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We have returned in Term 4 to much warmer weather and a flurry of activity. The HSC examinations have commenced well, and our students have impressed us with their dedication and commitment to doing their best. There are still two weeks of exams remaining before we conclude with the Year 12 Formal in Week 5.
We began the term with our 2026 Year 12 Leadership Induction Assembly, and our new student leaders were featured in the previous newsletter. Our incoming School Captains, Elijah and Hemakshi, spoke beautifully about servant leadership and the role each of us plays in the communities we are part of. I’ve included a short excerpt from their speech below:
"..this is our ultimate goal: to foster not only the college community but every community each of you is part of. To go forth and be full of grace. To make the hard choices — but the right ones.
The challenge stands before us:
What kind of community are we becoming?
Are we willing to love beyond comfort,
to forgive beyond fairness,
to serve without counting the cost?
Who will we walk with, and what will we stand for?”
Their words remind us that every act of kindness, courage, and faith — no matter how small — plants the seeds of a stronger, more compassionate community.
This week, our Year 9 students commenced their final exams. We’ve been impressed by their commitment, behaviour, and focus throughout the exam block. This is the first formal exam period we hold for our students, helping them become familiar with the procedures and expectations of large group examinations.
Next week, we will hold our Year 11 Student-Led Conferences, where students will reflect on their achievements and progress in the Preliminary HSC and consider how to build on these as they commence the HSC pattern of study. We look forward to seeing as many students and parents as possible as we make the most of the opportunities that the HSC provides.
Across all year groups, the next six weeks will include many final assessment tasks and key activities as teachers finalise grades for the year. I spoke with students at our recent assembly about the importance of this time in determining their final reports and encouraged them to make the most of the remaining weeks. Attendance is a key part of this and we encourage to ensure they are at school every day to ensure they have the opportunity to achieve to their potential and strive for their personal best, whatever that may be.
JTCC Plant Sale Supporting Australian Marist Solidarity
John Therry Catholic College is hosting a School Plant Sale from 27th to 31st October at the Front Office. A wide variety of plants will be available for purchase, with all proceeds donated to Australian Marist Solidarity. It’s a wonderful opportunity to brighten up your home or garden while supporting a meaningful cause.
Here are some photos of our students helping to prepare and care for the plants.
Special thanks to Mr John Tannous for his work in contacting and picking up some plants for the garden sale on Thursday afternoon. He met at Parramatta with Martin & Jenny who grew some of the plants that we will sell in the plant sale. They have given us a significant discount on the plants when they heard JTCC are supporting a charity - Australian Marist Solidarity in our plant sale.
Huge Thank You for the generous donations from Red Leaf Nursery in Douglas Park, made possible through the support of our alumni JTCC student Nathan McAteer.
Cash sales only — don’t miss out!
Konnichi wa.
My name is Hannah and I spent the school holidays representing Campbelltown Council and the Campbelltown-Koshigaya Sister Cities Association in Japan as part of their 38th delegation in the Sister Cities Student Exchange Program. I stayed with a wonderful host family, who warmly welcomed me into their home, and I instantly became a part of their family.
Over the course of 12 days, 15 delegate members and 2 leaders explored all of Japan's abundance in culture, history, tourist attractions, food, and more. Japan is a beautiful country full of incredibly welcoming people, incredible food, and even more incredible sites to see.
During my stay, I had the pleasure of seeing so many wonders, including the Imperial Palace, teamLAB Planets TOKYO as well as visiting a local junior high school, a primary school, and a preschool. At each school I had the privilege of interacting with them, even though I don't speak Japanese and they don't speak English we were still able to communicate quite easily through Translate or their teacher and we all had a fantastic time, and they were all so nice and inviting.
We were able to spend a weekend with our host families, where they showed us around and took us to their favourite places around Tokyo. My family took me to Shibuya and Harajuku, where we spent the day shopping, going to a Samoyed dog cafe, and so much more. I also walked the famous Shibuya Crossing and took lots of photos.
