Newsletter 2013 November 28 - St John Fisher College

Thursday 28th November 2013

Dear Parents & Caregivers, This is our last newsletter for 2013! This week we farewell our Year Eleven and Year Ten students as school winds down for the year. The Year Eight and Nine students began the program for Options and Futures week. This program is important for students at both year levels as it is the way we deliver our Career Education and each program builds on the other leading up to the Career Week activities in Year Ten. Your daughter may tell you she is ‘only playing games’ however they are an important part of this program. Next Wednesday we welcome our 2014 Year Eight students to the College for their orientation day. This is the beginning of their transition into our College community and we look forward to working with them and their families in the years ahead. As we approach Christmas we should take some time to reflect on the real meaning of Christmas. With so much emphasis placed on the buying of gifts and the spending of money it is very easy for us to lose sight of what we are celebrating. Even when we do think of Christmas we often don’t go further than the very simple story of the birth of Jesus in a stable. We miss out the real significance of the events. What difference will Christmas make in our lives? Will it be ‘here today and gone tomorrow’ and we will only be left with financial pain? Perhaps we could pledge along with Charles Dickens: ‘I will honour Christmas in my heart and try to honour it all year.’ To be Christian people means to carry in our lives throughout the year, God’s gifts of peace, justice and love. We are called to have an impact in our world today. It is that time of the year when we acknowledge people who are moving in new directions in their lives. Mrs Kerry McGuinness, Assistant Principal – Curriculum, is leaving on after thirteen years working in our community. During her time here she has performed a number of roles and she is now moving on to new challenges as Assistant Principal – Students at Lourdes Hill College on the Southside. College Business Manager, Mrs Barbara Singleton, is retiring after fourteen years working in this community and Mr Shane Weir, ICLT Coordinator is moving on to the position of Head of Business, also at Lourdes Hill College. Mr Leo Simonis, who has been on leave from his teaching role for over eighteen months, is feeling much better, however has made the decision to retire and enjoy a much slower pace of life after more than fifteen years serving this community. We thank these people for all their hard work and dedication to this community and for sharing their gifts and talents with us over many years. We wish them well as they leave us to take on new challenges in their life’s journey. Farewell and thank you also to Miss Cecilia Rynne and Mr Craig Holmes as they complete their contracts with us and move on to other positions. We wish them well with their new challenges. A big thank you also to Miss Jade McKenzie who has been Acting SOSE Coordinator this year; we thank her for her preparedness in taking on this role and for a job well done. Finally I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a relaxing time with family and friends as we celebrate all that is Christmas and look forward to a very busy but rewarding 2014. Good luck to the Year Eight girls who are getting ready for their Streets of Success on Monday night. We are looking forward to meeting some amazing people! Maree Messer

Monday 2 to Thursday 5 December Monday 2 December Wednesday 4 December Friday 6 December Wednesday 29 January 2014 Thursday 30 January 2014

Upcoming Diary Dates Yr 8 Options Week Yr 9 Futures Week Yr 8 Streets of Success – Refreshments 6:30pm | Official Opening 7pm Orientation Day for Yr 7 into Yr 8 2014 Term Four Concludes – Students Finish 11:30am Yr 9/10 Reports handed out in final PC Yr 10/11 Reports & Yr 12 References available from Library – 9am 10:15am Yr 8 and 12 Commence Yr 9, 10 & 11 Commence (Yr 11 & 12 Finish at 12:45pm)

This week has been a busy one including Year 9 PE excursion to Boondall Skating Rink, Year 10 History rock and roll dance lessons, guest speaker for Year 9 and 10 students from the Black Dog Institute, Year 11 Discernment camp and Year 10 activity day. There is no sense for us that we are winding down next week either with Yr8 Options week, Year 9 Future week, Year 8 Streets of Success and Year 7 into 8 Orientation Day. Hence, all Year 8 and 9 students need to be in attendance until Friday 6 December at 11.30am. This time of year is a very hectic one for teachers and we paused this week to reflect on our teaching vocation with this prayer:

