6 December 2024 - Newsletter (Vol 41 No 19)

Whether you are finishing your first year or your last year of high school, the end of the school year is always the most difficult. Some students tend to wind down a little too early as the end of the year approaches and begin to slacken off and lose interest in school work. Understandably everyone is tired and ready for a holiday but we still have two weeks of school remaining. The following are some ideas that may help your daughters and sons get over the finish line in the best possible way they can.

Set Goals

Setting goals for yourself both personally and academically will help you stay on track. Make your own goals and try your absolute best to achieve them.

Stay Organised

Staying organised will help you in completing set work and prevent you from forgetting about upcoming events.

Don’t put off responsibilities

Slacking and procrastinating are just ways of putting off responsibilities. Putting off school-related responsibilities will leave you scrambling and stressed at the last minute. Do what you need to do when you need to do it, and you will be well on your way to finishing strong!

Take a time out

Don’t forget about taking time out of your day to regroup and simply have fun! This will help you stay focused. Giving yourself breaks for fun is good for your sanity and attention span.

Adjust your attitude

What is your attitude right now? Are you feeling down? Can you not wait for school to end? Simply adjusting your attitude to be more positive can make an incredible difference!

Take care of yourself

Taking care of yourself by eating well, exercising and getting the proper amount of sleep will help you remain focused.   

We ask that the students remain respectful to fellow students and staff in these final weeks. Students are also reminded to adhere to the College uniform policy as the year comes to an end. It is important to support each other in these final weeks of the 2024 school year.

Until next time

Mass holds a significant place in Catholic life as the most sacred event we celebrate.  Mass is actually one long prayer that all in attendance participate in together. Unlike our private prayer which is ‘me and Jesus time’, liturgical prayer is ‘we and Jesus time’. Through the Mass we have the opportunity to honor God, receive spiritual nourishment, and connect with our Church community. We listen to God's word, pray as one Body of Christ, and receive the Eucharist, which we believe to be the true body and blood of Jesus Christ. Regular attendance at Mass is a cornerstone of our spiritual journey, centering us in God's love and grace.

This week, I had the privilege of participating in Mass with several groups from our school community. On Tuesday with Mr McGrory and his Catholic Studies class, 10C, at St. Augustine's Church in Coffs Harbour and on Wednesday, with Year 7 and Year 9 students at Mary Help of Christians Church in Sawtell as part of their Pastoral Day.

It was wonderful to see our students come together with such reverence and actively participate in the Mass. A highlight was the Year 9 music students leading us in worship by playing music and singing hymns during their Pastoral Day Mass. Their contributions set a beautiful tone for this special time of reflection and anticipation as we enter the Advent season. 

Father Joy reminded us that the primary purpose of Advent is to prepare for Christmas - the birth of Jesus. Jesus came to this world with one important message - to show each and every one of us how much God loves us and how we should love each other. Father encouraged us to prepare ourselves during this season of advent by being “a little extra good”.

Following the Mass, students travelled to Boambee Creek, where they participated in activities designed to strengthen their connections with their teachers and peers. These moments of faith and fellowship are essential in developing a stronger, more unified group of students as they prepare to transition into their next year of studies.

During Advent, I encourage you to strengthen your faith as a family by lighting an Advent wreath, reading Scripture, practicing gratitude, and attending Mass together, drawing closer to Christ and to one another.

Leanne Gennat
Assistant Principal - Mission

Year 10 NESA Week

This week saw all Year 10 students sit their NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) assessments to meet the minimum standards in literacy and numeracy as well as complete the NESA AMOW (All my Own Work) course. Meeting the requirements of these tasks is a mandatory requirement for any student to receive the HSC credential. 

For the minimum standards, students will need to achieve the ‘minimum standard’ by completing 3 online tests which include:

• a multiple choice test for reading;
• a multiple choice test for numeracy; and
• a test for writing (around 500 words) based on a written or visual prompt.

These tests are based around the Australian Core Skills Framework and the minimum standard is set at level 3. This means that students who demonstrate the standard have the basic functional skills used in everyday life, for work and further study.

NESA’s research and plagiarism course called, All My Own Work, is a 4 module course that requires students to demonstrate how to research and acknowledge sources of information via the following modules:

• Module 1 - What is all my own work?
• Module 2 - What is plagiarism?
• Module 3 - How do I acknowledge other people's work?
• Module 4 - How can I work honestly?

