23 May 2025 - Newsletter (Vol 42 No 7)
- Principal's Message
- Assistant Principal - Mission
- Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care
- Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
- SJPC Merit Award Recipients
- School Evangelisation
- Leader of Student Engagement
- Leaders of Student Wellbeing
- Pedagogy
- Music
- Visual Arts
- Textiles and Design
- Science - STEM Conference for Regional Girls
- Indigenous Students Morning Tea
- Sports Corner
- What's On!
- Office News
- Year 10 Vaccinations - Tuesday 17 June 2025
- We're Hiring
- Parent Assembly - Year 8 Family Night - Stronger Together
- Parent Workshop - Autism Workshop
- Parent Webinar (Free) - Boys & Young Men Online
- St Augustine's Catholic Parish
- Jubilee Youth Art Competition Exhibition
- School Reunion
Dear Parents and Guardians
As we continue to navigate the ongoing complexities of the current economic climate, I want to say how profoundly grateful I am for your unwavering support and commitment to your children's education and the well-being of our college.
We recognise the sacrifices many of you are making to ensure your children can continue to benefit from the wonderful experiences on offer here at SJPC. Your continued investment in their future speaks volumes about the value you place on education – a value that resonates deeply with our own mission of Catholic education. Your dedication fuels our commitment to providing a nurturing and enriching learning environment where your children can thrive academically, socially, and personally.
Fee Assistance - I want to remind you of the various assistance schemes you can access to assist you with payment of fees and encourage those who need help, to contact the school fees office on 66531655 to arrange the necessary paperwork.
Consistency of our College rules – Thank you for your consistent support of the College's rules and guidelines. A clear and consistent framework is essential for fostering a positive and productive learning environment for all students and your willingness to reinforce these expectations at home and support for consequences from the College, creates a vital sense of unity and shared responsibility.
Open Invitation – Again, I want to remind you that you are always welcome here at SJPC. The staff are grateful for your proactive engagement and willingness to reach out and work collaboratively with us. It is only through a strong home-school connection that we can truly understand and best support each student on their unique educational journey.
God bless.
Michael Carniato
Principal
We’re Listening! Have Your Say in the TTFM Survey
Last week, we invited students, teachers, and parents to share their thoughts and experiences of our school through an online survey. These surveys play a vital role in our whole-school evaluation and planning process.
Last year, we were thrilled with the incredible response from our community, with 193 families taking the time to complete the survey. This year, we’re aiming to match that fantastic level of participation and warmly encourage you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) - Partners in Learning survey.
So far, 110 families have shared their feedback - let’s keep the momentum going and aim for another amazing response like last year!
The anonymous survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and will be open until Friday 30 May 2025. You are able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using the URL below:
http://tellthemfromme.com/2025sjpc
Celebrating Community Through Art:
SJPC’s Artist in Residence Mural Project with MULGA
We’re excited to announce that this year’s Artist in Residence will be none other than the renowned Australian contemporary artist MULGA - also known as Joel Moore!
Many of you will already be familiar with MULGA’s vibrant, playful style, and we’re excited to welcome him into our school community in Term 3. During his week with us, MULGA will create a large mural on the east-facing wall of the hall in the B-Block sails area. He’ll also be running Visual Arts workshops with our students, sharing his unique approach to art and creativity.
The mural will celebrate who we are as a community, featuring elements of our Catholic identity, local Coffs Harbour imagery, and the rich cultural diversity of our college. This exciting project supports our College Goals of nurturing a strong sense of belonging and deepening our connection to our Catholic identity and culture, with a special focus on our Patron Saint - St John Paul II.
To make sure this mural reflects the heart of our community, we invited all students to contribute their ideas via a Google form shared last week. Some common themes which emerged from their responses are:
Our Place & Environment
- Local nature: ocean, beaches, native plants & animals
- Indigenous culture and connection to land
Faith & Belonging
- Catholic identity: cross, Jesus, school symbols
- Community, diversity, inclusion, and unity
Joyful School Spirit
- Bright colours, fun, pop culture
- Pride in school, sport, and Australian identity
We can’t wait to see this project come to life!
