Week 2 Term 1 2025

Message from the Principal

Welcome to 2025
At the conclusion of our first two weeks of the school year, we have much to be grateful for and celebrate. In many of his writings, Pope Francis reflects on the importance of community in our lives and I believe that our community continues to thrive by being witnesses to his words. “To be part of a Christian community is to belong to a group of believers who shun selfishness and give witness to God's love by loving and caring for one another.” Further to this, we are reminded that while modern society places more importance on "one's own interests regardless of or even to the detriment of others," true Christians "ban individualism in order to encourage sharing and solidarity". We endeavour to share these messages to build quality relationships. 

Our community is enriched by the many opportunities we have to come together with our families and Week 3 has 2 opportunities.

• On Tuesday night we celebrate the beginning of Year 7’s Woodlawn journey with parents and students at our Meet and Greet evening. All Year 7 teachers will be in attendance with a special liturgy in the Chapel, where HomeGroup teachers meet their families, followed by a light supper with all Year 7 teachers and the Leadership team. This is an opportunity to ask questions, put a smiling face to your child’s teachers and to meet other students who your child shares each day with.
• Our Opening College Mass is celebrated annually at St Carthage’s Cathedral. We bless our Year 12 leaders and also our new SRC takes their leadership pledge. This Mass is for students only as we don’t have the seating capacity to include families. There will be opportunities for families later.
• The College Swimming Carnival is a highlight on everyone's radar. All families are encouraged to join us to feel the energy and passion with which our senior students represent their house. The carnival begins with the student march pass from 3 pm with families asked to park on the ovals as guided by our staff. The energetic School Community Forum will cater for the evening (see their column on how you can assist them). Families gather on the various hills so bring your picnics, chairs and rugs to enjoy the atmosphere and support our students. We remind everyone that the school is an alcohol-free zone and that students are asked to stay until the end of the carnival to ensure they support their house spirit. Note: school buses do not run in the afternoon as the carnival begins in formal lesson time and continues into the evening. The expectation is that everyone is there to support our community. 

At Assembly, we spoke about choices and how everything we do is related to a choice we have made. We then introduced the new staff who have chosen to join our school community in 2025. 

Nick Jones – Nick is our Leader of Pastoral Care for 2025. He is returning to Woodlawn where he was previously a Year Coordinator and the Leader of School Evangelisation. He brings a wealth of experience and is known for his compassion and sense of justice. 

Eliza Blunn – is a 2022 Woodlawn graduate and will be taking up the role of Youth Minister.

Andrew Budnick – was appointed in Term 4 last year to teach PDHPE after returning to Australia from Harrow International School in Japan where he taught and was a Boarding Housemaster. Before that, he taught at Toowoomba Grammar School.

James Coll – has relocated from Perth to take up a temporary position in Visual Arts. In recent years, Jim has been teaching in various international schools in China.

Jarrod Cotgrove – has relocated from South Australia where he taught at Xavier College, Gawler Belt. Jarrod will be teaching Maths and PDHPE.

Emelia Ewart – was a 2012 graduate from Woodlawn and has taken up a position as our CAPA Assistant.

Kaitlyn Follett - has been appointed to teach Food Technology/Hospitality on a part-time basis. Kaitlyn has held various roles at Brisbane Bayside State College.

Catriona Ertz Fraser – has taken up a part-time position as Librarian.

Gemma Giacobetti – will be teaching Catholic Studies on a temporary basis for 2025.

Cody Johnston – is also a graduate of Woodlawn (2011) and joined our Eagle Centre team as a Teachers Aide at the end of last year.

Kael Little – is a SCU graduate and has taken up a temporary role teaching Maths and Science, having spent last year teaching in London.

Evan McGarrity – has come to us from St Hilda’s on the Gold Coast and will be teaching Maths/PDHPE and Science.

Victoria Stansfield – will also be assisting in the Eagle Centre as a Classroom and Learning Support Aide.

