Newsletter

Principal's Report

Social Justice Sunday - 24 September

Social Justice Sunday takes place on the first weekend of the school holidays under the theme  “Everyone’s Business - Developing an inclusive and sustainable economy”. As Archbishop Hart reflected on this week's Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard where all become active contributors and are recognised for their human dignity.

 

Inspired by this, the statement calls us to build an economy founded on true solidarity with those who are most vulnerable. Justice  must be built into the very foundations of our community, and business can work for everybody’s benefit, not just for shareholders. The excluded and vulnerable must have a voice in decision-making.

A Prayer for Eradicating Poverty 

Creator God,

 

Your image is alive in every human person

 

giving to each of us an inviolable dignity.

 

Create in us a desire to act in solidarity, the ability to work together,

 

and a willingness to share with others

 

our time, our energy, our skills and talents and our wealth.

 

 

As we share and enjoy the fruits of your creation,

 

restore in us your vision of a world made whole,

 

and inspire us to commit ourselves to the common good.

 

Gracious God, give us ears to hear, eyes to see and hearts to love,

 

so that we reflect you in our way of life,

 

and in our choices, words and actions.

 

Jesus is the good news to the poor.

 

As his followers, may we recognise the call to be the same.

 

Amen.

Parent Teacher Interviews

The end of term provides an opportunity to review students' progress and growth. I encourage all parents to come along with your sons and daughters  to the interviews held this week on Thursday and Friday in the Br Leo Scollen Stadium.

 

From mid-year reports, students with their teachers would have set goals in relation to their application, attitude and levels of achievement. Now is a good time to check in and see how they are progressing.

Year 12 Students - CLC Open These School Holidays

Our Year 12 students will be undertaking their important trial exams over the holiday period. We wish them well as they move into the final month of studies for the year.

 

In order to assist them in their preparation, the Contemporary Learning Centre will remain open from 9am untill 3.30pm  throughout the school holidays except for the public holiday prior to the Grand Final weekend.

VCAL at Work

Last week our VCAL students  completed a community service activity at Wellsprings in Dandenong. This was part of their curriculum program which focuses on Personal Development  and Work Related skills.

 

Wellsprings for Women provides a unique opportunity for people from around the world to discover pathways to empowerment and learning opportunities to help them live their lives more fully. 

 

Our students under the guidance of Ms Leana Bailey assisted the women in the development of a Community Garden. This garden will provide numerous opportunities to educate and help women get ready for work , support and provide for families as well encourage time together for social interaction and relaxation.

PreCAL Program - Work Placements

Our Year 10 students completing the PreCAL program had the enjoyable but challenging experience of a work placement. These placements were taken in a range of settings including  Retail, Construction, Food Services and Education over the last week.

 

Students who do the PreCAL program are more likely to be interested in going on to training at TAFE, doing an apprenticeship, or getting a job after completing the Year 11 and 12 VCAL Pathway Program. Students who take up the VCAL certificate have the unique opportunity to develop work related skills, experience and personal development in a workplace setting whilst contintuin studies at school.

 

What many parents may not realise is students completing the VCAL program still also have the opportunity to transition to University after completing an accredited TAFE course which will provide the pathway into higher studies at University.

 

I express my thanks to Mr Bruce Topham - Career Pathways Coordinator, the Yr 10 PreCAL teachers, Learning Support staff and St Mary’s staff, who helped visit and contact the PreCAL students on their work placement.

Principal's Recommendation Program

The Australian Catholic University is once again offering the Principal's Recommendation Program (PRP) to students from St John’s Regional College.

 

The PRP provides additional consideration by eligible students for entry to ACU in 2018. This presents as a pathway into University for currently enrolled Year 12 students who have experienced educational disadvantage, such as financial, health or family challenges.

 

Access to this program requires a letter of recommendation from the Principal which is issued once an application has been reviewed by the Deputy Principals and relevant House Coordinator. Students considering applying for this program should send an outline of how they meet the criteria by email to the Principal no later than Friday 6 October.

 

Note the online application process outlined below closes on Wednesday 18 October.

 

The online application process is available at  www.acu.edu.au/prpapplication

The application requires:

  1. Year 12 student details
  2. School details
  3. Applicant's ACU course preference(s)
  4. Letter of recommendation from the School Principal

Offers to successful PRP applicants will be made through the VTAC process. It is most important that the PRP student’s ACU preferences are listed in their VTAC application.

School Holidays

After a cold and dark winter term I am sure all are looking for a much needed holiday break.

 

I pray everyone has a safe and happy holiday,  particularly our travellers to Central Australia who head off in the first week of the school holidays. I look forward to and pray for everybody's safe return in Term 3.

 

Tim Hogan, Principal