st joseph's regional college media releases term 3 2012
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Media articles, newspaperTRANSCRIPT
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