Assistant Principal - Mission
The pastoral topic for the Term two is relationships. At next week's College Assembly, Tahlia and Riley (College Student Vice Captains) will inform the students of the importance in developing positive relationships not only among one another but also with teachers and other members of the College community. This includes at home when things can become a little difficult from time to time.
It is important that as parents we take the lead in this area and model the type of behaviour we would expect from our children. The following advice on communication and relationships is taken from “Reachout Parents”. This is an outstanding resource and I would encourage all parents to visit it from time to time.
Open communication is important in any healthy relationship. This is particularly important in our relationship with our teenage children. As our young people grow and develop their independence it is integral for us as carers to adjust and develop this relationship while still having established boundaries. The way we communicate with them will need to change and discovering these new and different approaches to communicating effectively with one another will be a learning experience for you both. Effective communication with your teenager can help you both feel happier and more connected in your relationship, and more confident about having difficult conversations and resolving conflicts.
Sometimes communicating with teenagers can be tricky. The following tips might help you to keep the channels of communication open with your child:
- Make time and space to talk, get comfy, remove distractions such as phones, and have eye contact. These all signal that you are present, you want to listen, and you are ‘there for them’.
- You don't need to fix their problem or make them feel better; you just need to listen. Try not to judge what they are saying. Just nod and say things like, 'Ok', 'Ah ha', 'Yeah'. This will let them know that you're listening positively and will encourage them to keep talking.
- Be empathetic.
- Talk often.
Here are some conversation starters for teens:
- 'Is there something that you'd like some help with?'
- 'Ok, I'm here for you, what's up?'
- If you have an inkling of what they want to talk about, introduce the topic like this,'I've noticed you seem a bit stressed, is there something worrying you?'
We all sometimes just need to ‘vent’, get stuff off our chests, whinge, complain, or let our family know we’ve had a bad day. We don’t need anyone to give us a solution or to ‘fix’ a problem; we just need someone to remind us that we are loved and supported. If you feel the urge to suggest a solution, to give them a lecture, or to try and solve their problem for them, try saying instead:
- 'That sounds tough, do you want help to find a solution or do you just need to get it off your chest?'
- 'How did that make you feel?'
- 'And then what happened?'
Allowing your child to talk through problems will give them an opportunity to use you as a sounding board. Unless they ask for your advice, encourage them to work through the problem themselves. This will help them take responsibility for their actions.
Learning how to talk so teens will listen starts with demonstrating empathy where you are able to put yourself in your child’s position and understand the situation from their point of view. Your child will keep coming to you to help them work through problems, and to talk about things, if you make it clear that you are on their side, even when they’ve made a mistake. You can do this by saying things like:
- 'I can see why you're so (frustrated, sad, annoyed).'
- 'How did you feel about that? Yeah I think I would have felt like that too.'
- 'Why do you think (the other person) did/said that?'
Take the opportunity to really check in with your child every day about the little things that are going on in their life. By remaining positively engaged in their life, it will be easier to have difficult conversations when the need arises. If your child can trust you to ‘be there for them’, to listen to, love and support them, then they are much more likely to see you as someone to turn to first when they need help in working through bigger problems. Your relationship will be built on trust and open, honest communication. Enjoy getting to know your child as the interesting and maturing person they are becoming.
Conflict is inevitable when people with different views live together so the occasional clash with your teenager is normal and to be expected. However, ongoing conflict can undermine the relationship between a parent and a young person.
Negative communication is a common cause of chronic conflict. Examples of negative communication include nagging, harsh criticism or ‘stand over’ tactics such as yelling to force compliance.
It’s not always easy to recognise negative communication. For example, well-meaning parents may criticise because they want their child to try harder. You are using negative communication if:
- The conversation rapidly deteriorates into nagging, yelling or fighting
- You feel angry, upset, rejected, blamed or unloved
- The issue under dispute doesn’t ever improve.
