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Dear Parents/Guardians,

Another busy fortnight at John Therry comes to a close. Last week saw a visit from the CSNSW Directors and all Diocesan Directors. This group leads Catholic Education in NSW. Part of this group spent time at John Therry listening to our story and viewing our buildings and resources. A big thank you to those students who met this group and informed them of our reality.

We also had a film crew here from CEDoW, talking to Staff and students about our improvement in Learning and Well-Being. There has been significant improvement in learning outcomes (most easily measured by our HSC results, but many other measures) and a significant improvement in behaviour (as feedback from surveys and data re suspensions etc tells us).

You will read in this edition the many sporting successes that we have had, including our Rugby League girls selected for Southern Country. We also congratulate Tamika Thorne on receiving the Bishop’s Award for Student Excellence on Tuesday evening.

As we wind down to the last four weeks of Term 3 we also keep our Year 12 students in our focus. After having two years of covid disruptions they now come to the end of their secondary schooling lives. We wish them well.

THE PASSING OF ARCHIE ROACH - Reflection

The recent passing of the Indigenous Australian songwriter and activist Archie Roach changed this continent and its people forever.

The ‘big tree’ that was Archie Roach, provided shelter, a home, a refuge, a challenge, inspiration, respite, nourishment and unity to our nation.

Just as the majestic, old growth forest trees are unnoticed until they fall, any person who did not know of Archie before his death, immediately felt the impact after. The familiar name they may not have put a face to, or the music and lyrics that they may have heard at some time in the past, all made sense after he died as the story of the ‘big tree’ emerged on our televisions, phones, laptops and radios in all its detail and nuance.

Archie Roach was one of our greatest storytellers because he was the story. The story of Archie Roach.

Linda Burney, the Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, said Roach was “one of our nation’s greatest songmen and truth-tellers and a giant of the Australian music industry and of our mob… For many Australians, Archie was their first exposure to the horrors of the Stolen Generations. His voice, his music and his story came out of trauma and pain. His powerful songs also brought people together. They provided strength and still serve as a source of healing – putting into words what was unspeakable”.

Just as the falling of a big tree is sad and traumatic, it then becomes another type of home, refuge and respite for other plants and animals in the forest as it finds a new space and form on the forest floor.

As we weep in the forest, we need to deeply listen and notice the seeds from the ‘big tree’ that have germinated and other life that has emerged in the void. This weeping will only be temporary as the hope provided by a new ‘big tree rising’ begins to emerge.

As a nation, Archie Roach sat us down to deeply listen to his story of trauma and triumph.

We are slowly learning from our First Nations People, our ‘big tree’ people - complete with etched wisdom and gnarly resilience. The wellsprings of hope displayed in the arts, sport, literature, music, dance, politics, language and spirituality of our Indigenous sisters and brothers, contrast with their multiple challenges such as child incarceration, poor health status, intergenerational trauma and high unemployment.

If we sit and listen to our ‘big trees’, we will learn. If we discern and are convinced that a ‘big tree rising’ mindset is required, we will act. If we act, the weeping will cease and the voids created by the ‘big tree down’ will be filled.

As a Christian community with our own story, the ‘big tree down - weeping in the forest’ experience is not unfamiliar.

The death of Archie and his ongoing legacy of storyline, reminds us of the hope of Jesus’ resurrection. The hope of the ‘big tree rising’.

The Holy Spirit eases our tears and settles us back into a deep listening state of grace.

God bless you, Archie. We will continue to listen, discern and act for the sake of the other.

Watch Archie Roach perform with Paul Kelly and others at the 2020 ARIA Awards here and reflect on:

• Who are the ‘big trees’ in your life and why? What is the impact they have upon your life?
• What qualities do we have that make us ‘big trees’ to other people in our family, school, workplace and the broader community?
• Where are you, or being invited to, experience hope in your life? 

Student Opal Card usage - must tap on and off each trip
Recent surveys and data collection has identified that a very high percentage of students are not tapping on or off the bus services operated by Busabout with their Opal Cards. Transport for NSW relies on the data collected from Opal Card usage to create student patronage statistics. This information is part of the set of data that drives decisions regarding the provision, frequency, and quantity of services.
Information gathered from Opal taps are used to determine the number of services provided to your school. When Opal Card statistics show such a low number of student’s boarding, it may cause a review regarding the requirement for school buses in the future or how school services are allocated.
Transport NSW (TNSW) provides eligible school students with free or subsidised travel under the School Student Transport Scheme (SSTS) between home and school during school terms. As our community is growing every day in the Macarthur and Camden regions, we need to work together to ensure that Busabout can continue to provide the levels of service required at your school.

