Newsletter - Term 1 - Week 4 - Issue 117

From the Principal

This week at St Joseph’s College we celebrated Ash Wednesday which marks the commencement of Lent within the Catholic Church. During the forty-six-day journey towards Easter, we are called to grow deeper in our relationship with God. Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person's forehead, he speaks the words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

During the Lenten period, Catholics traditionally fast and abstain from eating red meat. Additionally, the period prior to Easter is utilised as a time for reflective prayer. Another way to observe this period of the Catholic calendar is to “give up something” or “give in” to a particular behaviour. Giving up might involve something that we consider an excess such as take-away food. Giving in refers to behavioural approaches such as avoiding arguments or thinking unkindly of others. Both acts are reflective in nature and are examples of how we might be more Christ-like.

The College last week communicated the sad news that one of our former students Patrick Aleer had passed suddenly. Patrick will be missed immensely, and I take this opportunity on behalf of the College to express our sincere condolences to his parents Joseph and Adau, and siblings Akur, Abok, and Paul. The College is supporting impacted students during this distressing time, and we have reached out to the Aleer family. “Eternal rest grant unto Patrick, Lord and may perpetual light shine upon him.”

The last two weeks have seen several community-building events within the College. Last week students participated in the annual swimming carnival at Milne Bay Swimming Pool. I was delighted to witness the enthusiasm of students in both competitive and non-competitive events whilst being cheered on by peers and staff. Thank you to Ms Deb Newton for leading the event. Our Year 7 students travelled to Redland Bay last week to participate in their three-day camp. Despite the humid conditions staff reported students enjoyed the learning experiences immensely, which have bonded the student cohort. I thank Ms Amanda Crouch (Year 7 Coordinator) and the many staff who made this wonderful opportunity possible.

 Finally, on Thursday of this week, the College greeted our Year 7 and new families at the Welcome Liturgy and BBQ. It was a truly enriching experience to mingle with and embrace our newest community members.

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This week we welcomed four new staff members to the College. Hannah Brookes and Laurent Epetahui joined us as School Officers in the Enhanced Student Learning Team, replacing staff who recently departed the College. Both Hannah and Laurent have worked in schools and bring a wonderful array of experience. Ms Céline O’Sullivan joins the teaching ranks for the next six weeks, replacing Ms Maxine Hetherington whilst she is on leave. Céline has extensive experience teaching in Catholic schools, and we are delighted to have her in the College. Mr Brant Hardgrave replaces Ms Maree Nunn for the next four weeks teaching Japanese. Brant has worked in a number of schools in the Toowoomba area. Next week we welcome Ms Lisa Kynoch as a Learning Support Teacher to St Joseph’s College. Lisa comes to us from St Saviours where she has worked in the above role during 2023. Lisa replaces Mr Darcy Goodall who takes leave for the majority of 2024. Ms Karyn Morrison moves into the position of Middle Leader Enhanced Learning.

During the recent school holiday period, a new Enterprise Award came into effect for College Staff. This agreement includes a clause that protects the right for school staff to disconnect from technology and school communications. This has been discussed with staff this week, and I would like to bring to your attention the guidelines that our staff will work to. The staff at St Joseph’s College have agreed that they will be available by electronic communications between the hours of 6.00 am and 6.00 pm each day during the working week. This is, of course, influenced by their timetable classes and duties, which by their nature will limit staff access to emails. The general school policy around staff communications communicated to families last year has not changed, and you can expect that a staff member will get back to you within 48 hours if you reach out to them via email. Given the busyness of the school day, email is usually the most effective way to communicate with staff. This initiative in the new enterprise bargaining agreement is around safeguarding staff well-being and allowing time to be separate from the technological and communication demands of their work.

Next week I will be attending the Toowoomba Catholic Leadership Forum which is being held in Toowoomba. This forum brings together the thirty-two principals from the diocese with Toowoomba Catholic Education Office leaders. During this time Deputy Principal Brendon Willocks will assume day to day running of the College.

