JOHN THERRY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL WILL BECOME JOHN THERRY CATHOLIC COLLEGE

FROM 2020

I am well aware that I have already written to you regarding the possible name change of the School. Well, I now write to confirm this will take place. We WILL be moving from John Therry Catholic High School to John Therry Catholic College from the start of 2020. After Bishop Brian’s approval, and that of Peter Turner, Director of Schools it was forwarded to the Minister. The Education Minister has signed off on the name change and new certificates of registration will be issued in December. So what does this mean? It means that we will move to be the last Catholic or Independent school in Campbelltown to be called a College. 

After almost forty years in education across Sydney and Campbelltown I am amazed at how many families and students feel constrained by their postcode. The ability of the kids at John Therry, your children, is as good as those at Mount Carmel, Patrician Brothers Fairfield, Christian Brother’s College Burwood, Trinity Catholic College, Auburn and Holy Spirit College Lakemba – all colleges or schools that I have had the pleasure of working in. 

Lets work together to set them free and so that they can achieve their best at what they can in life. The kids do not know how good they are unless they give it their best effort.

Many parents have asked about the name change and uniform costs involved. The current uniform will be allowed to be worn for three years, (2020, 2021 and 2022) so that families will not have any additional burden about uniform costs. The uniform with any changes will not be on sale until December 2020 for the incoming Year 7 students in 2021. 

SOCIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY – 29TH SEPTEMBER

I remind all that this Sunday is a special one in the Catholic calendar. Social Justice Sunday has the 2019 theme of :-

Making it Real: Genuine human encounter in our digital world

And focuses on the impact of social media upon our world and more importantly our kids. I urge you to visit the link below. 

www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au

Wishing all a very 

happy holiday break

On Thursday 19th September the new School Leaders were formally inducted and badged by their predecessors, below is the speech from our new School Captains.

Hi everyone, my name is Jessica Soh and this is Luke Kostsou we are your new college captains for John Therry Catholic College, 2020. The leadership team are really excited to be the first college captains. We are immensely grateful for the opportunity to represent John Therry and we congratulate the incoming leadership team on receiving their positions. Both Luke and I would sincerely like to thank everybody who have provided us with this opportunity and we want to express how grateful we are to be a figure of leadership alongside our amazing team. All who bring their unique and individual talents to strive in improving and building upon previous years efforts. We are all really looking forward to representing you and providing the direction for our college. 

We’d like to thank the current student leaders in particular Josh and Larissa on their amazing work which they have achieved over the past 12 months. As a group of leaders you have been such great role models and ambassadors for the school, and we appreciate everything you have done. As School captains you have set such high standards for us we hope to follow in your footsteps as the new college captains. 

Our aim for 2020 is to strive for excellence and continue to grow as a community. Our team are really keen on implementing the marist values throughout the school, we’ll start by doing the small things, keeping our college environment clear of rubbish, greeting each other with a smile and hello and respecting the dignity and humanity of each person. These actions may be small in nature, however they are indicative of a community that shows respect for all. We want to role model a committed John Therry student in all aspects of college life, at all times. 

Leadership is made up of dedication, sacrifice and having the confidence to stand up for what is right and just. This responsibility is not lost on us and we will strive to be the best possible leaders we can be, while helping others to do the same. Leadership is action, the way we interact, behave and talk to all in our community. I once  heard a quote, “If it comes easy, it's not worth it. If it's worth it, it will not come easy. '' The job ahead of us will have its challenges and we will be stressed, tired, scared and pushed out of our comfort zones, but it will be worth it. We know that our team has our back and we will continue to try and exceed all expectations.

We are proud to be your leaders for 2020 and, we along with our team, will do our best to ensure the college keeps heading in the right direction, alongside Mr Marshall and the college executive. As leaders we encourage you to approach us for a conversation or whatever it may be. Thank you to all our family and guests who are here today, celebrating our induction as college leaders, without your support this would not be possible. We wish year 12 2019 all the very best of luck in your exams and future direction.