Jesus, The Teacher He never taught a lesson in a classroom... He had no tools to work with, no blackboards, maps or charts... He used no subject outlines, kept no records, gave no grades, and His only text was ancient and well worn. His students were the poor, the lame, the deaf, the blind, the outcast... And His method was the same with all who came to hear and learn... He opened eyes to faith... He opened ears with simple truth... And opened hearts with love, a love born of forgiveness... A gentle man, a humble man, He asked and won no honours, no gold awards of tribute to His expertise Or wisdom... And yet this quiet teacher from the hills of Galilee has fed the needs, Fulfilled the hopes, and changed the lives of many millions... For what He taught, brought heaven to earth and God's heart to mankind. Our belief in Jesus Christ is at the heart of everything that we do in a Catholic school. As humble, broken, imperfect human beings we need to work continually to stay focussed on the values that are at the heart of Catholic Education and to ensure that all of our actions and words are inspired and informed by our faith and by the teachings of Jesus Christ in the gospel. Throughout the Christmas Season, we will take time to celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ into the world and into our hearts. It is a time of celebration and joy, but it is also a time that challenges us to forgive, to love, to show compassion for others. These are the values that are at the heart of our Christmas celebrations. Thank you to all for a wonderful year. I wish you all the best for a relaxing holiday season and a Happy Christmas season. Regards and blessings, Sharee Lane

Subjects 2014 All students have now received their subject allocations. A reminder, students have until the February 7 to change from their existing subjects. Subject change forms are available at the office. 2013 – Striving for excellence Striving for excellence can only be achieved with likeminded individuals working together, and this is true for the Academic team at SJFC. The business of learning is lead successfully by a wonderful team of strong, dynamic and creative individuals: Business & Technology – Mr Shane Weir, Drama – Mrs Suellen Geran, English & LOTE – Ms Rikki Chandler, HPE, Home Economics & Hospitality – Mrs Michele Tillack, Mathematics – Ms Lyn Hedemann, Science – Mr David Hooper, Social Science & Visual Art –Ms Jade McKenzie Religious Education – Mr Gary Conwell, , and VET & Careers – Mrs Sarah Meder, Teacher-Librarian – Mrs Frances Zabarauskas and Support Teacher – Ms Kerry Peacey. This group of curriculum managers have been a guiding force in the academic success of students. Not to go unnoticed is the wonderful team of teachers and support staff each of the curriculum managers leads. It is through the hard work of those teams that quality learning experiences are produced for students. I would like to congratulate them on their fine efforts this year and encourage all students to also pass on their individual thanks. Congratulations also to all students for a wonderful year. 2013 has been a year of striving to be empowered learners. The holidays are well-deserved. It is during these wonderful long holidays that we rejuvenate, repair and recharge ready for 2014 - ready to harness our passion for learning.

Farewell It is with both great sadness and excitement that I write my last newsletter article. I have spent thirteen wonderful years at St John Fisher in various roles across pastoral care coordination, VET, careers and now in curriculum. I would like to thank the current and past families and their daughters who have allowed me to work with them. In this time there have been some tears and lots of laughter, but most importantly the privilege of watching the growth of our girls from children to young women empowered to take on all that life holds for them. I would also like to thank the wonderful team of staff who have supported me across this time and who work miracles each day to ensure the best possible outcomes for our students.

May there always be work for your hands to do. May your purse always hold a coin or two. May the sun always shine on your windowpane. May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you. May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you. I would like to wish all students and their families the joy of Christmas and a safe and happy holiday. Regards, Kerry McGuinness