After a tearful goodbye to our host families we had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity - a day at Disney Land which was by far my favourite. I loved every part of the trip, and I think I can speak on behalf of everyone in the delegation when I say we were all incredibly devastated to leave Japan and will never forget the photos,
memories, and lifelong bonds we have formed over this incredible adventure together.
I can highly recommend this experience to anyone who lives in the Campbelltown area and has an interest in Japan.
Thank you,
Hannah Kingston
Last term Year 10 students completed a fieldwork excursion to Wattamolla in the Royal National Park. They worked alongside National Parks and Wildlife Service Rangers and their teachers to conduct hands-on investigations both on the beach and within the forest.
The students explored the ecology of the area, collecting data to understand the unique relationships between plants, animals, and their environment. A key focus was investigating the impact of human activity on this delicate ecosystem. This included examining litter, erosion, and the strategies in place to manage visitors.
This invaluable experience not only helped them apply classroom concepts in a real-world setting but also developed their practical research skills and fostered a greater appreciation for environmental conservation.
In the early hours of Saturday Oct 11, 20 John Therry students joined a group of over 50 walkers to raise money for the 24 Hour Fight Against Cancer Macarthur. They joined the DawnBreakers team, who walk from Camden Palliative Care Unit to Campbelltown Sports Stadium at Leumeah - a whopping 20 kms. This DawnBreakers team also includes 25 hospital staff from both Campbelltown and Camden hospitals. The JT students ranged from Year 7 to Year 12, and we had 4 parents walk alongside as well. All are to be commended on this huge commitment, particularly as this took place not only on a weekend, but during the school holidays!
The walk begins at Camden, walking towards Narellan but cutting through the back of Elderslie/Narellan Vale. We then walk through Mt Annan to our first pit stop at Mt Annan McDonald’s who donate fruit, water, juice and cookies as support for us. We continue along Narellan Rd and pit stop at Campbelltown Hospital for a photo, before continuing along Queen St. We quickly stop at Kings Charcoal Chicken who sponsor the main event and also walk in the DawnBreakers side - they always give us trays and trays of fresh watermelon which tastes so good after walking 16+ kilometres at this point. We then continue to Woodbine McDonald’s where we have a final catered pit stop, before we cross over the train tracks and enter the Stadium as a part of the Opening Ceremony of the main event. Our event is then over, whilst the event for the majority of walkers just begins as they start their laps and walk into the night.
The JT team has so far raised an incredible $5,600, with one Year 9 student raising upwards of $1,000 on her own! All funds raised stay in the Macarthur region and go towards support and care for cancer patients. Donations are still able to be made if you wish to support this cause, (thank you!)
https://fundraise.24hrfight.org.au/page/376044/john-therry-dawnbreakers-contingent .
Miss Kelleher would like to thank Mr Miszczyszyn, Miss Palmer-Simpson and Mrs Simurina for their assistance on the day. We also note ex-student Tiana G - who graduated in 2022 and still wanted to be a part of the JT crew!
Unfortunately, Miss Kelleher was a bit physically and mentally wrecked by the end of it to get a photo of the group (and I think the kids were too!), but please enjoy some of our photos from along the journey.
Photos:
5am - JT team photo at Camden Palliative Care Unit
7:15am - full team (80+ crew) photo at Mt Annan McDonalds
7:30am - walking through Mt Annan (the shoulder ride receiver has her mum right next to her, don’t worry!!)
8:20am - full team photo at Campbelltown Hospital
9:00am - JT and Dawnbreakers photo at King’s Charcoal Chicken
9:40am JT team photo at Woodbine McDonalds
Route Map
Year 12 Featured in Marist News
We are proud to share that our Year 12 students have been featured in the latest edition of Marist News (Solidarity Matters, Spring 2025) for their fundraising efforts in support of Australian Marist Solidarity (AMS).
Their commitment has made a real difference, reflecting the Marist values of compassion and community in action. You can read the full article on pages 10–11 of the publication here:
JTCC SPORT UPDATE - Term 4, Week 2
As our Year 12 cohort graduated last term, we must first acknowledge our Champion House for 2025 carnivals.
