Newsletter - Term 2 - Week 4 - Issue 122

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Friends of St Joseph’s College,

What a delight it was for me to experience my first Joey’s Day on the Feast of Edmund Rice with students and staff. As a College Community, we celebrated how St Joseph’s is a unique expression of our Edmund Rice Charism which is centred on the tradition of providing a liberating education and being inclusive of all. 

We reflected on how Edmund Rice used his hands to lift others up. He used his hands to serve others and share a liberating education with them. His hands were often extended in acts of charity and service to those in need. Whether it was providing food, clothing, or shelter to the poor, his direct involvement in meeting the needs of others helped to forge connections based on compassion and empathy. In that very tradition as a College, we aspire to apply our learnings to make Christ known to others through service.

Our reflections and appreciation of our opportunities were celebrated through mass, a talent concert, rotational activities, a multicultural lunch, and the running of the Dan O’Neil Gift. I thank our hard-working staff and Fr Ray Crowley who brought this enriching experience to life.

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As communicated last Friday, the College experienced a significant incident where a truck crashed through College fencing on James Street and lodged up against Murphy building. The vehicle was removed that day and debris was removed. A structural engineer has since cleared the building for use allowing students and staff to return to classrooms. There was some roof and gutter damage above a couple of staff offices which have temporary fixes in place until permanent repairs can be made. I can report that the driver of the truck was discharged from hospital last Saturday. I commend our staff who initially attended to the driver and ensured his safety until emergency services arrived.

On Wednesday evening (May 1), I was proud to march with students and staff from St Joseph’s at the Domestic and Family Violence Remembrance March. It was heartening to see so many, including our young leaders, recognise the importance of tackling this concerning societal issue in our community. Dignity, Compassion and Respect are central values of our college, and our students and staff ask all members of our school community to promote imperatives every day.

A reminder that Adair Donaldson (Donaldson Law) will present a parent information at the College on Tuesday 14th May from 5.30-6.30pm. Adair will cover many topics regarding consent, safe behaviour, appropriate technology use and respectful relationships. Parents can register through a link on our Facebook page.

On Thursday 2nd May I travelled to Highfields Cultural Centre with four of our student leaders (Joe, Sophie, Dishita and Keeligh) to participate in the Lord Mayors Morning Tea. Student Leaders heard key leadership messages from the mayor, and fellow peers. Such opportunities allow our student leaders to develop in their roles and a key aspect of this process is learning from other leaders.

The College acknowledged and celebrated our mothers on Thursday in the MacKillop Centre. 

We celebrate the mothers who touch our lives, whilst also remembering those who have gone before us and left an indelible imprint on our hearts.

We pray for our mothers:

Good and gentle God,

We pray in gratitude for our mothers.

and for all the women who have joined with you

In the wonder of bringing forth new life.

You who became human through a woman,

Grant to all mothers

The courage they need to face the uncertain future

that life with children always brings.

Give them the strength to live

and to be loved in return,

not perfectly, but humanly.

Give them the faithful support of husband,

family and friends

as they care for the physical and spiritual growth of their children.

Give them joy and delight in their children

to sustain them through the trials of motherhood.

Most of all, give them the wisdom to turn to you 

for help when they need it most. 

Thank you to all the mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers of our St Joseph’s Community.

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A reminder that St Joseph’s College is scheduled for a School Renewal and Improvement quadrennial school review from May 28- 30. In this review a panel consisting of senior staff from the Toowoomba Catholic Schools (TCS) Teaching and Learning Directorate and a peer principal from another school in the Diocese visit the school for three days.

Through a process of appreciative inquiry, panel members interview staff, parents/carers, students, and community members. The questions asked are “In your opinion, what is going well at the school?” and “What could be done better?” The purpose is for the panel to report to the school community its findings and suggested improvement strategies. These inform the process of strategic plan development and the annual action plans which are also linked to the TCS Strategic Plan.

The aim is to assist St Joseph’s College to strategically plan to improve teaching and learning and these reviews occur in all TCS schools.

The review team would like to hear from the school community, and I encourage anyone who is interested to have their say. Your feedback is important and will help us to continue to achieve the two pillars of TCS: that all students will come to personally know Jesus and that all students will achieve academic success.

Feedback can be provided to the review panel in person or by telephone. All feedback remains confidential.

Please contact the school office if you are interested in speaking to a reviewer. You may also register your interest by emailing my assistant Emily Rigg ERigg@sjc.qld.edu.au to arrange an appointment.

Next week we welcome Monica Lysanowicz, who joins our Student Entrance Staff. Monica will be working two days a week assisting Cathy Kirkbride and Pure Gardner. I know our community will embrace Monica in true St Jospeh’s spirit.

God Bless

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

From the Deputy Principal

Happy Mother’s Day

This Sunday is Mother’s Day, and yesterday St Joseph’s College honoured our mums with a special Mother’s Day Celebration Event. The intent of this event is to provide another opportunity for St Joseph’s College students and mothers to spend time with each other and celebrate the gift of mothers. Mothers play a vital role in nurturing their children in the core values of our College – Compassion, Respect, Endeavour and Dignity. 

