Newsletter 44 – Term 1 Week 9 2020

Dear Parents, caregivers and students

This will be our last newsletter for the term and I think it is very appropriate that we take the opportunity to reflect upon the upcoming Holy Week and Easter event and how as a Catholic community we are filled with hope for the future and the compassion to care for others in our community.

Easter Celebrations

Being members of the St Joseph’s College Community and the greater Catholic Community of the Toowoomba Diocese, we know and understand that each year our Church celebrates, through liturgy the different points Jesus’ life and the relationship he developed with us. We also know that Easter is the greatest feast in the calendar. In the book “What Catholics Believe,” Hore explains that;

The high point of this annual cycle is the three days when we celebrate the Easter event. This starts on Holy Thursday evening, includes Good Friday and Holy Saturday and concludes on the evening of the Easter Sunday. During that time Western Catholics are invited to take part in one big celebration divided into three parts. We gather to celebrate the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday evening, to commemorate Jesus’ suffering and death on Good Friday afternoon and, in our most glad of all liturgical gatherings, to rejoice in his resurrection and to welcome new members into the Church at the Easter Vigil on the evening or during the night of Holy Saturday.

On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead as it represents the fulfilment of our faith. St. Paul wrote that, unless Christ rose from the dead, our faith is in vain (1 Corinthians 15:17). Through his death, Christ saved mankind from bondage and sin, and He destroyed the hold that death has on all of us; but it is His Resurrection that gives us the promise of new life, both in this world and the next.

As a College we have been participating in Lent by supporting Caritas and on Wednesday this week we decided to celebrate the Easter event during our Pastoral Care classes in case of a College closure in the near future. I would like to thank Miss Ford and the Pastoral Care teachers for leading our students through this liturgy.

Given that we will not be able to gather in our Churches over the Easter period may we hope that we can all take the time to reflect on the true meaning of Easter. Let us pray that we all were able to further develop our understanding of the Easter events and our Faith through the opportunity to participate in our Easter liturgy and that we are able to put this understanding into action over the coming weeks.

Assessment and Report Cards

Over the last two weeks students have been busily completing assessment for the term and being provided feedback by the teachers on their assessment pieces. During the final week of the term the staff will be finalising the compiling of report cards prior to them being printed and finally checked. I am looking forward to being able to develop a better picture and understanding of where our student’s strengths and areas for development and improvement lie, whilst undertaking the final check prior to the reports being posted to families.

Finally, I would like to wish everyone best wishes for the break. Please be safe and follow the advice being provided by our health authorities and the governments. I have very much enjoyed my first term as Principal of St Joseph’s College and I do hope that we will be able to welcome the students back on Monday 20^th April refreshed and ready to participate fully and give their best in Term 2. However, if this is not the case then we will look forward to working with the students and families in an online capacity until we all make it through this terrible pandemic, and we are able to again welcome the students back to the College.

Best wishes

Kort

“Don’t be afraid, just believe”

Mark 5:36

A good starting point to think about during these challenging times is to remember the most repeated phrase in scripture, “Do not be afraid!” or, “have no fear!”. God probably send us these messages so frequently because fear is such a big part of human nature. Fear can alert us to danger to keep us safe, but it can also lead us astray, towards selfish responses.

Based on our faith, there are six key things for us to think about:

1. Enough for Everyone

Of course, we see these same dynamics play out in Scripture, where fear leads to hoarding. The most famous story is when the Israelites are in the desert without food. God rains down manna from heaven but also cautions them to take only what they need for now. They disobey but find that the food they attempt to store away goes bad immediately. The consistent message we hear in Scripture is that we need to trust in God, who will provide enough for everyone. The problems come when people begin to take more than they need. Fear of the coronavirus has caused some to stockpile and hoard unreasonable amounts of hand sanitiser, face masks, toilet paper, tissues and other supplies against the recommendations of leaders. The problem is that this wipes out supplies for those who truly need them the most—health care workers and those most vulnerable to the disease—without really making the buyers safer.

