Sunday 3rd day of Advent Mass Times: St. Agnes’ Port Macquarie Our Lady of Lourdes Wauchope Saturday Vigil – 6.00pm Saturday Vigil – 6.00pm and Sunday 7.30am Sunday – 7.30am, 9.00am & 5.00pm Long Flat – 9.30am 2nd & 4th Sunday

Kendall – 9.00am Mass (1st Saturday month 10.00am Mass Comboyne)

Telegraph Point – Thursday Night 6.00pm Beechwood – 9.30am 1st & 3rd Sunday

Lake Cathie – Sunday 8.00am Laurieton – Saturday Vigil 5.30pm, Sunday – 7.30am

What’s on Term 4, Week 11

MONDAY, 15th December

(Day 1)

- Staff Briefing 8.30am Christmas Mass & Year 10 Farewell – All Welcome SAPSS Jazz Band in Performing Arts Centre 4.00pm-5.30pm Homework Hub in Library 3.15pm-4.30pm

TUESDAY, 16th December

(Day 2) - Girls Vocal Group 8.30am in PAC

Homework Hub in Library 3.15pm-5.00pm Drumline in PAC 1.05pm-1.45pm

WEDNESDAY, 17th December

(Day 3) - HSC Results issued & Year 12 BBQ Breakfast

St Agnes Hostel Birthday Christmas Performance Dramarama in PAC 3.30pm Senior Percussion Ensemble 1.05pm-1.45pm in PAC Homework Hub in Library till 3.15pm-4.30pm Carols By Candlelight at St Paul’s High School 6.00pm

THURSDAY, 18th December (Day 4)

- Last Day Term 4 for students Year 7-10 Major Award Presentation 9.15am in Hall Oxley Award Presentation 10.30am – 11.30am Macquarie Award Presentation 11.45am – 12.45pm Innes Award Presentation 1.00pm – 2.00pm Flinders Award Presentation 2.15pm – 3.15pm

FRIDAY, 19th December (Day 5)

- Staff Professional Development Day

DATES TO REMEMBER Thursday 29

th January Year 7 & 11 students commence

Friday 30th

January Year 8,9,10 & 12 students commence Friday 30

th January High Achievers Assembly

Friday 30th January Year 7 Swim Proficiency at Wauchope Pool

Monday 2nd

February Year 7 & New Student photos Tuesday 3

rd February Year 11 Information Night

Monday 9th February Swimming Carnival

Tuesday 10th February Year 12 University Roadshow

Wednesday 11th February Bravissimo at Glasshouse

Thursday 12th February Year 11 & 12 OnStage Drama Excursion in Sydney

Wednesday 13th February Ash Wednesday

Wednesday 13th February Year 10 Parent & Student Night

Thursday 19th February Year 10 & 11 New Student Morning Tea

12th December 2014 Term 4, Week 10

P.O. Box 231, College Drive PORT MACQUARIE 2444 Ph: 02 5525 4100 Fax: 02 5525 4199

www.sapss.nsw.edu.au

“The Truth will set you free”

22nd March February 2013

What’s on Week 9 Term 1 2013

P.O. Box 231 College Drive

PORT MACQUARIE 2444 Ph: 02 5525 4100

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

“The Truth will set you free”

For all the latest news, click the link below to visit St Joseph’s Regional Website http://www.pmreglism.catholic.edu.au/

COORDINATING PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

THE BENEFITS OF A POSITIVE ATTITUDE Our Pastoral Care Program is designed to improve the wellbeing of students. Dr Martin Seligman, a leader in the field of positive psychology, points out that “wellbeing cannot exist just in your own head. It is a combination of feeling good as well as actually having meaning, good relationships and accomplishments.” Having a positive attitude improves our wellbeing. Some of the benefits, according to author Michael Herbert, include:

Confidence and faith in self.

Greater effort and commitment to the completion of tasks with less likelihood to quit.

Greater life balance and reduced stress.

Better general health.

Less susceptible to bouts of depression.