Jim Brennan - Principal - jbrennan@sjc.qld.edu.au

From the Deputy Principal

Term 1 is in full swing and in a perfect world, all our students should be settling into a routine that helps them achieve academic growth, success and ‘aspire to excellence’.  Sometimes, adolescents can find it difficult to establish a balanced routine that works for them, but there are some general tips that can be useful.

1. Create a study timetable. Understand what commitments you may have over the course of a week - work, family time, training, rehearsals, performances, games, socialising. Your study time is just as important as all the other activities that you commit to. Commit to blocks of time where you will study.
   
2. Set a goal/s for each session. Know what you would like to achieve in the dedicated study session and start working toward that. Some students might like to make this time bound and work in blocks of time. A useful strategy here is the Pomodoro method.
3. Avoid distractions.There are many obvious distractions in any household but the most difficult one to remove is a mobile phone. According to recent research (Ward et al., 2017) the mere presence of a mobile phone, even if turned off, reduces available cognitive capacity. Mobile phones should be completely removed from the room for the most effective study to occur.
4. Start with the most difficult topics first. It can be tempting to start with the subjects you are confident in but in doing this you run the risk of tackling the challenging subject when you are more fatigued or worse, run out of time altogether.

By being organised and focussed in your studies, you are able to keep on top of the workload and reduce the stress that often accompanies assessment time. Good habits, great sleep, social contact (not social media contact!), exercise and a healthy diet pave the way to success.

Ward, A. F., Duke, K., Gneezy, A., & Bos, M. W. (2017). Brain drain: The mere presence of one’s own smartphone reduces available cognitive capacity. Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, 2(2), 140-154.

Upcoming

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

From the Assistant Principal - Curriculum

Who do I contact for help?

If you have any questions about your son or daughter’s classes please contact the classroom teacher directly or the Curriculum Leader.

You can contact the Classroom teacher in the first instance via phoning the College or emailing, or for pastoral matters please contact the Joey’s Way teacher.

If you have further curriculum questions and you have already contacted the classroom teacher you are then asked to contact the relevant Curriculum Leader. If your son or daughter is in Year 7 please contact Mrs Crouch who will be able to assist you.

Questions about curriculum and subject changes for electives each semester can be referred to Mrs Andrews for students in Years 7-9, while in the Senior School curriculum questions can be directed to Mrs Tobin. We also have a wonderful new Careers team comprising of Mrs Harman and Ms Jackman to assist with work experience, career planning, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships.

We are excited about working with your son or daughter and hope that open communication is the key to this support.

Assessment Calendars

Teachers are currently planning assessment for the Semester. All students and parents & carers have access to the Semester One Assessment Calendar for 2024 via an Edsmart broadcast sent last week and also by accessing the College Intranet & Website.  

If you have any questions about assessment, please contact your child's classroom teacher or Curriculum Leader.

St Joseph’s College is responsible for gathering evidence of student achievement on or before the due date for internal assessment instruments.

All students have electronic access to their assessment schedules and it is their responsibility to adhere to these due dates.

Students are responsible for planning and managing their time to meet the due dates.

Students and parents can contact teachers and Curriculum Leaders via Phoning or emailing to help with communication. Teachers are not able to grant extensions directly with students and parents/carers.

St Joseph’s College is required to adhere to QCAA policies about due dates accepting assignments only on or before the due date unless an extension through AARA processes has been approved. For example, a student who is absent due to family holidays will not be granted an extension for an assignment as this doesn’t meet the AARA guidelines set by QCAA.

Academic Support

Each Thursday afternoon from 3.15pm – 4.15pm Academic support will continue in our Library Seminar Rooms.

Teachers may request students attend these sessions if they have not met expectations at checkpoints or drafts for assignments.

This time is an opportunity for students to complete work and receive assistance if required. 

It is important that parents support the request for students to attend these sessions as teachers are trying to assist students who are behind in their work. 

