Newsletter - Term 2 - Week 8 - Issue 124

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Friends of St Joseph’s College,

Last Sunday the feast of Corpus Christi was celebrated across the Diocese, focusing on the Holy Eucharist, in particular the Eucharist being the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

The Eucharist may be considered “Food for our journey” and reminds us that Christ is present in many ways including, the bread and wine we share at mass, the priest who consecrates the bread and wine, the word of God proclaimed and in the assembled people of the Church.
The biblical connection of bread and wine to the Last Supper reminds us of the journey and pathway forward that Christ showed us when he consecrated and blessed the bread and wine. The presence of Christ through the consecration becomes the food for our journey and demonstrates a way to change and trust in the strength of God. In our college community, Fr Ray shares his wisdom and connects our daily lives to the spoken word of Christ. In doing so he feeds and aids us to find hope in our lives. Scripture is the spoken word of Christ, and when we enact those messages we are fed and enriched which is life-giving for others. Finally, we draw sustenance, from those gathered around us in our community as we share our joys, sorrows and even disappointments. In each of the ways we receive food for our journey we are called to encounter Christ in our lives.

Interviews for Year 7 (2025) are currently being undertaken by members of the Senior Leadership Team over the next three weeks. Each meeting provides an opportunity for each young person and their family to become known to us, which is key to knowing every potential learner and their family context. In each small gathering students and families share their stories with our staff, including their strengths, areas for growth and what makes them unique. At the same time, staff explain our Catholic identity, through the Edmund Rice charism and Joey’s Way, so that the college becomes known to each family. Offers for enrolment will occur after all interviews are completed at the end of this semester.

Last week St Joseph’s  College undertook the School Renewal Improvement Process. 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 visited the school for three days.
Through a process of appreciative inquiry, panel members interviewed staff, parents/carers, and students. The questions asked were “In your opinion, what is going well at the school?” and “What could be done better?”  The panel will report to the school community its findings and suggested improvement strategies. This report will be placed on the College website for our community and prospective families to view and will inform the next four-year strategic plan.

Our current building project is progressing nicely and on track to be completed in late November. Framing has been completed on the ground and first floor whilst steel supports have been installed on the top floor in readiness for roof construction. When completed, the state-of-the-art facility will include three new science laboratories, seven flexible learning spaces, student toilets and change rooms, exercise physiology and training room and staff offices.

Student enrichment activities conducted on Wednesday afternoons provide students with a range of options including sport, cooking, science, and study to name but a few. Additionally, students may travel directly home to study, or they may engage in school-approved traineeships, apprenticeships, or work experience. The later option requires prior written approval from parents. As the allocated time is during scheduled school time and part of the curriculum program, students must be under the direct supervision of either the school or parents. Students are not permitted to attend outside-of-school venues such as shopping centers, sporting facilities or other student’s residences.

God Bless
Jim Brennan

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

From the Deputy Principal

Positivity, Grit and Determination

As we navigate the challenges of the academic journey, let us not forget the power of positivity, grit, and determination. It's easy to get discouraged when faced with difficult assignments or exams, but remember the story of Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. Despite facing adversity and even risking her life for the right to education, Malala never lost sight of her goals. Her unwavering determination and positive mindset propelled her forward, inspiring millions around the world. Let her courage and resilience serve as a reminder that with the right study practices, a positive outlook, and unyielding determination, we can overcome any obstacle. Believe in yourselves, embrace the challenges, and let your determination be the driving force behind your success.

Recently there have been concerns raised about vehicular and pedestrian traffic at the Curzon Street gates.
The student gate (marked x) remains open. However, to enhance safety for all, the gate will remain closed. Therefore we ask families to utilize the parking north of that gate (arrows) in an attempt to reduce the potential for any incidents with pedestrians and construction vehicles. 

Upcoming Events

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

From the Assistant Principal - Curriculum

Dear Year 12 Students and Parents and Caregivers,

During October some 30,000 senior students around the state sit External Examinations which are their 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 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. Further information regarding this excellent program is attached, including costs and sessions, as well as a link to a Registration form to enrol.

