St Johns College Dubbo Term 1, Week 6 2025
Principal
Dear St Johns Community
It is so easy to get caught up in the busyness of our lives and miss the opportunities for some stillness and calm. At school on top of the regular day to day activities we juggle swimming carnivals, retreats, excursions, information nights, assessments etc. Much the same in family life, we consistently attempt to balance competing interests. As we are in the season of Lent, which began with Ash Wednesday last week, it can provide us with the time to stop and reflect on the three pillars of this time in our liturgical calendar and they are Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving. How are we bringing these elements into our lives at this time?
At the College we will be providing opportunities for giving to charity so that we can help support those that are not as fortunate as us. At a meeting with the Year 12 Leaders this week they discussed how it does not need to always be a monetary donation but rather donating of time and talents.
Fasting or abstinence is a tangible expression of our willingness to sacrifice for the sake of our spiritual growth and solidarity with those who suffer. Fasting reminds us of our reliance on God for sustenance and helps us cultivate self-discipline and self-control.
Prayer can be practiced as a community like when we come together as a College for Mass or in classes for our Ash Wednesday Liturgies. It can also be a very private thing between the individual and God. It can be that thing that gives the stillness that we need in the busyness of our lives. For those that may need some guidance with prayer and reflection there are many online apps and sites that can assist. One that I use is Lolola Press 3 Minute Retreat, which provides guided prayer and meditations. https://www.loyolapress.com/3-minute-retreats-daily-online-prayer/
God bless,
God bless
Mr Justin McCarney
Principal
Faith and Mission
Yr 10 Retreat
Yours in faith
Elissa Burden
Leader of Faith and Mission
Teaching and Learning
Academic Care
With Year group meetings, The Year 10 retreat and NAPLAN in Weeks 6 and 7, our Academic Care program has focused on Year 11. In Week 7, Year 11 will join together with Mrs McCarney to examine tools and tips for addressing NESA verbs in assessment tasks, and using them to extend responses as well.
Senior Tutor
Cass McCarney joins us in the role of Senior Tutor this year. In this role she will be providing one-to-one support for our Year 11 and 12 students with study, study skills, assessment planning and organisation. Cass will also lend her expertise to our Academic Care program, leading workshops for all year groups as we lead into important assessment and examination periods.
This week Cass provided students in Year 11 and 12 with a link to book in with her for individual support for:
- organising a balanced study schedule
- establishing different study techniques
- assessment/ examination planning
NAPLAN
We are really proud of the way Year 7 and 9 have undertaken NAPLAN in an organised and confident manner, and we look forward to receiving the data for these tests to strategise ways we can continue to grow the skills of all of our students.
At the time of publication, Numeracy is the only remaining test, and will take place on Monday 17th March. Students are reminded to come to school with wired headphones and a fully charged chromebook.
Chromebooks
Students and families are reminded of the basic rules we have in place to ensure chromebooks support learning.
Chromebooks are:
- Charged every night ready for learning the next day
- Carried in their correct bag
- Used only to access sites and tools as directed by the teacher
- The property of SJC, but the responsibility of students - students are responsible for damages they cause
Term 1 Assessment Tasks
Assessment tasks are now appearing in Canvas.
Teachers use their judgement to assign grades to student performance, and summative assessment tasks are a big support for teachers in this. These tasks combine the learning for the term and give students an opportunity to transfer the skills they have learned and demonstrate their best efforts.
Assessment task notifications are easy to identify in CANVAS. On the Homepage of each course, they appear with the prefix “SAT” - Summative Assessment Task.
All tasks look the same, 7 - 12, like the example below:
If there is a reason that students can not hand a task in on time, they need to apply for an extension through the Curriculum Guides menu in Student Resources.
CANVAS for Parents - Logins are changing for all
Parents have now received their logins and passwords for CANVAS via email. If you have used canvas before, please note that you will have new login credentials for this year.
CANVAS is one of our most significant tools for strengthening the relationship between parents and school, and supporting parents in understanding their child’s learning.
Through CANVAS you can:
- See classroom learning
- See your child’s submitted work
- Find a calendar for upcoming assessment tasks
- Find marks, feedback and comparative information
- Support your child in their learning and relearning of key ideas
Watch the newsletter and socials for links to short clips to support you in accessing, using and making the most of the platform.