Year 9 Spotlight

This week Mrs Andrews and I are meeting with the Year 9 cohort for their Academic Assembly. We will acknowledge students who received all “Very Goods” and “Goods” for every learning behaviour in Semester 2, 2023. Congratulations to the following students. These students will be able to bank 1 credit towards the house cup.

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 

Academic Captains

Congratulations again to all the 2023 Semester 2 Academic Award winners and to Keely Byrne who has been awarded as the 2023 Dux of the College. As Academic Captains, our goals this year are to bring more recognition to the dedication of each student in all their achievements and to support everyone in their learning journeys. 

Every student’s path to success will be different. The challenges you face and the type of tools you will need to reach the end goal will all be different. Try to keep a positive growth mindset towards your classes and persevere through the hard yards. It may be tough now, but nothing worth it is ever won easy. 

We are so grateful that we’ve been given this opportunity as your Academic Captains this year, and we hope that we can inspire a positive and meaningful attitude towards learning. 

2024 Academic Captains - Keeleigh Keenan and Dishita Arya 

Murphy House

Celebrating Safer Internet Day: Empowering Parents for a Digital Future

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

As we celebrate Safer Internet Day, it's an opportune moment to reflect on the importance of cyber safety and responsible phone usage in our children's lives. We join the global community in promoting a safer and more positive online experience for all.

Embracing Digital Citizenship

Safer Internet Day, endorsed by the eSafety Commissioner, underscores the significance of fostering digital citizenship among our youth. At our school, we wholeheartedly embrace this initiative, recognizing that digital citizenship goes beyond mere online safety—it encompasses the skills, knowledge, and values necessary to navigate the digital world responsibly and ethically.

Empowering Parents

As parents, you play a pivotal role in shaping your child's digital future. Safer Internet Day serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility we share in empowering our children to use technology safely and responsibly. By engaging in open conversations about online risks, setting clear boundaries, and modelling positive online behaviour, we can equip our children with the tools they need to thrive in the digital age.

Promoting Positive Online Experiences

Safer Internet Day also emphasizes the importance of promoting positive online experiences. While it's crucial to address the risks associated with the internet, it's equally important to highlight the countless opportunities it offers for learning, creativity, and connection. By fostering a culture of respect, empathy, and inclusivity online, we can create a safer and more enjoyable digital environment for our children.

Harnessing Technology for Good

Technology has the power to enrich our lives in countless ways, but it's essential that we use it responsibly. Safer Internet Day encourages us to harness the potential of technology for good while remaining vigilant against its pitfalls. By staying informed about the latest online trends and threats, we can better protect our children and ensure that their online experiences are safe, positive, and enriching.

Taking Action

Safer Internet Day is not just a one-day event—it's a call to action for parents, educators, policymakers, and technology companies to work together to create a safer and more inclusive internet for all. As we celebrate this day, let's recommit ourselves to the ongoing effort of promoting cyber safety and responsible digital citizenship in our community.

Resources and Support

The eSafety Commissioner offers a wealth of resources and support for parents navigating the digital landscape with children. From online safety guides to webinars and workshops, these resources can empower you to make informed decisions about your child's online activities and ensure their safety and well-being in the digital world.

Please consider working through the following information with your young person:

Safer Internet Day is here! We’re asking you to Connect. Reflect. Protect. 

Watch a message from the eSafety Commissioner who shares why this day is so important. 

How are you celebrating Safer Internet Day?  

Here are some ways you can get involved: 

• For everyone:Visit our campaign page for activities and resources. Create your own content, or download and share our supporter tiles or campaign video. Tag #SID2024 #ConnectReflectProtect @eSafetyOffice.
• For schools and families: Download our educator campaign kitand sign middle to upper primary classes up to our virtual classroom webinars. If you’re a parent or carer, you can also join one of our webinars for parents and carers. 
• For workplaces and communities: Download our campaign kitor individual resources and spread the word.  
  

