John Therry Catholic College eNewsletter

Last weekend we lit the second candle on the Advent wreath, reminded of the profound gift of peace that Jesus brings, and the call for each of us to be peacemakers.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus proclaims, "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God" (Matthew 5:9). This call invites us to actively foster harmony, understanding, and reconciliation in our lives. Peace is not merely the absence of conflict; it is a commitment to living with compassion, forgiveness, and love.

In our school, being peacemakers means choosing kindness over division, listening with empathy, and working together for the good of all. Whether it’s resolving a disagreement, offering encouragement, or standing up for what is right, these daily acts of peace reflect the heart of our Catholic mission.

Advent is a time of preparation. As we await the birth of Christ, let us also prepare to bring His peace into our homes, our community, and our world. This week, may we each reflect on how we can be instruments of peace, sharing Christ’s love with everyone we encounter.

This newsletter is the last full newsletter of 2024, and how quickly it has come and gone. We celebrated our Advent Mass and Sports Awards this week, and we look forward to our Presentation Day and JT Superstars on Monday. Jack Crawford Games have unfortunately been cancelled late today, due to forecast weather close to 40 degrees on Tuesday. We will find a new date for 2025 and ensure this event is celebrated.

We farewell a small number of staff at the end of this year who are moving on from John Therry. We farewell Mr Barton, Mrs Monahan, Mrs Snushall and Mrs Rueda who are all taking on new opportunities, and have been wonderful contributors to our College in their time here. They will be greatly missed and we wish them all the best. I will introduce our new staff in our message in Mid January with return to school information, but we are very blessed to be bringing on some wonderful teachers who will be great additions at John Therry in 2025.

We held our P & F meeting in Week 8 and shared the final draft of the Master Plan for John Therry which was well received. This work will bring our learning spaces up to the highest quality, and match the beautiful grounds we are blessed with at John Therry. A significant item of discussion was the College Uniform and the importance of us maintiaing our high standards of uniform as an outward sign of pride and respect, and the high standards that we have here at John Therry. We discussed the uniform guidelines being underpinned by our Catholic and Marist values of simplicity and modesty, and a desire to maintain a general conservative approach to our uniform. As such we will look to clarify and renew our focus for all students to be in full uniform everyday in 2025. See below some Key reminders for uniform that we will look to have full compliance with in the new year.

1. Hair - a reminder that long hair must be tied back, and the hair policy includes a statement on ensuring there are no extreme variations in length. This includes mullets, undercuts, and rats tails.

2. Earrings - a reminder that our uniform policy has 1 pair of plain sleepers or studs for females and no earrings for males. Please ensure any new piercings done early in the holidays are able to be removed for the return to school.

3. New Sport Jacket and Jumper - should be available early in the new year and can be worn as part of the College Uniform. Old Sport Jackets and jumpers will continue to be able to be worn as part of the uniform as we gradually transition. The new sport jacket will be a compulsory item for Year 7 2026 and beyond.

Return to school dates for 2025.

Friday 31st January - All Staff Return

Monday 3rd Febraury - Staff Development Day

Tuesday 4th February - Year 7, 11 & 12 Return

Wednesday 5th February - Whole School returns

There are increasing numbers of students who are not bringing basic equipment and stationery to school and we ask all families to ensure each student has the required equipment for learning. The school can support with items if required.

Stationery lists will be sent out mid january, and will be similar to previous years for those wanting to get organised earlier.

Congratulations to Year 12 Visual Arts student Angelica Jeanneret. She was the recipient of the ‘Packing Room’ prize for her Visual Arts body of work : ‘Ioche’. It was judged as the best work from all Wollongong Diocesan schools at the Inaugural ‘Illuminate’ Creative Arts Showcase.

Angelica stated that ‘“Ioche” explores the disconnection of self through the transition into adolescence.

My title “Ioche”, means the fear and realisation of the uncomfortability with being an individual. A term which synthesises my depiction of the adolescent journey to developing your own identity. My self portraits portray an evocative monochromatic scale to convey isolation and self reflection. I utilised demand gaze as if staring in the mirror, capturing the discomfort with the person in the reflection. The distortion of the portrait displays the separation from identity, representing the adolescent experience of enduring changes and new concepts that complicate one’s understanding of the world and oneself’.

Celebrating Excellence in Japanese Studies

On Wednesday, 4th December, Japanese students from John Therry Catholic College proudly attended the Campbelltown Koshigaya Sister City Association awards presentation ceremony at the Campbelltown Civic Centre.