One aspect we need to be conscious of when communicating with our young people is that as carers we are hearing their version of what has transpired and not necessarily all the facts. It is an age-old problem that will most likely never change. Ultimately our children don’t want to disappoint us and we want to be proud of them. The truth is we all make mistakes and don’t always make the best decisions but we also learn from this. It is paramount that our children know that we are always here for them and they will always be loved and supported.
Until next time:
“Communication is the lifeline of any relationship”
Elizabeth Bourgeret
Staff Development Day - Working toward a Collective Consistency in the classroom
At this week’s Staff Development Day, our staff engaged in one of our key strategic priorities - to embed consistent learning routines and high-impact teaching practices across every classroom.
This initiative, driven by feedback from our staff, aims to strengthen what we call Collective Consistency - ensuring that every student experiences predictable, purposeful learning, no matter their subject, teacher, or year level.
Consistency in classroom routines is more than a teaching strategy - it’s about fostering strong relationships and supporting student success. When teachers align around common approaches, students benefit from a clear and familiar learning environment. This reduces confusion, builds confidence, and creates a safe space for academic and personal growth.
This work builds on our College-wide commitment to evidence-based, data-informed teaching practices. By aligning our routines and pedagogy, we can better meet the diverse needs of our students and make sure that every lesson counts.
Consistency also strengthens the relational side of education. When students know what to expect—and see that expectations are applied fairly and respectfully - it’s easier to connect with their teachers and feel a sense of belonging. These strong relationships are at the heart of our values and our focus on respect, responsibility, and resilience.
We look forward to continuing this journey together and thank you for your ongoing support as we work to make learning meaningful, consistent, and respectful for all.
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
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. Congratulations students.
AMDG
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
Year 12 Retreat Postponed Due to Severe Weather
Due to the severe and unpredictable weather conditions currently affecting our region, it was decided to postpone Days 2 and 3 of the Year 12 Senior Retreat this week.
The first day of the retreat, which was held at the College, saw our students engage with remarkable enthusiasm and maturity. Their positive attitude and willingness to fully participate in the experience were truly commendable, and we are incredibly proud of the Year 12 cohort. Many students have expressed how much they were looking forward to the overnight component of the retreat at Yarrahapinni, and we want to honour this excitement and spirit. Rather than cancel the remaining days, we have decided to reschedule the retreat to ensure that our students can enjoy the full experience they have been anticipating.
We are grateful to the team at Yarra Adventure Park who have managed to fit us in later this term. We are pleased to advise that days 2 and 3 of the Senior Retreat will take place in Week 8 Thursday 19 June and Friday 20 June with one night stay at Yarrahapinni.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our students, families, and staff for their ongoing understanding and support. We recognise that the weather is beyond our control, but we are confident that this decision will allow for the best possible retreat experience for our Year 12 students.
Exciting Opportunity for Year 8 and 9 Students: Join the Ministry Class in 2026!
We are thrilled to announce an exciting development for our junior students: beginning in 2026, we will be offering the Catholic Studies Youth Ministry Initiative (CSYMI) program to both Year 9 and Year 10 students! This Youth Ministry program provides a wonderful opportunity for students to explore leadership, service, and faith through ministry.
To support our students to make an informed decision about joining the program, all students in Year 8 and 9 will attend the Catch the Wave retreat in Term 3 here at the College. This dynamic and fun event will give them the chance to interact with the Diocesan Youth Ministry team and experience a taste of what the ministry class is all about.
We are excited about this new direction and encourage all Year 8 and 9 students to consider this valuable opportunity to deepen their faith, develop leadership skills, and make a positive impact in the community. Our Ministry team will be visiting Year 8 and 9 classes over the coming weeks to provide more information and answer questions about the program.
Stay tuned for more information on how to apply! Let’s make 2026 a year of growth, service, and leadership!
Leader of School Evangelisation
‘Adolescence’ and our Young Men
As our students and young people navigate the often-turbulent waters of adolescence, it's easy to feel like the challenges and triumphs are unique to us. Netflix's new show, ‘Adolescence (MA)’ offers a compelling and, at times, raw glimpse into the lives of several teenagers grappling with everything from friendships and first loves, to identity and the pressures of growing up.
