Sunday 2nd Sunday of Advent (Year A) Immaculate Conception

Mass Times: St. Agnes’ Port Macquarie Our Lady of Lourdes Wauchope Saturday Vigil – 6.00pm Saturday Vigil – 6.00pm and Sunday 7.30am Sunday – 7.30am, 9.00am & 5.00pm Long Flat – 9.30am 2nd & 4th Sunday

Kendall – 9.00am Mass (1st Saturday month 10.00am Mass Comboyne)

Telegraph Point – Thursday Night 6.00pm Beechwood – 9.30am 1st & 3rd Sunday

Lake Cathie – Sunday 8.00am Laurieton – Saturday Vigil 5.30pm, Sunday – 7.30am

What’s on Term 4, Week 10

MONDAY, 9th December (Day 6)

- Year 11 Examinations Year 10 Lifestyle Awareness Day Year 9 Peer Support Training at Newman College SAPSS Jazz Band in Performing Arts Centre 4.30pm-6.00pm Homework Hub in Library 3.15pm-4.30pm

TUESDAY, 10th December (Day 7)

- Year 11 Examinations Year 10 Beach Fun Day at Diamond Beach Homework Hub in Library 3.15pm-5.00pm Drumline in PAC 1.05pm-1.45pm

WEDNESDAY, 11th December (Day 8)

- Year 11 Examinations YEAR 7-10 NON CLASS DAY (minimum supervision provided) St Agnes Primary School Band Performance

THURSDAY, 12th December (Day 9)

- Year 11 Examinations YEAR 7-10 NON CLASS DAY (minimum supervision provided)

FRIDAY, 13th December (Day 10)

- Year 11 Examinations YEAR 7-10 NON CLASS DAY (minimum supervision provided)

DATES TO REMEMBER Monday 16th December Christmas Mass at 9.30am Wednesday 18th December St Agnes Hostel Birthday Choir Performance Wednesday 18th December HSC results released & Year 12 breakfast Wednesday 18th December Christmas Carols Night at 6.30pm Wednesday 18th December SWD Funday at Settlement Point and Pool Thursday 19th December Year 7-10 Award Ceremony & Report distribution – (FULL WINTER UNIFORM INCLUDING TIES TO BE WORN FOR A WARDS) Last day for students Thursday 30th January 2014 Frist day for students in Year 7 and 11 Friday 31st January 2014 First day for students in Year 8-10 and 12

6th December 2013 Term 4, Week 9 P.O. Box 231, College Drive PORT MACQUARIE 2444

Ph: 02 5525 4100 Fax: 02 5525 4199 www.sapss.nsw.edu.au

“The Truth will set you free”

COORDINATING PRINCIPAL’S REPORT SPECIAL OLYMPICS Last Sunday evening I had the opportunity to attend the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics 2013 Asian Pacific Games held at Hunter Stadium in Newcastle. It was a wonderful night of entertainment featuring some of Australia’s best performers including Human Nature, Anthony Callea, Iva Davies, Marcia Hines, Darren Percival and Marina Prior. There were marching bands, a great display of precision horse riding by the mounted police, fireworks and much more in front of an audience of 30,000 spectators. However, for me the highlight was the parade of the 2,500 athletes, coaches and carers from 32 countries in the Asian Pacific region. Each of these athlete’s story is different and their participation in the games represent a personal triumph irrespective of the results of any competition. Their journey is more important than the destination. The concept of the Special Olympics had its origins in the United States when the late Mrs Eunice Kennedy Shriver hosted games at her house for 75 children with a disability. Eunice, who had a sister with an intellectual disability, wanted to offer these children the opportunity to explore their ability through sport. The Special Olympics promotes sport as a means of inclusion for people with an intellectual disability.