Amanda Starr – has taken up a part-time position as Librarian. Amanda has been a Librarian at Mt St Patrick’s College since 2011.

Jaya Wisemantel – was our 2024 College Captain and will be employed with us for 2025 as our Sport and PDHPE Assistant.

Natasha Wotherspoon – has finished her formal studies and joins our staff as a teacher. Natasha has been working closely with our students in the capacity of Youth Ministry. 

Leadership at the College is based on the premise that we are all here to serve. This model of leadership is evidenced in many scriptural references. When listening to the speeches of students from Years 8-11 it was evident that care, compassion and inclusivity underpinned the thoughts of our young people. Everyone spoke with integrity and authenticity and we could not have been prouder of the depth of capacity we have here at the College.

The 2025 SRC LEADERSHIP TEAM is as follows:

Year 11

Jack McLean              Kate Wolton

Tom McPhee              Chloe Ryall

Max Alcorn                 Grace Mason

Seb James                    Ava Allen

Kieran Weekes           Evie Butler

Will Aylward                Lizzie Maginnity

Year 10

Edie Stewart               Oliver Pennisi

Year 9

Sophie Scott               John Jacobs

Year 8

Remy Anderson          Flynn Cluff

Our Community Parent Forum is a vibrant group of dedicated parents. Please consider joining them on Friday night to help with the carnival, attend meetings, be part of the social gatherings and look towards the Picnic Races community event in May. I have included the attachments here for your information. Please click on the link as this is a way to engage and connect with each other while building partnerships.

Swimming Carnival Volunteers

Uniforms
Please see attached a memo regarding the College uniform and our supplier. In brief, there have been some supply issues that may affect uniforms and ordering. The uniform is an important statement about belonging to our community. Wearing it properly and ensuring all guidelines are adhered to is important. If your family requires assistance with obtaining uniforms I am more than happy to assist through our community hardship fund.

Communication

• NEWSLETTERS: These are a formal record of events and information related to College life. They will include information about Mission opportunities, faculties and what is happening in curriculum, reflections about College life, a column from the SRC, a column from the Parent Community Forum, details about events and happenings and a range of other information.
  These will be published:
  Term 1: Weeks 2, 6 and 10
  Terms 2-4: Weeks 2 and 9

• Compass is the key portal for updates about sporting opportunities, events and specific year level information. 
• Search for us on Facebook and Instagram. There are good news stories, a weekly wrap-up and photos of College life. Like and share us with your families.
• If you have a specific curriculum issue contact the relevant teacher via email. For other issues, phone the College and your call will be directed to the appropriate person.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION FROM THE DLCSL:

Please familiarise yourself with our Traffic Management Plan which can be found on our website or by clicking this link.

Kind regards, 

Annette Reen 
Principal

Message from the Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

Dear Woodlawn College Community,

As we begin the 2025 academic year, we are filled with pride and optimism, building upon the remarkable achievements of our 2024 graduates while implementing exciting new initiatives to support our current students' success.

Celebrating Excellence: 2024 HSC Results
We were delighted to share the outstanding achievements of our 2024 HSC cohort at Tuesday’s High Achievers Assembly. Our students demonstrated exceptional academic prowess and made the entire Woodlawn community incredibly proud of their achievements. The assembly allowed our College community to celebrate the following:

• 21 students achieving 45 Band 6 results
• 10 students achieving ATARs over 90
• 2 students who made the NSW All-Round Achievers List
• 1 student who was named as NSW State Top Achiever

Further to this, we affirmed:

• Kate Alexander, our College Dux, achieving an ATAR of 98.90
• Shivam Raval, our College Proximae, achieving an ATAR of 98.80 and ranking 1st in the state for Studies of Religion 1

Our students also excelled in creative and vocational pursuits, with notable achievements including:

• Lola Berriman's selection for ENCORE (Music 1)
• Anzac Corkery's CALLBACK nomination for Dance
• Maya Sullivan's ArtEXPRESS nomination
• Sam Herington's SHAPE nomination for Industrial Technology
• 45 VET qualifications achieved across the cohort