More capable of conquering fears and anxieties.

Achieve new boundaries of achievement.

Attract good and positive things in our life.

Value and do not take for granted what we have rather than focussing on what we do not have.

Avoid the curse of “over thinking”.

Appreciate and value other people.

Motivated and inspired by others as well as motivate and inspire others.

Have a better “handle on reality”.

Prepared to “try again” after failure.

Strengthens “inner person”.

Surrounded by people who like them and want to connect and build relationships with them. It is easy to be positive when things are going well. The challenge is to be able to cultivate a positive attitude even when we experience disappointment, failure, relationship breakdown and loss. When being positive has been practised in good times we are more likely to have the skills to put a positive spin on things when faced with life’s challenges.

Mr Jim O’Brien Coordinating Principal

Ms Jackie Howard, Elizabeth Hackett, Jakki Parsons & Mr Jim Dempsey

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE The Season of Advent The good news for Catholic Schools is that we can go much deeper into exploring the true meaning of Christmas. The Season of Advent highlights the importance of the liturgical seasons in our lives, and reminds us how important it is for us to be open to the true meaning of Christmas. Indeed, Advent allows us to prepare for the birth of Christ; a helpless child who entered history for the important mission of saving the world. At this time we pray for our whole College community that through ongoing reflection on Christmas, we will draw reflect on our personal relationship with Christ and our human family during this joyous time. Pope Francis reminds us of the danger of only being concerned with the pervasiveness of consumerism:

The great danger in today’s world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience. Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God’s voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good, fades. This is a very real danger for believers too. Many fall prey to it, and end up resentful, angry and listless. That is no way to live a dignified and fulfilled life; it is not God’s will for us, nor is it the life in the Spirit which has its source in the heart of the risen Christ. Pope Francis - Evangelli Gaudium

As a College community we look forward to celebrating the birth of Christ at our upcoming Christmas Mass. INDIGENOUS GRADUATING STUDENTS I commend to you a report by our College Indigenous Liaison Officer, Ms Jackie Howard in regards to two graduating Indigenous students.

For the past few years the Diocese of Lismore, Catholic Schools Office, have acknowledged the Indigenous students at their schools who have graduated Year 12. This year we have two students at our College, Elizabeth Hackett and Jakki Parsons who have successfully completed 13 years of school. Mr Dempsey stated that it is great to see two fine young women as leaders for the future. Next year Elizabeth will undertake a Gap Year Traineeship at Better Homes, Port Macquarie and Jakki is planning to study Communications, specialising in Advertising at Charles Sturt University. Mr Dempsey presented the girls with a certificate and an overnight bag. Congratulations and best of luck for next year. Jackie Howard

Erin Badewitz with the table and chairs setting made in loving memory of her mother, the late Kerrie Badewitz. With Erin are three of the Hastings Woodworkers Guild members, Chris Whant, Ian Bagster and Max Garland, who helped deliver the project for the Badewitz family

and Palliative Care Unit Team Leader Kerrie McFarland.

FAMILY’S SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO MUM

This week I received a message from Lynn Lelean, Media & Corporate Communications Manager at Mid North Coast Health Districts. Lynn informed me of the formation of a memorial chair for our much loved Kerrie Badewitz who passed away this year. I commend the article to your reading.

Erin Badewitz’s HSC exams are behind her and university awaits. But the Port Macquarie teenager’s focus this week was on presenting a special gift to Wauchope District Memorial Hospital’s Palliative Care Unit.

An outdoor table and chairs setting, hand crafted from Australian Blackbutt by the Hastings Woodworkers Guild, was delivered to the hospital in loving memory of Erin’s mother.

Kerrie Badewitz was one of the first patients to be cared for at the new Palliative Care Unit. She passed away, aged 52, on August 2, just one month before Erin’s 18th birthday.

The students and teachers at St Joseph’s Regional College, where Erin and her older brothers Daniel and Sean attended school, raised $300 to purchase the materials and the Wauchope woodworkers donated their time and talent to ensure the family’s gift was a fitting tribute to their much-loved mother.