10.1 SCIENCE MAKE FLUORESCENT BACTERIA!

Over the past three weeks John Therry students from 10.1 Science have been participating in the Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE) – an innovative science education program that offers high school students hands-on biotech lab experience. Students work through the process of extracting genes, cloning genes and inserting them into bacteria to create a fluorescent bacteria. This process mimics those used in medicine, for example in the creation of insulin.

This is our first year running the Amgen Biotech Experience and it’s been an excellent way to give students a new appreciation of how science influences their daily lives. John Therry  focuses on building a culture of aspiration and we know that programs like this can get the students more engaged in learning, both during their time here and beyond. With Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) becoming increasingly important in the world around us, the more we can do to help our students develop knowledge and skills and discover interesting study and career paths, the better.

On Monday Federal Member for Macarthur, Dr Mike Freelander, joined our young scientists to see the program in action. Dr Freelander said, “It’s a great pleasure to see students participating in evidence-based programs like the Amgen Biotech Experience and I commend all those involved for making it available in our local area.”

The students also had a lot to say a lot the experience:

Caitlin Larue: “It showed me the real process scientists worldwide use for genetic modification with the latest technology. I learnt valuable skills such as using micropipettes and how to do gel electrophoresis. The experience was overall fun and brought up discussions within my family as I shared my experience and my mother showed me her notes when she studied genetics in University. I learnt teamwork and communication as well as the importance of lab safety.”

Damien Pattinson: “Amgen is all about learning about new scientific techniques and technologies that can benefit society in the pathway of biology. The foundation of our experiment was learning about the process involved with genetic engineering. We research real life examples of how what we do in class resembles processes that biologists use in the real world, for example, modifying plasmids that contain insulin making genes, placing them into bacteria to ultimately create more insulin to be injected into people suffering type 2 diabetes.” 

Olivia Stonebridge: “The Amgen Biotech experience was a fun and exciting experience. It was exciting to use this knowledge for something that can help people and actually matters.”

Connor Dickens: “This experience has given me a chance to learn so much about biology and DNA while also being in a fun environment! I think biotechnology is amazing, and we were especially lucky to have a chance to give it a go.”

Vanessa Rayon: “The hands on experience allowed students to experience what being ‘real world’ scientists would be like. We were able to connect our theory lessons to the real world allowing for better understanding of the biology content.”

Thomas Dwyer: “The experience has enabled us to elaborate and explore scientific investigating techniques. The experience has taught us how to use equipment and skills, which would normally only be available in later university years.”

Toby Harland: “This experience was definitely something to remember! I did not even think such a task was even possible (make fluorescent bacteria), let alone be able to be done by high school students.”

The article is also available on the CEDOW website https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/about-us/general-news/bringing-biotechnology-to-the-classroom-for-john-therry-science-students

YEAR 10 DRAMA EXCURSION; ‘LORD OF THE FLIES’

On Wednesday August 21^st, the Year 10 Drama class, saw ‘Lord of the Flies’ at the Sydney Theatre Company in the Roslyn Packer Theatre at Walsh Bay. It was a matinee performance specifically to cater for High school students. Students from as far as Nowra came up for this significant experience. The plot centres on when a plane crash leaves a group of schoolboys marooned on a desert island. It is not long before they descend into rivalries, chaos and violence.  Artistic Director Kip Williams’ staging made our students look at Lord of the Flies with new eyes. It was an excellent example of physical theatre with minimalist props. It had an exciting ensemble of adult actors, including Australian screen star Mia Wasikowska (Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland) bringing Golding’s island of boys to life, showing how quickly small cruelties can escalate. More than just pig’s blood will be spilled. William Golding’s Lord of the Flies is a 20th century masterpiece, as relevant today as it was on its publication in 1954. In it, Golding created an enduring modern myth, examining humanity’s terrifying capacity for self-destruction. Thank you to Mrs. Cascarino for her organisation of this event, and to all the students who really enjoyed the experience.

