John Therry Catholic College eNewsletter

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Holy Week, the most important week of the Christian calendar, commences this Sunday. This week is a time for Christians to reflect on and remember the events leading up to Jesus' death and resurrection. Holy week begins with Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, and ends with Easter Sunday, when we celebrate Jesus' resurrection.

Throughout Holy Week, we are called to participate in special services and traditions. I would encourage our families to consider attending local church services throughout Holy Week. One of the most significant events of Holy Week is Holy Thursday, which commemorates the Last Supper and Jesus' washing of his disciples' feet. Good Friday is also a solemn day, when Christians remember Jesus' crucifixion and death.

Despite the solemnity of Holy Week, it is also a time of hope and joy, as we celebrate Jesus' triumph over death and sin. Easter Sunday is a day of great rejoicing, as we gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of eternal life. As we approach Holy Week, let us take time to reflect on the sacrifice of Jesus and the hope that he offers to all who believe.

Attendance - Improvement in Attendance Data

It is with great pleasure that I report an improvement in our attendance data that relates to an issue with reporting our Pupil Free days. This has improved our overall attendance data to 90.4%, and much closer to the ultimate target of 95%. If we can maintain this attendance rate through the year this would still be a good improvement on previous years.

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John Therry Cyclic Inquiry and Strategic Planning

John Therry is undertaking a significant review to develop our strategic plan for the next 4 years. This will be driven by the data we have that outlines our current context, and importantly, feedback from students, parents and teachers on what we believe is working well, and what we can do to continue our improvement journery.

As such, we are trying to make the most of the Monday before ANZAC day, to have staff undertake some of this significant work. Monday 24th April will be a Pupil Free Day to complete this work. We hope that this works well for families as well who may be able to take advantage of an extra long weekend.

Parents will have the opportunity to provide feedback through a detailed 'Tell them from me' survey early next term. We would really appreciated parents taking the time to help shape the future direction of the school by completing this survey.

Year 7 2024 Applications - Overdue

A reminder for any siblings to apply as soon as possible. Applications are now overdue and we already have more applications than we have places available for next year. Interviews commence in Week 2 of next term so it is important to have applications in as soon as possible. There are no guarantees of places for siblings (or any students) for late applications as once offers have been made we will not rescind these.

Friday 31st March	Year 7 2024 Applications close
Wednesday 5th April	3:30-7:30pm 7-10 PTS Interviews
Thursday 6th April	8:30-10:30am 7-10 PTS Interviews Pupil Free Day
Term 2
Monday 24th April	Staff Development Day Pupil Free Day
Tuesday 25th April	Anzac Day Public Holiday
Wednesday 26th April	All students return for Term 2

As we move towards the end of Term 1, it is important to commend students for their efforts and evident dedication to learning. The commencement of a new academic year brings challenges as well as opportunities, and students have focused on demonstrating their full potential and risen to the demands of learning.

At our last College assembly, it was wonderful to acknowledge multiple Year 8 and 9 students who received Assistant Principal and Principal's Awards. Congratulations to these students. We also celebrated Harmony Day during this assembly, with cultural performances from our Pacific Islander students, and discussion of the Harmony Day themes of recognition and inclusion. Images of this celebration are below. We look forward ongoing performances at future assemblies by students from other cultural backgrounds, to extend the themes of Harmony week throughout the year.

Uniform Items

Students will return to Term 2 on Wednesday 26 April in full winter uniform. Please ensure students have blazers and all other necessary items for winter uniform. Uniform requirements can be found on the College website - https://www.jtccdow.catholic.edu.au/our-uniform

Students are required to return to school with correct haircuts. For male students:

Short hair must be conservative, clean, neat and tidy and above the collar, off the face and ears. Hair must be no shorter than a No. 2 blade and blended. There are to be no extreme variations in length.
Long hair should be brushed, consistent in length and tied back if it touches the collar. If not yet long enough to tie back, hair must be parted neatly and worn behind the ears so as to not cover the eyes or ears.
Extreme hairstyles should be avoided; these include but are not limited to undercuts, layers, steps, rat’s tails, mullets, lines, mohawks etc.

