28 February 2025

A Message from the Principal

Doing the Little Things Well

Across society people search for improvement all the time, often hunting for the silver bullet that will fix all their ills in one, hopefully painless, process. From health and wellness, business, personal finance, the chance to ‘make large gains with little effort’ is everywhere, at least that’s what I see each day on my Instagram feed.  Education is no different and, if you watch this space as closely as we naturally do, there is no end of strategies, revisions and approaches that are offered as the next big thing.

I would argue, however, that sometimes we overlook the simple things that are right in front of us that we know make a difference. Call them the 1%, or even the slightly dismissive low hanging fruit, there are simple things that we can be doing to give us the opportunity to optimise outcomes for students.

Attendance at school is the ultimate 1%, low hanging fruit, so obvious it typically gets overlooked as a strategy to improving outcomes for kids.

ACARA (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority) reported that in 2024, the attendance rate for students in Years 1 – 10 was only 88.3%. This means the average student was absent from school approximately 12% of the time, that’s 24 days or almost 5 weeks’ worth of lessons. If you really like numbers, as I do, that’s 125 individual lessons or around 7500 minutes’ worth of learning.

The attendance level (the percentage of students with attendance at or above 90%) was 59.8%. In you look at that in terms of a classroom of kids, out of 30 students, 12 of them are there less than 90% of the time.

Take two people and pick any area of life. Tell me who will be more successful, the person who has 125 more hours of practice or the one who stayed home 12% of the time?

As it stands, our current attendance rate at St. Joseph’s in 2025 is 88.8% and attendance level (students > 90%) is 65.4%. While undoubtedly, impacted by the Swimming Carnival and the relatively few school days which have occurred this year, these numbers are something that we have a collective responsibility to monitor and respond to.

Ensuring that your child only misses school when it is necessary is one way in which you can significantly, positively impact their learning and instill good habits which will follow them into the world after school.

If we can start by doing the little things well, then the big things will come much easier.

Regards

Mr Peter Antcliff
Principal

Commissioning of Leaders Assembly

On Friday 21st February the College had the privilege of celebrating a special event in the life of our College, the commissioning of our 2025 College Leaders.

2025 College Leaders

Jackson Brooker

Isabelle Dixon

Pyper Jacobs

Rhys Kelly

Molly Martin

Gabrielle Richardson

Student Leaders presented the following speech at the Assembly: 

Molly Martin

Good morning, Mr Antcliff, our special guests Father Paul, the Sisters of St Joseph Lochinvar, families, staff, and students.

Rhys and I are honoured to speak on the behalf of the College leaders this morning.  We are humbled by this opportunity to be standing before you today. As College Captains in 2025 we aim to uphold the values of St Joseph's with pride. We pledge to lead by example, honouring the legacy of those who have paved the way before us.

We are a team of individuals who, together, encourage, inspire and guide those within our community to their full potential. And we strive to uplift those around while embodying the Josephite values in every aspect of our college life, day in and day out.

These Josephite values of courage, justice, compassion, and service, lived out by the Sisters of St Joseph Lochinvar, continue to guide us in our leadership roles. They are deeply rooted in the Gospel, challenge us to lead with integrity and care. Courage inspires us to stand up for what is right, even in the face of adversity. Justice calls us to act with fairness and to advocate for equality within our community. Compassion encourages us to be empathetic and supportive of others, while service reminds us that true leadership is about putting the needs of others first. By embracing these values, as the Sisters have done for generations, we strive to embody the teachings of the Gospel, leading with love and a commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of those around us.

Rhys Kelly

Being a college leader is also about accepting the call to embody and implement the St Joseph’s Pillars. We are driven as college leaders by a genuine commitment to our Catholic Faith which underpins these pillars of Strength, Faith and Hope.

We embody strength by standing firm in our values, guiding others with resilience, and fostering a sense of unity within our community. Strength isn’t just about personal success; it’s about supporting one another, especially in times of challenge, and working together towards our shared goals.