YEAR 10 PHOTOGRAPHY EXCURSION COCKATOO ISLAND

On Friday August 23^rd , students from the Year 10 Photography and Digital Media classes accompanied by Mrs. Hume, Mrs. Parkinson and Mr. Peters visited Cockatoo Island in Sydney Harbour, as part of the current unit of work; Locate, Situate, Speculate. The focus for this term’s artmaking task is film-making. At this location, students worked to produce a short ‘Thriller’, ‘Drama’ or ‘Horror’ film with i-movie. Other locations on offer included Circular Quay, at the railway stations, on the ferry or on the train.  In a similar fashion to the ‘Tropfest’ film festival which has a signature item each year, in this task the Signature Item was ‘CANDLE’. That meant ‘CANDLE’ needed to be in some part of the short film.

In addition to an awe-inspiring harbour location, Cockatoo Island provided backdrops ranging from heritage to industrial. The remains of a convict prison, houses dating from the 1840s, cavernous workshop spaces, sculptural cranes and dry docks, all only 20 minutes away from Circular Quay by ferry. Students engaged with this spectacular and natural landscape, colourful convict past and industrial heritage to shoot for both their short films (moving images) and photographs (still images). Students were given a short walking tour of the island by their teachers and given the remainder of time to go to their own site-specific location in groups to get footage for their films. Their behaviour was exemplary. We look forward to their completed films.

HSC SHOWCASE EVENING 2019

It is important to celebrate the achievements of our most senior students.

One of the key benefits of learning at John Therry Catholic High is the fact that our curriculum supports our students in studying a wide range of subjects. Our students excel particularly in the Creative Arts and they are rightly celebrated for their achievements. 

In 2019, our Principal, Curriculum Coordinator and the Executive Team identified a need to draw attention to the achievements of our most senior students, the HSC class of 2019. The demands of the HSC are hard to overstate, and any Year 12 parent will testify to the hours of determined research, practice and preparation that are necessary for students to perform at their very best during this important year. 

The HSC Showcase Evening was an event that was designed to achieve the following aims:

• To allow students to display and demonstrate their achievements across a range of academic subjects
• To allow HSC students to receive feedback that is crucial to the process of their Major Works.
• To provide a large audience for our performance students to prepare for their practical examinations
• To allow parents, family and friends to ask questions and interact with students to better understand their achievements. This involved challenging the students to prepare for these discussions and to demonstrate the depth of their knowledge and understanding. 
• To demonstrate to our younger students what is expected in the HSC, and to inspire them, challenge them and help them make informed decisions about their future studies.

In  2019, we were fortunate to see outstanding Major Works, Performance Pieces, Bodies of Work, Folios and Projects from a wide range of Subjects including:

• Aboriginal Studies
• Drama           
• Music
• Photography

• Visual Arts

This was the first time we provided a showcase for all of these subjects on one night, and it is a testament to the hard work and enthusiasm of staff and students.

The evening was intended to create a strong sense of community with approximately 200 hundred people in attendance. As a school, we look forward to continuing to grow and develop the evening to make it a “do not miss” calendar event. Thank you to all the teachers, students and the Hospitality classes who assisted setting up the catering for this event. Without your support this would not be possible.

RUVARASHE SHOKO ; THE UNLISTED

Congratulations to Year 10 Drama student Ruvarashe Shoko who was cast in the current Channel 2 Drama series ‘The Unlisted’. Ruva is an outstanding unassuming student who is following her dreams. She was recently on television in episode 7 release on September 20^th. The series will premier on Netflix on October 15^th.

The plot is based around Twelve-year-old identical twins Dru and Kal who discover that the government is secretly tracking and manipulating Australia’s youth via electronic tracking devices. Together with a group of underground vigilante kids – The Unlisted – they must stop the evil authorities from creating an army of young soldiers who can be manipulated to serve the wealthiest citizens. We are very proud of Ruvarashe's achievements and look forward to her future success in the industry.  You can watch the current episodes on abciview.

YEAR 9 PASTORAL DAY 

This past Tuesday saw Year 9’s first pastoral day, the theme of the day was Stewardship and the activities and focus was based on doing good for others. Year 9 were encouraged to think about their world and the impact that humans have on the world. 

