Week 6 Term 3 2024

Message from the Principal

Gratitude

This week I had the honour of introducing our Senior Leadership Team for 2025, who will begin their tenure in Term 4. At our assembly, I gave a heartfelt thank you to our current SRC, Captains and House Leaders. Their commitment to inclusivity and passion for the College has witnessed a new standard of servant leadership. These defining moments in the life of the College cannot be undervalued. With the passing of the mantle comes the responsibility of ‘showing up’ and relating in the ‘Woodlawn way’.

I look forward to sharing the changeover ceremony in the next Newsletter.

The celebration of St John’s Day is a highlight in our annual calendar. Our opening Mass was celebrated by Father Peter Slack. As a past student of the College, this was a great opportunity to reflect on traditions and share in the Eucharist as a community. Father Peter’s theme of ‘old men dream dreams and young people have visions’ is something we will explore further in the future. Father came to Woodlawn as a 16-year-old in 1967. The College and its history was also a focus of his homily.

As we worship as a College, we are reminded of the power of the Holy Spirit, worshiping together as one body – through prayer, song, giving, communion, and discovering the Word together – we are following the example of Jesus himself and practicing unity with Him and one another. 

A special thank you to the College Liturgical Band for sharing their musical talents.

The talk around the grounds was definitely about the inaugural ‘Woodlawn Cup’ Hobby Horse extravaganza. Home Groups have been decorating their horses, naming their horses, and preparing for the relay races. The Grand Parade was something to behold and the students engaged in the fun of this new addition to the day. Our Year 12 students continued the carnival atmosphere with stalls, activities, and music. The day culminated in the Teacher v Student soccer match. The generosity of our Grounds Team and the Mission Team in ensuring everything was executed to perfection can not be underestimated. I am also grateful to Ms Parrey and the Year 12 students for their commitment to ensuring the events of the day ran smoothly and were energy-packed. 

Social and community participation plays a pivotal role in fostering our vibrant, inclusive, and resilient College. It serves as a foundation for building strong social bonds and a sense of belonging among individuals.

A heartfelt thanks for your support of our community. Safety comes from a culture of commitment and this is what we aim for every day.

Take Care,
Annette Reen
Principal 2024

Message from the Assistant Principal - Mission

Tell Them From Me Data
In May this year, all families, students, and teaching staff were invited to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Survey. The insights gathered from students, parents, and teachers is used to inform College practices and show the impact of key strategies that have been implemented. It guides decision-making in school planning and suggests target interventions to enhance student success.

This week, I would like to highlight some data related to Student Engagement.  When you have a look at the data below, you will see that the students at Woodlawn are generally achieving higher than the TTFM norms. 

One aspect of this is Social Engagement. Students who are 'socially' engaged are actively involved in the life of the College; their friends are here and they are involved in sports or other extra-curricular activities. This involvement can give them a sense of belonging at school and increase academic motivation. The table below shows the percentage of students at the College who were socially engaged compared with TTFM  norms for students in the same year levels at other schools.

As you can see, our students have a positive sense of belonging, they participate in school-based activities and have positive relationships to a greater extent than the TTFM norms.

A second aspect of engagement is Institutional Engagement.  Students who value schooling outcomes and meet the formal rules of schooling are considered 'institutionally' engaged.  These students feel that what they are learning at school is directly related to their long-term success, and this view is reflected in their school and class attendance and their effort in doing homework. Levels of institutional engagement in St John's College, Woodlawn are shown below.

This table shows that most of our students have high levels of attendance and most students exhibit positive behaviours. There is, however, scope for students to value their education more than they currently do and they should engage more positively with homework.

Intellectual Engagement is the third element of engagement. Some students meet the institutional demands of school, but they are not truly engaged in their learning. Intellectual engagement entails a serious emotional and cognitive investment in learning, using higher-order thinking skills to increase understanding, solve complex problems, and construct new knowledge.  Students are more engaged when their level of skills is consistent with the challenges presented to them in their classes. These students are often deeply absorbed in academic activities. The table below displays our results on the three measures of intellectual engagement.

