5 May 2023 - Newsletter (Vol 40 No 6)
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Artist in Residence Program 2023
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Assistant Principal - Mission
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Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care
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Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
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CSO Child Safeguarding Commitment Statement
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Emergency Management Planning
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SJPC Calendar Dates
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School Evangelisation
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Leaders of Student Wellbeing
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Spotlight on Student Representative Council (SRC)
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Curriculum Matters
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Year 8 Students - Forensic Science Camp
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Literacy Matters
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PDHPE in Focus
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Year 11 Hospitality
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Languages
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Visual Arts
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Sports Corner
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2023 Annual Year 7 Men and Boys Camp Out
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Office News
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Your Voice Matters - Tell Them From Me Survey
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Free eSafety Parent and Carer Webinars
The Emmaus Project with Dr Dan White
We are thrilled to share with you the success of our recent "Artist in Residence" program featuring Dr Dan White, an expert in Religious Education and an acclaimed leader in Catholic Education across Australia. The event was a resounding success, and it was a privilege to have Dr Dan (as we fondly refer to him) as our guest presenter for the week.
Dr Dan has an extensive knowledge of the world that Jesus knew, which he shared with our students during his residency. He is the author or co-author of eight educational resource books focusing on Religious Education and higher order learning and thinking strategies. He is also the director of Into the Deep Consultancy, where he provides consultancy and professional learning support for school communities and educational systems. Dr Dan has attained two Masters degrees in Leadership and Religious Education and completed his Doctorate in the field of Brain Based Learning and Pedagogical practice in 2005. Most recently he participated in the Oxford University Advanced Management and Leadership program.
During his residency at SJPC, Dr Dan worked with all students (Years 7 - 12) to develop their understanding of 1st Century Palestine and helped them to develop a deeper appreciation for the life and teachings of Jesus. Through his workshops, he made history come alive for us and helped us connect with Jesus' message in a deeper way. His depth of knowledge, expertise, and passion for the subject were inspiring and his presentations were informative and engaging. His workshops encouraged students to ask questions such as “Why was Jesus born in Bethlehem?” and unpack the cultural context of the time to find answers to those questions. He also highlighted some common mis-conceptions arising from when sacred texts were translated from Aramaic to Greek to Latin and then to English and demonstrated how some stories from the bible change significantly when the original words are taken into consideration.
Students from every year group benefited from his presentations, as he made sure to tailor the content and delivery to suit each age group. His dedication to educating young minds was evident, and we were grateful for the impact he has made on our students and school community. We would like to acknowledge the commitment and hard work of our School Choir and Year 10 Ministry students for supporting Dr Dan throughout the week in bringing the scriptures to life through music and drama performances.
The staff and parent workshops were equally enlightening. Dr Dan shared his insights and strategies on how to connect with our students and help them to grow in their faith.
We were fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from him and be inspired by his passion and expertise and are grateful for his dedication to Catholic Education and commitment to helping young minds grow and thrive.
Thank you to everyone who made this event possible, and we look forward to future opportunities to work with Dr Dan White.
Leanne Gennat and Sarah de Byl
Assistant Principal - Mission & Leader of Catechesis
A Blast from the Past!
It is with great pleasure that we share with you a recent event held at St John Paul College, where 11 former staff members were welcomed back to the College for a morning of reminiscing and reconnecting with old colleagues. The morning was filled with tours of our new buildings and a chance for our past staff members to share their fondest memories of their time here at SJPC over morning tea.
As we celebrated the rich history of our College, we were reminded of the strong connections that our past colleagues have with the school and the students who have grown up here. It was inspiring to hear their stories and see the love they have for our College and the students they taught. This event truly reflected the strong bond that our community shares and the passion we have for educating young minds and hearts.
To continue celebrating the 40 year anniversary of St John Paul College, the College has planned a range of activities throughout the year to bring our past students, families and colleagues together. We are excited to reconnect with them and celebrate our College’s history.