We encourage hope by dedicating ourselves to helping students showcase their unique gifts and talents. Hope grows when every student feels seen, heard, and valued for their contributions, and it is our responsibility as leaders to create opportunities for everyone to achieve their full potential.

We implement faith through the words of Father Julian’s challenge to Mary MacKillop: "Never see a need without doing something about it." Faith is not passive; it is active. It calls us to notice where we can make a difference and step up with compassion and service, whether it’s offering a helping hand to a friend in need or working towards a more just and caring community.

On behalf of the team, I would like to say that being your 2025 College Captains is an incredible honour, and we can’t wait to share this year together.

2025 Student Representative Council

Student Representative Council President

Madison O'Donnell

Student Representative Council Vice President.

Matthew Ferraro

2025 House Captains

Yoyangamalde House Captains

Trinity Rohr and Kurtis Leverton

Wundurra House Captains

Ruby Carter and Lewis Rollason

Alcheringa House Captains

Milliarna Skornia and Rhys Simpson

Mereki House Captains

Aurelia Russell and Jack Yeatman

Ministry Musings

JJAMM Retreat

Gabrielle and Pyper have returned from an inspiring four-day journey at the Joseph, Julian and Mary MacKillop (JJAMM) retreat, where they embraced leadership, faith formation, and the legacy of Sisters of St Joseph.

Held at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney and St Joseph’s Spirituality Centre in Baulkham Hills the retreat provided an opportunity for student leaders from Josephite schools across Australia and New Zealand to connect, reflect, and develop their leadership skills. This year’s JJAMM group was described as the most articulate, engaged, and inspired yet, with Sr Jan expressing her admiration for the students’ passion and commitment. Gabrielle and Pyper stood out among them, representing St Joseph’s College Lochinvar with confidence, generosity, and a strong sense of mission.

Throughout the retreat, our College leaders fully immersed themselves in prayer, reflection, and leadership activities forming lasting relationships with their peers and mentors. They participated in Mass, led prayers, and actively contributed to discussions on leadership and justice. A particularly moving moment was Gabrielle’s speech on her dreams for Indigenous Australians and her hopes for change, which resonated deeply with the JJAMM community.

A special thank you goes to Ms. Blandford, who accompanied our students and supported them throughout this transformative experience. Her guidance and encouragement helped make JJAMM a meaningful and enriching journey for Gabrielle and Pyper.

Now back at school, our college leaders are eager to share their learnings and ideas with the Student Leadership Team. We are very excited to see what is to come out of this experience!

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God Bless,
Mr Taylor Zahra
Leader of College Ministry

First Reading: Mark 8: 31-38

31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.”

34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Reflection:

“What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?”

This short and direct question is worth much meditation. In Mark’s Gospel, this line comes within the context of Jesus teaching about the requirements of being His disciple. And it comes after Jesus began to explicitly teach that He Himself would suffer and die as the Christ.

Think about this question above, starting with the first part of the question. “What profit is there for one to gain the whole world…” Do you want to gain the whole world? For most people, such a possibility is quite enticing. To “gain the whole world” is to gain everything this world has to offer. Imagine being offered unlimited wealth in this world. What if you were to win the largest jackpot any lottery ever offered and more? What if you were able to have beautiful mansions around the world, your own private jet, every modern convenience, the most expensive of cars, and the ability to do whatever you wanted for the rest of your life? Is this enticing? Certainly it is on a superficial level. But it is also a very deceptive enticement, because all of this could not make you any happier or more fulfilled than you already are.

The second part of this question is also easy to address. Would you want to forfeit your life? Certainly not. So Jesus offers two contrasting statements in one sentence. Most people would want to gain the whole world but would never want to forfeit their lives. Jesus sets up this contrast as a way of telling us very clearly that we cannot desire one without also choosing the other. In other words, if your heart’s desire is for the riches of this world, then you do indeed forfeit your very life to the extent that you give into that desire. On the contrary, if you choose the salvation of your soul, then you must forfeit the desire for the riches and enticements of this world. You cannot desire and choose both.

