Newsletter 35 – Term 4 Week 5 2019

You may have heard that some staff in Catholic schools in the Toowoomba Diocese have elected to take protected industrial action. This action is part of negotiations towards an enhanced Enterprise Bargaining Agreement and may range from withdrawal from attendance at staff meetings and other partial work bans however it does not involve strike action.

The education and wellbeing of students remains the primary concern of all schools. The industrial action is not expected to interfere with classroom teaching at this stage and alternative arrangements will be put in place should that be necessary. The school will keep you informed should the situation change in the future.

Negotiations with the union will continue in good faith with the goal of reaching a resolution in the near future

 “Be the Change you wish to see in the world”. Gandhi

The name Lizzie Velasquez meant very little to me until I came across the book Dare to be Kind. It was not only the title that caught my attention but also the sub-text, “How extraordinary compassion can transform our World”. My curiosity was activated, I needed to know what lay within the pages, on what appeared, on the surface, to align with my own thinking.

Lizzie Velasquez was born with an extremely rare congenital disease called Marfanoid-progeroid-lipodystrophy syndrome that among many symptoms, prevents a person from accumulating body fat or gaining weight. During her teenage years, Lizzie like many her age became interested in watching YouTube clips. YouTube and the broader Internet has so many positive opportunities for people to connect with others, to broaden their knowledge and interests and even to find people sharing their talents and ideas. In all these positive examples it would appear improbable to entertain the thought that the Internet could be the vehicle to bring about destruction and humiliation to individuals and groups. This is in fact what Lizzie encountered. She came across a post that contained the words, “World’s Ugliest Woman”. On examining the post, Lizzie quickly recognised the image in the post was of her. To add insult to injury there were over 4 million views of this post.

On reading this part of Lizzie’s story I paused. Being in education, hearing about the Internet being used to insult and cause hurt is not uncommon. Teachers and parents spend enormous time and energy educating young people against the use of social media platforms to degrade, humiliate or insight hate. Often it feels as though the allure of social media is like an addiction. Even though cognitively we as humans are aware of the potential for harm, we become trapped in the need to know or be part of something even if it means harm to ourselves and others.

Lizzie’s response to bullying may appear simplistic at first glance, but I implore you to consider her approach. As Lizzie states in her book, so many of us have our own stories of intimidation, victimization, and pain. This extract certainly positions the approach that is making a difference to Lizzie and those in her life:

“Bullying comes in lots of different forms. But shaking our heads in sorrow or even reaching out in commiseration isn’t enough. The problem of bullying has a solution, and it’s a very simple one: kindness. Kindness towards ourselves and kindness toward the bully. That might seem ridiculous. Kindness probably seems like the last thing a bully deserves, and treating bullies with kindness is difficult to do. Believe me, I know from personal experience, since that’s my approach every time I encounter a bully.

It’s been a long process, but I have come to see that a culture of kindness is what we desperately need. It is the best solution to the problem of bullying, in all instances and at all levels, from schoolyard taunting to the systemic marginalization of minority groups, and even to our country’s problem of violence that has gotten so out of control. Kindness is what I have found to be the best answer to all of these issues”.

If you are interested to know more about this extraordinary young woman; please follow this link https://www.marieforleo.com/2018/01/lizzie-velasquez-interview/. We have much to learn from the wisdom and experience of others, to be the change we wish to see in our own world.

For those who’ve across the seas
We’ve boundless plains to share,

I came across the picture below from an organisation from which I receive emails and information from.

I know the picture could be seen as controversial but the issue it raises does need to remain in our focus.

St Joseph’s College is a community committed to ensuring that every member is respected, valued and affirmed.

Some information on the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre is below.

Asylum Seeker Resource Centre

From little things, big things grow

We began as a TAFE project in 2001, when Kon Karapanagiotidis, then a teacher, discovered that people seeking asylum were living in the community with virtually no basic support. This led to the creation of a student-run and community funded Foodbank which was launched from a tiny shop in Footscray with only a few boxes of food. That same year, the ASRC was established on 8 June 2001.

As an independent, community-led organisation the ASRC is in a unique position to advocate for the human rights of people seeking asylum, exempt from the pressures of government or the private sector. For this reason, the ASRC has been able to take a leading position in the opposition of Australia’s asylum seeker policy, while offering alternatives to issues faced by people seeking asylum and refugees.