We understand that the start of the year can be a busy time for everyone. The great news is that our resources can be used all year long.  

Thank you for your support in helping us start a national conversation about online safety. Together, we can work towards making every day a Safer Internet Day.  

Level up your online gaming knowledge with our latest resources 

Today we’ve launched new research that shows young gamers are calling for their parents, carers and other adults to understand what online gaming is like for them.  

To help, we’ve created handy resources for schools and families: 

·        For schools: The eSafety toolkit for schools: Guidelines for setting up a digital gaming club includes guidelines that are designed to help schools set up and facilitate organised digital gaming activities for students.  

·        For families: The Better conversations about gaming resource includes conversations starters and tips aimed at helping parents and carers connect with their children about online gaming.  

 eSafety acknowledges all First Nations people for their continuing care of everything Country encompasses — land, waters and community. We pay our respects to First Nations people, and to Elders past, present and future.

Find out how eSafety handles, manages and protects your personal information, see our Privacy policy.

In conclusion, as we celebrate Safer Internet Day, let's seize the opportunity to reflect on our role as parents in shaping our children's digital future. By fostering open communication, setting clear boundaries, and promoting positive online experiences, we can empower our children to navigate the digital world safely and responsibly.

Thank you for your commitment to your child's online safety and well-being.

Kind Regards,

Aleesha Degen

Middle Leader - Murphy House

Aleesha Degen - Student Engagement Middle Leader - Murphy House  - adegen@sjc.qld.edu.au

Student Voice

Hello St Joseph's students!

Do you enjoy active student-led change? Do you have a passion for advocacy? Or do you simply have a problem that needs fixing?

Whatever it may be, Student Voice is the group for you.

Student Voice is a group of students who meet on a fortnightly basis. We are a platform for students to voice opinions on community matters, and take action based on student ideas. We have various projects underway for the amelioration of student life at the college, and will always welcome new ideas or members.

Come and visit us on Day 9 in seminar room 2; bring your lunch and your brilliant ideas!

We look forward to hearing your voice!

Sarah Ellis, Secretary

On Behalf Of The Student Voice Group

Sport

Friday Night Basketball

The Friday Night competition began last week with a home game against Toowoomba State High School and St Saviour's in the Open girls.

Year 7/8 Girls

The girls had a stellar performance in their first game, defeating Toowoomba State High School with a commanding score of 47 to 11. Lara Yaxley led the charge with 18 points, showcasing her dominance in both offence and defence. Athena Wirihana’s height proved valuable, contributing 13 points, and aiding her teammates with her knowledge of the game and encouraging them to score. Emily Harch scored 8 points and Hayley Keller and Erin Richardson also made notable contributions with 4 points respectively.

Sophia Kmita, Amiee Schultz and Elizabeth Everitt were also valuable members of the team to play.

Year 7/8 Boys

Despite a valiant effort, the Year 7/8 boys fell short to Lofty with a final score of 32 to 42. Judd Taylor led the scoring with 8 points, closely followed by Hunter Smith and Jonathan Skuse with 6 points each. Sam Jones and Wade Rampling contributed with 4 points each and Elijah d’Abadie and Allen Kwitonda put away 2 points each.

Tyce Fraser was also a valuable member of the team.

I am sure with more training improvement will be very noticeable.

Year 9/10 Girls

The girls dominated in their opening game against Lofty, securing a convincing victory with a score of 59 to 12 points. Our girls played a great team game but were also very considerate of the opposition in their sportsmanship and compassion to the inexperience of the Lofty girls. This was great to see.

Sami Hunter displayed an exceptional performance leading the scoring with 20 points. Krystal Timms showcased strong defence and put up 14 points, while Charlotte Wiedman had 7 points against her name, Holly Robinson 6 points, Athena Wirihana 4 points and Kaley Markey very quiet with only 2 points. Jada Guok completed the team, and although didn’t score every team was encouraging her to do so.