Responsibility for Learning (RFL) Program
We're excited to announce improvements to our RFL reporting system, which occur five times throughout the year. The program focuses on five key areas:

• Organisation
• Punctuality
• Engagement
• Independent Learning
• Collaborative Learning

Students maintaining a high GPA or showing marked improvements will be recognised with commendations, while those not meeting the College expectation of 3.0 or higher will be offered additional support and receive dedicated academic counselling to ensure their success. A detailed breakdown of the RFL criteria is displayed in each classroom for students and will be available to parents on the Compass Dashboard under reports once round 1 results are released in Week 7.

Assessment and Testing Programs

PAT Testing: Year 7 students will participate in Progressive Assessment Testing in the first three weeks, beginning with Reading Adaptive testing in English lessons. This valuable diagnostic tool helps us provide targeted support from the start of their secondary education journey.

NAPLAN 2025: Years 7 and 9 will participate in NAPLAN between March 12-24, with writing assessments scheduled for March 12. Please see the Parent and Carer information sheet attached here.

Strategic Direction for 2025-2027

Following our comprehensive review in 2024 with all stakeholders, we are implementing our new Strategic Plan with a focus on creating thriving learners. In the Learning and Teaching domain, some initiatives include:

• Targeted numeracy and mathematics support for Year 9 boys
• Enhancement of classroom environments through the 'Third Teacher' program
• Implementation of High Impact Teaching strategies, including daily review sessions

Further updates on how we address goals developed from community feedback will occur throughout the year. The full Three Year Strategic Plan and School Annual Improvement Plan can be found here.

Academic Resources

Assessment Calendars and Curriculum Handbooks are being distributed next week, providing detailed information about subject scope and sequences as well as academic and assessment guidelines. These resources will be available on Google Classroom Assessment Hubs for students and the College website.

We encourage parents to engage in constructive conversations with their children about their learning goals and classroom engagement. Our doors are always open for any questions or clarification you may need.

NCCD on School Students with Disability
Attached is a letter from the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) regarding the collection of data on Students with Disability. It's important that we inform all families about this mandatory process and how it helps schools to better support Students with Disability. Please see the attached correspondence here.

Here's to a successful and enriching 2025 academic year at Woodlawn College!

Matt Bailey
Assistant Principal - Learning and Teaching

Upcoming Principal Appraisal

Dear Parents,

Please find correspondence attached regarding an upcoming Principal's Appraisal for Mrs Annette Reen.

The appraisal survey will open at 10am on Friday, 21 February 2025 and close at midnight on Sunday, 9 March 2025. More information will be forthcoming as we approach the survey period. We look forward to your feedback in support of Mrs Reens' professional growth in continuing to support the growth of the College.

Message from the Assistant Principal -Mission

Welcome back
What a great start to the year we have had! It has been so lovely to see our new Year 7 students on campus; their enthusiasm and excitement is certainly contagious. In general, our students have returned with a positive attitude; our classrooms are full of engaged learners and the playground is an opportunity to socialise and get involved in activities of choice. This augurs well for a successful year ahead.

2025 - the Jubilee Year of Hope
On Christmas Eve 2024, Pope Francis symbolically opened the Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica, marking the start of the 2025 Jubilee Year. Jubilee years happen every 25 years and are times of reconciliation and renewal. The theme of this Jubilee is Pilgrims of Hope. What does it mean to be hopeful? Hopeful comes from the word hope, meaning "optimism about a future event," and the suffix -ful, meaning "full." So if you're hopeful, you're full of hope: you think something good is going to happen. In a world full of turmoil and uncertainty, to be hopeful is a powerful tool. What are you hopeful for this year?

Community week
Next week we have some significant events on our College calendar - all of which are focused on community, something we value at Woodlawn. 

