Publicity Magazine

Term 3

2012

ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE

Earlier this month the St Agnes Parish Secondary Schools senior and junior

combined jazz band made the epic 1660km trek to Mt Gambier in South

Australia to compete in the National Big Bands Competition.

The competition, directed by trumpet player extraordinaire, James Morrison

attracted some 130 bands around the country, with over 2500 students

travelling to compete.

The SAPSS Senior Jazz Band, made up of students from St Joseph’s Regional

College, St Paul’s High School and MacKillop Senior College outshone their

competition – 25 bands coming largely from private schools in Melbourne,

Adelaide and Perth – to win for the second year in a row.

Winning it seems, just wasn’t enough though, as the band also made

competition history. Normally one soloist from each band is invited to join the

‘Super Band’ made up of the best of the best. This year though, all four

trumpeters from the SAPSS Senior Jazz Band were nominated, with

adjudicators confirming that this was the first time that a whole instrumental

section from one band had been selected for the ‘Super Band’.

The achievements of the band could not have come without the tireless and

dedicated efforts of conductor, Sharon Green, as well as the enthusiastic

commitment of the students, all of whom put in long hours practising each

and every day to ensure their success.

ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE Jazz Band Trumpet Their Success

Seven year 11 and 12 students from St Joseph’s Regional College were last

week awarded a coveted Defence Technical Scholarship from the Australian

Department of Defence. Ben Styles and Luke Johnson in year 12 were awarded

$3000 each while Adam Hancey, Liam Wright, Tristan Fahey, David Olsen

and Lachlan Wilson from year 11 were each awarded $2000. Their applications

went through a thorough and competitive selection process which saw them

up against over 2300 applications from across Australia.

The Scholarships provide a financial incentive to eligible students to stay at

school and finish their education whilst undertaking Maths, English and a

trade or technical related subject, suitable to further study and training for a

technical trade in the Australian Defence Force.

To be successful for the Scholarship, winners had to complete an application

demonstrating their knowledge of technical trades within the Australian

Defence Force and describe in detail what they would do as a tradesperson in

a real life crisis situation. This year’s scenario was based on the provision of

humanitarian support after a natural disaster affecting a neighbouring

country.

ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE Defence Technical Scholarships

Earlier this term, students in Years 7 to 11 from St Joseph’s Regional College

competed in the first Port Macquarie Secondary Schools’ Debating

Competition at St Columba Anglican School. Students from St Paul’s High

school, MacKillop Senior College, Port Macquarie High School, Heritage

Christian School and St Columba also participated in the competition.

The St Joseph’s Regional College teams consisted of:

Year 7 – Jo Cutler, Caine Wilkins, Gabi Moss and Courtney Newell

Year 8 – Claudia Howland, Kirra McIntyre, Mary Shelley and Emily Sheridan

Year 9 – Darcy Howard, Christopher Treeves, Sophie McAuliffe and Jaimie

McNulty

Year 10 – Lisa Fraser, Sarah Hannan, Madeline Sharp and Shonia Poole

Year 11 – Ashleigh Hales, Stephanie Figgins and Crystal Phillips

Each year group competed fiercely in three rounds, with each team winning at

least one of their debates. Our Year 8 team though, won all three of their

debates, an outstanding achievement which saw them crowned the Year 8

champions for the day.

A big thank you must go to our coaches, Mr Paul Plunkett, Mr Darren Smith,

Ms Kelly West and Mrs Claudette Stace, as well as Ms Brigitte Reiger and Miss

Amy Chaloner who accompanied the teams on the day.

ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE A Great Debate

In week 1 of this term students, parents and staff of St Joseph’s Regional

College gathered together to celebrate the academic successes of year 7 to 10

students. Academic awards for the first semester were presented in massive

numbers with students receiving accolades for academic excellence,

application to their studies and community service.

The most prestigious awards are the Outstanding Application Award, in

which students must receive application awards in all, or all but one of their

subjects, and the Outstanding Achievement Award in which students in

years 7 and 8 must receive application and excellence awards for at least six

subjects, and those in 9 and 10 in at least five subjects. The biggest winners

for first semester were year 7, with over 40 students receiving either an

Outstanding Application Award or an Outstanding Achievement Award, a

fantastic accomplishment for students just starting to come to grips with the

requirements of high school life.