Year 9/10 Boys

Confidence was high for the Year 9/10 boys as they triumphed over Lofty with a score of 56 to 29. 

Ryan Richardson led the scoring with 14 points closely followed by Kobe Guok with 12 points. Jacob Wirihana who is new to the school fitted in like he had played with the boys all year. He scored 10 points. Oliver Foley and Dean Sowry put 5 points against his names and Jamison Brown and Elvis Mgutu put 4 points. Tobi Willey finished the scoring off with 2 points. Mitch Ryan, Lucan Byrne and Declan Dening complimented the team in their active participation in their positions.

Open Girls 

Toowoomba State High didn’t have an Open team, so St Saviour’s stepped into their position. Our girls were a little nervous about their first game, but displayed excellent teamwork and secured a comfortable victory with a score of 57 to 15.

They had a lot of fun while playing and really seemed to enjoy the experience. Rebecca Scott led the scoring with 16 points, supported by Sami Hunter with 12 points and Tyla-Jo Salmi with 10 points. Nancy Daniel put 8 points up and notably Lara Turner made her competitive debut, contributing 6 valuable points to the team’s success. Indi Ranford put 3 points up and Kaley Markey rounded out the scoring with 2 points.

Open Boys

In a thrilling match, the Open boys secured a narrow victory over Lofty with a buzzer-beater shot from Dylan Stephens, clinching the win with a score of 43 to 41.

No one expected it to go in but as the buzzer sounded in the background, cheers rang through the stadium as 3 points were put against his name on the scoreboard, defeating Lofty 43 to 41. 

Charles Meyer top scored with 14 points, while Dylan Stephens, and Oliver Smyth scored 9 points each. Despite a challenging game, the team displayed resilience and determination, with notable contributions from Charlie Jensen 5 points, Xavier Byrne, Liam Teakle, and Peter Oryem rounded out the scoring with 2 points each.

The first round of competition for 2024 concluded on an exciting note, with impressive performances across all age groups. Despite some challenges, the teams showcased their skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship, setting a promising tone for the upcoming rounds. With a bye in the next round due to the College Ball, the teams will return for round three eager to continue their success at St Mary’s College.

Sports Darling Downs

On Saturday night at the Sports Darling Downs Award night 2023 Year 12 student Sienna Deurloo was awarded the Senior Rising Star for 2023.

Sienna won a monthly winners award for March for her contribution to swimming. 

At the Australian Open Water Swimming Championships held at Busselton, W.A., Sienna Deurloo won the gold medal in the Under 18 Girls 10km and 5km events. From this performance she has been selected in the Australian Open Water Swimming Squad. At the Australian Age Swimming Championships Sienna qualified in 10 individual events and at the Australian Open Swimming Championships qualified in 4 events. Sienna has qualified for the 2023 World Swimming Championship trials in the 200m, 400m, 800m and 1500m freestyle.

Year 10 student Porter White received the April monthly award for his achievements in cycling. Porter represented Queensland at the Australian Junior Track Cycling Championships. He was a member of the Men’s Under 17 Team Pursuit which won the gold medal and in doing so set a new state and allcomers record. Porter has been selected as one of the first group of athletes to participate in a new talent support program at the Queensland Academy of Sport. He has done all of this at the age of 14. 

Equestrian

Over the past couple of weeks, Year 11 student Summer Lindgren competed in a state qualifying event for interschool equestrian. She came 3rd overall out of 20 riders on her horse Kingston in the preliminary dressage, with her first test scoring a 67.6% placing 8th and then scoring a 67.4% placing them in 2nd place.

She also competed on her other horse Bindi placing 8th overall in the same class. On Kingston she qualified for the 80cm showjumping and qualified for 70cms on Bindi. Summer is now looking forward and is ready for the state event.

Good luck Summer.

Darling Downs Golf

On Tuesday, Year 12 student Cameron Taylor teed off in his final year of representing at the school level of Darling Down sport in golf. 

