St Johns College Dubbo Term 3, Week 2 2025

Principal

Dear Families

This week the St Johns Primary held their very successful musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the St Johns Hall. The talented students of the primary school were supported in the musical by some of the College students and below is a summary of our students contributions by St Johns Primary Principal Mr Anthony O’Leary.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory – A Celebration of St John’s College Talent

This week’s production of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was a spectacular showcase of the creativity, discipline, and theatrical flair of our St John’s College students. Performing in front of more than 1,000 audience members across sold-out shows in the SJC Hall, our students brought magic and professionalism to the stage, playing key parent lead roles and the iconic Willy Wonka with unforgettable energy and skill.

Taking on the lead role of Willy Wonka were Jessica Ibe (Gold Cast) and Angus Sutton (Blue Cast). Both performers embraced the complex and whimsical nature of Wonka with confidence and charm. Their strong stage presence, expressive storytelling, and vocal clarity helped anchor the entire performance, guiding the audience through the fantasy of the chocolate factory with both mystery and delight.

In the role of Grandpa Joe, Rihaana Jose sparkled across both casts, delivering joyful energy in “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket” and heartfelt emotion in “What Could Possibly Go Wrong.” Her ability to switch between warmth, humour, and tenderness made her a standout presence in every scene she touched.

Mrs Bucket was brought to life with authenticity and depth by both Lilly Hanson and Chelsea Zukauskas. Their emotional performance of “If Your Father Were Here” was a highlight of the show, touching hearts and bringing genuine poignancy to the storyline. Their vocal control and dramatic timing added nuance to this beautiful moment of stillness amidst the vibrant chaos of the factory scenes.

The character of Mrs Gloop was brilliantly portrayed by Lilly McPherson, whose theatrical flair and comedic timing in the upbeat “More of Him to Love” had the audience in fits of laughter. She embraced the larger-than-life personality of Augustus’s doting mother with bold energy and excellent character work.

As Mrs Beauregarde, Luxi Liu commanded the stage with attitude and polish during “The Queen of Pop.” Her stylish confidence and expressive vocals perfectly matched Violet’s fame-hungry mother, bringing sharp humour and sparkle to the production.

Adelaide McPherson delivered a wonderfully extravagant performance as Mrs Salt in “When Veruca Says.” Her elegance and theatrical exaggeration were spot on as she portrayed the indulgent parent, matching Veruca’s every demand with comic timing and flair.The role of Mrs Teevee was played by both Holly O’Halloran and Kiah Fogle, who gave energetic and fun-filled performances in “Little Man of Mine.” Their sharp delivery, expressive stage movement, and commitment to the hyper-digital world of the Teevees brought high-energy humour to the show and left the audience smiling long after the curtain fell.
Beyond their on-stage brilliance, the St John’s College performers demonstrated exemplary leadership and maturity throughout the entire rehearsal and performance journey. They worked alongside the St John’s Primary students with patience and encouragement, modelling confidence and professionalism in every rehearsal. Their dedication, talent, and collaborative spirit truly impressed the entire staff of St John’s Primary, and they served as inspiring role models for the younger cast members.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was not just a school musical—it was a joyful celebration of community, creativity, and connection between our two campuses. We are so proud of our College students for their outstanding commitment to the arts and their generous leadership. This musical was a triumph made possible through their passion and presence on and off the stage.

It was lovely to receive the positive message from Mr O’Leary, particularly after what would have been a very busy week. One of the greatest strengths of the College is the vast range of opportunities our students have to showcase their talents. We saw that again this week with the musical and with the U16 Girls Rugby League team being crowned Southern Country winners. There are so many students that are putting themselves forward to be their best. We need as a College community to challenge each other so that all students use their talents and positively contribute to our community and in turn the wider community.

We very much look forward to welcoming the families of our Year 10 cohort to the Faculty Fair and Year 11 2026 Information Evening next Tuesday night. This is a great opportunity to learn more about subject choices and pathways for Stage 6 and beyond.

