Week 6 Term 1 2024
From the Principal
Welcome to Week 6.
We have much to celebrate and be grateful for at the College. With a renewed focus on setting our hearts on F.I.R.E, we are continuing to develop our Faith, promote Integrity as an essential value, focus on Relationships acknowledging that wellbeing is aligned with positive interactions, and encouraging Empathy and its importance in promoting the dignity of all.
The importance of creating a thriving College culture is something we continue to develop. In order to do this the importance of Parent Partnerships cannot be underestimated. We were so impressed by the number of parents and friends who donated their time to ensure we were well fed at the recent swimming carnival. The energy around the various stalls, including the Hot Chip van from Rotary Casino, was an initiative of parents supporting our community. The number of families who attended this stella carnival also needs to be acknowledged. There is so much written about student outcomes improving when parents are present and involved in their education and we would like to thank you for your presence and support. The P and F meets on Monday 11 March at 5.30pm and I would encourage you to join this passionate group. Everyone is welcome.
I have had the pleasure of attending over 20 Swimming Carnivals at Woodlawn over the years. Carnival 2024 was an outstanding display of student leadership and inclusivity. The passion of the House groups was seen and heard. The swimming was enthusiastic, with many outstanding performances, and many heartfelt moments when leaders supported the younger members of their house and encouraged participation of all. Simon Andrews has included a detailed report. This photo banner sums up a few of the highlights. Thanks to all staff for their commitment to ensuring our students have this opportunity.
We are currently developing a systematic response to a number of reviews that are being undertaken in Week 1, Term 3. The Mission Review involves external reviewers coming to the College to witness our Faith in Action. This review is an opportunity to showcase our commitment to building a Catholic College aligned with the Foundational Values: Worship, Community, Tradition, Witness, Service and Evangelisation. The ACER Review takes place over 4 days and is a chance for us to reflect on the 8 Domains of the School Improvement Tool. This is also an external review. See link to the document. There will be many chances for all members of our community to have their say. Student, Parent and Staff voices will shape the reviews. From these reviews we will collaboratively develop a Strategic Plan that reflects our findings and feedback.
International Women's Day is celebrated around the world today. This is a moment to celebrate and reflect on our blessings and also to consider the plight of women around the world. The attached memo from our Office sums up the intentions of this day perfectly. Thanks to Natasha for putting together this banner of our community at work on this special day. We also acknowledge the Pope’s message that dignity is a human right for all humans.
There are a number of events in our Calendar around student-free days over Terms 1 and 2. I have included these today to ensure clarity. Due to our review processes, there has been a change to Term 2 dates.
- April 12, 2024: Staff Spirituality Day. This faith opportunity is designed by Bishop Greg and all schools across the Diocese participate with their staff
- April 29, 2024 Mission and Curriculum
- May 29,2024 Proclaim Staff gathering with all teachers in the region. This happens once every few years. Looking at the world with Hope.
- June 7, 2024 Review Process and Wellbeing
To continue to build cohesion in our College we are continually focusing on our values and norms. ‘We do things because they are the norm, not because someone tells us that doing something is a great idea’. Dr Helen Street.
Looking forward to continually living the ‘Woodlawn Way’.
If you have any questions or would like to know more about anything involving the College please contact the College and make an appointment. I hope to see many of you on Monday night.
A reflection from the Principals' Conference:
If you are what you should be, you will set the world on FIRE. St Catherine of Siena reminds us that we need to be alight and become fire ourselves in order to set others on fire.
Annette Reen
Principal 2024
From the Assistant Principal - Learning & Teaching
As we stride into March, this week's newsletter is a timely reminder of the latest Learning and Teaching happenings at Woodlawn. We are not just about providing education; we are about nurturing growth, fostering academic excellence, and supporting each student on their unique journey. This fortnight's edition outlines some updates and reminders that align with our goal to apply intentional pedagogy for improved academic culture and learning outcomes, as outlined in our School Annual Improvement Plan (SAIP) for 2024.
NAPLAN News:
A reminder for families to mark their calendars. The NAPLAN testing window is set for Term 1, Week 8, between Tuesday, March 19, and Thursday, March 21, 2024, for all Year 7 and Year 9 Students. Mrs Harris
covered a more comprehensive outline of the NAPLAN testing in the previous edition of the newsletter.