With a solid win by Conolly house in the 2024 Jack Crawford, it looked like there would be a shake up to knock Murray off their winning perch. Unfortunately, Murray's competitors were not going to go down without a fight. Murray went on to claim victory in the swimming, cross country and completely dominated at the Athletics carnival. This left daylight between Murray and second place Ryan. Our final point score is as follows:
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1ST PLACE |
MURRAY - 5702 |
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2ND PLACE |
RYAN - 4706 |
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3RD PLACE |
CHISHOLM - 4611 |
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4TH PLACE |
CONOLLY - 4317 |
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Congratulations to Murray house - on winning the Spencer Trophy for Champion House.
Once again, a massive congratulations to all of our Term 3 MISA teams on your efforts last term. Winning 5 premierships in a term is a fantastic achievement and puts the school in the mix for MISA Champion School which will conclude at the end of the term.
MISA - Term 4 - With MISA trials and training wrapping up last week, all teams are primed ready to battle it out for the first week of competition in Week 2. JT has a strong history of wins in the BOYS AFL, Mixed Frisbee and are quite competitive in the Oz Tag and Volleyball competitions. With a little luck, we will finish strong and give Mt Carmel a scare for the top spot in the MISA Champion School competition.
9/10 REC Sport Rotations update - Students begon their new rotations in Week 3. A reminder that as summer uniform is now permitted to be worn, students will be required to wear hats for outdoor activities, along with our existing uniform policy of no black socks, no anklet socks and the John Therry sport shorts and shirt.
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MISA - Round 1 |
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TEAM |
COACH |
W/L Score |
Sport Report |
SPOW |
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7-9 Boys Indoor Cricket |
Mr.Chapman |
Won 20-0 |
Unfortunately Mt Carmel had to forfeit the match due to their bus arrangements. |
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7 - 9 Girls Softball |
Mr. Hatton |
Win 9-0 |
A great first up effort for the competition. Outstanding pitching from Primrose kept the Magdalene batter bewildered and some awesome catching from Mikayla helped a great deal. Out batting though inexperienced soon picked up the way the running had to go and we got 9 runners across the plate in total. Maree at first also had a great game in a crucial position. |
Primrose De Jesus |
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7-9 Boys AFL |
Mrs. Roberts |
WIN 57-0 |
JT secured a strong victory over MacArthur Anglican in a straightforward round 1 match, showcasing teamwork and determination across the field. Lennix O’Dwyer dominated the midfield with relentless pressure and precision kicking, while Abdullah M provided crucial target down forward and in the ruck. Up forward, Lucas F and Cooper F combined brilliantly, each contributing key goals that contributed to the win. It was a well-rounded performance from JT, highlighting their growing confidence and skill as a unit. Goal shooting accuracy needs some work, with 9 behinds today showing potential for a 100 + scoreline. The goal for the term is to keep every opposition team scoreless. |
Abdalla Mohammed |
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7-9 Girls Oztag |
Mr Tran |
Won 6-0 |
Great way to start the season with some excellent team play by the girls. Amelia Brown made some great decisions in the middle of the field to get the ball to the strike players Ivy Smith and Olivia North. Well done to all of the girls with a convincing win! |
Ivy Smith |
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7-9 Boys Oztag Div 1 |
Mr McGrath |
Lost 9-5 |
Today we came up against a strong Broughton side. Broughton scored early and their defence didn't allow us much attacking opportunity in the first half, trailing 6-2 at half time. We showed improvement in our attack in the second half scoring 3 tries. Try scorers today were Jayden, Corey and Adrian came away with a hat trick. The boys defended well but unfortunately Broughton were too good, eventually going down 9-5. Good start to the season. |
Adrian Haule |
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7-9 Boys Oztag Div 2 |
Mr Reynolds |
Lost 2-5 |
The boys showed good spirit despite going down 2-5. A lot of chemistry to build with a mixed year team. There was a lot of positive communication throughout the match and confidence was lifting towards the end with the boys pulling through 2 late tries. A bit of a scramble at time with some boys still settling into positions, regardless, they showed great sportsmanship and hustle. Broughton unfortunately capitalised on a couple of mistakes and were the better team of the match. |