The event was hosted by Mr. Terry Crotty, President of the Association, with awards presented by Campbelltown's Mayor, Councillor Darcy Lound. These prestigious awards acknowledge students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement in Japanese language studies and actively engage in cultural activities both within and beyond the school environment.

Representing John Therry were Year 11 students Trent Jones and Max Thammavong, alongside Year 9 students Sibella Keith and Dennis Tran. These students have shown remarkable dedication and enthusiasm for their studies and cultural participation, earning them this well-deserved recognition.

Congratulations to Trent, Max, Sibella, and Dennis on this fantastic achievement!

On November 26th, we had our inaugural ‘Rapture 2024’ Dance Showcase in the school open
for parents and friends. It featured nine performances and one Dance film showcasing the
wonderful array of student talents across different dance styles. This was an extension from
our MISA Dance festival. The MISA Dance performance was held in Week 8 of Term Two
where our Dance team produced a 9 ½ minute work of Dance Artistry. For our MISA Dance
performance sixteen girls from years 7 to 10 were able to collaborate and combine their
diverse dance styles and experiences to co-create a layered and meaningful Dance work that
communicated themes around silencing negative voices, developing positive self-concepts,
and acknowledging a Creator God’s presence in our lives. The theme tied in well to our
Marist Focus and celebration around the power of pray and in following the light to realise
your destiny.

With this vision in mind, in Term 3 the MISA Dance team were keen to generate their own
choreographed works which were featured at ‘Rapture 2024’ Dance Showcase. ‘Rapture’
meaning to be taken over was a suitable title of our show and year to year it will remind us
to exercise and pursue our God given gifts and talents and to allow our passion to take over
us so we may transcend and have fulfillment in our lives.

The theme of our 2024 MISA Dance work was truly lived out by JT Dancers over the year as
the team have certainly grown in self conviction, confidence and performance quality
through the collaborative process and performance opportunities afforded. The team have
really built a strong bond and their connection is and was evident in their beautiful dancing
and unified spirit both at the festival and at the ‘Rapture 2024’ afternoon recital. A strong
message is being delivered by the 2024 MISA Dance Team which is to promote Dance as a
relevant corporeal, intelligent, spiritual and much needed cultural exchange for our dancers
and for the community.

We look forward to continued participation and excellence in Dance at JTCC in 2025.
Our Dancers included Paige Grey, Paige Halliday, Hannah Dale, Maddison Giles, Eliza Byrnes,
Kiana Blackwell, Finlay Thomas, Khloe Michelutti, Halle Neilson, Ella Savage, Tehilla
Vimbainashe Chriwa, Olivia Ayres, Zeva Welch, Sarina Jameson, Amelia Garus, Hollie
Gorman and Abigail Algie. Thank you to Mrs Vanessa Cozzarin for all her work with the girls
to make these opportunities possible.

Year 10 Food Festival a Mouthwatering Success!

What an amazing time at our Year 10 Food Festival! From the delicious dishes to the incredible teamwork, the event was a true celebration of collaboration and creativity. Our students showcased their culinary skills and entrepreneurial spirit, working together to present a collage of flavors that delighted everyone.

We’re thrilled to announce that all 11 food trucks and 200 dishes SOLD OUT! A huge thank you to everyone who came out to support our students and make this event such a resounding success.

Your enthusiasm and encouragement mean the world to us. We can’t wait to see you next year for even more tasty treats!

On Tuesday 3rd December, our amazing Year 8 MISA Debating Team competed in the Grand Finals of the debating competition, against St Francis Catholic College.

Throughout Semester 2, Sue Nguyen, Isabelle O'Toole, Sophie Collet and Emily Huang worked extremely hard in each debate, and proved their skills to be exemplary. Their use of manner, method and matter shined through in each debate, and earned them a spot in the grand final.

The debate was tough, and extremely close and ultimately St Francis came out with the win, making John Therry 2nd Place in all of Macarthur. Although our team did not win, each member should be very proud of themselves as they have shown their tremendous growth and hard work throughout the Semester.

Year 8 Students Experience the Rhythm of Taiko Drumming

Friday of Week 6 brought an exciting cultural experience for Year 8 Japanese students and Japanese elective students as they picked up their bachi (drumsticks) and embraced the art of taiko, traditional Japanese drumming.

The session, led by Kiyomi from Tyke-Oh Japanese Drumming, began with a demonstration of the correct way to hold the bachi, position themselves around the drum, and follow the beat. Students quickly picked up the rhythm, rotating around the circle to create a unified and powerful sound.

The workshop not only offered a hands-on experience with a significant aspect of Japanese culture but also encouraged teamwork and coordination. By the end of the session, the group’s effort and enthusiasm had transformed individual beats into a synchronized performance.

