Newsletter - Term 4 - Week 6 - Issue 133

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Friends of St Joseph’s College,

Last week I attended the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Leadership Forum which was held at the Micah Centre in Toowoomba. In his address to the thirty-two principals and senior leadership staff assembled, Executive Director, Dr Pat Coughlin delivered a keynote address titled “Where there is no vision the people don’t perish, the leave”. This theme is adapted from Proverbs 29. At St Joseph’s College we have a vision to provide a liberating education in a distinctively Catholic environment and I look forward to celebrating the fruits of this vision at our annual presentation evening to be held next Tuesday 12^th November at the Empire Theatre.

Research clearly indicates that one of the key pillars of highly performing schools is the quality of teaching staff. Professional development of staff is critical to ensuring that practice in the classroom continues to meet the needs of our students. I am pleased and proud to announce to two of our senior leaders, Ms Maree Comerford and Mr Brendon Willocks will present at the National Education Summit in Brisbane in 2025. They will be presenting how St Joseph’s College engages teaching staff in professional learning teams, that utilise impact cycles to research and implement the latest teaching practices. Last week sixty-teaching staff presented their individual work from their research to colleagues, Toowoomba Catholic Education staff and invited university guests. The quality of the presentations was exceptional and forms the basis of what Maree and Brendon will share with educators from across the country on July 31- August 1 next year.

Congratulations to Ms Kellie- Maree Ford who has been successful in being appointed to the position of Project Officer for Respectful Relationships at Toowoomba Catholic Education Office. Kellie will work with the thirty-two schools of the Diocese to implement the above curriculum. Ms Ford has been seconded for twelve months and will return to the college in 2025. Her appointment is another example of the high-quality staff being developed at St Joseph’s College. A recruitment process has begun to backfill the Assistant Principal Mission and Identity position.

Next Monday we welcome Mr Bradley Suhr to the St Joseph’s College Team. Brad will be working with our Grounds and Maintenance Team and comes with extensive trade experience. Brad is a product of Catholic Education having studied at St Mary’s College and we are delighted with his appointment.

A reminder that from January 2025 the current spray jacket will no longer be part of the school uniform. This item has been phased out over the last two years and has been replaced by the much warmer all purpose jacket. The spray jacket may still be used for Physical Education classes. The college backpack is also a mandatory item for all students to purchase. It is designed specifically for school context, and I encourage all new students and those replacing exiting packs to utilise this item.

Many students from St Joseph’s College access the 7/11 store on the corner of Mackenzie and Perth St before and after school for convenience. To ensure the safety of our students we request that students are picked up and dropped off in the school precinct. Once on the college site in the morning prior to 8.30am students are not permitted to leave the grounds. Students walking or riding to and from school wishing to utilise the 7/11 store are required to move directly on from the store once they have completed their purchases. Students are also required to wear the full college uniform as per the college guidelines including wearing shirts in (males) and wearing the college hat whilst they are travelling to and from this site.

Our Year 12 students have completed their assessment requirements and enter the last week of their schooling life. The college will celebrate our Year 12 students with their families next week with a Farewell Assembly on Thursday morning before we gather for Graduation Mass and Valedictory Dinner during the evening. Please keep our senior students and families in your thoughts and prayers during next week.

God Bless,

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

From the Deputy Principal

Communication Protocols

We would like to take a moment to explain the importance of our communication guidelines. As educators, we believe in fostering a healthy balance for our dedicated teachers, while ensuring effective and timely communication with parents and students alike. By setting a 2-business day turnaround for communication, we aim to provide thorough and thoughtful responses to inquiries. This timeframe allows teachers to provide careful consideration to queries and provide well-rounded solutions. Additionally, we have established the hours of 6am to 6pm as the designated communication window for staff to respond to queries. We have requested that teachers refrain from emailing students and parents outside of these hours to foster a sustainable and healthy teaching environment. Thank you for your understanding and support in upholding these communication expectations. Together, we can create an environment where effective communication thrives, while respecting the personal boundaries of our dedicated educators.

Presentation Night

All of the St Joseph’s College community is invited to our Presentation Night. This evening is an opportunity to celebrate the culture and spirit of the College and recognise the achievements of students in all domains of schooling – Academic, Cultural, Sporting, Engagement & Leadership, Faith & Social Justice.

