13 May 2024

A Message from the Principal

The College was privileged to hear former student, Isabella Crebert, deliver the Alumni address at the Year 12 Semester One Awards ceremony last week. The Ceremony was a wonderful celebration of Year 12 Achievement in Semester One.

Isabella was College Captain in 2019 and has since attained a Bachelor of Criminology and has since started a PHD in Forensic Anthropology. She was the youngest person to be offered this position in Australia at the time. A copy of Isabella's speech is below. 

Faculty, the sisters of Saint Jospeh, parents, esteemed guests, Year 11, and Year 12 – the soon to be class of 2024.

There is a lot that I could tell you about life after high school but I will try my best to keep it short and leave out most of the scary parts. I can remember it all so clearly, being where you are. The end of term 2 for year 12. Wondering which university to pick or what degree to choose, what career you want, what ATAR you’ll get.

For me, I had wanted to be a lawyer. In fact, I am pretty sure that I went from wanting be a Disney princess to wanting to be a lawyer. I spent the first eighteen years of my life setting up my career path. I picked electives that were relevant to law, like commerce and legal studies. I was on the debating team every year and at the end of every debate each year, someone new would come up to me and say ‘you’re going to make a fantastic lawyer’. I got an early offer to study a Bachelor of Law before we had even finished the HSC, it was an unconditional offer, meaning that I was in. I had done it. I had achieved the biggest goal I had set out to achieve in my 18 years of life I was on top of the world. To make things better, I was offered a receptionist position at a law firm and I was asked to start at soon as I finished school. How could my life get any better? I had thought that I was going to learn so much about the law in.

My first day of university was easily the most nervous that I had ever been. The room was packed and it was huge, I had never been in a classroom so big before. At five minutes in to the class the teacher said ‘look to your left, and look to your right. One or both of those people sitting next to you will drop out before the end of the year’. At seven minutes into the class, I thought ‘not me, I won’t be dropping out’. But then students started talking about the priestly 11 and starting their own law firms, when I hasn’t even done the readings for that week.

I was terrified, stressed, and needed to immediately learn how to open a law firm. Law school wasn’t meant to be like this, I was meant to be the star student, just like they kept telling me at debating. But it’s the first class, maybe it’s meant to be this way. Two weeks go by and I realise that I hate law school. I had spent my whole life preparing for university and dreaming of going to law school, but I was ready to give it up. Around that same time, I realised that I really hated working at the law firm. Things were coming down pretty hard for me, and then along came the global pandemic.

As much hard as the pandemic was, it came at a good time for me, because I spent a lot of that time thinking about what I really wanted to do. I was also studying criminology at uni and I was really enjoying those classes, so I knew I wanted to stay in criminology, but I knew that law was just not for me. I thought long and hard about what was important to me. I knew I was interested in crime and justice, I wanted to help people, but after doing client interviewing classes, I realised that I really hate talking to people. So what option does that leave me - people who have been impacted by crime who can’t talk but need help.

So, I decided that I was going to stay at university but I would transfer to a criminology degree and discontinue law. I also decided to leave the law firm. I seriously battled the fact that I was giving up on my lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer, I felt like a failure, but I was much happier. After I made these decisions, I was in a much better place, but it took a while to get here. However, I still was unsure about what I actually wanted to do with my life.

In my second semester of uni, I was taking a course called ‘victimology’, this course was taught by a forensic anthropologist, Dr Victoria Berezowski. A forensic anthropologist works with the remains of people who may have died as a result of crime, and it’s their job to work out who the remains belong to. Dr Berezowski was a PhD candidate at the time and her project was running at Australia’s first and only Taphonomic Experimental Research facility…which is also known as a body farm. A body farm is exactly what it sounds like, it’s a piece of land in a secret location where forensic scientists conduct research experiments on dead people who have donated their remains to science. Dr Berezowski’s project was how we can use different types of technology to locate graves. I had never heard of forensic anthropology before this class, but I thought that forensic anthropology and Dr Berezowksi’s project sounded like the most interesting job in the world, so I sent her an email, asking if she might need a research assistant. I honestly did not expect her to respond to my email, let alone say yes. So I got to spend a year working alongside Dr Berezowski at the body farm, testing different types of technology that can detect graves. Throughout this time, I fell in love with forensic anthropology and I decided that once I finished my criminology degree, I would study forensic science but I thought that this might difficult considering that I hadn’t studied science in Year 12.