Today

Today, we are the largest independent human rights organisation for refugees and people seeking asylum, delivering more services on the ground than any other independent asylum seeker organisation in the country. Our work on the frontline with people seeking asylum informs our practice and enables us to effectively advocate for, and alongside people with lived experience.

We offer more than 40 holistic programs that protect people seeking asylum from persecution and destitution, support well-being and dignity, and empower people to advance their own future.

We are proudly owned and run by our community and supported by a network of more than 1000 volunteers and 100 staff in assisting around 4600 people seeking asylum each year.

Our vision

Our vision is that people seeking asylum can live safely, sustainably, independently and equally.

Our mission

ASRC is a place and part of a movement. We support and empower people at critical junctures of their journey.

Building on our proximity to those with lived experience, we mobilise and partner for a community of compassion, justice and opportunity.

The National Prayer Campaign for Drought

The Catholic Church in Australia has dedicated the month of November 2019 as a time to pray for those affected by crippling drought conditions and to pray for the gift of rain. The initiative is called the National Prayer Campaign for Drought. There is a specially dedicated prayer as well as prayer slides and other prayer resources available on this website.

https://www.catholic.org.au/drought

Eternal God,

In wisdom and love you created our earth to sustaining us and give us life.

We turn to you now in faith, hope and love asking you to look with favour on our drought-stricken land, on our starving animals, on our failing crops.

Strengthen, sustain and give new heart to our farmers and to all who are affected by drought; be with those who support them.

In your loving providence send abundant rain and restore our parched earth.

God of all compassion, hear our prayer through Jesus Christ your Json in whom eth promise of new life has dawned, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord the giver of life: Renew your faithful people; Renew the face of the earth.

Our Lady of the Southern Cross, Mary, help of Christians pray for us.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop pray for us.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!

Reading has certainly been the theme in the English department this year. Staff and students have been shifting their approach to, and appreciation of, reading all year. For most students, the 10 minutes of silent reading in each English class has become a regular part of their day; they come in, take out their books and read. For some others it’s become the best part of their day – 10 minutes of quiet and a reprieve from their daily cognitive load. For a small group, though, reading for pleasure is still a goal they are working towards. It is these students we need to support as teacher/parent partners.

The research is clear and it indicates the importance of reading for pleasure as a way of improving student success – despite student backgrounds. We want our students to have success – now, and in their futures. At St Joseph’s we encourage wide reading to build our students’ cultural capital and cultural literacy – so they can participate confidently and comfortably in wider society and across a variety of contexts. We need to shift the narrative that reading is boring, or a waste of time. We need to be mindful of how we speak about reading and books – and our own, varied, experiences with it. We also need to allow students choice and we must teach them how to choose, engage with and value books.

This excerpt from How to Teach Reading for Pleasure (K. Pieper, 2016 p.17) sums up neatly why that’s important:

St Joseph’s English department has begun its journey into helping students become readers. We will continue to promote and support reading for pleasure across all year levels and there are things that parents can do at home, too. This article on the Common Sense Media page lists nine simple ways that parents can try to foster or introduce a love of reading in their children. This 2018 story by ABC news also provides some simple strategies to help.

In addition, feel free to contact our wonderful library staff and your child’s English teacher for reading recommendations.

Happy Holidays and Happy Reading!

ReachOut Parents Live

Relationships between parents and children typically change as our children grow older and start to establish more independence. The way we communicate with our children often changes during this time also. It is not an uncommon experience for parents to find it difficult to get their teens to open up to them, and for many of us this can be an unsettling experience. Finding new and different approaches to communicate effectively with one another becomes increasingly important and can assist in maintaining positive relationships, as well as with navigating difficult conversations and managing conflict.

ReachOut Parents Live is a 5-part series exploring tips for parents and carers on communicating with their teen. Host Melissa Hoyer, interviews experts in their fields on topics like mental health, drugs and alcohol, rules and boundaries and more. Episodes also include input from some young people so you can hear directly from them, too.

Episodes 1 to 3 are available on podcast or YouTube (see link below) and focus on getting your teenager to open up, setting rules and boundaries with your teen, and talking to your teen about mental health. Episodes 4 and 5 are yet to be presented and there is an opportunity for you to join the conversation on Facebook.

https://parents.au.reachout.com/landing/reachout-parents-live

Thank you to the Rice 9 volunteers for their attendance at Breakfast Club yesterday. This was also the first day of training for our current Year 10s as they move into the role of Breakfast Club leaders for 2020.