Jack Armstrong |
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10-11 Boys Volleyball |
Mr Williamson |
Lost 2-1 |
An excellent first up match. High level of competition that we unfortunately ended on the wrong side of the points score. Held the early lead and had two match points in the second set but couldn’t find the right shots when it mattered. The team played well with a strong squad and all likelihood of reversing the result in the final. |
Will Chanhdara |
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10-11 Girls Volleyball |
Mrs Hynard |
Lost 3-0 |
Despite going down 3–0 in the first match of the season, the girls showed great teamwork, enthusiasm and determination throughout the game. They communicated well on court, made some excellent rallies and demonstrated strong potential for the season ahead. Looking forward to next week’s game. |
Maddi Albrow |
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10-11 Mixed Ultimate Frisbee |
Mr. Bodeker |
Won 16-11 |
Despite not playing to our best in the first half, we went into half time with a 10-6 lead after some impressive touchdowns from our three girls - Ava, Alice and Chloe. Brougton were able to hit back with some early touchdowns in the second half and the game was very even for the majority of the second half. Jordan, Nicholas and Tre-James stepped up and were able to bring us home for a hard fought victory. Well done on a good win despite playing with 7 players the entire game. |
Ava Abi-Khattar |
MISA is online:
Please encourage your students to check the MISA website for all the weekly results. MMISA also has several social media pages where lots of updates, photos etc are posted. Instagram seems to be the most popular one with the students, but we do have Facebook too!
Illness/Injury:
It has come to our attention that a number of students are presenting to Sports Detention with notes from home claiming illness or injury. Unfortunately, some of these notes have proven to be forged or falsified. This is a serious matter.
Students who regularly submit notes to avoid participation may be required to provide a doctor’s certificate to support their claim. Any student found submitting false or misleading notes will face further consequences. .Furthermore, students who repeatedly attend Sports Detention may be escalated to an afternoon detention. We expect honesty, integrity, and active participation in all aspects of school life, including Sport.
Diocesan Girls AFL:
On a hot Friday, our 7–9 Girls AFL team travelled to Macquarie Fields to compete in the Diocesan AFL Carnival. With a squad of 16 determined players, the girls took to the field ready to give it their all.
We opened our campaign against Holy Spirit, putting on a solid performance but ultimately going down despite some fantastic teamwork between Amelia Brown and Ella Harris, who combined beautifully to score two goals. The promising start gave us a false sense of confidence heading into our next match against St John’s - a bigger, faster, and stronger side who managed to post 52 points against us in just 18 minutes.
With spirits slightly dimmed, the girls faced St Mary’s in their final pool game, showing glimpses of improvement but going down 27–1. This result placed us in Semi-Final 4, facing Mount Carmel, who finished third in Pool B. After a motivating team chat and some much needed lunch, the girls came out firing, leading at half-time thanks to renewed energy and teamwork. Unfortunately, the momentum wasn’t sustained, and we eventually went down 26–7.
Our final match was the 7th vs 8th playoff against Corpus Christi. It was a tight contest, but after a long, hot day of football, fatigue set in, and we fell short 16–13, finishing in 8th place overall.
A special mention goes to our Player of the Day, Kiana Blackwell, who was a standout in defence. Kiana consistently applied pressure, getting hands to countless shots on goal and turning several certain goals into behinds.
Despite the results, the girls showed great spirit, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout the day. It was a valuable experience, and we’re proud of the way they represented the school.
Diocesan Junior Boys Basketball
The JTCC Junior Boys basketball team has once again proven their dominance on the court, clinching their fifth consecutive Diocesan Championship title after a thrilling day of competition.
The boys opened their campaign with a hard-fought 33-33 draw against a strong St Benedict’s side, setting the tone for a competitive pool stage. They bounced back immediately with commanding wins over Mount Carmel (39-24) and Corpus Christi (39-20), showcasing a blend of disciplined defense and high-paced offense.