APRE

Mr Gary Conwell

Last Tuesday’s Courier Mail Headstart section featured a double page spread entitled Symbols of Christmas. The feature detailed various Christmas symbols from around the globe including a statue of the Virgin Mary, a nativity scene, mistletoe, Christmas cards and an array of fancy and elaborate decorations. It struck me that the symbols listed were all very concrete tangible symbols that at some level were closely related to the culture of the people from which they originated. The nativity scene detailed very European looking characters in a traditionally accepted manger scene; the 500 million Yen Christmas tree with pure gold plated decorations suggested a commercial interpretation of the Christmas message; and the fireworks scene seemed to suggest that fun and frivolity is very much associated with our idea of Christmas. The Responsorial Psalm from the Second Sunday of Advent, and its reference to the mission of the Messiah (Jesus) seems to point us in another direction when thinking about the season of Christmas: Response. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. Justice shall flower in his days, and profound peace, till the moon be no more. May he rule from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save. (Psalm 71:1-2, 7-8, 12-13) The composer of Psalm 71, traditionally thought to be King David of ancient Israel (or perhaps Jeremiah the prophet), was envisioning a time when the great religious leader to come (who for King David was the coming Messiah, and who for Christians was to become Jesus Christ) would place an extreme emphasis on levelling the playing field of inequality in the world. Notice references in the passage to words such as justice, peace, poor, afflicted and save. It suggests that whatever Christmas has become for us individually and collectively, it must have something to do with redressing the inequality and disadvantage that surrounds us. It was not happenstance that Jesus directed much of his ministry to those who were sick, poor and marginalised on the edge of Jewish society of his day; and that he directed his teaching to individuals to redress their prejudice and accept the coming of his new kingdom - a kingdom (the domain of a king) that would rule over the hearts of people. I think it is timely, in light of The Courier Mail’s article, to suggest that the greatest symbols we could ever offer as truly representative of the Christmas season are charity and compassion. These symbols are not shiny and enticing but every bit as real, and most importantly transformative in quality. Indeed they are produced only when we change our perspective of another’s circumstance and lay aside our grievances. Jesus offers us a challenge to take his ministry, as described in the Psalm, into our hearts to transform us, then into our spheres of influence – our families, friends and wider society. I wish each and every person in our College community a very Merry and Happy Christmas, adorned with works of forgiveness, compassion and mutual respect. Blessings, Gary Conwell

A couple of weeks ago we said our final goodbyes to our Year 12 girls and I must say their behaviour in their final week was beyond reproach. In many schools this is a dreaded time in the school calendar with students creating havoc; instead, our girls enjoyed each other’s company and showed a deep respect for their school by the way that they conducted themselves. Dressed as various characters from Harry Potter, they entertained us with a game of Quidditch at morning tea. The girls thoroughly enjoyed their Farewell Assembly last Friday morning and appreciated the effort from all year levels to give them such a lovely farewell. Congratulations and best wishes to all of them. I offer thanks to all who have contributed in any way to make a difference this year so that we will leave the school year in a better way than how we began it. I would like to recognise the efforts of the Pastoral Care teachers who have walked each step of the way with your daughters: 11B – Ms Cecilia Rynne

11M – Mr Michael Ephraims

11Q – Mr Ryan Slavin

11R – Mrs Jodie Trounce

12B – Ms Lyn Hedemann

12M – Mrs Karen Formosa

12Q - Mrs Frances Zabarauskas

12R – Ms Rikki Chandler

Finally, I would also like to extend my thanks to you as parents and caregivers for your gratitude and encouragement throughout the year. Thank you for your support, particularly during the challenging times that our girls have sometimes found themselves in. I look forward to working with the new Year Elevens and the new Seniors of the school in 2014. I wish you all a safe and happy holiday and a blessed Christmas time with your loved ones. Kind regards, Carol Hoareau

What a year! Jam packed with activities, fun and of course school work! Today we say Farwell to our year ten students. The year ten students ended the year with going to Splash. Fun was had by all who attended and we finished the day off by celebrating the year with afternoon tea. I would like to take this opportunity to wish every Year Ten student the best of luck as they enter senior school. It has been a pleasure and a privilege getting to know each and every one of you over the past year and a half.

The Year Nines have one more week left of school. During the last week of school the Year Nines will be participating in Futures week. This week will prepare them for their Set Plan interviews which are undertaken in Year Ten. On Thursday the 5th of December students are to wear full sports uniform to and from school. They will be undertaking various activities which will require them to be in sports uniform. May I also stress that full sports uniform includes the sports hat. They will also be having a pizza lunch to celebrate the end of yet another eventful year. On Friday the 6 th of December the year nine students finish 11:30am. With this in mind, Friday will be a “Free Dress Day”. Normal school social rules apply for this day. I wish them all a happy holiday and a well-earned break. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be the Year Nine Coordinator this year. Good luck to each Year Nine student as they embark on their journey in Year Ten. A big thank-you must go to all the Year Nine and Ten girls for making 2013 a year to remember. Thanks also to all the PC teachers who work tirelessly to make sure that pastoral care is delivered in the John Fisher way. I hope that the Christmas holidays are full of laughter, happiness and health for all staff, students and their families. Kirsty Kingston