We thank the many generous staff, tuckshop, mission & identity team and parents who have planned and are contributing to make this event a special one for all mothers. We would also like to thank our Parent Engagement Network (PEN) for funding this important event. 

At St Joseph’s, we acknowledge the very important role mothers play not only in the nurturing, advice and education of their children but in the development of each young person. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the mothers of our community for their ongoing commitment and partnership. May God bless all mothers and grant them wisdom, strength and love for their continued, important role ahead.

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Open Day

On Friday 24 May we are hosting our annual Open Day from 8:30 – 11:30pm. The aim of the morning is to provide families with an overview of the way the College provides a holistic education for the students, to give students an opportunity to participate in a range of activities and for all visitors to journey through the College on a normal school day.

It will be no surprise to anyone that in most communities, word of mouth is the most successful form of advertising for any school. We encourage current families to share their positive experiences of St Joseph’s College and remind prospective families that it is essential to RSVP for the event as we are almost at capacity and we want to ensure that we provide the best experience for all our visitors. See more information here.

Reading

Reading and continuing good reading habits during secondary school is essential. There is nothing like reading to improve achievement in all subjects. Being in high school is not a reason not to read – it is a reason to keep reading. If children stop reading, the gap between the readers and the non-readers widens across all subjects and achievement measures. This is absolutely crucial for our teenagers as they are going into a knowledge economy – those who can read, think, reason and problem-solve will be in the best place for the jobs of the future. Not only that, if you don’t continue to work at your reading, your vocabulary goes backwards – this is not good for achievement across subjects.

Here are some interesting numbers associated with the benefits of reading for 20 minutes outside of school:

Upcoming Events

God of the journey, may all members of the St Joseph’s College community listen intently to you with their heart and so, strikingly encounter your love. Amen.

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

From the Assistant Principal - Curriculum

Toowoomba Catholic Schools - 2024 External Examination Preparation Program

Year 12’s and their parents will be sent a letter later this term outlining this year’s External Examination Program being held in the first week of the September School holidays. We are hoping to offer a similar program to last year (depending on student interest in the Diocese).  A draft timetable is below.

When you receive the letter you will be asked to register and pay. As a College, we encourage you to attend this excellent preparation program for the subjects outlined above. You are welcome to contact me if you have any questions.

LEARNER CLARITY

At St Joseph’s College we use our Teaching and Learning Framework to guide best practice.  As a teaching community we are concentrating on Learner Clarity in 2024.

Learner Clarity

Through a culture of shared learning, all learners are empowered to increase self-efficacy and agency hereby giving our community the ability to have choice in their own learning and a willingness to share their thoughts and ideas.

Learner Clarity is students being able to state what they are learning, why they are learning it and how they will know when they have learnt it (Gotlieb, 2019).

HOW DO WE ACHIEVE LEARNER CLARITY?

• Crafting learning intentions and success criteria with students
• Offering students opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding in a variety of ways
• Students engaging in self-reflection & monitoring their progress
• Engaging in active questioning
• Teachers explicitly modelling and scaffolding
• Encouraging students to have a growth mindset and show resilience

WHAT IS AN AGENTIC LEARNER?

Students who:

• Are self-sufficient and seek and act upon feedback
• Problem solve
• Show initiative & is self-motivated
• Embraces opportunities
• Seeks conceptual understanding rather than surface learning
• Students who monitor their own learning

HOW DO WE BUILD AGENTIC LEARNERS?

Teachers who:

• Embed Learning Intentions and co-construct Success criteria with students
• Have clear expectations & routine
• Are passionate and model success
• Insist students are engaged in their learning
• Encourage students to be vulnerable with their learning
• Promote aspiration in the classroom
• Build relationships with students

Our upcoming professional development Twilight evening for teachers will centre around the theme of “Learner Clarity” and the continued implementation of the Australian Curriculum (V9).

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

From the Assistant Principal - Student Engagement

In recent weeks, a national conversation has re-emerged regarding our responses to gender-based violence. In Australia, the number of women who are victims of gender-based or sexual violence remains staggeringly high. Worse still, over thirty Australian women have been killed as a result of this issue in 2024 alone. 

You may also be aware of media reports about students in schools engaging in conversation and behaviour that dehumanises and objectifies women and girls. We hope that these schools are able to address these issues in a safe, dignified and just way.

All schools, including St Joseph’s College, have a role to play in addressing gender-based violence and sexual violence. The list below provides a summary of the strategies we are enacting in support of larger conversations in this important space. 

1. Student Protection Processes:

Although we are a school, the safety of all our community members is our first priority. This includes emotional safety. If we believe that a student is a risk of physical harm, emotional harm or is neglected, and that there is not a parent or guardian willing and able to protect them from that harm, we have a mandatory student protection reporting responsibility. These reports go to the Department of Child Safety.