We encourage all members of our community to get involved in the upcoming events as we continue to commemorate the past and look towards the future. Together, we can strengthen our connections and continue to provide the best education for our students.






















Yarning Circle Update
We are pleased to announce that work on our yarning circle will finally begin next week after a long wait. The yarning circle will be an important space for our students to connect with each other and learn about Indigenous culture.
In addition to the yarning circle, we are also planning to plant a garden around the area, which at this stage will take place during the school hours in Week 4. The garden will feature native plants (including bush tucker) that are indigenous to the area, and will provide an opportunity for our students to learn about local flora and fauna.
Some of our students will be involved in planting the garden - this hands-on learning experience will allow them to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for the natural environment, while also contributing to the creation of a beautiful and unique space. We would like to invite any interested parents or members of the community to take part in this exciting project. If you are interested in volunteering your time for planting, please contact the College for more details.
We look forward to seeing the yarning circle and garden come to life.
Assistant Principal - Mission/RAP Working Party Member
In the past week I have had the very rewarding experience of witnessing our school leaders in action. Not only have they fulfilled their leadership responsibilities but have done so with outstanding maturity and as a College we are extremely proud of them. On ANZAC day Lily, Lily, Julian, Taj and Yasmin represented SJPC at the Dawn Service in Coffs Harbour and Sawtell and later marched alongside many other College students in Coffs Harbour, Sawtell and Woolgoolga. On Wednesday we experienced a very moving ANZAC assembly where our leaders again had an opportunity to display their leadership skills. We were also fortunate to have Mr. Mitch Walton, an ex- serviceman and past student of the College, share his experiences of his time serving as a clearance diver in the Royal Australian Navy. This assembly also gave Ore Olutayo and Mr Baldwin the opportunity to share their talents with the school community when they performed the National Anthem.
SJPC ANZAC March - Coffs Harbour, Sawtell & Woolgoolga


















SJPC ANZAC Assembly


























On Friday, I was joined by our College Captains Lily and Julian at St Francis Xavier Primary in Woolgoolga for a ‘Coffee and Meet’ morning. This is a regular event at the school where parents have an opportunity, just after drop off, to meet and have coffee with other parents. On this particular occasion we were asked if our College Captains could address the parents and speak about their experiences at SJPC. In a very competent manner they were also able to answer any questions the parents asked. Again I was very proud to witness the maturity and confidence in which Lily and Julian conducted themselves.
It’s moments like these that reinforce the benefits that are gained from young people putting themselves forward for leadership roles at the College. These roles not only include College Captain and Vice Captains but also House Captains and Vice Captains, SRC members and Yr 10 Peer Mentors.
Through student leadership at the College your child can practise modern leadership skills. Alongside their education, student leadership at school provides important skills and benefits for your child’s future. Most student leadership opportunities at school entail representing the College, planning events, fundraisers and much more. Such opportunities give your child a larger sense of responsibility early on in life. Student leaders work in teams and collaborate with others. Your child will have leadership responsibilities to fulfil within the team. As a student leader, your child will experience problems, conflicts and decisions to make. Thinking creatively to resolve issues in a group setting is beneficial for future situations your child may face. Students are also able to contribute directly to decisions in areas they are passionate about. Student leaders can apply strategic thinking in a more practical, real-life sense and empowers your child in many ways.
I would encourage all parents to have a conversation about the importance of student leadership and student voice with their daughters and sons. As the year progresses there will be opportunities for these student leadership roles to be filled for 2024. There is much to be gained from a young person’s involvement in Student College Leadership.
Until next time:
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care
Resolving Conflict around Homework:
This week’s item picks up on a common theme of homework and how parents can support good habits in regards to regular and consistent homework routines. Some of the most common schoolwork arguments at home lead to statement like this:
“Stop playing computer games and do your homework.”
“Why haven’t you started your homework yet?”