This unique activity enriched the students’ understanding of Japanese culture and was a memorable highlight of their language studies. Well done to all students for their incredible effort and teamwork!

This week, our Year 9 and 10 Commerce students had the exciting opportunity to attend a workshop run by University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Startups, where they explored the world of entrepreneurship and innovation.

The workshop began with an introduction to entrepreneurship, sparking insightful discussions on what it means to be an entrepreneur. Students then dove into an ideation and problem-solving session, creating customer personas and developing innovative solutions to real-world challenges.

We were honoured to welcome Jojo Yeboah, founder of Big Talks Weekly, as the workshop facilitator. Jojo’s story is truly inspiring. From a challenging childhood in Ghana to migrating to Sydney in 2008, Jojo shared how his education empowered him to overcome adversity and ultimately led him to create Big Talks Weekly—an innovative platform that bridges the gap between education and real-world events, making learning dynamic, current, and engaging.

A huge thank you to Jojo Yeboah and UTS Startups for inspiring our students to think big, take risks, and embrace the entrepreneurial mindset. Who knows? The next great start-up idea might just be brewing in one of our classrooms!

Careers Advisors Macarthur Schools - Fact Finding Day

Careers Advisors from across the Macarthur Region gathered on Monday, 2nd December, for a Fact-Finding Day aimed at gaining first-hand, up-to-date information about career opportunities in Defence, Logistics, and Warehousing.

The day commenced with a visit to the Navy at Garden Island. Guided by a Defence Force Recruitment Officer, the group toured the impressive Naval facility, including a detailed exploration of the HMAS Choules, a landing ship. The Captain of the vessel provided insights into the modern Navy, highlighting the wide range of career opportunities available, from technical roles to leadership positions.

Following lunch, the group proceeded to the Moorebank Intermodal Precinct, a cutting-edge development in Logistics and Warehousing. This sprawling site integrates warehousing, road, and rail transport for the seamless and efficient transfer of goods. As Australia’s largest intermodal logistics precinct, it is set to employ more than 9,000 people upon completion.

The tour at Moorebank included a comprehensive bus tour of the precinct, followed by a walking tour led by the MainFreight group. Advisors were given an in-depth look at the operations of a modern large-scale logistics warehouse and learned about the technologies and strategies that drive this industry.

Career opportunities in this field are diverse and include:

Logistics coordination
Inventory management
Warehouse management
Strategic planning
Supply chain optimisation
Forecasting and demand planning
Customer service
Supplier relationship management
Managing advanced technologies (AI and robotics)
Truck and train driving and organisation

The Fact-Finding Day was an informative and eye-opening experience, showcasing the dynamic and evolving career paths available in these industries. By gaining this valuable knowledge, Careers Advisors are now better equipped to guide students across the Macarthur region toward exciting opportunities in Defence, Logistics, and Warehousing.

JTCC SPORT UPDATE - Term 4, Week 9

We’re wrapping up with the final few weeks of sport. Our Year 8&9 students have done their 2025 REC Sport selections and our expression of interest form is live on Compass for 2025, Term 1 MISA teams. Our first round of MISA trials was held in Week 9, with our second and final lot of trials to be held in Week 2, Term 1 2025.

Yesterday our college community gathered to recognise the achievements of student-athletes who represented the college and Diocese of Wollongong at the highest levels of competition. The event marked a fitting conclusion to a busy sporting year and showcased the exceptional sporting pathways available to students and teachers within the college.

More than 200 dedicated student-athletes were honoured for their outstanding achievements, and we had the honour of having Jessice Hull, Olympic Silver medallist joining us as a guest speaker.

Some highlights of the assembly included:

Winning 12 premierships across the 2024 MISA sporting season and had multiple runner up places. Our Junior girls finished in 5th place, with our senior girls in 4th place. This year I am happy to report that John Therry has again won the Senior Boys CHampions Trophy and to top this, our Junior Boys have also won the Junior Boys Champion Trophy. Both groups easily won their divisions demonstrating the dominance of the JT boys teams. It was a neck and neck race with Mt Carmel, as it has been for the last 10 years. Unfortunately, just like in 2023, we have just fallen short of our cross town rivals, finishing in second place by 24 points.

In Diocesan competitions this year, 29 students were selected into Diocesan teams, plus we had 2 teams win an overall Diocesan Championship and one team win a CCC knockout tournament. We had 8 students selected through to a Southern Country and 14 students were selected into a NSWCCC team.