My last year of my undergraduate degree came around and I knew that I wanted to stay on to do a research project in an honours year. This was because I had decided that I wanted to a PhD so that I could become a doctor. In order to do a PhD, you have to complete either an honours year or a masters degree. I had been planning to run a research project at the body farm for my honours year, when I got an email from the university saying that I had been put forward for a scholarship that would pay me to study and pay for my degree. When I read the email, I saw that the scholarship was only for students doing a PhD which at the time, I thought was still a long way away for me. But a number of my lecturers encouraged me to apply for a PhD and see what happens. As it would turn out, I became one of the few people in Australia who have skipped honours and masters to get in to a phd. I was also the youngest female to be accepted to do a PhD at the University of Newcastle. And, here I am today, two years into my PhD and two years away from becoming Dr Crebert of forensic anthropology.

This is the short and sweet version of my journey through university and in some ways, I guess it sounds like it happened over night. But in reality, this all happened because I had to go through struggles of figuring out what I really wanted to do, who I wanted to be, and what was important to me. I had to learn my own strengths and weaknesses. And I had to work really hard to get here. But now I get to spend every day helping people who have died as a result of crime and it really is my dream job.

Now we aren’t all on the same journey but there are some lessons that I needed to learn along my journey that might be helpful to you. These are the lessons that I had to learn along the way and ones that I have to keep reminding myself about:

The biggest challenge that I had to overcome was learning that it’s ok to change your mind. By the time I graduated from university, I had changed my degree three times. I swapped from law to criminology, to criminology with a psychology major, and then to criminology with a legal studies major, and I still graduated on time. I remember beating myself up when I realised that I did not want to study law. If I could go back in time, I would say to myself ‘you’re not a failure’ and there is no point doing something that you hate just because you are worried what other people might think. You might start a degree, or a job and discover something else that you didn’t know existed before.

I also had to get into the mindset that there is no harm in asking. Just ask for the opportunity, to work, or volunteer, because the worst thing they can say is no. You might even end up like me when I asked Dr Berezowski if I could help her and end up finding your dream job.

I also had to learn that you should just try it – just try it and see what happens. I hadn’t studied science Year 10 so I had thought it was going to take me a long time catch up to where I needed to be. It was hard to catch up but I am passionate about science, so it made it all worthwhile. And now, I am showing the experts who taught me new things about science.

Most importantly - do something that makes you happy. Every time I say ‘I’m a forensic anthropologist’, someone always says ‘I wish I did that’ or ‘I would have loved to have done that’. And I think to myself, I never want to have to say ‘I wish I did that’ and I hope that none of you ever have to say that. The biggest lesson I have learnt from working as a forensic anthropologist is that life is too short to waste on being unhappy.

My journey has not been easy but I made it through and I have been asked to take part in a lot of amazing opportunities, like next month I am going to Italy to help identify bones in a cemetery; I was recently interviewed live on national radio; I was in a documentary about forensic science on Channel 10; I have published a textbook chapter about forensic anthropology; And I even got asked to give the alumni address at my old school - I think that’s pretty cool. However, after everything I have achieved, when I get asked what I most proud of, without a doubt, I say ‘my resiliency to bounce back during tough times’.

Year 12, if I can leave you with just one more piece of advice that you should consider over the next few months, now that I am on the other side - relish the moments that you have here at school before they disappear forever. You have probably heard lots of people say that you’ll miss school when it’s over. I thought there was no way that I would miss sitting in a classroom, but to be honest, there are days where I truly do wish that I was still in Mrs Kennedy’s modern history class. But I think what people mean when they say that you’ll miss school is that you’ll miss seeing your friend every day and you’ll miss the teachers who have made an impact on you. I can also tell you that these next few months might be scary and stressful for quite a lot of you but I really do promise that you will be ok. If someone said that to me when I was in your shoes, I would have rolled my eyes at them, because finishing school and doing the HSC feels big because it is big. But as now 23 year old, I rarely come across someone who asks about what ATAR I got or wants to tell me their HSC marks. And when someone does ask me, I think they’re a bit boring, maybe that’s just me – but I say that because what makes you interesting, what makes you fun to be around, and what makes you smart is so much more than your ATAR. And, for the record, I did not get a 90 ATAR.