Year 12 Examinations: Supporting Our Seniors
Our Seniors are gearing up for their Half-Yearly Examinations, a significant milestone in their academic journey, with productive conversations flowing at last week's Parent/Teacher/Student interviews. Thank you to all of those who attended. We are sending our Year 12’s all our best wishes as they prepare diligently. Remember students, self-care is vital during this period. Prioritise your physical and mental wellbeing by getting enough rest, exercise, and nutritious food. Remember to arrive at Brother Edward Park 10 minutes before each exam to ensure accurate attendance. Please check your examination timetable carefully, along with the Important Information Guidelines shared by Mrs Ryall. The Important Information section outlines vital information and responsibilities about required and prohibited equipment (e.g. smartphones and watches). Anyone who experiences illness or misadventure before or on the day of the exam is encouraged to seek guidance from Mrs Ryall as soon as possible. We are here to support you every step of the way.
Responsibility for Learning (RFL): Cultivating Positive Habits
At Woodlawn, we believe in nurturing academic excellence and essential learning habits. Our Responsibility for Learning (RFL) reports are completed twice per term and provide valuable feedback to students and parents, focusing on classroom practices and learning behaviours. Parents and students will be notified when the data can be viewed via the Compass Student Portal, with RFL#1 results being released in Week 7. The College sets an expectation of a 3.0 GPA in the RFL; students identified below the expectation undergo academic counselling with key staff to set goals for improvement. Similarly, students identified as achieving at a high level will be affirmed with commendations. Families are encouraged to have constructive conversations with their child(ren) about their classroom organisation and engagement to help promote academic engagement and success.
Continued Improvement: Analysing Key Data Points
In our quest for continuous improvement, we have been busy analysing key data points like the 2023 HSC results and recent PAT (Reading) and Dibels testing. This analysis is aligned with our SAIP goals and helps us track progress and support our students in reaching their full potential while being instrumental in setting improvement targets for 2024, ensuring that every student receives the support they need to succeed.
Matthew Bailey
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching
matthew.bailey@lism.catholic.edu.au
From the Assistant Principal - Mission
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Sharon Thompson and I were fortunate to be part of a group of 14 from the Lismore Diocese that attended the Los Angeles Religious Education conference in February. The theme of the Congress was "Be Loved". We got to visit some interesting places, one of which was Homeboy Industries in Downtown Los Angeles. Homeboy Industries is the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. For over 30 years, they have stood as a beacon of hope in Los Angeles to provide training and support to formerly gang-involved and previously incarcerated people, allowing them to redirect their lives and become contributing members of our community.
The key message of founder Father Greg Boyle, is that everyone is unshakeably good, announced by Matthew in the gospel, “You are my beloved in whom I am wonderfully pleased”. I want to emphasise to our young people at Woodlawn that they are enough - as they are - they don’t need to be anyone but themselves for God to love them. And it is this love of self that leads to cherishing love - an interconnectedness between members of a community. When we visited Homeboy Industries there was a palpable feeling of belonging and connectedness from all who were there - irrespective of the history of the individuals.
Hearts For Hope Campaign
We are now in our third week of fundraising for our annual Lenten Caritas Project Compassion appeal. This year, the theme is ‘For All Future Generations’. This theme has been drawn from the story of the burning bush in Exodus 3:1-20. The message here is that we should not ignore those on the margins or the fringes of society - we need to care for those in need. The Home Groups are purchasing hearts for $30 each. The money raised goes to Caritas to support those who are disadvantaged in the Philippines, Malawi and Somali. Please encourage your young person to bring in their loose change to contribute to a heart to make a difference for those less fortunate.
Mental Health
This week we began our programs in support of mental health. On Monday, Year 11 had the privilege of hearing Nic Newling speak about his own experiences with mental health and suicide. Nic is an ambassador for Movember, Australia Day, R U OK? Day, and the Australian Mental Health Prize. His message was to remind young people that dark times don’t last forever, that they should talk about mental health and seek appropriate support. It was great to see our parents at the evening session as they were able to hear Nic’s story and find out how best to support their young people.
This week the first of our Year 8 classes had their Teen Mental Health presentations. These courses, will be presented by our own trained staff, Jane Farrugia, Nicole Hetherington and Peter O’Toole.