“What do you mean you have no schoolwork to do?”
If these are common refrains in your household there are some simple steps that can be taken to deal with this.
Step 1: Family meeting. Both students and parents get a chance to explain what is bugging them.
Step 2: Agree on how much time will be allocated to schoolwork per day or per week. Minimum would be around 1 hour per day.
Step 3: Agree that during this time homework will be the first priority, then assessments and any remaining time should be spent on independent learning (e.g. reviewing difficult work, making summaries).
Step 4: Allocate set times for schoolwork and write these out and put them on the fridge/bedroom door e.g. Monday 4-5pm, 6-6.30pm.
Step 5: Agree that in these blocks of time, there will be no personal technology use (preferably phones switched off and put out of sight).
Step 6: Decide on rewards and consequences if the agreement is not honoured.
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
Our school as part of the Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools Limited (DLCSL), like all child-safe organisations, is implementing the Child Safe Standards. As a part of this work, we share our Child Safeguarding Commitment Statement which reinforces our dedication to the safety and wellbeing of all children.
Please take the time to read the commitment statement and if you have any questions please discuss with the school leadership team. We will continue to engage with you on this important matter.
Week 3 A - Monday 8 - Friday 12 May |
Tues 9 | Year 11 | PVDI Excursion (P1&2) |
Wed 10 | Year 10 | 10E & 10H Primary School visit (P3&4) |
Thurs 11 | Sport | Yr9/10 Girls Rugby vs BDC |
Fri 12 | Parents | Mothers Day Breakfast - 7.00am-8.30am |
Year 10 & 11 | Ethics Olympiad | |
Sport | Bill Turner Girls Soccer (P1-3) | |
Year 7 & 8 | Antil-Bullying Program (P5 & 6) |
Week 2 B - Monday 15 May - Friday 19 May |
Mon 15 | Year 11 |
Year 11 Report Issued |
Tues 16 - Wed 17 | Sport |
CCC Hockey - Bathurst |
Tues 16 | Year 12 | Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews - 3.40pm-6pm |
Wed 17 - Fri 19 | Year 9 | Camp - Great Aussie Bush Camp, Tea Gardens |
Wed 17 | Year 7 2024 |
Year 7 2024 Enrolments Close |
Wed 17 - Fri 19 | Year 11 | Sydney University Excursion |
Fri 19 | Sport | Dio Secondary Cross Country - Grafton |
Year 8 | Geography Excursions | |
Year 8 | History Medieval Excursion | |
Year 7 | Men & Boy's Campout |
Term Dates 2023
Term 2 |
Mon 12 June | Queens B'day PH |
Fri 30 June | Last day of Term 2 |
Term 3 |
Tues 18 July | First day of Term 3 |
Fri 25 Aug | Staff Development / Pupil Free Day |
Fri 22 Sept | Last day of Term 3 |
Term 4 |
Tues 10 Oct | First day of Term 4 |
Fri 10 Nov | Staff Development / Pupil Free Day |
Friday 15 Dec | Picnic day Boambee Bay Reserve *Last day of Term 4 |
The fruit of silence is tranquility (Proverb)
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” 3 John 1:4 (SJPC Parent Gospel)
It’s hard to believe that we are now in the month of May! I hope that the Easter break was filled with family, food and rest!
Last Sunday was “Good Shepherd Sunday”, celebrated on the fourth Sunday of Easter. Jesus is revered as the One who knows ALL of his sheep (“I call you by name”), protecting and leading His flock (Luke 15:1-7).
To be a good leader, we need to imitate Jesus, we need to develop the same qualities that Jesus lived: to protect, to lead, to listen. As parents and educators we are constantly called to live the gospels, to follow Jesus and to emulate His goodness. A work in progress.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
SHINE
For students in the Year 10 CSYMA classes - 10E and 10H AND Senior Ministry students in Years 11 and 12:
SHINE offers students an opportunity to encounter Jesus Christ and the Church, to experience dynamic faith, to be equipped for ministry and living the Christian life, and to be empowered to impact the Church and the world. It is an opportunity to gather and share an experience of faith.