We warmly welcome our Year 7 families to our Meet and Greet next Tuesday (February 18). This is a great opportunity for families to meet teachers, other students and other families. Please join us in the Chapel at 5.30pm.

The following day we have our Opening School Mass at St Carthage’s Cathedral. This is our first Mass as a community for 2025 and we are blessed to have Bishop Greg as our celebrant. It is at this Mass that we also recognise our student leaders from Years 8 - 11. Our Year 12 leaders were elected last year and Year 7 leaders are elected in term 2.

Friday of next week is our Twilight Swimming Carnival - certainly one of the highlights on our College calendar. You may have heard stories about how amazing the evening is - come along and see for yourself!  Please ensure you stay until the end of the night - as this is certainly when the magic happens - and you can see for yourself how special our community is and how fortunate we are to be part of this.

Wednesday sports uniform
Thank you for your support in ensuring our students wear the correct uniform. It has been pleasing to see the overwhelming majority of our students wearing it and wearing it well, but there appears to be some confusion around Wednesday and what is required to be worn. Students are to wear white Woodlawn sports socks (not plain white socks). They are not permitted to wear skate shoes. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me on 66262627 or fiona.fennamore@lism.catholic.edu.au

Fiona Fennamore
Assistant Principal Mission

Pastoral Care News

It is with great excitement that we have welcomed students back to the College for the 2025 school year. From our ‘seasoned’ Year 12 leaders to our fresh Year 7 students, it appears that our students have returned to school recharged and ready for the learning and growth that they will experience in the months to come.

On a personal note, I wish to express my gratitude to the students, staff, and families of our wonderful community for the warm and comforting welcome I received upon my return. It is my great honour and privilege to serve the Woodlawn community as the Leader of Pastoral Care, and I eagerly anticipate the joy, challenges, and experiences that undoubtedly lie ahead.

Pastoral Care Team
At Woodlawn, we firmly believe that Pastoral Care is the responsibility and work of every staff member. Our community's strength lies in our caring for one another and building relationships that foster growth. 

We are incredibly blessed, however, to have a dedicated team of people whose roles in the College are such that they spend more time in the Pastoral Care of our students and I wish to re-introduce them to you:

Leaders of Student Wellbeing:

Year 7: Erin Parrey and Michelle Wright (Assistant)
Year 8: Luke Collings
Year 9: Justine Kennedy
Year 10: Luke Flynn
Year 11: Annabelle Green
Year 12: Joel Saye

College Counsellors:
Susan Doughty
Christina Hazell
Jacqui Rojo

Students can self-refer to our counsellors via a Google Form on their Compass page. If you feel your son or daughter might benefit from wellbeing intervention, please feel free to email the relevant Leader of Student Wellbeing or me.

Attendance
We know how important attendance at school is to the overall wellbeing of our young people. Good rates of attendance contribute to students feeling a strong sense of belonging, building more positive relationships and achieving their full potential in learning outcomes. If your son/daughter is showing signs of school avoidance, please contact the College so we can support you through any challenges.

Starting School
With each new year, establishing routines and ‘getting into the swing’ of school can be challenging. Over the coming weeks, we’ll share some resources developed by DLCS staff that will hopefully assist families in setting up routines and habits that will help students thrive in 2025. Please see this flyer for some helpful tips and tricks.

As always, if there is anything that we can do to support you or your family, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Nick Jones
Leader of Pastoral Care
nick.jones@lism.catholic.edu.au

Message from the Sports Department

Swimming Carnival 
Welcome back to Woodlawn for the 2025 school year. An exciting and action-packed year of sport awaits.

The first big sporting event on the school calendar this year is the annual Swimming Carnival. The preliminary events will take place on the afternoon of Wednesday 19 February following the Opening College Mass. The main event will be the Twilight Swimming Carnival which commences with the student march pass from 3 pm on Friday 21st February and continuing into the night. All students are encouraged to get involved and promote 'House Spirit' by wearing their House colours during the carnival. Parents and families are encouraged to attend the carnival on Friday evening. The School Community Forum will be running a canteen on the night. 