Before I leave you, I’d like to end with a quote from arguably the greatest philosopher, poet, and writer of our generation that I believe summarises the message that I want to leave with you. In the words of Dr Taylor Swift – ‘make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it, you’ve got no reason to be afraid’.

Year 12 Academic Excellence Award Winners

                   Georgie Constable                                   Abbey Jurd                                Grace Melink

                   Claire Puckeridge                              Olivia Richardson                               Josie Tranter

                                                                              Issabelle Trichlin

Mrs Patricia Hales
College Principal

Principal’s Jottings

Staffing Update

I am pleased to advise that the vacant HSIE / Religious Studies position has now been filled permanently. We welcome Ms Alyce Hodgson to this position with commencement on Monday 13^th May. Ms Hodgson has taught HSIE / English and Religious Studies for the past few years at All Saints College and is a former student of St Joseph’s.

Tell Them from Me Survey

Parents will receive some information in coming weeks regarding the Bi-annual TTFM Survey. The survey information guides our School Improvement Agenda and is an important opportunity for parent, staff and student voice.

Attendance

Education for your child is important and regular attendance at school is essential for your child to achieve their educational best and increase their career and life options. When your child attends school every day, learning becomes easier, and your child will build and maintain friendships with their peers. It is important that parents schedule appointments outside of school hours where possible (we acknowledge specialist appointments need to taken when offered) and that family holidays are scheduled within the school holiday breaks. Leave will not be approved for students during examination or during in class summative assessment tasks. Attendance letters are sent regularly to ensure parents are aware of the impact of non-attendance on their learning and wellbeing.

Pupil Free Dates 2024

All Catholic Secondary Schools in Maitland Newcastle Diocese are entitled to 7 pupil free days each year for staff to complete required training and professional learning. This year St Joseph’s will have 8 pupil free days as we are in the 6^th year of our Child Protection Training.

• Term 1 – Monday & Tuesday 30^th & 31^st January and Tuesday 2^nd April
• Term 2 – Monday 29^th April
• Term 3 – Monday 22^nd July
• Term 4 – Monday 14^th October, Thursday 19^th December & Friday 20^th December

IMPORTANT - 2024 Calendar Dates 

Ministry Musings

Welcome back to Term 2!

For the month of May during LMG we are dedicating all our prayers to Mary – the Mother of God. The Holy Catholic Church dedicates the entire month of May to Mary to encourage a deeper devotion to her so that we can grow in our understanding of her role as the Mother of God, ask for her intercession with God and learn from her as she was the first disciple of Christ. To continue in the tradition of the Church, our Daily Prayer for the entire month will be the Hail Mary. Each LMG has been provided with a small blue electric candle, which is placed in their sacred space to turn on while praying the Hail Mary. The purpose of the candle is to express our devotion and supplication to Mary. The colour blue is often associated with Mary in iconography representing her purity, grace and serenity which are virtues and qualities demonstrated by her.

Below you will find Scripture and a Reflection from Bishop Fulton Sheen, which explores the importance of Mary in Jesus’ mission.

God Bless, 

Mr Taylor Zahra
Leader of College Ministry

From the Assistant Principals....

Year 10

As mentioned in previous newsletters, the Year 11 2025 Subject Information Evening is coming up on Monday 3^rd of June 2024. Students, parents and carers will be able to speak with teachers in relation to the subjects on offer at St Joseph's College Lochinvar 2025. There will also be information presented on the evening about the different pathway students can engage in moving into Year 11.

Dolly's Dream

On Thursday 2^nd May, Year 7 and 8 students heard from Wade, a representative of the Dolly’s Dream Foundation. Wade shared an important message about digital dilemmas.

Dolly’s parents, Kate and Tick Everett, founded Dolly’s Dream in memory of Dolly, who took her own life after an extended period of bullying and cyberbullying. They’re now focused on preventing other families from going through the same experience and St Joseph’s students heard about this important work in our community.