If you want to know more about Canvas, this is a great orientation page:
What is the Canvas Parent App?
Keeping track of Assessment using CANVAS
- When you open your parent dashboard, there are two ways you can see what’s coming up.
The To Do List which appears on the right of the screen and looks like this:
- Notice how the summative assessment tasks all start with the prefix “SAT”.
- Every item in the To Do list links to the task.
2. In the menu below you will find the Calendar. Each entry links to the task.
If you have more than one child at the College you can colour code the tasks in your calendar, so that it becomes clear whose task is whose:
Click on the dots to change the calendar colour for a course. In this example, all the Year 9 courses could be changed to blue, and then if I also had a child in Year 7, I could change all of the Year 7 calendars to another colour.
Warm regards
Catherine Jones
Leader of Teaching and Learning
Pathways
UOW Parent & Student Information Evenings
Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Mudgee
Get answers to all the common questions that students have about Early Admission, Important dates, scholarships, accommodation and more. UOW staff and current students will be on-hand to make sure you have all of your questions answered at the one time in the one place.
REGISTER NOW: https://www.uow.edu.au/study/events/info-evening/
These interactive events are designed to answer all the common questions that students and parents have about starting university study. UOW staff and current students will be on-hand to make sure you have all of your questions answered at the one time in the one place.
Mrs Strahorn | Stage 6 Pathways / ASPA
White Card Course - LIMITED SPOTS LEFT
Mrs Strain - VET KLA Leader and Stage 5 Pathways Coordinator
Mrs Strahorn - Stage 6 Pathways & ASPA Coordinator
Miss Lappa - Careers and Pathways Assistant
Wellbeing
In Week 4, our Year 9 boys had the opportunity to participate in a unique and engaging experience with The Man Cave.
Throughout the program, they were encouraged to open up about their own lives and gained valuable insights into the importance of reaching out and checking in with one another. Over three days, the boys had an incredible time bonding, reflecting, and growing as young men.
Mr Zac O'Leary | Wellbeing Assistant
Literacy at SJC
Keith Hill | Literacy Focus
Music
School Musical - Be More Chill
St Johns is abuzz with excitement! The cast and crew have been rehearsing and preparing for the opening night of Be More Chill.
3rd - 5th April 2025
There will be four shows on offer, tickets are now availalbe for purchase through 123TIX:
Thursday 03/04/2025 (Evening Show) 7pm https://www.123tix.com.au/.../sjc-school-musical-be-more...
Friday 04/04/2025 (Evening Show) 7pm https://www.123tix.com.au/.../sjc-school-musical-be-more...
Saturday 05/04/2025 (Matinee Show) 2pm https://www.123tix.com.au/.../sjc-school-musical-be-more...
Saturday 05/04/2025 (Evening Show) 7pm https://www.123tix.com.au/.../sjc-school-musical-be-more...
Multicultural Music Camp
Last week, Year 9-12 Music Elective students spent an inspirational day at Macquarie Conservatorium playing high energy music at a Multicultural Music Camp.
Students were treated to a Japanese drumming workshop run by Taikoz and a Latin Rhythms workshop run by Dominican Republic musicians Josean Jacobo and Otoniel Nicolas. At the end of the day our students were treated to performances by the professional musicians as well as performing for each other. It was an invigorating and creative experience for all, giving our students unforgettable memories.
Catherine Crossing | CAPA Coordinator
Moorambilla Workshop
A group of students attended the Moorambilla workshop at the Christian School last Friday. They learnt about the opportunities to perform with the Moorambilla choir and participated in body percussion and singing activities.If anyone missed this workshop and would still like to audition or would like further information please come and see me.
Mrs Jane Bowen | Music Teacher
Taiko Drumming Workshop
Tuesday 4th March, all of Year 7 participated in a Taiko Drumming workshop. This was a hands-on experience where each student was taught the correct method of playing these Japanese drums - the flexible hand technique to tap the drums musically and the correct foot posture. Students were taught rhythms and rotated through to play the traditional Taiko.