Busabout is asking that students and parents become aware of the following travel options:
School Opal Card:
Eligible students can apply or update their details online:
https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/ticket-eligibility-concessions/school-student-travel
Students who aren’t eligible for a free School Opal Card have the following options:
School Term Bus Pass
https://transportnsw.info/school-term-bus-pass

Child/Youth Opal Card
https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/ticket-eligibility-concessions/child-youth

Assistance for students with a disability:
Students with a disability who are unable to travel to and from school under the School Student Transport Scheme may be eligible for assistance under the Department of Education Assisted School Travel Program.
https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/astp

Lost, Stolen or Damaged:
Students that do not have a valid Opal card are required to travel with a receipt for School Opal Card application/replacement or pay a fare to travel to and from school on our buses.
If a student's travel pass is lost, stolen or damaged you can apply at:
Lost, stolen or damaged School Opal cards and travel passes | transportnsw.info

While waiting for your replacement school Opal Card to arrive, students are required to travel with a receipt for School Opal Card replacement or a valid ticket for travel.

We thank you for your assistance and if you have any enquiries about Opal cards you can call 131500
or visit https://transportnsw.info/tickets-opal/opal/get-opal-card

TAMEKA THORNE 2022 CITATION

Tameka has been a keen participant in all aspects of College life- academic, spiritual, sporting & cultural.

She has represented the College in MISA and Diocesan Soccer and attended College athletic carnivals, swimming carnivals and the Jack Crawford games.

Academically, Tameka has always been a conscientious worker, setting high standards of personal achievement and striving diligently to reach her goals all the while staying grounded in her humanity, humility and simplicity-living out the Marist values.  Over the years, Tameka has received 84 Academic awards, the Assistant Principal’s award, Silver and Bronze awards  including the ‘Cultural & Creative Arts’ award in Year 7 and she will receive the Brother Clarence Academic Excellence award for 2022, demonstrating her commitment to academic achievement. 

Tameka’s witness to her faith is reflected in her regular participation in masses and liturgies as a lead dance performer throughout her high school years.  She has been an active participant at retreats and camps and volunteering at the local nursing home, testament to her commitment to her faith and service to the community.

Tameka has been a mentor and inspiration to the younger Aboriginal students, explicitly demonstrating what respect looks like to the younger students. She has been a part of the welcoming team for Elders on their visits to the College and participated in NAIDOC assemblies. Tameka performed in the Australian Catholic Youth festival in 2017 and has been a keen participant in the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience. Tameka has done the ‘Welcome to Country’ at most Catholic Schools’ week masses. Her commitment to community service has been evidenced in the many functions that she has either attended or participated in, including bracelet-weaving. Tameka was recognised for her outstanding contribution to culture and work for the community with the Dr. Mike Freelander ‘Outstanding Service to Community’ award in 2021.

Tameka has actively sought to promote social justice initiatives within the College and has supported younger students in their participation in these initiatives. 

Whether through helping at College events, functions and liturgies, acting in positions of responsibility, in charitable works, in working for social justice or enhancing the school environment, Tameka has made a positive contribution. 

Tameka has always shown an understanding of the College motto: “To relish what is Right” and is aware that it has implications for living, which will have an impact and influence on the world and the lives of others.

Tameka Thorne is a very worthy recipient of the Bishop’s Student Excellence Award.

Term 3 curriculum update

Year 12

The HSC Trial exams concluded on Wednesday 17/8/2022. I would like to thank all our HSC students for their commitment and hard work during the exams. I would also like to thank all parents and caregivers of our HSC students for their support throughout the HSC year. 

The final HSC exams are scheduled to begin on Wednesday 12th October 2022 and will conclude on Friday 4th November 2022. All students should already have access to their personal timetables through their Students’ Online account. We wish our students the best of luck for these exams. The lead up to the exams is a crucial time when teachers will be reviewing syllabus key points and making sure that students are as well prepared for their exams as they possibly can so it is important that students attend classes regularly.

But before that, the end of Term 3 is going to be an exciting one. Mr Holmes, the Year 12 Leader of Wellbeing has drawn up a detailed program for the last few days of Term 3 and will be sharing these dates with students and parents. We look forward to celebrating our students’ successes with them and their parents/caregivers.