In a recent article, ‘Real Schools’ founder Adam Voigt makes the point about our young boys' social media interactions that: “It’s a diet rich in online highlight reels. The toxic 'alpha male' role models. The relentless race to be seen, liked, and followed. A warped scoreboard where emotional restraint equals weakness, empathy equals softness, and status is everything.
In the show ‘Adolescence’, that diet doesn’t just produce wounded kids – it produces dangerous ones. The plot twists might be fictional, but the conditions that shape them are all too real. And just like one Big Mac can’t be blamed for a heart attack, no single TikTok video can be held responsible for the way some boys eventually explode. But the diet matters.”
It’s timely that this show has been the topic of many conversations between parents, and the eSafety Commissioner offers several resources to support parents and families on the exact topics and issues that this show confronts. The article ‘An unfair fight – how algorithms are shaping our adolescents’ examines what algorithms and recommender systems are and offers some practical strategies to empower parents, carers and educators to help build critical thinking, challenge harmful narratives, and create open conversations with young people.
Resources are available via the eSafety Commission website and can be found via:
Parents Advice for Parents and carers to help kids stay safe online
Students eSafety for Young People online
Mark Coster
Leader of Student Engagement
Year 8
Fostering Stronger Relationships
Over the past fortnight, our Year 8 students have been actively working towards building new connections and strengthening existing relationships within their cohort. In both formal and informal settings, the focus has been on teamwork, empathy, and inclusion – values that are vital to fostering a positive school culture.
A highlight of this period was last week's homeroom trivia pastoral assembly, which saw students come together in a fun and competitive environment to test their knowledge about one another. Questions ranged from "Who has the longest hair in the homeroom?" to the unexpected "Who has a turtle for a pet?", sparking laughter, surprise, and plenty of conversation.
This engaging and light-hearted event not only brought out students' competitive spirits but also encouraged them to celebrate what makes each person unique. The atmosphere was buzzing with energy as homerooms cheered each other on, demonstrating true school spirit and unity.
Congratulations to 8D - Istrate’s Karates, who were crowned trivia champions with an impressive score of 72 points. A very close second place went to Feeney’s Potters from 8B, who finished with 68 points. All teams showcased not only excellent trivia skills but also strong collaboration and enthusiasm throughout.
In addition to the overall winners, each homeroom recognised a student who embodied the values of kindness, inclusivity, and sportsmanship during the activity. These students were awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) title and received a canteen voucher for their outstanding contributions:
 8A |
 8B |
 8C |
 8D |
 8E |
 8F |
 8G |
 |
We commend all students for their positive participation and willingness to engage with their peers in meaningful ways. It’s moments like these that strengthen the bonds between students and create a supportive and inclusive school community. We look forward to seeing how these connections continue to grow in the weeks ahead.
Fit Check Uniform Award
We would also like to mention our Fit Check Uniform Award recipients for the last fortnight. Congratulations to the following students who consistently wear their uniform with pride, demonstrating respect for themselves and our school community.
| Week 3 |
 Marco Grant-Mauri |
 Avni Chauhan |
| Week 4 |
 Kirra Fitzpatrick |
 Armaan Atwal |
Alana Johnson and Matt Currie
Year 8 Leaders of Student Wellbeing
Year 9
In Week 3 during our pastoral assembly, Year 9 students took part in a creative and hands-on team-building activity that had them thinking, laughing, and collaborating like never before. Armed with nothing but dry spaghetti, marshmallows, string, and tape, each homeroom was challenged to build the tallest free-standing tower they could manage — and the results were as impressive as they were wobbly!
While the activity was light-hearted and fun, it had a deeper purpose: to strengthen relationships within our homerooms and to encourage problem-solving, communication, and teamwork. It was fantastic to see students step into leadership roles, share ideas, and support one another as they faced the challenge head-on. The energy was infectious, and many groups surprised themselves with their creativity and engineering skills!
A big thank you goes to Mr Bujeya and Ms Pellatt for organising this engaging and meaningful activity. It was a wonderful reminder that sometimes the best learning happens when we step away from our desks and work together to overcome unusual challenges.