SHINE unites Youth Ministry (CSYMA) students in Catholic secondary schools of the Diocese of Lismore. The Youth Ministry program is offered to Year 10 students, allowing those with a willingness to nurture their faith an opportunity for Christian fellowship and spiritual formation.
With a continued focus on peer-to-peer ministry, the two-day SHINE event combines elements of praise and worship, inspiring keynote speakers, student testimonies, small group discussions, interactive workshops, prayer, Eucharistic Adoration and Mass. Senior Ministry Team (Years 11/ 12) members are invited to apply for roles as small group leaders, testimony givers and workshop facilitators.
An integral part of the Proclaim Lismore Student Discipleship Continuum, SHINE will again be held at St John Paul College in Coffs Harbour on Thursday 24 – Friday 25 August, 2023 with over 600 participants expected. Please join us in praying for its ongoing success.
Please see Mrs Sawtell for further details.
Event |
SHINE |
Date |
Thursday 24 – Friday 25 August, 2023 |
Location |
St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour |
Who |
Year 10 CSYMA classes AND Senior Ministry students in Years 11 and 12 |
Cost/ payment date by |
$50 due by 17 May 2023 |
STREET RETREAT
Proclaim Lismore Students aims to provide a comprehensive continuum of Intentional Student Discipleship Programs across the Diocese for students from Year 4 to Year 12. These gatherings aim to bring Catholic secondary students together to meet like-minded peers and to celebrate and meet with other young people who practice their faith.
In 2023, 6 (3 male and 3 female) Year 11 students from our school will join students from each of the other parish secondary schools in attending the Street Retreat experience in Brisbane. This experience will form, equip and empower students to return to their parish communities with a passion for social justice and greater sense of the call of Jesus Christ to serve the poor.
Participants in the Street Retreat will spend from Thursday night 22 June to Sunday lunch 25 June working with a range of social justice initiatives in Brisbane. Their participation may make a small contribution to those being served – but the event is first and foremost an exercise in discipleship formation.
Participants will find the activities on the street retreat challenging and possibly confronting. Many activities run either very late at night or very early in the morning. The retreat will culminate in a celebration of Sunday Eucharist. In addition, all participants must commit to a follow up Social Justice activity to be held in their own parish/school community following the Brisbane formation experience. Details of these activities will be made available to students upon their selection.
In discerning which students might participate in this retreat experience, the Diocese has recommended the following selection criteria:
- Catholic students who can demonstrate involvement in their parish.
- Catholic students who have attended previous student discipleship programs.
- Students who exhibit the following attributes:
* a strong sense of social justice
* initiative
* common sense and a mature character
A large number of SJPC students have already expressed an interest in this event. We can, however, only offer 6 places (3 x females and 3 x males). Any Year 11 student who would like to be considered is asked to write a brief statement supporting their nomination on the information sheets provided by Mrs Sawtell, and available at the front office. Attention should be given to the stated selection criteria. Nominations should be handed to Mrs Sawtell no later than 9:00 am Monday, 15 May. Successful applicants will be notified by the end of the day on Monday and will need to complete the online permission and $50 payment through Compass by Friday, 19 May.
(Successful applicants will be asked to make a contribution of $50.00 towards the cost of this experience payable to the school office, as well as provide $5.00 to be donated to a worthy cause and collected on Thursday evening at Street Retreat).
IGNITE CONFERENCE BRISBANE - 21- 24 SEPTEMBER 2023
Click here for information regarding this amazing event, open to Years 10- 11. Registration is online, with parental permission to be completed online, closer to the event. See Mrs Sawtell for further details.
