Newsletter 33 – Term 4 Week 3 2019

This week we acknowledged the incoming student leaders for 2020. This induction is part of the St Joseph’s tradition of passing on the light of Christ. The symbolism of this ceremony was particularly powerful. The community was beautifully and gently led in prayer to reflect on the various roles in the College. Each aspect is like a thread when knitted together forms the unique fabric of life that is St Joseph’s College Toowoomba. The contribution made to the community by current and past staff, students and families, priests and brothers, the ladies in the canteen, grandparents was recongnised.

Etymologically, Pastoral Care has its origins in the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church. The Latin root of the word Pastoral is ‘pascere’ meaning to feed. This is connected to the powerful metaphor of the good shepherd who tends, cares and nurtures their flock. The story of the lost sheep is inextricably linked with our universal belief in the care of students. During the ceremony the House Pastoral Care Leaders, Mr Spain; Mr Edwards; Mrs Pukakka and Mr Logan joined with their Year 12 leaders to officially pass on the honour of leading their respective Houses to the Year 12 students of 2020. I wish to congratulate the following students and extend every blessing to them as they begin their leadership journey:

Brennan House:

Sophia Scanlan (Captain)

James O’Neill (Sport)

Catie Koelmeyer (Cultural)

McAuley House:

George McGovern (Captain)

Rhys Brown (Sport)

Grace Malone (Cultural)

Murphy House:

Megan Bebington (Captain)

Nathanael Ganly (Sport)

Phoenix Mahony (Cultural)

Rice House:

Anish Kumar (Captain)

Sami Carberry (Sport)

Michaela Collins (Cultural)

Congratulations:

To the Music department for a successful primary music workshop. The energy, vitality and melodic sounds emanating from the classrooms was joyous. Seeing students from both St Joseph’s and our local primary schools working together was made possible because of the staff of our College.

On Thursday, Miss Unsworth the Pastoral House Leaders and Year 11 leaders welcomed our new Year 7 students and families for 2020. The day was a positive first step in the journey of our newest students. We look forward to the official welcome when the students commence in 2020.

I wish to make a special mention of Sophie Parker (yr12) and Patrick O’Brien (yr12)  who each have successfully attained University scholarships.

Reflection – Passing on of Leadership Symbols

On Wednesday, we acknowledged the Captains of 2019 as they passed on the symbols of leadership to the Captains of 2020. In our prayer we recognised and gave thanks for those who have gone before us. We acknowledged our College Leaders of 2019 and gave thanks for the gift their leadership has been to our College.

The leadership book and the College and House Candles were entrusted to our leaders of 2020. May these symbols remind them of the responsibility that leadership carries. The current College Captains also presented the captains of 2020 with a blazer, which had in the pocket, a hand-written note for them. The note is both a reflection of their past year and some guiding points for the year ahead.

Thank you to everyone who helped out to make this morning possible.

This day has become a valued tradition for the leaders at St Joseph’s and is special morning for all involved.

Our prayer focused on a line form the College prayer – for all those who have passed through our College… and the valuable contribution they made in making our College a place where the presence of Christ is felt and experienced

From our prayer….

We take time to remember “all those who have passed through our College”.

We remember the women and men who have cheerfully served in our Tuckshop.
We remember with joy the thousands of students who have called St Joseph’s their Alma Mater.

We remember the staff who have willingly given of their time to help make a difference in the lives of their students. 

We give thanks for the Brothers, Sisters and priests who have served this community.

We remember the men and boys who built the top oval.

We remember the parents who have given so generously of their time and resources.

We acknowledge all those who have supported us in any way and who have been the face of Christ.

By their generosity of spirit, they have helped make Christ real and present in our community.

The challenge then is for us to continue this journey and be Christ to those we meet.

All Saints’ Day

All Saints’ Day (November 1) is a time when we celebrate those men and women who are an inspiration to us because of the lives they have lived.    Some of these people have been officially recognised by the Church as our Saints but others never will be officially recognised.  Nevertheless, today we give thanks for all of them and for the example of goodness they give to us.

