Term 3 Week 7 - 27th August 2021

COVID-19 Lockdown Update

This week I want to take the opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all members of our College community for the way in which the switch to Blended Learning has occurred. Thank you for your adaptability and support of each other.

As we know, the lockdown will continue for another two weeks (weeks 8 and 9). Teachers have been working tirelessly to engage and support their students. They will upload work to Google classrooms on Monday morning at 9.00 am for the fortnight.

To support your child, can I ask parents to continue to work in partnership with us to assist with checking and monitoring work to be completed. The best way for your child to work is to follow their daily timetable. Ask them to write a daily plan in their diary and check classwork /activities are completed each night.

On Monday, we will assess the engagement of each student in their classwork and make contact with you if it is deemed your child has not adequately engaged. Attending scheduled Zoom lessons is imperative, not only for receiving information and asking questions but also for connection to peers and teachers.

The latest COVID-19 correspondence to parents and caregivers can be found at the end of my article.

Year 12 Update

There is ongoing uncertainty around when Year 12 will celebrate their 13 years of education.

The Year 12 Graduation Mass and Major Award Ceremony scheduled for Thursday, 16th September (Week 10) are prepared and ready to proceed. We just need to wait until we know IF we can celebrate. We certainly have not given up hope that these events can occur, however, if we are unable to celebrate on that date, we will work towards a new date when it is safe to do so.

HSC Trials

Trial HSC exams commenced last week and continue into next week. The efforts of Mr Ian Lutton and Mr Matt Cato, in the organisation and running of the online process, is nothing short of amazing. Many thanks to Mrs Lisa Bulley and Mrs Nicole Hollis who worked tirelessly to execute the administration side of the process and to the class teachers who swiftly adapted the exams and their marking process.

A word from Leader of Curriculum, Mr Lutton 

"Congratulations to our Year 12 students who have been able to transition to the online format for their Trial HSC exams. In this period of uncertainty around their studies and the impact of public health orders on their traditional study and examination patterns, they have been resilient in adapting to these changes and have embraced the associated challenges. We wish them well as they enter the final week of the Trial HSC examination period." Mr Lutton

HSC Trial Headquarters

Wellbeing Challenges

Thank you to the Leader of Wellbeing, Ms Wallis, who has been running a weekly wellbeing challenge. The first challenge was a 'Bake Off' which proved to be very popular, with both students and staff creating some delicious looking masterpieces.
Congratulations to the year group winners who will receive a pizza lunch for themselves and three of their friends on returning to face-to-face teaching.

Year 7- Sophie Bentley
Year 8 - Jasmin Ratko
Year 9 - Ashlee Bell
Year 10 - Sophie Cheers
Year 11 - Lexie Williams
Year 12 - Ella Handley
Staff - Emilee Gibbs

Bonus draw winners
Imogen Baker
Bailee Wright

Staff Changes

I congratulate Mr Frank Johnston who moves into the Leader of Pastoral Care-Macquarie for the remainder of 2021 and Term 1 & 2 of 2022. Frank replaces Mrs Sophie Woods who has commenced maternity leave. We wish Sophie all the very best as she begins life as a parent.

Headspace Free Parent Webinar

Families are encouraged to register and attend the following free Mental Health Education webinar being facilitated by Headspace being held on Monday, 6th September from 12.00pm-1.00pm

Build skills and support the mental health of young people.

Click here to register

headspace_webinar_flyer.pdf

headspace_webinar_flyer _pdf 141.36 KB

Term 3: The Annual SJRC V Mackillop Debating Competition 

Unfortunately, the 2021 Debating Competition has been postponed. Nevertheless, we want to spend a moment to take our hats off to our ‘debaters in waiting’ and their coaches:

Our SJRC 2021 Debating Teams:

We remain proud of our students' efforts during their training and we look forward to their participation in the 2021 debating challenge a little later in the year.

The #SJRC Lockdown Lounge

#alonetogether

Over the course of the current Lockdown, we will be offering a range of optional activities and competitions for all students to keep their literacy tools sharp and to try something new in the world of media, film, novels, and songwriting. (You know songwriting is teacher speak for poetry, right?)

Students can enter or try out anything anytime each week or less often. We’ll also be keeping a list of reading tips and recommendations - and we’d love some from you, too!

#SJRC Lockdown Lounge Lift off Week 1 -2

Choose some or just one!

1. Find the lyrics to your favourite song and rewrite them in your own version.
2. In 100 words or less, write a descriptive piece about your favourite place. Give your writing a title. Write in any form you like.

For this week, please email your work to penny.mckee@lism.catholic.edu.au

Here’s how to keep your Literacy enriched:

1. Read: Anything. Especially from our great SJRC Library
2. Enter a competition: there’s always an opportunity to develop and pitch your writing skills up against like-minded peers. Check out SJRC’s own Literacy Enrichment website.
3. Plan: If you’re contemplating life in a literacy/arts-related field after school (eg journalism, film, writing) check out what’s on offer during the holidays. Students as young as Year 9 can benefit greatly from exploring any career options that might interest them. And some companies in the arts field offer work experience, immersion opportunities and specialised holiday workshops.

Just a peek at their websites can set you on a course of action that can change your life!

Sydney Theatre Company
Bell Shakespeare
Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS)
National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA)
Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP)
NIDA:

And if you’re stuck for reading tips, check out: Readings Australia and our own  SJRC Literacy Enrichment page.