Judging from the success of the opening ceremony, this week of competition will be a celebration of personal triumph, unity and friendship. It is all being made possible through the efforts of a dedicated organising committee, supported by governments and business, families, individual donors, coaches, friends and some 3,000 volunteers. The Special Olympics athletes’ oath is “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt”. These people, who have faced so many challenges in life, will inspire those who have the opportunity to see them compete. Mr Jim O’Brien Coordinating Principal

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE School Shoes (Reminder)

Many parents will need to purchase new school shoes for their sons and daughters in January 2014. Please remember that the school requires these to be plain black, polishable lace-up leather shoes. (No high tops, boots or ripple soles, skate type shoes or logos. No buckle shoes or open top shoes. Heels should not be more than 2.5cm.) St Agnes’ Parish School Fees St Agnes’ Parish gives wonderful support and financial assistance to its schools. Our schools effectively run a deficit budget – the Parish contributes in excess of $600,000 to the schools each year beyond what is generated through government funding and school fees. This is an extraordinary commitment. Even with this high level of support, it is essential that our families meet their school fee commitments. I request that all families look to finalise their school fee debts prior to the end of this school term. If for any reason you are experiencing financial difficulty and meeting your monetary commitment to the Parish, please contact either myself at school or Trudi Hosking, the Parish School Fees Manager (6588 7444), to discuss making alternate arrangements.

SUBJECT AND EXCURSION COSTS My sincere thanks to those families who have paid these fees on time. I understand many of you have to make significant sacrifices along the way to ensure your sons and daughters receive an excellent education. If you are yet to make this final payment, it would be great to get it done in order to save unnecessary stress in the final days of the school year.

Payments can be made at the school office with cash, cheque or Eftpos. Credit card payments can be taken up to 3.30pm over the phone and there is also a Bpay option with details on your statement. NEW PROCEDURE FOR ISSUING REPORTS The new procedure for issuing reports requests that students share their results with their parents. Hence, report envelopes are to always be opened with parents present. Report envelopes will be issued to all students with the following message on the front and on the seal:

This report envelope is sealed and to be opened only by a Parent or Guardian.

In response to families not receiving reports and students opening the envelopes to find a slip stating the message below:

Your son / daughter has not received their report a s there is an outstanding balance on the School account.

It is my belief that students should not be opening Report envelopes and reading that accounts have not been paid. This is not fair to our students. This is a matter for the school and parents. The College has acknowledged that some families may have difficulties finalising their School account so I ask that you try to do this as soon as you can to avoid the above happening.

God Bless

Jim Dempsey Principal

FROM THE PARISH DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION Thank You Pat McLoughlin Many families and members of staff are extremely grateful for having been a part of the St Agnes’ Primary School family. Under the leadership of Pat McLoughlin (a dedicated contribution of 40 years to Catholic education) and his committed staff, St Agnes’ Primary has become a positive welcoming learning community for thousands of students. Pat has been Principal at Aggies for 14 years and during that time he has been a catalyst and an integral part of ensuring that each student and family has been welcomed into their community. Nelson Mandela says that “there can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children.” The welfare and well being of every student who has attended St Agnes’ has been a critical factor in Pat’s style of leadership. There is no doubt in my mind that the development of the St Agnes’ Primary professional learning community has been a direct result of Pat’s leadership and his leadership team. On behalf of the St Agnes’ Parish community, thank you Pat and best wishes for a long and enjoyable retirement. John McQueen Parish Director Education

END OF YEAR PROGRAM

Post-Exam Student Leave

From Wednesday, 11 th December to Friday, 13 th December three Post-Exam Student Leave non-class days for students have been scheduled to enable staff to complete marking, collate marks, prepare reports and awards.

Research confirms the importance of feedback from teachers for effective student learning. Students will return to school from Monday, 16 th December until Thursday, 19 th December to review exam papers, receive reports and attend academic award ceremonies. These days are compulsory for all students. Supervision will be available at the College for any student whose parent is not able to supervise them at home during the non-class days.

