24 November 2016

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Approaching Advent

This weekend is the beginning of the Advent season in our Church calendar. Advent is the season of preparation for Christmas and is intended to be a time of reflection and renewal as we contemplate the amazing gift to us of our Lord Jesus Christ in flesh and blood born on this earth and sent as a model to us of the greatest example of being human.

The Advent season aims to be a time when our senses and our pace of life can find peace and calming. This can be a difficult challenge amidst the furious activity of daily life at this time of the year. A quick skim through the newsletter below will attest to how hectic the pace of school life is also.

Over the next few weeks we could make a promise to ourselves to tap into the wisdom of our Christian tradition and make time to attend to our inner, spiritual life and to find small ways to be holier people, being holy in the sense of being the most fully human person we can be, just as Jesus modeled. For me this means trying to be kinder, more patient, generous even when I feel like serving my own needs, loving, good humoured and taking time to be thoughtful even with the maddening rush of coming to the end of the school year and for me also coming to the end of my term at St James Catholic College. Can I call on you all and to encourage your children also to enter into this Advent season with these aspirations to be our best selves.

Staffing news

I have some more staffing news to share with you. At the end of this year our lovely Year 4 teacher, Ms Jacinta Castles will spread her wings and leave us to take up a position at St Cuthbert’s Catholic School for a temporary replacement of one year. Jacinta has worked with us for 7 years and has been an amazing asset to the school firstly in her years in Year 6 and over the past two years in Year 4. She will be a significant loss to us and wonderful gain for her new school but she goes with our very best wishes and blessing as she does what is natural and good for young teachers, and that is to grow and challenge themselves in a variety of settings.

Student Leadership applications

We are currently calling for nominations for student leadership for 2017. Mr Tanner and Mr Neilson have developed a slightly different model of Student leadership and all Year 8 and Year 9 students have been encouraged to take the leadership document home and discuss it with you and consider putting themselves forward for these important roles. This can be a daunting notion for some students and we ask that you encourage them if you see even a slight inclination and potential in your child to be a leader, we are certainly doing the same at school. The applications close on Friday of this week and I will be very happy to interview all nominated students next week. Following this there will be a process of campaign speeches and voting.

There will also be a process for election of Year 6 Primary leaders in the early part of next year.

Please take note…

Please take time to peruse the newsletter for the many things that have happened recently and will happen soon. The Athletics carnival for instance last Friday was a great event and the fact that the sun shone on us eventually helped make for a great day but the greatest contribution to the success was the wonderful spirit of the students and the excellent organization by the staff – well done on this and the many other outstanding activities and learning opportunities provided for your children.

Mrs Anne Foale, Principal

The Cygnet Folk Festival is getting closer!

The Cygnet Folk Festival is appreciative and proud of the long standing partnership they share with St James Catholic College. As we get closer to the festival (Jan 6-8 2017) we’d like to remind you about how you can be involved.

The College Canteen will be operational over the festival period. We are seeking volunteers from the St James Catholic College Community to assist in staffing the Canteen or assisting in managing workshops. If you are able to help out for a period of time, it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact Anne Foale, Jenny Coulson or Cathy Adams at the College for further information via email stjames@catholic.tas.edu.au or by phone: (03) 6295 1541.

If you would like further info on about the festival please visit the website or see the poster below:

2016 Fees and Levies

Thank you to everyone who has settled or has arrangements in place for 2016 Fees and Levies. There is no doubt that families place a high priority on obtaining a quality education for their children and many families make sacrifices to meet their financial obligations to the College. As we draw towards the end of the year it would be appreciated greatly if every effort could be made to pay fees and levies that remain outstanding. Jenny Coulson, Business Manager.

An invitation to the Book of Life

The Book of Life has listed in it the people that have passed away from our wider St James Catholic College Community, who we pray for over November. The invitation is to your family to add to our Book of Life. If you have someone you have loved and they have passed away this last year, please let the school office know their details and they will add it to the book for you.

Christmas Hampers

Collecting goods for those in need in our community

Classes are collecting food and non-perishable goods to put together Christmas hampers for those in need in our community. Our local St Vincent de Paul group will distribute the hampers prior to Christmas. Any donations would be gratefully appreciated, the hampers will be put together and taken up during the offertory procession at our Thanksgiving/Graduation Mass on Tuesday 29 November 2016.

What has been happening at SJCC?

