Week 10 Term 2 2022
From the Principal
Dear Parents, Staff and Students,
On behalf of Fr Bing and all staff, can I thank you for your collective efforts over this past school term. Mrs Fennamore rightly notes in her column later in this Newsletter that we have ‘returned to normal’ at Woodlawn and this is certainly correct in terms of just how busy the College has been in recent weeks. I would encourage everyone, our HSC students included, to take some genuine ‘down time’ over the next fortnight in readiness for another big term ahead.
In staffing news, we congratulate Mrs Sophie Base, our Hospitality teacher, who is a finalist for the North and Mid-North Coast 2022 NSW Training Awards as VET Teacher/Trainer of the Year. The Awards ceremony will be held tonight at Opal Cove Resort, Coffs Harbour. We congratulate Mrs Base on this achievement and wish her all the best for tonight.
We farewell Ms Sarah Mackenzie who has spent the past term job sharing with Ms Erin Parrey. Ms Mackenzie will be replaced by Ms Sarah Purnell, who is known to many of us from her work at the College some years ago. We have already welcomed back one of our College Counsellors, Mrs Jessica Godfrey, from Maternity Leave so we now farewell Ms Lucrezia Migliore who has been replacing Mrs Godfrey over the past semester. We have also recently farewelled our Creative Arts Assistant, Ms Ally Rice-Finlayson, who is moving to Melbourne to continue her post-graduate studies. As her replacement we welcome Ms Shontae Thompson. Ms Thompson is no stranger to Woodlawn, having graduated in 2019.
I know that you will all join with me in thanking, farewelling and welcoming these staff respectively.
Term 3 commences for students on Tuesday, 19 July which will be Day 2 on the College Timetable. On Monday, 18 July, staff will be attending a professional development day facilitated by Real Schools, which will extend our focus on developing positive relationships and restorative practices within and beyond our Woodlawn community.
We expect that the current COVID-19 NSW Health Guidelines for Schools will remain in place for the start of Term 3:
- Students and staff who are close contacts and have no symptoms can continue to attend school if they follow the guidelines below:
- They must notify the school and their outside of school hours care (OOSHC) provider if they are intending to return under this provision.
- They should conduct a daily rapid antigen test (RAT) and return a negative result each morning before attending school for 5 school days.
- Secondary school students must wear a mask indoors (except when eating or exercising).
- No student or staff member identified as a close contact will be permitted to participate in overnight excursions, including school camps.
- No apprentices, trainees or students on placement or staff member identified as a close contact will be permitted to attend settings identified as high risk by NSW Health (healthcare, aged care, disability care or correctional facilities).
- Any visitor to a school site who is a close contact is required to advise the school that they are a close contact before they come on site. These visitors should conduct a daily RAT and return a negative result before attending. They must also wear a mask indoors at all times. Schools should consider if the visit can be conducted virtually.
- Packs of 7 RATs are available for all students via the Student Services Office (SSO).
- Last week at Woodlawn, we are aware of at least four (4) cases of COVID-19 across students in Years 7, 8, 10 & 11.
- Mask wearing is mandatory for staff and high school students returning to school as close contacts for 5 school days. Masks continue to be mandatory on public transport. This applies to students aged 12 years and older when travelling to and from school and during school excursions by public transport or by chartered transport services.
- Students are encouraged to wash their hands regularly with soap and water. Enhanced cleaning measures remain in place at the College.
It was fitting that our first full school Assembly for the year took place in Kelly Park on Tuesday as part of NAIDOC 2022, so as this fortnight’s reflection, I include the following thoughts with you:
NAIDOC – from mourning to celebration and action…
The origins of NAIDOC Week came out of a Day of Mourning for the destruction and despoliation of Indigenous Australians which followed the arrival of the First Fleet.
It later became also a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture. Each year it offers a theme that points to a key part of Indigenous culture. It offers space for reflection not only by Indigenous but by all Australians. This year, that theme is a call to action: Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!
Whether we are members of this community or allies, we all must continue to Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! to support and secure institutional, structural, collaborative and cooperative reforms. Catholic Social Teaching encourages us to listen to and walk in solidarity with First Nations peoples as they seek proper environmental, cultural, and heritage protections, Constitutional change, a comprehensive process of truth-telling, treaties and an end to racism.
In his article, ‘We are called’ Andrew Hamilton SJ notes that the tone of NAIDOC's theme, 'is urgent and impatient, expressing frustration at the resistance to change but also the recognition that new possibilities are within reach.' Fr Hamilton also notes the gains that have been made recently, saying, 'We share the hunger of Indigenous Australians for the change that will enable young people to grow proud of their heritage and confident for their future. We should expect and applaud the people, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, who get up, stand up and show up in the labour of building a better Australia.'