Our key individual awardees were:

Coach of the Year	Mr Jefferys
Most Consistent Performer	Ava Hilton
Service to Sport	Cooper Dickie
Triple Crown - 3 x Age Championship winners	Balin Crews & Zoe Hawkes
Sportsperson of the Year	Sullivan O’Dwyer

MISA - FINALS

John Therry had four teams that won through to the Term 4 MISA Finals with another three teams making through to minor placings play-offs.

Congratulations and good luck to our Junior Boys AFL, Junior Boys Oz Tag, Junior Boys Cricket and Senior Boys Volleyball teams who will represent John Therry in the Finals.

Fingers crossed for the Junior Girls Oz Tag v Broughton [3rd place playoff], Senior Mixed Frisbee v Macarthur Anglican [3rd place playoff], and the Junior Girls Softball team v Mt Carmel [5th place playoff].

As it turns out JT were very successful across the final games of the Term 4 Competition. Congratulations to the Senior Boys Volleyball, Junior Boys Oz Tag and Junior Boys AFL teams who won their finals to secure maximum points from their competitions.

Our 10/11 Mixed Frisbee and Junior Girls Oz Tag teams secured third place with strong wins.

A massive thank you to all the JTCC students who represented the College in the 2024 MISA competitions.

Uniform Expectations:

A reminder that as we are in Term 4, the College will be enforcing the College Summer Uniform Policy and requesting all students wear hats at recess and lunch and during all PDHPE and sport lessons. A reminder that students are to wear the appropriate white sports socks [no anklets] and the required sport shorts [not rolled up at the waist].

MISA Results - FINALS

TEAM	COACH	W/L Score	Match Report	SPOW
10-11 Boys Volleyball	Mr Williamson	Won 2 - 1	[1] MCCC v JTCC [2] MISA PREMIERS A win for the ages that was accomplished the hard way. In the past two weeks the boys have reversed the regular round score line to come up trumps when it matters. Progressing from third place at the end of the comp to deserved Champions. Again today, we did it the hard way to come from a set down, and win the match in the third. Perseverance and psychological destruction were the key terms that led to victory. Well done to all.	Moni Tumanuvao
10-11 Mixed Frisbee	Mr Bodeker Miss Moon	11-5 Win	[3] JTCC v OPAC [4] A good way to finish the season for the frisbee team. Despite strong winds making the game very stop start, JT were able to run away with a comprehensive 11-5 victory. With all the scoring happening down the one end, we managed to find our girls in the end zone to ensure we were going up by 2s. We trailed at half time only for JT to hold OPAC to 0 in the second half. The team should be proud of finishing the season in 3rd place.	Tre-James Roberts
7-9 Boys AFL 12's	Mr Geribo	46-16 Win	[1] JTCC v MAG [2] MISA PREMIERS After a hotly contested game last time we played Magdalene the boys knew they needed to be on their game, and they were certainly up to the challenge. We took the initiative immediately and began dominating possession and field position but in blustery conditions found it difficult to punish Magdalene on the scoreboard. With strong contributions all across the pitch, we were able to kick a few goals and maintain control of the match. It was a full team effort, with special performances from Noah and Cooper at the back, Sully, Lennix and Josh in the middle with Moni winning every ruck contest. This was such a positive way to finish the season and win our second grand final in a row. Most of these boys now step up into the senior competition next year and look forward to that challenge as well. Our goal kickers today were Deng (2), Lennix, Ryder (2) and Noah D.	Sullivan O’Dwyer
7-9 Boys Indoor Cricket	Mr Chapman	28-24 L	[1] JTCC v MAG [2] JT faced off against Magdalene in the Indoor Cricket Grand Final. After winning the toss, we sent Magdalene into bat and started steadily. The opposition was on 30 runs after the first two pairs and looking on track for a good total. JT lifted in the field, taking some excellent catches to restrict Magdalene to 28. With the bat we struggled all the way through and left too much for the last pair to do. We fall agonisingly short, losing by just 4 runs. A great season by the boys and they should be proud of their efforts.	Nicholas Augustine
7-9 Boys OzTag	Mr McGrath	6-4 Win	MISA PREMIERS Talk about leaving the best game until last! Odds were against us leading into the grandfinal, given we lost by a few tries last time we faced Magdalene and today we were a few troops short. Nothing phased our boys at all, and every student lifted for the occasion. The wind was against us in the first half, with Magdalene attacking us set after set and really putting the pressure on. No matter what they sent us, our defence stood strong and they couldn’t crack us. We went into half time 3-0 up, beaming with confidence. The boys continued the enthusiasm in the second half and were led by our middles (Leal’s x 3, Kayden, William). These boys really set the tone for the game and did not let up on Magdalene. Our links were as strong as always (Dion, Riley, Jacko) creating many opportunities for our wingers who both got a meat pie in the grandfinal. Congratulations on becoming premiers in 2024!	Kayden Thompson
7-9 Girls OzTag	Mr Tran	5-4 Win	[3] BAC v JTCC [4] A story of two halves. The girls began the game like a coca-cola that had been left in the sun for 3 months - flat. Minimal ball movement and communication allowed for Broughton to control the game and go out to an early 2-0 lead. Fortunately for the girls, they showed some resilience and fought back to be down 1 at half time - 3-2. The 2nd half was a clinic of defence and ball movement. Emilie Velin and Jada Wagstaff were crucial in stifling the attack and allowing for our girls to start on the front foot. Olivia North and Candice Stapleton were exceptional in attack As they were guided by ella Harris into the open green pastures.	Olivia North Candice Stapleton Emilie Vellin
7 - 9 Girls Softball	Mr Hatton	3-1 Loss	[5] MCCC v JTCC [6] A very good game by both sides. Some great hitting by MCCC saw JT get behind in the runs in the first innings. Terrific base stealing by Piper Regan gave us a 1 run deficit to try and make up. Unfortunately some good running from MC saw us go one further behind. Our 2nd innings saw some technical outs that gave the win to MC. Thank You to the girls for a great season and in particular those who filled in for us today.	Piper Regan