“When mum came to the Palliative Care Unit, it was brand new” Erin said.

“The staff were so good to mum … to all of us, during what was a really hard time.

Mum’s family just wanted to give something back.

We would sit outside – mum loved sitting in the sun, but there were no chairs so we sat on the footpath or on the grass.

An outdoor setting for patients to sit at; to enjoy the sunshine with their loved ones, seemed like the perfect gift to honour mum and to thank the staff for their kindness,” Erin said.

Mrs Badewitz worked at St Joseph’s Regional College, was highly regarded in the St Agnes Parish and was a life member and a stalwart of the Port Macquarie Basketball Association.

“I just want to thank the school and Cath Eichmann [Assistant Principal] for helping to make this gift possible,” Erin said.“The woodworkers have done an amazing job. The table and chairs really are something special.”

The Woodworkers Guild secretary, Max Garland, said it had been a privilege to work on such an important project.

“We had to do a bit of research, because the setting needed to be wheelchair-friendly.

But this was a special project for some pretty special people who are going through tough times.

It was a very personal job for us because cancer affects so many lives.

“The Woodworkers Guild is a long-time supporter of the Palliative Care Unit, so when this project was mentioned, we were very happy to jump in and help,” Mr Garland said.

God Bless

Jim Dempsey College Principal

UNIFORM 2014 REMINDERS

As many students have outgrown their uniforms in 2014, I thought it an apt time to remind parents and students that our uniform requirements are clearly outlined on our College website.

To avoid issues when school resumes in 2015 please note the following reminders:

School Shoes - Many parents will need to purchase new school shoes for their sons and daughters in January 2015. Please remember that the school requires these to be plain black, polishable lace-up ALL leather shoes. (No high tops, boots or ripple soles, skate type shoes or logos. No buckle shoes or open top shoes. Heels should not be more than 2.5cm.) Sport shoes must be proper sports shoes. School shoes are not to be worn as part of the sports uniform.

Please note images of a selection of correct and incorrect shoes can be found on the College website under ‘Quick Links”. Please be aware Nike and Converse school shoes are not permitted as they have rubber toes and ARE NOT all leather.

Girls Skirts- Skirts MUST be KNEE-LENGTH.

Piercing and Hair Styles and Colour- Some students choose to have piercings and variation to hair colour and styles in the holidays. A reminder that these must comply with school rules when students return in 2015. Please note: Band-Aids are not permitted to be worn to cover new piercings.

Cath Eichmann Assistant Principal

SUBJECT AND EXCURSION FEES I would like to thank the many families who make significant sacrifices in prioritising the payment of College Service fees and Parish Tuition fees. This is, without doubt, a strong endorsement of the work we do here at St Joseph’s Regional College in the formation of our students ‘to become the best possible people they can be’.

As we approach the conclusion of Semester 2 at the College, I would request continued attentiveness to keeping accounts up-to-date. In this respect, I would remind families (as per my letter at the beginning of the year) that the College is not able to distribute reports if accounts are not paid and outstanding library books have not been returned. In this respect, I am very conscious of avoiding any embarrassing moments for families, and would ask if you are in a situation where you cannot pay an account, then it is imperative that you contact me to make an alternative arrangement.

With regard to major projects in Timber Technologies & Metal Technologies, these fees must be paid prior to major works being released.

NEWS FROM THE PARISH ADMINISTRATION CENTRE

NEWS FROM THE COLLEGE OFFICE 2015 YEAR 7, 8, 9 & 10 REQUISITES list is now available on the College website under ‘Quick Links’ http://www.pmreglism.catholic.edu.au/quick-links or a hardcopy is available in the College office. STUDENTS LEAVING IN 2015 If any student is not intending on returning to the College in 2015 could they please inform the College office immediately.

SCHOOL STUDENT TRANSPORT

NSW Senior Secondary Student Concession cards are issued to students who are 16 years of

age and over, attending school. These cards permit students to travel at the discounted rate of fare

on all CityRail trains, State Transit buses and government ferries for journeys to and from sport,

evening, weekend and vacation travel.

