ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE 19th October 2012

What’s on Week 3

Term 4 2012

P.O. Box 231 College Drive

PORT MACQUARIE 2444 Ph: 02 5525 4100

Fax: 02 5525 4199 www.sapss.nsw.edu.au

SUNDAY 29 th Sunday of Ordinary Time Mass Times: St. Agnes’ Port Macquarie Our Lady of Lourdes Wauchope Saturday Vigil – 6.00pm Saturday Vigil – 6.00pm Sunday – 7.30am, 9.00am & 6.00pm Sunday 7.30am Telegraph Point – Thursday Night 6.00pm Beechwood – 9.00am 1st & 3rd Laurieton – Saturday Vigil 5.30pm, Sunday – 7.30am Kendall – 9.00am Mass (1st Saturday month 10.00am Mass Comboyne) Long Flat – 9.00am 2nd & 4th Sunday

MONDAY, 22nd October (Day 1)

- HSC Maths & Ext (am), Food Tech (pm) Staff Briefing 8.30am Year 10 Meeting in morning PC Leadership Team Meeting Period 1 SAPSS Jazz band in Performing Arts Centre from 4.00pm – 6.00pm

TUESDAY, 23rd October (Day 2)

- HSC Gen Maths (am), Engineering (pm) Sport day for Year 7-10 Senior Schools Day – Year 11 Homework Hub for Seniors till 5.00pm SAPSS Concert Band 4.00pm – 5.00pm

WEDNESDAY, 24th October (Day 3)

- HSC Maths Ext 1 (am), Hospitality (pm) Junior Percussion Ensemble 8.00am – 8.45am in PAC Senior Percussion Ensemble 1.05pm – 1.45pm in C1 Admin Team Meeting period 6 Dramarama in PAC 3.30pm

THURSDAY, 25th October (Day 4)

- HSC Business Studies (am), Music 1 (pm) Macquarie House Meeting in morning PC Students Leaders Retreat – College Captains Diocesan Surfing Catholic Schools Dance Festival at St Paul’s Homework Hub for Seniors till 5.00pm

FRIDAY, 26th October (Day 5)

- HSC Ancient History (am), Senior Science (pm) Concert Band in PAC 7.45am – 8.45am Students Leaders Retreat – College Captains Year 11 Award Assembly and House Leaders Announced in the PAC Diocesan Surfing Extended Transition 8.30am – 11.00am Oxley House Meeting in morning PC Pastoral Team Meeting period 4

DATES TO REMEMBER: Friday 16th November Year 7 2013 Orientation Day Saturday 17th November Year 12 Graduation Dinner Wednesday 5th December – Monday 10th December Year 7-10 Exams Tuesday 11th December Year 7-9 Exams & Year 10 PC Day Wednesday 5th December – Friday 14th December HSC Assessment Tasks Wednesday 12th December – Friday 14th December Pupil Free Days Monday 17th December Year 10 Award Presentations Monday 17th December Christmas Mass and Exam Feedback

Lessons Thursday 20th December Year 7-9 Awards – Last day for students

“The Truth will set you free”

COORDINATING PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

SUCCESS AND FAILURE We all want to succeed and we especially want our children to experience success. We see the extraordinary efforts athletes go to to succeed and we are aware of the enormous amount of work most of our Year 12 students have done in preparation for their HSC examinations so that they can experience success. What we tend to overlook, however, is that failure is an important part of future success. In education we avoid the use of the word failure. Instead of calling a result a failure, we lessen the impact by simply awarding a lower grade. But fear of failure can in fact provide the motivation for future success. Stanford University psychologist, Carol Dweck, argues that success and failure are determined by what the individual understands about himself or herself. Those with a ‘fixed mindset’ believe that success and failure are largely genetically determined so that unless you are born gifted you will not be able to succeed academically. Contrasted with this are those who have a ‘growth mindset’. A growth mindset allows us to believe that our intelligence is a fluid entity and we have great control over how intelligent and successful we can be. Those with this mindset view failure as an opportunity to learn from mistakes on the way to success in the same way that an Olympic athlete views missing out on a medal as an opportunity to assess, improve and strive for that gold medal at the next games. If success is within our personal control then the way we praise our children/students should reflect this view. Praising innate ability (“You are so gifted”) can reinforce a fixed mindset, whereas praising effort confirms the view that success results from hard work. Psychologist, Mark Smith makes the point that failure is just a step on the road to success. Failure should be seen as an opportunity to grow and should never be brushed under the carpet in order to conceal our embarrassment or shame.