All Souls’ Day (Saturday 2 November)

Next Saturday, we will celebrate the Feast of All Souls’ Day.  This is a time for us to remember those people in our life who have died.

Students will be invited to go to the Chapel at lunch time on Friday to light a candle as a way of remembering deceased relatives and friends.

Philippines Immersion – September 2019

The purpose of the immersion was to experience a different lifestyle and culture from our own, with a vision of offering students from St Joseph’s the opportunity to visit there next year and in coming years.

Immersions provide participants with an opportunity to develop as individuals and gain valuable life skills and see, feel and act in a whole new way. An Immersion is a unique opportunity for hands-on learning, immersing deeply in the culture and life of the people. It involves meeting and interacting with community leaders as well as ordinary people leading to a deeper understanding of the way of life of the people.

It was a very moving experience which helped us to see the world differently, deepened our spirituality and commitment to building a more ‘just’ and peaceful world. We met the Philippines people as equals, built friendships and learnt from each other. Everyone has so much that they can share and learn

The immersion experience was not about visiting tourist sites for building ‘structures’ for the local people. Rather it was a time to allow ourselves to be changed by the experience.

Our journey started in the early hours of Thursday morning. We departed Toowoomba at 4 am in order to be at the Brisbane airport in time to check in our bags and catch a flight to Sydney. It was in Sydney where we met up with our tour leader Patrick Fox from Catholic Mission. We then flew to Manila and were met by a tour guide Rebecca who drove us to our accommodation for the night. On Friday morning, we flew from Manila to Virac where we were met by one of the sisters who works at the Alfonso Maria Fusco – Children’s Home.  The children’s home is run by the Sisters of John the Baptist, and they care for 30 children ranging in age from 2 – 18.

We were ‘overwhelmed’ by the welcome we received from the children who live there. This itself was a memory that will stay with us for a very long time. This was to be our home for the next 2 days.

After lunch, we also visited the Primary School next door and were welcomed by many students who sang for us and showed us around their school. That afternoon, we visited the Secondary College, where students were busy preparing for an overnight camp which  also incorporated a girl and boy scout presentation the next day.  On Friday night, we conducted some activities for the children from the children’s home decorating pictures and cutting out masks etc. All of the children thoroughly enjoyed the evening activities; some sleeping with their animal masks on. The next morning, all the children were up bright and early doing their chores, such as sweeping, raking gardens, watering plants etc. This is part of their way of life; everyone is expected to get in and help and contribute. At the home, the older children assist the Sisters by helping to look after the younger members of the community.

Saturday, we walked up to the school farm which was about 1.5 kilometres away. Here, they grow many fruit and vegetables, as well as raising pigs. The farm was probably two acres in size. The children are also required to work on the farm doing various jobs.  Following this, we went and visited the local markets where we could buy various things ranging from food’ to clothing. On our last night, we were treated to singing and dancing performances from the students. Again, it was a special experience.

Sunday saw us say goodbye to the children and sisters who had been looking after us for the pasttwo2 days.  We attended Mass at the Cathedral, then we were driven to our next destination Baras. Along the way, we visited of sites, which included caves; grottos and Churches.

We were met in Baras by Fr Butch, the local parish priest and also by the Mayor of Baras. Our accommodation here was in units that were part of the compound where the Mayor’s house was situated.

On our first night in Baras, we were the guests of the local community at a function at the town plaza. The next day we visited the Baras Rural Development High School. This school had approx. 1300 students and they were again very welcoming of us and curious as to why we were visiting. Here we stopped by a few classrooms to chat with the teachers and students as well as the Principal.

On the Tuesday, we had a half day walk around Baras checking out the local shops. We drove back towards Virac, where we stayed at the Galilee Retreat House in Palawig, which is used by the Sisters who run the children’s home and is located on the beach.

The next morning was an early start as we had to go to the Virac airport to catch a flight back to Manila and then to Australia

Although we were only in the Philippines for one week, it was truly a remarkable experience. The local people where we visited had very little in the way of material possessions, and yet they had a happy and positive outlook on life. We sometimes think how lucky we are, because we have the latest technology, phones, computers etc to help make our lives easier; but I’m not sure if this is a good or bad thing. Sure, these things make life more comfortable for us, but they also make our lives so much busier.

