St Johns College Dubbo Term 3, Week 8 2025

Principal

Dear Families. 

Last Sunday, we celebrated Father’s Day, a special occasion where we recognise and give thanks for the fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and father figures who have guided us with strength, compassion, and faith.

At our Catholic high school, we are reminded that fatherhood is more than a biological role—it is a vocation of love, patience, and sacrifice. St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus, stands as a powerful model of fatherhood for us all. He was a man of deep faith who cared for the Holy Family with quiet strength and unwavering trust in God.

At this time around Father’s Day, we encourage our students to reflect on the many ways their fathers or male role models have supported them—whether through late-night conversations, cheering from the sidelines, helping with homework, or offering quiet prayers during times of need.

We also remember that for some, Father’s Day can be a difficult time due to loss or absence. As a community of faith, we extend our prayers to those who are grieving or missing their fathers. May they feel the love and comfort of our Heavenly Father, who is always with us.

A Prayer for Our Fathers

Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of our dads, grandfathers, and all father figures.
May You bless them with wisdom, patience, and joy.
May they continue to lead their families with kindness and strength,
in the example of St. Joseph.
Watch over those who are missing their fathers at this time,
and grant peace to those who have passed.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

God bless

Mr Justin McCarney
Principal

Faith and Mission

Dear Families,

Next week our Year 11 students take part in a week of Community Service. We have been running this for a few years now, and it is always wonderful to see our students stepping up and giving back. A sense of social responsibility and the importance of helping others is a significant part of our core missional values here at the College. Whilst learning about the values that were taught by Jesus is important, we also believe that students must be given the opportunity to live these values out as well. Helping others is central to the teachings of Jesus. I look forward to reporting back in our next newsletter about how our students went.

It is quite frightening to see the amount of hate that is on display in our world. We often feel helpless when we see conflict between countries and violence between people. Our students are obviously not in a position where they can do anything about those issues. The only thing they can do is make sure that their own lives are full of peace and love. The way they speak to family members, staff and one another is one way they can make this world a better place. Showing kindness, empathy and compassion is another. Realising that in a school setting, not everyone is going to be best friends, but everyone can be considerate and inclusive. Everyone can embrace one another’s differences. When peace and love is on display in a school setting, we have more of a chance of that same peace and love spreading out into the world. 

In closing, I would like to invite St Johns College families to Sunday night Mass this week. The College is in charge of music and readings and it is always nice to see SJC families there. Of course I would love to see our families at Mass every week, but this Sunday would be a particularly good time to attend. Mass starts at 6pm. I hope to see you there.

Yours in faith

Mrs Elissa Burden
Leader of Faith and Mission

Teaching and Learning

Year 7 - 9 Exams

Students have met our high expectations for conduct in exams. It is really important that students recognise that, for many of them, schooling will finish through an exam process, and part of their success in these will be their understanding of the process and formality of exams.  

Teachers are excited to see the data from these and provide feedback for students in the coming weeks.

Final Weeks for Year 12

There is so much for Year 12 to look forward to over the coming weeks and months, and it can be hard to stay focused when in school assessment is complete.

The reality is that they still have so much control over their final HSC marks, and the time they invest in study now will pay great dividends in the not too distant future.

Every subject has a Post Trial Plan in place to work on content and skills that can be honed before the HSC. Students should be working towards joining the 100% club!

Thinking about University?

Between 70 - 80% of students graduating from SJC head off to uni. 

If you are starting to think about uni, you are encouraged to reach out to our Pathways Coordinator Mrs Strahorn, who has a wealth of expert advice and can point you in the right direction.

The Art of Smart has released its full list of open days. These are brilliant ways to compare                                                       institutions and see first hand the resources available.

ART OF SMART Full list of Uni Open Days

Warm regards

Mrs Catherine Jones
Leader of Teaching and Learning

Literacy

Mr Keith Hill | Literacy Coordinator

Pathways

CSU Deadly Pathways Festival 

Students recently attended the CSU Deadly Pathways Festival where they explored a range of career and study options. They heard from First Nations role models in science, technology, education and health, and discovered the Charles Sturt University Dubbo Campus.

Mrs Patricia Strahorn | Stage 6 Pathways & ASPA Coordinator

HSC CALLBACK Nominations

We are incredibly proud to announce that two of our talented students have been nominated to audition for CALLBACK as part of the HSC Dance practical exam process — a prestigious recognition of excellence in performance!

Jessie L. – Nominated for her Core Performance and Major Study Performance
Eve S. – Nominated for her Major Study Performance

Well done, Jessie and Eve! Your hard work, passion, and dedication have truly paid off.

HSC OnSTAGE Nomination

Huge congratulations to Saphira B for her HSC Drama performance earning her a nomination for OnSTAGE, the NESA showcase for exceptional HSC Drama works!