Mr Jim O’Brien Coordinating Principal

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE DEVELOPING POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS WTIHIN OUR COMMUN ITY Our Canteen Volunteers are very important in our community and I sincerely appreciate the generosity of our parents who participate in this act of community service. We celebrated this service with a dinner out last week and it was a truly lovely evening. I thank Jo Farthing and Emma Daley for their organisation and encourage more of our volunteers to consider attending next year as those who did attend enjoyed a very relaxing and enjoyable gathering. It was great just to sit back and chat in a casual fashion. Last Sunday the Parent Assembly organised a family get together at the College. They provided a giant slide, a nice BBQ and a wonderful opportunity for parents and families to socialise on an informal level. I encourage families to keep alert to other activities organised as there is great value in building relationships within the College community. The families who attended enjoyed a lovely evening together, it was very relaxed and a great success. I thank Peta Rourke and Lorna Morson for their planning.

The most important relationship of all is the relation parents have with their sons and daughters. I came across the following article and share it as a great reminder to us all of how to build that very special relationship.

Five ways of building secure relationships with teenagers: Acceptance: every teenager is different and their temperament reflects this. So it is important to adjust to a teenager’s personality. A teenager who feels accepted for who they are feels secure and at ease with themselves.

Time: this is the greatest investment a parent can make in developing a lasting bond with their teenager. If a teenager feels you always have time for them then they will feel they can come to you with a worrying problem at any time and you will make the time to listen and help them work through it. Time spent does not have to be entertainment filled. It is the small ordinary day to day time spent with a teenager that makes all the difference.

Life lessons: teaching teenagers life lessons is vital if they are to be equipped for life later on. It is important to acknowledge both your c teenager’s negative and positive emotions. Teaching them to manage difficult emotions such as anger and disappointment as well as celebrating successes will help them manage themselves in life. The best way to do this is by having them see us live out the principles and guidelines we are sharing with them. Remember, they are constantly watching and learning.

Resilient families: keeping the lines of communication open and setting clear boundaries helps make a stable secure home. How we handle the stresses of life also helps teach resilience. It is important to see things through and keep going in the tough times. It is OK for teenagers to see that everyone faces things they find difficult in their life. The trick is to resolve them rather than ignore them.

Patience: this is a great quality for kids to learn as early as possible. A parent’s patience towards a teenager allows them to work through issues at their own pace and still feel loved and valued no matter how frustrating situations can be.

Family rituals: these are important in bringing the family together and giving them a sense of being part of something, a sense of belonging. They can be as small as having regular evening meals together or a family outing on a Sunday afternoon. Make it a time of fun and relaxation where you can catch up with what is going on in each other’s lives.

Clinical psychologist Andrew Fuller says a sense of belonging “is the most powerful protective factor. It is the most powerful remedy for loneliness, hopelessness and loss of meaning in all our lives. In research on Australian young people three forms of belonging dominate: belonging to and feeling loved by your family; belonging to a diversity of friendship groups; and belonging to and fitting in at school.”

Writer Helen Splarn. Editor Dr Ramesh Manocha. Source: Pyschology Today.