Term 4 Roster

PC Competition

Congratulations to Rice 3 for winning this year’s Pastoral Care competition.

They beat McAuley 2 in the touch game 3 to nil and then won the netball game 10 to 1. A job well done. Ms Durack was one very happy PC teacher. Condolences to McAuley 2 who put up a really hard fight to the end.

Volleyball

In last term’s newsletter I reported that I had a team of young ladies who were learning the game of volleyball and entered themselves into the competition of a Tuesday night at Harristown. In that report it mentioned that they were happy to win a set, well now I can tell everyone they are happy because last Tuesday night they won the Ladies B reserve competition defeating Downlands two sets to one. The girls were ecstatic with their win and couldn’t not have wished for a better outcome.

Alysha Grangos was named player of the tournament.

Congratulations to Quinn Croker who has finished 3rd for 2019 on the U18 Boys Golf Australia OOM (Order of Merit). The year ended 31 October.

Last school holidays 24-27 September he played the Gary Player Classic at Pacific Golf Club in Brisbane and finished runner up, two shots behind the winner after four rounds.

The following week 1-4 October he played the Jack Newton Junior International at Cypress Lakes Golf Resort in the Hunter Valley and finished 5th overall, four shots behind the winner.

Quinn also played in the Keperra Bowl from 15-18 October, a major Australian Men’s amateur tournament, and finished 30th after an ordinary final round.  However, considering the high level of the tournament, it was still a good result.

After school finishes, he is going to play the Dunes Medal on the Mornington Peninsula in late November, another Australian Men’s amateur tournament.

He will then play a few junior tournaments over the Christmas/New Year period before applying and hopefully being accepted into the Queensland Academy of Sport’s High Performance Golf Program, looking to improve his golf skills and knowledge, do some strength and conditioning and work towards becoming a Tour Professional in a few years time.

POPULAR BOOK PASSAGES

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.

INTRIGUED BY THE FIRST LINE?

• Friday 12 July 1889. Today has been the most important day of my life.
• I strain to listen for boots on the pavement. Stomping. Marching. But there’s nothing.
• Even with my ear pressed to the floor so hard it hurts, I can’t hardly see under Alvie’s door.

REMEMBERANCE DAY

11 November

Remembrance Day honours the memory of those who died in World Wars I and II and later conflicts. In Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, it is observed on November 11. The armistice that ended World War I was signed on this date in 1918. Poppy’s grew on the battlefields after World War I ended. Find out more using WorldBook Online.

NEW BOOKS in the LIBRARY this week

eBOOKS  & audiobooks

A cousin of one of our current students has just had her first book published.  It looks like one we should all definitely have in our collection at home.  It’s won a number of awards and also looks at Indigenous culture.

Follow this link to find out more…

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47238997-ghost-bird

On September 14, Phoenix Mahony and I held a Disney Trivia Night along with the help of Arlia, Miss Ford, Mrs Ramage, Mr Ramage and Mr Martin. The night was amazing. We had about 12 teams full of Disney enthusiasts who were all willing to have a go with some of our requests. The night was a part of my Passion Project, a program introduced at the start of the year. I thought a Trivia night would be a fun way to meet people from the community while raising money for a good course; Caritas. So I had a meeting and asked the question.

From that one question I got the opportunity to create a fantastic event along with enthusiastic people and I thank the Leadership Team for that. Sometimes a single question can get you far, so take the chance. A massive thank you to Miss Ford, Mrs Ramage, Mrs Whiting, Mr Saide, Mrs Lynch and Arlia, Phoenix and Team Boo because of you the event came along amazingly. Also a thank you to our generous sponsors St Joseph’s College P&F, St Josephs College Interact, Urban Ground Café, Park House, Sweet ‘n’ Salty & Just Joeys, because we wouldn’t have had such great prizes or a night without your help.

We are very pleased to announce that we had a goal of $300 and was more than doubled that to $648.15. This is a fantastic amount and we are overly amazed. The night was amazing and I hope to make it a possible annual event for the future with next year’s theme being Warner Bros.

QTAC Offers

For information on how QTAC will notify you, how to respond to an offer and response options, please visit the QTAC website:

https://www.qtac.edu.au/applying/apply-here/offers

Planning your future involves research

Job profile directories and career resources

My Future is one of my favourite websites –  https://myfuture.edu.au/

This site provides a snap shot of what is involved in different job roles. Go to the home page, click on The Facts (top right), then Occupations then type in the job role that interests you. This will bring up a profile.