We look forward to seeing more opportunities like this throughout the term!
Congratulations to Remy Wilson and Zali Allen who received a College Commendation award for sustained engagement across the curricula and to Olive Plunkett and Olivia Kelly who received the Best All Rounder award in Week 2 and 3 respectively. We had over 110 class awards given to Year 9 last week alone!
Congratulations also to Jasper Ferguson, Bodhi Field, Rhyse Ward, Lacey Tutt, Sam Grabovszky, Dilshaan Chahal, and Danika Denner who received College Commendation awards in week 3.
| Week 2 |
 College Commendation |
 College Commendation |
 Best All Rounder |
 Best All Rounder |
| Week 3 |
 College Commendation |
 College Commendation |
 College Commendation |
 College Commendation |
 College Commendation |
 College Commendation |
Year 10
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Welcome back to the start of a new term! We hope the break provided your family with some rest and quality time together. As we begin this new chapter, we’re excited to share our focus areas for the term ahead.
Whole School Focus – Relationships
This term, our whole school focus is on relationships – with friends, family, classmates, and staff. We are encouraging students to reflect on the importance of positive, respectful, and supportive relationships in all areas of life. Building these strong connections is vital for both personal wellbeing and learning success.
Year 10 Focus – Engagement and Goal Setting
As a year group, we are looking closely at classroom engagement and goal setting. Students are being supported to set both short-term and long-term goals related to their wellbeing and academic progress. We believe that having a clear sense of direction helps students stay motivated and take ownership of their learning journey.
The Study Skills Handbook
We are also reintroducing students to The Study Skills Handbook, a fantastic resource filled with tools, tips, and strategies to support academic success and wellbeing. We encourage students to explore the website regularly as part of their personal development.
Curriculum Matters and Assessment Schedules
Please continue to encourage your child to check the 2025 Year 10 Curriculum Matters Google Classroom regularly. This platform contains important information including assessment schedules, key dates, and valuable study resources. Remind your child that their classroom teachers are always available to provide support and guidance — seeking help early makes a big difference!
Thank you for your ongoing partnership in supporting your child’s learning and development. We’re looking forward to a productive and engaging term together.
Year 12
Year 12's annual fundraising event "Trivia Night - Pyjama Party". Friday 30 May 2025. Tickets are now on SALE! Call the College Office (6653 3155) to reserve your table - $15 per ticket / $150 per table. Thank you for supporting Year 12's Charities: Warrina Domestic and Family Violence Specialist Services and Cando Cancer Trust.
Nick Haworth
Year 12 Leader of Student Wellbeing
We’ve recently launched our Student Engagement Continuum, which helps students reflect on how they approach their learning. As part of the launch students were asked to reflect on their current levels of engagement; a lot of our students saw themselves as passive learners; often in the participating section of the continuum. As a learning community we know that active engagement occurs when learning is driven by curiosity and feels meaningful. Our professional learning as a staff has developed staff skills in making connections with prior learning, asking effective questions and providing the ‘so that’ in learning intentions to help students see the relevance of their learning.
Parents and caregivers play an important role in nurturing this mindset. One of the most powerful things you can do is show interest in what your child is learning. Ask open ended questions like “What surprised you today?” or “Why is that important?”. Sometimes, students don’t immediately see how a subject is relevant to them. This is a great opportunity to help them make connections, consider how you can make parallels to your life or ask questions like, “How could this be useful later on?”. Helping them link learning to the world around them can shift their perspective and boost motivation.
Encourage your child to explore beyond the curriculum. If something sparks their interest—a historical event, a science concept, a book—they might enjoy finding out more, watching a documentary, or discussing it over dinner. It’s not about having all the answers, but about modelling curiosity and the joy of discovery.
By fostering curiosity and relevance at home, we can help our students take the next step toward becoming active, engaged learners.
Louise Maybury
Leader of Pedagogy
Michael Dolce Workshop
Students from our elective music classes this week enjoyed hearing Michael Dolce share stories and play his guitar covering over 30 years in the Australian Music industry. Students had lots of questions and great respect for Michael and his work. Michael is guitarist on The Voice Australia. Our elective students have many opportunities at SJPC to develop as performers and this workshop was another investment into their world of music.