Year 11

The end of Term 3 marks the end of the Year 11 course of study. Students will sit their Yearly exams from Wednesday 7th September 2022 till Friday 16th September 2022. Students have had their draft exam timetables since the end of Term 2 and they have been working on study timetables in their pastoral lessons-to ensure that they do as well as they possibly can in their exams.

We wish all our Year 11 students the best of luck for their upcoming exams.

In week 10 of Term 3, as students start preparation for their HSC year, they will have the option of making slight changes to their patterns of study. More information about this process will be available to students in the coming days.

Celebrating Learning

At Thursday’s assembly, we acknowledged the great work our students do each day, every day. Congratulations to students from Years 7-12 on receiving ‘Certificates of Affirmation’.

Year 10 Camp Report

Last Monday Year 10 attended our Camp at The Tops Retreat and Conference Centre at Stanwell Tops in the beautiful Illawarra. With bright sunshine and a sense of optimism, the students engaged in a variety of activities with vigour and maturity. The physical activities, including orienteering, abseiling, archery, high ropes and the infamous Giant Swing were well balanced with reflective and spiritual activities where students focussed on their inner self and life goals and ambitions. The staff in attendance as well as the instructors were glowing in their praise of the students and their involvement and maturity in all activities. The resolve and willingness of students to undertake risks was amazing. Overall, the experiences were invaluable, and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive from our Year 10 cohort. Below are some quotes that students scribed in a reflective piece we completed upon our return from camp:

“I liked the cabins and having fun. I wish it was maybe a day or two longer”

“I enjoyed camp a lot more than I originally thought I would. I felt that everyone was more confident in themselves with what they were doing”

“It was very cold but talking with new people and the food was good”

“My small group, The Gang members, were the highlight of my time. It was the best and most fun group”

“I really enjoyed the hot chocolate and the friendly instructors”

“I had a chance to try out new activities that made me get out of my comfort zone”

“The camp was a very enjoyable event. I was able to bond and hangout with mates as well as talk to teachers about anything other than schoolwork”

Overall, we thank all students for their open-mindedness and ability to adapt to new situations and challenges. It has brought our cohort closer together and has built a sense of identity of who we are and the immense values and attributes that all our students bring to John Therry. Thanks for the experiences.

Mr Golebiewski

The Diocese of Wollongong has appointed Numeracy Instructional Coaches in all its secondary schools since 2019 to assist in the improvement of numeracy outcomes.

The Numeracy Instructional Coaches at John Therry (Mr Matt Muscatello and Mr John Greene) have a critical role in improving student learning and achievement in numeracy. The role of the coaches is to build teacher capacity and their understanding of instructional practices as related to Numeracy and Data Driven Instruction. 

The numeracy instructional coaches work collaboratively with their school staff members, leaders of learning, other instructional coaches, and the staff from the Catholic Education Office. The coaches promote reflection, provide guidance, and structure, and focus on strengths, collaboration, and common issues of concern in numeracy.

They are responsible for ensuring high-quality numeracy instruction in classrooms through modelling, co-planning, co-teaching, and providing feedback to teachers.

 Numeracy Goals at John Therry

• to identify the numeracy requirements of all subject areas
• to understand and appreciate that the teaching of numeracy is a shared responsibility - all teachers are teachers of numeracy.
• To incorporate numeracy activities in teaching programs and in learning group
• To improve the numeracy outcomes of students

WHAT IS NUMERACY?

In the Australian Curriculum, students become numerate as they develop the knowledge and skills to use mathematics confidently across other learning areas at school and in their lives more broadly. Numeracy encompasses the knowledge, skills, behaviours, and dispositions that students need to use mathematics in a wide range of situations. It involves students recognising and understanding the role of mathematics in the world and having the dispositions and capacities to use mathematical knowledge and skills purposefully.

ACARA Definition

NUMERACY IS ABOUT APPLYING MATHEMATICS TO REAL LIFE SITUATIONS

Here is an example of a Maths question vs. a Numeracy question:

Maths: 5 x 5+2= ?

Numeracy: Tony worked five hours each day during the week and 2 hours on the weekend. How many hours did he work during that week?

At John Therry in 2022, we have implemented Learning Group Numeracy Tasks which are completed on a Friday morning in Learning Group time. Each week there is a different Numeracy focus and students are encouraged to work together in order to complete the task.

An example of a Numeracy Task

The aim of these tasks is to regularly engage students and staff members in Numeracy and create a culture of student self reflection and improvement. Automatic feedback is given to students who answer incorrectly so that they can see where they made their mistakes. 