Attached is a full running Swimming Carnival Program.

Sport Communication
There are many sources of sport information. Students are encouraged to read the Daily Bulletin, while families and students can gain event information via the Compass portal and access the fortnightly College Newsletter to ensure no sporting opportunity is missed. Students have access to a Sports Google Classroom and are encouraged to read the posts regularly as sign-up for representative teams are posted electronically directly to the Sport Classroom and via the Daily Bulletin. However, only students are allowed to sign up to the Google Classroom due to restricted membership numbers. The Sports Office and Noticeboard is also a hub of information with school sports calendars, coaching allocations and team selections posted on the Sports Noticeboard. 

School Sport
A timetable of each year group's sport was posted on the Sports Noticeboard located outside the Sports Office on Day 1, Term 1, 2025. A yearly overview is attached below which outlines every sport Woodlawn will potentially participate in during 2025 (subject to change). 

Representative Sport
The individual representative pathway for most sports is via the CCC online website except for Touch Football, Soccer, AFL, Netball and Rugby League which require students to trial and qualify for the Diocesan team in each sport. It is important to check the CCC Website for details on age groups, trial venues and closing dates. Only students who are well-skilled in a sport should consider trialing for Diocese and CCC teams.

Further information can be obtained from https://csnsw.sport/  (on the website, select the CCC link) and is currently open for registration. Details on how to register >>  csnsw.atlassian.net/servicedesk/customer/portal/2/article/198901765?src=584134009

For sports such as Swimming, Athletics, and Cross Country, students are required to qualify through the school carnival and then sign up online through the Diocese of Lismore Sport webpage to represent the Diocese.

It is important for all families to note that participation in a trial for Lismore Diocese or a NSW CCC team is considered a normal school day. Lismore Diocesan trials will be recorded through Compass, while the CCC trials require parents to submit a note of absence stating the duration and reason for absence through the normal channels, including travel days.

If you require any further information, please contact the Leader of Sport, Simon Andrews - simon.andrews@lism.catholic.edu.au 

Lismore Sport website - https://sport.lism.catholic.edu.au/registration/

CSNSW website - https://csnsw.sport/

Elite Sports Program
We are thrilled to introduce our brand-new Elite Sports Program at Woodlawn for Year 9, designed to support our students in their chosen sports pathway.

Our Elite Sports Program offers a variety of exciting activities, including topics such as nutrition, sport psychology, fundamental movement training, strength and conditioning, recovery and much more. These activities will be crafted based on the students' respective sports and provide them with valuable insights and tools to help them reach their full potential in their chosen sports.

In addition, practical sessions will be held, where students will have the opportunity to undergo pre-testing and functional movement tests to identify areas that need improvement. 

Our Elite Sports Program aims to not only improve our students' physical abilities but also to cultivate leadership skills and a sense of community within the school. We believe that this program will provide our students with the tools they need to excel in their sports and beyond.

Simon Andrews
Leader of Sport

Message from the Library

Welcome to the  Library – A Place for Learning, Connection, and Community!
Our library is not only a space for learning, it’s also a place where students can feel a sense of connection and belonging. At Woodlawn, we aim to create a welcoming environment where every student can find support, whether they are researching for an assignment, finding their next great read or simply looking for a place to enjoy school life. With something on offer every day at both recess and lunch, we encourage all students to stop by!

Accessing the Library Website and Catalogue
All students should explore these two important resources: 

• The library website offers a wealth of resources to support learning across all subjects. 
• Access the library catalogue to see what books are available for borrowing. By logging in with your internet username/password it can also be a great tool to help keep track of your books!

“Read for 10 (RFT)” starts Monday 24th February, Week 4.

This initiative provides all students and teachers with an opportunity to enjoy reading a book of their choice each day, for 10 minutes after lunch. 

Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, there’s something for everyone in our library's extensive collection. Please encourage your child to visit us to borrow before Week 4.

Why not try it at home? We encourage all families to incorporate 15 minutes of shared reading into your daily routine. 

Remember, at Woodlawn, readers are leaders! 

On Tuesday 18 February, all Year 7 students will attend Discovery Day, a full-day program to help orientate them to high school life. 

The workshops include:

1. Getting Organised – Learn how to use GDrive, create folders, and email your teachers.
2. Tech Essentials: Install the Printer and Google Extensions.
3. Digital Citizenship – Understand how to navigate the web safely, use social media responsibly, and manage cyberbullying.
4. Research Skills – Develop critical reading strategies and learn how to evaluate online information effectively.
5. Library Orientation – Get to know the library, both physical and digital, including our useful LibGuides.
6. Walking the Woodlawn Way –Learn how to navigate key aspects of daily life at Woodlawn. 
7. Physical Activity – Head to the pool for a fun and energising session!

We look forward to welcoming your child to the library and to helping them connect, learn, and grow in our supportive space!

Amanda Starr, Catriona Fraser, Helen Koellner and Fiona Thompson.
Library Team

Counselling Corner

Finding Your Rhythm: The Early Weeks of High School
These first weeks of school have been filled with countless small victories that might go unnoticed but deserve celebration. From remembering locker combinations, or even remembering where your locker is, to finding the perfect lunch spot, our students are building their high school experience one moment at a time. Whether your child is just starting high school or returning for another year, these early weeks are crucial for establishing patterns that support wellbeing and success. In these first weeks, it's completely normal for students to experience a mix of emotions. Some are excited and adapting quickly, while others may feel overwhelmed or uncertain. 

Just like learning a new dance, finding your high school rhythm takes time and practice. Sometimes you step on toes, sometimes you miss a beat, but gradually, the steps become more natural. And the various aspects to high school life, can feel as different as the next. 

The Social Adjustment
Making and maintaining friendships is a large part of any school year. Some students are settling back in with their regular group, while others may find their friendship groups changing, which can feel unsettling. Remind your child that this is a natural part of growing up, and it's okay to:

• Spend time with different groups
• Take it slow in forming new friendships
• Keep in touch with old friends while making new ones
• Join activities or lunchtime groups to meet like-minded peers

Academic Organisation
Students are adapting to new academic expectations and responsibilities. You can support them by:

• Helping establish before and after school routines that work for your family
• Creating a dedicated study space at home
• Encouraging them to use their school planner

Emotional Wellbeing
Change can be challenging, and your child might experience various emotions during this adjustment period. Look out for:

• Changes in sleep patterns
• Reluctance to attend school
• Withdrawal from family activities
• Increased anxiety about schoolwork

Find time to celebrate the small wins. Maybe they: 

• Found a shortcut to their next class
• Remembered a new teacher's name
• Made someone laugh at lunch
• Successfully opened their locker on the first try
• Discovered they share interests with a new classmate

These seemingly minor achievements are actually the building blocks of confidence and belonging.

Remember that every student settles in at their own pace. Some find their groove quickly, while others need more time to adjust. This is perfectly normal, and our school community is here to support this journey. If your child is finding the transition challenging, encourage them to:

• Talk to their teachers if they're unsure about expectations
• Reach out to their Leader of Student Wellbeing if they have questions or concerns
• Self-refer to school counselling for more support
• Join lunchtime activities to feel more connected
• Share their concerns with you or another trusted adult

While some adjustment challenges are normal, please reach out to the school counselling team if your child:

• Continues to feel overwhelmed after several weeks
• Shows persistent signs of anxiety or distress
• Has ongoing difficulties with organisation
• Expresses continued concerns about fitting in

Remember, we're here to support both students and parents through this transition period. Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any concerns or questions.

Christina, Susan and Jacqui
School Counsellors

Music Department

Dear Parents and Guardians,
A warm welcome to all new and returning families to St John’s College! A special welcome to the parents of our new Year 7 students—we are delighted to have you as part of our school community.