Band Competition Winners
On the weekend, the Northern NSW Thrashville Battle Band Competition was held at Open Studio, Coffs Harbour. Our student band, Epiphany, were announced as winners. They will now be performing at the 2025 Thrashville Festival in the Hunter Valley alongside King Parrot and Frankenbok. Congratulations to Noah Taylor, Khaleb Muir-Nicholls, Brady Cunningham, Henry Foy, Cooper Harding on this huge achievement.
Jon Baldwin & Cory Blight
9PDM Embrace a Natural Focus
The colours of our local landscape have taken on an intriguing new avenue of exploration for 9 Photography and Digital Media students throughout our last unit of work, 'Let There Be Light'. Inspired by the beauty and details of our natural world, our budding photographers have ventured beyond the classroom, armed with their cameras and a keen eye for investigating compositional techniques. Our excursions to the Jetty and Botanical Gardens have provided the perfect opportunity for exploring these rules and have allowed students to transform snapshots into visual narratives using their understanding of techniques and also skilful use of various post-editing techniques in Adobe Lightroom Classic and Snapseed.
These excursions have provided practical application learning within the classroom and fostered a new appreciation for the natural beauty around us every day. Students' enthusiasm and photographic skills are blossoming with each shutter click!
Year 11 Textiles Students Showcase Creativity with Embellished Bags
Our talented Year 11 Textiles students have recently completed their task 1 practical project in the focus area of Textile Art. Each student explored the Aesthetic and Functional aspects of design, thoughtfully applying the Elements and Principles of Design to guide their choices in colour, shape, texture, and composition. The result? A stunning variety of embellished bags, each telling its own story through thoughtful design and decoration.
To meet the project criteria, students incorporated decoration and colouration techniques. This included hand and machine embroidery, beading, appliqué, patchwork, quilting, and more. A variety of fabrics, yarns, and fibres were used to create rich surfaces and textures, making each piece not only visually striking but also tactile and functional.
As part of their learning, students also developed skills in quality construction methods, such as using appropriate seam finishes, and documented their work through detailed folio samples.
This project was a wonderful opportunity for students to blend creativity, craftsmanship, and personal expression, and the final outcomes were as impressive as they were individual.
Ella-May Spagnolo – Pink patchwork
Lily Smith – Pink lazy stitch floral embroidery
Kalika Symonds – Blue whale embroidery
Noela Ssebabenga – Black spider web butterfly
Textiles Teacher/Assistant Leader of Learning - TAS
Year 9/10 Sport Selections Term 3
Sport selections open at 9am on Monday 26 May and close at 9am on Wednesday 28 May 2025. Before making selections, parents/carers and students are encouraged to consider and discuss equipment requirements, the cost of the activity and the risks involved as it may not be possible to make any changes. Students are asked to check their selections on the Palace noticeboard on Thursday, 29 May.Bill Turner Trophy
Our wonderful girls team took on Woolgoolga High School at the synthetic fields on Thursday, 15 May. The girls took the lead early and never looked back. Putting 5 goals away in the first half, the girls continued their run with another flurry of 5 goals, to win the game 10 - 0. The win was a whole team effort with the following girls finishing with goals. Summer Barden (6), Pippa Dodd (2), Evie Gibson (1) and Jayda Crocker (1).
The girls now progress to play McLean High School in Coffs Harbour for Round 3.
Diocesan Tennis
SJPC students travelled to Lismore to represent their school in the Diocesan Tennis Championship in Lismore on Wednesday. The Junior Girls team consisted of Eva McGregor and Ruby Smith, the Junior Boys team consisted of Sebastian Muir and Samuel Lind. Our Junior teams played well and had a lot of fun. The Open Boys team consisted of Max Corsalini, Oakley Baylis, Luke Blackman and Noah Baylis. Our Open boys team played extremely well, coming second overall. A fantastic day was had by all.