Proof of Age cards are for students under 16 years of age who will be

attending work experience or look older than 16 years.

Cards expire on 31st March of each year, if you intend travelling over the

holidays please see Mrs Williams in the College office to obtain a card.

EDUCATION & SCHOOL FEES TEAM Dear Parents/Guardians

Thank you for your commitment to paying your children’s fees to support the excellent education offering of our St Agnes’ Parish schools.

School fees for 2015 will be confirmed by the Parish Finance Committee by 10th December. All families should receive notification of the 2015 fees by Wednesday 17th December. If you do not receive this letter , please contact our Parish Administration Centre on 6588 7444 or via email on fees@pac.stagnesparish.org.au.

We wish all our families a very blessed Christmas and a safe and relaxing holiday season.

Our office will be CLOSED from Wednesday 24th December. Our office will OPEN on Monday 5th January 2015. Best wishes

John, Trudi, Emma, Chrissie & Kristie Parish Administration Centre Education & School Fees Team

JOPRIM JOPRIM will be CLOSED from 12.00pm on Saturday 20th December.

JOPRIM will OPEN on Friday 2nd January at 10.00am

Operating Hours 2nd January – 27th January 2015: 10.00am. – 5.00pm. (Mon to Fri) and 9.00am. – 12.00pm. (Sat) 28th January for remainder of Term 1: 12.00pm – 5.00pm. (Mon to Fri) and 9.00am – 12.00pm (Sat)

FROM THE LEADER OF CATECHESIS AND SCHOOL EVANGELISATION Please find below a letter to Parents and Carers from Fr Donnelly.

Parents, and Families

are invited to the

St Joseph’s Regional College Christmas Mass

& farewell to departing Year 10 students

In our College Hall on

Monday 15th December at 9:30 am

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

ATTENTION CURRENT YEAR 9 - YEAR 10 TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS FOR 2015 All Year 10 students in 2015 will be required to bring their own device (iPad or laptop) next year. Please Note: THIS IS NOT OPTIONAL. To assist students and parents to consider the options, a website has been setup specifically to deal with this. The link is http://go2school.wix.com/byod This can also be accessed via the Quicklinks section of the College website. Options, policies, tips for home, how to order a school laptop and more can also be accessed from this site. There is also a contact form if you have any further queries. This week's tip The personal devices we use allow us to focus on a task in an individual manner. This is great for doing work or homework but not very sociable in a group or family situation. As Christmas is almost upon us and is all about family and being social, you don't need to be glued to your device.

Consider old fashion board games and jigsaw puzzles for family fun this Christmas. They are just as engaging as your phone or tablet, much more social and quite retro! A 750-1000 piece jigsaw puzzle can take a few days to complete, requires patience, teaches spatial awareness and problem solving skills and can involve the whole family with many side discussions taking place. Set up a big enough table in a corner of the living room and I guarantee no one will be able to avoid being drawn to it to add their efforts to the final solution! Barry Watson Leader of Learning Technologies

MATHS VAULT A positive whole number less than 100 has remainder 2 when it is divided by 3, remainder 3 when it is divided by 4 and remainder 4 when it is divided by 5. What is its remainder when it is divided by 7? Answer to Last week’s problem:

Mr Bruce Smith Leader of Pastoral Care

HOMEWORK HUB

The Library is a great place for students to complete class work and assessment tasks. All Library resources are available for use during this time. On Tuesdays, Mr Toohey, our Leader of Mathematics, is available to assist you with mathematical problems.

The hours are: Monday and Wednesday 3.15pm - 4.30pm Tuesday and Thursday 3.15pm - 5.00pm Friday 3.15pm - 4.00pm

The Homework Hub is for people who are "getting things done".

