign in at the College Office if they are arriving late to school or if students are returning to school after an appointment.
Compass - Permission to Leave from SPORT - Early Departure
Students must bring a written note from their parents/carers to the College Office before they depart for sport. Early departure from Sport cannot be submitted via the Compass App only a written note will be accepted. Only full day absences can be submitted using the attendance note via the Compass App.
Student Diary
Lost Property
Uniform Shop
Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 7:30am - 9:00am
Homework Centre
Hours: Monday - Thursday 3:20pm - 5:00pm
Finance
At SJPC, Staff and Students will be celebrating Kawalazi during Term 2, 15 - 28 May 2024. It is a time of the year we do all we can to support our sister school in Malawi. This has been a long running development project of over 20 years.
Often good education has been seen as the key to unlocking the potential of a young person. A donation of $50 is enough to support a Kawalazi student for a whole year at school.
Attached is a sponsorship form which can be returned to the College or emailed with payment to sponsor a student.
Dates to remember:
- Monday 27 May
- Mufti Day - please wear "Red, Green & Black"- sensible clothing with closed in shoes. Gold coin donation
- Sausage Sizzle during lunchtime - $3.00
- Tuesday 28 May - The Kawalazi School Social with a "Red, Green & Black" theme. Commences at 7pm in the College Hall. Pick up Yr7-9 at 9pm / Yr10-12 pick up 9.15pm.
Please do all you can to support this tremendous initiative.
Below is a video to help parents and students understand the traffic and parking guidelines at SJPC. Please take the time to watch this video with your child.
