Newsletter - Term 2 - Week 10 - Issue 106

From the Principal

Dear Parents, Carers and Students

The first half of the year has been filled with countless learning opportunities, growth, and achievements for so many of our young people and I would like to take this moment to express our sincere gratitude to all those who have contributed to the vibrant learning culture at our College. These activities have not only provided avenues for creativity and self-expression, but have also fostered teamwork, discipline, and a sense of camaraderie among our students. We applaud the dedication and commitment of all the students who participated and the hard work of our teachers, staff and volunteers who guided and supported them along the way.

While the holidays are a time for relaxation and rejuvenation, I would also like to remind parents that College reports for Years 7 – 10 will be issued at the end of this week. These reports serve as a valuable tool to assess the progress and development of your children.

In order to maximise the benefits of these reports and help facilitate growth in Semester 2, I encourage you to engage in meaningful conversations with your children about the contents.

Here are a few ideas to help you initiate these discussions:

Celebrate Achievements: Start by acknowledging the areas where your young person has excelled. Recognise their efforts and achievements, regardless of the grades they have received. Praise their determination, perseverance, and the skills they have acquired and recognise the positive learning behaviours rated by their class teachers.

Identify Areas for Improvement: Together with your young person, identify the subjects or skills where they may need additional support or guidance. Approach these areas with a positive mindset, emphasising growth opportunities rather than dwelling on shortcomings.

Set Goals: Work together to establish realistic and achievable goals for the next semester. Encourage your young person to think about their aspirations and discuss the steps they can take to reach them. Help them create a plan that includes specific actions and milestones.

Seek Assistance: If there are concerns or questions arising from the report, don't hesitate to reach out to the relevant teachers or Curriculum Leaders. They are here to support you and your young person and can provide valuable insights and guidance.

If you are doing this, remember that staff are also on holidays over the break, and in all likelihood will not get back to you until we return for Semester 2.

Finally, remember the goal of discussing the College reports is to create a supportive and nurturing environment that encourages growth and development. The best way to do this is through positive conversations which engage your young person and help them identify their areas for growth and improvement. By focusing on the positive aspects and providing constructive feedback, you can inspire your child to strive for personal excellence in Semester 2.

NAIDOC Week Celebrations

NAIDOC week celebrates the history, culture, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It is celebrated by all Australians and is a great opportunity to recognise and learn more about the history and culture of indigenous communities.

NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. Its origins can be traced back to the Aboriginal rights movement, when on Australia Day 1938, protestors marched through the streets of Sydney to highlight the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Today, it is a week-long celebration held in July that consists of range of traditional and contemporary activities.

NAIDOC Week is an important event that helps build positive relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. It enables a deeper understanding of our differences and similarities. NAIDOC week is an opportunity for all Australians to eliminate bias and discrimination by reflecting and reconciling the wrongs of the past to facilitate hope and build a fairer future. Families are encouraged to join in and support young people in learning the significance of NAIDOC Week.

This Special Report offers suggestions on how families can celebrate NAIDOC Week together. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please seek medical or professional help.

Here is the link to your special report https://sjc.qld.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-celebrating-naidoc-week

School Officer and Service Staff Day

St Joseph's College Toowoomba recognises and thanks our wonderful School Officers and Services Staff. Their constancy, professionalism and generosity enable the best possible functioning of the College and outcomes for the young people. Last Wednesday was School Officer Day and, on this day, we thanked our team for their work and the generosity and care they exhibit very day of the year.  

Staffing Term 3

At the end of Semester One we say farewell to Mr Shane Hair, Mrs Jenny Stead, Mrs Annette Yates. Mr Hair and Mrs Stead are retiring from fulltime teaching and Mrs Yates has decided to take an opportunity at another school. We thank Mr Hair and Mrs Yates for their efforts during their time at St Joseph's College. A special thank you to Mrs Stead who during her extensive time at St Joseph's College has undertaken a wide range of teaching and pastoral positions as well as involving herself in several extra-curricular activities with great enthusiasm, energy and wisdom. We wish Mrs Stead all the best for her future endeavours.

We also say farewell and best wishes to Mrs Angela Harris and Mrs Candice Brazier who are both going on paternity leave. We look forward to meeting the new additions to their families.

