Newsletter Term 1 Weeks 1 - 5 2023
Principal's Report
Dear Members of the St John’s Catholic College Community,
Dearest Lord,
Lift us high on Eagles’ wings,
teach us to be Strong in Faith,
St John the Evangelist guides us to live Your Word,
giving witness to compassion and courage,
welcome and truth.
Amen
Lent:
The Season of Lent is a period of 40 days of preparation for Easter. It begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Thursday, and is a time for reflection, sacrifice, and spiritual renewal. The key aspects of Lent include fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. It is tradition in Catholic Schools to participate in Project Compassion as coordinated by Caritas Australia, where schools and parishes raise funds for people living in some of the most vulnerable communities across the world. The College commenced our Project Compassion fundraising with our Shrove Tuesday Pancakes BBQ and will continue through to the end of Term 1. For more information: https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/
- Laxmi’s Story: https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/laxmi-story/
- Priscilla’s Story: https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/priscilla-story/
- Thu’s Story: https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/thu-story/
- Tereesa’s Story: https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/tereesa-story/
Our Patron Saint – St John the Evangelist:
One of our goals this year is to increase our knowledge and understanding of our patron, St John’s the Evangelist. House Crests have been updated to include a scripture reference from the Gospel of John and a number of other initiatives are taking place both inside and outside the classroom. The following is a brief summary of St John the Evangelist, our Patron Saint.
St. John the Evangelist, also known as John the Apostle, is one of the most prominent figures in the New Testament. He is believed to be the author of the Gospel of John, which is one of the four canonical gospels in the Bible. John was one of Jesus' closest disciples and is often referred to as the "beloved disciple." Throughout the Gospel of John, there are several quotes that highlight John's relationship with Jesus and his role in spreading the word of God.
One of the most famous quotes from the Gospel of John is "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). This quote sets the tone for the entire gospel, emphasizing the divine nature of Jesus and his close relationship with God. John's understanding of Jesus as the Word made flesh is a central theme throughout the gospel, highlighting his unique perspective as a witness to Jesus' life and teachings.
Another important quote from the Gospel of John is "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16). This quote captures the essence of John's message and his understanding of Jesus' role in the salvation of humanity. John believed that Jesus was not just a great teacher or prophet, but the Son of God who came to save humanity from sin and death. His message of salvation through faith in Jesus is a recurring theme throughout the gospel.
John's relationship with Jesus is also emphasized throughout the gospel, particularly in the famous scene at the Last Supper. When Jesus predicts that one of his disciples will betray him, it is John who is described as leaning close to Jesus and asking who it will be (John 13:23-25). This intimate moment highlights John's close relationship with Jesus and his desire to understand his teacher's teachings more deeply.
John's role as a witness to Jesus' life and teachings is also emphasized throughout the gospel. In the famous scene where Jesus meets the Samaritan woman at the well, it is John who describes the encounter in great detail, emphasizing the importance of Jesus' message to all people, regardless of their background (John 4:4-42). Throughout the gospel, John is portrayed as a faithful disciple who is committed to spreading the word of God to all who will listen.
Finally, one of the most famous quotes from the Gospel of John is Jesus' command to his disciples to “love one another as he has loved them” (John 15:12). This command emphasizes the importance of love and unity within the community of believers and is a message that has resonated with Christians throughout the centuries. John's message of love and unity, rooted in his understanding of Jesus' teachings, remains a powerful and enduring legacy to this day.
Welcome to all new and returning students and families:
The College welcomed 80+ new students and their families to the College Community at the commencement of the 2023 school year. The increase in student enrolments allows the College to continue with our plans to reintroduce Doneley House in 2024. The increase in enrolments is across the board: Day, Boarding and International. The College is proud to continue to support our partner Melaleuca Australia in providing an inspiring welcome for students and their families from a refugee and humanitarian program background. This year, the College has welcomed several students from Pakistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition, international students have commenced returning to the College now that Australia’s International Borders have re-opened post COVID19 restrictions. Later this term the College will be visiting Dili, Timor-Leste to meet with prospective students and families.