Cameron made the Darling Downs team but also won the day with a 71 off the stick. This is an amazing effort in itself but Cameron has now won this trophy for the third year in a row and that is quite outstanding for a young golf player.

Congratulations Cameron and fingers crossed for Queensland selection for your last year.

Congratulations

The first round of Darling Downs School Sport trials have been completed. I have not received official notification of results, but I do know that we can congratulate the following students who have made teams:

13 – 15 years Netball: Keelie Hilt

13 – 16 years Basketball:  Kaley Markey, Athena Wirihana, and Shadow Lara Yaxley

13 – 19 years Golf:  Cameron Taylor

13 – 19 years Girls Softball:   Sienna R Wilson and Evie King

13 - 19 years Boys Softball: Maddox Jackson and Zander Jackson

16 - 19 years Girls Cricket: Eloise Hauser

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

Connecting with Careers

Something to think about

"Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do.”

(John Wooden)

In this newsletter, we are focusing on: 

• Toowoomba | UniSQ University Showcase and Career Expo
• Year 10 Work Experience 2024
• White Card for work experience on a construction site
• TAFE at School Program and Courses
• Start 2024 well!
• Attitude – the power of a positive attitude
• Defence Force work experience program
• Upcoming events – 2024 TSXPO Tertiary Studies Expo

Toowoomba | UniSQ University Showcase and Career Expo

I found the Uni Showcase extremely helpful. A variety of Unis and other career-based organisations set up in the Mackillop Centre and answered any questions that we, as students, had. Personally, I was able to ask representatives from different university establishments about things like courses, scholarships, career pathways, financial responsibilities, accommodation, and much more. I had the freedom to walk around with my mates and explore our different possibilities in a relaxed, free environment, which was a massive bonus. I was personally able to have a clearer view of not only what career path I wanted to pursue, but the various ways I can achieve this. Honestly, this day was extremely helpful, and I am massively grateful to the Joey’s careers team for facilitating it.

(Tyler Warrener)

Year 10 Work Experience 2024

A gentle reminder Year 10 students that your Work Experience Placement Agreement forms are due.

You are invited to see Mrs Harman or Ms Jackman if you have any questions.

White Card for work experience on a construction site

The Workplace Health and Safety Act requires all employees and work experience students on a building site to hold a White Card CPCCWHS1001 - Prepare to work safely in the construction industry or General Construction Induction card. You must successfully complete a Building and Construction General Safety Induction course to gain this card. Queensland White Cards are accepted throughout Australia.

Work Experience Placements that require your son/daughter to undertake include: 

Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, Painting, Tiling and Plastering, Cabinet Making (Installations onsite), Landscape Construction, Civil Construction or as requested by the Work Experience Provider. 

This course will be delivered at the college on Friday, 1 March 2024 by Blue Dog Training, RTO provider 31193. 

The cost is $79 for school students, added to your school account on completion of enrolment into the course. 

If you would like to register your son/daughter for this course, please complete your registration through the form via the QR code below or via this link: Year 10 2024 Work Experience: Construction Industry White Card course CPCCWHS1001 2024 (office.com)

OR email careers@sjc.qld.edu.au.  

TAFE at School Program and Courses

If you’re a year 10, 11 or 12 student you may be able to complete a TAFE Queensland qualification while you're still at school. Choose from a variety of Certificate I to Certificate III courses from a range of study areas from hospitality to horticulture, early childhood education to engineering and everything in between. Successfully completing a TAFE at School course gives you a nationally-recognised qualification, QCE credit points and direct entry into any TAFE Queensland diploma course. Click here for more information including:

• TAFE at School
• How it works
• Pathway to a trade qualification
• About TAFE at school courses
• Trade Taster Programs
• What it costs
• How to apply
• TAFE at School guides for 
• North and Far North Queensland
• Darling Downs and South West
• Gold Coast
• Greater Brisbane
• Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay

If you are interested, please see Mrs Harman or Ms Jackman.