When: 12 November 2024. 6:15pm arrivals for 6:30pm start

Where: Empire Theatre Toowoomba

Tickets: Free – tickets available from this link

Teacher Showcase

St Joseph’s College has a rigorous and robust Professional Learning Framework. Staff participate in weekly professional learning teams, engaging with impact cycles to improve student outcomes and build self and collective efficacy. In 2024, our professional learning journey culminated in a Twilight Sharing Showcase (Tuesday 5 November), which celebrated our successes as a community of learners. Thanks to all the SJC teachers for your collegiality and sharing the learning journey.

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

From the Assistant Principal - Curriculum

Known upcoming Absences

At St Joseph’s College, the leave form process for students begins with parents notifying the College by contacting either the Middle Years Learning Leader (7-9), Mrs Andrews, or the Acting Senior Years Learning Leader (10-12), Mr Whiting, to explain the upcoming absence. It is important to note that students should not miss school for family holidays. Following this, students must collect a leave form from the relevant Learning Leader and have it completed by each teacher, outlining the work to be done during their absence. This form must be submitted at least five days before departure. Additionally, students will not be able to access their laptop or Canvas if they are overseas unless the form is completed, and the ICT manager is notified five days prior to departure. The completed form is to be returned to the relevant program leader. If there are any questions, parents or students should contact the College.

Please be aware that exams will not be rescheduled for absences due to family holidays or other non-endorsed commitments, and assignments must still be submitted on or before the due date.

Year 11 Exam Block

Year 11 Exam Block – Monday, 18 November – Thursday 21 November

The purpose of this letter is to outline information regarding the Year 11 Exam Block in Week 8. To support Year 11 students to best prepare for their first pieces of summative assessment for Unit 3, an exam block during Week 8 of Term 4 is indicated in the Assessment Calendar provided to students and parents. Students should approach these examinations with a determination to ‘aspire to excellence’ and therefore prepare thoroughly. Please note Year 11 English students need to book a time with their teacher for their IA2 oral presentation.  

Year 11 students are required to attend school from Monday, 18 November until Thursday, 21 November only when they have scheduled examinations as indicated their assessment schedule. 

Parents and caregivers may be contacted by individual teachers if students are required to attend school in a supervised classroom to complete outstanding work for them from Monday, 18 November until Thursday, 21 November.

Please note:

• All students are required to wear their full school uniform whenever they are at school.
• When not on campus, students are not to be in school uniform or carrying the College bag.
• Student must travel directly to and from home.
• Students who choose to remain at school after an exam for private study must sign into the College via Student Entrance. Additionally, these students will be completing silent, supervised study. Students will complete their work individually under supervision.
• If there is a reason as to why an examination cannot be sat at the scheduled time (illness or extenuating circumstances), it is essential that contact be made with Mr Bill Whiting (Acting Senior School Learning Leader) or Mrs Kerrie-Anne Fellenberg (Assistant Principal Curriculum) by contacting the College on 4631 8500. 
• College examinations cannot be rescheduled without appropriate and accompanying documentation as per QCAA guidelines and the St Joseph’s College Assessment Procedures.

The QCAA preferred medical certificate can be downloaded from the QCAA website here:
AARA resources | Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (qcaa.qld.edu.au

• Students must attend on time for their assessment and bring appropriate equipment.

As always, if you have any questions regarding this internal exam block, please do not hesitate to contact the College. 

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

From the Assistant Principal - Student Engagement

Merit Trip 2024 

Once again, the College looks forward to recognising the fantastic efforts of the majority of its students through the annual Merit Trip to Dreamworld. Students who meet the 2024 Merit Trip criteria will receive their invitations via EdSmart by next week. The criteria for the Merit Trip is outlined below: 

• Have two or fewer uniform infringements in Term 2, Term 3 and Term 4 

• Have two or fewer Ignatius Room referrals Term 2, Term 3 and Term 4 

• All VGs, Gs and Ss for Behaviour and Application on any reports published across Term 2, Term 3, and Term 4. 

• No suspensions in Term 2, Term 3 and Term 

• Have greater than 95% attendance in Term 2, Term 3 and Term 4 OR have absences justified by a medical certificate. 

*Please note that when school staff make judgements about a student’s merit trip eligibility, we always interrogate student attendance data beyond the raw attendance percentage. Attendance-based eligibility decisions will factor in: 

• Patterns of non-attendance (e.g one week absence may indicate illness, whereas scattered individual days may be indicative of another factor impacting attendance) 

• Whether medical certificates have been provided for a student’s absence 

• Whether a student has demonstrated a long-term pattern of non-attendance 

• Whether the student has not attended on various ALTERNATIVE Learning Days (ALDs) such as Joey’s Day, Swimming, Athletics and Cross Country Carnivals and Camps. 