Please follow our SJPC Youth Ministry Instagram account for announcements and student opportunities:
COFFS HARBOUR PARISH |
St Augustine's Church |
Saturday: 5:30pm |
Woolgoolga St Francis Xavier's Church | Sunday 9:00am |
Coramba St Therese's Church | Sunday 10:30am |
St John Paul College Chapel | Tuesday 9.15am (school term only) |
Coffs Harbour Reconciliation | Saturday - after 9am Mass |
Woolgoolga Reconciliation | Sunday, before Mass |
SAWTELL PARISH |
Mary Help of Christians Church | Saturday 6:00 pm Sunday 7:30am & 9:00am Tuesday 9:30 am Wednesday 9:30 am (OLOW Chapel) Thursday 5:00 pm Friday 9:30am |
Reconciliation | Saturday 11:30am-12:30pm or on request |
Year 8
Year Gr8 Student Spotlight!
In this week’s Year 8 student spotlight we have some photos of Lily Mackay who is currently overseas representing the Australian Futsal 14’s Girls side in competitions in the UK.
From the photos on the Australian Futsal Facebook page, it looks like all the boys and girls on the trip are having a great time and we look forward to hearing more about Lily’s adventures when she returns to school soon.
If families have any photos or stories to share, please forward them to mark.coster@lism.catholic.edu.au and they could become our next Year 8 student in the spotlight.
Hamish Moore - SRC - Year 10 Student
I chose to become a leader as I wanted to bring the voice of my cohort to the attention of the school so that the opinions of the SJPC students can be heard.
What makes a quality leader?
A quality leader is a great listener and a master compromiser.
How do you plan on leading your year?
I plan on leading my year by putting their ideas into action.
Favourite quote
“Life Moves Pretty Fast. If You Don't Stop And Look Around Once In A While, You Could Miss It.” - Ferris Bueller
Favourite food
One of my favourite foods is the chicken schnitty from the Toormina Pub.
We’re excited to announce that on Wednesday 10 May, Elevate Education will be hosting its first free parent webinar for Term 2.
By tuning into the webinar series, you will learn how you can help better support your children at home through reinforcing the skills they learn at school:
Wednesday 10 May 2023
How to Help Get (& Keep) Your Child Motivated
Click here to register for free
Here’s what Elevate will be covering on the night:
- What impact does praise and reassurance have on your child’s motivation?
- What are the best types of goals to be setting with your child?
- How can you help your child create meaningful and lasting motivation?
Year 12
- Accessing and using resources provided by the College; - Edrolo, College homework centre, study sessions with staff, online study events etc.
- Having a structured study timetable.
- Submitting work to teachers for feedback.
- Creating a study group with like minded students as support.
- Speaking with the school counsellors
There are so many support structures and opportunities for students to take advantage of which will help them fulfil their Dreams and Goals…they now have to ACT!
Year 11
Year 11 students are now starting to realise that the workload and standard of work expected from them are increasing. To assist them we will run a workshop during their Admin period in Week 5 on ‘How to use Edrolo to maximise their level of achievement’. This is one of many online resources we provide to our senior students. Students should now be increasing the time they are spending on study each day.
Term 2 study timetables and Term planners are available on Google Classroom OR they can collect a printed copy from the Curriculum Office.
After the Year 11 Parent, Student, Teacher conferences last term, it is timely that students re-evaluate their goals and adjust their approach to school work as a result.
The Elevate and Study Skills Handbook platforms, accessed via the Student links page on the College website, have plenty of ideas to support parents and students in setting up effective habits and practices.
Year 10
This is a big term for Year 10 students. They will be asked to think about what they want to do with their life, where and what they want to study in 2024 and where they see themselves in 2, 3 and 4 years’ time. Many are already finding the high expectations of Year 10, and meeting NESA requirements a challenge.
To assist your child with the challenges of Year 10 please ensure they;
- Attend class
- Have a daily study plan – with breaks and rewards factored in
- Have a designated place to study
- Hand write notes from readings, videos etc
- Come to school prepared
There is an advantage to setting up good habits in Year 10. If you receive a low achievement grade in a task it is not telling you that you have failed, it is warning you, it is wanting you to act and figure out where the gaps in your knowledge/skills are so that you can improve.