Job Outlook is a section of the Australian Government site Job Search – https://joboutlook.gov.au/

It provides top level information on the demand for a certain skill set and the salary range for specific job roles. You can also find information on salary and wages in CareerOne’s Salary & Benefits section.

The Career Explorer – https://usqstudy.custhelp.com/ci/documents/detail/2/career_explorer_tool

The Career Explorer will help you discover the study areas where your talents and interests can flourish and thrive.

Accelerated Entry Pathway Program

Current Year 12 students (both OP and non-OP) can prepare for university study by undertaking the free AEPP at USQ over the summer semester. On successful completion of the AEPP, students will be eligible to apply for a wide range of undergraduate programs at USQ. Please let me know if you would like further information.

https://www.usq.edu.au/study/degrees/accelerated-entry-pathway-program

Apply directly to USQ

Free tafe for Year 12 graduates – certificate III guarantee

To support Year 12 graduates into work, the Queensland Government offers free tafe in high priority areas. Eligible Year 12 graduates must enrol and start training in a high priority qualification within the calendar year after leaving school to take advantage of this great opportunity.

Free TAFE for year 12 graduates https://desbt.qld.gov.au/training/training-careers/incentives/freetafe

Congratulations

Kaitlyn MacKenzie who received the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office: SBA Program, School Based Trainee of the Year award for 2019.

Kaitlyn is employed by MIGAS, Host: DISCO (Downs Industry Schools Cooperation). She has balanced her school, work and training commitments very well and are very proud of her success.

Congratulations!

New School Based Apprentice, Cooper Adam with Joshua West – Toowoomba Floorworld
Certificate III in Flooring Technology

Congratulations!

New School Based Trainee, Mackenzie Webb with David Taylor from Aurora Training Institute
Certificate III in Business Administration.

Congratulations!

New School Based Trainee, Katie Leighton with Fran Hammatt – Clark Rubber

Certificate III in Business

Congratulations to all our Year 12 students that have undertaken a School Based Traineeship or Apprenticeship.

Thank you to all the employers who have offered this opportunity and to the training organisations that have contributed to their success.

KFC Toowoomba East and Grand Central are looking for students interested in a School Based Traineeship: Certificate III in Hospitality.

Apply online www.careers.kfc.com.au

Please advise Ms Masters if you apply.

Please find attached vacancy flyer 54-19 Certificate III in Polymer Processing (Composites) open to any Year 10 and 11 students with a closing date of 14 November 2019.

Should any students be interested in applying for this wonderful opportunity, please forward an EOI, cover letter and resume to Jennifer.Holmes@twb.catholic.edu.au for submission.

Certificate III in Polymer Processing (Composites)

Golden West Apprenticeships are currently advertising a full-time apprenticeship vacancy in Cabinet Making in Toowoomba. If any Year 12 graduating students are interested in applying for this position, I have included the link below. The closing date for the position is 15/11/2019 and for further information they can phone 1300 650 775.

apply.goldenwest.org.auVacancyView

Next Meeting

February 4 – 7 pm – College Library

Come join the fun.

Friday – November 8

Year 12 Exam Block

Saturday – November 9

Sunday – November 10

Monday – November 11

Year 12 Alternate Program

Tuesday – November 12

Wednesday – November 13

Rosies outreach
PC Farewells
Farewell Assembly

Thursday – November 14

Year 12 Valedictory Celebrations

Friday – November  15

Full 2019 Calendar

Click here for all upcoming events…

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

Canteen Roster

Monday           11     Paige Marsh

Tuesday           12

Wednesday     13     Toni Burton

Thursday         14     Adul Lual

Friday              15     Christina Geldard

Out of Stock:

Murphy Bucket hat – M-L.

A reminder to parents that clean second hand uniform items can be dropped into the uniform shop during opening hours.  Donations are greatly appreciated.

Uniform fitting appointments are now available in December and up to January 24th.

Save the “line up” and make an appointment.

Opening hours, price list and 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.

Formal hats compulsory for ALL students next year.

School bags are compulsory for Years 7, 8 and All new students – optional for all other students

Blazers are compulsory in winter for Year 7, 8, 9 and ALL new students – optional for all other students

Holiday trading hours

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