The data that we collect from these tasks provides our teachers with invaluable information about where their students are at in the different strands of Mathematics and allows them to adjust their teaching accordingly. 

We strongly encourage parents/caregivers to ask each week how your child went on the literacy and numeracy tasks during the learning group.

Mr Matt Muscatello and Mr John Greene
Numeracy Instructional Coaches

A quick visit from Shakespeare to John Therry for Bookweek.

JTCC SPORT UPDATE -  Term 3,  Week 5 & 6

As we head towards the tail end of the term, there are a number of students who will be out representing JTCC and DOW at NSWCCC and All School events as well as our  upcoming Term 3 MISA finals. We wish our JTCC athletes  all the best and look forward to hearing how well everyone performed. 

Next week at assembly we will finally have the opportunity to present MISA Sportsperson of the week certificates from Term 1 and 2, as well as finally announcing house winners for all our major school carnivals. 

Early in Term 4 we have a number of Diocesan carnivals that JTCC has entered - Junior boys cricket, junior boys and girls AFL and basketball (Junior/Senior boys and girls). Announcements for trials for these teams will be published on Compass over the next week. 

A few general reminders:

• Students who missed out on MISA or DIO teams , there are many future opportunities to represent JTCC, keep an eye out on the Compass Newsfeed. 
• Any students that would like to request to change groups for 9/10 REC - you need to see Mrs. Roberts at the Sports Office. You must do this prior to Tuesday lunch time. 
•  A reminder that consent for all sporting events must be given via the Parent Portal on Compass. Please ring the school if you have issues logging in or accessing Events. 

Week 5 - ROUND 4 

Week 6 - ROUND 5

MISA Girls Rugby League Gala Day

Our Under 16s girls were given the opportunity to participate in the MISA Rugby League Gala Day at Kirkham Oval on Thursday 11th of August. The girls were taken through training drills in passing, kicking and tackling by NRL training staff. Next year the MISA competition will include girls rugby league, so the Gala Day was used to introduce students to the fundamentals of the game.

As always, our students represented the College with pride. A special mention to Tess McEvoy-King who dominated the friendly matches. Her fierce defense and dynamic attack was noticed by all. 

Well done girls. I can’t wait to see you dominate the MISA competition next year. 

Mrs Dadd

NSWCCC U16 Girls Rugby League Trials 

On Tuesday 16/8/22, Tess McEvoy-King and Fanaafi Fauese represented John Therry Catholic College at the Southern Country Rugby League training session, with Mrs. Dadd as team manager . Both students were given a tour of the NSW Blues training headquarters where they viewed the changerooms and recovery centre used by the Origin team. Our students met NRLW stars Tess Staines and Simaima Taufa and listened to their stories and advice on how to succeed in the game. Both girls trained with their Southern Country team mates for the first time and forged some lifelong friendships. 

On Wednesday 17/8/22, Tess and Fanaafi played in the NSWCCC Trial games hoping to secure a place in the NSW squad. The Southern Country team played three games and did not have a point scored against them throughout the tournament. Our defence was flawless and our attack was dominating. Throughout the day, Tess scored 3  tries and Fanaafi scored 2.. Our girls represented John Therry with pride and integrity. Both girls were rewarded for their efforts with their selection for the NSW team. Congratulations girls! We couldn’t be prouder. 

Mrs Dadd

NSWCCC Teams

*There have been a lot of NSWCCC Event postponements - please go to the website to keep up to date with these. 

Remember that there is a new way to nominate individual sports for NSWCCC. This information, including registration closing dates can be found on the website:

https://csnsw.sport/

Please note that some sports are selected by individual trials, and these can be held throughout NSW. Individual nominations require students to make their own way to and from selections. 

Selection in the following sports: Swimming, Cross Country, Athletics, Touch Football, AFL (Boys) and Football are done through the Wollongong Diocese carnivals by way of representing John Therry at these respective carnivals.

Selection in the following sports: AFL (Girls), Baseball, Basketball, Cricket – Girls,  Golf, Hockey, Netball, Rugby League, Rugby, Softball, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball will need to be done via individual nomination and selections.

If your child has had an outstanding high level  sporting achievement outside of school, we would love to hear from you. Please email me so we can celebrate  their achievements with the JTCC community. 

Yours in Sport,

Mrs. Georgia Roberts 

(RobertsG03@dow.catholic.edu.au)

Please find below a link to the latest parish bulletin