Dates to Remember:

• Monday, 16 th December 9.30 – 10.30am Christmas Mass & farewell to departing Year 10 students

• Thursday, 19 th December Year 7-10 Major Award Ceremony (Full winter uniform, including ties)

- 9.15am – 10.15am Award Ceremony 1st place in Subject Awards, Speaking Awards and Dux of each year Award.

- 11.00am - 12.15pm Macquarie & Oxley Excellence and Application Awards

- 12.45pm - 2.00pm Flinders and Innes Excellence and Application Awards

• Thursday, 19 th December is the last day of Term 4 for students an d report distribution. Staff will finish on Friday, 20th December; and will be available by appointment on this day for parent/teacher interviews.

Cath Eichmann Assistant Principal

FROM THE LEADER OF CATECHESIS AND SCHOOL EVANGELISA TION An Advent Reflection

Are you ready for Christmas?” asked a guy I see at the train station every day. I thought of the long list of gifts I still needed to buy and the calendar crammed with holiday events and parties, and I shook my head. “Hardly,” I said, and we both laughed knowingly.

On my train ride downtown I turned off my iPod and let my mind ponder that question a little deeper. “Am I ready for Christmas?” This time I thought about the meaning of the holiday—the Son of God coming to earth to dwell among us and show us the way to eternal life. Again I shook my head and murmured to myself, “Hardly.”

It was then that I vowed to take advantage of every opportunity to prepare my heart for the coming of the Christ Child into the world—the world you and I live in.

What I discovered was that if we know what we're preparing for, everything we encounter on the way to Christmas can prepare us for the coming of Christ, not only in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago but also into our homes, our families, our workplaces, and our communities. The usual December distractions can instead become holy moments when we find the Christ Child in our midst.

Having the right attitude and perspective on the season will help you and your family avoid the excesses that make certain Christmas preparations frantic, yet draining and disappointing. As theologian John Shea says, “The task seems to be the delicate one of learning to make the customs and traditions of Christmas serve the Spirit.”

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St Joseph’s Regional College Christmas MassSt Joseph’s Regional College Christmas MassSt Joseph’s Regional College Christmas MassSt Joseph’s Regional College Christmas Mass

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When: Monday December 16When: Monday December 16When: Monday December 16When: Monday December 16ththththat 9:30 amat 9:30 amat 9:30 amat 9:30 am

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Take a look at some of December's demanding activities with new eyes, eyes that fully expect to find God in every moment of this season of hope. (written by Tom McGrath Loyola Press)

Christmas Hampers

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matt25:40

Thank you to our students, family and friends for your generosity in assisting with the preparation of our school Christmas hampers. There will be many families that will experience the true joy of this Christmas season because of your kindness. Some of our teachers and senior students will also be assisting with the movement and delivery of the hampers this weekend. If you can help, the following times at St Agnes Parish Church is when assistance is needed.

(1) Saturday December 7 @ 1-1:30pm – hampers are moved from the Parish Hall to the Church altar. (2) Sunday December 8 @ 10-10:30am – hampers are moved from the altar to the pews for pre-delivery allocation. (3) Sunday December 8 @1pm – hamper deliveries throughout the parish.

Nora Swain Leader of Catechesis and School Evangelisation

Year 9 Industrial Technology – METAL

Year 9 Industrial Technology class had their demonstration of how to use and condition the bush BBQ. The success of this process includes a good hot fire, plenty of oil, onions and sausages as well as loads of fun!

LIBRARY NEWS Like us on FaceBook – St Joseph’s Regional College Library. Follow us on Twitter – @sjrcexchange Karen Bale Teacher Librarian

TEXTBOOK RETURN – END OF YEAR

Friday 6 th December – all Year 10 books to be returned

Tuesday 10 th December– all Year 7-9 books to be returned

As overdue lists are sent by email to student College email accounts, please encourage your child to check this regularly.