If you have any questions, please contact the Assistant Principal Curriculum – Mrs Kerrie-Anne Fellenberg at the College or Mr Paul Herbert  Education Services  Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office

PHONE 07 4637 1400 EMAIL Paul.Herbert@twb.catholic.edu.au  

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

From the Assistant Principal - Student Engagement

At St Joseph’s, we are privileged to have access to CANVAS, which is our Learning Management System. One advantage of this system is that it enables students to access their school work if they are not physically present at school, including homework and assessment preparation, much of which happens in the evenings or on weekends.

Having a high quality internet connection is an important enabler of great teaching and learning. If internet connectivity is an issue for your family, you may find this link to the School Broadband Initiative to be helpful.

Relationships, Sexuality and Consent Education

As part of Our Relationships, Sexuality and Consent Education Program, Year 7 and 8 students have been introduced to the Relationships Ladder. At a Year level assembly, staff will guide students in correctly categorising different behaviours into each of these categories.

Women and girls are, statistically, much more likely to be victims of gender-based or sexual violence. With this in mind students will also be introduced to the idea that, while we all strive for the same outcome, males and females have slightly different roles to play in addressing the problem. We ask our boys to assist each other in ‘calling out’ misogynistic behaviour and language, and we ask our girls to support each other and seek out adult help when necessary.

Before the assembly commences, students will be advised that the assembly will cover potentially distressing topics. Guidance counsellors will attend this assembly.

Safety in Bathrooms

Every member of this community must have access to a clean, safe and dignified bathroom to use when they need it. Recently, the College has worked hard to address behaviour that jeopardises this right. We know that when students travel to the bathroom in groups with their friends, the likelihood of challenging, destructive or unsafe behaviour increases.

With this in mind, students should now be aware that they are not permitted to go to the bathroom in groups. Of course, students can use the bathroom when they need it, but this should only ever been done individually, not in groups. Not that students are aware if this expectation, we have updated our compendium so that we can respond appropriately and fairly if students do not meet this expectation

Uniform Expectations- Senior Jackets

The College is now pleased to be able to provide all students with the option of wearing the all-weather jacket. This is available at the uniform shop and can be worn at any time with the school uniform. Now that the all weather jacket is available to students please note the following:

1. The old ‘spray jacket’ will not be an accepted part of the uniform from January 2025 onwards.
2. The historical senior jackets (prior to 2021), which, along with senior jerseys, were made available only to senior students, are no longer an accepted part of the uniform.

Joint Initiative to Address Vaping

Included in this article is an open letter, jointly signed by a number of organisations including the National Catholic Education Commission and the Australian Medical Association. It details the collective concerns from schools and medical professionals about the dangers of vaping. I encourage you to read this letter and take the time to speak with your child about the dangers of vaping.

Enrichment Expectations

Students have also been reminded this week around the College expectations during Enrichment. As you would be aware, students can choose from three broad options on Wednesday afternoons:

1. Select from a suite of Enrichment activities
2. Remain at school for silent, supervised study
3. Go home

If students choose the third option, they must go directly home. Students are not permitted to travel anywhere other than directly home. This is in important aspect of a student’s responsibility in ensuring the College and families are responsibly exercising our duty of care for all students.

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

Brennan Captains

Hello SJC Community! It’s Cooper and Maddie, and we’re the 2024 Brennan House Captains.

Being named the Captains of our beloved house is such an honour to us and has been an overwhelmingly exciting experience so far. Our mission as Captains was to promote participation and engagement in everything the college offers regarding the interhouse competitions. This was because we wanted Brennan House to feel like a team, rather than a group of individuals, and we have certainly achieved that.

Carnivals  

We started the year with the Swimming Carnival, where we may not have won; however, we had great success as individuals and as a team, as many student representatives of Brennan achieved Age Champion, Runner Up, or 3rd Place accolades, as well as coming out on top in team spirit points, with 300 points out of a possible 400. We’ve seen what our house is capable of which will hopefully give us more determination to be the winners of the upcoming Cross Country.