(Australian Catholics, June 2022)
Finally, our thoughts and prayers are again with the broader Casino community after the tragic death of another young person last week.
Enjoy a relaxing holiday break spent in the fine company of family and friends.
Sincerely
Aaron Beach
Principal
From the Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
Term 2 has drawn to a close, and unfortunately, this has been another term of interruption due to staff and student absences mostly related to COVID-19. Although these uncontrollable challenges still exist, the resilience of our community continues to be on display. The tone of the College is calm, which has led to an environment conducive to learning and teaching. Students have remained engaged in learning and have shown tremendous school spirit. They should also be commended for their engagement in recent external examinations. Students in Years 7 and 9 sat NAPLAN. Year 10 completed the ‘minimum standards' testing this week. We look forward to analysing these results in due course.
Year 12 Trial Examinations
In Week 3 of Term 3, (1-16 August), our Year 12 students will undertake their HSC Trial Examinations. The importance of the Trials is that they often form the final part of each student's internal assessment mark and provide an excellent opportunity for students to boost both their school-based assessment mark and rank. Further to this, the examinations assist in preparing students for the final HSC Examinations as they provide similar timing, structure and conditions. The Trial examinations will closely follow the Catholic Secondary Schools Association timetable attached here. A finalised schedule with timing and rooming will be distributed to the Year 12 cohort early in Term 3, along with details of bus transport to and from Lismore for the examination period. The following link, NESA provides a variety of information to support families and students in their preparations. The resources on this site provide information about staying healthy during the HSC, including advice about effective study techniques, looking after yourself and supporting others.
Years 7-10 Interviews and Reports
Thank you to all families who could attend the recent Parent/Teacher Interviews for Years 7 to 10. Parent/Teacher Interviews are a valuable resource for both parents and students. We hope you found the evening helpful in providing meaningful feedback regarding student progress and strategies for improvement moving forward. Anyone who could not attend the evening and would like feedback should contact their student's individual teacher.
Semester 1 Reports for students in Years 7-10 are almost complete, and we hope to have them available early in Term 3. These reports will also be mailed to families.
When awarding A-E grades, teachers use their professional judgement to determine a student’s achievement level, based on formal and informal assessments undertaken throughout the reporting period. An overall judgement of achievement is based on data and evidence of what each student has demonstrated against the standards described in the A-E common grade scale and the NSW Syllabus documents. Our goal is to try and give the most accurate account of what a student knows, is able to do and understands.
Year 10 into 11 Subject Selections
Thank you to all Year 10 families for attending the recent Subject Selection Evening in Week 7 and the Year 10 students for submitting the expression of interest form. A reminder that the completed expression of interest is not a guarantee of the subjects that will be available or what students will eventually study in Years 11 and 12. Please note that there is a change in the timeline for the next steps in the subject selection process. The College is adapting to a new timetabling program, and as a result, the final lines, choices and parent/student/teacher counselling interviews will not happen until later in Term 3. Formal notification of new dates will come early next term.
Student Free Day
Monday, 18 July, is a student free day.
Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Survey
In August, the College will be inviting students, teachers and parents to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey - Tell Them From Me. We would greatly appreciate your feedback, as the surveys are essential to our whole school evaluation and planning process and ultimately increase student wellbeing and success. We value the role of parents and carers within our school community, so please keep a lookout for your invite early next term to complete the survey.
Michael Campbell
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
michael.campbell@lism.catholic.edu.au
From the Assistant Principal - Mission
It has been a blessing to return to College life this week. Over the past six weeks I have had plenty of time to reflect on the many gifts we are afforded in this flourishing community and am so grateful for our families, our staff and our students. The opportunities to promote the dignity of all and to affirm community members has been a highlight of our Mission to ensure that everyone lives a full life.
The Year 7 Reflection Day, facilitated by the talented Michael Fitzpatrick, provided our students with the chance to spend a day building and forming relationships. I received an email from Michael commending our students for their enthusiasm, energy and respectful behaviour. Feedback from the Year 7s indicated that the day was action packed and fun filled. ‘I didn’t know things like this could be part of a school day’. In other Year 7 news, the Base Class Leaders, as the collective voice of their group, elected Joseph Price and Sienna Davis-Job to be the year level representatives on the SRC. We congratulate all of our Year 7s for the way they approach our leadership process. I am heartened by their zest for life and their desire to contribute to College life.