FEEDBACK is only powerful if you act on it
Years 7 – 9
As you know, the focus for students in Years 7 – 9 at SJPC is on developing healthy learning habits and skills, as well as understanding the content of their courses.
Each day, in every lesson, students have opportunities to develop as learners, improving their understanding of the world. Parent, Student, Teacher conferences are a vital part of this learning process, with conversations helping to guide students to re-evaluate their learning goals, identify areas for improvement, and put into action strategies to help them improve.
It is the responsibility of all learners to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them.
Learning Strengths
We all have learning strengths that we can utilise in order to improve our learning across all areas. If an individual can understand their own pattern of learning strengths, then they can use this knowledge to increase academic self-belief and more powerfully engage in their learning, improving performance, and gaining new skills.
If you are interested in reading more about learning strengths, I encourage you to access the following website and complete the free online questionnaire.
https://mylearningstrengths.com/
The personalised report generated will assist students to begin to understand what and how to connect with their top 2 learning strengths and to use that knowledge to increase their level of self-belief so that they can do well academically, as well as developing other strengths and plan future learning priorities.
Claudia Brown
Leader of Curriculum
2023 Talented Students’ Forensic Science Camp
Applications will close in early June which is just more than a month away, so students need to apply as soon as possible.
The camp, which will be held at The Armidale School from Tuesday 4 July - Saturday 8 July 2023, is one of the state’s pre-eminent extension programs for Year 8 students. It offers challenging and hands-on experiences of scientific problem-solving and a chance to work with talented students from all over Australia.
Run by The Armidale School as a boarding experience, the annual Forensic Science Camp was first held in 1994 and attracted widespread interest after it was featured on the ABC TV science program, Quantum. During most years, over 100 boys and girls, a mix of city and country students from both government and non-government schools were selected from a large number of applicants from NSW, the ACT, Queensland and Victoria to participate in the camp. The camp fills a niche for students looking to be academically challenged and appeals to all enthusiastic and highly capable students.
See contact details in the flyer below.
Claudia Brown
Leader of Curriculum
All things Literacy, because Literacy matters in all things
Vocabulary Matters
Few activities in life are as delightful or as valuable as learning new vocabulary.
VOCABULARY - is essential for communicating ideas.
- improves reading comprehension. Research has shown that children need to understand 98% of the words they read to understand what they are reading.
- is important for language development.
- allows us to express ourselves in writing
- heightens the opportunity for occupational success
- is the key to understanding abstract ideas and deeper content.
- Let’s develop a reading habit with our children, for vocabulary building is easiest when we encounter words in context.
- Using the dictionary and thesaurus exposes us to new words and synonyms.
- Playing word games lets us share the fun of vocabulary.
- Subscribe to “word of the day” feeds and online word games
- Practice using new words in conversation.
You can’t build up a vocabulary if you never meet any new words.
And to meet them you must read.
The more you read the better!
WORD OF THE WEEK
Sternutation (formal noun)
DEFINITION: The act of sneezing.
IN A SENTENCE: Julie knew that she had put on too much perfume when she entered the car and immediately heard a chorus of sternutation from the passengers.
Cynosure (noun)
DEFINITION: The focus of admiration; the centre of attention
IN A SENTENCE: If she was the cynosure of all eyes, she did not notice.
Let faith be your cynosure to walk by.
FUN FACT:
Ancient mariners noted that all the stars in the heavens seem to revolve around a particular star, and they relied on it to guide their navigation. The constellation that this bright star appears in is known to English speakers today as Ursa Minor, or the Little Dipper, but the Ancient Greeks called it Kynosoura, a term that comes from a phrase meaning "dog's tail." Kynosoura passed into Latin and Middle French, becoming cynosure. When English speakers adopted the term in the mid-16th century, they used it as a name for the constellation and the star (which is also known as the North Star) and also to identify a guide of any kind. By the early 17th century, cynosure was also being used figuratively for anything or anyone that, like the North Star, was the focus of attention or observation.