If we believe that a child may be at risk of sexual harm, which may include being subject to threats of, or comments about, sexual violence we also have a mandatory student protection reporting responsibility. In cases of sexual harm or potential sexual harm, it does not matter whether there is a parent or guardian willing and able to protect the student, we have a reporting responsibility regardless. These reports go to the Queensland Police Service and, if there is no adult willing and able to protect the child, also to the Department of Child Safety. 

2. Student Protection Contacts

In addition to our student protection reporting processes, in which all staff must be trained as a condition of their employment here, the College has nominated seven student protection contacts. They are:

• Ms Shauna Green (Counsellor)
• Ms Nadine Luhrs (Counsellor)
• Mr Jim Brennan (Principal)
• Mr Brendon Willocks (Deputy Principal)
• Mr Joe Cryle (Assistant Principal- Student Engagement)
• Ms Aleesha Degen (Murphy House Leader and Relationship, Sexuality and Consent Education Project leader)
• Mr Tom Moore (Rice House Leader)

These staff have undertaken special training in the area of student protection, and are advertised around the school as specific staff students can speak to if they are not feeling safe. 

3. Relationships, Sexuality and Consent Education

Last year, the College embarked on a school-wide educative project in the area of relationships, sexuality and consent education. We believe this is an essential aspect of our student formation and will go some way towards addressing the bigger issue of gender-based and sexual violence. This program is tailored to one particular gender, but helps all students to understand healthy relationships. The initiative to host Adair Donaldson at the College next week is part of this project, as is the Year Ten LoveBites program. We look forward to expanding this program into the future. 

4. Anti-Bullying and Harassment Processes

Bullying and harassment, in any of their forms, have no place at St Joseph’s College. All members of our school community must be able to enjoy a safe school environment. 

At St Joseph’s College, we define relationships issues, bullying and harassment in the following ways: 

A relationship issue is a common occurrence between two people where one person or group has behaved in a way that has upset another person or group. This behaviour may or may not be intentional. It is important not to assume that a relationship issue constitutes bullying. Relationship issues can often be solved through respectful, honest and supported dialogue. 

 Bullying is the utilisation of a power imbalance by one person or group of people to oppress another. That power imbalance can be on the basis of age, physical size, capability in a particular activity, perceived social status or number of people. Bullying includes, but is not limited to, physical bullying, emotional bullying, psychological bullying, racism or sexism. 

Harassment is behaviour that is offensive, unwanted, repeated and that violates another person’s dignity. A power imbalance is not necessary for a situation to be deemed harassment. Harassment includes, but is not limited to, physical harassment, emotional or psychological harassment, racial harassment or sexual harassment. 

If a student believes they or a peer is being bullied or harassed, they can take the following steps:

1. If it safe to do so, calmly ask the person to stop the behaviour that is making them feel threatened.
2. Report the bullying to a trusted and responsible adult, this can be a parent, guardian or a staff member.
3. Report the bullying via Stymie, an anonymous reporting platform (see section 4.7)

If bullying or harassment is reported to the college, we will take the following action:

1. Obtain permission from the victim to act. (School staff are required to act if we believe the student may be at risk of significant harm and there is no adult who is willing and able to protect them from harm).
2. Manage the situation discreetly and record it on our database.
3. Offer support to the victim of bullying
4. Investigate the incident(s) using witness testimony and surveillance cameras where applicable.
5. If necessary, utilise a formal sanction according to our Transgressing The Joey’s Way Compendium
6. If appropriate, the College may invite relevant students to partake in a Restorative Conference. 

5. Support of Community Initiatives

Last week, the College was proud to send representative to the march against domestic and gender-based violence organised by Toowoomba Together. We did this for two reasons i) because we believe it’s important for us a Catholic school in the Edmund Rice tradition to stand in solidarity with those on the margins, including those affected by gender-based and sexual violence and ii) we also believe it supports the holistic educational goals we have for our students, in helping them to become ethical and peaceful members of society.

If you would like to discuss these issues further, please feel free to contact a members of the Senior leadership or Student Engagement teams. 

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

From the Assistant Principal - Religious Education

Domestic and Family Violence Remembrance Day - Toowoomba 

March and Candle Lighting Ceremony 

 Last Wednesday evening, our student leaders and staff attending the Domestic Violence Awareness Action Centre Toowoomba community event to raise awareness and to bring an end to domestic and family violence. 

 Students created posters with messages of hope and calls for an end to the violence in our community. We marched in silence down Ruthven St and returned to the Village Green for a sombre vigil and guest speakers.  

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Domestic violence is a deeply troubling issue that transcends boundaries of age, gender, race, and socio-economic status. It's a topic that often remains shrouded in silence and shame, perpetuating a cycle of suffering and isolation for its victims. The Australian Bureau of Statistics found one in six women, since the age of 15, had experienced physical or sexual violence by a current or previous cohabiting partner. One in four had experienced emotional abuse, while one in six had experienced economic abuse. First Nations women, as well as women from migrant and refugee communities, experience higher levels of domestic violence. 