At the start of Term 3 we welcome Ms Chelsea Moon into the teaching profession. Ms Moon has been working as a School Officer at St Joseph's College and having now completed her teaching degree will be teaching Mathematics and Science. We also thank Mr Peter Keightley for his dedication and generosity in stepping into the Mathematics Curriculum Leader role whilst Mrs Brazier is on paternity leave.

Best of Luck QISSN and QISSRL Participants

Best of luck to our Open Netball and Rugby League teams who head off to participate in the annual QISSRL and QISSN carnivals in Brisbane. We will again have three teams participating, Open Netball, Open Girls Rugby League, and Open Boys Rugby League. We look forward to hearing of the successes and challenges that come with participating in a weeklong carnival. Please ensure you are always striving to demonstrate our Joey’s Way values of Respect, Compassion, Dignity and Endeavour and their associated imperatives.

Thank you to our very generous staff who have worked with the teams to prepare for this carnival and will accompany them to Brisbane. Thank you also to our generous sponsors for their support of the teams.

Best wishes to our community for the break. Please be safe and take appropriate breaks when travelling. We look forward to students returning on Tuesday 11 July refreshed and ready to participate fully and give their best in semester two.

Best wishes

Kort Goodman - Principal - KGoodman@sjc.qld.edu.au

From the Deputy Principal

Parent Portal

You would have recieved an EdSmart notification that Parent-Teacher-Student Interviews are open for booking. This booking process occurs via our Parent Portal. To access the Parent Portal, please use the access key and instructions that were sent previously. If you require any assistance with this initial login process please email the College via office@sjc.qld.edu.au. 

Social Media Influencers

Social media influencers have become powerful individuals who often shape the opinions and beliefs of others due to strong connections with their audiences. In today's fast-paced digital world, attention has become a valuable commodity.

However, the impact of social media influencers on youth mental health is a growing concern, most recently, the controversial actions and statements of Andrew Tate. His rise to fame has made him a polarising figure, amassing a significant following of mostly young males. Educators and families have raised urgent concerns about the damaging nature of Tate’s content, worried that his messages may radicalise students and create a generation of young men with regressive and harmful beliefs.

Young people often compare themselves to the idealised lives presented by influencers, leading to feelings of inadequacy, low self-worth and dissatisfaction. Social media algorithms may also expose them to inappropriate or harmful content such as explicit material, promotion of harmful behaviours, or distorted perceptions of body image or mental health.

It is important to guide a young person’s social media use and promote open communication. Be curious to comprehend why they might be drawn to radical influencers, like Andrew Tate, and actively seek understanding as part of the solution. While not all influencers have a negative impact, parents play a vital role in ensuring a balanced approach to social media. By actively modelling kindness, respect and positive values, parents can help tackle the sway of radical influencers and be part of the solution to countering unhealthy masculinity.

This Special Report provides guidance on how to respond to misinformation and disinformation, instead encouraging critical thinking and emphasising the value of real-life connections. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please consider seeking medical or professional help.

Returning to school following COVID

Queensland Health strongly recommends that you should stay home to isolate while you have any symptoms of an acute respiratory infection. You should not return to school until:

• your acute respiratory symptoms have substantially reduced and
• you have gone for at least 24 hours without a fever without using fever-reducing medications such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.

To reduce the risk of transmission, before returning to St Jospeh’s College, we request that you notify the college of a positive COVID result. 

As per the recommendations from Queensland Health, if you return to school within 7 days after receiving a positive COVID-19 test result, you should:

• wear a face mask covering your nose and mouth whenever you are in an indoor setting outside the home 
• avoid contact with people who are a higher risk of severe disease
• wash your hands regularly
• practice good respiratory hygiene (such as covering your cough)
• advise others you have been are in contact with to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms and get tested if they become symptomatic.

Upcoming Events

Brendon Willocks - Deputy Principal  -  BWillocks@sjc.qld.edu.au

From the Assistant Principal - Curriculum

Please find below a copy of a letter from Mr Paul Herbert from the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office about the upcoming Year 12 External Examination Preparation Program for 2023.

St Joseph’s College recommends students who are currently studying (English, Modern History, Legal Studies, Study of Religion, General Maths, Maths Methods, Specialist Maths, Chemistry, Physics, or Biology) to enrol in this wonderful opportunity.

All Year 12 students and parents received this letter last week via email. Students were provided with the link for registration purposes. 