This was truly a rewarding and life-changing experience for all who participated.

2019 Awards Night

Students have been asked to check the noticeboard to see if they are receiving awards at this year’s Awards Night.  Students who receive these awards will be expected to wear their full Academic Uniform. For boys this involves long shirts and long pants and ties.  For girls and for consistency, the preference is to wear the white shirt and skirt and white socks. This evening celebrates academic achievement and application in classes.  There are also many special awards announced during this evening and all families and students are invited to attend.  The Awards Evening as outlined on the College Calendar is on Tuesday 29^th October commencing at 7pm in the Mackillop Centre.  The evening should conclude at 9.15pm.

Due to the importance of this event, I would ask that where possible families please stay until the conclusion of the evening and not leave early.  After the students have been presented their award, formal photographs will be taken.

Year 9, 10 and 11 – 2020

Please note that all current students have received an email from me outlining the subjects they have been allocated for 2020 for Years 9, 10 and 11.

For students entering Year 11 it is important to check the following :

• Level of English and Maths –  has your son or daughter chosen the correct English and Mathematics and met the prerequisite for these subjects?
  • English – B
  • Literature – B
  • General Maths – C or higher
  • Mathematical methods – B or higher

• Combination of subjects if your child wishes to be ATAR eligible.
  • 5 General subjects
  • 4 General subjects + 1 Applied
  • 4 General subjects + Certificate III or higher

If you have any questions, please contact me at the College.  Students are still able to change subjects depending on class size and parental approval. Students can see me at morning tea or lunch times with a note to change.

Resilience is a process of positive adaptation that is developed as we “experience small exposures to adversity or some sort of age appropriate challenges” (Yates, Egeland & Sroufe 2003). It refers to your child’s ability to cope and adapt in situations when confronted with challenges such as adversity, trauma, tragedy, or even stress. It is essential to their mental health and wellbeing, as part of their journey to adulthood. It is a skill that can be learned from an early age through the support of an adult role model.

However, being resilient does not mean your child won’t experience any difficulties, but it will better equip them to manage those situations. Encouraging children to take healthy risks will help them trust their capacity to deal with uncomfortable situations and increase their capacity for courage. For teens, one of the most important things for them to know is that courage doesn’t always feel like courage. From the outside, courage often looks impressive and powerful and self-assured. Sometimes it might look reckless or thrilling. From the inside though, it can feel frightening and unpredictable. It can feel like anxiety, or fear, or rolling self-doubt.

Cohesion, flexibility and communication are all characteristics that help provide a secure and protective environment for young people to develop resilience. In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will gain an understanding of how to support their child’s brave behaviour to help them adapt and build resilience. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this month’s edition, and as a College, we always welcome your feedback.

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please open the lines of communication with their Pastoral Care teacher.

Here is the link to this month’s edition https://sjc.qld.schooltv.me/newsletter/resilience

On Thursday 18 October, seven enthusiastic St Joseph’s students from Years 7 to 10 volunteered to attend the inaugural Youth Wellbeing Expo at the Oakey Cultural Centre. The purpose of the expo was to give students a voice in promoting youth well-being in secondary schools. Students from across the region came together in teams and were given the opportunity to listen to guest speakers and to talk to community organisations about the wellbeing programs and services they offer.  Our students worked on brainstorming ideas for a well-being based project for St Joseph’s and are excited to present their proposal to the College in the not too distant future.

The event was featured on the local news, which can be viewed using the following link:

https://www.facebook.com/WINNewsToowoomba/videos/449655755656730/

Thank you to R3 and Miss Durack for their participation this week at Breakfast Club. The feedback we continue to hear from the students of St Joseph’s and also the students and staff of Clifford Park is that this a great morning, enjoyed by all and even the highlight of the week for some students. Thank you to everyone who makes these mornings possible, from Mr Canning who drives the bus to our tuckshop ladies who organise the food… we couldn’t do it without you.