Interhouse Touch and Netball

Outside of the carnivals, students were given the opportunity to represent their house in an interhouse competition during Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes. In Term 1, students in Years 7, 8, and 9 participated in a Touch Football competition, and for Term 2, a Netball competition was hosted. We showed great spirit and participation in the competition despite coming 3rd place again. The senior team, however, are one win away from taking home the championship in the senior Netball competition in which we have also shown great spirit, sportsmanship, and a care for everyone.

Push-Up Challenge

Recently, we have been notified about the Push-Up Challenge for an inspiration for a better mental health. Fellow Brennan House members are leading the challenge and have encouraged us all to participate in this challenge which we would love to see. A designated group for Brennan House students has been made so we can achieve goals, as a team, together. It is our motto to Care for Everybody and that is what we want to influence when doing this challenge, and for our lives.

It has been a joy so far as being the Captains of our house and we cannot wait to see what the future holds for us.

2024 Brennan Captains - Maddison Skuse and Cooper Van Der Linden

Rice House

On January 9, 2007, then Apple CEO Steve Jobs introduced the iPhone for the first time and the world of mobile devices changed forever. Standing on stage at Macworld Expo, Jobs uttered words that would go down in history as introducing a device that would change everything. "Today, Apple is going to reinvent the phone," Jobs said.

You may have read or heard recently about some changes policymakers are mulling regarding the age verification status of social media in some Australian states. In the latest federal budget, the Albanese government announced a 6.5-million-dollar trial of age verification technology for the internet. Queensland, along with NSW, Victoria and South Australia are now considering changing the age of social media eligibility to 16.The recent media coverage of the “36 Months” petition founded by Sydney Radio personality Michael “Wippa” Wipfli, led PM Albanese to albeit endorse a shift of age verification for social media from 13 to 16 years old in the future.

The 36 months petition highlights ‘that kids need more time to develop healthy and secure identities before they’re exposed to the minefield of social media. We’re raising an anxious generation. Excessive social media use is rewiring young brains within a critical window of psychological development, causing an epidemic of mental illness. At 13, children are not yet ready to navigate online social networks safely. These years are crucial for them to develop a secure sense of self alongside social confidence.’

In their recently published book, ‘Grounded’,  Dr Shelly Davidow and Dr Michael Nagel provide a “beacon of wisdom” for today’s parents navigating the complex landscape of modern childhood. The authors highlight the steady decline in adolescent mental health, coinciding with the introduction of the first Apple iPhone. They note there has been an exponential growth in studies suggesting that screen devices are doing more harm than good when left unchecked.

The student engagement team are working hard with lots of students and families who are navigating this new world. St Joseph’s understands the difficultly managing relationships, cyber or otherwise, which can be an impediment to effective learning. Our paramount responsibility is to the safety of our children, this includes online safety.

Our Student Engagement Guidelines highlight how we will respond as a school to issues of poor behaviour including online. What is also important to note is the tools available to families to support their child as they navigate adolescence in the modern online world.

Below is a list of some of the resources available to our community free of charge, along with links outlined above to support.

The SJC Online Safety Hub    |               School TV         |               Qustodio

If you believe you or your child’s interactions online are impacting their learning, or their ability to attend school at an appropriate rate. Please contact your child’s JW teacher or a member of the Student Engagement Team.  

Thomas Moore - Student Engagement Middle Leader - Rice House  - tmoore@sjc.qld.edu.au

Sport

More Darling Downs Achievements

We are thrilled to announce the exceptional performances of our representatives in the Darling Downs AFL teams at recent state championships.

13 – 15 years Boys’ Team:

Congratulations to Jacob Murrie, Nick Jensen, Lael Lawrence and Caleb Upton for their remarkable participation.

13 – 15 years Girls’ Team:

A round of applause to Charlie Bucknell, Gemma Leigh, Bianca Gillispie, Paityn Wilson and Mikayla Zirbel for their outstanding representation.

16 – 19 Years Basketball team:

Special recognition to Tyla-Jo Salmi and Rebecca Scott who were part of this team. The girls showcased incredible talent and sportsmanship, finished 5th overall and narrowly missing a higher position. In the round games they lost to eventual winners by 2 points.