 As someone with my own experience with domestic violence, I was touched by the solidarity shown by our students. In my early 20s, I was faced with the decision to open up to my loved ones and my work network about my violent and manipulative relationship. During the evening march I observed our students dialoguing about the importance of open communication, having high expectations about how we should be treated and options to challenge behaviours they see as disrespectful. And it filled me with hope. My fears of shame and blame from my former self would have been significantly eased, if I had known the empathy and care of the community I witnessed at the march. I was also acutely made aware that many of these young people are only just a few years from being the same age I was when I was navigating this issue, and I was hugely relieved by how armed they are with knowledge and contacts of key services.  

 The most important quality I believe they are also armed with is empathy. Chanel Contos, in her straight-shooting book ‘Consent Laid Bare’, recognises how empathy education is at the heart of decreasing violence in our society. Very plainly put, if people feel empathy towards another, they much less likely to ever abuse or mistreat them. In a recent social media, Dr Zac Seidler (clinical psychologist, researcher and leading men’s mental health expert) stated, ‘I can’t think of a little boy in this country who ever imagined he would grow up to hurt those he cares about most.’ Which emphasises our role as educators and parents of emerging men and women to help them hold on to and further grow their empathy and love.  

 As a College, we chose to include Use Empathy as an imperative because of the societal impact that empathy can have. Empathy is a choice we make and our student representatives who stood in solidarity at the march demonstrated this. In their attendance our community said, “I hear you, and I am here for you”.  

Empathy education is crucial in combating domestic violence because it fosters a culture of understanding and support. By teaching individuals to recognise the signs of abuse and empathize with those who have experienced it, we can break down the barriers of silence and shame that often prevent victims from seeking help. Empathy empowers us to become allies and advocates for those who have been silenced by fear and intimidation, creating a network of support that can help break the cycle of violence. 

Moreover, empathy education instils values of respect, kindness, and understanding from an early age, laying the foundation for healthy relationships built on mutual respect and compassion. By teaching empathy in schools, workplaces, and communities, we can create a ripple effect of positive change that transcends generations. 

Two key approaches to empathy education in schools and the home are to model empathy and to create experiences of empathy. Demonstrating to our young people what empathy looks likes and sounds like enables them to learn these patterns of behaviour. And providing them with encounters of the other in order to feel empathy. At Joeys, we encourage our students to attend Breakfast Club, Rosie’s, participate in social justice activities, and look out for the people in our community that may be lost. We actively participate in restorative conversations and conferences, and we try and walk in someone else’s shoes, even if the ground is rocky or uneven. All these experiences contribute to the development of empathic and compassionate young people. And these beautiful gospel values could be the solution to the devastating problem of violence plaguing Australian society.  

Recommend Resources  

Joey’s Way Imperative – Use Empathy – Use-Empathy.pdf (sjc.qld.edu.au) 

Consent Laid Bared by Chanel Contos (available as an audiobook on Spotify Premium) 

Understanding the Empathy Deficit by Virgina Tapscott (The Australian, May 4 2024) - https://www.theaustralian.com.au/inquirer/understanding-the-empathy-deficit/news-story/532a3abee4b6d5dad55ab5ab46644361 

MATE – Motivating Action Through Empowerment - MATE - Motivating Action Through Empowerment (matebystander.edu.au) 

Pray for Domestic Violence in Australia 

Loving Father,  

We thank you that you bring light to the darkness of this world.  

We pray that you would bring understanding, knowledge, and acceptance of the truth and expose what hides in the dark and bring it into the light. 

We cry out to you.  

We cry out that these statistics might change.  

We cry out to you that the women and children who are victims of violence would cease to be so.  

We pray that violence in all its forms would cease. 

We pray that you would give us courage to face this epidemic with all that we have.  

To make changes to education, implement early intervention, and resource front-line responders.  

We ask that the Australian government will start to recognise this tragedy for what it is. Most importantly, we ask that your people would be the hands, feet, and voices for change. 

Amen. 

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

College Captains

Hello SJC, 

Term 2 is certainly well underway, and we have been having such a great time, as we hope you are too. We have had the privilege to be a part of many exciting opportunities and events so far this term and we would like to share a brief run down to fill you all in. 

Last week, alongside Mr Brennan and the Academic Captains, we attended the Annual Mayor’s Morning Tea. This was an incredible opportunity to meet fellow Captains from schools across our region and get an insight into goals and motives inspiring change in other schools. We had the pleasure of hearing keynote speeches from a number of different Leaders, as well as a speech from the Mayor himself! The key challenge the Mayor set for all of us at the beginning and the end of his inspiring speech was this; “Don’t count the days, Make the days count!”. This truly has inspired me, and I believe it is a strong motive to stand by throughout life. We have taken many positives away from this event, which has motivated us in leaving our mark on the College and making each day count! 

We also had the powerful and moving opportunity to participate in Toowoomba’s domestic violence awareness march. Alongside the rest of the Student Leadership Team, our hearts and minds were opened to the shocking statistics surrounding domestic violence in Queensland and it is something that we will remember for a long time. Together with this, we have been delighted to get in and mix with our Joey's Community whether in the halls or on special occasions like Joey's Day. It delights the both of us to see everyone getting involved and participating within the school. 