2. Protect the Vulnerable

Scripture and the social teachings of the church remind us again and again that we—as individuals and a society—must protect and give priority to those who are most vulnerable and at risk. We see this from the laws in the Old Testament that looked out for the poor and the widows, to Jesus’ embrace of people on the margins of society, to the early church’s adamant support of those who had less. Scripture urges us to put those who are most at risk first. In the midst of the coronavirus, the vulnerable take many forms. Most obvious are those who are elderly or have other health conditions that make them most susceptible to illness. Those who are younger may not be concerned about our own health risks, but if we help pass on the virus, it can be a life-or-death situation for others. Others are financially vulnerable and do not have the flexibility to take sick leave that many of us take for granted. That puts them in a difficult situation when they become ill and may have to choose between putting their job at risk and staying home to protect others. Likewise, many parents do not have the flexibility to stay home when school is cancelled for their children. The situation is impacting many others, such as small business owners who may already be on shaky financial ground.

3. A Spirit of Sacrifice

This health crisis is challenging many of us to make sacrifices in our lives. Some are huge, such as those made by exhausted health care workers around the world, desperately trying to keep patients alive (while avoiding the illness themselves). Other sacrifices fall more in the category of inconveniences. It is inconvenient when events are cancelled, schools close, and travel is limited. It is inconvenient to wash our hands intentionally and regularly. But this kind of sacrifice is at the very centre of our faith. Every time we gather around the Lord’s Table, we celebrate the powerful way Christ showed us how to love others. He sacrificed everything in self-giving love for us, and he invited us to do the same. In turn, we die to ourselves—through inconveniences and more—in order to love those around us. Truly loving others will always cost us something. We may grumble about or resist changing our habits, especially if it’s unclear what’s in it for us. But we need to remember that many of these actions are more about protecting others. Perhaps the invitation amidst this crisis is to embrace the inconveniences fully, and then move beyond them to seek out the best ways to serve those who are most in need.

4. Loving Our Neighbour

Community is essential to us as Christians. We are the Body of Christ, and we know that when two or more gather in Jesus’ name, he is present with us. So it may be a bit harder for us to handle the “social distancing” happening in many communities. Our call to community is not only in the context of our church but also in our neighbourhood community. How do we literally love our neighbour? How can we be witnesses on our streets? One way is to regularly check in on your neighbours who may be vulnerable and isolated. Offer to deliver groceries or other items for them or to run other errands so they won’t have to risk infection by leaving their home. Be a positive, calming influence in any online neighbourhood communities. Don’t spread rumours or hysteria, but find ways to support each other through the crisis.

5. Living The Virtues

Ultimately, we are called to live out the four cardinal virtues:

PRUDENCE: Carefully discern the best course of action, not just for ourselves, but for the good of all. Ask: What action does God want me to take?

JUSTICE: Seek fairness for everyone, especially those who need it most. Ask: Who is not getting the help that they need?

TEMPERANCE: Find a healthy balance between self-care and care for others. Ask: Do I err toward selfishness or an unhealthy co-dependence?

FORTITUDE: Persevere in times of trial and difficulty. Ask: Do I have the courage to do the right thing even when the going gets tough?

6. What Can You Do

Have compassion for those most at risk.

Stand up for those who need the most help and make sure they are being cared for, without judgment.

Check in on isolated or vulnerable neighbours

Offer to help with specific tasks such as shopping, child or pet care, cleaning, etc.

If you are in a position of power, use that power for the good of all

Allow workers to work from home or take time off, limit large gatherings, follow government guidance, etc.

Thank those on the front lines

Who are protecting us, such as health care workers, police, firefighters. Be gentle and kind with them.

 Sourced from: Gather Proclaim Break Send

Easter Liturgy

On Wednesday, we celebrated our Easter Liturgy in Pastoral Care groups.

The Year 11 Liturgy group and Mrs Barton’s 11 Study of Religion class quickly organised to film a video of our liturgy to share with our many absent students.

It is important in amongst the chaos of our current situation, to return to the key messages of Easter.