We commend all our students for their dedication and hard work at the championships and the support that parents give to enable them to be part of these teams.

Intermediate Volleyball All Schools Cup – Gold Coast

Eight very keen volleyball girls and two staff boarded the bus last Friday morning to travel to the Gold Coast to play in the intermediate Volleyball All Schools Cup at Carrara.

The girls were playing in the Year 10 competition.

Their results and score were:

Game 1: SJC v’s QASMT Set 1: 14 to 25, Set 2: 16 to 25 and Set 3: 11 to 25.

Game 2: SJC v’s Sandgate Set 1: 25 to 19, Set 2: 9 to 25 and Set 3: 25 to 16.

Game 3: SJC v’s Park Ridge Set 1: 20 to 25, Set 2: 17 to 25 and Set 3: 12 to 21.

Game 4: SJC v’s Somerset 1 Set 1: 17 to 25, Set 2: 17 to 25 and Set 3: 16 to 25.

Game 4: SJC v’s Gladstone Set 1: 25 to 18, Set 2: 26 to 24 and Set 3 14 to 16

Game 5: Qualifier SJC v’s Sandgate Set 1: 25 to 15, Set 2: 27 to 25.

This meant the girls had the opportunity to play off for the bronze medal in their next game against Somerset 1.

Game 6: SJC v’s Somerset 1 Set 1 17 to 25, Set 2: 25 to 22 and Set 3: 6 to 15 meaning we just missed out on the medal.

Many thanks to Ms Moon and Ms Pedernal for giving of their time to take the girls away for the weekend. It was gratefully appreciated by all involved.

Junior and Senior Vicki Wilson

On Friday May 31 both of our Vicki Wilson teams embarked on a journey to the Nell E. Robinson courts for a day filled with netball excitement.

The junior team had dedicated time and effort in preparation for this competition, engaging in small competitions every Thursday afternoon. Despite facing tough competition and older students, our performance wasn’t as strong as anticipated. However, this experience provided valuable lessons for the girls and served as a fantastic introduction to upcoming netball competitions.

Similarly, the senior team didn’t quite reach their full potential at the event. Nevertheless, this served as excellent training for the upcoming QISSN carnival in Townsville, scheduled for the first week of the holidays.

A special thanks to Mr Wheeldon for coaching the junior team and umpiring for the senior team. Gratitude is also extended to Mrs Luhrs for volunteering to score for both teams and to Mrs Brisbane for her managerial support, ensuring everyone was organised and in the right place at the right time. The girls and I truly appreciated the thoughtful gift you provided to the team.

Thank you to all who support and contributed to our netball journey. Looking forward to future successes together.

Tuesday Night Volleyball

The finals begin next week with finals in all division. The intermediate boys will play in the gold medal match next week after defeating the top team this week. Joey’s Hornets will play off for 5^th/6^th place. In the girl’s division Joey’s Pink will play off for 7^th/8^th place, Joey’s Shockwave will be playing off for the gold medal and Joey’s Hustlers will finish in 5^th/6^th place.

Again, a huge thank you Miss Jannusch and Miss Pedernal for taking these teams of a Tuesday night. Chelsee Kidd has also put her hand up to coach a team and this is greatly appreciated by the College and of course the girls.

Almost another Queensland Shirt

Congratulations to Leteena Medland who is now a state championship winner after her Darling Downs team won the state championships in the Rugby 7’s competition held in Brisbane May 31 to June 2. Leteena was also announced as a shadow player for Queensland, which is really great news for her.

Come one come all to the St Joseph’s College Cross Country and Colour Explosion event to be held on Friday June 21.

The day commences with a Shave for a Cure where we can watch 13 brave people shave or colour their hair after raising huge amounts of money to assist in finding a cure for the insidious disease of cancer.

Then we go outside and run the cross country where we do our best for our house colours. Will Murphy rise to the top, or will Rice come from bottom of the pile and overtake everyone. Brennan has been doing so well, will their followers come along and push their house to the top of the pile. Will McAuley rise like the phoenix and take out the trophy for best house? You cannot find out if you are not here, so don’t stay at home and sleep, come and join us for a fantastic day of fun and laughter.