The dates for the 2024 Merit Trips are as follows 

• Yr 10 & 11: Friday 22 November (Term 4 , Week 8) 

• Yr 8 & 9: Monday 2 December (Term 4, Week 10) 

• Yr 7: Tuesday 3 December (Term 4, Week 10) 

Uniform Reminders 

In addition to having all the items required (and no more), it is essential that our students choose to wear their uniform well. Specifically, this means that students are: 

1. Wearing their hat any time they are outside, and  

1. Students wearing the boys uniform must have their shirt tucked in (unless playing games on the oval). 

Paying attention to both these expectations should be part of every students routine when exiting class but also exiting transport on the way to and from school. We greatly appreciate the assistance of our parents in ensuring all our students present themselves neatly, correctly and with pride. 

Our uniform requirements can be accessed here.  

7-Eleven 

We have been advised by staff at the 7-Eleven on the corner of Mackenzie and Perth St that a small number of our students have conducted themselves poorly while in the store. Students can expect an increased staff presence at the 7-Eleven in the future and are reminded that The Joey’s Way is applicable 24/7, and that it is essential that our students conduct themselves accordingly. 

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

From the Assistant Principal - Mission & Identity

The Significance of Rituals

In Week 7, we will celebrate the journey and achievements of our 2024 Year 12 cohort.  This week is an opportunity for our College to thank our Year 12s for all they have contributed across their time at St Joseph’s. It is also an opportunity to farewell them as they embark on the next part of their journeys.

Rituals help us to recognise the changes in our lives and mark occasions when our role in the community is changing.

Currently, our Year 12s are in a liminal stage. Liminal stages are times when a person or a group are in the process of transition.  Our Year 12s stand on the threshold. They are almost ready to transition to the next stage of their journey. Next week we will celebrate in our ritual as they cross the threshold from school student to graduate.

In Joey’s Way lessons this week, students are learning about the power of rituals like Graduation and the many symbols we use to create meaning.

Some of the significant symbols are:

• Hands of Blessing – We raise our hands over the seniors as we pray for them.
• Guard of Honour – A tunnel of the community that our seniors walk through at the end of their farewell assembly.
• College Candle & House Candles
• Senior Tie
• The School Song

Prayer for our Graduating Students

Father God,
We thank you for these graduating students.
We pray that you will give them
direction, purpose, and perseverance
as they enter the next phrase of their lives.
Give them clearness of mind to move forward
into the plans and purposes that You have for them.
May these young people gain wisdom from You
and have discernment for proper behaviour.
Raise up mentors for these graduates
so they have someone who
holds them accountable for their actions.
We pray that they will have the boldness
to stand up for what is right
wherever they work, study, or socialize.
Give them wisdom to spend their time and money wisely.
Grant them success for their efforts at every turn
and guide their feet to follow Your ways.
May they be eager to do good and not evil
all the days of their lives.
Use them in mighty ways.
In Jesus name,
Amen.

Presentation Night – An Opportunity to Live the Joey’s Way

In Week 7, we will also symbolically recognise students’ achievements in our Presentation Night on Tuesday 12 November at the Empire Theatre.

Within the structure of the evening, the College will recognise students who have demonstrated our Joey’s Way imperatives, particularly ‘Aspire to Excellence’. The awards cover all aspects of College life and we will also have special awards across each of these areas.

• Engagement and Leadership
• Cultural
• Sport
• Spiritual
• Academic

This event is an opportunity for students to demonstrate the Joey’s Way imperatives.

Be Proud, Be Humble

• Uniform: Full academic uniform (with the blazer if you have one).
• Attend the event to show my pride in my peers and St Joseph’s College.

Be Punctual and Prepared

• Arrive to all the events on time.
• Stay until dismissal.

Celebrate Diversity

• Celebrate the many achievements by clapping at the end of each section.

Leave it Better than you Found it

• Ensure you take all your belongings and any rubbish with you as you leave the events.
• Help to tidy up by doing your small part.

I look forward to this wonderful evening celebrating how our community has lived our Edmund Rice charism through endeavour, compassion, respect and dignity.