If you have any questions regarding MISA Sports, please feel free to contact me. Mr Jamie Cook cooka01@dow.catholic.edu.au

JACK CRAWFORD GAMES 2024 - TUESDAY 17th DECEMBER POSTPONED

An update will be provided shortly on the running of Jack Crawford Games in early 2025.

External sporting achievements

Jackson Schulstad - Jackson was in Brisbane over the weekend to compete in the 2024 Australian All Schools Athletics Championships. He performed immensely well, with a silver medal in the 16 years boys High Jump, and established a new Personal Best jump of 1.94m in the process.

Congratulations to Jackson on an awesome achievement!

Diocesan and Pathways update

As our 2024 draws to a close, we are starting to look towards our 2025 planning and calendar. In a few weeks we will be producing the 2025 pathways calendar for students to begin planning their 2025 sporting goals.

Upcoming NSWCCC events

Students at John Therry are given the opportunity to represent John Therry at College, Diocesan and CCC sporting events.

2025 Events open for registrations- Triathlon teams and Softball are now open.

Diocesan Sporting Opportunities

This is the main school sporting pathway that is offered to students at John Therry Catholic College. Some John Therry CC Diocesan teams are determined through trials, or a carnival hosted at a college level (Athletics, Cross Country, Swimming), however some teams are determined by individual trials that students must nominate and register for online. Further information can be found at: https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/sport/

NSWCCC Sporting Opportunities

NSWCCC is another school sporting pathway that is offered to students at John Therry Catholic College. Some CCC teams are determined through qualifying at a carnival hosted at a Diocesan level (Athletics, Cross Country, Football, Rugby League, Swimming, Basketball, Touch Football), however some teams are determined by individual trials that students must nominate and register for online. Students must be currently competing at a representative level in their chosen sport to be considered for CCC team trials.The sports that require online nomination and registration include:

AFL
Baseball
Basketball
Cricket
Diving
Golf
Hockey

Rugby
Softball
Tennis
Triathlon
Volleyball
Water Polo
Netball

It is important that online registration is completed before the closing date for each sport. These are outlined on the CSNSW website: https://csnsw.sport

Online registrations are now open for 2025. Please refer to the information on the website regarding the registration process. Here is a link to assist with sports registration for parents: https://csnsw.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/2/topic/65d787c5-0d2a-4699-a63a-25d586b67ba2

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

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

https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/student-experience/sport/secondary-sport

Yours in Sport,

Georgia Roberts (RobertsG03@dow.catholic.edu.au)

Razorback Christmas Trees Spreads Festive Cheer

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Razorback Christmas Trees for their incredible generosity in donating two beautiful Christmas trees and bases, valued at $530, for the Foster Catholic Care Christmas Dinner.

This thoughtful donation will add a touch of festive magic to the event, bringing joy and warmth to all who attend. We are grateful for their support in making this Christmas season extra special for our community.

A big thank you to Razorback Christmas Trees for spreading the Christmas spirit and supporting such a meaningful cause!

Please find below a link to the latest Parish Bulletin

https://www.olhcrosemeadow.org.au/bulletin/