To view the video online, click here.

Please open this link to access directions from the College in regards to student assessment and reporting whilst absent.

Click here.

Accessing Online Learning to Support Your Child

The College will be utilizing our Learning Management System Canvas for delivery of online materials and assessment to students. With your partnership, we are confident that we can continue to provide excellent learning experiences for our students and your children in the current complex situation.

If students are absent, they are to access their lessons through Canvas.  Teachers will ensure lesson material is available before the lesson.

To help support your child, here is some introductory information about Canvas.

Parent Access to Canvas

Access Canvas at this web address: https://sjc.instructure.com/

Ask your child for their login details.

• School email
• Password

Canvas Dashboard

The first screen students see in Canvas is their Dashboard.  This is like the homepage for their learning.

• Dashboard: Students will be able to see a tile for each of their classes.
• To Do and Coming Up – Students can see the task they have been assignment to complete and what assessment is coming up in their calendar.

In the courses

Students will need to navigate the HOMEPAGE, MODULES, PAGES, ANNOUNCEMENTS, ASSIGNMENTS, QUIZZES.

These are the most used tools of Canvas. They can be found on the left-hand side of the screen.

Modules organise material into units or topics.

Pages are used to deliver content like a webpage. They can include text, video, and links to files and other course content.

Announcements send out messages to all students of a course. These also send to a student’s school email.

Assignments allow students to submit tasks online. These tasks may be summative or formative assessment. Teachers may use unmarked assignments for students to submit classwork to monitor progress.

Quizzes are great fun! Teachers can create quizzes to test student knowledge in a course.

Recent weeks have presented schools with unprecedented challenges. It would be naïve of anyone here to think the next few weeks or even months won’t present the same thing. A number of media platforms indicate considerable appreciation for the work of teachers right now. While teachers, as a group, remain appreciative of this community support, we must not forget the unprecedented challenges that are also faced by our students and their families.

In particular, the COVID-19 predicament will shine a spotlight on school’s homework practices. All schools walk a delicate balance (especially in Year Seven to Ten) between preparing students for the rigours of senior schooling and managing student wellbeing in a way that models a healthy work-life balance.  This continues to be an area of research and academic discussion around the country if not around the world.

Dr Ian Lillico of the University of Western Australia has developed a framework for schools and parents that he calls The Homework Grid (2004). In it, he broadens the spectrum of activities that enhance a child’s learning. Cooking a meal, for example, involves both literacy and numeracy. There is a scientific element by virtue of the microscopic reactions between ingredients and it is highly creative. Cooking a meal is one of few learning activities that stimulate all five senses at the same time. This is an example of the ‘out of the box’ thinking that could be very useful to school staff, students and families in the coming weeks.

Any parents who wish to read further about ‘The Homework Grid’ can access it here.

Business Report

The students in our Business/Economics classes are learning the fundamentals, theories and processes of business. The aim of the Business units is to give students as many opportunities as possible to use their theoretical knowledge in real-life situations.

This term the Year 7 and 8 students are studying markets, finance and entrepreneurship. In Term 2 they will have the opportunity to demonstrate their entrepreneurial skills as they develop a new product for the Australian market. This unit of work allows students to demonstrate initiative and creativity and further develop their problem-solving skills.

The Year 9 Business classes are studying corporate social responsibility through the global non-profit Fairtrade organisation. The students are discovering how the choices they make as consumers affect disadvantaged workers, families and communities at the other end of the supply chain. Their studies will help them to make more informed buying decisions and develop an understanding of how businesses operate in the real world. They have also learned how businesses track small expenditure items through the preparation of the Petty Cash Book.

The Year 10 BEC Business students are preparing to put into practice the entrepreneurial skills they have acquired during their studies in Years 7, 8 and 9. They are developing a business idea and, over the course of the semester, will put that idea into real-world practice by running their own businesses. Students are encouraged to be innovative and creative in their approach to business as they engage in market research and analysis. Running their own business gives students the opportunity to make decisions, often under pressure, and to be resourceful in the way they solve problems. They learn that successful business owners must be flexible as they adapt to changing environments, seize opportunities and be risk-takers. The students’ business ventures are not about making money, but rather nurturing their entrepreneurial brains at a young age. The Run your Own Business unit gives real-world experiences and opportunities to students interested in an entrepreneurial pathway.