Kellie-Marie Ford - Assistant Principal - Mission & Identity - kford@sjc.qld.edu.au

Rice Captains

Hello and welcome St Joseph’s College to your special welcome to the Rice House Captains of 2025! 

It’s your newly appointed 2025 Rice House captains here, Claire Zimmerle and Zahra Rice. We are truly honoured to be your Rice House captains! We are so eager to take on this leadership role alongside our other 16 leaders. Together, we can’t wait to start serving SJC.  

We are thrilled to share information about the upcoming Waterford challenge, an exciting competition taking place within Rice House! This event opposes JW groups against one another in a spirited contest throughout the year. 

Students can earn points in various ways, including attendance and participation in house assembly challenges. The competition is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to contribute and showcase their school spirit! 

The winning JW group will be announced during our final house assembly with the Year 12 students in Term 4 and will be awarded the prestigious Waterford Trophy.  

So let the challenge begin! 

We would like to take a moment to honourably mention the leaders of 2024 who graciously handed over their positions to us. On the 11th of October, the leadership transition ceremony was held, marking a significant milestone not only for us as new leaders but also for the entire college community. 

We would like to thank everyone who attended the ceremony and showed their support. Together, we will build upon the strong foundation laid by the leaders of 2024, ensuring that their legacy not only endures but flourishes as we move forward into a bright future for our college. Let us all continue to work together, inspire one another, and create an even more vibrant and inclusive community.  

As we embark on this exciting journey as your Rice House captains, we want to emphasise that this year’s Waterford challenge is not just about competition – its about building team spirit and showcasing our school spirit. We encourage every student to get involved no matter what house. Participate in house assembly challenges and rally together to make this a memorable year for each of yourselves and your houses. A special thank you goes to the Rice Captains of 2024 Liam and Emily for their dedication and guidance; their legacy will continue to inspire everyone of us as we strive for excellence. Let’s make this year unforgettable, not only in our efforts to win the Waterford trophy but also in creating lasting friendships and unforgettable memories. Together, we can lift Rice House to new heights! Here’s to a fantastic year ahead! Go Rice House!! 

We hope the rest of your term goes smoothly.

2025 Rice Captains - Claire Zimmerle and Zahra Rice.

Sport

Parents/Guardians/Players – Missing Uniforms.

Asking for assistance now. I have a number of uniforms still outstanding from recent carnivals and this means sets are incomplete.

I would appreciate it if you could search through drawers, wardrobes, in cars, under beds and in lockers to see if any of the college uniforms are hiding and they can be bought back to me. Just hand them into either the student entrance or front office or directly to me in the MacKillop Centre.

Thanking you in advance for assisting in this matter.

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

Connecting with Careers

Something to think about  

"Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.” – Chris Grosser

In this newsletter, we are focusing on: 

• Vacancies
• QTAC and Tertiary Entry
• Financial Assistance and Scholarships
• Upcoming events
  • Upcoming ADF Information Sessions

Vacancies 

Click here to find the SBA/SBT vacancies. 

QTAC and Tertiary Entry

Assistance schemes and Adjustment Factors

The following are the various assistance schemes that can be applied for through QTAC. It is wise to read about each scheme to see if you are eligible to apply. They all have different advantages, and you may need to apply for some schemes prior to you receiving an offer. There are several government, institution and private schemes that can provide financial assistance to students:

• Educational Access Scheme (scroll down)
• Financial assistance (scroll down)

Each institution has its own student assistance schemes so it's best to access this information through individual participating University websites. Click here (scroll down) for information about the assistance schemes found on the QTAC website including:

• Special admission schemes
• Year 12 subject scheme
• Access and equity schemes
• Rural Access Scheme
• Regional preference schemes
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander schemes
• Elite Athlete and Performer Scheme
• Other special admission schemes

Contacting QTAC

If you have any questions or need some assistance from QTAC you can call them on 1300 467 822. Their phone lines are open from 8.45am to 4.30pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 9am to 4.30pm Wednesday.

Do you have all your QTAC documents and numbers in a safe place?

Including:

• Your 2025 Year 12 Guide
• A copy of your QTAC preferences
• Your QTAC password
• Your QTAC reference number
• Your LUI, Learning Account password and USI.

If you are going on holidays over Christmas, especially overseas, you should take these with you.

QTAC FAQs

Q         Will I get an offer for all the courses I applied for through QTAC?

A         No. You will only receive one offer for your highest eligible course that you are competitive for. Therefore, it is essential to order your courses according to your preference, putting the course you most want first and having a ‘safety net’ course as your 6th option.