God bless

Mr Justin McCarney
Principal

Faith and Mission

Dear Families,

The term is off a great start with some exciting things waiting for us in Term 3. 

We were lucky enough to be joined here at school on Wednesday by Bishop Michael McKenna. Bishop Michael was in town for the Sacrament of Confirmation and took the opportunity to see us. Bishop Michael met with some of our Year 10, 11 and 12 students who attended Ignite during the holidays. Our students enjoyed his company and he enjoyed meeting them. 

Next week, we welcome a group of Year 11 students from De LaSalle, Caringbah. They are coming to Dubbo for the week to experience life in the country. The College has a connection to the school as one of our charisms is St John Baptist de LaSalle. You may already know that many years ago in Dubbo, there was an all boys school run by the LaSallians. It was in Fitzroy St (where the Leadership Academy now sits). In 1969, this school merged with the Sisters of Mercy school (an all girls school) and became the co-ed St Johns College. Some of our Year 11 students will be joining the visitors for a number of events, such as a river walk, some Aboriginal spirituality activities, a Liturgy and even Tem Pin Bowling. We did the same last year and our students were consummate hosts and had a great time, so I hope this year will be the same. 

Next Friday is the Feast Day of Our Lady of the Cross Mary MacKillop. As you may know, Mary Mackillop was Australia’s first saint. Her commitment to Catholic education is certainly something we look up to here at St Johns College. Something that Mary MacKillop said that I believe we need to think about is “We have all very much for which to thank and love God.” Living in Australia, the best country in the world, having access to education, enjoying the freedoms we enjoy and not facing war and conflict are certainly things to be thankful for.  

The school will have an opportunity next Friday to reflect on the works of Mary MacKillop. 

I will finish with a lovely prayer that comes from the Mary MacKillop Place website:

God, through the intercession of Mary MacKillop,
we pray that the fire of your compassion will ignite many hearts.
May Mary’s attentiveness to your dream inspire us.
May her energy to overcome injustice empower us.
May we, like her, make manifest your Presence in our troubled world.
We pray that the beacon of her holiness shine
as a blessing for the universal Church and our world.
We make this prayer in Jesus’ name.

Amen.

Yours in faith

Mrs Elissa Burden
Leader of Faith and Mission

Bishop Michael McKenna

Teaching and Learning

Trial Examinations

We wish our Year 12 students all the very best for their upcoming HSC Trial Examinations.

These commence Monday 4th August and continue until Monday 18th August. 

Mrs McCarney has been providing students with lots of study advice, and our teachers have been running many tutorials at lunch and after school.

While we strongly promote a consistent, long term routine for study and exam preparation, it’s never too late. Here is a great article from the Art of Smart.

How to Study for HSC English the Night Before the Exam

Here are some really useful links to boost Trials study and preparation:

Study Planner Template

HSC Examinations - Past Papers

HSC Standards Materials - Sample Responses

Atomi Study Tips

Art of Smart Trials Mark Calculator

It is an extremely busy and often stressful time for students as these important exams typically coincide with the submission of major projects in many subjects. Students are reminded that there are lots of supports in place to navigate this time.

Here are some essentials:

• Understand all of your commitments over the next 2 weeks - including those relating to sport, work, social life, family etc.
• Plan your time so you have a clear understanding of when you can study and what to focus on.
• Use the resources in your “Year 12 Study Skills” course in Atomi.
• Make sure you know how your exam paper works by viewing past papers and doing some practice questions. 
• Ask for help - from your teachers, your Year Leader, your family - to help you stay on track, to help you clarify your understanding, and especially, to help you create a strategy if you are feeling really stressed.
• Look after yourself. Sleep, eat, drink lots of water, move your body, stay in contact with others.

Year 11 Elevate and Preliminary Examinations

Elevate Education met with Year 11 this week to launch their exam preparation period. Year 11 exams will commence in Week 7.

