Week 10 Term 4 2023

From the Acting Principal

Dear members of our thriving community,

Welcome to our final Newsletter for 2023. To close out the year, I feel I could have written a novel but have had to condense everything into this ‘short’ article. The blessings at our College are many and varied and since my last article four weeks ago, we have had many opportunities to be grateful, celebrate success and continue our proud tradition of service. 

Yesterday we celebrated the successes of our students across all aspects of the College. Firstly, I would like to commend Ella Shields for her outstanding HSC results. Ella’s commitment and dedication to achieving her full potential sees her being awarded the College Dux for 2023. Our College Proxime will be awarded to Tia Jegen. To all of our Seniors, we bid our final farewell and wish them a safe life journey filled with endless possibilities

Yesterday at our Speech and Prize Giving Ceremony we celebrated the gifts of our community members. I have shared a small section of my address to give you a sense of that special gathering of staff, students and families. 

‘Today I would like to focus on the concept of the gift. Each of us has been given the gift of life and it is essential that we never neglect this gift. As Timothy reminds us in his Pastoral letters, to neglect a gift is to watch it wither. The gifts we are given are many and varied and whether we choose to tap into them is really up to us. Just as the gifts under the Christmas tree are many and varied so are the gifts that are showcased by our students and staff on a daily basis. Wisdom, empathy, care, communication, love and respect are cornerstone gifts that will ensure there are no bots amongst us. To show up for yourself is really all that is asked of everyone. By promising to show up for yourself, you're prioritising your physical, emotional, spiritual, and mental health needs. This is something we challenge our students to do and if they are unable to do this we have so many support structures to assist them….

Today we will be awarding students who have attained standards of excellence across all disciplines and subjects.  We are proud of these achievements that are reflected by your individual dedication and commitment and have been achieved with the support of our outstanding teachers. We affirm those who have committed themselves to being outstanding community members with social consciences, with hands that work for justice and compassion. Our sporting prowess has been nurtured by many of our coaches. There is hardly a day when I arrive at the College at 7.15 am and there isn’t a bus filled with smiling faces ready to represent the College on the sporting field.

We also recognise the commitment of staff who have individually served the College for over 20 years. Their sense of vocation is evidenced by sharing the gifts of knowledge, wisdom and life experience with thousands of students who have shared a Woodlawn education.

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The value of education can never be underestimated. The education that we provide is focused on the development of the whole person with a promise to ‘enable every student to live life to the fullest’.

Returning to Cambodia in 2023 showcased our commitment to service, community building and care of our students at La Valla. To provide a sense of dignity to these beautiful children and to represent the love and care that our College feels towards them filled my heart with pride and joy. This collated video says it all. Thanks to our students and families who raised funds over the year and to our ambassadors for your generosity and care.'

Our staffing for 2024 has been finalised and I would like to express my gratitude to all of our staff. We are farewelling the following staff and on everyone's behalf I say the College has been enriched by their presence, may a piece of Woodlawn remain in your hearts and may you continue to thrive in your new endeavours. 

Mr Eli Campbell - leaves Woodlawn to travel and teach in England. We thank him for his many contributions including being a fantastic coach of our Chess Team.

Mrs Vicky Fitness - has taken an appointment at the Catholic Schools Office in the Human Relations sector. We thank her for the stewardship of our finances, our grounds and our Ancillary Team. Vicky has been a valued member of the Leadership Team. The Office is certainly gaining a leader with much expertise.

Mrs Sharni-Lee Garrington - will begin working at MacKillop College in Port Macquarie. We thank her for her curriculum leadership, her sense of living the faith through action and her gentle care of our students.

Mr Darren Magner - has opted for retirement in 2024. We will miss his sense of humour, attention to detail and his collaboration and management of all building and renovation projects across the College. We hope he enjoys extended family time, travels in the van and a peaceful start to each day.

Mr Tom McKeown - will head for Europe this weekend and return to study Engineering at Newcastle University. He has been a dynamo in the Sports Department. His smiles, his energy and his sense of community will be missed. 

Mr Chris Mason - has been appointed Assistant Principal: Learning and Teaching to St Joseph’s College, Banora Point. His knowledge and commitment to service in all aspects of College life will be missed. We know that Banora will be enriched by his passion for learning, his understanding of adolescents and their needs and his love of community.

Mr Craig Saad - has taken a position as PDHPE Coordinator at Emmanuel Anglican College in Ballina. Leading Pedagogy at Woodlawn has enabled Craig to showcase his collaborative and relational skills. We thank him for his mentorship of our beginning teachers and his contribution to all areas of College life.