Start 2024 well!

Start your year well! This is the perfect time to polish your study skills. The following checklist will help get you started:

• Learning environment: find a place to study without distractions. It should be somewhere quiet, without TV/Online media, loud distracting music, social media or mobile
• Focus and structure: consider studying the hard subjects first when you’re most alert and focused
• Time management: have a specific time of the day for studying and make it the same time every day if possible. Let friends and family know your allocated daily study time so you're not disturbed.
• Concentration and breaks: work out how long you can concentrate before you lose focus. Keep track of your ideal concentration time and take 5 to 10 minutes breaks when you’re approaching your limit
• Preparation: ensure you have everything you need close by (e.g. books, notes, pens, pads, charged devices, good net connection etc.)
• Healthy Eating: avoid eating a large meal before studying, as it can make you drowsy
• Get started: start studying when you say you will. Delaying the start will only make the task harder
• One thing at a time: multitasking may sound smart, but it means you’re not giving each task your full attention
• Get in early: never study too close to going to sleep. Give yourself at least half an hour of relaxation before turning in. Sleep is essential to achieving your best. 

Start the year as you plan to finish - organised, committed and balanced.

Attitude - the power of a positive attitude

As the new year starts it is a good time to put in place some positive measures so that you start well. Below are four things to think about that may assist you to start with a winning attitude:

• Empathy will take you a long way - understand where other people (especially your teachers) are coming from and meet them halfway. It's the start of the new year for everyone.
• In today's world, your attitude is as important as your aptitude - although grades are important, your attitude will make a great deal of difference to your success and happiness. 
• You must trade being fragile for being agile - being adaptable and pliable will see you managing whatever comes your way at school, at home, in the world. Resilience is the key.
• You are strong enough to flourish, not flounder - don't believe the messages, particularly from social media channels, which tell you that life is awful, because it isn't. It just needs you to have a ‘can do’ attitude, a bit of positive thinking and to back yourself to do the hard yards.
• Effectively managing all the things in your life - school, study, family, work, sport, social life etc will take a lot of stress off your shoulders and you will achieve much better personal and educational outcomes.

Enjoy 2024 everyone!

Defence Force work experience program

Try out an ADF job by doing a Defence Force work experience placement. You must be at least 15 years of age at the time of the placement. Click here for more information including:

• Information for students
• Information for parents
• Information for educators
• How to apply

If you are interested in the experiential learning opportunity, please see Mrs Harman or Ms Jackman.

So what do Ambulance Officers and Paramedics actually do?

Ambulance Officers and Paramedics provide emergency health care for people who are injured, sick or infirm. They provide patient transport to hospital and between hospitals, as required. Work is at the location of accidents, emergencies and requests for medical assistance. Suits those with an interest in the wellbeing of others who want to help with minor medical issues through to serious injuries and traffic accidents.

Click here to find out more about:

• An overview
• How to become an Ambulance Officer and Paramedic
• Short courses available
• Skills employers are looking for

Upcoming events

2024 TSXPO Tertiary Studies Expo

The 2024 Tertiary Studies Expo (TSXPO) will be held on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 July 2024

from 10am - 4pm at the Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills. Find out about your options for your transition from school to study or employment. Click here to find out the following information and go prepared to get the most out of your visit:

• Visitors 
• Exhibitor Directory 
• Seminars
• Downloads
• Getting Here
• Competitions

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

Cate Jackman - Careers Support Officer  -  CJackman@sjc.qld.edu.au

SJC - Community News

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.

All summer and winter stock are available for purchase.

Football/Confro shorts, socks and training shirts available in store.

The new All-Purpose Jackets are available in store for $99.00.

Water proof and fully lined. Great for rainy days.

We have second-hand items in store available for purchase.

We have Female bike shorts for sale, to wear under your skirts and under your sport/footy shorts.

Why not grab a school water bottle for sporting events or everyday use.

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.

Second hand items and Football/Confro items not available to order online.

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.