Elevate led the students through highly reliable study and preparation techniques to help them to study smarter.

Year 10 Subject Selections

We are nearing the end of our Year 10 subject selection process, with our Subject Selection Evening and Faculty Fair on Tuesday 5th August. This is an exciting time for Year 10, and we urge them to use all of the resources and supports available to them.

Parents can access our subject selection meetings, including presentations from our Faculty Leaders through our Canvas course here: https://cedb.instructure.com/courses/1275

Subject Selection Information Evening and Faculty Fair

Tuesday 5th August

St Johns College Hall

5.30pm - Faculty Fair

A chance to investigate the subjects offered, and chat with teachers and faculty leaders

6.30pm - Information Session

Look more broadly at patterns of study, how senior school changes, and some of the important considerations, like units and the ATAR. Hear from some of our current Year 11 students.

Subject Selection Interviews

Students and their families are encouraged to book individual Subject Selection Interviews, which will be held on Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th August. These will be held in person and via ZOOM. Information for booking these interviews will be sent following our Faculty Fair.

Please bring along the subject selection booklet students received this week and all of your questions. 

7 - 9 Examinations

Term 3 assessment tasks for 7 - 9 students are examinations. These are a formal style of examination that will take place in a study hall.

Each exam notification and study guide will be posted on Canvas over the coming few weeks.

During Academic Care, students have been learning about the importance of exams and how to prepare for them. So far our topics have been:

• Feedback from Semester 1 Reports and Goal Setting
• All about Exams

And in Week 3 we will look at:

• How Memory Works, Why Study Matters and How to Get Started

In this lesson, students will plan a study schedule, with a recommended home study routine of a minimum of 30 minutes per subject per week.

Parents can access exam notifications and the Academic Care lessons through the Canvas Portal on the home page of our website: St Johns College

Parent Webinar

Elevate Education are hosting a parent webinar that is particularly relevant to our school this term.

Live Parent Webinar: How to Get (And Keep!) Your Child Motivated
Wednesday 6th August 6:30-7:30pm (AEST)
Please see below for register link
 
Unfortunately, parents can often find their child’s motivation dwindling at the final hurdle, just weeks from their final exams.  

Our next live webinar helps parents to keep their child motivated when it matters most by using goal-setting strategies to keep their eyes on the prize.   

‘Content was spot on, and the examples provided were very relevant and relatable. The presenter was also knowledgeable and relatable for both parents and students. I found this session very useful and will be putting the concept of 'focusing on the process' into practice. Thank you.’ 

‘Practical, realistic, psychology-based information. Presented enthusiastically and clearly.’ 

Warm regards

Mrs Catherine Jones
Leader of Teaching and Learning

Literacy at SJC

Mr Keith Hill | Literacy

Pathways

Orana Youth Forum 

SJC Year 10-11 and 12 students are invited to express interest in attending the Orana Youth Forum by completing this EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FORM

Science

Victor Chang School Science Award

We are delighted to announce that Rydah W has been awarded the prestigious Victor Chang School Science Award!

Established in 2004 in honour of pioneering cardiac surgeon, Dr Victor Chang, the Victor Chang School Science Awards celebrate gifted students, and stimulate growth in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

This award recognises a Year 11 student who demonstrates outstanding passion, dedication, and potential in Science — and Rydah has truly embodied all of that and more. Congratulations Rydah we are incredibly proud of your acheivment.

Mr Jose Sunny | KLA Leader Science

Music

Michael Dolce Workshop

Wow!! Guitar legend from The Voice, Michael Dolce, returned to St Johns College to work with our many talented students. It was an exciting mentoring day with tonnes of advice for our SJC music crew in how to improve their skills as musicians and how to achieve life goals.

Michael was blown away by the sheer volume and quality of our music community and worked non-stop to have time with every student which we seriously appreciated. Everyone was very grateful for his wisdom and enthusiasm, and our students all performed on the day like stars.