If you have any questions, please contact the Assistant Principal  Mrs Kerrie-Anne Fellenberg.

Dear Parent/Caregiver,

In sharing your young person’s academic journey, you will no doubt be aware of the assignments, research projects and other forms of assessment they have been undertaking. For students studying General Syllabus subjects the final piece of assessment is an external examination. The external assessment (exam) is the final contributor to our young people’s subject results. In some General Syllabus subjects a student’s external assessment result contributes 50% to their final subject result. In all other subjects, it contributes 25%. (For further information visit the QCAA website)

During October some 30, 000 senior students around the state sit these final assessment pieces. Each exam is held at the same time and on the same day and so external examinations can be daunting, especially for those students sitting an examination that contributes 50% of the marks to their result. They can also be very rewarding.

Toowoomba Catholic Schools, through a strong collaborative process, have a proud record in supporting their students achieve their best possible results in these external examinations. To further consolidate this excellent preparation Toowoomba Catholic Schools and their principals have developed an External Examination Preparation Program (EEPP).

EEPP brings students from across nine Catholic schools to a central location with the aim of refining their knowledge and understanding of content, providing an opportunity to work collaboratively with their peers, and offering suggestions with regards managing exam conditions.  At EEPP students will have the opportunity to be guided in their preparation by an expert mentor. Each mentor possesses  expertise in their subject area and, most importantly, experience with the external examination process They are well equipped to pass on the nuanced skills that can make all the difference in a student’s results.

As you can see EEPP is all about students and maximising their performance. Last year’s participants spoke very highly of the program and its benefits, particularly in focussing their attention to a customised revision program for the last few weeks of school.

Student A:

A lot of the students that attended were polite and easy to get along with, so it was encouraging to come the next day and know I knew people there. The teachers gave me a completely different perspective on the text and offered great resources to improve not only my weaknesses but also help build my strengths. I finished the program far more confident about my exams.

Student B:

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in this class! As someone from a smaller class it was interesting to be in a larger-scale classroom, with a different teacher. It gave a new perspective to what we were learning.

Student C:

The teachers were great and they addressed all of our concerns, giving great feedback along the way.

This year EEPP is being conducted over the second week of September school holidays, from Sunday September 22 through to Friday September 29, and will be held at the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office in Toowoomba (opposite St Saviours College)

This letter is an invitation for your young person to attend EEPP 2023. There is no compulsion whatsoever to attend. This is simply an opportunity that is made available to students at the Diocese of Toowoomba’s Catholic Secondary Schools. To register your young person for EEPP 2023 please complete the form found by clicking HERE.

Students are welcome to attend any session that they believe will provide value to them. Just be aware that the sessions are intensive; students will work individually and cooperatively with others, and they will be expected to engage with exam style questions. They will work hard.

There will be a small charge to help offset the costs of the program. This is based on a sliding scale. If your young person attends one session the charge will be $50, if they attend four, $120 and so on.

Students will be expected to source their own accommodation in Toowoomba while undertaking the program.

What should I do now?

• Talk to your young person about the program.
• Talk to your young person’s teachers, or better still, the Assistant Principal: Curriculum or Deputy Principal at the school.
• Assist your young person in registering to attend by completing the EEPP registration form
• Payment will be payable to the school.
• Make your accommodation arrangements.
• Further communications will be sent to the email address on the registration form.

The program outline is as follows.

Subjects offered:

English, Modern History, Legal Studies, Study of Religion, General Maths, Maths Methods, Specialist Maths, Chemistry, Physics, Biology.

Timetable

It is best to get in early, so please make sure you discuss the program together, and then complete the registration form. Your school can assist you in this process. Once registered, students will receive a steady supply of preparation materials and other general information that will help ensure their successful engagement with the program.

Yours in teaching and learning

Paul Herbert

Parent Teacher Student Interviews – Term 3

Reminder that information was emailed last week about booking for interviews on Wednesday 12 July.  Parents are able to book interviews with teachers via the Sentral Parent Portal.  Instructions were sent to families via email.

Year 7 – 10 Report Cards

Report cards for the Years 7 to 10 will be emailed to families at the end of the week. If you have any questions, I would encourage you to make contact with your son or daughter’s classroom teacher in the first instance.