Can you believe it - your daughters have nearly completed their first year of high school! What a milestone that is! As I said in my last newsletter, we are focussing on the Year Eights ending the year well and looking forward to next year as they enter Year 9. The Year Eights have been busy decorating their classrooms with new themes, organising their own community service projects and writing letters to their new sisters entering The College next year. This Friday marks the first day of an alternative week called ‘Options Week’. Through the first part of this week the girls will be involved in many activities organised by Sarah Meder, the Careers and VET (Vocational Education and Training) Coordinator and Amy Hodgkinson, the Student Counsellor. They will be reflecting on their own skills and abilities and looking towards their options for the future. It is aimed at opening the girls’ eyes to the many opportunities they have in the future and the pathways that will get them there. Next Wednesday is the Orientation Day for the 2014 Year Eights. I asked this years’ cohort to volunteer to be guides for the incoming Year Sevens and, pleasingly, I received an overwhelming response! On this day, selected Year 8 volunteers will act as guides for the incoming students, assist in morning tea and lunchtime activities as well as being friendly, familiar faces there to help answer any questions. On Thursday we provide a pizza lunch for all Year 8 students. The girls get a popper drink and half a pizza (Choice of Supreme, Hawaiian, Meat Lovers, Pepperoni and Vegetarian). As you can appreciate we cannot cater for every whim when we are ordering enough pizzas for one hundred girls. If your daughter cannot eat pizza she will need to provide her own lunch on this day, as there will be no tuckshop available. If your daughter needs to have an alternative meal arranged for her, she must see me on Monday. Also on Thursday, the girls will be participating in a Zumba lesson and resilience activities! They must wear their sports uniform to school and bring a water bottle, as these sessions are very active. On the last day students are to wear ‘free dress’ and there will be an opportunity to have a final PC gathering. Our emphasis in Year 8 is on sitting down to share food together and to talk about our experiences and time together. These parties are NOT designed to be an all in junk food party. While there is a place for lollies and chips, we continue to encourage the girls to bring a range of food and drink to share. We have been very impressed by the high quality of homemade food that many of the girls have brought in to share this year. I would like to end this final newsletter with thanks to you as parents and caregivers, for your support, gratitude and encouragement. For all of you – whether we have spoken or not, I appreciate the support you have shown by espousing the values and beliefs of the college and the St John Fisher way. I thank you for allowing us to teach, encourage and care for your daughters and for all your hard work in helping them with their transition into high school. All the best to you and your daughter for Year 9 and the future. To the Year Eights this year, I thank you for being, from the start, an enthusiastic, generous and kind group. I am thrilled by the transition you have made from Year 7 and by how you have developed throughout the year. Thank you for your cards, presents, offers to help and kind ways throughout the year. I encourage you to take up more opportunities the College offers and to remember the valuable lessons of Year 8. My hope for you is that you remember to show kindness, gratitude, initiative and to treat people the way you want to be treated. Remember to maintain your dignity and show respect for others, property and the environment. I want to thank the four dynamic PC teachers for their time, efforts and commitment to their classes. Each teacher has so many talents and gifts and I appreciate the way they use these gifts to help the girls in their PC class. From the non-stop, full-on support needed at the start of the year, to the firm guidance still needed today, these four teachers have significantly assisted your daughter’s journey throughout the year. To Jade McKenzie, Tracey Winders, Sarah Meder and Natalie Parks - many, many thanks. My words cannot express my appreciation of them and their work. They are absolute assets for St John Fisher College. I wish you all safe and happy holidays and a blessed Christmas time with your loved ones. Kindest Regards, Nicole Garske

Creator God, you know us and you love us. We give thanks for the year that has been; for the support of our family, friends and teachers; for all we have achieved and for the wonderful things yet to come. May we keep close to our hearts the importance of living authentically and allow ourselves to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. May we feel comforted in know that we have given of ourselves to reach our full potential in 2013. We pray that you watch over us and keep us safe throughout the holiday season as we take some time to smile, reflect and enjoy time with our loved ones. May we keep the true meaning of Christmas alive in our hearts and look forward to beginning 2014 with a happy heart; refreshed and ready to turn over a new page in our lives. We offer this prayer through Jesus our friend, AMEN. I wish you every blessing for a Happy, Holy and safe Christmas. See you next year, Julie 