Q         Will I get a letter in the mail from QTAC with my offer?

A         No. If you have an offer, QTAC will notify you by email or SMS. You need to log on to your application on the QTAC website for details of your offer and to respond to your offer. Because there are numerous offer-round dates (see Course offer dates), you must check your emails regularly (including your Junk folder).

Q         Is there anything I can do if I don’t respond to an offer by the due date?

A         Yes.  Contact QTAC immediately. QTAC may be able to reinstate your offer.

Q         What happens after I have accepted an offer of a course place?

A         You enrol at your institution by the due date. Most institutions will have an ‘Enrol here’ link on the QTAC website. If there's no enrolment link, your university will contact you directly.

Q         I have applied for courses that start in Semester One and Semester Two 2025 on my QTAC application. Is this OK?

A         Yes, if the Semester One courses are listed before the Semester Two courses. However, a better strategy is to put only Semester One courses on your application in the first instance. After the major offer-round for Semester One courses in January 2025 (see page 19 in the QTAC book), you can put Semester Two courses on your application if you have not received your preferred offer. 

Q         What should I do if I don’t get an offer?

A         First check your application on the QTAC website. You may be ineligible for the courses you applied for. This will be indicated on the Preferences page of your application beside each course preference. Reasons for not receiving an offer may include:

• Quota restrictions (that is, your ATAR/rank did not meet the minimum threshold)
• Failure to satisfy minimum entry requirements (prerequisite subjects, audition, etc.)
• Failure to pay QTAC processing/application fee
• Preferencing your courses incorrectly (e.g. putting semester two courses before semester one courses; not including a ‘good’ pathways option for your 5th and 6th preferences)
• Applying after the due date for the offer-round
• Not submitting required documents
• Not responding to an earlier offer.

If you don’t get an offer and none of the above points apply, contact QTAC immediately. 

Q         What do I have to do when I receive an offer?

A         You must respond to QTAC by the due date. You usually have four days to respond. If you don’t respond by the due date, your offer will lapse, and your application will become inactive. When you respond to your offer, you have two main options:

• Make an outright acceptance, deferment or rejection OR
• Conditionally accept your offer so you can be considered for higher preferences in future offer rounds. If you choose this option, you must go back into your QTAC application and put your preferences back into your application.

See more information about responding on the Application Services page on the QTAC website.

If you were ineligible for the courses you applied for, you can change your course preferences for consideration in any subsequent offer-round if further offers are made. QTAC usually publishes remaining course vacancies on its website after a major offer-round. You can also contact QTAC by phone, email or Facebook for advice.

Release of Year 12 results and ATARs

Queensland Curriculum Assessment Authority (QCAA) will release students' final subject results and Senior Education Profiles on their myQCE website on Wednesday, 11 December 2024. QTAC will release students’ ATARs via the ATAR Portal on 13 December 2024. You need to register for the Student Portal and ATAR Portal to find out your results.

Tertiary application reminders

Have you put important dates in your phone or diary?  Including:

• Scholarship application due dates (see the scholarship page on the institution websites)
• QTAC offer-round dates (check the Course Offer Dates on the QTAC website)
• When Year 12 results are uploaded to your Student Portal account so you can access them through your myQCE Student Portal
• When QTAC will be emailing you or you can log into your QTAC ATAR account to find out your ATAR
• The last date you can change preferences for the offer rounds on 15 November, 23 December 2024 and 16 January 2025 (see  Key Dates and Fees on the QTAC website or Page 19 in your QTAC book).
• Date that you must have submitted any required documentation for each offer round (Page 19 in you QTAC book)

Financial Assistance and Scholarships

ACU Scholarships and fee information

Studying is a big financial commitment. Discover how to understand your university fees, work out if you're eligible for scholarships or financial assistance, and learn what other expenses you may have to pay. Click here to find out more about:

• Domestic student fees
• International student fees
• Other fees and costs
• Scholarships
• Find a scholarship
• International scholarships
• Finance your studies
• Payments and refunds

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Uni Scholarship for rural and regional students

2025 applications for scholarships open on 2 December 2024 and successful recipients will be notified early in 2025. What you need to know:

• This Scholarship is for students living in rural and regional Australia.
• Any subject can be studied under this scholarship provided that it is at undergraduate bachelor’s degree level in an approved Australian course.
• You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
• Only first-time, first year university students wishing to study full-time in 2025 can apply.
• You can demonstrate your passion and desire to supporting rural communities both now and into the future.
• You can demonstrate community involvement

Click here to find more information including a ‘Fast Facts’ section.