Kerrie-Anne Fellenberg - Assistant Principal - Curriculum - KFellenberg@sjc.qld.edu.au

From the Assistant Principal - Student Engagement

As you are aware, the College has implemented procedures to ensure that our students are consistently wearing their uniform correctly and with pride. The process for managing a student’s uniform infringements is outlined below.

In addition to responding clearly and consistently when a student fails to meet uniform expectations. The College also wants to support students to borrow necessary uniform items when:

1. A student is missing an item of their uniform due to circumstances beyond their control and/or
2. A student has acted proactively to rectify their uniform issue.

From the commencement of Term 3, the Ignatius Room will implement a new uniform borrowing system. Please note that

1. All Ignatius Room uniform items will be clearly labelled as such.
2. Students who borrow a uniform item need to return the item the following morning, this will enable to wear full and correct uniform home, thereby meeting our expectation of being 100% in uniform, or 100% out of it.

An outline of the system is below.

Joseph Cryle - Assistant Principal - Student Engagement -  JCryle@sjc.qld.edu.au 

From the Assistant Principal - Religious Education

NAIDOC Opening Ceremony 

Today we held our NAIDOC Week Launch Ceremony, with the help of our guest speaker, Jacko Gibbs, and our performers, Mr Damon Anderson and the Nguluwa dhiyaan Aboriginal Arts.   

Our First Nations Voice group proudly led our gathering and spoke about this year’s theme, For Our Elders. 

On our return in Term 3, we will again stop to reflect on the significance of the story and wisdom of our First Nations people and our role in pursuing for justice through truth-telling, treaty and reconciliation.  

Prayer  

May the God of creation warm your heart like the campfires of old 

Bring wisdom and peace as shown to the first peoples of this land 

Shake off the dust from the desert plains by the refreshing rains 

Followed by the glow and warmth of the sun 

Let the light of God show us the right path and stand tall like the big 

River gums drawing life from the ever flowing waters. 

May the God of truth – open our ears and eyes to the wind whistling through the Grasstrees. 

May the God of justice – open our minds to the flowing actions of the waters, from refreshing rain to gentle brook, from mighty river to raging sea. 

May the God of love – open our hearts to the beat of the Clapsticks calling us into rhythm. 

Now go. . . to pursue Jesus, with truth, justice, and love. 

Amen. 

Grandparents’ Day Celebrations 

In Term 3 Week 2 we will celebrate our annual Grandparents’ Day with a Mass and Concert. For many young people, grandparents provide guidance, wisdom and a place where they can be nurtured. We are excited to be able to invite our grandparents to celebrate World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly, as declared by Pope Francis.  

Our Hospitality Department will provide morning tea and our performing arts students will present a concert for our grandparents to enjoy.  

We would be pleased to have grandparents from our community in attendance at the event. To RSVP for the Grandparents’ Day Celebrations please complete the Try Booking form (https://www.trybooking.com/CJATD) by Thursday 13 July. 

Date: Friday 21 July 

Venue: St Joseph’s College, MacKillop Centre 

Commencement Time: 8:30 am 

Mass: 8:30-10:00am 

Concert: 10:00-10:50am (Morning Tea provided) 

Finish Time: 11:00am  

RSVP: Thursday 13 July via https://www.trybooking.com/CJATD 

Year 7s Preparing for Grandparents’ Day Mass 

On Wednesday, our Year 7 cohort gathered to prepare for the Grandparents' Day Mass. They explored the First Reading and Gospel; reflected on their own interpretations to share with Fr Ray. They also helped developed the Prayers of Faithful.  

Students were also asked to film a short video with a grandparent or important elderly person in their life. The video uses the symbol of the candle to show our grandparents’ knowledge and wisdom is passed on to us through the flame. If any families wish to add a video to our compilation, please see the example below with my Grandma Jo and submit by emailing kford@sjc.qld.edu.au. 

You will need:  

• Two Candles 
• A grandparent or important elderly person in your life 
• Laptop to film  

What should it show: 

• You lighting your candle from your grandparent’s candle.  
• You could include your parent as well – 3 generations.  

See an example with Ms Ford here: https://youtube.com/shorts/sC0aJbx_eKA?feature=share

Kellie-Marie Ford - Assistant Principal - Religious Education  -  KFord@sjc.qld.edu.au 

Mission Captains

Hey Joey's Community!

A lot has happened since our last newsletter article, and we are so excited to update you on what has been going on!