Sally Poidevan and Matt Quinton
Coaches
Basketball NSW
The annual Basketball NSW event was held in Coffs Harbour on Thursday 15 May, with both our Open boys and Open girls competing. The girls were dominant in every game, winning against Christian Community School and Richmond Community College in the pools to face BDC in the final. The team were outstanding, achieving their second championship, winning 32 - 18. The regional title win meant qualification to the Basketball NSW State Championships in Sydney, but instead they will be defending their title at the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges Championships in June, due to the close proximity of both events.
The boys played well all day and, like the girls, found themselves in the final against BDC 2. The game was tough and saw-sawed, with BDC pulling off a wildly lucky halfway shot to win the game by 1 point in the last second of the game. The boys should be proud of their efforts, playing the tournament without 3 of their normal players.
Thank you to Jessi Reeves and John Philip for guiding the students throughout the tournament.
Congratulations
- Alexis Plater (Year 12) and Kira Juffermans (Year 11) were selected to represent NSWCCC in Open Basketball after attending the Sydney trial last week. This is a significant achievement to have two of our girls chosen from across all Catholic schools in NSW. The ladies now compete in a Tri-series against NSWCIS and NSWCHS to determine the champion system. Good luck, ladies!
- Charlie Oates, Ewan Baker, Levi Newton, Cooper Shaw and Harper Landrigan who were all selected to trial for NSWCCC Rugby. The boys travelled to Sydney to participate in the trials, with Levi and Harper being selected into the NSWCCC 16yrs team. Congratulations, boys and good luck at the tri-series event.
Coming Up - Term 2 2025
Term 2, 2025 |
| Tuesday 27 May |
Bill Turner Cup (boys) Round 3 game, Synthetics |
| Wednesday 28 May |
13s & 14s Futsal, Coffs |
| Thursday 29 May |
15s & 16s Futsal, Coffs |
|
Country Cup League, Grafton (new date) |
|
| Wednesday 4 June |
Diocesan Junior Football, Coffs Harbour |
| Thursday 5 June |
Cochrane Cup 14’s League, Grafton |
|
Diocesan Cross Country |
|
| Wednesday 11 June |
Junior Cup AFL, Coffs Harbour |
| Thursday 12 June |
Diocesan Senior Football, Coffs Harbour |
| Friday 13 June |
NSW Fast 5 Netball, Port Macquarie |
|
Mountain Bike event, Jolly Nose Woolgoolga |
|
| Monday 16 - 18 June |
NSWCCC Open Basketball, Penrith |
| Friday 27 June |
College Athletics Carnival, CEX Stadium (compulsory event) |
* events require students to sign up directly on the Diocesan Sport website
Leader of Sport
Parent Representative Meeting
You are warmly invited to attend the Parent Representative Body meeting scheduled for 7pm in the College Library on Tuesday 27 May 2025. If you are unable to attend in person, please click on the link to attend via zoom (Passcode for meeting 959706)
Finance
If you have any questions or require further information, please email:
cofhs-fees@lism.catholic.edu.au
Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools
cofhs-fees@lism.catholic.edu.au
Ph: 6653 1655 Office Hours: 8:30am to 4:00pm
Compass - Reminder
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.
If you are unable to contact the Office or provide a written note for a Late Arrival, once the student has signed into the Office, a notification will appear on your Compass Dashboard to prompt you to explain the partial absence with an attendance note.
Medical Information
Head Injuries
All Head Injuries to anyone in the school or associated with a School Activity are treated seriously.
Any student who receives a concussion or a suspected concussion should be seen by a doctor with experience in managing concussion.
Students who have been diagnosed with a concussion, must have medical clearance before returning to School.
Parents, Carers and/or Guardians are strongly encouraged to advise the school when a student suffers a head injury when in their care, out of school time.
A five-day activity restriction will be recommended for any students who have suffered a head injury.
SJPC Communication - Facebook
Do you follow SJPC's Facebook page? This is where you will find reminders of upcoming social events, sporting updates, transport delays, job advertisements and photos of SJPC students participating in everyday life at the College.
To start following St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour please click on this link
Student Diary
Helpful information is found in the student diary regarding daily college procedures. Please take the time to go through the student diary with your child.