Griffith University Adam Scott Foundation Sports Business Scholarship

The Adam Scott Foundation Business Scholarship is for students who have overcome adversities in their life, are passionate about business and may also have an interest in sport.

The scholarship is for payment of the student contribution charges (CSP/HECS).

Applicants must apply and gain entry to one of the following Griffith courses in 2024:

• B Business
• B International Tourism and Hotel Management
• B Sport Development
• B Business/B Government and International Relations
• B International Tourism and Hotel Management/B Business
• B of Advanced Business (Honours)

Visit the website for more information. Applications close on 28 January 2025.

Last chance: UQ's LEAD Scholarship

The LEAD Scholarship supports aspiring UQ Law students who have experienced educational, social and/or financial disadvantage. The UQ Leadership, Excellence and Diversity (LEAD) Scholarship is closing soon. With 10 scholarships available in 2025. Simply finish your final application by Sunday 3 November, including your QTAC application, personal statement and online LEAD application form. If you have any extenuating circumstances preventing you from completing your application, please call us on 3443 1354 or email us as soon as possible. Click here for more information and application details.

QUT Adrian Scott Rural Journalism Scholarship

The Adrian Scott Rural Journalism Scholarship supports a student from a regional, rural or remote location to study in a Bachelor of Communication at QUT. This scholarship offers financial assistance to relocate. It is valued at $8,000 for two years, paid in four instalments to help with your study. Applications open on 1 November and close 28 February 2025. Visit the QUT website to find out more.

QUT Scholarship info

Whether you identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, you're a budding entrepreneur, are facing financial hardship or you come from a rural or regional area and/or you have outstanding academic, sport and esport, creative or STEM achievements, there may be a scholarship for you. There are even scholarships for specific study areas.

Click here to read more about:

• No application required
• Other scholarships for school leavers
• Discover the right scholarship for you
• Prepare a great application
• Research scholarships

The QUT Dalwood-Wylie Foundation Scholarship now open

The Dalwood-Wylie Foundation Scholarship assists students from regional and remote areas requiring financial support to study acting or drama at QUT. You will receive a $5,000 payment to support your transition to university to be used towards relocation, accommodation or education expenses. Applications close 28 February 2025. Visit the QUT website to find out more. 

Torrens University faculty scholarships

Are you planning to study Business and Technology, Creative Technology, Design, Education, Health or Hospitality, or study at the Blue Mountains International Hotel School? Torrens University may have a 2025 scholarship for you. If you're motivated, future-focused and keen to fast-track your career, you are encouraged to apply for one of their scholarships. Successful students get up to 20% off their course fees and access to a range of exclusive opportunities.

UQ Kathy Hirschfeld AM Scholarship Endowment for Women in Engineering

The purpose of this scholarship is to encourage and support first year female students who are currently experiencing financial barriers to undertake studies in engineering at The University of Queensland. The award is valued at $4,500 for one year. See the website for details. Applications close on 9 March 2025.

UQ key scholarships

Here are a few key scholarships that are currently open and accepting applications. All information about scholarships can be found on UQ's Scholarships website.

2024 Academic Scholarships
Applications close 25 November 2024. Click here for more information.

Schools of Business and Economics Indigenous Student Scholarship
Indigenous students in Economics. Click here for more information. Schools of Business and Economics Indigenous Student Scholarship

Calboonya Legacy Information Technology and Computer Science Scholarship
For students experiencing financial hardship and enrolled in:

• Bachelor of Computer Science
• Bachelor of Computer Science (Honours)
• Bachelor of Information Technology
• Bachelor of Information Technology (Honours)
• Bachelor of Science (Computer Science Major)
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Computer Science Major)
• any dual program including the above programs.

Applications close 09 March 2025. Click here for more information. 

UniSQ Academic Excellence scholarships

The USQ Academic Excellence Scholarships are automatically awarded to eligible Year 12 Students who put USQ as #1 on their QTAC application for 2024 and achieve the required ATAR. You do not have to put in an application. 

UniSQ Residential College Scholarships

Residential College Scholarships are for those looking to live on campus. Each scholarship is for a maximum of one year (3 study periods) and is paid as a reduction in accommodation fees at the UniSQ Residential Colleges, Toowoomba campus. Scholarships to be paid as a reduction in Residential College fees. Applications close on 27 January 2025 - click here for more information.