Mrs Jane Bowen | Music Teacher
Sport
College Swimming Carnival
St Johns College hosted the Bathurst Diocesan Swimming Carnival for our western region schools on Monday 10th March.
Congratulations to the 14 students who have been selected to represent the Diocese at the NSW CCC Carnival that will be held in Sydney next month:
Nullah Baker, Sienna Bennett, William Boland, Joely Bruce, George Finlay, Zoey Groen, Amelia Heckendorf, Callum Heitzmann, Phoebe Lavelle, Hugh McAnally, Abbie Messner, Willow Scott, Harrison Stevens and Lachlan Webeck.
A special mention to Callum Heitzmann and Lucy Heckendorf who broke three Diocesan records!
- Callum - Open Age 50m Freestyle in a time of 25.05 (Previous record 25.44)
- Callum - Open Age 50m Butterfly in a time of 27.00 (Previous record 27.04)
- Lucy - 15 Years 100m Breaststroke record in 1:35.25 (Old 2024
Mr Dave McAlister | Sports Coordinator
NSW CCC Rugby League Western Trials (Boys and Girls)
Students have received this information in the College Daily Notices.
Dates for Rugby League Trials for NSW CCC Western are as follows:
Under 15 Boys and Under 18 Boys - Wednesday 26th March - RBCC Forbes (Nomination cut-off 18th March)
Under 18 Girls - Thursday 10th April - Raiders Belconnen - (Nominations by 3rd April)
Under 16's Girls - Friday 11th April - Raiders Belconnen - 11th April (Nominations by 4th April)
Parents/Guardians will need to nominate students via the NSW CS Sport Website. CSNSW Sport – https://csnsw.sport/
Only students who are at a representative standard should nominate. Any Under 14 boys who wish to nominate for U15's need to see Mr Haycock at the College before nominating, as organisers have placed restrictions on bottom age nominations.
Resource Hub - Library
RESOURCE REVIEW
School Fees
Dear Parents/Guardians
SJC - School Fees - Term 1 Instalment Due 14 March 2025
Thank you to those families who have paid their College fees.
Families paying their fees by the term please note instalment 1 is due by 14 March 2025.
You can check your balance owing and make payments via the Compass App or BPAY.
For families making regular, weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments please ensure your payment plan is on track to have your College fees account finalised by 30 November 2025.
To ensure your College fees account is on track please note from this Friday 14 March 2025 there are 38 weeks, 19 fortnights or 9 months until fees are due. Contact the College Fees Office if you need to adjust your payment plan.
HSC fees are due by 31 October 2025.
If you wish to discuss your account please contact the College Fees Office on 6841 5142 or email m.carlow@bth.catholic.edu.au.
Kind Regards
Maree Carlow
Administration Finance Leader
Important Dates
Term 1 2025
If you would like to add the St Johns College Calendar
to your google calendar please click on this link.
Wednesday 12th March - Tuesday 18th March
Naplan - Year 7 & 9 students
Monday 17th March
Year 11 Enterprise Computing VR lesson at St Johns Primary
Tuesday 18th March
Year 11 Information and Commissioning Evening
Friday 21st March
Harmony Day
Tuesday 25th March - Thursday 27th March
Year 12 Legal Studies Law Day Out
Thursday 27th March
Bathurst Diocesan U15's & Opens Netbll
Wednesday 2nd April
CCC Swimming - Homebush
Textiles and Design Excursion - Sydney
Thursday 3rd - 5th April
College Musical - Be More Chill
2025 School Term Dates
Term 1: Monday 3rd February (Staff) Tuesday 4th February (Yrs 7, 11 & 12) 5th February (Yr 8,9 & 10)
- 11th April 2025
Term 2: Monday 28th April - Friday 4th July
Term 3: Monday 21st July - Friday 26th September
Term 4: Monday 13th October - Friday 19th December
2025 Diocesan Sports
The Diocesan Sports Calendar is now available to view. We may have some students who are involved in sports that we are unaware of and who may want to attend the trials. There are many different sports on the Diocesan Calendar such as Diving, Triathlon's, Baseball, Volleyball, Sailing, Hockey etc. If your child is of a competitive standard and wishes to compete in the events on the calendar please let us know.
Community Notices