With that said, there might be a very rare soul who has many things in this world but has no attachment to them at all. They live completely detached from the things of this world, finding true satisfaction only in God and His holy will, becoming indifferent to any material things they have. Of course, this is a very difficult interior disposition for one to arrive at when they have accumulated much wealth.

Alternately, there are those in this world who have very little. They are truly poor in the literal sense. However, they spend their days dreaming about riches and covet all that they do not have. Sadly, this poor soul is, in fact, just as materially attached as the one who has made riches the goal and focus of life. And that interior attachment will do great spiritual damage.

Reflect, today, upon this question of Jesus: “What profit is there for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” Use that question as a source of prayer, meditation and self-examination. Try to be honest about your desires. If you find that you spend much time daydreaming about riches, then pay particular attention to this question. Life in its fullness can never be obtained through those desires or the fulfillment of those desires. God and God alone fulfills. Seek God above all else and you will find that nothing this world has to offer comes close to the riches of the Kingdom of God.

Concluding Prayer:

Lord, You and You alone are the source of fulfillment in life. Please purify my desires so that I ultimately desire only You and Your holy will. Free me from every deception and false enticement in life so that I will find satisfaction only in You. Jesus, I trust in You.

ALL: Amen

Mary Mother of God … Pray for Us

St Joseph… Pray for Us 

St Mary of the Cross… Pray for Us 

Fr Julian... Pray for Us                                                                                                          

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen

From the Assistant Principals....

Elevate Education

This week, the Leaders of Wellbeing and Engagement organised Elevate Education to visit St Joseph’s to address Year 11 and 12 regarding healthy study habits.  The presentation focused on key messages regarding life balance, doing what you love and avoiding procrastination.

During the presentation, Zoe, a university student, discussed ways to boost productivity and all students were encouraged to consider the use of the FLORA App. This app aids productivity by setting limits to your use of social media on the phone.  By setting these limits, the APP will kick in and block your use for a period of time.

In addition to some great tips, Zoe also discussed a really interesting perspective in terms of student performance: the Zone of Demand and the Zone of Marks. Elevate approach top performing HSC students each year and have used research and evidence to define these zones. The zone of demand is the surface-level knowledge, compared to those students who do independent reading and find fresh ideas to support the defined syllabus.  This gives students a competitive edge in improving their results.

At this stage of Year 12, I encourage all students to join the State Library of NSW – a free resource where many students can access fantastic readings and journals to enrich their studies and their exposure to more complex texts.

Year 12 Key Dates in 2025

Year 12 students and parents received an outline of key dates for 2025 to assist in forward planning.  Year 12 HSC timetables will be distributed by NESA at the start of Term 2.

There will be more information circulated to parents and students regarding key events, but this provides a general overview for the year.

Cultural Diversity

This week, we focus on the importance of Cultural Diversity in our community.  Below is a link to a great resource delivered by a range of professionals, including Mohamed Semra, a leading human rights activist.

This series of videos and resources provides great insight into this important issue in society.

Assessment Handbooks

Students in Year 10 and 11 will soon be receiving their assessment handbooks. The 2025 handbooks are available via Compass – School Documentation – 2025 Assessment Handbooks.

In addition, students in Year 10 and 11 will have a 45 minute presentation regarding the ROSA requirements on Friday 28^th February during their assembly period. Information from the Handbook will be reinforced during this time.

NAPLAN - Information for Parents

Dear parents, carers and students

The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years 7 and 9 sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students have the opportunity to undertake. The testing window falls from the 12^th to 18^th March at St. Joseph’s College.