Mr Ian Lutton Leader of Curriculum

LIBRARY As Christmas approaches, we decided to use our old and tattered resources in a good way, and with reference to a picture found on Pinterest, this beautiful and innovative Christmas Tree was built by Sam, our helper over the past week. It has elicited much interest and praise, and we are very proud of it, and have noted the 'calming' influence it has as students sit around it in our comfy lounging area to read. Merry Christmas one and all! Holiday Reading Even though 2014 borrowing from the College library for Years 7-10 has been suspended, there are alternatives freely available. First, we have our own Overdrive e–book Library, which can be found at http://sjrcexchange.lib.overdrive.com. Students can borrow using their Library card number, and also their password which they use to log into the College network each day. We have been adding to our e-book collection consistently all year and we encourage the use of it not just during holiday time but term-time as well.

Second, those who are members of the local Port Macquarie Library service can borrow during this time. There is also an

additional Overdrive e–book service available from its catalogue, and any member of the community with a Library card can use this to borrow straight to their device. In addition, the Port Macquarie Library is offering a Summer Reading Club program for those keen to read over the break and possibly win a prize. To register, students are encouraged to visit www.summerreadingclub.org.au and to find out more information, go to www.mnclibrary.org.au. Regular Port Macquarie Library patrons are encouraged to attend the Library Christmas Party on Friday 19th December starting at 4.00pm at the Grant Street site. There will be songs, dance, stories and Christmas Craft – all free and lots of fun. Sign-out Procedure If a student departs the College, they must collect a sign-out sheet from the College office. One requirement of every student is that they return all textbooks and Library books to the Library, and it is the student’s responsibility to check classroom cupboards, not the teachers, or Library staff. Many thanks to all those who complete this requirement promptly. Like us on FaceBook – St Joseph’s Regional College Library. Follow us on Twitter – @sjrcexchange Karen Bale Teacher Librarian

CAREERS

Congratulations to all Year 12 on their final results for 2014. We will give specific details of these in the first newsletter in 2015.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Congratulations to the following students who have been successful in gaining employment as a 2015 Gap Year Trainee at St Joseph’s Regional College:

Shannon Murray Brooke Sheldon Jonti Groth Shaun Hinton

To the following students successful in gaining GAP year traineeships in the wider community:

Briony Hollis(Sundial Dental) Kurt Newell(St Joseph’s Primary) Elizabeth Hackett(Better Homes)

EARLY UNIVERSITY ENTRY OFFERS

Congratulations to the following Year 12 HSC students who have received an Early Entry offer to a participating university

Southern Cross University Alec Newell, Brooke Sheldon, Chelsea Butler, Elizabeth Hackett, Grace Philp, Isabella Beggs, Jack Parker, Jade Sage, Jamie Lightfoot, Jason Sargeant, Kennedy Barron, Kirralee Ratko, Kurt Newell, Lida Fraser, Maddison Caughlan, Mellisha Cook, Nathan Stewart, Nicole Williamson, Renique Mullot, Ryan Dealtry, Sahnlee Carter, Shannon Murray, Timothy Nocevski.

Charles Sturt University Timothy Nocevski, Zarah Besseling, Lisa Fraser, Jakki Parsons & Briony Hollis received offers while Sam Rogers, Renique Mullot, Cristin McGovern, Jamie Lightfoot, Teghan Johnson, Jaydon Goodison, Maddison Caughlan & Isabella Beggs received conditional offers.

University of New England Kennedy Barron, Isabella Beggs, Mellisha Cook, Cliona Dreelan, Lisa Fraser, Leilani Gobius, Sarah Hannan, Jacob Hogenboom, Hayden Hollis, Kade Madigan, Alec Newell, Kurt Newell, Timothy Nocevski, Grace Philp, Jade Sage & Nathan Stewart.

University of Sydney Jonti Groth

Macquarie University Grace Philp

Dates to Remember:

17th December - NSW HSC results released by Board of Studies

18th December - ATARs released

- Consultation 9.00am – 11.00am in the Study Centre

SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS:

Connor Coyne who is on a final shortlist for the prestigious University of NSW Co-op Scholarship.