Prior to these two dates, text messages will be sent home to remind you to ask your child to

check his/her emails.

CAREERS

Congratulations: Meg Coyne who was the successful applicant for Better Homes Gap Year Traineeship 2014. Andrew Newbound who has been shortlisted for the prestigious UNSW Co-op Scholarship. This is a wonderful achievement and we look forward to the final result of his application on 12th December. Nicole Williamson who won the Southern Cross University Senior Schools Day iPhone 5S Photo competition. The winning entry had to best display what inspires people to study at SCU. Nicole’s theme was, “The new people you can meet & how much fun university can be”.

Year 12 end-of-Year Career Assistance – ATAR Results Day – Thursday 19th December from 9.00am to 11.00am. Mrs Tinsey and Mrs Bale will be available in the Library to help students make decisions post-results.

Work Experience- Please be advised that Work Experience opportunities for 2013 are now suspendd due to preparation for final yearly exams.

Careers Weekly Email Newsletter - All Year 11 and 12 students, parents and relevant Year 10 will receive each week a newsletter detailing all careers information that we receive. We hope some of the websites and information will be relevant to you and your son or daughter. Please contact us if you require further information or delete if nothing is relevant.

If you are not receiving these emails please check with the college office that your contact details are up-to-date. All careers information is broadcast through this method, so please keep details updated.

Regional Careers Website- The Careers website at www.SJRCPortcareers.com offers up-to-date information for parents and students in all year groups.

Moodle – Careers - Always updated with important documents for work experience and university information. Parents can access this information via your child’s login.

YEAR 8, 9 And 10 – TAX FILE NUMBERS- Tax file number forms are processed by Mrs Tinsey every Friday. New forms are now available from the office.

Karen Bale & Leanne Tinsey, Leaders of Careers and University Transition

HOMEWORK HUB The Library is a great place for students to complete class work and assessment tasks. All Library resources are available for use during this time.

On Wednesdays, Mrs Rosenbaum, our Leader of Mathematics, is available to assist you with mathematical problems.

The hours are: Monday and Wednesday 3.15pm - 4.30pm

Tuesday and Thursday 3.15pm - 5.00pm

Friday 3.15pm - 4.00pm

The Homework Hub is for people who are "getting things done".

Mrs Narelle Mathews Homework Hub Supervisor

LOST & FOUND

MATHS VAULT PROBLEMS The sum of five consecutive integers is five. What is the product of the five integers? (an integer is a whole number, positive or negative) Last Week’s Answer: I am 72

STUDENT INITIATIVE

Several Year 9 and 10 students have been walking for sport during Term 4. Last week Taylor LoMonaco suggested we pick up all the rubbish as we walked. So in Week 9 approximately 20 students collected rubbish as they walked. WELL DONE Taylor for your initiative and well done to all the walkers for their efforts!

Mrs Lisa Freeman

LOST & FOUND- YEAR 12 GRADUATION

A pearl bracelet with a gold encrusted clasp was found on the dance floor at the Year 12 Graduation. Please contact Joanne Williams at the College

office if you are or know of the owner of this bracelet.

CANTEEN ROSTER

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED- The College canteen is in need of some extra help. If you would like to help on any day during the week between 9.30am-1.30pm (or even just a couple of hours in the middle of the day) please phone Emma Daley at the College Canteen on 5525 4100.

Term 4, Week 10

Monday Help Please Tuesday Help Please Wednesday Post Exam Leave Thursday Post Exam Leave Friday Post Exam Leave

THE ART DEPARTMENT NEEDS DONATIONS The Art department desperately need donations of the following items.

• old clean towels, • tea towels, • face washers • sheets etc • plastic bags • plastic containers such as icecream, yoghurt etc( no glass), • old toothbrushes, • fabrics pieces,

Items that can be used to draw for still-life's such as vases, tea cups, fake plants and flowers etc etc we would like real plants for our verandah so any donations would also be appreciated in the new year.