Congratulations Ollie McDonald

Well done to Year 2 student Ollie McDonald who won the fantastic artist award in the Huon Valley Blossom Art Competition!

Remembrance Day

11 November 2016 marks the 98th anniversary of the Armistice which ended the First World War (1914–18).

Students reflected respectfully, in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.

A large cohort of SJCC students attended the local Remembrance Day Service at the Cygnet Cenotaph and laid a wreath in remembrance of selfless acts of all soldiers. The remaining students at the College paid their respects by silent reflection at 11am.

Restoration of tree project

THE MEMORIAL TREE

Students from Year 10 have been fortunate to have helped assist the longevity of a “memorial tree” in the school grounds by a small landscaping project. The tree was transplanted to its current location on the corner of Loongana Park, close to the Kent Learning Centre when the College Library was built.

Lynette Turnbull (pictured) started at St James College in 1987 and sadly passed away during her final year (Year 10) in 1997. She was diagnosed with a brain tumour in 1996. Whilst Lynette had chemotherapy she experienced immense support from her Year 10 class and everyone at St James College. To remember Lynette, the College planted a memorial tree in her honour, there is a plaque in the reflection garden for Lynette.

Invitation to Primary Christmas Concert

Year 6 Making Jesus Real (MJR) Day

On Thursday 17th November 2016 Marty Ogle joined Year 6 to have an MJR day. This is the third time Marty has joined the class this year. The MJR program allows students to prepare themselves for making the next step into Secondary School. Marty shared with us some stories about people who had struggled but had managed to turn their disadvantage into an advantage. We had a session where Marty taught us the principles of juggling. The lesson about juggling was that we have so many things to juggle in Secondary School that we need to have an ‘I can’ attitude rather than an ‘I can’t’ attitude. Some of the key things we have done in MJR this year is learn a few key sayings that we have tried to adopt in the classroom these have been NGU (Never Give Up), DTFG (Don’t Take For Granted) and TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More).

SJCC & STCPSSA Athletics Carnival

The SJCC Athletics Carnival was held on Friday 18 November 2016. Students had a wonderful day encouraging each other and participating in events such as discus, javelin, long jump as well as the traditional relays and sprints!

House Results

First: Lovett 1094
Second: Lourdes 872
Third: MacKillop 790

Athletics Age Champions:

Year 7 Ryan Clark Brielle Gordon
Year 8 Dylan Cowen Jinju Redding
Year 9 Bailey Gordon Alice Burleigh-McCall
Year 10 Jake Phillips & Brock Cordwell Abbey Reinmuth

Last Friday 11 November selected students from Years 3-6 travelled to the Queen’s Domain to compete in the STCPSSA Athletics Carnival. Everyone did an outstanding job to represent the College. All students competed in the 100m and numerous students competed in 400m, 800m, relays, vortex, long jump and high jump. It was fantastic day and we had some great results. Thanks to Mrs. Middleton for being our marshal and Miss Westwood and Miss Castles for accompanying us on the day.

Kindergarten Fun!

The Kindergarten children had a fantastic experience learning how to swim. The highlight for the children was trying to make the biggest splashes so they could wet everyone. Swimming is a vital life skill and we are very happy to be able to participate in the swimming program. Many of the children overcame fears of the water, and participated with great enthusiasm. The children wished they could be fish so they could swim all day.

Kindergarten Fun

Year 5 Wax Museum

The Year 5 students have been researching famous Scientists. To share their new found knowledge with other students at the College and parents they decided to host a real-live wax museum!

Students made posters, fact cards and dressed up as their chosen Scientist. When a visitor to the museum presses the "push" button, the wax models come to life to re-tell stories and share interesting facts!

Hobart International Tennis Challenge

The SJCC Tennis Representatives participated in the Hobart International Primary Schools Tennis Challenge! Well done to the students for their participation in such a great event! Winning teams will play off at the Hobart International Tennis Tournament in January 2017!

The College had:

• two teams who won the mixed B division,
• one team who came second in division one
• one team who came second in the mixed B division!