Individual performance: "Anne Boleyn".

Saphira's hard work and dedication has paid off and we are extremely proud.

Congratulations on this incredible achievement!

Yr 12 Art Exhibition

Join us for the Year 12 HSC Visual Arts Exhibition and celebrate the incredible creativity of our senior students! Also featuring a stunning showcase of works from our talented Year 9, 10, and 11 Visual Arts students.

Friday 19th September
Human Movement Centre SJC
6:00pm – 8:00pm

Come and be inspired by the passion, skill, and imagination on display. We can’t wait to see you there! 

Class of the Week

Year 8N English – Shakespeare Stars in the making!

This term, Year 8N English have absolutely smashed it with their Twelfth Night essay task, and that’s why they deserve to be Class of the Week!

During term three, they have dived headfirst into Shakespeare’s world, exploring big ideas like disguise, ambition, love, and identity. They didn’t just write about the play, they really thought about how Shakespeare used things like soliloquies, comic subplots, and clever characterisation to bring those themes to life. What really stood out in class was their effort. From brainstorming ideas as a class to polishing their final drafts and seeking feedback every student gave it their all.

The classroom was buzzing with great discussions, teamwork, and a genuine excitement about literature. Whether they were unpacking Viola’s clever disguise or Malvolio’s over the top ambition, each student brought something unique to the classroom. Their essays were thoughtful, well-written, and full of personality, proof that hard work and a bit of creative flair go a long way.

A huge congratulations to Year 8N English. You’ve shown that Shakespeare isn’t just for the textbooks, it’s something you can explore, challenge, and even enjoy. Keep up the awesome work and the best of luck for your Yearly Exams.

Mrs McLachlan | English Teacher

RU OK Day

Today, our amazing Year 12 students hosted a Cupcake Stall to help raise awareness for RU OK? Day — reminding us all of the power of a simple conversation.

By sharing sweet treats, they also shared an important message:
"A conversation could change a life." 

Well done to our Year 12s for leading with heart and making a difference in our community.  All funds raised will be donated to RUOK.org.

Remember, we can ask 'R U OK?' any day. Let’s use this week to spread care and connection. Together, we can make a real impact. 💛

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Founders Day 2025

Founders Day 2025

Thursday 24th September

In Week 10 we celebrate our past, our present, and our future at this year’s Founders Day!

The day will begin with a special Mass in honour of St John and our four House patrons, whose values continue to shape the heart of our College community. After Mass, students will take on The Amazing Race — a fun-filled challenge of clues, teamwork, and friendly competition to win the ultimate prize! Sausage Sizzle for lunch — fuel up for the fun ahead! To finish the day, get ready to be amazed at the Talent Quest — showcasing the incredible talents of our students. Let’s come together as a community to honour our heritage and celebrate everything that makes St John’s College unique.

Resoure Hub

Harry Potter Tri-Wizard Cup

Make sure to sign up for our event, spots are almost full! There will be 4 events students will participate in. The winning team will receive a $10 Canteen Voucher each, valid until the end of Term 4. Keep an eye out for more library events!

Mrs Bruce - Teacher Librarian
Miss Lappa - Library Technician

Book Reviews by Mrs Bruce

Parent Information Evening

Dolly's Dream - Supporting Parents

Please come along to this free event to help support your children.

Monday 22nd September 
SJC Lecture Theatre @ 5.30pm

Job Vacancies

Sport

Netball - Schools Cup West Central West Finals

On Thursday 4th of September, 4 teams competed at the West Central West Finals of the Netball NSW Schools Cup in Orange.

7/8 Boys – Undefeated and unstoppable!
Our 7/8 Boys teams continued their undefeated streak on the day, taking home the trophy and advancing to the final stages of the Schools Cup competition. Congratulations boys. We wish them the best of luck at the State Finals later this year in Sydney.
7/8 Girls – So close!
Our 7/8 Girls team won all but one game, leaving them just 3 points away from advancing to the State Finals. They put up a good fight and finished 2nd in their division.
9/10 Boys – Strong and steady!
Our 9/10 Boys performed well, losing just one game and finishing 2nd in their division.
9/10 Girls – Small but mighty!
And our 9/10 Girls, won 3 and lost 2. Though depleted in numbers, they played well and finished 3rd in their division.

Congratulations to all players and those that assisted in umpiring on the day. Your hard work and support does not go unnoticed.

Finally, a massive shout out to coaches Mrs Cass McCarney and Mr Zac O'Leary.

Miss Jesse Doran | Netball Coach and Coordinator

BASKETBALL - History made!