Bring Your Own Designated Device (BYODD) Laptop Program:
In 2023 the College introduced a Bring Your Own Designated Device (BYODD) Laptop Program. The program commenced with Year 7 in 2023 and will be phased in over the coming years. Students are required to bring their own laptop to school daily (fully charged), as part of their learning equipment. Thank you to families for your participation in the program to date.
BYODD Implementation Schedule:
- 2023: Year 7 + any other interested student (senior students recommended)
- 2024: Year 7 & 8 + any other interested student (senior students recommended)
- 2025: Year 7, 8 & 9 + any other interested student (senior students recommended)
- 2026: All students (Years 7 - 12) to have transitioned to the BYODD laptop program
Please note that full ABSTUDY funded Boarders will have their BYODD laptop coordinated by the College (commencing with Year 7 in 2023). All other students including non-ABSTUDY funded Boarders will need to coordinate their own laptop in accordance with the information supplied below.
Bring Your Own Designated Device (BYODD) Laptop Program – Supported Program:
The College has partnered with technology for education firm Edunet for the BYODD supported program. Further information regarding the BYODD supported program is contained in the Prospectus located on the College website.
Programming, Pedagogy and Resourcing:
The implementation of the BYODD program brings the opportunity to enhance Teaching and Learning programming, pedagogy, and resourcing through greater integration of Information and Communication Technology. Currently the College is reviewing digital textbooks to support and enhance teaching and learning. Benefits of digital textbooks include: accessibility on various devices in various locations, reduced weight in student backpacks, cost effectiveness, up-to-date with changes and developments in curriculum, interactive learning, environmentally friendly, increased engagement, flexibility in delivery (face to face and online modes), improved collaboration, analytic capabilities and potential benefits combining with other software to support students with inclusive needs or students from a language background other than English.
Doneley House:
In 2024, due to the increase in student enrolments, Doneley House will return to the College’s vertical pastoral care and wellbeing structure. Doneley House, last in operation at the College in the year 2000, and named after former Principal Father Ignatius Tyson Doneley MSC, will be represented by the colour Orange with its crest inspired by John 6:1-14, Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand. This year, we commence the process of establishing Doneley House’s identity, pride and spirit. To do this, the College is calling for expressions of interest from aspiring student leaders to form the foundation Doneley Homeroom. The foundation Doneley Homeroom will be formed by 30 students, 6 students from each year level (Years 7-11) from the beginning of Semester 2, 2023. Aspiring student leaders wishing to be considered are required to submit an expression of interest to the Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Team. Expressions of interest, which can be submitted in multi-modal form, must respond to the following key questions:
- What relevant skills and experiences will you bring to Doneley House?
- How do you intend to build identity, pride and spirit in Doneley House?
- How you will welcome and induct the incoming Doneley House students into the College?
Expressions of interest are to be submitted to the Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Team via Mrs Ayesha Fatima by the last day of Term 1, 2023.
Wishing every member of our community blessings during the season of Lent.
Fortes in Fide,
Cameron Hughes
Principal
Opening Mass 2023
Assistant Principal: Teaching and Learning
Dear St John’s Catholic College Community,
NAPLAN 2023
Year 7 and Year 9 students will take part in NAPLAN Online during March this year. Students will complete four tests online on separate days: Reading, Writing, Language Conventions and Numeracy. Information regarding NAPLAN has been provided in the attached flyer.
Students will be required to use earphones/headphones to access the audio component of tests. The College will provide disposable in-ear earphones; however, if your son/daughter wishes to bring their own earphones, they are encouraged to do so.
If students bring their own headphones, please ensure that the earphones have a normal headphone jack and not an Apple lightning jack.
If you do not wish your son/daughter to participate in the tests, please contact the St John’s Catholic College administration team at: admin.stjohns@nt.catholic.edu.au and request a withdrawal form.