Ms Sophie Sullivan - is finalising her studies to become a primary school educator. She has been a true servant and faith leader in her role as Mission Assistant at the College. She has developed many relationships and mentored our students with a giving and open heart. 

We also thank Ms Katie Armbruster, Mr Dan Naughton, Dr Robert Stanley, Mrs Jessie George and Mrs Angela Jeffrey who have completed short-term contracts with us in 2023.

Commencement Dates for students in Term 1, 2024 are as follows:

Thursday, 1 February (Years 7 & 12 only)

Friday, 2 February (Years 8 - 11)

This extended break is also a prime time to ensure that your students return to the College with appropriate grooming, shoes, and uniforms. We have clear guidelines around these matters and it is essential that everyone complies. These are not optional. The Woodlawn Way is to be a proud ambassador of the College through example, deed and word. 

The New Year is filled with promise. We have new opportunities, relationships to continue fostering and strong foundations to build on. May you all have a safe Christmas, may you travel with care and may you share your love openly with those in your care. We look forward to 2024 with hope and anticipation as we write the next chapter of the Woodlawn story.

The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see - I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a saviour, who is the Messiah, the Lord: (Luke 2:10-11)"

In this season of Advent we too look with Hope to the future. 

Annette Reen
Acting Principal

From the Acting Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

That’s a wrap…
The 2023 academic year has come to a close, and we extend our thanks and congratulations to all our students and families for their engagement, support and effort throughout the year. The past few weeks have rattled along at a furious pace as we have acknowledged and awarded the many high achievers across all areas of College life. This has been a wonderful reminder of the variety of talents and opportunities that exist at the College. Amidst those celebrations, we have also managed to pack up, tidy up and finish up with a strong sense of community and connection. 

The other big ticket item of the week, of course, was the release of this year’s HSC results, which are outlined below.

Our deepest thanks to you all for an excellent year; it really did feel like a return to what high school should be with the constant hum of extracurricular and co-curricular activities, as well as opportunities for family and community engagement in a variety of forms. 

On a personal note, I’d like to say thank you and God bless. My most treasured memories of my 21 years at Woodlawn will undoubtedly be the people I’ve met and the blessing of so many diverse and rewarding relationships. Wishing you a safe, happy and holy Christmas, and a relaxing break. All the very best in 2024.

HSC results 2023
Woodlawn congratulates the Year 12 Class of 2023 on this year’s Higher School Certificate (HSC) results. Our students' achievements have been a remarkable collaborative effort between students, families and teaching staff. As a community, we are incredibly proud of their efforts. 

Eleven students were acknowledged on the Distinguished Achievers List for achieving a result in the highest band (Band 6 or Band E4) for one or more of their courses. For this outstanding achievement, we congratulate and acknowledge the following students:
Darcey Allen (Design and Technology and Mathematics Standard 2); William Bates (who achieved 99% in Mathematics Standard 2); Will Bryant (Design and Technology);

Emily Cooke (Studies of Religion I); Jasper Delman (Ancient History); Tia Jegen (English Extension 1 and English Extension 2, Society and Culture, Studies of Religion I, Visual Arts);

Marnie Morton (English Extension 1 and English Extension 2, Visual Arts); Oscar Murchison (Mathematics Standard 2); Chloe Packer (Personal Development, Health and Physical Education);

Sabrina Payne (Ancient History, Studies of Religion II); Ella Shield (Earth and Environmental Science, Studies of Religion II, Visual Arts);

Students' achievements were outstanding in many subjects across the College. Fourteen subjects achieved examination results above the state mean with the most significant results coming from the following subjects: Ancient History, Biology, Construction, Dance, Design & Technology, English Extension 1 & 2, English Standard, Mathematics Standard 2, Modern History, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education, Society & Culture, Studies of Religion I, and Visual Arts.

These results highlight the dedication, organisation and hard work of each student. They are also a testament to the dedication and goodwill of their teachers, who have worked with energy and innovation throughout the year.

Several students received significant nominations for major works. These include: Annaliese Kelvin, nominated for CallBack for Core Performance, Core Composition and Major Study Performance and Dance; Ella Shield - Selected for ArtExpress; Will Bryant - Nominated for SHAPE Design and Technology; Ryan Fahey - Gold Medal at the WorldSkills Australia Competition for VETiS.

The highest ATAR for 2023 was 95.90 achieved by Ella Shield, our College Dux. Other outstanding ATARs include: Tia Jegen, Sabrina Payne, William Cronin, Will Bryant, Emily Cooke, Marnie Morton, Cory McInnes, Chloe Packer, Darcey Allen, William Bates, and Lily Munce.