In our previous article, we mentioned that as Mission Captains this year we aspired to:

• Increase participation in masses and liturgies, by getting different year levels to run them.

At the end of last term, a group of Year 8 students led the school in our Holy Week Mass. At the passing of every Station of the Cross, the hall darkened, symbolising the misery leading up to Jesus' crucifixion. The community left in total darkness, to then return to the light of Jesus' resurrection after the Easter Holidays.

Our Year 11 Liturgy Group did an outstanding job coordinating our Feast of St. Joseph's Mass, choosing readings and prayers that reflected the courage and unconditional respect that St Joseph actively demonstrated in his everyday life, and the importance of retaining those qualities in our community today. They added the concluding words to our College prayer 'Live Jesus in Our Hearts Forever' to our symbol.

In our first year of holding formal Mother's Day celebrations, we invited our favourite female caregivers to celebrate their nurturing contributions to our lives in Week 4, and celebrated with various activities including cookie jars, trivia, and bingo! (Which was a big hit!) 

Finally, in Week 7, the College gathered to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost. Celebrated 50 days after Easter, Pentecost recognises the profound power of the Holy Spirit in inspiring the mission of the Church, and how it drives us to Aspire to Excellence, Lead through Service, and Participate and Persevere in all that we do.

Thank you to all students who assisted in coordinating these events and contributing to the spiritual nourishment of the College. Your hard work and effort is appreciated, and we could not be prouder of you!

Another one of our goals as Mission Captains was to:

• Award students who consistently commit to 'Serving Him in Others' through service Morning Teas

We are pleased to say that our first ever St Joseph's Service Morning Tea went ahead in Week 6, which was a hit! Inviting all the service groups St Joseph's is lucky to have, we were able to show praise and provide recognition to all the students who lead through Service.

In other social justice news, the Year 10 Just Joeys Group has done an excellent job promoting and managing our Winter Appeal. They have already collected many baskets full of winter clothing, warm blankets, non-perishable foods, and other items that make enduring Toowoomba winters that bit easier for the disadvantaged in our community. All donations are going to the St Vincent de Paul Society. On behalf of Just Joeys, we want to thank everyone who generously donated to our Winter Appeal, your generosity and charity is much appreciated. Keep an eye out for next term's Just Joeys fundraiser 'It's In The Bag', a campaign by women's charity 'Share the Dignity' aimed to raise awareness on period poverty and support women who are homeless, disadvantaged, and victims of domestic violence. Also, if you are a fan of flexing your brain muscles while helping our endangered wildlife, the Just Joey's Trivia Night is the perfect night out for you! All funds raised will go towards the World Wildlife Fund, with snacks and prizes for best dressed! Tickets will be available for pre-booking shortly, so get a group of your friends together, get dressed up as your favourite furry friend, and get ready for a night of hardcore competition!

On to even more exciting news, term three is just as busy. We are starting to prepare and organise the abundance of mission events planned. We are coordinating a second Mission Morning Tea to once again recognise all the hard working students that continue to live out Edmund Rice's mission and walking in Jesus' footsteps through service to the community and College. Following this, early term three we are lucky enough to honest a Catholic Education Week, which includes a week of activities and whole school mass. This mass will focus on the importance of Catholic Education while recognising students who continuously hold the values of Catholic Education. Students have access to a nomination form on their Joey's Way canvas page, we encourage everyone to nominate peers who they believe are living out the mission of the College and Catholic education.

Finally, as the 2023 season hits its halfway mark, we are hoping -- with the help of the remaining year levels -- to celebrate the Year 12s 100 days 'Till Graduation Morning Tea'. A healthy boost of sugar for our cohort and will allow for the Year 12s to come together as a community, have a moment to socialise and create even more memories amidst the academic pressure of our last year. We know at this time that as final assessments start to roll in, it can get easy to feel stressed and a little burnt out. We are hoping that this celebration will reignite our community flame and help us to make the most out of the time we have left.

Until Next Time!

2023 Mission Captains - Mak MacLachlan and Keely Byrne

McAuley House

As we end another term, it is essential to reflect upon the significance of Catherine McAuley and the impact she has had on our College. Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy, left an indelible mark on the world of education and philanthropy. Her vision, embedded in compassion and service, serves as the guiding light for our school community. Her unwavering commitment to empower women and provide quality education for all resonates with our mission of holistic development.
 