The teen years are a critical time for physical, mental, social, and emotional development. During this time young people may be experiencing significant challenges, but not yet have the confidence, knowledge, or skills to seek formal support. Studies suggest that young people more readily turn to informal networks to explore issues affecting their lives and to talk about the things troubling them. This makes peer-to-peer care an essential component in overall mental health support.
In Australia, around 20% of young people aged 11 to 17 have experienced either high or very high levels of psychological distress (AIHW, 2020). Adolescence is also a peak time for the emergence of mental illnesses, with around 50% of diagnosable adult mental health problems having onset before the age of 14 (AJGP, 2018). Sadly, suicide also remains a leading cause of death for young people.
This course, conducted over 3 x 1.5 hour sessions, teaches students how to provide initial peer-to-peer support to a friend or classmate who may be experiencing a mental health problem or mental health crisis, until professional help is received or the crisis resolves.
Students learn about the signs and symptoms of common mental health problems in adolescents, how to recognise and respond to an emerging or worsening mental health problem, and the interventions and supports available.
If your young person is in Year 8 this would be an opportune time to have a chat with them about what they have learned and how they might use these skills and information to support their own mental health and that of others.
Best wishes to our Year 12 students as they head into their Half Yearly examinations next week. May they stay calm and focused.
Take care,
Fiona Fennamore
Assistant Principal Mission
fiona.fennamore@lism.catholic.edu.au
66262627
From the Leader of Evangelisation
Incitare Retreat Day
On Tuesday February 27, Mrs Tickle and ten Year 10 Ministry Students took part in the Incitare Retreat held at Tullera Hall. Incitare (meaning to urge on or inspire) is a faith-based event for Year 6 students across the Lismore Diocese. Woodlawn students helped facilitate activities, small groups, gave testimonies, and led games over the course of the day.
Discussion on the day included: what you really value, how you can live your life as a Christian, being courageous, positives that come from youth ministry, and encouraging students to stir within themselves and others, confidence, and ‘set the world on fire.’
Project Compassion
Samoa may be a country surrounded by water, but access to clean drinking water is scarce in some areas, with many families facing extreme hardship as a result.
Leaia lives with her five children, husband, brother and sister-in-law on the island of Upolu in Samoa. Not having access to a reliable source of clean water caused Leaia a lot of worry.
Their home is not connected to a piped water system, so they had to rely solely on rainwater collected in old fridges. When their water ran out, Leaia had to walk with her young children to collect water in buckets and containers from a neighbour down the street.
With the support of Caritas Australia's local partner, Caritas Samoa, a water tank was installed at Leaia's home. She and her family now have a steady supply of clean drinking water at home. Next year, they will also have a toilet built, with the support of Caritas Samoa, which will further improve their health and living conditions.
“We are very thankful and grateful for the water tank. It has helped us so much and made our daily life easier,” Leaia said.
Watch Leaia’s Story - https://vimeo.com/885020852
Together, we can help vulnerable communities face their challenges today and build a better tomorrow for all future generations. You can donate through Project Compassion donation boxes, online by visiting https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion or by calling 1800 024 413.
Ignite Launch 2024
Leading up to the Ignite Conference in September, there are a number of events students can attend. One of which is Ignite Launch: a day at Dreamworld, riding the roller coasters, hanging out with your friends, food, and a rally-style party after Dreamworld has closed!
Woodlawn is taking expressions of interest for Ignite Launch until the end of Week 7, March 15. Please contact Mrs Deegan via kallie.deegan@lism.catholic.edu.au if you are interested in attending. Depending on the level of interest shown over the next week, current options include Woodlawn providing a bus for travel, or students providing their own transport to Dreamworld on the day. Estimated cost of an Ignite Launch entry ticket per person is $125-$150.
Expressions of Interest end - Friday March 15
Ignite Launch Date - Saturday May 18 (10am-8:30pm)
Kallie Deegan
Leader of Evangelisation
kallie.deegan@lism.catholic.edu.au
From the Sports Coordinator
Championship Swimming Carnival 2024
At the end of Week 4 Woodlawn held the annual twilight Swimming Carnival. It was a fantastic night with some outstanding performances. Segrief was able to come away with the shield once again with a dominant performance, Kennedy coming in second, Carroll third and Bell once again claiming the wooden spoon. A big thank you to the P&F for running a fantastic canteen and to all the wonderful staff that assisted in running the carnival.