Year 11 PDHPE classes have started a unit of work focusing on the human body’s structure and function. Students participated in a labeling activity as a novel way to remember particular bones of the skeletal system. A big thankyou to Mr Coster for providing these photos.








Kurt Marle
Leader of Learning - PDHPE
One of the Year 11 Hospitality Food & Beverage class were set the challenge of creating a restaurant quality dessert presentation dish. The students were provided with the key elements, including mini muffins, meringues, biscuits, chocolate, and edible flowers, from which they each plated three desserts. They used methods such as melting and moulding chocolate, using drip sauces, and deconstruction of key elements, to arrange their desserts in a manner that was of industry standard.
Each student then chose one of their dishes to be presented for judging. Two of our wonderful office ladies, Nataleigh and Rachel, kindly came and undertook judging duties for us. They selected their top three dishes and were then introduced to the winners.
1st Place - Rylee Wilson, 2nd Place - Chloe Hessenberger, 3rd Place - Sirit Pannu




All students did amazing work and are to be commended for their attention to detail, design ideas and execution, as well as the mature manner in which they completed the task. I am looking forward to many more beautifully presented dishes throughout the remainder of the course!














As the time nears to say “sayounara” to our Japanese exchange students, the 5 girls have been busy giving speeches, doing presentations and also having some fun at the Big Banana with their classmates.
At the end of last Term, Anna, Arisa, Ayano, Jun and Sakiha spoke to the whole school in English about their experiences and what they had learned from their time here. They gave us all some insight into the differences between Reitaku Mizunami High School and St John Paul College including how classrooms here are more interactive with students willing to participate and voice their thoughts and opinions more readily. The girls also spoke about how they felt so welcome here and had made many friends from all different year levels.
The girls then gave a 20-minute presentation, also in English, to their fellow Year 11 students where they introduced Japan - its history, culture, language and all the wonderful unique things the country has to offer. It was a fascinating presentation and all of the students had a great time learning more about Japan.
On one of the last days of Term 1, the girls along with their Year 11 Japanese classmates were able to enjoy some of the offerings at the Big Banana. Over the day, the students showed off their ice skating and laser tag skills as well as riding the toboggan. A lot of fun and many wonderful memories were made by all.














Our Year 7 students consolidated their learning last term by undertaking a Neurographic drawing. This task enabled them to show their understanding of line, colour, and tone in one artwork. Neurographic drawing is a creative process that links the conscience with the subconscious & in doing so, activates connections between brain cells and neurons. As a result, new neural pathways are formed, promoting mindfulness, by decreasing stress.































Vicki Foggiato
Leader of Learning - Visual Arts
Diocesan Open Football
Our senior boys and girls teams travelled to Kempsey to compete in the Diocesan Open Football Championships. Both teams suffered some narrow heartbreaking losses and only just missed out on championship status. Thank you to Mr Rod Abbott and Mr Josh Moore for coaching the boys team and to Ms Victorina Istrate and Mr Louis Van Dartel for coaching our girls side.
NSWCCC Trials
- Marlon Frost and Sam Cox (Year 10) recently attended the NSWCC Rugby Union trials. After the 2 day camp style selection, both boys had learned new skills and strategies and made many new friends. Marlon was successfully selected in the 16s representative team. We wish him well at the NSW All Schools tournament.
- Poppi Flanders travelled to Wagga Wagga to trial for the NSWCCC female AFL side. Whist she was not successful this year, it was a wonderful experience for next year when she will be at the top of the age bracket. Well done Poppi.
Congratulations
- Recently, Noah Fluechter as Captain of the North Coast Academy of Sport Basketball team, competed in the NSW Regional Academy Games in Wagga Wagga. He had an outstanding tournament and was named in the the All Star 10 team for the State. Congratulations Noah!