Students learned about the concepts of Banter V’s Bullying; Upstander V’s Bystander and the importance of knowing where to get support and how to report. We each gained knowledge and understanding about how to make the internet a safe and kind place for all.

Each member of the audience was faced with a choice: to be kind or not to be kind. 

#bekind

Mr Paul Dart  & Mrs Elizabeth Stokes
Assistant Principals

From the Counsellor’s Desk

Ms Caitlin French & Ms Julia Preistley
St Joseph’s Professional Officers

Wellbeing

Welcome back to Term 2. Students have had a settled but busy start to the term. This term in learning mentor group students will be exploring the following themes:

-Failure/Your Key to Success

-We are what we speak/Own it

These themes will be explored every Thursday during LMG where teachers will initiate discussions and run activities based on the topics. We hope students are able to reflect on their actions and behaviours and move forward in creating a safe and supportive environment for all students. We encourage parents to engage in conversations with their children around these activities.

During Week 2 Year 11 and 12 engaged in elevate education sessions to help with their study and organisational skills. This was a valuable experience for students. Below is a link with parent information on the program.

Tip of the Week

How to start a conversation about mental health

Conversations between young people and family can feel challenging, particularly when you or your young person are worried or uncomfortable talking about sensitive topics like mental health. There is no single way to have these conversations. Different approaches work better for different people. Family and friends can feel unsure about how or when to start these conversations, and where they might go for help. No one gets these conversations perfectly right, making the effort to learn more is a great start. 

Family and friends play a vital role in identifying and supporting a young person who is experiencing the impacts of mental ill-health. Notice, enquire and let your young person know that you care about them no matter what they are going through. This is important and helps encourage young people to seek support early to manage the impacts of mental ill-health. 

Evidence has shown that having supportive loved ones involved in mental health care improves and creates longer lasting, positive outcomes for young people.

For more information click on the link below and educate yourself on how to support a young person.

As always please reach out if you are concerned about your child.

The Wellbeing Team

Mr Chris Johns, Miss Alison Lynch, Ms Alberta Kauter, and Mrs Abbie Marston
Leaders of Learning-Wellbeing

Curriculum News (KLA’s)

Mathematics News

Solution Puzzle 4

1. (1,4,7), (2,4,6), (3,4,5)

2. Fill the 650 from the bottle and then pour this into the 250 until it is full. Pour the remainder (400 mL) into the 550. Pour the 250 into the 650 and top-up with the bottle. Fill the 250 again from the 650, leaving 400 mL in the 650 and then empty the 250 back into the bottle, which will now hold 400 mL

3. Amy and Anna paddle to the north bank, Amy gets out and Anna paddles back to the south bank by herself. Anna gets out and Mervyn paddles to the north bank and gets out. Amy paddles back to the south bank, collects Anna and repeats the process from the beginning, this time ferrying Melvin across by the same method and then Morton. It will take a total of 12 trips.

Puzzle 5

1. I have a potato that weighs 500 g and is 99% water. I place the potato in the oven to dry it out, and it is now 98% water.

How much does the potato now weigh?

2. If a hen and a half lay an egg and a half in a day and a half, how many eggs will half a dozen hens lay in half a dozen days?

3. I had a regular deck of 52 playing cards, but my children were playing with them and lost some.

If I make three equal piles, I have two cards left over. If I make four equal piles, I have three cards left. If I make five equal piles, again I have two cards left over.

How many cards are missing?

Tocal Field Days

We managed to get a break in the weather to attend the Tocal Field Days. Year 10 Agriculture students had a wonderful day out gaining exposure to the size and diversity of the agriculture industry. The students saw a range of emerging technologies, demonstrations, a variety of animals, new tools and machines, gourmet local food and had a chance to talk to industry experts. A Great day out!     

Prev

Showing images 1 - 8 of 13

Next

Careers – Opportunities & Notices

Mrs Vikki Jordan
Careers Advisor
vikki.jordan@mn.catholic.edu.au

Yalawa Yarnings

Anikanya (Hello)!

Deadly Achievements

Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students continue to achieve amazing things including some fantastic results at last term’s Cross Country. Some of these fantastic results including Coen Cremona who placed 1^st in the 12-year-old boys.