Student haircuts will be checked by Learning Group mentors and the Pastoral team at the beginning of Term 2. Students in breach of College policy will be required to rectify issues and parents/carers contacted. In the event of extreme hairstyles, students will be referred to a member of the Pastoral or Leadership Team, who may deem it appropriate to send the student home until such time the student’s hair complies with the uniform policy.

Generation Vape

"Generation Vape" is a three year research project being undertaken by the Australian Cancer Council and the University of Sydney. The study aims to examine awareness, perceptions, attitudes, related knowledge and behaviours of e-cigarettes among teachers, parents and young people (both users and non-users) aged 14-17 in Australia. The project is currently in its second year with findings set to inform government policy, programs and campaigns. Over the past week, two of our staff members have particpated in extended research forums for this project, discussing the health and social impacts of e-cigarette use on young people. This involvement of our staff is a proactive way to address the fact that no studies in Australia have yet investigated the extent of e-cigarette use in young people and little is known about the level of awareness and understanding of e-cigarettes and their harms.

E-cigarettes, or vapes, are battery operated devices that heat a liquid to produce a vapour that users inhale. They are designed to deliver nicotine and/or other chemicals via an aerosol vapour directly to the lungs. Some international studies have shown that in places where e-cigarettes are readily available, use may lead to smoking among young people. E-cigarette use alone is also directly harmful to health, particularly among young people.

Recent data from NSW shows a concerning increase in the sale of nicotine-containing e-cigarette devices through retail stores. Social media and reported community experiences also suggest e-cigarette use among young people is growing at an alarming rate. At John Therry, we are concentrating on ensuring students are not engaged in vaping. To support this, we are installing vape detectors in our student bathrooms, and we thank the College P&F for their assistance with the purchase of this resource. Our focus is on the rights of students to have access to safe facilities and spaces. We are also aware of the importance of educating our students about the dangers of e-cigarette use.

Attached is a copy of NSW government information for students on this matter.

vaping_factsheet_young.pdf

vaping_factsheet_young _pdf 1.01 MB

On Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th April we have scheduled parent teacher interviews as an opportunity to come together and review Term 1 progress reports, and set some goals for their half yearly reports.

Bookings can be made through compass in 'conferences', where you will see your child's classes and teachers, and can click on each teacher to make a booking as needed. We have scheduled interviews from 3:45-7:30pm on Wednesday evening, and from 8:30-10:30am on Thursday morning. Thursday will be a Pupil Free day as after interviews, staff will be completing mandatory emergency care training.

The interviews are an important opportunity to discuss your child's learning and work together to support help them reach their potential so we hope to see you there.

John Therry Catholic College

School Photography Date: 28/04/2023

Dear Parents,

School photography day is coming up soon. Group and portrait photographs can be purchased by following the link below or by returning the order envelope with your payment to the photographer on school photo day.

NEW
advancedlife now offers Latitude Pay! To take advantage of LatitudePay and split the cost of your order into 10 small easy payments, simply order your school photos online as usual, set up a Latitude Pay account in just a few clicks and pay no interest or fees when you pay according to your payment schedule; it’s that easy.

3 easy ways to purchase:

LatitudePay – Click on the link below, set up an account during the online order process and split your payments across 10 weeks with no interest or fees, if you pay on time
Visa, MasterCard or PayPal
Cash – complete the envelope supplied and return it to our photographer on photo day

Order School Photos here

Or visit: www.advancedlife.com.au

And enter online order code: A7J Q2X C41

School photography information:

Online orders - do not require an envelope returned to your school
Sibling Photos - Don’t forget to pre-order your sibling photos online up to 24 hours before photo day. We provide your school with a list of sibling orders right up to the day of photography, so no one misses out. If you miss the online order deadline, you can submit a completed sibling order envelope first thing in the morning of the day of photography, so your school is aware you want the photo taken and can bring your children together in time for it. Sibling photographs only apply to children enrolled at your school. Please note not all schools offer sibling photos
Late fees - a late fee will be applied to each package purchased after photo day due to the additional cost of producing these packages separately
Package delivery - School photographs will be returned approximately 6 weeks after the day of photography. Please note this delivery timeframe is dependent on proofing and additional photography days at your school.
Previous Years’ photos - Past years’ photographs including sports, co-curricular and representative groups are also available to order under the “previous years or group photo” tabs at your school’s advancedorder site when you click on the “Order School Photos Here” button above. You can also order past packages, portrait images and gifts from your child’s unique, individual and secure advancedyou image archive site using the unique 9 digit image code found on packages you have ordered in the past

Newsletter_John_Therry_Catholic_College.pdf

Newsletter_John_Therry_Catholic_College _pdf 116.69 KB

Got SWAG?

Student Work and Greatness (SWAG) is your platform for student pieces.
In each issue we showcase a sample of student work, from poetry to painting, photography to prose.

This issue we showcase some poetry, a prose piece and a discursive essay on deafness.
Interested in showcasing your work? Contact Xavier Martin or Mr. Miszczyszyn.

Ode_to_the_Cube.pdf

Indigenous_Man.pdf

Mystery_Story.pdf

Mystery_Story _pdf 6.22 MB

The_reality_of_being_Deaf.pdf

JTCC SPORT UPDATE - Week 10

For the first in a few years, our term 1 season has been gifted with some beautiful, albeit extremely hot weather. The regular season of our MISA competition has come to a conclusion and we look ahead to the next few weeks of semi finals and grand finals. Congratulations to Mr McGraths 10-12 Boys OzTag team who have gone through the season undefeated and are in prime position to take home the premiership for this term. We have several other teams who have qualified for semi finals, we wish all teams good luck for their upcoming finals.

Congratulations to those students who represented John Therry this week in MISA and also in Diocesan Tennis Teams. Those students who missed out, there are many future opportunities to represent JTCC, keep an eye out on the Sport Bulletin Board in the A-block corridor and on the Compass Newsfeed.

A few reminders regarding Sport:

Students should not be signed out of school before sport unless for a medical or family emergency. If you are signing your son/daughter out from school, a reminder to please follow school procedure by physically signing them out via the front office.
Students who are injured/unable to participate in sport need to provide a medical certificate/note to the Sports Coordinator. These students also need to have a conversation with the Coordinator regarding future sport options.

The behaviour and participation from the majority was great so thank you for making a positive start to the 2023 Sporting Year.

Mr Luke Bodeker.

bodekerl01@dow.catholic.edu.au.

JTCC CROSS COUNTRY CARNIVAL

The College held our annual Cross Country event at Thomas Acres Reserve on Thursday of Week 10, thankfully to some fantastic weather. After receiving some final instructions, our student athletes commenced the day and displayed some great individual efforts to earn individual and house points.

The Junior division (12/13 Boys and Girls) completed a 2.75km circuit with Davonne Plaatjies coming though in just over 13 minutes.

Our Intermediate division ( 14 B/G, 15 B/G + 16G) completed a 3.9km circuit with Maahir Boonzaier (16.28), Blake Neal (15:55), Sienna Marelic (21:58), Kyra Crew (20:38) and Bridget Shearer (23:10) leading their respective age groups.

The Senior division (16B + 17 B/G + 18 B/G) completed 2 laps (5.4km) of the designated course with Darcy Wilson (18:35), Ayla Cook/Grace O’Reilly (21:35), Lleyton Turner (20:15) and Ella Fisher/Chelsea Blankenstein leading their respective age group.

A big thank you to students of Yr 11 and 12 SLR class and the College Captains for assisting and competing in the carnival.

Congratulations to the following students on their performances who are our 2023 AGE CHAMPIONS.

12 Years	Joshua Halabi	Kiana Blackwell
13 Years	Davonne Plaatjies	Matilda Lamaro
14 Years	Maahir Boonzaier	Sienna Marelic
15 Years	Blake Neal	Kyra Crews
16 Years	Diego Martin	Bridget Shearer
17 Years	Darcy Wilson	Ayla Cook/Grace O’Reilly
18 Years	LLeyton Turner	Ella Fisher/Chelsea Blankenstein
Para-Athlete	Dominic Baker

HOUSE POINTS

Congratulations to Murray House for winning the 2023 JTCC Cross COuntry carnival.