We have loved seeing the energy all throughout Term 1 and Term 2 so far and can only hope and encourage that we keep this momentum going. 

2024 College Captains - Joe McNamara and Sophie Skuse

Murphy House

The Importance of School Attendance: A Message for Parents

Dear Parents,

We hope this newsletter finds you and your family in good health and spirits. Today, we would like to address a crucial aspect of your child’s education - attendance. As depicted in the graphic below, every school day is a stepping stone towards academic excellence and holistic development.

Research consistently highlights the direct correlation between attendance and academic performance. A 95% attendance rate is not just a number but a testament to your child’s commitment to learning and development. It optimizes learning, ensuring that students are exposed to comprehensive curriculum content, interactive learning experiences, and collaborative classroom environments.

1. Maximizing Life Opportunities

School participation is more than just a daily routine; it’s a gateway to a brighter future. By attending school regularly, our children gain essential skills, knowledge, and values that set them up for success. These life opportunities extend beyond the classroom, shaping their ability to navigate the world and contribute positively to their community.

2. Academic Success and Learning Continuity

You’ve probably heard the saying, “You cannot learn what you are not there to learn.” It holds true. Students who attend school consistently improve their chances of academic success. Here’s why:

Continuous Learning: Each day at school builds upon the previous one. When students miss classes, they miss out on valuable content, discussions, and interactions. Regular attendance ensures a continuous flow of learning.

Higher Results: Research consistently shows that students who attend school regularly achieve higher test scores and grades. The more engaged they are in the learning process, the better their academic outcomes.

3. Social and Emotional Development

School isn’t just about textbooks and exams. It’s a place where children develop social skills, build friendships, and learn to collaborate. Regular attendance allows them to:

Form Connections: Attending school regularly helps students connect with peers, teachers, and school staff. These relationships contribute to their emotional well-being and sense of belonging.

Adapt Easily: Consistent attendance helps children adjust to the school environment. They become familiar with routines, expectations, and classroom dynamics.

4. Community Engagement

Our schools are hubs of community life. When children attend school regularly, they actively participate in their community. They engage in events, extracurricular activities, and contribute to a positive school culture. Their presence matters not only for their own growth but also for the collective well-being of the school community.

5. Addressing Challenges

We understand that life can be unpredictable, and occasional absences are inevitable. However, when attendance falls below the recommended rate, students miss considerable learning time. As parents, we can:

Prioritize Attendance: Make school attendance a priority. Encourage your child to attend regularly unless there’s a valid reason for absence.

Communicate: If your child faces challenges (health issues, family emergencies, etc.), communicate with the school. They can provide support and help minimize the impact on learning.

Celebrate Efforts: Acknowledge and celebrate your child’s consistent attendance. Positive reinforcement encourages them to stay engaged.

Remember, everyday counts. Let’s work together to ensure our children benefit fully from their educational journey. By prioritizing attendance, we empower them to thrive academically, socially, and personally.

Thank you for partnering with us in your child’s education!

Make sure with your child to check their attendance rate by logging into the Sentral portal.

References:

NSW Department of Education: Attendance Matters Resources

Education Victoria: The Importance of Full-Time Attendance

Psychreg: Encouraging Regular School Attendance

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

Sport

AFL Gala Day

A team of very enthusiastic boys travelled out to Highfields Recreation Centre for the AFL gala day. Winner of the tournament would go through to the Metro South Darling Downs Championships held in July at the Gold Coast.

Despite facing formidable opponents and inclement weather, the junior boys' football team displayed unwavering determination and perseverance throughout their four games.

In the opening game, the team emerged victorious, setting the tone for the tournament. They followed up with two more wins, securing their place in the Grand Final.

The Grand Final proved to be a hard-fought battle against a highly skilled and determined opponent. Despite the challenges, the junior boys refused to give up, fighting valiantly until the final whistle.

Although they ultimately fell short of the championship, the team's spirit and resilience were a testament to their character. They represented their school with pride and left a lasting impression on the field.

Game 1 v CSHS

3.1.20 - 4.5.29

Game 2 v TSHS

1.2.8 - 6.9. 45

Game 3 v SMC

3.3.21 - 7.3.45

The Grand Final was every bit worthy of its name, at first it was point for point and goal for goal, but as the final siren sounded, we just missed the final goal, narrowly going down by 5 points. 

GF v CLC/OSHS

4.3.27 - 3.4.22

Congratulations to our junior male team, for getting an invite and progressing to the next round.  Concordia had combined with Oakey for the tournament and hence could not progress as a whole school to the next level.

Our standout players for the day were: 

Leading Goalkicker - Harry Mullins

Most improved - Lachlan Glenn

Team player - Caleb Upton

Best and Fairest - Lael Lawrence 

Many thanks to Mrs Lawrence and Mr Morgan for providing the supervision for the day and the training in the lead-up to the gala day. We appreciate their commitment to the boys.