Huon Show Results

Congratulations to all students who participated in the cooking and art competitions at the Huon Show this year. Competition is fierce as many schools and students take part. The following students gained prize certificates:

Cooking

First Prize:

Ella Brereton Year 9 Scones
Emily Sedgman Year 10 Biscuits
Abbey Reinmuth Year 10 Scones
Rhianna Bennett Year 9 Biscuits
Paige Clifford Year 7 Biscuits

Second Prize

Bridget Reinmuth Year 10 Scones
Alice Burleigh-McCall Year 9 Scones
Abbey Reinmuth Year 10 Biscuits
Reece Norris Year 7 Biscuits
Brooke Lutwyche Year 8 Decorated Christmas Cake
Brooke Lutwyche Year 8 Iced/Decorated Christmas Cake

Third Prize

Emily Sedgman Year 10 Scones
Faye Tolhurst Year 7 Biscuits
Jake Phillips Year 10 Scones
Geoffrey Crowe Year 9 Biscuits

Huon Show Art Awards

First Prize

Shade Doyle Year 9 Artwork Piece

Special Award (Huonville CWA Market Stall Prize for the most outstanding artwork)

Shade Doyle Year 9 Artwork Piece

Third Prize

Ayla McIntyre Year 8 Artwork Piece

Highly Commended

Chloe Bott Year 9 Artwork Piece

Champion Dads Gathering

Champion Dad’s and their Children Activity

Who is invited: Anyone and Everyone is most welcome
Where: Pelverata Falls
When: Sunday December 4, 10.00am-11.45am meeting in the carpark at the start of the Pelverata Falls track.
What to bring: Water and a snack or two
How to get there: Turn off the Channel Highway at Woodstock and travel 8.2km along Pelverata Road, then turn right and drive 1km to the carpark.
For more information: Contact Trent Cowen (trent@abellabels.com.au) or Brett Tanner (brett.tanner@catholic.tas.edu.au)

Information about the Walk:

Plunging from a substantial height of around 100m, Pelverata Falls is an impressive waterfall located in the Snug Tiers Nature Reserve. Leaving the carpark the Pelverata Falls track initially hugs the perimeter of farming properties before breaking off into dense eucalyptus forest. For the next kilometre the trail gently undulates, passing through a section of rainforest. After rain the track here can become quite muddy and careful footing is required.

After the rainforest section the track climbs along a large rock scree before steeply and briefly descending towards the Pelverata Falls lookout platform. To the right on the distant hill Slippery Falls is spotted. At the end of the track the lookout platform provides the most remarkable views of Pelverata Falls and the creek below. Return to the carpark via the same track. (Approximately 1.5 - 2 hrs return depending on age/fitness).

Kindergarten 2017

Do you have a son or daughter wishing to enrol in Kindergarten in 2017? If so, please endeavour to return your enrolment forms to the College as Kinder Orientation will commence this week. If you know of anyone who would be interested in enrolling their child at St James Catholic College, please encourage them to contact the College now. If you need a copy of the enrolment package, please contact the office via phone: 62951 541 or email: stjames@catholic.tas.edu.au

Enrol now for 2017

There are vacancies available in all classes from Kindergarten to Year 10 in 2017. Contact the College Office today for a College tour and enrolment package.

Enrol now for 2017

St James Catholic College Cygnet has a new app!

The Schoolzine app will now replace the Skoolbag app. For instructions on how to download the Schoolzine App please see below.

SZapp is a great way to keep up to date with all of our latest news and information. Using SZapp will give you easy access to information such as:

• Newsletters on the go
• Latest News & Reminders
• Calendar
• Forms and Documents
• Event Bookings
• Absentee and Contact Forms

Facebook Update

New College Facebook Page!

Community Events

The ConocoPhillips Science Experience

A nationwide STEM outreach program for year 9 & 10 students

The ConocoPhillips Science Experience is a three-day hands–on science activities program. Our aim is to inform students of the importance of science and technology while stimulating and heightening their interests in a wide range of science disciplines and career opportunities, encourages further studies in the sciences, while at the same time giving them a 'taste' of university/tertiary life.

Places are still available in the following programs;

University of Tasmania, Hobart 23 – 25 January 2017 cost $ 120
University of Tasmania, Launceston 18 – 20 January 2017 cost $ 120
University of Tasmania, Cradle Coast 17 – 19 January 2017 free

There is no selection process and students can enroll online at the link below or post /fax the registration form to our office in Monbulk. Further information can be obtained by calling 03 9756 7534 or email admin@scienceexperience.com.au

Yoga

Expressions of interest for a Yoga/music program after school or during school holidays. Thursday afternoons in the supper room with Kellie. $10 per child. Can work out a family rate for more than one child. Let's connect with self and each other in a fun safe way. I also want to teach children to nurture their nurturer! Phone me on 0400910668 to chat about what you think your child could benefit from.