Term 4 Roster

Darling Downs

Congratulations to Regan Liebke on his selection into the Darling Downs 14 years Cricket team. He will travel to Bundaberg 1 – 5 December to compete as part of the state championships.

We wish him all the best and hope that he enjoys this experience.

Volleyball

Congratulations to the girls who are playing volleyball this season (as reported in previous newsletter) as they have made the Grand Final for the B competition that they play in on a Tuesday night. For most of these girls it is their first-time playing volleyball, so it is all very exciting for them. We play in a fortnight’s time due to the clash with Awards Night.

Queensland All Schools Hockey Championships

This carnival begins on Sunday at Clyde Park. We will have a girls and boys team competing again this year.

If there are any parents out there who could help us out with refereeing duties, we would be very grateful for the assistant, as my knowledge in this game is very limited. Please contact me as soon as you can.

POPULAR BOOK PASSAGES

Last week’s extract: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

CHILDREN’S BOOK QUOTES

For many readers, their fascination with books began in childhood. Take a journey in the next few newsletters into the library of your (perhaps) hazy memories.

NEW BOOKS in the LIBRARY this week

eBOOKS &

AUDIO-BOOKS

(ACCESS THROUGH SORA)

Particularly relevant for years 10 – 12 students

QTAC if you are considering applying for a place in a tertiary institution in Qld (and northern NSW), it is not too late.

Follow the link to the QTAC site or see me for assistance: https://www.qtac.edu.au/applying/apply-here

The Good Careers Guide 2019

Interested in engineering or physiotherapy?

The Good Careers Guide holds positive news for would-be engineers and physiotherapists.

The engineering industry is experiencing a shortage in Australia due to stagnating university enrolments for nearly two decades and a glut of new jobs. It is predicted there will be more than 5,600 engineering openings every year for the foreseeable future.

Another profession suffering from shortages in the workplace is physiotherapy. Like engineering it is listed on the Federal Government’s Labour Market Analysis of Skilled Occupations, although a recent surge in university enrolments in the health sector means the undersupply will not last long.

Head Start Overview

Head Start is a transition program for Year 11 and 12 students to study first-year uni subjects while in Years 11 and 12. Year 10 students can study Head Start in Semester 3.

WHAT LEVEL OF COMMITMENT IS INVOLVED? It is recommended that you dedicate between 10 – 12 hours of study to each of your enrolled units per week (over a 12 – 14 week period). These ‘Head Start’ units require good time management skills, the ability to work independently and a proactive attitude.

Applications for Head Start Semester 3, 2019 are still open.

Yes, it is a commitment, but the rewards are plenty.

Please see me for more information.

Taking a Gap Year – some points for discussion

We all want our students to succeed. For some of our students their next steps in life after Year 12 are clear. Others may need some time and space away from school before deciding on exactly what they want to do.

Statistics show that 20% of students drop out in their first year of tertiary study. With this in mind, for some students it is worth them taking the time to gain some life and work experience before committing to further study.

Work, travel, short courses or volunteering could be ways for the young individual to gain skills and confidence.

Work Experience

Work Experience for a young person is a wonderful thing!

Please ensure that the student has a Work Experience Agreement Form completed and signed by all parties (parent, student, employer & the Principal). The Principal is always the last person to sign the agreement and gives the final approval. Only then is the student covered with insurance. Students must NOT do work experience if this form is not signed.

Thanking you in advance for your understanding.

What Employers Want

Students who are looking for a job (casual/full-time), an SBA or full time apprenticeship: employers prefer the young student to approach them directly. It does not look favourable for the student if they have a parent or their Teacher call on their behalf. It takes courage for a young person to approach an employer, so as adults we can do a lot to prepare and support them.

Students are welcome to use the office facilities including telephone, computer, printer, fax that we have available in both the VET Room and Careers Office.

Please find listed below all current SBA vacancies advertised with Aurora Training. Should any students be interested in any of these positions, please contact Ms Masters.

Cloud 9 – Job Opportunities

As a business that orientates itself around entertainment and customer service we provide valuable training to all our staff and employees which is invaluable in the modern workforce. We are looking to take on three to four highly enthusiastic students to become part of our team. The students will receive training in public speaking, customer service, crowd management and entertainment.