Exemption forms will also be made available to families who meet the conditions for exemption from NAPLAN testing. Please contact Ms Shinead Love, Inclusion Support Coordinator, for forms and information pertaining to exemption – shinead.love@nt.catholic.edu.au
Withdrawal and exemption forms will need to be submitted to the College by Friday 10 March.
If you wish to see what the online test looks like please visit:
https://nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site
The official NAPLAN Schedule will begin Wednesday 15 March and finish Monday 20 March and is provided below. Week 2 of testing is dedicated to catch up tests for those students who have missed tests in week 1.
Year 7 / 9 NAPLAN Testing Schedule - Please see below.
Year 12 Students
As the year begins, Year 12 students are already part way through their first assessment tasks, with
some submitted already. A reminder to Year 12 students that all coursework for your subjects will be
completed by Friday Week 10 Term 3. All school-based assessment should be completed by this
date. The first version of the SACE Exam timetable is now available; however, is subject to change
and does not yet include the languages oral and written exams.
Students are required to achieve a ‘C-‘ or better in 3 subjects (60 credits) at Stage 2 in order to
qualify for the NTCET. This is in conjunction with the 140 credits at a ‘C’ grade or better at a Stage 1
or 2 level and the successful completion of the compulsory subjects (PLP, 2 x literacy, 1 x numeracy
units).
To achieve an ATAR (university entrance score), students are required to undertake 90 credits worth
of Stage 2 subjects.
StudentsOnline – SACE Results portal for students
Year 12 students must log into StudentsOnline, the SACE results portal for students, in order to
access their results and ATAR at the end of the year. Students must log into the portal and ensure
that they have ticked ‘yes’ to the sharing preferences. By not doing this, you may restrict your result access, which may include not generating an ATAR as you have not ticked ‘yes’ to sharing with SATAC.
Teaching & Learning Team
The Teaching & Learning Team members for 2023 are as follows:
APRE Mr Richard Bryant Richard.Bryant@nt.catholic.edu.au
SACE Coordinator Mr Nelson Tio Nelson.Tio@nt.catholic.edu.au
ACARA Coordinator Mr Hasan Talukder Hasan.Talukder@nt.catholic.edu.au
Inclusion Support Ms Shinead Love Shinead.Love@nt.catholic.edu.au
VET/Careers Ms Tracey Ingui Tracey.Ingui@nt.catholic.edu.au
Please make contact with the relevant Coordinator if you have questions.
May God Bless you all,
Cherilyn Hughes
Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning
Assistant Principal: Religious Education
As we enter the season of Lent, we are reminded of the importance of reflection and sacrifice in our Catholic Faith. Lent is a time for spiritual growth, self-discipline, and recommitting ourselves to living a life of faith. It is a time to deepen our Catholic identity and strengthen our relationship with God.
During this season, we are called to focus on prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. These practices help us to detach ourselves from the material world and turn our hearts and minds towards God. Through prayer, we communicate with God, seek His guidance, and offer Him our thanksgiving and praise. Through fasting, we discipline our bodies and learn to control our desires. Through almsgiving, giving particularly to Caritas and Project Compassion, we show our love for others by sharing our blessings with those in need.
As Catholics, our identity is shaped by our beliefs, values, and practices. Our faith calls us to live a life of love, compassion, and service. It reminds us of the importance of forgiveness, humility, and generosity. Lent is a time to renew our commitment to these values and to live them out in our daily lives.
In addition to our personal spiritual practices, Lent is also a time for community worship and celebration. We have so far this term come together as a community to celebrate Mass with St Mary’s and participate in Lenten services like Ash Wednesday. These gatherings strengthen our sense of community and deepen our connection with God.
As a Catholic school, we have a unique opportunity to integrate our Catholic identity into all aspects of our education. We strive to provide an education that not only teaches academic skills but also nurtures the spiritual growth and development of our students. Our Catholic identity is reflected in our curriculum, our activities, and our relationships with one another.