Coming Up - Term 2 2023
Friday 5 May |
Open Football Dio North v South, Leisure Park |
Thursday 11 May |
Girls 16 Rugby teams v BDC, period 5 & 6, BDC |
Friday 12 May |
Bill Turner Cup (boys), Bellingen |
|
Bill Turner Trophy (girls), Leisure Park |
Friday 19 May |
Diocesan Cross Country, Grafton |
Tuesday 23 May |
NSW Netball Cup, Coffs Harbour |
Wednesday 24 May |
15’s Boys and Girls AFL Gala day, Port Macquarie |
Thursday 25 May |
KFC Girls Tackle Cup, GKMO |
North Coast Schools Futsal Championships (13s and 14s), Coffs |
|
Friday 26 May |
North Coast Schools Futsal Championships (15s - 18s), Coffs |
Monday 29 - 30 May |
CCC Open Girls Basketball, Port Macquarie |
Wednesday 31 May |
13’s, 15’s and Opens NRL Country Cup, Coffs |
Thursday 1 June |
14’s Cochrane Cup (League), Coffs |
Tuesday 6 June |
Diocesan Junior Football, Coffs Harbour |
The best present we can give our children is our presence!
What: Annual SJPC Year 7 Men and Boys Camp Out.
Who: Year 7 boys and their fathers (guardian or significant male in your Year 7 boy’s life)
Where: SJPC
- Tents set up on the grass netball courts next to hard courts (Bring your own tent and sleeping mats/bags etc)
*Classroom space is available for those not inclined to camp out…but roughing it is half the fun!
When: From 4pm Friday 2 June - 9:30 am Saturday Morning 3 June 2023
Why: Recognising the importance of young men to be shaped, affirmed and spend time with positive male role models. It is also a chance for the boys in Year 7 to camp out, have some fun and spend some quality time with their dad (or significant male in their lives) and their peers.
What to expect: Good company, dodgeball, Men and Boys team challenges, BBQ dinner, Bacon and Eggs Breakfast, Bonfire, marshmallows, good banter and more.
What to Bring:
- A tent for you and your boy to share, sleeping bag and camp mattress/stretcher depending of level of comfort required
*some snacks and all meals will be provided but feel free to bring anything else you may want to drink/snack on.
- A water bottle
We try to avoid:
- mobile phones or other electronic devices.
- No alcohol please.
Cost: $25 TBC (covers cost of both student and their parent/guardian)
- Permission notes are available from the Front Office note rack or via Compass link to be confirmed
Dietary requirements?: Please let us know through the permission note any allergies or dietary requirements that you or your boy may have so that we can do our best to accommodate.
Further reading and motivation:
THE IMPORTANCE OF A PRESENT DAD: ‘CHILDREN PERFORM BETTER IN EVERY SOCIAL INDICATOR IF THEY HAVE AN INVOLVED, NURTURING AND LOVING FATHER. IN FACT THESE CHILDREN WILL EXPERIENCE GREATER HAPPINESS, HEALTH AND SUCCESS.’
Robert Falzon- co-author of The Father Factor and the co-founder of the men's formation organisation, menALIVE.
Tim Davis
Teacher
Year 7 Adolescent Vaccination Program - Rescheduled to Tuesday 6 June 2023
You can now provide online consent for your child's routine school vaccinations.
In Year 7, students are offered vaccines for Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis (dTpa) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Vaccination will only be provided at School if consent has been received.
How to provide consent:
1. To complete online consent for your child’s school vaccinations, visit: NSW Health Service - Consent Online School Vaccinations
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/
Finance
For fee related enquiries and payment plan assistance, please contact the Catholic Schools Office by email: cofhs-fees@lism.catholi
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
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.
Lost Property
Uniform Shop
Hours: Tuesday & Thursday 7:30am - 9:00am
Homework Centre
Hours: Monday - Thursday 3:20pm - 5:00pm