	12 Years	13 Years	14 Years	15 Years	16 Years	17 Years	18 Years	Totals
Chisholm	112	144	184	72	0	68	68	580
Murray	77	118	114	140	40	40	112	641
Conolly	40	128	44	98	118	36	118	582
Ryan	148	678	80	102	0	72	16	485

The JTCC House competition is thriving and from today's achievements has seen some small changes in the overall House Order which sees the Mighty Murray extend their lead for the JTCC Sporting House Cup.

	Jack Crawford	Swimming	Cross Country	Athletics	2023 Totals
Chisholm	804	1474	580		2858
Murray	946	1613	641		3200
Conolly	915	1198	582		2695
Ryan	853	1377	485		2715

MISA REPORT - SEMI FINALS

*Teacher*	*Team*	*Score*	*Report*
MR COOK	10-12 BOYS BASKETBALL	Won 46-33 Thomas Hassell	After securing a semi final berth vs Thomas Hassell, the JT boys entered the game with grand final aspirations. Down our leading scorer from last week, the boys entered the game with an expectation that they are to take their scoring opportunities. We struggled to contain our opposition with our small line up but after some half time instructions we immediately made an impact on the 20-20 halftime score. Big defensive efforts made an impact on the offensive end and we created a 12 point buffer we we took to the end of the game. Great effort by all players especially Garang Bol and Kalan Nou MVP: Adrian Narvais led the way with 16 points on the back of 8/16 shooting. We look forward to taking on Mt Carmel in the final in Week 11.
MR FIFITA	10-12 GIRLS BASKETBALL	Lost 21-12 vs MAS
MR WILLIAMSON	7-9 BOYS VOLLEYBALL	Won 2-1 vs Thomas Hassell
MRS HYNARD	7-9 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL	Lost 2-0 Vs Broughton	A home game today in the heat (an outside match) caused the girls to struggle a little. They lacked motivation and hence didn't play as well as the last few weeks. With improved communication on the court and better serving by the girls this should hopefully come together for the next few games. A good effort to all today. MVP: Mary Camillerri
MR TRAN	10-12 GIRLS OZ TAG	Lost 5-3 vs St Pats	A “Perth” scorcher Tuesday arvo delivered the 10-12 girls Oztag a secure win. The Clovers proved too good with the tries from Chelsea, Grace, Ella, Bridget, Mia and Veronica helping to seal the game. A strong first half ended in 4-2, however an even stronger second half ended the game in a 7-3 win. Well done girls. MVP- Grace O’Reilly
MR MCGRATH	10-12 BOYS OZ TAG	Won 8-6 vs MAS	Some very tough weather conditions today out at Kirkham with 30 degree heat. A few players down made it hard for those playing in the middle, limiting their break times. We made it hard for ourselves early, going into the second third down and lacking confidence and energy. We were down to 7 players and still managed to grind our way to a victory. Well done. MVP: Matt Maytom
MRS BULGER	7-9 GIRLS HOCKEY	0-0 Draw vs OPAC	The 7-9 Girls Hockey team improves every week. They are now a confident and dominant Team on the field. It was very nice to step back and watch the Team communicate, adjust positions as needed and encourage each other with great enthusiasm. Each player contributed in some way to ensure the ball remained in our offensive end. Jaswyn had three great attempts at a goal throughout the game but was unfortunately unsuccessful. Congratulations to Alice, Eryn and Paige for stopping the other teams attempt at goal, they were outnumbered in defense but capably defended OPAC shot at goal and brought the ball back to our goal end. MVP goes to Layla Davidson who has worked hard each week. Layla is a key player who confidently and quickly brings the ball down through our midfield. Layla made many intercepts and tackles she was impressive to watch. Congratulations to the whole team. Looking forward to our next game. MVP- Layla Davidson
MR GERIBO	7-9 GIRLS IND CRICKET	Loss 81-4 vs Magdalene	After rising for our first win last week we were quickly on the downhill as Magdalene scored 81 after being sent into bat. They also managed to get 7 wickets in the first four overs meaning we were on -20 with just two skins to go. Jade and Elyse, followed by Maddie and Ella, batted well, meaning we were able to finish with a positive score. MVP: Elyse Stonebridge
MR CHAPMAN	7-9 BOYS SOFTBALL	Loss 9-3 vs Magdalene	JT played Magdalene and we started strong with our first three batters all getting runs. After that, however, we struggled for the rest of the game. Our fielding was not up to standard and we have too many chances to the opposition batters. A game to forget and we look forward to getting back on the park next week to put in an improved performance. MVP: Kaiden Myers