St Johns College made history at the Bathurst CEDB Basketball competition! Four teams represented the College including the Junior Boys, Junior Girls, Intermediate Boys, and Intermediate Girls. In an outstanding achievement, all four teams won their respective divisions.

This remarkable success marks the first time in the nearly thirty-year history of the competition that a single school has claimed victory across all four divisions in one day. As a result, each of our teams has now qualified for the prestigious NSWCCC State Basketball competition.

Throughout the day, our players displayed exemplary conduct, playing with passion, determination, and true sportsmanship.

A big thank you is extended to the parents and friends who went to Bathurst to support the teams.

We congratulate all players and coaches on this historic achievement and wish them every success as they prepare for the upcoming State competitions.

Mr Mark Barnes

Dubbo Stampede

With another successful Dubbo Stampede in the rear view mirror its time to share in the successes of St Johns College Staff and Students. This year, the event was hub was relocated to downtown Dubbo at Ollie Robins Oval, and the new location was warmly received. 5.3k and 10k events took in their own river loops, whilst the Half and Full marathons took in wider river loops and a reverse lap of the zoo. This year the L.H. Ford Bridge was incorporated into the event for 10k and Half Marathon events.

A total of 17 St Johns College staff and students finished their respective events from 5.3k to the Half Marathon. Further College involvement was seen in MC duties (Mr Mark Barnes - English), on course entertainment ('Sim Jullivan' jazz combo serenading the Tamworth St Aid stations for a couple of hours!) and Mr Richard Eggleston (Maths/Science) as a Dubbo Stampede committee member (Schools Challenge Co-Ordinator) and LH Ford Bridge course marshal.

Of particular note were podium finishes by Jarvis Penman (Yr8) in the 5.3k Dingo Dash, Molly Jones (Yr9) in the 10k Cheetah Chase, and Mr Luke Doyle (Maths) who nearly came into the money with a 4th place in the 10k. 

5.3km Dingo Dash - 491 finishers
Jarvis Penman (Yr8) - 4th overall, first category, 3rd gender - 20:13; Logan Penman (Yr10)- 9th overall, 1st category, 20:52; Eli Willocks (Yr7) - 30th overall, 6th category, 24:45; Eamon Fitzgerald (Yr12) - 94th overall, 2nd category, 30:43; Mrs Patricia Strahorn (French/Careers) - 10th category (and by all reports a PB....); Mr Adam Caton (Music) - 26th category; Bax Whitehouse (Yr8) - 21st category; Isaac Minney (Yr12) - 3rd Category; Mr Michael Minney (IT Support) - 13th category

10k Cheetah Chase - 305 Finishers
Mr Luke Doyle (Maths) - 1st category, 4th overall, 38:39; Molly Jones (Yr9) - 2nd category, 3rd Gender, 19th overall, 46:00; Brodie Pearson (Yr9) - 2nd category, 26th overall, 47:46; Mrs Jacinta New (RE) - 19th category; Emma Robinson (Yr8) - 5th category; Grace Christiansen (Yr8) - 6th category

21.095km Zebra Zoom - Half Marathon - 404 finishers
Mr Matt O'Dea (English/HSIE) - 8th Category - 2h 2min; Gus Campbell (Yr11) - 7th Category - 2h 4min (his debut outing)

School Fees

Dear Parents/Guardians 

Thank you to those families who have already paid their College fees.

Families who pay their fees by the term, the final instalment for the year, instalment 3 was due by 15 August 2025. If you have not yet paid the term 3 instalment please ensure prompt payment by 12 September 2025.

For families making regular, weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments please ensure your payment plan is on track to have your College fees account finalised by 30 November 2025.

To ensure your College fees account is on track by the due date, please note from this Friday 12 September 2025 there are 12 weeks, 6 fortnights or 3 months until fees are due. Contact the College Fees Office if you need to adjust your payment plan.

HSC fees are due by 31 October 2025.

You can check your balance owing and make payments via the Compass App or BPAY.

If you wish to discuss your account please contact the College Fees Office on 6841 5142 or email m.carlow@bth.catholic.edu.au.

Maree Carlow | Finance Leader

Important Dates

Term 3 2025

If you would like to add the St Johns College Calendar
to your google calendar please click on this link.

Monday 15th September - 26th September
Work Placement for VET Students

Tuesday 16th September
NSW All Schools Touch Football - Sydney

Monday 22nd September
Dolly's Dream Workshop for Parents

Tuesday 23rd September
Yr 11 Business Studies - It's Zoo Business Excursion

Wednesday 24th September
Yr 12 Graduation Mass

Thursday 25th September
Founders Day Celebrations
Last Day Term for students

Friday 26th September
Pupil Free Day - Staff Development Day

TERM 4

Monday 13th October
Pupil Free Day - Staff Development Day

Community Notices