Lost Property
Please encourage your child to visit the Office if they have lost any school items. Please mark your child's name on all school items, including airpods, pencil cases, drink bottles, sport bags and school uniform.
Uniform Shop
Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 7:30am - 9:30am
Homework Centre
Hours: Monday - Thursday 3:20pm - 5:00pm
You can now provide online consent for your child's routine school vaccinations.
In Year 10, students are offered the Meningococcal ACWY Vaccine. Vaccination will only be provided at School if consent has been received.
Term 2 - Year 10 Vaccinations - Tuesday 17 June 2025
How to provide consent:
1. To complete online consent for your child’s school vaccinations, visit: https://nswhealth.
2. Click the login with ‘Service NSW Account’ button and log in using your Service NSW details. This is the same account you may already use to renew your driver’s license. If you don’t have a Service NSW account, refer to Service NSW to create one.
3. Update or confirm your personal details in Service NSW as required.
4. Complete the School Vaccination Consent Form for your child. You will need to:
a) Enter your child’s personal details
b) Provide the Medicare card details for you and your child
c) Read the linked Parent Information Sheet and Privacy Statement
d) Provide consent
If you or your child do not have a Medicare card, consent can still be provided by requesting a paper-based consent form directly from the College Office.
For more information on routine school vaccinations, please visit www.health.nsw.gov.au/
Translated information about school vaccination is available in 27 languages, please visit
www.health.nsw.gov.au/
St John Paul College is currently hiring supervisors for HSC Examinations and College Examinations.
Please email the College for further information on sjpccoffs@lism.catholic.edu.au if you are interested in either of these roles and meet the criteria as outlined below.
HSC Exam Supervisors
HSC exams in Term 4, are supervised by HSC Supervisors and a Presiding Officer. Both roles work with Principals and schools to deliver the HSC exams to Year 12 students.
The main role of supervisors is to make sure all students follow NESA’s exam rules. Supervisors report to the HSC Presiding Officer and help them with other duties.
Supervisors receive a roster from their Presiding Officer. The length and number of shifts a supervisor receives depend on the number of exams held.
College Exam Supervisors
College Assessment Blocks in Term 3, such as Year 12 Trial HSC and Year 11 End of Course Preliminary Exams require external supervision.
Supervisors receive a roster from the College. The length and number of shifts a supervisor receives depend on the number of exams held.
Exam Supervisor Criteria
All Supervisors must:
- have a valid Working with Children Check
- work as part of a team
- have attention to detail
- be able to carry out duties in confidence and with discretion
- be able to stand for long periods of time.
Supervisors must not have a friend or close relative who is:
- sitting the HSC, or
- an employee of the school.
Supervisor’s duties may include:
- checking exam rooms are properly equipped and set up
- actively supervising students in exam rooms
- collecting completed exam papers
- packing up after exams.
Claudia Brown
Leader of Curriculum
This event offers Year 8 students and their parents a rare chance to pause, reflect, and connect— with each other and with the things that keep us strong. A relaxed dinner to catch up and connect with other families FREE PIZZA!
- Learn about resilience, the mental wellbeing continuum and how simple faith based activities can contribute to our wellbeing.
- Three hands-on activities that spark real conversation between parents and teens—covering strengths, gratitude, and simple techniques like meditation for calming the mind.
For further information please email: parents@lism.catholic.edu.au
For boys and young men, the internet can be a place where they seek connection, validation and guidance as they explore what it means to be a man today. However, it also exposes them to risks like concerning content, online exploitation and the growing influence of harmful ideologies.
This free webinar will help parents understand:
- Social and cultural influences shaping boys and young men.
- How boys engage online, build relationships and how they may be vulnerable to manipulation or exploitation.
- The impact of social media, gaming, and influencers on their attitudes, behaviours and sense of identity.
- Practical strategies to build critical thinking, challenge harmful narratives, and create open conversations that empower boys and young men to navigate the online world safely and respectfully.
Date: Tuesday 27 May 2025 - 12.30pm - 1.15pm
Register for this webinar here.