When compared with the TTFM norms, our students have told us they put in more effort and are more appropriately challenged than students in other schools, but that they are lacking in interest and motivation.

As a staff, we have begun analysing and unpacking this data to help us with our future planning.

In the coming newsletters, I look forward to sharing other results from the survey.

St John’s Day 
Today the College celebrated St John’s Day, in honour of our patron saint, St John the Evangelist. St John was one of the Twelve Apostles of Christ and had a prominent role with the Apostles, being there and witnessing many events in the life of Jesus.  He tells of many experiences about Jesus firsthand.

St John was the author of the three Epistles of John and the Book of Revelation, as John of Patmos. 

The symbol of St John the Evangelist is an eagle. The eagle, symbolising Christ, is considered the king of the birds who, unlike all others, is able to look directly at the sun, which represents God. In 1979, composer Michael Joncas had this in mind when he wrote the hymn On Eagle’s Wings. This is a significant hymn at the College and we sang this today as part of our St John’s Day Mass. Joncas based the hymn on several scripture passages, with the most memorable lines of the song being those in the refrain:

And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn
Make you to shine like the sun
And hold you in the palm of His hand.

The College celebrated St John’s Day with a Mass celebrated by Father Peter Slack who is the Parish Priest at Casino. He is an ex-student of the College so it was lovely to have him join us today. Following this we had a day filled with activities organised by our Year 12 students. Some of the activities were based in Home Groups and others were free choice. It was great to be part of student-driven activities that showed the leadership of our students and the strong sense of community that was evident - loving each other as St John the Evangelist instructed, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God”. (1 John 4:7)

Year 12 End of School
Over the next 4 weeks, we farewell our Year 12 students.  They have certainly been fine ambassadors for the College. We begin with our Transfer of Leadership Ceremony (September 3), followed by our traditional Graduation events with our St Carthage’s Cathedral Parish Luncheon (September 24) and our Graduation Mass and Prizegiving Ceremony (September 25). A reminder to parents/caregivers of Year 12 to complete the relevant Compass Events.

Father’s Day
Father's Day was inaugurated in the United States in the early 20th century to complement Mother's Day in celebrating fathers, fathering, and fatherhood. I would like to wish a Happy Father’s Day to all our fathers, grandfathers, and carers. May you feel special on this day and acknowledged for the significant role you play in the lives of your children.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me on 6626 2627 or fiona.fennamore@lism.catholic.edu.au.

Kind regards,

Fiona Fennamore
Assistant Principal - Mission 2024

Message from the Leader of School Evangelisation

SHINE 2024
Last Thursday August 22 to Friday August 23, Year 9 and 10 Ministry Classes, along with Senior Ministry Students from Years 11 and 12, attended the annual SHINE Conference. This year the theme was “Burn”: to continue the flame of the Holy Spirit within our community. Senior students facilitated small group discussions in between workshops, keynote speakers, and worship sessions. 

SHINE 2024 Spotify Playlist 

Year 9 Woodlawn Ministry student Katy and her friends took it upon themselves to do their own interviews during Day 2, gaining inspiration from the Youth Ministers from previous events. Tash, our College Youth Minister was kind enough to compile their interviews and some photos for your viewing. Woodlawn SHINE 2024 Recap Video

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Year 10 Boys Retreat EOI - G.O.A.T 

All Year 10 boys were emailed this week about a ministry opportunity being held on Wednesday 13th – Friday 15th November, 2024 at the Coffs Coast Adventure Centre. This opportunity is called the G.O.A.T Retreat and it is open to ALL boys in Year 10 (you do not have to be in the Ministry Class to apply). 

G.O.A.T is a three-day, two-night retreat experience with activities that focus on inspiring young men to embrace their purpose and passion as young Catholic men. G.O.A.T is designed to provide students with a transformative faith experience as they embark on their journey through manhood, guided by the life of Jesus, the saints, and the teachings of the Catholic Church. The retreat will emphasise their capacity to become a gift of service to others by living out a radical adventure as a young Catholic man.