StreetSmarts AFL Gala Day – May 9

Our junior girls took to the field for 4 games on Thursday. They were in high spirits ready to have a great day of footy, with a vast mix of skill and ability from a variety of sports. They were determined and steadfast in their approach to the game. They went out with smiles on their faces and ready to just have fun and get a kick or two in each game. 

The games were against very strong willed and highly skilled opponents. Our young ladies held their heads high and fought until the final siren each and every game.

We started out strong winning our first three game and progressing into the Grand final. 

Results:

Game 1 v Downlands 

2.1. 13 - 2.1. 13

Game 2 v Concordia/TAS

5.5. 35 - 1.2. 8 

Game 3 v SSC

3.0. 18 - 0.0. 0

Game 4 CSHS

7.3. 45 - 1.2. 8

The Grand final was determined by for and against in a 3-way tie, Downlands, St Saviours and Joeys. We managed to scrap through to play Downlands.

The Grand Final was every bit worthy of its name, the girls dug deep and kept fighting until the final siren sounded, winning the Grand Final and progressing to the next round at the Gold Coast along with the boys.

Grand Final v Downlands 

4.5. 30 - 0.1. 1 

Congratulations to our junior Female team, for getting out there and having a go. 

Our standout players for the day were: 

Most improved - Marley Jackwitz 

Leading Goalkicker - Adelaide Morgan 

Team player – Gemma Leigh

Mrs Spain was also presented with her first ever “Coach” shirt. She was very proud of her achievements, and we would like to thank her and Mrs Lawrence for their efforts on the day and appreciate everything they do.

Disc Golf

Again, I am sharing some exciting updates on Joe Paull’s exceptional progress in the sport of Disc Golf.

Last weekend, Joe competed in the Pine Rivers Open in Strathpine. He excelled in the competition, placing 1st in the Juniors category and an impressive 3rd equal overall among the 43 adult participants who played the same challenging layout.

Furthermore, Joe was also honoured at the Sports Darling Downs Awards Breakfast with an award for his outstanding contributions to Disc Golf.

Joe's dedication and hard work have paid off, and we are immensely proud of his achievements. We are confident that he will continue to excel in this sport and inspire others with his passion and determination.

Volleyball & Shooting - Ethan Wilson

Ethan was very proud to be selected in the Under 15 Darling Downs Volleyball team. He was even more thrilled when his team finished 4th in their respective pool.

Ethan is also an accomplished shooter. He competed in the National Field Rifle and 3P Titles shooting competition over the school break and took home 18 medals.

Ethan took home all gold medals in his 15-years age group which makes him National Under 15 Champion.

He is still waiting on the trophy to arrive for the Under 18 2-Rifle Champion (next age group up from his). Ethan won Gold in Precision Air Riffle and Silver in 3P Air Rifle for Under 18’s.

He also achieved a Silver in the Senior competition for Rimfire Field Rifle and Gold I Centrefire Field Rifle Senior. Overall, he came in 14th out of 35 shooters in the senior’s competition. This is not a bad achievement for a 14-year-old up against Australian-level senior shooters.

Ethan will compete again in a few months at another national junior championship in the June/July holidays. We wish him all the best!

Field Hockey

Taylor Diprose, Chelsea Hollist and Hailey Warhurst were part of the Under 18 Women’s Division 2 State Championships held at the Gold Coast April 25 – 28. The girls' team made it through to the grand final there the score at full time was a 1-all draw. This meant the team had to go to the dreaded shootout system to determine a winner.

Taylor was one of the five Toowoomba shooters who managed to score their second shoot-out goal for the tournament.

Hailey was the Toowoomba goalkeeper who had the enormous job of trying to save the goals in the shootouts. She managed to save 4 out of the 5 shots against her, cementing their win with the final save winning 2 – 1.

Darling Downs Schools Cup Hockey - Girls

Two teams of girls arrived at Clyde Park on Tuesday to compete in the annual school’s cup event. We have a Senior and Junior team compete to help with our development in hockey at the College as we have so many players who are capable of being dominant in this competition.

The Senior team started the day off with an 8.00am game against Mary MacKillop. They won this game 5 nil with our scorers being Addyson Jones 2 goals, Taylor Diprose 2 goals (great start to her birthday) and Lacey Prior 1 goal.

The second game was at 8.50am against Downlands and the score line was 2 nil with Claire Zimmerle and Ava Campbell scoring our goals.

Game 3 was at 11.45am and against The Glennie School Team 2. The score line was 9 to nil with birthday girls Taylor scoring 5 goals, Addyson Jones and Ava Campbel scoring two goals each.

Our last game was played at midday before the finals and this was against Toowoomba/Wilsonton State High School combination. Addyson Jones scored 2 goals and, with Taylor Diprose and Maddison Skuse shotting a goal each to win 4 nil.

This meant for the third year in a row we would be playing Glennie in the grand final. And like the previous 2 years, they had the upper hand on us and won 3 goals to 1. Our girls played really well but Glennie just played that little bit better and deserved the win.