Although our students applied themselves well and met the expectations we have of all students, I feel it necessary to acknowledge the level of maturity displayed over the week. 

As parents and families I think it important to get feedback on how well students worked under pressure and the collective maturity displayed by all students as they either sat online tests or worked through modules. So I congratulate all Year 10 students and acknowledge their impressive application this week. I genuinely look forward to working with this group of students as they become the seniors of our College in 2025 and 2026. 

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

James Furey
Assistant Principal
Learning and Teaching

Merit Awards

Below are our current Distinction Award recipients. We recognise student efforts not just at Assemblies but also within our Community throughout the year.

SJPC Merit Award Recipients Term 4 - Week 6 and 7

Year 7

Mercedes Moore - Year 7 Distinction Award	Hannah Mathews - Year 7 Distinction Award	Edward Buhler - Year 7 Distinction Award
Aiden Baldock - Year 7 Distinction Award	Eric Greenwood - Year 7 Distinction Award	Jayden Skeen - Year 7 Distinction Award
Angus Evans - Year 7 Distinction Award	Aalyah Ndayiragije - Year 7 Distinction Award	Eva McGregor - Year 7 Distinction Award
Kobey Handsaker - Year 7 Distinction Award	Monica Hein - Year 7 Distinction Award	Benjamin Twarowski - Year 7 Distinction Award
Hannah Woods - Year 7 Distinction Award	Maria Assimakopoulos - Year 7 Distinction Award	Paige Burke-Preston - Year 7 Distinction Award

Year 8

Poppy Hudson - Year 8 Distinction Award	Lola White - Year 8 Distinction Award	Shenae Pratt - Year 8 Distinction Award
Max Corsalini - Year 8 Distinction Award	Anthony Om - Year 8 Distinction Award	Haira Haira Ri - Year 8 Distinction Award

Year 9

Evie Hill - Year 9 Distinction Award

AMDG

James Furey
Acting Principal

Shoreline Visit

It was an exciting visit for class 9D on Monday as they embarked on the inaugural visit to the Shoreline Aged Care Facility in Coffs Harbour. The centre had reached out to us hoping for a visit of this kind, and we were blessed with an outstanding group of students  who proudly represented our College. 

Planning has been happening for some time and the students were organised into groups such as technology helpers, bracelet makers, Christmas hymns on the piano and Christmas craft experts. 

We look forward to continuing this new tradition with many future visits. 

Here are some reflections form students who attended:

"It was lovely to talk and hear about their lives and experiences. It was also nice to spend time and help them do something new with their days and try help bring a little joy in their lives. it was also nice to see the skills that some residents there have from when they were young." - Avalon

"It was really fun meeting and talking to people with much more life experiences than us." - Cooper

"My experience was fun. It was nice to talk to the old people and hear about their life experiences. I enjoyed making the christmas cards also." - Kiah

"We met some lovely old people who were very sweet to us. One of them was June who we got to know in the elevator. She was lovely and was with her granddaughter Jenny. We talked and had a nice conversation. Beforehand we were doing crafts with a group of some elderly women who were very nice to us and told us about what we they had done in their life." - Matilda

"My experience from yesterday was good because I got to help the nursing home people with doing arts and crafts and asking them what their experience was like when they were teenagers. It was also cool because we got to meet a lovely lady called June in the elevator and she was very sweet and very funny." - Eva

"Interacting with the older people was a highlight of my visit, talking to them and sharing experiences was an enlightening experience and I’m glad I was a part of it. We made Christmas crafts together and shared various experiences in life they’ve had." - Sarah

"It was interesting to see all of the different effects that age had on the older residents both mentally and physically. At my table, there was a woman with dementia. It was very interesting to hear her speak as she was muddling up many sentences and would have trouble thinking about memories. This experience really enlightened me and allowed me to see firsthand how much the mind and body can deteriorate due to age." - Jaxson

"I met a man named Paul, he was at the table where they were playing cards. I sat next to him and asked him how he was, he didn't answer and then started laughing. But he was a chill guy who didn't seem to really give any thought to anything. He had me help him with some stuff, but I think he didn't know what was going on. It was a different way to see people when we went there." - Roman

"I had a good experience at the old person's home. We met some lovely elderly people. We helped them do some arts and craft and write Christmas cards to their loved ones. We also met a sweet lady in the elevator named June who had four daughters." - Paige

Thanks also to our bus driver, Dan and to Dane and Mrs Gennat who accompanied us.