To assist in preparation for this, Year 7 students will undergo a practice test on Monday 3^rd March. By completing this practice, students will familiarise themselves with the format of the testing, make sure they can access the required browser and to identify and trouble shoot any issues that may arise before the official testing window.

For the practice test, students need to ensure:

• They have downloaded and can access the lockdown browser
• Their device is fully charged for the day.
• They have a set of headphones/earphones to be used on the day.

The results of this practice are not recorded anywhere. It is purely a trial run to ensure students are prepared well in advance before the official NAPLAN Online Testing.

Mr Paul Dart  & Mrs Elizabeth Stokes
Assistant Principals

From the Counsellor’s Desk

Mr Christopher Gabrielides & Mrs Julia Priestley
St Joseph's School Counsellors

Curriculum News (KLA’s)

Maitland Show 2025

Agriculture, Flexi and VET Primary Industries students did a wonderful job preparing and showing at the Maitland show over the weekend. The students prepared animals and built scarecrows. We came away with second place in the scarecrow competition with ‘Joseph the farmer’ and ‘Josephine the plant lover’. We had some great success with our Silkies, Barnevelders and Australorps in the Poultry section of the show. A group of our students did a wonderful job showing our Boer goats on Saturday gaining a number of ribbons with the highlight being a few reserve champions.  

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Year 12 VET Hospitality

Year 12 VET Hospitality students catered for a morning tea and lunch for College staff at the swimming carnival. The students made an antipasto box and served biscuits made by Year 11 students for morning tea. For lunch, they prepared roast chicken and pork with a variety of salads. This is one of the many service periods that the students complete over this two-year course. These students are working towards a Certificate II in Cookery as well as using it as part of their pattern of study for the HSC. They did a wonderful job and should be suitably proud of their efforts. It was delicious!

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Religious Education

Welcome to Term 1 of 2025 of Religious Education at St Joseph’s College.

The Religious Education team are excited for the Term and Year ahead and look forward to embracing active learning, engaging in creative pedagogy to engage students in their Religious Education journey and continuing to seek excellence in all students. This term is a busy term in RE, and around the college.

For those new to Catholic schooling or as a reminder, Religious Education at St Joseph’s College aims to provide students with opportunities to research and critically reflect upon religious, social and moral questions within the context of the Catholic Tradition and become familiar with some of the religious traditions that are part of multicultural, multifaith Australian society.

The courses from 7-10 provide students with a systematic and thorough study of Catholicism by allowing opportunities to develop skills of critical reflection, social analysis, encounter and moral decision making within the Christian context. Beyond this, students are able to also explore the wide world around them, with understanding of world religions, faiths and non-faiths.

The skills developed in the RE classroom far transcend Religious Education and should benefit students in their post school life. We aim to help students understand differing world views, appreciate cultural and religious difference, and recognise the inherent dignity of each individual through the Catholic lens. This will allow our students to become global citizens with ability to empathise, respect, and enact social change.

As a reminder, Year 7, Year 8, Year 9 and 10 students across the Catholic Diocese of Maitland Newcastle will be engaging in the new curriculum that aims to promote deep thinking through exploration and enquiry. Driven by contemporary teaching practices and a pedagogy of encounter, we will aim to create a learning space that encourages students to explore the world around them. This will allow them to become better decision makers and problem solvers as they learn to take in differing views and stand points and be confident in articulating what they believe to be true.

How to Support your Child's Religious Education Journey:

You can support us at home by helping to ensure your child comes to class prepared. All students will need an exercise book, pen and CHARGED device. The Religion Faculty use the learning platform ‘OneNote’ to aid in the delivery of teaching and learning experiences. Therefore, it is very important that your child has a charged device for each lesson. Should your child be away, they can log on to the OneNote to catch up on any work missed which will be indicated via Compass lesson plans.  

If there are any issues concerning your child and their Religious Education the first and best port of call is for them to speak directly to their classroom teacher.