The study of Business/Economics through hands-on, practical experiences allow students to achieve business, financial, economic and digital literacy.

Jenny Stead

Business/IT

Middle Leader

Certificate III in Business

The College is experiencing strong numbers in the Certificate III in Business. The Certificate course is undertaken through BinnacleTraining, a Registered Training Organisation (RTO). St Joseph’s College is working in partnership with BinnacleTraining and I invite you to access their website. This year BinnacleTraining launched the Canvas LMS as part of their online platform. This term, the Year 12 class has been working through the competency ICTWEB201 Use social media tools for collaboration and engagement.   This involves creating a social media platform to promote their product. The Year 11 Certificate III in Business class have been working on two competencies:  BSBWOR301 Organise personal work priorities and development; and BSBLED301 Undertake eLearning. Year 11 have enthusiastically embraced the opportunities to demonstrate these competencies.

Economics

This year students are taking full advantage of the benefits of Canvas (Learning Management System) to enhance their learning. This term, students are studying International Economics focusing on the complex ideas and relationships underlying the international economy and the impact that these have on Australia’s economy. We began by analysing the global economy and now we are investigating international economic issues. This is particularly pertinent at this time. As Term 1 comes to a close, we will be working together, to develop skills in preparation for upcoming assessment, especially the external exam and broaden our knowledge of current economic issues, with regular reading of The Financial Review, The Australian and The Economist, just to name a few. The Federal Budget in May will be of great interest to us and a highlight of the year.

Mrs Maree Harman

Teacher of Economics/Business

Unfortunately, due to COVID – 19 there is not much to report in the field of sport so far this year. All sporting events and training have been suspended until later on in the year.

I can congratulate the following students who were fortunate enough to trial for Darling Downs teams, but they cannot attend the State Championships as these too have been cancelled.

In the sport of:

Cricket: 15 – 19 years Daniel Robinson

Touch: 16 – 18 years Harrison Kelly and Josh Reid, Kalei Brighton and Jada Ferguson

13 – 15 years Bailey Deacon, Blaise Prendergast and Kaden Willmot

Football: 17 – 19 years boys Jorden Wright, 16 – 19 years girls Madison Lockwood

Rugby League: 16 – 18 years Lachlan Fanning

Netball: 16 – 19 years Kalei Brighton and Claire Pretorius

Swimming: 13 – 19 years Sienna Deurloo, Regan Gardner, Emily Lewis and Jude Youens

10 – 12 years Lilly Wiemers

Softball 13 – 19 years Harrison Clancy

Please contact me if your son or daughter has been successful in selection.

Friday Night Basketball

This is the standing of the games at the moment. We are hoping that we can play the games at a later date to declare winners for 2020.

As the school holidays near, many of you may do an Autumn clean out. Please keep the Visual Art department in mind and things which may be useful for our students when making sculptures or for still life. Things which may be useful include general bric-a-brac items but are not limited to;

• Electronics/Technology: CDs/DVDs, Cassette tapes, VHS Tapes, Computer parts
• Household Décor: Vases, teapots/teacups, clocks, wooden or ceramic ornaments, fake flowers, plastic fruit
• Toys: wooden blocks, figurines (no baby toys).
• Shed: short off cuts of plumbing piping, nuts and bolts (no rusty items please)
• Items in multiple quantities work well for sculptures.

Please ask your child to bring the items to the Visual Art department or arrange a time before or after school to drop the items off if they are too bulky.

Please contact Chrissy Dwyer, Visual Art Teacher, cdwyer@sjc.qld.edu.au should you wish to check if the donations are suitable.

Looking after your mental health and wellbeing in stressful times.