During Term 2, we strove to emulate Catherine McAuley's values in our daily endeavours. By promoting academic excellence, moral integrity, and compassionate service, we aimed to cultivate well-rounded individuals capable of making positive contributions to society. This term presented numerous opportunities for personal growth, intellectual stimulation, and character development. Academically, Term 2 is always a crucial time for students. With half of the academic year behind us, it is an opportune time to assess progress, identify areas of improvement, and set new goals. 
 
Term 2 has not been without its challenges, however, as we approach the midpoint of the academic year, students have encountered increased workloads and pressure. It is crucial to practice self-care and maintain a healthy school-life balance. Our teachers and counsellors are dedicated to providing the necessary support and resources to ensure students feel supported and equipped to navigate any difficulties that may arise. With the ever-evolving landscape of education, it is essential to remain adaptable and embrace innovation.
 
Catherine McAuley's legacy continues to shape our school community, inspiring us to uphold her values of compassion, excellence, and service. As we embark on Term 3, let us remain dedicated to nurturing the intellectual, emotional, and social growth of our students. Together, we can create an inclusive and empowering educational environment where every student has the opportunity to flourish.

Melissa Zenke - Student Engagement Middle Leader - McAuley House  - mzenke@sjc.qld.edu.au

Sport

BILL TURNER CUP

Congratulations to our U15 Girls' Football team for winning the Bill Turner Cup Grand Final for our area!

On Wednesday June 14, nerves were running high as our girls headed into the Grand Final against Harristown State High School, especially as we had lost the same final to Harristown last year. Our girls played beautifully, coming together as a team, and playing to their strengths to defeat Harristown 6-2. Their aspiration to excel and perseverance clearly displayed the values of our College. They can be very proud of this achievement.

The next stage of the Bill Turner Cup will be to play the winners of the Brisbane Area 2 competition which will occur early in Term 3.

Date Claimers for Term 3

Swans Cup – Begins Monday nights Week 2 and runs on the following dates:

Round 1 - Monday, 17 July

Round 2 - Monday, 24 July

Round 3 - Monday, 31 July

Round 4 - Monday, 7 August

Round 5 - Monday, 14 August FINALS/PLAY OFFS - Monday, 21 Aug

Toowoomba All Schools Cup Touch

August 6

Futsal Finals Brisbane – Nissan Arena

Open Boys July 17

15 Girls July 24

Open Boys and Girls Volleyball Competition Toowoomba

July 19

Red Lion Cup – boys and girls

July 25

Athletics Carnival – O’Quinn Street

August 4

Cross Country and Colour Explosion Run

August 9

AAG Basketball - Toowoomba

Open boys and Girls August 13

15 boys and girls August 27

Open Boys and Girls CBSQ Basketball – Gold Coast

September 14 - 17

Queensland Independent Secondary Schools Rugby League (QISSRL) and Netball (QISSN)

Two rugby league teams will travel to Brisbane next week as part of the QISSRL competition. One will play in the boy’s competition and the girls will represent us in their competition. Both teams will play at St Laurence College playing fields.

There are 48 boys’ teams competing and 12 girls’ teams competing this year.

We would like to sincerely thank all the sponsors who have helped these young rugby league players make this week possible for them to be there. All of our major sponsors make a considerable contribution to assist our College in reducing the costs for players to play. Our appreciation flows to all our sponsors who have been so generous in providing support to us. This has helped tremendously in ensuring the carnival is affordable to all individuals wanting to participate.

In the QISSN competition the girls will play at the Nissan Arena. There are 64 girls’ teams and 16 boy’s teams. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get enough boys to play this year, so we had to withdraw the team. We will try again next year when we travel to Townsville to compete.

On behalf of the College, we would like to thank all staff who are involved in this competition and being away from their families for a week of the holidays so that these young students can participate in this competition. It is a big commitment, and we hope the students are grateful for this opportunity to participate.

A huge thank you also goes to parents and guardians for their continued support of this competition, in getting students to training, to the games during the week and continued support with all that goes into making this week a success.

We wish all three teams success for the week!

Debbie Newtown - Program Leader - Sport - DNewton@sjc.qld.edu.au

Connecting with Careers

Lunch and Learn  

The Lunch and Learn Sessions will be held every Thursday during Term 2 in Room 22b (next to the canteen).   