Upcoming events 

Upcoming Australian Defence Force information sessions

For details about the following events and more information on Army Reserve Information Sessions, visit the Defence Jobs Australia Facebook site. or visit the ADF's Upcoming Events page.

04/11/2024        Engineering Careers Information Session

05/11/2024        Toowoomba Defence Careers Information Session

06/11/2024        Gold Coast Submariner Careers Information Session

12/11/2024        Brisbane Submariner Careers Information Session

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

SJC Art Show

Thank you to the families and extended community members who attended our annual Art Show. Our doors were open to over 250 visitors. On a balmy (not yet summer’s night) our guests could refresh with a mocktail provided by our Hospitality students while enjoying the ambience from our Music ensemble students while in the space. A featured showcase from our Fashion students on display included hoodies, cocktail dresses and quilts.  

We showcased many artworks by very talented Joey’s students from drawings of fantasy worlds, to pop paintings, skatedecks, etched graphic novel comic style prints, clay monsters, wearable art and more.  

Thank you to guest Judge, Breearna Crocker (past Alumni from 2015 who now works for Struxi).  

Congratulations to the following Visual Art award winners: 

Judge’s Choice Award -Junior Section  - Phoebe Marshall (year 10) 

Judge’s Choice Award -Senior Section  - Ally McMahon (year 12) 

Judge’s Choice Award - Open Entry Section -  Tien Nguyen (Yr 9) 

Principal’s Choice Award -Junior Section – Kaydee Steinohrt (Yr 9) 

Principal’s Choice Award - Senior Section – Sabriya Bumatay (Yr 11) 

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St Joseph’s College Christmas Appeal:

Spreading Joy with St Vincent De Paul’s Toowoomba 

As the festive season approaches, the 2024 Just Joey’s group is excited to once again announce our annual Christmas Appeal in partnership with St Vincent De Paul’s, Toowoomba. This year, we are committed to making a significant impact on our local community by supporting forty families in need. 

Toowoomba is home to many families who face financial hardships, especially during the holiday season. According to St Vincent De Paul’s Australia, the demand for assistance has been rising, with many families struggling to afford basic necessities. In 2023, St Vincent De Paul’s provided over 1,200 emergency relief services to families in the Toowoomba region. These statistics highlight the critical need for community support and generosity and the impact that we stand to make.  

So, for 2024, each Joey’s Way class at St Joseph’s College will be assigned a family to support this Christmas. This means that our school aims to bring joy to forty families through our collective efforts.  

Students can contribute to the Christmas Appeal in several meaningful ways: 

• Everyday Non-Perishable Food: Items such as rice, chickpeas, lentils, long-life milk, savoury crackers, and sweet biscuits are essential for daily sustenance. 
• Celebration Non-Perishable Food: To add a festive touch, we encourage donations of chocolates, sweets, soft drinks, juice, and chips. 
• Monetary Donations: Joey’s Way teachers will collect monetary donations to purchase gift cards for families, allowing them to buy what they need most. 
• Small Gifts for Children: We also welcome small gifts for the children listed on the cards. Please ensure that gifts are not wrapped, so they can be appropriately distributed. 

We invite all students, parents, and staff to participate in this heartwarming initiative. Your contributions, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in the lives of those less fortunate. Let’s come together as a community to ensure that every family has a joyful and memorable Christmas. 

For more information, please contact your Joey’s Way teacher, Adam Watts, or visit the St Vincent De Paul’s website. 

Together, we can make this holiday season brighter for everyone. 

Just Joey’s 

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 details and/or business graphics to: marketing@sjc.qld.edu.au

Uniform Shop

EFTPOS only - No Cash accepted until further notice.

Spring is still upon us and we are still having a mixture of warm and cool days.

Do you need a scarf for the cooler mornings or a new water bottle for hydration on the warmer days, you are in luck we sell both these items in store?

The uniform shop is stocked up and is ready for all your summer needs and back to school uniforms.

We do have in stock the new All-Purpose Jacket and they are available in store for $99.00.

Don’t forget we also sell black formal leather shoes in store and hair accessories.

If you have a student going into Year 11 next year don’t forget to order your white shirts or blouses.

Out of stock:

• Tracksuit pants S, M, L, and XL
• Boys Sport Shorts XL

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.