Janine Sawtell
Leader of School Evangelisation

Spread the Joy: Support the Vinnies Christmas Appeal!

This Christmas, let’s come together as a school community to share joy and hope with those in need. The Vinnies Christmas Appeal is underway, and we’re inviting everyone to get involved!

Each year group has been assigned specific age groups to bring in toys as gifts for children in need. We are also collecting non-perishable food items to create Christmas hampers that will help families celebrate the season with dignity and joy.

How You Can Help:

• Years 7 and 8: Toys for children aged 1–9 (boys and girls)
• Years 9 and 10: Toys for children aged 11–14 (boys and girls)
• Year 11: Toys for girls aged 16–17

Non-Perishable Food Donations: All items are welcome to help create Christmas hampers for families.

Donation Deadline: All donations need to be in by next Tuesday, 10 December 2024.

Drop-Off Points:

• Donations can be dropped off at the front office.
• Students can also give their donations to their Homeroom teacher.

As a Catholic community, we are called to live out Christ’s message of love and generosity. This appeal is a wonderful way for us to share the spirit of Christmas and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.

Thank you for your support and generosity in helping us bring the joy of Christmas to those in need!

Year 10 Ministry Students Inspire Year 5 Leaders to ‘Lead Like Christ’

On Thursday, 28 November, Year 10 Ministry students hosted a Leadership Retreat for Year 5 students from St Augustine’s School. The retreat, themed “Lead Like Christ,” focused on inspiring young leaders to embrace three key Christian leadership styles: Servant, Steward, and Shepherd leadership. This event, part of the Year 10 Ministry assessment, showcased the students’ ability to plan and deliver a meaningful, faith-centered experience.

The retreat introduced the concept of Christ-like leadership through scripture, activities, and discussions. The day began with icebreaker activities and an opening prayer, setting a reflective and welcoming tone. Year 10 students then led sessions that combined creativity, scripture, and personal insights. Activities included leadership-themed crafts, skits, and videos illustrating acts of Christ-like leadership. Students also shared personal testimonies, making the lessons relatable and impactful for the younger participants.

Small group discussions provided an opportunity for the Year 5 students to engage deeply with the themes, guided by materials prepared by the Year 10 leaders. The retreat environment was enhanced with thoughtful touches such as music, candles, and visuals, creating a space for reflection and spiritual connection. The day concluded with a closing prayer, bringing the focus back to the central theme of leading like Christ.

The Year 10 Ministry students demonstrated exceptional teamwork, creativity, and leadership throughout the retreat. Their dedication not only brought the retreat to life but also inspired the younger students to embrace servant, steward, and shepherd leadership in their own lives. This retreat was a powerful example of faith in action, leaving both Year 10 and Year 5 students empowered to follow Christ’s example of leading and serving others.

Sarah de Byl and Tim Davis

Reitaku visit

SJPC was honoured and excited to recently host two staff from our sister school, Reitaku Mizunami in Gifu, Japan. We were visited by Mr Hitoshi Yanase and Mr Peter Richardson who were here to see the school campus and to meet students and staff.

An “Exchange” morning tea was held with past exchange students and host families gathering to see Mr Yanase and Mr Richardson and reminisce about their time in Japan or hosting Reitaku students. Our next group of students wishing to go on exchange in 2025 were also present and were able to talk with the staff, families and past students about the experience.

The Reitaku staff were given a guided tour in Japanese of the campus by our current Year 11 Japanese students. These students did an amazing job and should be commended on their efforts to not only speak Japanese but help Mr Yanase and Mr Richardson feel at home.

And to top it off, the Reitaku staff were treated to a concert at lunch with Quad Jam showcasing the talent here at SJPC and also gave them ideas of what they could do back at Reitaku in Japan. 

Thank you to all staff (notably Ms Gennat and Ms Munokoa), students and families for making Mr Yanase and Mr Richardson feel so welcome.

Kirsten Binnie
Leader of Learning - Languages

'Past the Shallows'

This term Year 11 Standard English were given the opportunity to see their novel performed on the the stage at the Jetty Theatre. Students were able to have the experience of seeing a live performance with adaptations from their own understanding of the complex novel, 'Past the Shallows'. The Q and A period after the play was an invaluable experience as they were able to ask about how the actors took on their roles and what decisions were made in adapting the novel.

Siobhan McCosker
Leader of Learning - English

All things Literacy, because Literacy matters in all things

READING IMPROVES EMPATHY 

Empathy is the ability to be aware of and have an understanding of other people’s feelings, concerns and thoughts.