To finish the day the teachers, get the chance to throw paint all over you and see what you look like at the end of the day. In most cases teachers end up with more paint on them than the students.

The College requests wearing the following:

• Must have run in the cross country to compete in the colour run
• Sunglasses, Snorkels or other creative and safe eye protection
• Scarves, masks, or bandanas around noses and mouths
• Optional pre-purchases of a bandana, multi-coloured headband and sunglasses packs can be ordered via edsmart – these have arrived and can be collected on Thursday before the carnival.
• White shirt for colour runners
• Black shirt for asthmatic/allergy runners (won’t be coloured), but still participate
• SJC Sports Uniform must be changed into after the colour run
• Students should come prepared for a day full of colour and fun!
• Start getting organised and get your white shirt and your House colour accessories ready!
• **** We ask for all students to wear their sports uniform to school for the Shave for a Cure Event and running of the cross country. Students will be asked to change into their white shirts for the running of the colour explosion.  Students will then need to change back into their sports uniform afterwards to travel home. Please try not to wear the sports uniform in the colour run. We prefer a change of clothes. A towel on the seats of cars and buses to home will be a great idea as well.
• For any student that has allergies and does not want the colour on them, we recommend for these students to wear a different coloured t-shirt, black, that way they’ll stand out from the other students. This way all colour throwers and fellow students will know that these students are not to be touched with the colour powder.

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

Connecting with Careers

Something to think about  

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”

(Walt Disney)

  In this newsletter, we are focusing on: 

• How can parents support their teens’ career exploration
• Ideas to assist you with managing panic and reducing anxiety
• Life as….. career podcasts
• Build your skills, build your resume
• ATAR – All you need to know
• Griffith University future students with a disability or health condition
• Upcoming events
  • Tertiary Studies & Careers Expo TSXPO – Brisbane
  • QLD Police | Open Day Brisbane

This term has seen Lunch and Learn return.  The purpose of the Lunch and Learn workshops is to support students to in their career journeys.  During the Lunch and Learn on Tuesday, 28 May 2024, St Joseph’s College welcomed Griffith University to speak with some Year 12 students about the exciting opportunities available at Griffith University.  At our upcoming Lunch and Learn on Tuesday, 11 June 2024, the Career Pathways Team will support Year 12 students to learn where to locate career information about QTAC, universities, Early Entry Schemes and much more!  The Lunch and Learn is invitational to all students. All welcome!

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.

How can parents support their teens’ career exploration?

Helping young people navigate their high school careers to prepare for post-secondary or work life is personal to every family. However, how older generations view careers and life will be vastly different from the world of work that Generation Z and future generations will face because of the rapid evolution of tech and AI. So, what can parents do to help increase their child’s success in the changing world of work? Click here to read an article by Connie Lee where she talks about:

• Exploration
• Research and look for trends
• Have open conversations
• Cultivate resilience and flexibility

Ideas to assist you with managing panic and reducing anxiety

• Idea 1:  When you are starting to panic remember this is an exaggerated physical reaction to stress. The feelings are unpleasant, but you can cope with them … breath!
• Idea 2:  Concentrate on your breathing – Breathe three deep breaths in and out slowly closing your eyes (when possible) as you do it … repeat until your heart rate is settled.
• Idea 3:  Watch your thinking. Say in your head statements like: “It’s OK”, “I can cope”, “breath”, “I can manage this” …
• Idea 4:  Use distracting techniques – count backwards from 100 or describe a painting to yourself or remember a happy time
• Idea 5:  Tell yourself that this is just one point in time and it will pass …

It is important to think in positive words to yourself. Everyone gets stressed and can panic but learning how to manage it will make the panic become less frequent. Always remember to back yourself. If you are finding managing your stress and/or panic difficult, speak with your school guidance officer, school counsellor or make an appointment to see your family doctor. They will all have great ideas to assist you to move forward positively and confidently.