During Lent, we encourage our students to reflect on their Catholic identity and how they can live out their faith in their daily lives. We challenge them to think about how they can show love, compassion, and service to others. We ask them to consider how they can use their talents and gifts to make a positive impact in the world.
We also invite our students to participate in Lenten activities and events that celebrate our Catholic identity. These may include prayer services, Stations of the Cross, Lenten retreats, and service projects. By participating in these activities, our students have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of their faith and to grow in their commitment to living a life of faith.
As we journey through Lent together, let us remember that our Catholic identity is a precious gift that we are called to cherish and share with others. May this season be a time of spiritual renewal and growth for all of us.
May god bless you all.
Richard Bryant
Assistant Principal Religious Education
Richard.Bryant@nt.catholic.edu.au
Ash Wednesday
Shrove Tuesday
Assistant Principal: Administration
Dear Members of the St John’s Catholic College Community,
Formation day
Year 7
Thank you to Mr. Di Donato for organising the Year 7 Formation Day in Week 3. The Formation Day is about students building rapport and becoming more familiar with their peers, teachers, and their school. The students engage in a range of activities and excursion. I would like to thank the staff for running the activities, supervision at Wave-pool and food.
Year 8
Year 8 Formation Day was rescheduled due weather conditions to be in Week 7 Friday 17 March of Term 1. The Formation Day reminder will be sent to families early in Week 7.
Sports
Thank you to Sports Co-ordinator Mr. Ben Johns for organising the Gala Day. Students enjoyed the Netball. Thank you to Cathy Mc Donald and Levi for supervision and transport. Well done to students who have actively participated in the gala days.
SRC Leadership Assembly
Congratulations to the Student Representative Committee.
Burford: H08 - Afia Azam, H09 - Tyrell Lindsey, H10 - Keira Vincent
O'Loughlin: H04 - Gabby Hall, H05 - Hunter Watling, H06 - Mitchell Hancock
Daley: H01 - Sonia Taurus, H02 - Olivia Clayton Page, H03 - Luca Abate
Future Events
Think U Know
Think U Know for cyber safety session with NT Police is booked for Term 2. Students receive lot of information but particularly how to use social media safely.
Leadership workshop
GRIP Leadership presents accepted leadership values that are transcendent of religion, race, and culture.
Generosity Willingness to use what you have been given (time and resources) on behalf of those you seek to influence.
Responsibility We all have a responsibility to develop what we have and help others to live well.
Integrity A commitment to truth and honesty in dealings.
People Every human being is of great significance and has a purpose to fulfill.
Vaping information session:
The College takes the issue of vaping very seriously and has adopted a two-pronged approach to dealing with this issue, health awareness and firm consequences.
The College is currently coordinating an information session to be delivered by health professionals regarding the health impacts of vaping. In addition, the College will review our Pastoral Care Program and Health Curriculum to include an increased presence of the health impacts of vaping.
With regards to firm consequences, just like smoking cigarettes, any student caught in possession, using or supplying vapes or vaping paraphernalia will receive an external suspension. Ongoing issues regarding possession, use or supply will result in a review of enrolment.
Learning Nest:
Students in Years 7-12 will be able to access the Learning Nest five days a week for support with homework, study and assessment items at no additional cost to families. Parents/Guardians are requested to pick their child on time. All students who attend Learning Nest sign in and sign out.
Monday – Friday 3:30 – 5:00 - LOTE
Core Expectations – Stay Safe, Respect Everyone & Learn Everyday:
Homeroom teachers and Head of House continue to reinforce our expectations in building and maintaining a safe, respectful learning community that is focused on our Catholic Identity and Learning. Core expectations:
- Stay Safe
- Respect Everyone
- Learn Everyday
Houses:
For Pastoral Care, the primary contacts are the following Homeroom Teachers:
Burford House (green)
Head of House: Rebecca Young leads the Burford Homeroom teachers.