The Junior girls played well throughout the day but unfortunately didn’t have many wins, which was disappointing for them. Their day started at 9.15am against TAS with a 1 nil loss. At 10.05am we had a 2 nil loss to Harristown State High School. At 12.10pm we had a game against Scots College where Madeleine Busiko finally put a goal in the back of the net for us. 1.00pm was our last round game against Glennie 1 which was only 7 nil considering they won the grand final. The girls had a really good defensive game.

The final results put us into the playoffs for 9th and 10th place against The Glennie School number 2 team. It was a very close game with Glennie managing to win by 1 nil. 

The girls held their heads high all day and saw some great improvement.

 Darling Downs Schools Cup Hockey - Boys 

The boys travelled out for their tournament on Thursday. They started their day at 8.25am against St Mary’s College Team 2. Will Jensen scored 2 goals, with Maddox Jackson, Dusty Mathews, Jeremy Rauchle and Bradley Schultz all scoring 1 goal each to make the score line 6 nil.

Our next game was at 9.15am against Highfields SSC with Will Jensen scoring our only goal resulting in a 3 to 1 loss.

Downlands was our next opponent with Zander Jackson and Vann Jones both scoring 2 goals each and Jeremy Rauchle and Bradley Schultz scoring one each to have us score the win 6 to 1.

Our last game was against Scots College where Jeremy Rauchle scored twice, and Will Jensen and Zander Jackson put one each into the back of the net to have us come away with a 4 nil scoreline.

At the cross-overs, we played off for 3rd and 4th place against a St Mary’s team which unfortunately defeated us 2 goals to nil and so we finished 4th for the day. This was still a brilliant effort, and the boys should be proud for their efforts.

Many thanks to Miss Flemming for coaching on both days and Mr Farrell for coaching the boys on Thursday.

Also, many thanks to Will and Charlie Jensen, and Claire Zimmerle who gave up their time to umpire for us on respective days. This effort is greatly appreciated.

Student Achievements

Congratulations to the following students who have been called up into Darling Downs teams:

Bianca Gillispie – 13 – 15 years AFL

Sienna Lockwood – 16 – 19 years football (soccer)

Other selections that have not been mentioned:

Taylor Lobwein – Under 15 girl’s touch

Shantel Chadambuka 10 – 12 years girls AFL

 Congratulations to SJC's rugby league representatives at the DD Carnival in Cairns.

And to Kaley Markey and Athena Wirihana playing for DD at Basketball State Titles.

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

Connecting with Careers

Something to think about  

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” 

Zig Ziglar

  In this newsletter, we are focusing on: 

• App access to Options Career Information 
• How knowing your values can positively impact your careers
• myWAY Employability supporting Autistic young people
• SBA Vacancies
• ADF – Air Force
• Year 12 News

Upcoming events 

• National Careers Week
• Tertiary Studies & Careers Expo TSXPO – Brisbane

App access to Options Career Information

The College subscribes to Options Career Information (OCI). OCI is a fortnightly career information bulletin that provides you and your family with knowledge and tools to support you in undertake quality career investigation and planning. It includes a career events calendar so that you won’t miss important events and deadlines. The App can be downloaded onto either Apple or Android smartphones. The College’s Unique Access Code for signing into the OCI App is Joeysway2024. Please note that the OCI subscription terms and conditions prevents this code being circulated beyond the College community.

How knowing your values can positively impact your career

Values shape the career choices we make, but what exactly are values and how can you identify the values that are important to you - those that will positively impact your career? You should know which workplace values are important to you and how they can shape the decisions you make. 

Sabina Read identifies some common values to help you start thinking about what’s important to you. They are listed below. Ask yourself which of these values are important to you and whether there are any you want to add.  

• Adventure: To actively seek, create, or explore novel or stimulating experiences
• Assertiveness: To respectfully stand up for my rights and request what I want
• Authenticity: To be genuine, real - to be true to myself
• Caring: To be considerate towards myself, others, the environment
• Challenge: To keep encouraging myself to grow, learn, improve
• Cooperation: To be cooperative and collaborative with others
• Creativity: To be innovative
• Curiosity: To be open-minded and interested; to explore and discover
• Fairness: To be honest with myself and others
• Humour: To see and appreciate the funny side of life
• Independence: To be self-supportive, and choose my own way of doing things
• Open-mindedness: To see things through/from other’s points of view, and weigh evidence fairly
• Power: To strongly influence or wield authority over others, e.g. taking charge, leading,      organising
• Respect: To be thoughtful towards myself or others; to be polite and show positive regard
• Self-development: To keep growing, advancing or improving in knowledge, skills, character, or life experience
• Supportiveness: To be helpful, encouraging and available to myself or others
• Trust: To be loyal, faithful, sincere and reliable

myWAY Employability supporting Autistic young people

Leaving school is a time of uncertainty for most young people as they face important future life decisions. For many Autistic young people, not knowing what the future holds can be downright scary for them and their families. myWAY Employability is a smart web platform that helps Autistic young people take control of their future. To read the blog post, click here.

SBA Vacancies

For information regarding SBA vacancies, please click here.

Want to be a pilot in the Australian Defence Force!