Life as a ... career podcasts

Life as a … are dedicated to serving up career learnings, inspiration and exploration opportunities to young people. Since the airing of the first LIFE AS A.. podcast episode in 2021, careful attention has been paid to uncovering intimate details and career minded insights from a lineup of exceptional guests from around the world. These conversations are wide and varied based on the exploring of different professions and professional worlds. Click here to check out the many podcasts they now have available.

Build your skills, build your resume

Everyone has a metaphorical ‘skills bucket’ they carry with them throughout their life and career. Your bucket is full of skills you may have picked up at school, in different jobs, or even life situations. Ever wondered how many skills you have in your bucket? These could include:

• Time management – obtained at school when you were learning how to prioritise study with completing assignments, or in the workplace when you managed several tasks with competing deadlines.
• Self-motivation – gained through completing a VET qualification, university degree or traineeship.
• Enhanced communication – achieved by undertaking additional training courses or navigating relationships in your personal life. 

Your Career has published an article where you can find out about:

• Taking stock of your skills
• Adding to your skills bucket list
• Skills for the Digital Age

ATAR – All you need to know

English eligibility for ATAR

QTAC, who calculate the individual ATARs, has outlined eligibility requirements (scroll down the page) students must meet to be awarded an ATAR. Student must have:

• Successful completion of an English subject is a mandatory requirement for the award of an ATAR. Students are required to successfully complete (i.e. be awarded a raw letter grade of “C” or better) in one of the following QCAA English subject offerings: English, English as an Additional Language, Literature, English & Literature Extension or Essential English
• While successful completion of an English subject is a mandatory requirement for ATAR eligibility, there are no other mandatory subject inclusions for the ATAR
• Not all English subjects will meet the English prerequisite requirements for universities and courses. You must check each university’s prerequisites.
• While students must satisfactorily complete an English subject to be eligible for an ATAR, the result in English will only be included in the ATAR calculation if it is one of the student’s best five subject results.
• Only General English subjects or Applied English subjects can be included in a student’s ATAR, but not both (e.g. English and Essential English)

An added note regarding mathematics subjects:

• Only General Mathematics subjects or Applied Mathematics subjects can be included in a student’s ATAR, but not both (e.g. Mathematical Methods and Essential Mathematics)

ATAR cut-offs and how they work

The ATAR is a rank. It measures you against the other students in your year, and gives you a number that is easily comparable. Universities need this rank because there are often more applicants than places, particularly in popular courses – that’s why they often set a minimum ATAR for entry into a course, also known as the ATAR cut-off.

But there are a lot of misconceptions about what this cut-off means, including for the quality of the course and the people applying for it. Let’s go over ATAR cut-offs and find out what they’re really for.

Why do courses have an ATAR cut-off?

Like we mentioned above, it’s just the easiest way for universities to decide who gets what spots. The ATAR required to get into a course isn’t necessarily a reflection of the achievement level needed to complete the course or do the job.

For example, say a course has 100 places, but there are 200 applicants. The first 100 students to apply with a Selection Rank (their ATAR plus any adjustment factors) above the cut-off will secure the spots.

In general, course places are allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis. In rare cases, students with the same Selection Rank may be further sorted based on other factors, like specific subject results or equity factors.

Can I still get in with an ATAR lower than the cut-off?

Sometimes you may still secure a place in a course even if your ATAR is below the cut-off. This is because you may be eligible for adjustment factors (also known as bonus points) that bump your Selection Rank above the cut-off. Using the course example above, here’s a scenario where this is the case:

• Student 98 – 79 SR (ATAR of 79)
• Student 99 – 78 SR (ATAR of 78)
• Student 100 – 78 SR (ATAR of 76 plus 2 bonus points)
• Student 101 – 77 SR (ATAR of 77)
• Student 102 – 77 SR (ATAR of 76 plus 1 bonus point)
•  

Student 100 got in because their Selection Rank (ATAR + adjustment factors) was 78. Student 101 didn’t miss out because they were incapable of completing the course; they missed out because their Selection Rank was lower than 100 other applicants. That cut-off has nothing to do with student competence.