We take applications from all kinds of people however, there are a few pointers which we do look for in the recruitment process:

– Students looking to be involved in a team bigger than themselves.

– Dedicated and loyal.

– Pursuing mastery and always ready to learn and develop.

– Participate in arts subjects at school such as drama and music.

– Confident.

– Clear personality.

– Enjoy working with people.

– Some experience in public speaking.

During this recruitment period we are hiring for two different positions, Receptionist and Court Attendant. The following are the guidelines:

Receptionist –

– 17 to 19 years of age

– Enthusiastic

– Easy to teach

– Bubbly personality

– Able to take initiative, be able to see what needs doing

– Resilient

Court Attendants –

– 16 to 18 years of age

– Observant

– Confident

– Easy to teach

– Enthusiastic

– Friendly

I would like to recommend that both male and female students should apply.

Our recruitment process does not exclude students that do not fit within the guidelines, all applications are accepted and all applicants will be able to move to the interview phase of the recruitment process. We ask that students send their resume to k9recruitment@gmail.com before 5pm on Monday the 28th of October. Applicants should be aware that they will be contacted on Monday the 28th of October after 5 pm so all applications should be completed before that time.

Students who are successful in their application and get the job will start training during the school term so that they are ready to work during the Christmas holidays.

We thank you for your help in getting this information out to students and we wish them the best of luck for their application.

Next Meeting & AGM

Tuesday –  5 November, 7 pm, Library

Come join the fun.

Minutes for October meeting.

https://www.sjc.qld.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Minutes-Meeting-8-October-2019.pdf

October Treasurers Report

https://www.sjc.qld.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/October-treasurers-report.pd

Property Report – October

https://www.sjc.qld.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Property-Report-October-2019.pdf

Friday – October 25

Gifted and Talented Maths Workshop (all day)
Year 9-10 Geo Day
Year 10 Drama – The Longest Minute
Japanese movie – student screening (Brisbane)

Saturday – October 26

Sunday – October 27

Monday – October 28

Tuesday – October 29

Art Exhibition 6pm
Awards Night 7pm

Wednesday – October 30

Year 12 SBA Employer Thank You Breakfast

Thursday – October 31

Friday – November 1

All Saints Day

Saturday – November 2

All Souls Day

Sunday – November 3

Full 2019 Calendar

Click here for all upcoming events…

https://www.sjc.qld.edu.au/calendar/

Canteen Roster

Monday          28

Tuesday          29

Wednesday    30    Fiona Lucas

Thursday        31     Adul Lual

Friday                1    Paige Marsh

Holiday trading hours

Tuesday 3 December to Thursday 5 December                             9am-2pm

Saturday 7 December                                                                        9am-1pm

Tuesday 10 December to Thursday 12 December                         9am-2pm

Monday 13 January to Friday 17 January                                      9am-4pm

Saturday 18 January                                                                         9am-1pm

Monday 20 January to Friday 24 January                                     9am-4pm

Tuesday 28  and Wednesday 29 January                                         7:30am-4pm

Thursday 30 January                                                                          8am – 12pm

Online ordering available through the school App, select Uniform Shop (bottom left) and follow the instructions. Your order will be filled when the store is next open.

Kind Regards,

Rebecca Parker | St Joseph’s Toowoomba College Uniform Shop Manager

P: 07 4631 8514

A: 67A Crown Street, Rangeville QLD 4350

W: www.Midford.com.au

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.

Please remember to send a note with your child, to show the classroom teacher, if they need to leave the College early for any reason.  Parent/Guardian are required to be physically present to sign out and collect a student.

Student Absentees

If your Child is absent please notify the College before 8:30am by either phoning, 4631 8500 using the new App or emailing office@sjc.qld.edu.au 

When phoning, please remember to speak clearly and leave the child’s full name and PC class.

Are your details correct in our system?

Is your information up to date?
Will your report card go to the right address?
Don’t miss important messages and updates on excursions send through the email system or App notification.

Please email any changes to office@sjc.qld.edu.au