Catherine Crossing | KLA for CAPA

Student Leadership

National Leadership Camp

Congratulations to Year 11 student Rydah W who attended the National Leadership Camp that was run by Burn Bright at Stanwell Tops during the holidays.

He highly recommends this experience to other students: "Whilst at NLC I was taught the four main attributes of a leader: Values, Service, Grit and Vision. The camp ran over four days and was attended by 109 other students who ranged from all over Australia and even some from other countries such as Nepal and New Zealand. My biggest takeaway from this camp was that I learnt that my vulnerability as a person is an attribute that I can use to help other people.

Mrs Patricia Strahorn | Stage 6 Pathways/ASPA Coordinator

Japanese Exchange Program

Congratulations to Holly R, Harrison C, Molly J, Mia R, and Mrs Naomi Clark on being selected for Dubbo Regional Council’s (DRC) Sister City Exchange Program with Minokamo, Japan. Our Japanese guests will be visiting St John's College on Monday 4th August for a guided tour as a part of their cultural exchange. Many thanks to Mrs Clark and Mrs Strahorn for their efforts in organising this day of all. Thank you to the students who have volunteered to accompany our guests.

Sport

NSW Country All Schools Final

U16's Girls

Our girls are into the NSW Country All Schools final!

They defeated the winners of the Riverina (Temora High), Illawarra (Kiama High) and South Coast (Lumen CC) to be crowned NSW U16 Rugby League Southern Country Champions.The final will be played in Bathurst Wednesday the 10th Sept against the Northern NSW winner.

Congratulation girls, we are so proud of you all.

Mr Andy Haycock | Rugby League Coordinator

U15's Boys

The College Under 15 Boys Rugby League side played Southern Country Semi Finals this week in Wagga. The team were super competitive in their three games, and came 2nd after being beaten by Kildare Wagga in the final.

They defeated Canberra winners (Francis Xavier), drew with Illawarra champions (Kiama High), but were defeated by Kildare 3 tries to 1 in the final. Overall this places them in the top 2 schools in Southern Country.

MVP on the day were Levi S, with Sam L, Nullah B and Nate R also turning in strong performances.

The season overall was 8 games, playing at Dubbo, Parkes and Wagga throughout Term 2 and 3. All the boys were terrific ambassadors for the College throughout the tournament.

Mr Andy Haycock | Rugby League Coordinator

Diocesan Netball Gala Day - Orange

On Friday 25th July, 30 of our students hit the courts in Orange for a full day of netball action at the Bathurst Diocesan Netball Gala Day.Standout Results:

Our 9/10 team took out the grand final win against James Sheahan.
Our 7/8 team also made it to the final, just narrowly missing victory in a close match against James Sheahan
.The 11/12 team showed great grit, with one draw and a string of close games. A huge thank you to our lone umpire, Charlee B, who supported the teams all day and to all players for their sportsmanship and teamwork.

Mrs Cassandra McCarney | Miss Tegan Douglas | Miss Jesse Doran

Orana Region All Schools Touch Carnival

What a day of talent, teamwork, and determination!

Our 7/8 girls gave it their all, showing incredible heart and skill - narrowly missing out in the semi-final despite a fantastic effort.

Our 7/8 boys, 9/10 boys and 9/10 girls teams dominated the competition, going through the day undefeated with class, skill, and strong team unity. A huge congratulations to the 7/8 boys, 9/10 girls, and 9/10 boys who now progress to the State Championships later this term!

Mrs Sue McAlister | Mr Zac O'Leary \ Ms Ella McIntosh

James selected for the NSW All Schools Merit Hockey Team

A huge shoutout to James Robinson, who has been named in the NSW All Schools Merit Hockey Team following his standout performances representing the NSW CCC team at the recent All Schools Carnival!

This marks the second time James has earned selection in this prestigious side — an incredible achievement showcasing his consistency and talent at the highest level.