Introduction of Religious Education Faculty

Here at St Joseph’s College, we are in abundance of skilled, passionate and caring teachers who will lead your student through their learning for 2025. Please see below a faculty team. Throughout the year, keep an eye out for a get to know us in the newsletter.

We look forward to a wonderful 2025.

Ms Melissa Blandford
Leader of Learning Religion

Careers – Opportunities & Notices

Seniors Newsletter

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

Yalawa Yarnings

Anikanya (Hello)! 

As we move through Term 1, the Yalawa Team is here to support our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in their learning, wellbeing, and cultural identity. We’re proud to see students settling in and engaging with their studies, and we look forward to strengthening connections with families and community throughout the term. If you need support or have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Deadly Achievements

A huge congratulations to Gabrielle Richardson for an incredible week of leadership and achievement! Gabrielle participated in a four-day journey at JJAMM (Josephites for Justice, Action, Mission, and Ministry), where she joined school leaders in developing leadership skills and strengthening connections within the Josephite community. She will now bring these learnings back to Lochinvar to inspire and lead others. To top it off, Gabrielle was officially commissioned as one of six school captains at the Commissioning of College Leaders Assembly on Friday—an important and proud moment for our school  community. Well done, Gabrielle!

A massive congratulations to Frederick Richardson for his outstanding performance at the school swimming carnival! Frederick put on an impressive display in the pool, clocking some blistering times and securing his place at the diocesan level. His dedication and determination are truly inspiring, and we can’t wait to see him make waves in the next stage of competition. Deadly work, Frederick!

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. The earlier that we can intervene with matters, the better the chance of a successful outcome. Below is a table of when our Aboriginal Education Teachers are on site and relevant contact details. Alternatively, please phone reception on 49307291 and ask to speak to someone in the Yalawa Centre.

Ms Zara Francisco, Mr Thomas Germon & Ms Nicole Small
Aboriginal Education Teachers

Message from the Finance Office

School Fee Statements will be emailed the beginning of March with 2025 fees billed for the year.  Please review your balances and commence weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments with fees to be finalised by 30/11/2025.  Families who have opted to pay a lump sum are due on 30/06/2025.  Please call the Finance Office on 0249 307 291 or email finance@lochinvarsj.catholic.edu.au to discuss if needed.

The below is the schedule and discounts which can apply to the Tuition Fee either for a sibling discount or a Health Care Card/Pension Card Holder.  If you receive a family discount and hold a current Health Care Card/Pension Card a combined total of 50% tuition discount is applied.

Health Care Card and Pension Card Holders / Family Discount on Tuition Fee

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.

If you are a fee payer and hold a current Australian Government Health Care Card/Pension card you may be entitled to a discount on your school fees, please email a copy of your card to finance@lochinvarsj.catholic.edu.au

In 2025, the family discount on full rate diocesan tuition fees are:

• 1 child family 0% - full rate to be applied
• 2 child family 15% - each child
• 3 child family 25% - each child
• 4+ child family 50% - each child

Mrs Cathy Duff
Finance Officer

Canteen News

Lunch Orders

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

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

New Uniform Products

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.

General News

Aspire Programs

Community Announcements

Parish Mass Times

St Joseph's, East Maitland
(Cnr King St & New England Highway)
Vigil 5.00pm
Sunday 8.30pm
Youth Mass 6.00pm

Sacred Heart
(New England Highway, Campbell's Hill)
Vigil 6.30pm

Holy Family
(11 John St, Largs)
Sunday 8.00am

St Columba's
(Cnr Prince & Church St, Paterson)
Sunday 9.30am

Immaculate Conception
(Cnr George & James Sts, Morpeth)
Sunday 7.15am

St Patrick's
(55 New England Highway, Lochinvar)
Sunday 9.30am

Our Lady of Lourdes
(Cnr Anderson Dr & Delprat Ave, Beresfield)
Vigil 6.00pm

St Paul's
(10 Young St, Rutherford)
Sunday 8.00am