At St John’s, we believe that music is an essential part of a well-rounded education, and we offer a range of musical opportunities. Whether your child is a complete beginner or an experienced musician, we encourage them to explore their musical potential through our private tuition program. We offer expert tuition in drums, guitar, bass, piano, and singing, providing students with the opportunity to develop their skills, creativity, and confidence.

Research has shown that learning a musical instrument can have significant benefits beyond musical ability. Music education has been linked to improved academic achievement, particularly in areas such as mathematics, language development, and problem-solving. It also fosters discipline, perseverance, and self-expression—skills that support success in all areas of life.

If your child is interested in private music lessons, we would love to hear from you. Lessons take place during the school day with our dedicated and highly experienced tutors.

All contact details for tutors are in the College Handbook and are also included below:

Drums: Scott Hills - scotthills@activ8.net.au

Piano: Robyn Egan -  robyn.egan@bigpond.com

Guitar/Bass: Aidan Panetta - aidan.panetta99@gmail.com

Singing: Amie Stuart - amiestuart11@hotmail.com

If you have any questions or would like more information, please don’t hesitate to contact the tutors directly or contact the Music Department via myself: ben.taylor@lism.catholic.edu.au

We look forward to a fantastic year of music-making at St John’s!

Ben Taylor
Music Department

Attendance

Daily Procedures
Following Home Group each morning from 8:55 am - 9:10 am, lessons commence at 9:10 am and conclude at 3:15 pm. 

Student Attendance
All students should be in attendance at school each day unless sick, attending necessary events (e.g. funeral, medical appointment, etc) that cannot be scheduled outside school hours. 

Absent from School
If we have not heard from you via the Compass Absence feature, you will receive an SMS generated by Compass at 10.30 am. Please respond by clicking on the link in the SMS (the link is active for 7 days but can only be used once). In the case of shared care of a student, both parents will receive an SMS but we ask the parent who has the child in their care that morning to respond. A medical certificate is required if your child is absent for three or more consecutive days due to illness.

If you do not advise the reason for your child’s absence, you will receive a letter from the school requesting an explanation, which we ask you to return within 7 days of your child’s absence so that we can update your child’s attendance records. 

Late Arrival
Students arriving after 8.55 am, need to enter via the Student Service Office. Please submit late arrivals via the Compass Absence feature. 

Early Departure
Please use the Compass Absence feature to notify of early departure. The Student Service Office cannot guarantee your child to be ready for an early departure without adequate notification. 

Absence due to holiday/family event:
Less than 10 days: Please notify the school that your child will be absent via the Compass Absence feature.
More than 10 days: Complete Form 01 Extended Leave Notification.

Absence due to Elite Sport, Elite Arts, Employment in the Entertainment Industry:
Accredited Elite Sports programs include national and international organisations that run camps for athletes and national sports squads in which students have been selected to participate. They also include talented identification programs run by the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation.
Complete Form 05 Exemption from Attendance General.

Accredited Elite Arts programs are defined as an opportunity for a student to participate in an event or program that is beyond the gifted and talented opportunities that the Diocese offers.
Complete Form 05 Exemption from Attendance General.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Zone
The drop-off and pick-up zone is located between the school and the ovals at the back of the school. Please do not collect your student from the front entrance due to safety reasons.

Messages
Please phone the Student Service Office PRIOR to 2.45pm to advise of any emergency changes to afternoon arrangements. This will provide office staff with the best chance of ensuring that your child receives the message. Last minute phone calls at this busy time of the school day are not ideal and we cannot guarantee that late messages will be received. We all experience emergencies from time to time and that is understood and accepted.

Administering Non-Prescription Medication (eg. Paracetamol) to Students
A reminder to parents that when a student presents to sick bay a member of staff will contact their parent or guardian seeking permission to administer non-prescription pain relief (eg. paracetamol) if required. 