H08 Ben Johns Ben.Johns@nt.catholic.edu.au
H09 Anh Ngo Grace Anh.Ngo@nt.catholic.edu.au
H10 Bernadette McGrath Bernadette.Mcgrath@nt.catholic.edu.au
Daley House (blue)
Head of House: Carlo Didonato leads the Daley Homeroom teachers.
H01 Keshiya Anthony Keshiya.Anthony@nt.catholic.edu.au
H02 Sheikh Ahmed Sheikh.Ahmed@nt.catholic.edu.au
H03 Brayden Nheu Brayden.Nheu@nt.catholic.edu.au
O’Loughlin House (purple)
Head of House: Melissa Nielsen leads the O'Loughlin Homeroom teachers.
H04 Chejienna Frigula Chejienna.Frigula@nt.catholic.edu.au
H05 Alexander Savage Alexander.Savage@nt.catholic.edu.au
H06 Benjamin Friis Benjamin.Friis@nt.catholic.edu.au
Attendance/Absences:
Parents / Guardians will receive a letter for students with less than 95% attendance each term. Students who meet the college attendance expectations of 95%+ or more are awarded certificates each Term.
Parents / Guardians are requested to notify Lisa Di Donato, Student Services in the event of student absence. Lisa can be contacted on 08 8982 2222 or via Lisa.DiDonato@nt.catholic.edu.au In the event of an unexplained absence; the College notifies Parents / Guardians via our SMS service. Please ensure that the College has up-to-date family contact details.
Bus Travel:
The Northern Territory Government provides a school bus service to the College. Bus routes and timetables can be located at: https://nt.gov.au/driving/public-transport-cycling/school-bus-darwin/st-johns-college the drop off point and pick up point is located at the bus turn around area at the far end of the Hartzer oval. Students are required to comply with the Department of Transport’s Code of Conduct for School Bus Travel. A copy of the code can be located at: https://nt.gov.au/driving/public-transport-cycling/school-bus-darwin
Bicycles and Skateboards:
Students are required to park their bicycles in the racks provided on the Hartzer Campus. Skateboards are to be stored in Heads of House area. Bicycles and skateboards are not to be used during the school day. Students are encouraged to secure their bike with a lock. It is the expectation of the College that students wear a helmet and obey all road rules when travelling to and from school on a bicycle or skateboard.
Counsellors:
The College provides access to Catholic Care Counsellors. This service is available through the Health Centre.
Term Dates
Term 1 Break: Friday 7 April – 14 April (1 week)
Term 2: Begins Monday 17 April – Thursday 22 June
Term 2 break: Friday 23 June – Friday 14 July (3 weeks)
Ayesha Fatima
Assistant Principal - Administration
Ayesha.Fatima@nt.catholic.edu.au
Director of Boarding
To our St. John’s community,
We had our Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday morning at Mindil Beach. Boarding students came down at 9am and worked for a couple of hours to collect rubbish on and around the beach area. I burnt some sausages and we enjoyed some bread and sauce to go with them.
We have a theme this year of Gratitude and giving back and we want to incorporate this into our activities program. This was a great start to the year following that theme. The kids were very good.
Special thanks to James, Sophie (and Charlie) and Ben Johns with his 3 musketeers for coming down and helping out on their days off.
Kind regards
Scott Mannion
Director of Boarding
Clean Up Australia Day
Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony
Finance Manager
Dear College Community,
I would like to start by wishing all new and returning students, parents of students and staff of the College, a productive year of learning and growing stronger together in faith.
Our fees for Semester 1 2023 was due on 24 February 2023 and I wish to thank all the families who made their fee payments on time, and would like to request families who still have outstanding fees to make payments at their earliest. I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the importance of timely school fee payments and to inform you of the various payment options available to you.
Paying school fees is a crucial part of supporting students and maintaining the high standards of education that we provide. We rely on your timely payments to cover the cost of our programmes and services, and to ensure that we can continue to offer these services.