Chris Mason
Acting Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching

Student Wellbeing

End of Term
It has been pleasing to see the level of energy that our students have maintained this term as we know that the end of term can be a chore for some. It was great to see so many students in attendance, particularly during our Speech and Prize Giving Ceremony, acknowledging the efforts of others or being recognised for their own achievements. It is this presence that makes a community.

Canteen 2024
I want to remind you all that students will not be able to make purchases from the Canteen in 2024 with their mobile phones. As mentioned in our last Newsletter, students and families now have six weeks to arrange an alternate method of payment. The options available are:

1. Use cash.
2. Use a bank debit or credit card.
3. Use their student card (if their student number has been linked to a Flexischools account).
4. Use the Flexischools system to pre-order online. Ordering in this manner also allows students to bypass the long queues.

Uniform 
Please ensure that your child returns to school in the correct uniform as outlined on page 18 of the Information for Parents and Students Handbook on the side panel of the Newsletter.

All items of uniform can be purchased from the College Uniform Shop. Opening hours are listed at the end of the Newsletter. 

The holidays are the perfect opportunity to address any uniform issues that are present at the end of the year. There are no ambiguities as to what the students are expected to wear. Shoes are to be conventional black leather lace-up or buckle-up school shoes. We want to maintain our standards and your support in doing so is appreciated.

Thank you for your support this year. I wish you a happy and healthy Christmas and I look forward to working with you again in 2024.

Fiona Fennamore
Acting Assistant Principal - Mission

Sports News

Major Sports Awards
Year 7- Father Paddy McCarthy Award - Jacob Rowe
Year 8- Father John Begg Award - William Bullpitt
Year 9- Brother Terry Garrett Award - Isabella Rowe
Swimmer of the Year  - Alanna Bromhead
Athlete of the Year  - Jacqueline Andonov
Netballer of the Year - Tahlia Kent
Cricketer of the Year - Harrison Perkins
Soccer Player of the Year - Jack Organ
Rugby Union Player of the Year - Cory McInnes
Rugby League Player of the Year - William Bates
Most talented Junior Sportswoman  (7-10)  - Alanna Bromhead
                                                              Most talented Junior Sportsman (7-10) - Malekai Kubils
                                                              Female Athlete of the Year - Jacqueline Andonov
                                                              Male Athlete  of  the Year - Cory McInnes
                                                             Blue Ribbon Best All-Round Female Athlete - Jacqueline Andonov
                                                             Mitchell Medal for Equestrian - Mimi Bolam
                                                             Mitchell Medal for Equestrian - Jemima Southwood

Dates to be aware of for Term 1, 2024 regarding representative sport

As we prepare for 2024, we have a NSWCCC representative pathway sports selections for individual entry sport early in Term 1. The closing dates for registrations are very soon after returning to school. Please note all closing dates are firm dates. No registrations will be permitted after the closing date.

All individual sports registrations are completed on the CSNSW Sport website. The parent must have an account and add their child to have access. (Registration HELP is available on the sports info page).

NSWCCC Softball Selections - closing date, Wednesday, 7 February 2024 - Selection date - Tuesday, 13 February at Stanhope Gardens - More information https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/softball

NSW All Schools Triathlon - closing date, Wednesday, 7 February 2024 - Championship date - Wednesday, 21 February at Sydney International Regatta Centre, Penrith - More information https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/triathlon

NSWCCC Baseball Selections - closing date, Thursday, 22 February 2024 - Selection date - Tuesday, 5 March at Castle Glen 1 & 2, Castle Hill  - More information https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/baseball

NSWCCC Tennis Selections - closing date, Thursday, 22 February 2024 - Selection date - Monday, 4 March at North Parramatta Tennis Courts - More information https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/tennis

NSWCCC Golf Selections - closing date, Thursday, 29 February 2024 - Selection date Monday, 11 March at Belmont Golf Club - More information  https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/golf

In 2024, three new pathways will be introduced. NSWCCC will open an Expression of Interest registration for these next week to assist in conducting selections to finalise NSWCCC teams:

• 15 Years & Under Cricket - boys & girls    
• 15 Years & Under Volleyball - boys & girls    https://csnsw.sport/sports/nswccc-secondary/volleyball
• 18 Years & Under Bowls - boys & girls

Simon Andrews
Sports Coordinator

Cricket News

Downie Trophy: Round 4

After a week of Cricket and 10 hours on planes to WA and back, our squad could be forgiven if they were a little 'cricketed' out. Fortunately, with the depth of our squad this year we were able to include Charlie Collins to make his Downie debut. Kieran Weekes came back into the squad after he played one game earlier in the year. Lachlan Barnes and Emily Hosking also returned to the First XI squad to give us the energy and freshness to go to Coffs Harbour to take on Mackillop College from Port Macquarie in round 4 (quarterfinals) of the Downie Trophy Competition.