We are only able to send 8 students, and because of this, we ask that if any student wishes to attend the retreat, they please fill out the application form below so they can be considered.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScEGl3h5hDVizpp_ETggzR_qRyFTcVjkR8g4LJhYyvep--2DA/viewform?usp=sf_link  

Here is a link to a short promo video for the retreat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD2l8I9e1i4  

If you have any questions or concerns about this retreat please do not hesitate to ask Mrs Deegan.

Kallie Deegan
kallie.deegan@lism.catholic.edu.au 
Leader of School Evangelisation

Message from the Sport Coordinator

First XIII
The First XIII travelled to Sydney to compete in the Annual NSW CCC Cup played at Holy Cross, Ryde. Woodlawn has had recent success in this tournament winning four out of the past nine years and went into it as defending Plate Champions. The side played exceptionally well winning three of their four pool games to finish second in their pool. This put the side into the final of the Plate Division against Marcellin College, Randwick. The final was an entertaining and physical game with Woodlawn winning 12-6. Player of the Final was Luke Barnett and Player of the Tournament was awarded to Jimmy McCombie.

AFL - Under 14s Boys
Byron Bay was very heavy underfoot for our day of AFL. Our squad of 22 was decimated to 16 on the day through injury and unavailability, but the boys that turned up were keen to run and compete. Playing three early games back to back was hard on the players, with St Mary's Catholic College, Trinity Catholic College, and Mount St Patricks College, fielding very strong lineups. Our fourth game against St Joseph's College, Banora Point suggested a win was just around the corner, and our final game against McAuley College, Grafton was a fitting end to a great day. The best players for the day were Xavier Eades, Jack Elphick, Oscar Maher, and Kalan Alvos. Edward “Teddy” Schaffer-Thompson won the golden boot award with a creative and dominant display off the half-forward flank. Well done to the boys on a great day full of effort, improvement, and the famous Woodlawn spirit shining through.

The report for the Under 14s Girls and Under 16s will be in the next newsletter.

Cross Country
The annual Cross Country event was finally able to be held after months of poor weather and postponements. The event saw a good turnout of student participation and positive House Spirit. This event had added importance as the house that won this event would be crowned Champion House for 2024 and be rewarded with a trip to Dreamworld. In the end, it came down to a race between two houses, as it has all year, between Kennedy and Segrief. Segrief came out on top and claimed the Cross Country Shield and House Championship for 2024.

Volleyball
14s Girls
Despite the heat inside the Sports Centre in Casino, the 14s Girls Volleyball Team put on an outstanding performance at the recent NRCC Gala Day, showcasing incredible teamwork, skill, and determination. Their communication on the court was seamless, and every player contributed to the success of the team, whether it was through powerful serves, strategic passes, or strong defense. The girls stayed positive and encouraged each other throughout the day, embodying the true spirit of team sports.  They were fantastic ambassadors for the College. They had the opportunity to play 6 games and won all except one - going down only to St Mary’s Catholic College.

14s Boys
The 14s Boys had a successful day at the NRCC Volleyball competition in Casino, finishing with a 3-2 record. They secured victories against Trinity Catholic College, Mount St Patrick College, and McAuley Catholic College, with losses to St Mary’s Catholic College and St Joseph’s College. The team played well together and can be proud of their individual performances. The standout performer for the day was Zac Cohen who showed exceptional skill and athleticism. 

16s Girls

16s Boys
The 16s Boys went into the day very confident as they won the event last year. This confidence did not eventuate into results, however, as the boys had a mixed day winning 2 of 5 games. The standout performance for the day was Bailey Anderson who showed attacking flair and Dominic Crotty who demonstrated exceptional skill.

Simon Andrews
simon.andrews@lism.catholic.edu.au 
Sports Coordinator

Remember to purchase your Spring Fling tickets before it's too late!

Message from the School Community Forum

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 Sports Programs?
Also includes talented identification programs run by the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation.
Complete Form 05 Exemption from Attendance General.

Does 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 Services 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