To facilitate the payment process, we offer several convenient payment options including weekly / fortnightly direct debits, online payments, credit card payments and in-person payments at our finance office. If you have any questions about the payment options available to you, please do not hesitate to contact our finance team.
We understand that some families may be experiencing financial hardship. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please contact our finance team to discuss your options.
The finance team is committed to providing seamless support services to the College to ensure the best possible education outcomes for our students.
Ruth Suriyagoda CA, CPA, FCA (SL)
Finance Manager
Operations Manager
Dear College Community,
As we welcome our students back for the new academic year, I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on some important developments at our school.
Firstly, we are excited to introduce the BYODD (Bring Your Own Designated Device) program for all students. This program will allow students to bring their own devices to school for educational purposes, enhancing their learning experience and preparing them for the digital age.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties with the laptop bought through the school recommended supplier (Edunet), the School IT officer can do the initial check to fix the issue on-site. If it’s beyond his capacity, he will inform the family and the family need to contact Edunet Service and lodge a warranty claim.
Edunet Portal - http://stjohnscollege.technologyportal.com.au/
Access Code – SJC2023
School IT support is available to provide more support if you require more information. Please contact us at 08 8982 2222 or email us at sj.ict@nt.catholic.edu.au.
Secondly, we are pleased to announce that we were able to secure the BGA Grant funding to install external CCTV cameras and the installation project plan will be completed by the end of term 1. This initiative has been implemented to enhance the safety and security of our students and staff.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all our new and returning families to the school community. We are committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all our students, and we look forward to working with you to achieve this goal.
Best regards,
Gayan Abeysekara
Operations Manager
Daley Head Of House
Year 7 Formation Day
Friday 17 February, students participated in the Year 7 Formation day program. The day started with the Principal, Mr. Cameron Hughes, leading the group in the School Prayer followed by an address, giving the students the challenge of remembering as many names as possible of other year 7 students. Students then engaged in the spaghetti and blutack challenge where they were placed in groups and tasked with building the tallest possible structure using uncooked spaghetti, blutack and masking tape.
One of our new staff members, Che Frigula, lead the year 7’s in a sporting activity called rob the nest. Students were grouped into their Houses and had to take turns in collecting tennis balls from opposition Houses within a time frame. After this students were transported to the Darwin Wavepool at the waterfront where they enjoyed chicken wraps for lunch and spent a lazy afternoon enjoying a swim.
During the day students had the opportunity to test their knowledge of other students' names and most were quite successful. It was a very enjoyable and great pastoral care day for the year 7 cohort. I would like to thank the staff for their assistance before and during the day. Without your assistance days like this would not be possible, and a very big thank you to all of the year 7 students for their excellent behaviour, interactions with others, and representation of St John’s College while at the Wavepool.
Kind regards,
Carlo Di Donato
Daley Head of House
Year 7 Formation Day
Vet Coordinator
From the VET/Careers Coordinator
Myfuture is an online careers platform which is targeted at school students, teachers, parents and carers. It is an exceptional resource that allows the user to explore career pathways and tools to develop self-knowledge in relation to career decision-making.
All students in the Northern Territory have single sign on access which allows them to develop their own personal profiles and have a tailored user experience.
Please see below a free webinar myfuture is delivering this Term.
Free myfuture webinars – term 1
An introduction to myfuture (for parents and carers)
Wednesday 08 March 2023, 1:00pm – 2:00pm (AEDT)
This webinar will be an introduction/refresher to the myfuture career information service. The presenter will demonstrate how the platform can be a useful tool in career and transition planning, highlighting resources that are most relevant to your children. This will include reference to myfuture’s psychometric career interest test (My career profile), the occupation and course information, videos, pathway infographics, and resources mapped to the Australian Curriculum Work Studies sub-strands. This webinar aims to provide attendees with confidence to support their children with their career exploration.
Register now: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3567438472923116887
Good News Stories
Design and Technology.
Below are some photographs of students in years 7 to 12 working on various projects in woodwork.
Mr Carlo Di Donato
Design and Technology