Listed below are the Age Champions and Runners-up for each age group.
Diocesan Swimming Carnival
From the results of the College Carnival, we sent 16 athletes away to the Lismore Diocesan Swimming Carnival at Port Macquarie.
Those athletes were; Scarlett McDowell, Lincoln Cormack, Rahni Pope, Adrian Brickhill, Charlotte Burns, Georgie White, Jacob Rowe, Elijah Mercy-Wilson, Emily Glendinning, Georgia Johnston, Malekai Kubils, Isabella Rowe, Abigail Glendinning, Mia Gulliver-Ward, Luke Barnett, Alanna Bromhead. The results from the Diocesan Swimming Carnival will be in the next newsletter.
Cricket News
The Berg and Downie Cricket teams made it to the State Semi-Finals which were played at the Central Coast. Due to the first day being cancelled due to rain, both games were scheduled to be played on the same day which was not ideal for our sides as we had players playing in both teams. The format of the competition had to be changed with both competitions playing 20/20 style Cricket in the Semi with the winners moving on to the Final. The Downie Shield team put up a fantastic fight but were not able to come away with the win. The Berg Shield team, on the other hand, had a dominant win in their Semi-final. This saw the Downie team playoff for 3rd and 4th while the Berg team was in the Final against St Gregs, Campbelltown. The Downie team were unsuccessful in the final game for the session walking away as the 4th best Catholic School Cricket team in the State. The Berg Shield team had a dominant performance in the Final, with Cohen Duncan being named Man of the Match, and the team winning the Berg Shield for the second time in as many years.
A massive thank you to the staff that attended the trip and launched the highly successful Eagles Cricket Program. As we can see the program in its first year has already yielded outstanding results.
Simon Andrews
Sports Coordinator
simon.andrews@lism.catholic.edu.au
6626 2639
School Fees
School Fees
Term 1 billing has been completed and you should now have received a statement which contains your individual Bpay details. We appreciate your patience with the delay in these statements being issued and apologise for any confusion or frustration it caused.
In order to view the individual items charged to your debtor account, please open Compass on a computer. Viewing it on a browser opens up the full functionality of Compass and from here you will have access to the 'Billing' tab.
If you are using the Compass App on your phone please follow these instructions to find your itemised account.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your school fees, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Kendall Thomson
Finance Officer
lisjc-fees@lism.catholic.edu.
From the SRC
This is a Big Hello from your SRC and Welcome to Term 1!
We hope that you have all enjoyed the new year so far. As a collective we have decided to bring you some information in each newsletter about what we are doing and what we are hoping to achieve this year around the school. Along with this, we want to introduce you to the members of our SRC, so you can get to know those leading your community.
This week we want to introduce you to Noah Gilliland, one of our newly elected Year 11 SRC Members, as well as Josephine Payne, one of our lovely Year 9 SRC Representatives.
So far this year has been off to a great start. Our Opening College Mass was a great opportunity to gather together in the Cathedral to celebrate the Eucharist together. We also celebrated our new leadership team and were inspired by Hamish and Jaya, our College Captains, to live the Woodlawn Way and make sure that "community" is at the heart of all we do.
We would like to congratulate everyone who participated in our twilight Swimming Carnival. The spirit and involvement was incredible. It was amazing seeing all of the students getting together and sharing the spirit whilst cheering on their colour house.
This week the SRC had their first meeting for the year. We came up with an aim for the next two weeks; we would like to encourage people to get involved in Home Group. Teachers have noticed through visits to Home Groups that there are many divides between all year groups, so we urge all students to sit with people in different year groups, learn a bit about each other, and make connections.
Everyone can also show more involvement in Home Group activities such as Food Friday and donating to Project Compassion: Hearts Of Hope. Each heart costs $30 and the Home Group who raises the most money gets a reward.
We want to see a Home Group environment that is welcoming for all year groups but also a place where younger students can look up to and ask for assistance from the older students.
We are so excited to build stronger relationships with all students and can't wait to see some new relationships formed around the school.