Some universities and courses also have special lower cut-offs for particular students, like those from regional areas or First Nations students, to try and attract a diverse range of people to certain careers. For example, the standard ATAR cut-off for entry into the University of Newcastle’s Joint Medical Program is 94.3 – but students from rural or regional areas only need an ATAR of 91.4.

Do course cut-offs change?

If the general quality of applicants goes down, the next year may have a lower cut-off. And vice versa, if in the following year the course becomes even more popular, it may have a higher cut-off.

The quality of graduates depends on a huge range of factors, including teaching quality, opportunities to complete internships or work experience throughout your course, student engagement, support services, and more.

In some cases, courses that require a high level of commitment and study will have a higher cut-off. This is commonly seen in courses like medicine, law, and some engineering disciplines. Universities set a high cut-off to show that if you weren’t keen on studying hard at school, you probably won’t like the content of this particular course either.

And if there’s a career or job in high demand, universities might also sometimes lower the ATAR cut-off to related courses to try and entice more students to skill up and fill the need.

If a course has a high/low cut-off, does that mean it’s good/bad?

Not necessarily. There’s a common conception among students that courses with high cut-offs must be prestigious and special; and that courses with low cut-offs are perhaps not as comprehensive or meaningful.

But as we can see, there are actually lots of factors that go into deciding the cut-off for a course, not just how “difficult” or “smart” it is. And often, identical courses at different universities will have different cut-offs – so they might attract different applicants, but every student will still graduate with exactly the same qualification.

So, how are cut-offs decided?

Put simply, cut-off scores are a reflection of:

• Course popularity (number of applications)
• How many places are available in the course
• Academic performance of the applicants
• Whether there are jobs in high demand

What if I miss out on a place?

If you miss out on the course you’d like to do because your selection rank is lower than the cut-off or places fill up early, don’t be disheartened – there are still other ways that you can secure a spot:

• Study the same course at a different university with a lower cut-off or more places
• Apply for a different course at the same university, then transfer internally on to your preferred course
• Study an alternative qualification, then use it to gain entry instead of your ATAR (your first qualification could even take some time off your second)
•  

Your best bet is to contact the university directly and see what advice they can offer.

Griffith Uni future students with a disability or health condition

If you are a future student with a disability or health condition or a parent/carer, Griffith Uni encourage you to talk to their Student Disability and Accessibility team about what supports you may need while at university. Click here to find out how you can talk to them about:

• making an application
• preparing documentation
• reasonable adjustments
• transitioning to university
• resources for parents

Upcoming events

2024 43rd Annual 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.

Queensland Police Service | Open Day - Brisbane

July 20, 2024

Join us on July 20, at our QPS Open Day to learn all about a career with the Queensland Police Service.

Take this rare opportunity to check out our state-of-the-art training facilities and chat with our specialist units like the Dog Squad, Road Policing Command, Dive Squad, Mounted Unit, Stock Squad, PolAir and many many more.

Policing can be a lifelong career with many different pathways, so take your time touring our training facility, driver training track and firearms range, and drop in to an information session throughout the day where you can ask questions about your future career.

Find out more

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

Just Joeys

We hope this message finds you well.

As the winter season approaches, we are reminded of the challenges that many in our community face during these colder months. And once again, as the winter season approaches, St Joseph’s College is proud to again announce our partnership with St Vincent De Paul’s for the annual Winter Appeal, supporting our local community in these tough months.  

The Winter Appeal is a time where we come together to put into practice the Catholic calling “to love our neighbours [and]...share faith in action”. We come together to enliven the Ricean practice of ‘liberation’. We come together to put into practice our very own Joey’s way values of compassion, respect, and dignity. We come together, as the St Joseph’s Community, to support our neighbours with serious need.

This year, the need is greater than ever. Many families are struggling with the economic impacts of the ongoing pandemic—the runaway train of Toowoomba’s rental and housing crisis and the continued exacerbation of the ubiquitous cost of living crisis. In 2021, it was revealed that 821 people in Toowoomba were homeless—young people, families, the elderly—and this year, in 2024, that number is even higher. And it’s no wonder when many people are struggling to find full-time work in Toowoomba; compared to the rest of Queensland, Toowoomba’s unemployment is significantly higher. We also mustn’t forget a whole third of the people who are employed in Toowoomba are only employed part-time.