Their only blemish came in a nail-biting 25-27 loss to Holy Spirit. Despite the defeat, JTCC tied with Saint Benedict’s on ladder points but claimed the top spot in the pool thanks to a superior for-and-against margin.
In the semi-final, JTCC faced St John’s Nowra and delivered a composed performance to secure their place in the grand final—setting up a rematch with Saint Benedict’s.
With the title on the line, JTCC rose to the occasion, defeating St Benedict’s in a tense final to lift the Diocesan trophy once more and cap off a successful and determined campaign. Mayan Ajak was named MVP of the tournament, delivering an outstanding all-round performance. His leadership on both ends of the court—driving the offense and anchoring the defense—was pivotal in JTCC’s success.
Also making key contributions were Cooper Firman, whose relentless hustle and defensive pressure wore down opponents throughout the day, and Dorak, who came through in the clutch with timely three-point shots to shift momentum in crucial moments.
JTCC’s blend of skill, grit, and team chemistry once again proved too strong for the competition, securing yet another championship banner for the school.
Diocesan Junior Girls Basketball
The Dio basketball team put in a determined effort across their four games, showing spirit and teamwork despite not securing a win this time around. The girls played with grit and energy, representing the school with pride and persistence.
Captain Sienna led from the front, displaying great aggression and drive throughout the competition. Her leadership helped keep the team focused and fighting until the final whistle.Ella Harris earned the MVP title for her outstanding all-round performance and consistent effort across all games. Jada worked tirelessly on both ends of the court — her non-stop hustle and determination were a standout. She should be extremely proud of her contribution. Layla brought persistence and high energy, constantly pushing the pace and keeping team morale high. Raquel was a calm and collected presence on court, showing composure under pressure for the day. Lucy proved to be a key jumper and another standout performer, using her athleticism and timing to make a strong impact in both attack and defence. Emily played a key supporting role, backing up her teammates and contributing solidly throughout.
Although the results didn’t go their way, the Dio team showed resilience, teamwork, and spirit that will contribute strength into next year's comp!
Bottom row (left to right): Layla Caruana, Lucy Wicks, Raquel Bayon
Top row (left to right): Ella Harris, Sienna Larner (c) , Emily Marks, Jada Wagstaff
Senior Girls Diocesan Basketball
The senior girls showed great spirit and determination throughout their four matches, giving their all in every game. While the team didn’t come away with a win this time, their effort, teamwork and positive attitude never wavered.
Ava, despite playing with a broken finger, impressed everyone with her strong defense and confident attack, even sinking a fantastic three-pointer in the opening minutes against Mt. Carmel. Elyse moved freely around the court, creating space and opportunities for her teammates with her excellent positioning. Jazwyn was aggressive and determined, regularly intercepting passes and gaining possession. Her consistency paid off, scoring in all of our matches. Ava A also added to the scoreboard in our game against St. Patrick’s.
Ella and Maddi both played to the best of their ability all day, showing great perseverance and teamwork. Although we were up against stronger teams, the girls held their heads high, remained positive and represented our school with pride and sportsmanship.
A big thank you to Jaz, who volunteered her time to do the bench for all the junior games between our own — a wonderful show of school spirit and support.
Well done, girls, on your effort, energy, and enthusiasm throughout the day!
Mrs Hynard
Bottom row (left to right): Ava Abi-Khattar, Jazwyn Lyddieth
Top row (left to right): Ava Hilton, Elyse Stonebridge, Ella Rowley, Maddisson Giles
Diocesan and Pathways update
2025 planning and calendar for representative pathway opportunities are below.
CEDoW WEBSITE- Event Information, Selected rep teams and Carnival Results
A reminder to visit our Secondary CEDoW Sports Web current information about events, selected teams and carnival results
Don't forget to follow the CEDOW instagram handle: @cedow.sport
Students at John Therry are given the opportunity to represent John Therry at College, Diocesan and CCC sporting events.
CLICK HERE - JTCC PATHWAY INFORMATION
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:
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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)
Jamie Cook (cooka01@dow.catholic.edu.au )
Please find below a link to the latest Parish Bulletin