MISA REPORT - FINALS

*Teacher*	*Team*	*Score*	*Report*
MR COOK	10-12 BOYS BASKETBALL	Won 60 - 37 vs Thomas Hassel AC	This weeks game was a must win for the Open Boys if they were to secure a top four position leading into semi finals weeks. The boys have learnt some hard truths over the past few weeks and it was evident today that they are willing to listen and learn from their mistakes. We started with a smaller unit thos week with the emphasis to get out and run the fast break, whilst applying a full court press. We had immediate dividends with several turnovers leading to some fast break points. The boys are to be commended for their ball movement on offense this week, which showed by several new scorers. The team shot 24/53 from the field led by by Lleyton Turner 22 points (8/15 FG, 4/8 3 ptr) and Adrian Narvais 13 points (6/14 FG). Defense won the game with several key steals and blocks by Garang Bol and one massive block against the backboard by Adam Bell. Will need to wait for a points update but we should be able to secure a favourable semi final position. MVP: Lleyton Turner (22 points, 3 steals, 5 assists)
MR FIFITA	10-12 GIRLS BASKETBALL	38-31 LOSS to THAC	Due to injuries and absences, John Therry played with only 5 players and were able to stay competitive with THAC. However, due to the fatigue and the constant assault from THAC - they could not hold on for much longer. Overall, the girls played well and kept the difference in scores under double digits. MVP: Ella Coombs
MR WILLIAMSON	7-9 BOYS VOLLEYBALL	No Game - Wet Weather
MRS HYNARD	7-9 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL	No Game - Wet Weather
MR TRAN	10-12 GIRLS OZ TAG	Loss 9-2 vs MAG	Unlucky today as we did not come out with the result we wanted. But in saying that the efforts from the girls were outstanding. Veronika busted through the line and sprinted the field for our opening try. Bridget also strode through the line late in the game to lift the spirits of the team. The girls' efforts today were unmatched even with the score being 9-2 they continued their effort throughout the whole game. Not to mention the amazing fill ins for the girls who were absent. Really great team effort today. MVP: Gabbie Sloan
MR MCGRATH	10-12 BOYS OZ TAG	WIN 8-6 vs MAG	An important win in round 5 spelled an undefeated regular season for JT. The boys started strong with some slick work in the middle which allowed some nice tries out wide for Matt and Noah. After the halftime break, JT started well with big energy plays from Riley and Marshall. A lot of silly errors in the wet conditions let Magdalene claw their way back into the contest. An intense finish saw each team go try for try, however JT pulled away with a 8-6 win. MVP: Riley Oitmann
MRS BULGER (Winter)	7-9 GIRLS HOCKEY	Loss 3-0 vs St Benedicts	Today, the year 7-9 Girls Hockey team came up against an experienced St. Benedict’s hockey squad. Our JTCC Girls, put up a great defensive effort, opposing a relentless St Benedict’s attack and we were able to prevent 3 shots on target in the first 5 minutes. Credit to our backline led by Alice Stephenson for preventing any more potential goals and putting pressure on shots against our goals. With the majority of the game being played on the defence, the girls should be proud of keeping the final score to a 3-0 loss. MVP - Alice Stephenson
MR GERIBO	7-9 GIRLS IND CRICKET	Loss 103-45 vs MAS	The Year 7/9 girls' indoor cricket team played an exciting match but unfortunately lost. Megumi and Chelsea scored the most runs for their team. Despite facing tough opponents, the team fought hard and showed great sportsmanship. The match was a great display of indoor cricket, and the Year 7/9 girls' team can take many positives from their performance. MVP: Chelsea Bond
MR CHAPMAN	7-9 BOYS SOFTBALL	5-2 LOSS vs MCCC	JT came up against MCCC and batted first. MC had a representative level pitcher and restricted us to just two first innings runs. In the field we competed with enthusiasm, however, MC were just too good on the day. Neither team managed to score any second innings runs. MVP: Boston Melville