SECONDHAND UNIFORM SHOP We urgently need your help! We need donations of second hand uniforms, especially:

Girls Skirts Grey Shorts White Blouses White Shirts Jumpers Sports Shorts Sports Shirts Boys Grey Socks Sports Socks

All sizes, especially small sizes. Items can be dropped into the front office.

GIRLS BLUE TUNICS will no longer be part of the College uniform in 2014. If you wish to donate your blue tunics to the College we will be, in turn, donating them to a school in a developing country or an indigenous community in remote Australia.

Year 7-10

Year Fri Wk 9 Mon Wk 10 Tues WK 10

7 am Music/study History (1.5hr) Normal classes

study study Sport

7 pm English (1.5hr) French (1hr) Normal classes

8 am HSIE (1.5hr) Science (1.5hr) Sport

study study Normal classes

8 pm Art/Music (1.5hr) RE (1hr) Normal classes

9 am Maths (1.5hr) Peer Support Normal classes

study Leadership Normal classes

9 pm HSIE (1.5hr) Training Sport

10 am Maths (1.5hr) Lifestyle PC

study Awareness

10 pm English (1.5hr) Day Day

YEAR 11 HSC ASSESSMENT TERM 4 2013

Please highlight your exams and keep this timetable in your diary. Please read carefully the notes at the bottom of the page. Separate timetables will be given for speeches by course teachers.

MORNING START 9.10am

AFTERNOON START 1.30 pm

FRIDAY Day 5

Dec 6 th

Chemistry (1hr) Prac Drama (6hr – all day) PAC/C5

Business Studies (1.5hr)

MONDAY Day 6

Dec 9 th

General Mathematics (1.5hr) Mathematics (1.5hr)

Ancient History (1.5hr)

TUES Day 7

Dec 10 th

Legal Studies (1.5hr) Mathematics Extension 2 (1.5hr)

PDHPE (1.5hr)

WED Day 8

Dec 11 th

Music–Performance C2 & C3-PAC History Extension

Drama - theory (1hr)

THURS Day 9

Dec 12 th

Senior Science (1hr) Prac Physics (1hr) Prac

Geography (1hr) Textiles – speeches T3

FRIDAY Day 10

Dec 13 th

Hospitality (1hr) Economics (1.5hr) Earth & Enviro. Science (1hr) Prac

Modern History (1.5hr)

Stude nts will be on leave Wednesday to Friday of Week 10 then return to school on Monday to Thursday of Week 11

for classes and return of exam papers, Christmas Ma ss and Awards Assemblies

NOTE: All exams are 1-2 hours (Please refer to individual assessment no tices) . All exams have 5 minutes reading time, unless otherwise stated. On-line and DE courses will be scheduled separately by Mr Lutton and Mrs Eichmann. Christmas Mass and normal lessons will take place Mon-Wed Week 11. These lessons are critical for HSC students. Yr 11 will finish on Wednesday 18th December.

Week 10 Sport - Year 9 Only Teachers on sport: BW, JB, CS, JRo, MC, GW, NG, AH Teachers not on sport (could pick up an in Lieu): DM, LF, GH

Sport Normal or not Week 10 Teacher Bus

Beach Walking Go to Ten Pin 0 n/a

Boot Camp Normal Ian Gooding n/a

Contract Sport Normal 0 n/a

Dive Towers Normal BW 2

Indoor Games Normal JB n/a

Learn to Surf Normal CS 1

Pilates Normal Lauren Wade n/a

Rock Climbing Normal JRo 3

School Sport Normal MC, GW, NG n/a

Skating Go to School Sport 0 n/a

Surfing Go to Ten Pin 0 n/a

Ten Pin Bowling Normal AH 3

SPORTSPORTSPORTSPORT

TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE LATEST SPORT INFORMATION FROM

THE REGIONAL VISIT http://www.pmreglism.catholic.edu.au/sport/sport