We celebrated NAIDOC week this week with a special ceremony in Kelly Park. We came together to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. CJ King led the ceremony with confidence and respect. He was supported by many of our Indigenous students who proudly welcomed Uncle Gilbert, a local elder, to open our celebration with a traditional smoking ceremony. This was followed by our prayer Liturgy focusing on the gift of creation, the dignity of all and the need to ‘Get Up, Stand Up and Show Up’, a theme that resonates with us all.
CJ King spoke with me about the event:
‘NAIDOC to me is a special week of the year where us, the Indigenous community, get a chance to celebrate our beautiful culture and our people. We get to embrace and share the feeling of what it is like to Indigneous. We appreciated the level of respect that was shown by our Woodlawn students and we welcomed the chance to share this with our Trinity brothers and sisters. This year's theme ‘Get Up, Stand Up, Show Up’ reminds me to be proud of who I am and to never be ashamed of who we are. We had an opportunity to explain what we are all about on this special day.’
Celebrations continued on Wednesday at SCU with our students joining Trinity and St Carthage's in the spirit of unity and community. Thanks to Mr Saye for accompanying students to this day.
Acknowledging our students who have been committed to applying themselves in their classes is done through the RFL process. The Top 10 students in each round of RFL receive Commendation Certificates for their outstanding results. I was so proud of our Year 7 students for their efforts and their smiles. A big shout out to the Year 12 cohort who continue to excel in this arena. There were twelve students who received 12/12 'excellents' for their work ethic and application.
Generosity is a virtue that is widely adhered to in our Catholic College. Generosity and gratitude enlarge our hearts in the words of Pope Francis. Earlier this term we received a donation from Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School, Kingsgrove. Their community worked with their local RSL to transport these much needed supplies to Woodlawn for our students. This is a classic example of a community sharing their time and energy to assist those in a crisis. We truly value their contributions and good works. Check out our students opening some of the exceptional gifts we were afforded.
Annette Reen
Assistant Principal - Mission
annette.reen@lism.catholic.edu.au
Ministry Matters
As a very long and productive Term 2 comes to a close, we look toward a holiday break. This gives us an opportunity to recharge our batteries for what is promising to be another huge term in the Ministry world.
Next term, our students in the Years 9 and 10 Ministry classes are preparing for the first SHINE Conference to be held since 2019. This event is a real highlight in the Diocesan student discipleship continuum and we are delighted to be able to attend again after a COVID-19 induced hiatus.
Street Retreat 2022
Our ‘Street Retreatants’ have returned to school this Tuesday after a well-earned day off to recover from a huge effort in Brisbane last weekend. By all accounts the growth and enjoyment of the crew far outweighed some confronting and uncomfortable (though all very safe) experiences. It has been really pleasing to see the smiling faces of the students as they recount their various experiences.
I will share with you two accounts from Tom Rowling and Natasha Wotherspoon after Street Retreat:
Street Retreat was the most fantastic and rewarding co-curricular experience I have had since being at Woodlawn. It’s all about meeting like-minded people who want to show their support through the Catholic Social Teachings. With my partner, Lily Lindsay, I attended various ministries around Brisbane. We first went to Emmanuel City Mission on Friday morning, which is a super loving place that provided food and a warm area to find sanctuary throughout the day for rough sleepers. That night we learned what it’s like to live in the shoes of a rough sleeper with the help of two wonderful ladies from the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Brisbane. The next morning we went to Redcliffe to clean up the beach in a small group which provided us with great satisfaction.
Street Retreat is an experience for all who have a heart full of love. You can’t form a closer bond than with those whom you meet on the trip.
Tom Rowling - Year 11
From Thursday, 23 June to Sunday, 26 June, I had the utmost pleasure in taking seven Year 11 students to the student discipleship program, 'Street Retreat', in Brisbane. The students: Lilly Munce, Lily Lindsay, Bella Griffiths, Teodoro Astone, Noah Hague, Thomas Rowling and Lukas Boonrat all enthusiastically participated in numerous ministries around the city of Brisbane, helping the homeless and those on the fringes of society.
These students were also joined by the other ten high schools within the Lismore diocese, ranging all the way from Port Macquarie to Tweed Heads. I would like to commend all seven students on their leadership, compassion, empathy and just the overall way that they carried themselves whilst on this immersion. They were all highly commended by other staff members and were able to have a lasting impact on those whom they encountered.