Empathy is known to be innate, for even babies exhibit it. While some people are more empathetic than others, research indicates that we tend to become more empathetic with age, AND if we are motivated to become more empathetic, we can. The best way to cultivate empathy is to engage in and practice positive social behaviours. 

So how does this link to reading fiction?

Fiction has the capacity to transport us into another character’s mind, allowing us to see and feel what they see and feel. Reading the words of fiction introduces us to what it’s like to live in poverty, immigrate to a new country, live a different culture, gender, ethnicity or sexuality or lose someone we love.  It transports us to another world and provides us with the opportunity to take other people’s perspectives into account. 

Fiction encourages us to develop and exercise empathetic skills.

Fiction enables us to understand others better.

Fiction helps promote kindness.

Empathy has been described as the glue that holds society together. While studies have indicated a decline in empathy, those who scored highest on empathy tests were those who read more fiction. 

Of course, we must also be able to act on this empathy and that is about genuinely inquiring and listening with a curious, open mind and a non-judgemental attitude. It allows us to check in on others and check whether our assumptions about their thoughts and feelings are correct.

Celebrating Year 7 Literacy Growth

At SJPC we focus on literacy skill development across all subjects and we measure student progress with sentence structure skill.

We had the opportunity the celebrate and congratulate the following students for extensive writing growth through the semester.

Eva Corsalini	Pippa Dodd	Mahla Guselli	Cooper Harding
Indiana Hill	Eva Maguire	Brooke Shannon	Charlotte Vrouwenvelder

Maree McKelvie

Year 8 Students Shine in Textiles Class!

As the semester wraps up, our Year 8 students have successfully completed an exciting journey in their textiles class. Over the past weeks, they’ve honed their skills on sewing machines and embraced the art of creativity by designing and crafting their very own unique bags.

This project has been a fantastic opportunity for students to explore the design process, develop problem-solving skills, and bring their ideas to life. From brainstorming initial concepts to stitching the final seams, each student demonstrated persistence and creativity. The finished bags are a testament to their hard work and growing confidence in working with textiles.

Susan Haley and Amanda Ridgewell
Textiles Teacher

St John Paul College Theatre hosted the Year 10 Drama showcase on Thursday evening and a great night was had by all. The evening was produced by the incoming Year 12 Drama class who had cast and directed the workshop of the musical “Fangirls”  that took to the stage in front of an enthusiastic crowd of friends and family members.The Year 12 students are studying the text by Yve Blake for their HSC, and part of the process of preparing for the HSC is by attempting workshops on the texts under study. Over the last eight weeks the Year 12 students have been thoughtfully reflecting on the themes of the work and attempting to bring the most out of the performances of the Year Ten Drama students. As the teacher of both classes, I am delighted with the professionalism and enthusiasm of all the participants and honoured to have been in the audience that night. Thanks to the Year 12 students, the Year 10 students, to the teachers and staff who have assisted in the final preparations, and to the support of lighting designers and technicians both from the school, the staff, and from my family.

Stephanie Marshall
Teacher - Drama/English

Year 6 students prepare for New Beginnings

We are so excited to see our 2025 Year 7 cohort begin their preparation for high school at SJPC. Over the past 4 weeks, our Pastoral Team have visited schools, planned and hosted transition day, parent information night, orientation days and extra visits for students needing that extra piece of familiarisation. What a team! This has been a genuine collaboration of many communities working together to see our new students land well and pursue healthy success in our college. Together we have prayed, reflected on our past, embraced our present, and thought forward toward next year. Our warm advice to our students and parents has been: finish year 6 well, be thankful and open-eyed toward new opportunities, and “be not afraid”.  I thank God for our pastoral team at SJPC, our skilled team in Student Services, and all our new students and parents preparing for high school next year. And I ask God to keep everyone safe, happy and filled with faith over the Christmas break. 

Jon Baldwin
Year 7 2025 Leader of Student Wellbeing

Due to essential maintenance at Boambee Creek the College Picnic Day (Wednesday 18 December) will be held at the Coffs Memorial Pool. We thank them for taking our booking at the last minute.

• Students need to bring their recess and lunch or purchase from the pool kiosk 
• Year 11 will be fundraising with a Sausage Sizzle

Here is a link to Yarilla Programs and Events that may interest some students during the school holidays. 

https://www.yarrilaartsandmuseum.com.au/events/summer-vibes-holiday-program