Literacy Enrichment - Get Involved!
What is ‘Literacy Enrichment’ at SJRC?
It’s opportunities in and out of SJRC that enrich students’ understanding of and experience with media, film, reading, writing and language in general. It’s excursions, festivals, writing, debating and public speaking competitions and live performance.
Check us out at - SJRC Literacy Enrichment
SJRC Literacy Enrichment Spotlight
2020 St Joseph's Regional College v MacKillop College Debating and Public Speaking Competition: Thursday, 27th August. Week 6 of Term Two.
Open to all students, the 2020 SJRC v MacKillop College Debating and Public Speaking Competition is now seeking expressions of interest from students of all year groups to train and compete as SJRC representatives. We are seeking one team per year group (four team members plus two substitutes) and individual students wishing to try their hand at public speaking.
Students will be expected to regularly attend a one hour weekly coaching session at school starting in Week 8 (Likely to be Wednesdays 3.30-4.30pm).
Here are five Reasons why Debating and Public Speaking are important:
- Gives improved critical thinking skills.
- You’ll gain public speaking skills for life!
- Increased retention of information learned.
- Enhanced teamwork skills and collaboration.
- More confidence to stand up for the truth when a discussion is promoting inaccuracies.
Want to know more about Debating and Public Speaking in general: https://digital.artsunit.nsw.edu.au/the-arts-unit-home/art-bites?eb2ea475_page=2
Curious? Absolute beginners and experienced debaters and public speakers welcome. Contact Mrs McKee via email now to express your interest in the 2020 SJRC Debating and Public Speaking Team.
Still in the Spotlight
ABC’s Heywire and The Dorethea Mackellar Poetry Competition:
This week we will be focussing on two openings for students who have an interest in storytelling, film, and writing. The first is the ABC’s Heywire
1. Heywire puts young Australians at the centre of the conversations that shape their communities.
The annual Heywire cycle begins with a storytelling competition - open to people aged 16-22, living in regional or rural Australia. Heywire encourages young people to tell stories about their life outside the major cities in text, photo, video or audio format. Over the past 17 years, more than 9,000 young Australians have taken part.
But there’s plenty more on offer at ABC’s Heywire. Check out their site: https://www.abc.net.au/heywire/about/
2. Dorethea Mackellar Poetry Competition: In memory of the prominent Australian poet, this is a poetry writing competition for students of all ages and closes 30 June.
Visit https://www.dorothea.com.au/The-Poetry-of-Dorothea-Mackellar for more information on how to enter.

What Are You Reading / Watching / Listening to?
Here are a few more of what’s doing the rounds within SJRC staff
Frank Johnston | Reading: ‘Postwar:A History of Europe since 1945’ by Tony Judt. Watching: Ozark Listening: MMDOOM |
Deb Brown | Reading: “Handle with Care” by Jodi Picoult Watching: Grace and Frankie on Netflix and Master Chef Australia |
Brigitte Rieger | Reading: The Islamic Jesus (Mustafa Akyol) Listening: La Sublime Porte Voix d'Istanbul 1430-1750 (Jordi Savall); The Hour of Separation (Joseph Tawdros); Music for Films (Brian Eno) |
Braden Saggers | Watching: Ozark (Netflix) Reading: ‘Dark Emu’ by Bruce Pascoe Listening: Below the Belt podcast |
Anne Marchment | Reading: ‘Boy Swallows Universe’ (Trent Dalton) ‘The Best Kind of Beautiful’ (Frances Whiting) Watching: The Last Dance (Netflix) |
‘Black Out’ Poetry
Please enjoy these two great samples of 'Black Out' Poetry by Jared Clout and Jake Green, Year 10 students:
Poem 1: Jared Clout
Poem 2: Jake Green
Keep reading, writing, reflecting, composing, creating, musing and connecting.
The SJRC Literacy Enrichment Team