Nisha Cross who was a recipient of the Hastings Education Fund’s scholarship awards.

Jonti Groth who received a University of Sydney E12 Early offer, including $5000 scholarship and iPad.

Madeline Sharp who received a University of Newcastle Academic Award valued at $2000.

TAX FILE NUMBERS As of the end of the 2014 academic year, school will no longer be able to offer this service. Applicants will need to collect forms from the Post Office and follow a different procedure.

WORK EXPERIENCE Due to end of year formalisation requirements, work experience is no longer available for the 2014 year.

Wirl Career- We have subscribed to a new career exploration tool, Wirl Career. To access a careers quiz to identify possible occupations of interest matching your personality, interests and skills and also acts as a starting point for investigation in to future career options. Go to www.wirl.com.au and login using the following detail:

Login: stjosephrc Password: giant28

Regional Careers Website- The Careers website at www.SJRCPortcareers.com offers up-to-date information for parents and students in all year groups.

Moodle – Careers - Always updated with important documents for work experience and university information. Parents can access this information via their child’s login.

FREE Careers Advisory Service www.cas.det.nsw.edu.au This is a free service offered by NSW Department of Education & Communities. Available from the 18th – 23rd December.

Mrs Karen Bale & Mrs Leanne Tinsey, Leaders of Careers and University Transition

SECONDHAND UNIFORM SHOP

St Joseph’s Regional College Second-hand Uniform Shop

Mrs Carol Avery is available to assist you with second-hand uniform purchases on:

Tuesday from 2.45pm – 3.45pm

Please go to the College office where our friendly office ladies will direct you to Carol.

DONATIONS WELCOME

URGENTLY NEEDED SMALL SIZES IN JUNIOR SKIRTS

Just a reminder to any current Year 12 students that may like to donate their uniforms to the Second-hand Uniform Shop, this would be greatly appreciated. Please drop any uniforms into the

front office.

LOST PROPERTY Students who have lost items are required to log the details on the College “Moodle” web page. Mrs Carol Avery coordinates our lost property and will endeavour to get items back to students as soon as possible.

Please ensure all uniform items are clearly labelled with name and PC class, especially hats.

CANTEEN NEWS

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED- The College canteen is in need of some extra help. If you would like to help on any day during the week between 9.30am-1.30pm (or even just a couple of hours in the middle of the day) please phone Mrs Jo Farthing at the College Canteen on 5525 4100.

Term 4, Week 11 Monday Help Please! Tuesday Helen Anderson

ATTENDANCE REMINDER A reminder to all parents, notes must be in within 7 days of your child's absence or the absence will be reported on your child's report as UNEXPLAINED.

Students who have more than 15 days leave in a year must have supporting documentation from a doctor or make written application to the Assistant Principal. This may also require an interview with the Principal or Assistant Principal. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PARENTS / GUARDIANS EXPLANATION FOR PUPIL’S ABSENCE

PUPIL’S FULL 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.

COMMUNITY NEWS . Port Macquarie Pirates Rugby- Interested in playing Rugby Union in 2015? Then why not join the Mid North Coast’s most successful rugby club. During the 2015 season The Port Macquarie Pirates Rugby Club will be fielding U14, U16 & U18 sides in the MNC competition. For more information contact: Ian Wall (Football Manager) on 0432 405 113 or Peter Gerethy (President) on 0421 213 435. Wauchope Soccer Club Online Registrations are opening 5th January 2015. For further information and to access the My Football Club registration system, visit our website: www.wauchopesoccerclub.sportingpulse.net . You can also become a fan on our Facebook page “Wauchope Soccer Club” to be kept in the loop over summer.

Term 4

Week 11 Tues 16th Dec Normal Sport for Year 8, 9 & 10. YEARS 9 & 10 SPORT FOR WEEKS 11 Sport Week 11 – Normal sports for Year 8, 9 & 10.

SPORT

SPORT

TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE

LATEST SPORT INFORMATION FROM THE REGIONAL VISIT

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

TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST SPORT INFORMATION FROM

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