Winning the toss we elected to bat. After a shaky start of 1 for 11, 2 for 38 then 3 for 45 we looked to be in a bit of trouble. Captain, Oliver Walker, and Lachlan Barnes then played a patient knock and gave very few chances to have us 3 for 117 at 34 overs (2nd drinks). With plenty of overs remaining and wickets in hand, they were given the green light to take them on. Lachy obliged with 10 off the 35th then both of them played fairly safe but exciting stroke play to push us to 3 for 163 in the 40th over. The next 10 overs saw the boys electrify the innings to have us finish on 4 for 267. Unfortunately, Olly was run out on 105 with an over to go, and Lachlan made 111 Not Out. An awesome 216 run partnership was well deserved by two extremely talented Cricketers. Congratulations boys.

With Lachlan’s innings, we decided to rest him from the opening bowling spell and gave Olly the gloves to keep wickets instead of bowling. Downie debutant, Charlie Collins, opened the bowling and got us off to the start we needed with his first ball of his second over to have them 1 for 6. Oliver Crotty then joined in with his second over to have them 2 for 8. Collins got a second and Port were in trouble at 3 for 22.

Jake Fowler and Emily Hosking came on as first change bowlers and kept things tight, wickets continued to fall. Jake finished his spell with 5 for 12. He almost got a hattrick in his second over. It was an awesome spell of bowling; well done Jake! Emily finished 0 for 9 off her 4 overs. At this stage Port were 8 for 38.

Jed Dougherty came on to clean up the tail with a wicket off his first ball and finished with 2 for 2 off his 2 overs which included a stumping by Captain Walker to top off his day finishing the innings.

It was a credit to the whole squad to keep up the intensity and energy throughout the match. This win puts us into the Semi finals which will be played on the 27 & 28th February 2024 at the Central Coast Regional Sporting Complex.

Dave Maslen
Cricket Coordinator

Duke Of Edinburgh Bronze Award

The College congratulates Bella Griffiths on achieving her Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award. Bella completed her mandatory hours in Netball (physical recreation), umpiring (skill), Surf Lifesaving (service) and her adventurous journeys (South Passage sailing trip) to achieve her award. We applaud her dedication and organisation in achieving this significant award.

Chris Mason
Duke of Edinburgh Coordinator

Canteen News

Flexischools orders has a cut-off time of 9.00am.

The cash free way to pay! - REGISTER NOW
Paying for lunches is now safer and hassle free. With cashless cards there's no need for students to bring cash to school.

The College has Flexischools to allow students to pay at the Canteen using their existing student ID card. Paying for lunches and items at recess or lunch is now safer and hassle free. With cashless cards there's no need for students to bring cash to school. Parents can set daily spending limits and view transactions online. Parents can also top-up funds at any time.

The Canteen has introduced a Fast-Track line for students who have pre-ordered to collect their lunches, making it much easier and quicker for students.

We encourage all students to register. This will allow for those days when your student may have forgotten their homemade lunches.

Please follow the link below to register now:

Dolphin Office Choice

Please find below instructions how to order booklist.

Uniform Shop

The Woodlawn Uniform Shop is proudly managed by P&C Uniforms.
To ensure you have an easy and pleasant experience while ordering uniforms, we encourage you to order online ahead of time for easy click-and-collect in store.

The Uniform Shop is currently CLOSED due to renovations taking place in the Colin Centre, and will reopen on Saturday, 20th January. During this time there will be NO ONLINE orders taken. 

Outside of the above dates, the Uniform Shop will operate in their normal business hours as below:

Uniform Shop Opening Hours:
Time: Monday 8.00am - 9.30am & Wednesday 11.00am - 2.00pm
Where: Colin Centre
Order Online: www.sjcwuniformshop.com.au 
Book a fitting: www.sjcwuniformshop.com.au/bts-appointments

Second Hand Uniform Shop Opening Hours:
Time: 11.00am - 2.00pm
When: Every Wednesday
Where: Colin Centre 

Leanne Copeland
Uniform Shop Convenor
0407 739 237 

Online Vaccinations