All welcome!! Bring your friends and your lunch 😊  

 A reminder that you can visit sjccareers to signup for the newsletter, Connecting with Careers.  To keep up-to-date with upcoming career events, click here.  To subscribe to newsfeeds, click here. 

Are you interested in STEM + health? Put nutrition science on your plate! Study the science of nutrition, the role it plays in health and disease, and become part of a growing industry. 

The Bachelor of Nutrition Science at Australian Catholic University (ACU) explores the science that underpins the use of food and nutrition for the prevention of disease and promotion of health. Throughout your course, you will understand the interaction of human physiology, biochemistry, and food and nutrition-related health, as well as the challenges of sustainable food production, food policy, and food regulation. 

Within your degree, you can major in public health (Melbourne only), culinary nutrition, or food science, with specific work placements to provide you with additional skills and knowledge within your preferred major. The Bachelor of Nutrition Science will also lead you to postgraduate studies in dietetic practice or public health. 

Year 12 students can now commence their application to study at Bond University in 2024! 

Please visit the following link to commence your online application: https://apply.bond.edu.au/ 

This is a very quick process and will take you 15-20 minutes at the most, with no application cost and it will result in you receiving an early offer letter (with no strings attached). 

If you are looking to apply for a scholarship with Bond, that can be done once your study application is complete, via the following link: https://apply.bond.edu.au/scholarships/ 

You can still complete the QTAC process should you get an offer from Bond. It is just another option for you to put on the table. 

You can still change your Bond preferences, accept, defer, or decline the offer at any time, all the way through to 2024. 

For any questions, please get in touch with Scott Williamson, Domestic Regional Manager at Bond; 

0419 483 340 swilliam@bond.edu.au 

Brisbane Tertiary Studies & Careers Expo (TSXPO) 
The annual Brisbane Tertiary Studies & Careers Expo + QLD Work & Skills (TSXPO), Australia's largest tertiary studies expo, offers a unique opportunity for anyone interested in starting, changing or upgrading their career. It will be held at the Royal International Convention Centre, Brisbane Showgrounds on Saturday, 15 July 2023, and Sunday, 16 July 2023 from 10 am to 4 pm on both days. This event will feature many local, interstate, and overseas education providers, student services, and support agencies. 

The exhibitors that will be present at the TSXPO include: 

• Universities from around Australia 
• Private Education Colleges 

• TAFE Queensland 
• Defence Force Recruiting 
• QTAC 
• Apprenticeship and Traineeship providers 
• Exchange and GAP year programs.

For more information, please visit TSXPO.

Calling all Year 11 and 12 Students!  

The partnership between TAFE Queensland and the University of Canberra has brought back the UC Creative Competition for 2023.

UC are officially inviting all Year 11 and 12 students to submit their best creative work – which could be a school-based project or their own personal work – for the chance to win study grants towards a Faculty of Arts and Design degree, as well as a range of Adobe products and cash prizes! 

Submissions to this competition can be used to form part of the participating student's portfolio to gain entry into any of the Faculty of Arts and Design degrees. 

Submissions are now open! 

To learn more or apply, click here. 

 2024 Full Time Apprenticeship intake opportunities

School Based Apprenticeship and Traineeship Vacancies - please see SJC's Career Website.

A reminder that you can access career information from the St Joseph’s College Careers website. 

For more information please contact the Careers Team.

Maree Harman - Career Development Practitioner  -  mharman@sjc.qld.edu.au

Charlotte Penner - Careers Support Officer  -  cpenner@sjc.qld.edu.au

Library

The library was alive with activities, displays and events and so this term has really flown by.  During May we celebrated International Harry Potter Day as a way of promoting our love of reading. Students and staff enjoyed magical experiences ranging from competing in Quidditch (using a green screen), to sampling the many delights from the ‘confectionary trolley’ which included Whizzing Fizzbies (eat one and float a few inches off the ground).

The Premier’s Reading Challenge (PRC) also began this term for Years 7 – 9.  The challenge aims to improve literacy and encourage children to read for pleasure and learning, and we encourage all students to participate. Every student who reads more than 15 books will receive a Certificate of Achievement from the QLD Premier. To celebrate, a pizza party will be held at the end of Term 3 for the English class that has read the most books.  The PRC competition finishes on the 25th August – so get reading!