While there is no Australian Schools Hockey Carnival this year, the NSW All Schools Merit Team is selected based on performances across the carnival, which features the best players from NSW CCC, CHS, and CIS schools.

Well done, James — your hard work and dedication continue to impress! 

Parent Webinars

AI & The Digital Generation

Thursday 21st August 12:30pm - 1:15pm

AI-assisted image-based abuse: Navigating the deepfake threat - AI tools are evolving rapidly and unfortunately, some are being used to harm children through deep fakes and altered images. Join the eSafety Commissioner for a free 45-minute webinar exploring the risks of AI-assisted image-based abuse and how you can help protect your child.

Recognising Online Coercive Control in young people's lives

Tuesday 5th August 1:30pm - 2:30pm 

FREE WEBINAR!! Presented by Stef Tipping from the esafety Commissioner, Australia's independent regulator for online safety. It’s not always easy to spot when a relationship becomes controlling, especially for young people. Coercive control is a pattern of abusive behaviours that uses manipulation, monitoring, surveillance, pressure, and fear to limit someone’s freedom and independence. When technology is involved, it can be even harder to recognise. This training explores:- How technology-facilitated coercive control impacts young people- The common red flags to watch for- Practical ways to respond and support those experiencing it. Session details: This will be a 60-minute webinar with the opportunity for interactivity and questions via the slido app and the chat box. Register now:https://events.teams.microsoft.com/.../423868c3-1736-4bf1...

The Sleep Connection

Wednesday 13th August 7pm - 8pm

Is your child or teen getting enough sleep?
Around 70% of teens and many primary-aged kids aren't getting the rest they need and it's affecting their health, resilience and performance.

SJC Flash Sale

Resource Hub - Library

RESOURCE REVIEW

Attendance

School Fees

Dear Parents/Guardians 

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

Families paying their school fees by the term please note your final instalment for the year, instalment 3, is due by 15 August 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 1 August 2025 there are 18 weeks, 9 fortnights or 4 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.

Thursday 31st July
Bill Turner Cup - Albury
U15's Rugby League - Southern Country Cup

Monday 4th August
HSC Trial Exams Commence

Tuesday 5th August
Yr 11 2026 Faculty Fair

Thursday 7th August
Go Cart Program - Yr 10

Friday 8th August
Academic Awards Assembly

Tuesday 12th August 
Merino Wether Challenge - Dubbo

Wednesday 13th August
CSYMI Confirmation Retreat

Community Notices

2025 Dubbo Stampede

The entries are flowing in thick and fast for the 2025 Dubbo Stampede, to be held on the 7th September 2025. This year's relocation to Ollie Robbins Oval brings with it a new event village and all-new courses.

On offer for all are the 5.3k Dingo Dash and 10k Cheetah Chase. For 16s and over we have the 21.1k Zebra Zoom Half Marathon and the 42.2k Rhino Ramble Marathon for over 18s only.

Part of this annual event is the Regional Australia Bank Schools Challenge. This year, those taking part can earn more points for their school by undertaking more challenging events. Including these two young lads.....

Angus Campbell (Yr11) and Hugh Bevan (Yr12) took advantage of a special offer of free event entry put forth by Mr Richard Eggleston in his role as a Stampede Committee member and have both signed up for the challenging Half Marathon. 

This gruelling event will take runners on a large loop around the Macquarie River, including an out-and back spur on the LH Ford Bridge and a reverse lap of Dubbo Zoo, before finishing back at Ollie Robbins Oval. A fully certified 21.095km Half Marathon with a total of 140m elevation gain.

A Parkrun regular, this will be Gus' first Half Marathon. Tracksesh aficionado Hugh is looking to improve upon his recent 2:36 Half Marathon in Canberra back in April. Who will emerge victorious? As always, the sport of road running will have the final say....

For more information about the Dubbo Stampede, get in touch with Mr Eggleston in the Maths Faculty or visit www.dubbostampede.com.au

Mr Richard Eggleston.