The Defence Jobs website has information about being a pilot in the Air Force. You can find out:

• An overview of the job
• Find out what it's like
• Salary
• Services and benefits

You will also be able to see Explore the Air Force in 360.

The Defence Work Experience Program provides young Australians interested in Defence as a future career, the opportunity to find out more about the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Australian Public Service (APS). For queries about the Defence Work Experience Program, email Defence.WorkExperienceProgram@defence.gov.au  Click here for more information on the Defence Work Experience Program including:

• Find a placement
• Information for students
• Information for parents
• How to apply
• Student experiences

Year 12: Time is passing quickly - time to start organising

Time is moving quickly and you should be starting to seriously research your course preferences for your QTAC application. If you haven’t a clue where to start or aren’t aware of your options, make an appointment with your school Guidance Officer/Counsellor ASAP.  Some opportunities to assist you are:

- From May to September most of the institutions have open days where you can get information about courses and check out the campuses.

- You will receive the QTAC Guide in June/July or be able to access it online through the QTAC website. It contains information about courses you can apply for through QTAC as well as the application processes.

- 13 - 14 July 2024 - Tertiary Studies Expo (TSXPO) at the RICC Brisbane Showgrounds. Interstate universities will be represented at this expo.

- From August 2024, you can access a range of up-to-date information about the 2024/25 QTAC application and offer processes and the courses offered from the QTAC website.

- 24 & 25 May 2024 - Brisbane Careers and Employment Expo at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Also, careers' expos will be held in regional centres throughout Queensland.

Take advantage of all these opportunities to plan your immediate future. 30 September 2024 is the final date to apply for some courses through QTAC so, when you get your 2025 QTAC book, check it carefully for critical dates.

Upcoming events

13-19 May 2024 National Careers Week

National Careers Week is an initiative of the Career Industry Council of Australia and aims to celebrate careers, career development, career development services and career development practitioners. It also promotes the economic, social and personal benefits of career development for all Australians. This year, National Careers Week will be held between 13 and 19 May 2024.  

Career development is a process of managing learning, work and leisure to progress through life. It includes gaining and using the skills and knowledge needed to plan and make informed decisions about education, training, and work. Everyday decisions and priorities affect career development.

Ultimately, career development is about much more than jobs – it is about how to live your life.

This year, the theme for Careers Week is Make well informed decisions!

Brisbane Tertiary Studies and Careers Expo TSXPO

When:  Saturday 13th July & Sunday 14th July 2024

 Time:     10am – 4pm Both days

 Where: RICC, Brisbane Showgrounds

 Cost:      Admission is FREE!

The 43rd annual Brisbane Tertiary Studies and Careers Expo TSXPO incorporating the QLD Work & Skills Expo will be held on Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th July 2024 from 10am – 4pm on both days at the RICC, Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane. Admission is FREE!

This event presents an ideal opportunity for anyone interested in education and training or those seeking professional career development and employment opportunities. With exhibitors including Australian-Wide and international universities, private education providers, TAFE institutes, graduate employment, Defence Force recruiting, student support services and employers, TSXPO provides a unique opportunity to find everything related to education and employment, under one roof.

A reminder that you can access career information from the St Joseph’s College Careers website.  On the website, you are encouraged to sign up for the Newsfeed and Newsletter.

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

From the SJC Library

Harry Potter Day

Thursday 2nd May we celebrated International Harry Potter Day in the SJC Library!

Participation in these types of events aims to generate discussion and excitement about reading and promote good reading habits which has been proven to have a number of benefits including improving comprehension and vocabulary, increasing empathy and social skills and, stimulating imagination and creativity.

Did you know …

It was a wonderful and magical day where students came to the library at morning tea and lunch to participate in some special ‘classes’ to test their knowledge and skills. Students ‘enrolled’ in: 

History of Magic - sorting the Harry Potter book covers into the correct order.

Defence Against the Dark Arts – finding escaped pixie cut-outs hiding throughout the library and within the book shelves. 

Transfiguration – creating your Patronus from aluminum foil.

Magical Menagerie – making 3D owls.

Pass your OWLs – team trivia on all things Harry Potter.

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Participants earnt points for their house that went towards the Hogwarts House Cup! After a close battle, the 2024 winners were … Hufflepuff!

Students and staff had a fabulous day and thank you to staff who dressed up in support of the event.

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.

The cooler weather has arrived this week.

Why not grab a new All-Purpose Jacket in store for $99.00. 

Water proof and fully lined. 

They are selling fast and we limited stock in some sizes.

Want to keep your neck warm why not grab a Scarf, these are very popular, selling for $25.00.

Why not grab a woollen jumper also for an extra layer of warmth, for under your jacket or just on its own to keep you warm, selling for $75.00

All winter items are available in store including:

• Long Sleeve Shirts
• Long sleeve Junior Blouses
• Formal trousers for males and females
• Tights and stockings
• Tracksuits for sport – pants and jacket

Out of stock:

All Purpose jacket sizes, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL & 5XL

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.

Pass Phrase StJC1956

Second hand items and Football items not available to order online, but are available in store

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.