As the number of coronavirus cases rise across Australia, the level of anxiety within the community is increasing. Feelings of worry and unease can be expected following a stressful event, such as the recent declaration of a global pandemic, however, it is important that we learn to manage our stress before it turns to more severe anxiety and panic. The Australian Psychological Society has provided an Information Sheet (see link below) outlining some useful strategies which can help both adults and children cope with the stress or anxiety experienced as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

https://www.psychology.org.au/getmedia/38073179-4701-48bd-afd9-988c560ee2f9/20APS-IS-COVID-19-P1.pdf

Action for Happiness has also released a coping calendar, identifying 30 simple actions to look after ourselves and each other as we face these trying times together. This is a great resource for the whole family (and it’s a perfect size to put on the fridge!).

https://www.actionforhappiness.org/media/863032/coping_calendar.jpg

Parents can phone the Ozcare office on 07 4639 7888 to make an appointment.  The dates are as follows:

• Wednesday 8 April           3.00-4.00pm
• Wednesday 20 May          3.00-4.00pm

Effective hand hygiene is vital

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to evolve, it is important to remember that effective hand and sneeze/cough hygiene is the best defence against viruses and can help prevent the spread of illness.

Lead by example and encourage your children to

• wash their hands regularly with soap and water, before and after eating, and after going to the toilet
• use alcohol-based hand sanitiser if soap is not available
• cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of their elbow
• dispose of tissues in the bin immediately
• if they’re unwell, stay at home and avoid contact with others such as touching, kissing or hugging.

Check out the 20 second routine video for effective handwashing.

Facebook

Effective hand hygiene is the best defence against viruses. Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser regularly and sneeze or cough into a tissue or your elbow to help protect everyone from the spread of germs. Check out the 20 second routine. youtube.com/watch?v=NpmB80pWUsk&feature=youtu.be

Twitter

Effective hand hygiene avoids viruses spreading. Wash your hands or use hand sanitiser regularly and sneeze or cough into a tissue or your elbow. Check out the 20 second routine.youtube.com/watch?v=NpmB80pWUsk&feature=youtu.be

Health and hygiene.

Please reinforce the importance of hygiene practices at home. Measures include hand washing practices, use of hand sanitisers, and coughing protocols. Our schools/services will be more resilient to the coronavirus threat if these practices are well entrenched.

End of Term 1 is not very far away, as such we will be starting to prepare to send out the end of term report cards.

Please make sure we have your current mailing details.

Congratulations to Lily Jones!
New School Based Trainee, Certificate II in Salon Assistant with Billie M Hair

Congratulations to Adam Wheeler!
Based Trainee, Certificate III in Information, Digital Media & Technology with Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office.

Next meeting …

May 5  –  7.00pm  –  Library

Come join the fun.

Would you like to Volunteer?

We would love to have you!
Please contact the College office for more details.

Week 1, Term 2 Roster

Mon 20th April          Toni Burton     

Tues 21st April            Kristy Reynolds 

Wed 22nd April          Kaylene Suman

Thurs 23rd April         Adau Lual

Fri 24th April              Catherine Brown

If you can not make it to your scheduled shift, please contact the Canteen to advise, 4631 8520.

Debbie Ditchmen  &  Michelle Tully

Please be advised the College Uniform Shop will be closed until further notice.

College Uniform Price List 2020

https://www.sjc.qld.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/College-Uniform-price-list-2019-2020.pdf

Second hand uniforms are also available at the Uniform Shop.

If you have used uniform items that would like to donate, please drop off to the Uniform Shop during opening hours.  Donations are greatly appreciated.

If you have used uniform items that you would like us to sell for you, please call into the uniform shop and collect a “Used Clothing” form. Used uniforms items MUST be in good condition, hems intact, no holes, stains or missing buttons. They also need to washed, ironed and be the current uniform.

If you have any questions, please call us on 4631 8514 during opening hours.

Are your details correct in our system?

Is your information up to date?
Will your report card go to the right address?
Don’t miss important messages sent through the email system or App notification.

Please email any changes to office@sjc.qld.edu.au