Some highlights of our usual weekly library activities included pompom making, water colour bookmarks, morse code breakers and a hands-free cup stack challenge.

As the term ends, we would like to remind students and staff that all books are available to be borrowed for the holidays, and if students forget, fiction and non-fictions books are available online via SORA (students use the postcode 4350 and their ID number on the back of their laptop to login).

Rebecca Bastion - Curriculum Leader - Literacy Improvement  - RBastion@sjc.qld.edu.au

SJC - Community News

Interact's Shave for a Cure Raffle

We are getting closer to Interact’s annual Shave for a Cure event which will be taking place in Week 5, Term 3 (August 9th)!

This year our goal is to beat last year’s fundraising amount of $17,675!

Tickets for the multidraw raffle are now on sale! Check out the awesome prizes already up for grabs…

Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased online here: https://sjctoowoombainteract.weebly.com/

The raffle will be drawn according to the list on the website at 4pm on Wednesday 9th August 2023.

Thank you to our sponsors who have already donated! If you would like to donate a prize towards the raffle, please reach out!

The Spotted Cow Hotel 
Westy’s Pizza 
Sunset Superbowl 
Zarraffa's Coffee 
Darling Downs Zoo 
Merlo Coffee 
Club Glenvale 
Australian Surfing Adventures 
Adrenaline Sports 
Hair Room On Russell 
Uniplaza Meats QLD 
The Ginger Factory Golden 
West Apprenticeships 
Ivy n Oak Collective 
PharmaSave Harristown (The Tower Shopping Village) 
The Coffee Club Australia 
Kloud9ine 
AquaDuck 
Bou Samra’s 
Nutrimetics 
The Royal 
Westridge Fruit and Veg 
Comtel 
Bull and Barely Inn Cambooya 
Galactic Donuts

Arts Opportunities

CALLING ALL ACT, NSW AND QLD YEAR 11 AND 12 STUDENTS!

The partnership between TAFE Queensland and the University of Canberra has brought back the UC Creative Competition for 2023.

UC are officially inviting all Year 11 and 12 students to submit their best creative work – which could be a school-based project or their own personal work – for the chance to win study grants towards a Faculty of Arts and Design degree, as well as a range of Adobe products and cash prizes!

Submissions to this competition can be used to form part of the participating student's portfolio to gain entry into any of the Faculty of Arts and Design degrees.

Submissions are now open!

To learn more or apply, click here: https://www.canberra.edu.au/uccreativecompetition?mkt_tok=MDg5LVBVUi01MzEAAAGMVmQhdAowGgSrxjWUzLWifeMB637mIihBEsb1hEwQZWG2fjyRjlHs2Po5hmo2gOIWa6giwB_CUQxe7rx5jQBV-ORWT3iIOFkFo1FZA86WkqG1Iw

Our Parent Business Directory has begun and you may see some of our parents business in our column beside our newsletter! We would like to include more businesses. If you would like to be featured please send through any deatils and/or business graphics to: marketing@sjc.qld.edu.au

Uniform Shop

EFTPOS only - No Cash accepted until further notice.

The Uniform Shop will be closed for Stocktake on Thursday 22^nd June 2023.

The cold windy weather has hit

Winter uniform is available for purchase.

• Long Sleeve Boy Shirts
• Trousers both male and female
• Tights and stockings
• Jumpers
• Tracksuit pants and jackets
• Scarves

Reminder formal hat bands are available for purchase $12.

Orders can be made online, paid for over the phone and all orders can be delivered to student entrance for your child to collect from there.

Online orders can also be delivered to your home for a fee.

Online ordering is available at all times and will only be packed during shop trading hours.

Out of stock:

Female Sport Polo  XS and 14

Female Sport shorts Sz L

Please contact the uniform shop on the below details:

Phone:           07 4631 8514

Email:             sjct@midford.com.au

Ordering Online Process

www.midford.com.au     pass phrase StJC1956

Second hand uniforms are also available at the Uniform Shop.

If you have used uniform items that would like to donate, please drop off to the Uniform Shop during opening hours.  Donations are greatly appreciated.

If you have used uniform items that you would like us to sell for you, please call into the uniform shop and collect a “Used Clothing” form. Used uniforms items MUST be in good condition, hems intact, no holes, stains or missing buttons. They also need to washed, ironed and be the current uniform. 

If you have any questions, please call us on 4631 8514 during opening hours.