CANTEEN VOLUNTEERS

I sincerely thank all the generous people who support our College by giving up their free time to

work in our Canteen. It is a great service and also a nice way to catch up with other parents and

share some conversation time together. Prior to my full-time employment I assisted in the

canteen and thoroughly enjoyed the days. I did find there were times when a sandwich got in the

way of a good conversation but I developed some lifelong friends from my experience of sharing

the journey as a parent while also assisting the school.

We also need more volunteers and if you are interested I encourage you to contact Jo Farthing or

Emma Daley at the College.

My sincere thanks to our current volunteers: Anne Stephens, Janine Marshall, Kim Galloway, Julie Davis-Chaplin, Stephanie Pepper, Marion Pallot, Theresa Camilleri, Lisa Carter, Natalie Woodham, Sandra Burtenshaw, Angela Marchant, Kate Camilleri, Viccy Tickle, Julie Leahy, Irene Dowton, Helen Anderson, Karen Walsh, Sarah Hemsley, Deanne Fyffe, Samantha Cullen, Michelle Cramp.

“May the spirit of the Lord be with you”“May the spirit of the Lord be with you”“May the spirit of the Lord be with you”“May the spirit of the Lord be with you” Mrs Anne O’Brien Principal

YEAR 11 AWARDS & HOUSE LEADER ANNOUNCEMENT An invitation is extended to all Year 11 parents and friends to join us for the Year 11 awards ceremony and announcement of House Leaders on Friday 26th October at 9.00am in the PAC.

ASSESSMENT TASKS

WEEK 3 TERM 4

Year Tasks this week. IC = in class task; HI = Han d in task

7-9 Nil

10 Timber, Graphics, Metal, Music. Monday: PE (IC)

11 Nil

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS DANCE FESTIVAL

The catholic schools of Port Macquarie are putting on a dance festival at St Paul’s High School on Thursday 25th October. Doors will open at 6.00pm for a 6.30pm start. Entrance fee will be a gold coin donation. Come along and enjoy a night of dance!

HIKING AND ADVENTURE IN NEW ZEALAND 2014

In conjunction with the Duke of Edinburgh program and St Paul’s High School. Positions are available for SJRC students to do a 9 day trip to New Zealand in January 2014. Including: a 3 day hike of the Milford Track, Overnight cruise, Gondola ride, Zip-lining, Jet Boating, Luge rides and Canyoning. Cost would be approximately $2,500.00. If enough expressions of interests are received, an information night will be held in Week 4. Please note that this trip is only available for students who would be enrolled in Year 10 or above in 2014. Email jrossington@lism.catholic.edu.au with your child’s name if you would be interested in receiving more information about this trip.

G’DAY USA TOUR 2014

The G’Day USA Tour will once again be offered to St Agnes’ Parish Secondary School students and other schools in the area during the January 2014 school holidays. The program is a short term cultural exchange to the USA for 20 days and includes destinations such as Disneyland, Universal Studios, Knott’s Berry Farm, Los Angeles, Hollywood and San Francisco. Some unique features of this tour include the opportunity to travel as a group, attend an American High school and participate in a home stay with an American family. Cost of this tour is $5,395.00 which includes airfares, accommodation, transfers, travel insurance, breakfasts and admissions to attractions. 32 students from St Agnes Parish Secondary Schools attended this tour in 2012 and gained greater awareness of the differences between the cultures and enormous educational benefit as well as a developing a greater sense of responsibility, self-reliance, self-esteem and learning to work as a member of a cohesive team. Some students have even returned to USA for a second visit with their host family. This is fabulous opportunity for any student seeking to broaden their experiences; however, to be considered for inclusion on this tour, all school fees will need to be up to date. An information evening will be held on Wednesday 24 th October 2012 at 5.30pm at St Joseph’s Regional College in the Performing Arts Ce ntre. If you would like further information, please speak with Mrs Williams or Ms Hyde at St Joseph’s Regional College on 5525 4100.

UNIFORM DONATIONS

With Year 12 students leaving after their HSC exams we would like to ask families of Senior students to donate any unwanted uniform items. All donations are greatly appreciated.