As we approach Christmas and the summer holidays you may be looking for ideas to keep your daughters entertained. Books are a wonderful gift to add to Christmas stockings and a trip to your local library will open up a whole new world of summer activities. Here is a list of the most popular books and series borrowed from the College library in 2013. 1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. The movie of the second book has just been released in cinemas. 2. The Mortal Instruments series, which begins with the novel City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare. 3. The Eve trilogy by Anna Carey 4. After by Morris Gleitzman. This is the final in Gleitzman’s fictional series that looks at the Holocaust through the eyes of a boy named Felix. 5. Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl 6. Divergent by Veronica Roth 7. Looking for Alaska by John Green (suitable for older teens aged 16 and above) 8. The Matched trilogy by Allie Condie 9. Girl saves boy by Steph Bowe. Steph was our guest speaker at Book Week this year. 10. The Starcrossed trilogy by Josephine Angelini If you are looking for books to buy for your daughters or for them to seek out at the local library, you will find the website Commonsense Media at http://www.commonsensemedia.org highly useful. This website has comprehensive recommendations about suitable books, movies, television programs, games, apps and website for your child’s age group. Wherever you are this Christmas, take the time to enjoy reading as a family. Frances Zabarauskas

Uniform Shop & Book Hire

2014 – January Trading Hours Saturday Wednesday Thursday Saturday

11 January 15 January 16 January 18 January

8.30am – 12.30pm 8.30am – 12.30pm 12.30pm – 4.30pm 8.30am – 12.30pm

Thursday Friday Tuesday

23 January 24 January 28 January

12.30pm – 4.30pm 8.30am – 12.30pm 8.30am – 10.30am

Friday

31 January

8.00am – 9.00am

2014 – First Week of School Hours Wednesday Thursday

29 January 30 January

8.00am – 9.00am 8.00am – 9.00am

Thank you to those volunteers who have already offered their help  Help is still needed in the Uniform Shop on the following days: Saturday

11th January

Wednesday

15th

8:30am – 12:30pm

January

Thursday 16th January

8:30am – 12:30pm

Thursday

23rd

January

12:30pm – 4:30pm 12:30pm – 4:30pm

If you can help please phone Maria on 3269 2129 (Uniform Shop Hours) | 3269 8188 (School office) Leave a message or 0416 199 112 (Mobile) Call or text.

Important Information: Text books are to be collected from Lab 3 in the Science Block during the following times. Monday Tuesday Wednesday


8.30am – 12.30pm 8.30am – 12.30pm 12.30pm – 4.30pm

Thursday Friday Tuesday


12.30pm – 4.30pm 8.30am – 12.30pm 8.30am – 10.30am

You will need to bring your ID card and a list of your subjects with you when collecting. Textbooks will be placed on tables in alphabetical order in year levels. You will need to collect the textbooks you require for your subjects, then have your books scanned out to you. Please Note : Textbooks for 2014 may NOT be collected until all books from 2013 have been returned or fines have been paid. Thank you, Maria Wolf

St John Fisher College Tuckshop Volunteer I would like to offer my assistance and be placed on the Tuckshop Roster. Name: _______________________________________

Phone No: ____________________

Daughter's Name: ____________________________________ PC Class: _______________

I would prefer to help on a: MONDAY

TUESDAY

I am prepared to help: WEEKLY

FORTNIGHTLY

WEDNESDAY (please circle) MONTHLY (please circle)

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

OTHER: ______________________

 In our Community  Kiah Park Horse Riding

Cleaning up the Bay

Shorncliffe Boat Ramp (Baxter’s Jetty, Allpass Parade, Shorncliffe)

The Iona Passion Play - AUDITIONS Easter 2014 – back in Brisbane Experience Easter as part of the cast or crew of The Iona Passion Play. All are welcome – you can involve the whole family! Plenty of speaking, non-speaking and support roles available. Sunday Dec 1st @ 2pm and Sunday Jan 19th @ 1pm If interested please contact Veronica on 3333 1993 or [email protected]