U15 BOYS BILL TURNER CUP

The boys 2023 Bill Turner Cup campaign kicked off on Tuesday 21st March against Amity College.

The team comprised a good selection of NPL and club footballers across the field and our expectations were positive for our first match.

The game started poorly with a goal being conceded in the first 90 seconds. Some poor communication and lack of responsibility the cause of our problems.

But the boys bounced back, clearly in for the fight with some great midfield combinations that created some scoring opportunities. After a few subs, Davonne Plaatjies entered the frey as the smallest player on the park but showed he had the biggest commitment, winning the small fights which created more opportunities in the attacking third. We soon equalised in the 12th minute as Amity failed to clear the ball off their line.

We entered the half time break in control of the game but not on the scoreboard. We made more subs and capitalised on the opposition weaknesses to create more shots on goal, but failed to convert. Man of the minute Davonne earned a penalty kick but Jaiden Cosmidis failed to convert. He would get redemption in extra time.

The scores were tied after regulation time and we entered golden goal extra time with player drop offs after every 5 minutes. We only needed one minute and Jaiden converted from the top of the 18 yard box by blasting a great shot past the keeper.

And JT ran in and swarmed each after a great first game performance. Still plenty to improve on for the next game against Mt Carmel. Stay tuned for more details.

Back row: Will Chanhdara, Jeshua Prakasham, Brooklyn Osbourne, Jaiden Cosmidis, Robbie Blake, Aiden Murray, Jon Vasilopoulos

Front row: Cooper Marshall, Bryson McIntyre, Maahir Boonzaier, Davonne Plaatjies Norman Hachem, Emilio Miranda, Blake Neale

Upcoming Events Term 1 2023:

Week 10

Wed 29th March - 15’s + Open Rugby League Selection Trials @ Kirkham Oval

Thu 30th March - JTCC Cross Country (Competitor’s Only) @ Thomas Acres

Thu 30th March - Dio U15 + Open Girls Netball Trials @ Berkeley

Fri 31st March - 7-10 Boys Soccer Championships @ Kooringa

Fri 31st March - 7-9 Girls Soccer Championships @ Nowra

A reminder to check the Compass Portal for upcoming sporting events and their respective closing dates.

NSWCCC Teams

Remember that there is a new way to nominate individual sports for NSWCCC. This portal is open now and all students wanting to trial for Southern Country and NSWCCC representative teams are to ensure they register by the appropriate CLOSING DATE.

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.

You can also access the Wollongong Sport site for more information throughout the year.

https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/sport/diocesan-sport-news

SPORTING ACHIEVEMENT

As we head towards the end of the term, there have been some Diocesan Pathways selections to be announced.

Congratulations to the following students:

Chayse Davies U15 Diocesan Rugby League

Riley Oitmann Open Boys Rugby League.

Isabella Wragg-Leighton will also be competing at the NSWCCC Swimming Championships on Friday 31st March. We wish Isabella all the best in her events. Stay tuned for more sporting achievements.

Bridget Shearer, Ella Fisher, Riley Oitmann, Noah McKenzie, Luke Dennis and late call up Coby Hilton will represent Wollongong at the NSWCCC Touch Football Championships in Wagga Wagga in week 11.

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,

Mr Jamie Cook Mr Luke Bodeker

cooka01@dow.catholic.edu.au bodekerl01@dow.catholic.edu.au

Have you been the the John Therry Facebook and instagram pages recently? Keep up to date with current events and photos that showcase life at John Therry.