NEW LOST PROPERTY SYSTEM FOR STUDENTS AND PARENTS Lost something.... a hat, your PE gear or Netbook? We now have an online 'Lost Property' register that should help you to relocate your item. Go to the Moodle website and click on the icon in the Quicklinks box and Mrs Avery might be able to assist you. Note to parents: You don’t need to be logged on to access the lost property link, just go to http://moodle.pmreglism.catholic.edu.au/ and register your child’s lost items.

CANTEEN ROSTER

Monday Help Please! Tuesday Helen Anderson Wednesday Karen Walsh Thursday Help Please! Friday Sarah Hemsley

FROM THE MATHS’ VAULT

Write five digits in a line.

All are different--none are nine. Three are odd, not so the others; Each alternates with its brothers.

Twice the first gives you the fourth. First plus second equals the third.

Before you write them down too fast, Third plus fourth gives you the last.

Answer for last week 55 km per hour

YEAR 7 FAMILY BBQ – THANK YOU Last Sunday, year 7 families enjoyed a social BBQ in the school grounds. Whilst a giant slide provided entertainment for the children, the parents had the opportunity to socialise and meet new families. This BBQ was the first event for the St Joseph Regional College Parent Group. An initiative of Parent Assembly Representatives Lorna Morson and Leisa Nardella, with the support of principal Anne O’Brien. The social events organised are to encourage and grow the parent and family community within the college. The parent group currently consists of year 7 parents. Next year we are hoping to build that to another group for the new year 7 families for 2013 and year 8. We encourage any year 7 parents who are interested in being involved in helping to build our school community, to contact the school and the relevant details will be passed on to them. On behalf of Lorna, Leisa and myself, I would like to thank all the year 7 families that attended on Sunday, Anne O’Brien for her continued support and hard work on the day and a big thankyou to our BBQ chefs Gerard O’Brien and Kirk Byrnes who ensured the hungry mouths were fed. Please look out for further Parent Assembly events in the school newsletter. Thank you Kindest regards Peta Rourke Parent Assembly Cluster Organiser Hastings / Macleay Region Mob: 0400 420 614

DONATIONS

The Art department would greatly appreciate donations of old clean towels,

magazines, newspapers and old bed sheets for student projects. DRAMARAMA A huge congratulations to our Dramarama students for putting on a wonderful performance on Wednesday afternoon. A special thank you to Miss Ashlee-Jade Thurling for coordinating the Dramarama group. Well done to everyone!! HSC DRAMA EXAMINATIONS Congratulations to our Year 12 Drama students who undertook the HSC examination on Thursday. The reward of persistence and hard work is sure to be reflected in your final results. Well done!

SAVE THE DATE

2012201220122012

Display NightDisplay NightDisplay NightDisplay Night

Wednesday 14th November

6.00pm

We CAN

Creative Arts NewsCreative Arts NewsCreative Arts NewsCreative Arts News

CAREERS ALERT All Year 11 and 12 parents are encouraged to ensure that they have subscribed to their free service as all careers information is distributed this way. Follow the link below and follow the prompts to sign up. www.pmreglism.catholic.edu.au/careers/careers-email-alert MOODLE – CAREERS Always updated with important documents for work experience and university information. Parents can access this information via your child’s login.

YEAR 8, 9 and 10 – TAX FILE NUMBERS Tax file number forms are processed by Mrs Tinsey every Friday. New forms are now available from the office.

UPCOMING EVENTS 23rd October Senior Schools Day at Southern Cross

University

UNI CONNECT A forum to connect regional secondary students with university students across Australia.

How to find us: Search Facebook Pages for Uni Connect and ‘like’ the page to start asking questions.

How to use the page: • If you have a broad question write it directly onto the wall and someone will get back to you

• If you have a specific question about a university or degree go to the not titled “Meet the Uni Connect Team’ which is pinned to the top of the wall and search for someone currently studying at the university or doing the degree you are interested in, then write the question on the wall starting off with the name of the Uni Connect Team Member you are addressing the question to.