The awards ceremonies are an important part of College life, as they allow

the recipients to show off the fruits of their labour while illustrating to the

school community what can be achieved through hard work and

persistence.

ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE St Joseph’s Celebrates its Academic Success.

Last Wednesday, Paralympic wheelchair rugby player, and Port Macquarie

local, Ryley Batt, visited his former high school, St Joseph’s Regional

College, to share his inspirational story with students.

Ryley, who was born with no legs and only two fingers on each hand, has

been playing wheelchair rugby since the age of 12 and has since gone on to

achieve some outstanding statistics. By 13 he was in the Australian National

Team and at 15 Ryley became the youngest ever wheelchair rugby

Paralympian.

Ryley shared his journey from being a young child who hated the idea of

using a wheelchair (because he felt they were only for disabled people) to

winning silver with the Australian wheelchair rugby team at the 2008

Beijing Olympics. Students were in awe after seeing footage of Ryley in

action, with many hoping to have the opportunity to have a go at

wheelchair rugby themselves.

Ryley is now looking forward to the London Paralympics, where he hopes

to go one better than Beijing and bring home the gold.

ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE Ryley Shares His Inspirational Story

Last week, St Joseph’s Regional College celebrated Book Week, and as part

of the celebration, ex-Waratah Rugby Union player Peter Besseling visited

the Library to speak to students about his experiences as a reader, and as an

elite sportsman.

The theme for Book Week this year is "Champions Read", and so Mr

Besseling was able to thrill the audience with stories of his playing career, as

well as sharing his reading likes and habits throughout his life.

Those attending were invited to pass around his Australian Sports Medal

awarded in 2000, and his Ken Catchpole Medal for Best and Fairest in

Sydney Club Rugby awarded in 1999. He made special mention of the fact

that even when playing Rugby at such an elite level, he still found time to

read to relax, and that this has always been an important part of his life.

Students were then given the opportunity to chat with Mr Besseling over a

sausage sizzle lunch.

ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE Book Week Celebrations

In April of next year, students from years 8, 9 and 10 at St Joseph’s Regional

College will participate in the inaugural College Rugby Union Tour of New

Zealand and the Cook Islands.

This is the first ever Rugby tour for the school and will include 3 days in

New Zealand, with a match against Auckland College, and a week in the

Cook Islands where the boys will compete in 2-3 matches while also

undertaking community service and experiencing the cultural life of the

islands.

In support of this inaugural tour, the school has organised an Auction

Evening for Saturday the 15th of September, running from 5pm-7pm at The

Settlers Inn on Hastings River Drive. A range of fabulous items are on offer,

including vouchers from Coastal Music, Zebu, Hydro Photographics,

Macquarie Beauty College, Wave Bowl and Ultra Tune, and a signed 2012

Wallabies Jersey will also be raffled off on the night. Tickets for the evening

are $10 for a family and $5 for a single.

Auction booklets are available from St Joseph’s Regional College or on the

night. For more information, contact Joanne Williams on 5525 4100

ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE Rugby Tour

Students and staff of St Joseph’s Regional College have

once again donated blood to the Red Cross en masse as

part of the ‘Club Red’ group donations.

Over 30 staff and students donated their life saving blood

over the course of the day, with many others unfortunately

being turned away due to time factors.

The amazing nurses from the Red Cross worked hard all

day to ensure as many students as possible had the

opportunity to donate.

The Red Cross Blood centre is currently in desperate need

for blood donations especially with the school holiday

about to begin, so if you are able to donate, please ring 13

14 95 to arrange an appointment.

ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE Seeing Red

Leslie Williams, Member for Port Macquarie, recently

visited St Joseph’s Regional College to present two

students with awards for outstanding sporting excellence

Madi Roberts in Year 12, and Laura Cook in year 10 each

received a NSW Government State Representative Award

for representing the NSW All Schools Triathlon Team in

the School Sport Australia Triathlon which took place in

April this year.

Both girls have experienced great success in a range of

triathlon competitions this year, participating in local, state

and national competitions.

ST. JOSEPH’S REGIONAL COLLEGE Triumphant Triathletes