Another shout out goes to Izaiah Larnach in year 8 who has been asked to trial for the Junior Newcastle Knights under 14’s academy squad. 

Recent Events

This term we welcome Thomas Germon to the Yalawa team each Tuesday. Thomas also teaches PE at St Joseph’s College.

Upcoming Events

Aboriginal Dance Group

An email has been sent to all ATSI students calling for interest to join our school’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance group. We have organised Hilary McIntyre, a Worimi woman and dance teacher, to choreograph a dance especially for St Joseph’s. Both males and females are welcome to join the dance group.

Hunter Academy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Talent ID Day

Community Events

This online language course may be of interest to families with children in year 4.

Student Support

If there are any issues that we can support students with or that you think that we need to be aware of please do not hesitate to contact one of us.

If your student is also doing amazing things in the community, please let us know so we can give them a shout out in the ‘Yalawa Yarnings.’

Mrs Hannah Allen, Ms Anabel Holle and Mr Thomas Germon
Aboriginal Education Teachers

Message from the Finance Office

2024 School fees can be viewed at any time through Compass and updated statements are emailed at the beginning of each month, please check your emails and also your junk emails.  Families who have a nil balance will not receive a statement. 

Thank you to the families who have commenced payments, it is important to pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments regularly which are due in full by 30/11/24. 

If payment preference is via a lump sum payment please finalise by 30/06/24. 

If you have any concerns in meeting the 30/11/2024 due date please contact me on 0249 307 291 or email finance@lochinvarsj.catholic.edu.au.

Bpay is our preferred method of payment, however payment can also be made via Credit Card, Cash, Cheque and Centrepay.

Health Care Card and Pension Card Holders - 2024 Tuition Fee Discount

If you are a current holder of an Australian Government Health Care Card/Pension card you may be intitled to a discount on your school fees, please complete the attached forms and return with a copy of your card to finance@lochinvarsj.catholic.edu.au

Catholic schools in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle offer a lower tuition fee to ‘means tested’ low income families such as Health Care and Pension Card holders. This rate is 50% of the Diocesan Tuition Fee full rate for each child

Mrs Cathy Duff
Finance Officer

General News

St Joseph's College Presents "Fame Jnr - The Musical"

It’s here! Get ready to sing and dance along with us as St Joseph’s College proudly presents the musical, “Fame Jnr.”

There will be singing, dancing and classic tunes to have everyone in the audience singing along. The staff and students have been working incredibly hard to combine music, drama and stage craft to make “Fame Jnr” an amazingly fun experience for all.

Tickets will be available soon so stay tuned!

Dates: 25^th – 27^th JUNE (Evening Performances)

Venue: Sr Gerard Long Performance Centre, St Joseph’s College Lochinvar

Tickets: $20 Adult, $10 Child/SJL Student, $50 Family (2 Adults, 2 Children)

Canteen News

Lunch Orders

Lunch Orders are still available through the QKR app. Orders made via QKR need to be placed by 8.15am.

Canteen Menu

Qkr! – Getting Started

Mrs Tania Cullity
Food Operations Manager

Contact us (Email addresses)

In order to keep our records up to date:

FOR STUDENT SERVICES – Please email studentservices@lochinvarsj.catholic.edu.au 

FOR FINANCE – Please email finance@lochinvarsj.catholic.edu.au

ALL OTHER MATTERS (other than Finance) - please use the email admin@lochinvarsj.catholic.edu.au

Alinta Uniform Shop

Shop Opening Hours

Our opening hours have changed, please see new hours below:

Blazers

Due to the lead time associated with the delivery of blazers for our senior students we are asking if parents/carers could place their orders as soon as possible. This will alleviate any delays as the weather gets cooler.

Community Announcements

Diosounds 2024 - Beyond Limits

It’s Diosounds time again! In a celebration of the hard work and talents of our music students, Diosounds 2024: Beyond Limits will be bigger than ever!

Tickets will sell fast so go to the Civic Theatre website for more information and ticket purchasing.

Venue: Civic Theatre, Newcastle

Date: Friday, 14^th June

Price: $40 Adult, $30 Student/Concession, $110 Family

eSafety Parent Webinar