• Keep an eye on the notes section for university tips, interview tips, application tips, FAQ and more.

CAREER TOOLS We are trialling a new Careers communication system called Career Tools. We have sent out some group emails recently and ask that you are patient as we learn to operate this new system. Please open any links contained in the emails in Adobe Reader. Any feedback would be appreciated. If you have a child in Year 10 or 12 and you didn’t receive a careers email please contact Michelle in the office to update your details. SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY SENIOR SCHOOL’S DAY On October 23rd, Year 11 students will have the opportunity to attend Senior School’s Day at Southern Cross University (Coffs Harbour Campus). This is a day where students can access a lot of information regarding transitioning from school to University, costs, living away from home, along with course specific information

COMMUNITY NOTICES

PORT MACQUARIE HASTINGS MUNICIPAL BAND

The PMHM Band enthusiastically invites you and others to a “Showcase of

Talent” on Sunday 21st October at the Uniting Church, Sherwood Road, at

2.30pm.

Tickets are on sale through the Glasshouse Box Office, Clarence Street.

Phone: 6581 8888 or online at www.glasshouse.org.au

PORT MACQUARIE TRIATHLON CLUB

Port Macquarie Triathlon Club is proud to once again be

organising the Camden Haven Triathlon Festival on the

24th/25th of November 2012.

LUSC Junior races on Saturday from 1pm

Biathlon(wade/run) for 5 to 10ys olds- $10Triathlon

(swim/bike/run) for 11 to 15yr olds -$15 Race show bags to

the first 100 junior entries received Seniors/teams race on

Sunday the 25th.

Great event for your first Triathlon- you will love it !

TRY JUNIOR DRAGONBOATING

The “Flamin’ Dragons” Dragonboat Club, Port Macquarie is offering students aged 12 to 18 years

the opportunity to experience the adrenalin rush of Dragonboating on a regular basis.

All you have to do is turn up at the Port Marina boat shed at

4.15pm on Wednesday 24th October to be paddling on the

water by 4.30pm, for approximately 1 hour.

No previous experience is necessary, and all equipment will be

provided – just bring a drink container, a hat, and wear clothing

that can stand getting splashed.

For more information please contact Greg Jackson on 0408

683 983 or email: pmjackos@yahoo.com.au

REGIONAL COLLEGE SPORTS WRAP TERM 4

Week 3 26th Oct - Diocesan Surfing - Cabarita Week 4 1st Nov - Diocesan Softball - Tweed Heads (not entered) Week 5 6th Nov - Diocesan Tennis - Lismore Week 6 12th Nov - Diocesan Baseball Trials - Coffs Harbour

STATE SHOOTING SUCCESS

Congratulations to Jack Nolan (year 7) who competed at the State Shooting Titles at

Silverdale during the holidays. In open competition he won the award for tightest

grouping and ranked in the top ten in the heavy rifle event. He was competing

against fifty other competitor. Well done Jack.

ABSENCE NOTES

Below you will find a proforma for a student Absence Note. This is the preferred method for parents to notify the College of their child’s absences. �------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ PARENTS / GUARDIANS EXPLANATION FOR PUPIL’S ABSENCE PUPIL’S NAME _______________________________________Year__________ PC ________ DATE(S) OF ABSENCE _________________________________________________________ REASON FOR ABSENCE ________________________________________________________ PARENT / GUARDIAN SIGNATURE ________________________________ DATE _________ *Failure to have an absence explained within 7 days of returning to school MUST, BY LAW, be recorded and reported as UNEXPLAINED ABSENCE.

SPORTSPORTSPORTSPORT

TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST SPORT INFORMATION FROM THE

REGIONAL VISIT http://www.pmreglism.catholic.edu.au/sport/sport