ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE
Publicity Magazine Term 3 2012
ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE Jazz Band Trumpet Their Success
Earlier this month the St Agnes Parish Secondary Schools senior and junior combined jazz band made the epic 1660km trek to Mt Gambier in South Australia to compete in the National Big Bands Competition. The competition, directed by trumpet player extraordinaire, James Morrison attracted some 130 bands around the country, with over 2500 students travelling to compete. The SAPSS Senior Jazz Band, made up of students from St Joseph’s Regional College, St Paul’s High School and MacKillop Senior College outshone their competition – 25 bands coming largely from private schools in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth – to win for the second year in a row. Winning it seems, just wasn’t enough though, as the band also made competition history. Normally one soloist from each band is invited to join the ‘Super Band’ made up of the best of the best. This year though, all four trumpeters from the SAPSS Senior Jazz Band were nominated, with adjudicators confirming that this was the first time that a whole instrumental section from one band had been selected for the ‘Super Band’. The achievements of the band could not have come without the tireless and dedicated efforts of conductor, Sharon Green, as well as the enthusiastic commitment of the students, all of whom put in long hours practising each and every day to ensure their success.
ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE Defence Technical Scholarships
Seven year 11 and 12 students from St Joseph’s Regional College were last week awarded a coveted Defence Technical Scholarship from the Australian Department of Defence. Ben Styles and Luke Johnson in year 12 were awarded $3000 each while Adam Hancey, Liam Wright, Tristan Fahey, David Olsen and Lachlan Wilson from year 11 were each awarded $2000. Their applications went through a thorough and competitive selection process which saw them up against over 2300 applications from across Australia. The Scholarships provide a financial incentive to eligible students to stay at school and finish their education whilst undertaking Maths, English and a trade or technical related subject, suitable to further study and training for a technical trade in the Australian Defence Force. To be successful for the Scholarship, winners had to complete an application demonstrating their knowledge of technical trades within the Australian Defence Force and describe in detail what they would do as a tradesperson in a real life crisis situation. This year’s scenario was based on the provision of humanitarian support after a natural disaster affecting a neighbouring country.
ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE A Great Debate
Earlier this term, students in Years 7 to 11 from St Joseph’s Regional College competed in the first Port Macquarie Secondary Schools’ Debating Competition at St Columba Anglican School. Students from St Paul’s High school, MacKillop Senior College, Port Macquarie High School, Heritage Christian School and St Columba also participated in the competition. The St Joseph’s Regional College teams consisted of: Year 7 – Jo Cutler, Caine Wilkins, Gabi Moss and Courtney Newell Year 8 – Claudia Howland, Kirra McIntyre, Mary Shelley and Emily Sheridan Year 9 – Darcy Howard, Christopher Treeves, Sophie McAuliffe and Jaimie McNulty Year 10 – Lisa Fraser, Sarah Hannan, Madeline Sharp and Shonia Poole Year 11 – Ashleigh Hales, Stephanie Figgins and Crystal Phillips Each year group competed fiercely in three rounds, with each team winning at least one of their debates. Our Year 8 team though, won all three of their debates, an outstanding achievement which saw them crowned the Year 8 champions for the day. A big thank you must go to our coaches, Mr Paul Plunkett, Mr Darren Smith, Ms Kelly West and Mrs Claudette Stace, as well as Ms Brigitte Reiger and Miss Amy Chaloner who accompanied the teams on the day.
ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE St Joseph’s Celebrates its Academic Success.
In week 1 of this term students, parents and staff of St Joseph’s Regional College gathered together to celebrate the academic successes of year 7 to 10 students. Academic awards for the first semester were presented in massive numbers with students receiving accolades for academic excellence, application to their studies and community service. The most prestigious awards are the Outstanding Application Award, in which students must receive application awards in all, or all but one of their subjects, and the Outstanding Achievement Award in which students in years 7 and 8 must receive application and excellence awards for at least six subjects, and those in 9 and 10 in at least five subjects. The biggest winners for first semester were year 7, with over 40 students receiving either an Outstanding Application Award or an Outstanding Achievement Award, a fantastic accomplishment for students just starting to come to grips with the requirements of high school life. The awards ceremonies are an important part of College life, as they allow the recipients to show off the fruits of their labour while illustrating to the school community what can be achieved through hard work and persistence.
ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE Ryley Shares His Inspirational Story
Last Wednesday, Paralympic wheelchair rugby player, and Port Macquarie local, Ryley Batt, visited his former high school, St Joseph’s Regional College, to share his inspirational story with students. Ryley, who was born with no legs and only two fingers on each hand, has been playing wheelchair rugby since the age of 12 and has since gone on to achieve some outstanding statistics. By 13 he was in the Australian National Team and at 15 Ryley became the youngest ever wheelchair rugby Paralympian. Ryley shared his journey from being a young child who hated the idea of using a wheelchair (because he felt they were only for disabled people) to winning silver with the Australian wheelchair rugby team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Students were in awe after seeing footage of Ryley in action, with many hoping to have the opportunity to have a go at wheelchair rugby themselves. Ryley is now looking forward to the London Paralympics, where he hopes to go one better than Beijing and bring home the gold.
ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE Book Week Celebrations
Last week, St Joseph’s Regional College celebrated Book Week, and as part of the celebration, ex-Waratah Rugby Union player Peter Besseling visited the Library to speak to students about his experiences as a reader, and as an elite sportsman. The theme for Book Week this year is "Champions Read", and so Mr Besseling was able to thrill the audience with stories of his playing career, as well as sharing his reading likes and habits throughout his life. Those attending were invited to pass around his Australian Sports Medal awarded in 2000, and his Ken Catchpole Medal for Best and Fairest in Sydney Club Rugby awarded in 1999. He made special mention of the fact that even when playing Rugby at such an elite level, he still found time to read to relax, and that this has always been an important part of his life. Students were then given the opportunity to chat with Mr Besseling over a sausage sizzle lunch.
ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE Rugby Tour
In April of next year, students from years 8, 9 and 10 at St Joseph’s Regional College will participate in the inaugural College Rugby Union Tour of New Zealand and the Cook Islands. This is the first ever Rugby tour for the school and will include 3 days in New Zealand, with a match against Auckland College, and a week in the Cook Islands where the boys will compete in 2-3 matches while also undertaking community service and experiencing the cultural life of the islands. In support of this inaugural tour, the school has organised an Auction Evening for Saturday the 15th of September, running from 5pm-7pm at The Settlers Inn on Hastings River Drive. A range of fabulous items are on offer, including vouchers from Coastal Music, Zebu, Hydro Photographics, Macquarie Beauty College, Wave Bowl and Ultra Tune, and a signed 2012 Wallabies Jersey will also be raffled off on the night. Tickets for the evening are $10 for a family and $5 for a single. Auction booklets are available from St Joseph’s Regional College or on the night. For more information, contact Joanne Williams on 5525 4100
ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE Seeing Red
Students and staff of St Joseph’s Regional College have once again donated blood to the Red Cross en masse as part of the ‘Club Red’ group donations. Over 30 staff and students donated their life saving blood over the course of the day, with many others unfortunately being turned away due to time factors. The amazing nurses from the Red Cross worked hard all day to ensure as many students as possible had the opportunity to donate. The Red Cross Blood centre is currently in desperate need for blood donations especially with the school holiday about to begin, so if you are able to donate, please ring 13 14 95 to arrange an appointment.
ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE Triumphant Triathletes
Leslie Williams, Member for Port Macquarie, recently visited St Joseph’s Regional College to present two students with awards for outstanding sporting excellence Madi Roberts in Year 12, and Laura Cook in year 10 each received a NSW Government State Representative Award for representing the NSW All Schools Triathlon Team in the School Sport Australia Triathlon which took place in April this year. Both girls have experienced great success in a range of triathlon competitions this year, participating in local, state and national competitions.