The day began with prayer and reflection in which we discussed what stewardship means for us and what we are called by God to do as stewards of the environment. The challenge was put forth for students to put their own wants in the background for the day, and to focus on what they can do for others. From the first session we moved into our various groups, where students used their skills and talents to participate in a variety of different activities. The groups included:

• Sport Games for OLHC in which Students from year 3 and 4 came up to the school oval and our students ran sport games and activities with these students, under the instruction of Mrs Bulger and Mr Connor. 
• Music Recording under the direction of Mrs Morton students prepared and recorded songs that we will then give to a local nursing home.
• John Therry Book, With Mr Robinson students refined and illustrated the story of John Therry, using art to visually show this story.
• School Stewardship with Mr Foreshaw and Mrs Lewandowski involved students working around the school to clean, maintain and neaten our surroundings, as well as planting nearly 100 plants in our gardens.
• Reading Games with OLHC in which Kindy and Year 1 classes came up to the school library and with Mrs Carrol, students worked with them to play reading and literacy games.
• Rosemeadow Pond Cleanup in which students with Ms Schnebli and myself walked up to the pond with gloves and bags and cleaned up seating areas and looked after the environment.
• We also had a great team of photographers who spent the day following the groups capturing the great work. 

Overall the day was a huge success, students went above and beyond in their various activities and rose to the occasion beautifully. The students from OLHC had a fantastic time with our students and those students involved with these activities were fantastic role models. It was wonderful to have the opportunity to show the community the fantastic work that is done in year 9 and the fantastic attitude and dedication of the students. 

I would like to thank all staff and students involved in the smooth running of this day and creating activities and connections that hopefully continue as part of the JTCHS culture.

Year 7 AIME Experience 

Over the last two weeks Year 7 AIME students have had a fantastic time participating in cultural activities led by AIME mentors. The program was run outdoors in & around our reconciliation garden. Students were actively involved in Yarning Circles & cultural activities including weaving as well as planting a range of new native plants in our reconciliation garden.

Students shared their own personal experiences & many talked about how hearing other students’ stories helped them to connect with their culture. They were taught about the significance of the lyrebird as the centre piece of our garden & its importance to the traditional owners. 

The students are looking forward to continuing their cultural journey at JT & watching their garden flourish over their time at the school. 

SPORT REPORT TERM 3 - Week 10

Thank you to all students involved in sport throughout term 3. John Therry is now currently equal first for the MISA champion school, as we make our way into the final term of MISA for 2019.

Sporting opportunities coming up:              

MISA term 4:  TRIALS will take place in week 10 of Term 3 and week 1 of Term 4.

MISA OPTIONS: TERM 4

-7-9 Boys OZTAG

-7-9 Girls OZTAG

-10-11 MIXED FRISBEE

-7-9 BOYS AFL

-7-9 GIRLS AFL

-7-9 BOYS INDOOR CRICKET

-7-9 GIRLS SOFTBALL

-10-11 BOYS VOLLEYBALL

-10-11 GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

Term 4

Week 1- Friday 18th October                         Diocese Junior Boys (8-9)/ Girls AFL (7-9)

Week 2- Wednesday 23rd October                Diocese Cricket Junior Boys

Week 3- Monday 28th October                     Diocese Basketball (Junior/ Senior) Boys + Girls       

CCC Athletics

The following students competed at CCC Athletics at Homebush on Friday 20th September and recieved the following placings.

- Olivia Southby (1500m) 3rd

- Patrick Picot (High Jump) 1st 1.81m

- Nikita Maika-Teal (Javelin) 9th

- Kynan Sparks (100m, 200m) 8th and 4th

- Allyssa Barry (Javelin) 7th

- Kylee Dries (Hurdles) 5th

A fantastic effort by all competitors well done to make it to the CCC Carnival. Patrick will now go to the All Schools Tournament.

*If you have any sporting news you would like to share with our community, please contact Mr Daniel Goodhew daniel.goodhew@dow.catholic.edu.au

For more sporting information, please visit the John Therry Sport Page

https://sites.google.com/dow.catholic.edu.au/johntherrysport/home

Regards

Mr Daniel Goodhew