Natasha Wotherspoon - Youth Ministry Officer
We are grateful for the leadership and compassion displayed by these students whilst they were on Street Retreat. It is another great symbol of just how strong the desire to complete service is amongst our student body at Woodlawn.
SHINE & IGNITE Conference
I bring these discipleship opportunities to your attention again as events occurring in Term 3. We have now finalised our list of nineteen students who will attend IGNITE Conference and are pleased to be taking both Years 9 and 10 Ministry classes to SHINE. There is a great deal of excitement about these events and we look forward to sharing both preparation and the journey itself for both Conferences in future Newsletters.
Holidays
I want to take this opportunity to wish you all a very safe and happy school holiday period. This feels like one when students will be in need of some serious ‘R & R’ off the back of a most challenging and tumultuous semester.
I share with you a great prayer resource that is used within classes at school. From the Loyola Press ‘stable’, I give you the 3-minute Retreat! This wonderful method of prayer enables anybody at any time (provided you have a reasonable internet connection) to sit, reflect and pray within your day.
Be it in the morning as you prepare for the day, or after a day of adjudicating the interactions of family life; these short retreats offer a great way to call Jesus into your life and that of your family.
As always, if there is anything I can do to assist you or your family in your faith journey, please don’t hesitate to make contact.
Nick Jones
Leader of School Evangelisation
nick.jones@lism.catholic.edu.au
Student Wellbeing
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
As we head into the holidays we can definitely say that school has returned to 'normal'. For the first time in years, and it really has been that long, our students are now able to participate in all aspects of College life. Whilst we have welcomed the sport, cultural pursuits and excursions, and added assessments and examinations to the mix, it has certainly left our school population feeling tired. I hope our students can make the most of the holidays to rest and recharge ready to do it all again in Term 3.
During the last few weeks of term, each morning members of our Leadership and Welfare teams have been visiting Home Groups. As well as getting to know the students, the aim has been to reinforce our uniform standards. Most of our students wear the uniform correctly; however, we do ask for your support in this matter. If, for any reason, your young person cannot wear the correct uniform, we ask that you send a note with them to school.
Young people with body image issues are often undetected in the early stages of the illness. Around 30% of young people say they’re extremely, or very, concerned about their body image. It’s normal for young people to have moments where they may feel dissatisfied, unhappy or uncomfortable in their own body. But if these feelings increase or intensify, a more serious issue may be developing; and they may become more at risk of engaging in unhealthy and unhelpful behaviours around food, exercise and supplements — all of which can impact on their mental and physical health. Below are some tips on how to promote positive body image in your young person.
During the holidays many of our young people will have well deserved free time and choose to spend this time online gaming. Gaming is enjoyable but also needs to be monitored to ensure online safety.
How common is online gaming?
- 81% of children aged 8 to 17 have played an online game;
- 64% have played a multiplayer online game with others;
- 52% have played with people they do not know;
- 17% have experienced bullying or abuse while playing a network game with others;
- 34% have made an in-game purchase and this rose to 45% when they played a network game with others.
If you are looking for ways to keep your young person safe online, you can find some suggestions here.
I hope you enjoy your time with your young person over the holiday. Stay safe and I look forward to catching up with you next term.
Fiona Fennamore
Leader of Student Welfare
fiona.fennamore@lism.catholic.edu.au
Athletics Carnival Results
The College Athletics Carnival was held last Thursday, 23 June. Below are the results from the day - congratulations to all who participated.
Brian Battese
Sports Coordinator
brian.battese@lism.catholic.edu.au
Careers Update
Northern Rivers Careers Expo
This year, after two years of cancellations and missed opportunities, the Summerland Careers Advisers' Network has combined with Connect NR, as well as a range of businesses and tertiary institutions, to put on what offers to be an excellent event for local students.
We have provided permission notes to all Year 12 and Year 10 students. They will travel by bus to the event on 26 July and we have booked our students into the first available timeslot so that they will get early access to as many exhibitors as possible. If your child has not returned their permission note, please complete it and return it to school as soon as possible.
Attached is the event flyer with more information about what will be available on the day.
Please take a moment to review the full Careers Update at this link.
Bernie Maginnity
Vocational Pathways Coordinator
bernie.maginnity@lism.
Uniform Shop
The St John's College 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.
Opening Hours: 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
When: 1st Wednesday of every month
Where: Colin Centre
Time: 8am - 2pm
Canteen News
Term 3 Changes
Please be aware there will be a price increase in menu items. This will be reflected on Flexischools for the beginning of Term 3.
Flexischools orders will have a new cut-off time of 9am.
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 anytime.
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: