SJRC Newsletter: Term 4 Week 2 - 24th October 2025
Year 8 Discernment Day: Answering the Call to Ministry
A dedicated group of Year 8 students interested in joining the Ministry Class next year spent an insightful and prayerful day of discernment in the chapel this week. Led by Deacon Shane, Mr George McLeod, Miss Kathryn Gill, and Emily Burg, the day was structured to help students determine if a formal commitment to ministry is their next step.
The core of the day was the discernment criteria, which challenged students to consider their readiness for service: Are they open to leading prayer in various forms? Willing to master the skill of small group leadership? Prepared to collaborate and support all peers, stepping outside their usual circles? Ready to embrace their faith journey publicly and explore a deeper, personal relationship with Jesus?
The day was filled with activities designed to foster growth and clarity. Students participated in games to build new connections, studied scripture, and practised listening for God's voice. They also received key information about the Ministry course requirements and the exciting SHINE Gathering. A unique element was the "question wall," where students wrote their anonymous queries on the chapel windows, ensuring all concerns were addressed. The day concluded with a powerful liturgy, designed and led entirely by the students themselves, marking the moment they committed to the Ministry Class for the coming year.
Family Mass Invitation
St Agnes' Church Gospel Reflections
Fr Paul Gooley is continuing to provide Gospel readings and reflections via email and online, Monday to Saturday, for those interested in connecting with their faith in this way.
Click to watch Fr Paul's Gospel Readings and Reflections.
St Agnes' Parish News Bulletin
The Parish news bulletin will now be published monthly.
The latest edition is available via this link Parish News Bulletin
Deacon Shane Hyland
Acting Assistant Principal - Mission
Year 12 HSC Examinations
We continue to wish our Year 12 students our thoughts and prayers as they enter the third week of the HSC exam period. It has been pleasing to speak with many of the students after their exams and gain a sense of how their hard work over the last two years has enabled them to tackle the exam challenges.
Year 11
Year 11 students have made a commendable start to their HSC pattern of study.
They have already received their Year 12 assessment handbook. It is pleasing to see that they have been actively engaging with support programs. It is particularly encouraging to see many students using the 'Food for Thought' after-school program and attending the early subject tutorials.
Students have also been provided with their Term assessment schedule and the timetable for the dedicated assessment block, which is set for Week 9 and Monday of Week 10.
Year 7-10
Finally, students in Years 7-10 have received their assessment calendars for the term and are reminded about the processes relating to assessments.
- If a student misses an assessment, they will be timetabled for a catch-up exam period on their Compass daily schedule. They will need to attend this allocated period, or assessment penalties may apply.
- If a student knows that they are unable to attend an assessment, they must contact Ms Anne Marchment to organise an alternative time.
Year 8 Electives 2026
On Monday, I will be speaking to Year 7 students about their elective choices for 2026. This marks the first time students will select their elective subjects, giving them valuable experience for their Year 9 Short Course choices.
For 2026, students will choose two electives, with one studied in Semester 1 and the other in Semester 2, as part of their overall pattern of study.
Students will be emailed a copy of the selection form and an accompanying letter on Monday. The elective option survey will open on Monday, and students will have until 3:15 PM on Friday, October 31st, to submit their selections.
Ian Lutton
Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
New Legislation - Social Media Ban
As you may be aware, new legislation is coming into effect on December 10th. This means young people under the age of 16 will no longer be able to lawfully access social media platforms, including Snapchat and Instagram.
The eSafety Commissioner is hosting a series of webinars to support parents and young people in navigating the new laws that will prevent young people under 16 from creating or keeping social media accounts.
Details and registration for the webinars can be accessed below:
https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/industry-regulation/social-media-age-restrictions/webinars
SJRC Mobile Phone and Electronic Devices Guidelines
From the commencement of 2026, a new Mobile Phone and Electronic Devices Guidelines will reflect this new legislation by banning social media access for students under the supervision of SJRC staff at all times. The new guidelines will promote learning focus and foster social media free relational authenticity at school and during school events.
Please ensure your child is equipped with cash or a debit card for canteen access. Students will be unable to access their phones to pay for canteen purchases, and there will be no exceptions to this. This also applies to senior students. Other points within the new guidelines include:
- Mobile phones must be turned off and stored by the student upon arrival at school.
- Students will not be permitted to interact with other students’ phones at any time, including on excursions and on-site after school.
- Mobile phone access on site after school will be for essential messaging purposes (ie communication with parents or carers) only.
- An access window will be introduced for senior students only; students in Years 11-12 will be permitted to use mobile phones during lunchtime in the senior area for essential messaging purposes only.
Thank you to parents and student-leaders who participated in a consultative process to inform the new guidelines, which will come into effect from the commencement of 2026. With advance notice, we are confident students will seamlessly transition to align mobile phone usage with these expectations.
Mrs Jennifer Furney
Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care
SPARK Arts Festival – Tickets Now On Sale!
Join us for the 2025 SPARK Arts Festival on Thursday 20 November at the Glasshouse, Port Macquarie, a vibrant celebration of creativity, community and the arts across St Agnes’ Education.
Students from MacKillop College, St Joseph’s Regional College, and Newman Senior Technical College will showcase their incredible work in music, dance, drama, and visual arts through performances, exhibitions, and twilight events.
With live performances, art installations, courtyard jazz, shared dining, and large-scale projections under the stars, SPARK is more than a show, it’s a full festival experience!
Tickets are on sale now - don’t miss out!
Facebook Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/share/1AexFAGMNZ/
| Term 4 Week 3 Lunch Specials | |
| Monday | No specials |
| Tuesday | No Specials |
| Wednesday | Garlic Bread |
| Thursday | Chicken, Pesto Toasted Turkish Sandwich |
| Friday | Beef Nachos |
| Term 4 Week 4 Lunch Specials | |
| Monday | No specials |
| Tuesday | No specials |
| Wednesday | Garlic Bread |
| Thursday | Bacon & Cheese Stuffed Potatoes |
| Friday | Turkey, Cranberry & Brie Wrap |
We have a delicious variety of 'Lunch Specials', available for $7.00 from Wednesday to Friday, and an everyday menu.
Breeanna Stone
Food Services Manager
St Joseph's Regional College has a number of different social media platforms. We would love for you to follow us.
 |
 |
 |
St Joseph's Regional College
- Website - https://www.pmreglism.catholic.edu.au/
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SJRCPort
- Instagram - @sjrcport
St Joseph's Regional College - 50 year Celebrations
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SJRC50years
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sjr50years/
Digital Ministry
- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sjrcdigitalministry
Library
- Website - https://pmreglism.libguides.com/home
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sjrcexchange
- Instagram - Instagram - @sjrcexchange
Careers
- Website - https://www.sjrcportcareers.com/
- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sjrcportcareers
Encounter Youth
The Encounter Youth Program is held every Friday at the Youth Hub.
Come along and join in the fun.
What’s better than hanging out with your mates on a Friday night?
Eating hot dogs with your mates on Friday nights at Encounter!
We’ve got some friends from NET Ministries joining us, we’re continuing our journey with Alpha, and we will welcome some Encounter Kids!
Remember, Alpha is a great opportunity to invite a friend!
This Friday, our Encounter YA community and senior students will be joining some staff members from NET Ministries for a Mission Mindset night.
Everyone will meet at the Youth Hub from 5:30pm for some fellowship before heading to their own session later in the night.
Encounter Kick Ons (Sundays after the 5.00 pm Mass)
Group games and supper - Come and join us!
St Agnes' Catholic Parish
49 Hay Street, Port Macquarie NSW 2444
T 02 6588 7444
E zac.parnell@stagnesparish.org.au