There are a few sporting events coming up over the next couple of weeks. We would like to wish everyone good luck in their endeavours and we here at Woodlawn are cheering for you!
That’s all from the SRC this week and we look forward to our Year 7 members joining after Easter.
Can’t wait to see what the rest of this first term brings!
Attendance
Going on a Family Holiday/Family Event?
Less than 10 days: Please notify the school that your student will be absent via the Compass Absence feature or email lisjc-studentservices@lism.catholic.edu.au
More than 10 days: Complete Form 01 Extended Leave Notification.
Does your student compete or attend Elite Sport programs?
Also include talented identification programs run by the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation.
Complete Form 05 Exemption from Attendance General.
Dose your student attend Elite Arts Programs?
Accredited Elite Arts programs are defined as an opportunity for a student to participate in an event or program that is beyond the gifted and talented opportunities that the Diocese offers.
Complete Form 05 Exemption from Attendance General.
Late Arrival
Students arriving after 8.55 am, need to enter via the Student Service Office. Please submit late arrivals via the Compass Submit Attendance Note feature.
Early Departure
Please use the Compass Submit Attendance Note feature to notify of early departure. The Student Service Office cannot guarantee your student to be ready for an early departure without adequate notification.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Zone
Reminder the drop-off and pick-up zone is located between the school and the ovals at the back of the school. Please do not collect your student from the front entrance due to safety reasons.
Instructions for entering details into Compass to submit absence/ late arrival/ early departure (alternatively see attached pdf for instructions)
- Log into your Compass account
- Click on the +Shortcuts symbol at the bottom of the page
- Select Submit Attendance Note
- Select Reason
- Add Details/Comments
- Select the date and time that your child will be collected or absent
- Select the End date as the date or time your child will be returning to school (or 3.15pm if they are not returning to school that day)
- Select Potentially Affected Sessions
- Hit Add Attendance Note at the bottom of the page.
Lost Property
Lost Property is located outside the Student Services Office. Please clearly label all items that are brought or worn to school.
Student Services Office
Lisjc-studentservices@lism.catholic.edu.au
6626 2629
Canteen News
Flexischools orders has a cut-off time of 9.00am.
The cash free way to pay! - REGISTER NOW
Paying for lunches is now safer and hassle free. With cashless cards there's no need for students to bring cash to school.
The College has Flexischools to allow students to pay at the Canteen using their existing student ID card. Paying for lunches and items at recess or lunch is now safer and hassle free. With cashless cards there's no need for students to bring cash to school. Parents can set daily spending limits and view transactions online. Parents can also top-up funds at any time.
The Canteen has introduced a Fast-Track line for students who have pre-ordered to collect their lunches, making it much easier and quicker for students.
We encourage all students to register. This will allow for those days when your student may have forgotten their homemade lunches.
Please follow the link below to register now:
Uniform Shop
The Woodlawn Uniform Shop is proudly managed by P&C Uniforms.
To ensure you have an easy and pleasant experience while ordering uniforms, we encourage you to order online ahead of time for easy click-and-collect in store.
Uniform Shop Opening Hours:
Time: Monday 8.00am - 9.30am & Wednesday 11.00am - 2.00pm
Where: Colin Centre
Order Online: www.sjcwuniformshop.com.au
Book a fitting: www.sjcwuniformshop.com.au/bts-appointments
Second Hand Uniform Shop Opening Hours:
Time: 11.00am - 2.00pm
When: Every Wednesday
Where: Colin Centre
Leanne Copeland
Uniform Shop Convenor
0407 739 237
Community News
Come and enjoy a 4 km walk from Missingham Park to the end of North Wall and return. On your return sit and relax listening to live music from Geoff Massey with a sausage sandwich & cold drink from Ballina on Richmond Rotary or a coffee from Zac the Coffee Man (charges apply).
https://ballina.melanomamarch.
Last year I organised the first Melanoma March Ballina in honour of my daughter who passed away from Melanoma in April 2022. Melanoma is the most common cancer affecting 20 to 39 year old in Australia. Melanoma kills 1 Australian every 6 hours and 1 Aussie is told every 30 minutes they have Melanoma.
Our Region has 1 of the highest rates of Melanoma in Australia.