It's no wonder that the average person can no longer afford to pay rent. The median rental price in Toowoomba has shot up to $470-$507 per week, almost double the median $300 per week we experienced in 2021. And of course, many people would consider this expense a luxury given that the Toowoomba Rental Vacancy Rate is so incredibly low—somewhere between 0.4% and 0.9%. That’s the percentage of homes that are available to rent this quarter. Out of every 100 rental properties—houses or units or rooms—you’d be lucky to find one empty and available to rent.

So, as you can imagine, the winter months are particularly harsh for those without adequate shelter, heating, clothing, or food. For those who are struggling. Battling.

But we can help. At St Joseph’s, we are called to help—by our faith, by our values, by our community, and by our conscience. While there are several ways you can help this Winter Appeal, we are simply asking our community to donate:

• non-perishable food items,
• hygiene and sanitary items,
• warm clothing, and
• blankets.

To protect the dignity of those we are helping, we ask that the community please ensure items are in 'like new’ condition.

We believe that every act of kindness, no matter how small, can make a big difference. Let’s come together as a community this winter and show our support for those in need.

Thank you for your continued support and generosity. Together, we can make this Winter Appeal a success and bring warmth and comfort to those who need it most.

Warm Regards,

The Year 10 Just Joey’s Team

The Arts

How we celebrate Arts Education at SJC

During Week 6 of Term 2, the Arts Department facilitated a week full of art activities and events to engage the whole college for International Arts Education Week (May). This international event was started in 2012 by a worldwide organisation called The World Alliance for Arts Education. The week intends to increase our community’s awareness of the importance of arts education by connecting socially within community through the Arts. At St Joseph’s College, we offer Drama, Music and Visual Arts where our students learn to express themselves creatively and in doing so, develop crucial 21st Century Skills (Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration and Communication). In addition, they develop soft skills through these highly practical subjects that focus being flexible and adaptable, problem-solvers, risk-takers and help develop their time-management and self-esteem, for example: all essential for the 21st-century workforce.  

The aim of the event was to make the Arts accessible to all students. Activities were planned during the Joey’s Way curriculum such as engaging in mindful digital colouring in to engage in their creativity, learning about rhythm through watching YouTube tutorials challenging students to be risk-takers and using everyday materials as tools to make sounds and beats, and embracing friendly banter of Shakespearean insults by coming together as a JW group.

Our Arts@Lunch activities are always a hit where students can drop in and participate as audiences or perform. We had a Music Jam in Crimmins Court, Drama Games in McAuley Hall, Dance Troupe performed, as well as, face painting by Senior Art students and a collaborative drawing activity run by the Mission Captains. The Creative Careers Panel had a diverse range of speakers including a Building Architect, Theatre Technician and Music Tutor. They shared similar insights and the best piece of advice was to make sure students take opportunities that come their way.

Events like these allow students to engage outside the typical classroom environment and showcase their talents as well as participate socially.

Life without the Arts is a little more dull, and research shows those who study the Arts has a positive impact on academics and well-being (Creative Australia).  We encourage students to choose subjects they enjoy and by studying an Arts subject, this complements the skills learned through the Arts.

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Thank you to our amazingly dedicated Arts team and Cultural Captains, Izabella Harch and Camillo Lanzafame, in helping put this event together that made this whole school participation in celebrating the Arts at SJC a success.

Source: Research shows involvement in the arts has wide-ranging benefits for young people - Creative Australia

Chrissy Dwyer - Curriculum Middle Leader - Arts -  CDwyer@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.

Are you loving these cold mornings and cooler days?

Winter has definitely arrived this week.

All winter items are available in store including:

• All Purpose Jacket
• Scarves
• Woollen Jumper
• Long Sleeve Shirts
• Long sleeve Junior Blouses
• Formal trousers for males and females
• Tights and stockings
• Tracksuit for sport – pants and jacket

Out of stock:

• All Purpose jacket sizes M, 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 or payment over the phone.

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.