Any previous permission to give non-prescription pain relief no longer applies. You will receive a phone call each time your child presents to sick bay seeking consent.

Lost Property
The Lost Property is located outside the Student Service Office. Please clearly label all items that are brought or worn to school.

Student Services Office
Lisjc-studentservices@lism.catholic.edu.au
6626 2629

Community Parent Forum

Welcome back to 2025! We have certainly hit the ground running with our first meeting held on Monday evening. It was fantastic to see so many new faces, thank you to everyone who attended! A reminder that our SJCWSCF meetings are held in Week 2 & Week 7 of each term in the Library, and we’d love to see even more parents join us.
We’re excited to confirm two upcoming social events:
📌 Parent Catch-Up Evening – Thursday 13 March from 4.30pm (Week 6)
📌 Social Picnic Race Day – Saturday 10 May
Keep an eye out for more details soon!
Our big-ticket event, the Swimming Carnival, is happening this Friday night, 21 February. If you’d like to volunteer, check out the Google Doc linked on our SJCWSCF Facebook page:
🔗 Follow us on Facebook
There’s so much to look forward to this year, and we always welcome new members. Come along to one or as many meetings as you can, we’d love for you to be involved in your child’s educational experience.
Looking forward to our first big event on Friday!

Kara Parrish
Chairperson, St John's College Woodlawn School Community Forum

Uniform Shop

The Woodlawn Uniform Shop is proudly managed by P&C Uniforms. To ensure you have an easy and pleasant experience, we encourage you to order online ahead of time for easy click-and-collect in store. 

Uniform Shop Opening Hours (School Term):
Time: Monday 8.00am - 9.30am & Wednesday 11.00am - 2.00pm
Where: Colin Centre
Order Online: www.sjcwuniformshop.com.au 
Book a fitting: www.sjcwuniformshop.com.au/bts-appointments

Second Hand Uniform Shop Opening Hours (School Term):
Time: 11.00am - 2.00pm
When: Every Wednesday
Where: Colin Centre 

Leanne Copeland
Uniform Shop Convenor
0407 739 237 

Canteen News

Flexischools orders have a cut-off time of 9.00am.

The cash free way to pay! - REGISTER NOW
Paying for lunches is now safer and hassle free. With cashless cards there's no need for students to bring cash to school.

The College has Flexischools to allow students to pay at the Canteen using their existing student ID card. Paying for lunches and items at recess or lunch is now safer and hassle free. With cashless cards there's no need for students to bring cash to school. Parents can set daily spending limits and view transactions online. Parents can also top-up funds at any time.

The Canteen has introduced a Fast-Track line for students who have pre-ordered to collect their lunches, making it much easier and quicker for students.

We encourage all students to register. This will allow for those days when your student may have forgotten their homemade lunches.

Please follow the link below to register now:

Compass App Information

Click on the link below for a complete guide on how to use Compass. Please note: not all features are used at Woodlawn eg wallet and photos. 

https://www.compass.education/guide/#What-is-Compass

Swimming Carnival Volunteers

Please click on the link below if you would like to volunteer at the Swimming Carnival Friday 21 February. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P-OvakiwoDNyHtbcnF6HsFkpsD_YSLjqXvDo9bDXsb8/edit?usp=sharing

Legends of Cricket

Lismore Storm Basketball

Registrations are now open for our Junior domestic basketball competition. Season 1 is played over School Terms 1 & 2 (no games during school holidays).

Girls Only every Monday at 4.30pm (players born 2011 to 2016).

Under 13 every Monday at 5.15pm & 6pm (players born 2013 to 2016).

Under 16 every Monday at 6.45pm & 7.30pm (players born 2010 to 2012)

Under 18 every Monday at 8.15pm (players born 2008 & 2009)

Any player who has never played competition basketball before, email admin@lismorebasketball.com.au to check if funding is available to contribute towards fees.

To register your interest please email admin@lismorebasketball.com.au