On Sunday, the Holy Family Parish hosted and celebrated the very special sacrament of First Holy Communion for twenty students from St Joseph's College and other schools in Albany. Supported and witnessed by our College Staff and families of the Communicants, the day was full of joy and love for the children on the next stage of their faith journey.

Carpark and traffic issues - thank you for your patience and efforts to increase safety and traffic flow; however, last week was particularly challenging. Firstly, students needing to cross Martin Road. Parents who park in Premier Circle are strongly requested to meet your child at the carpark area and accompany them yourselves. Teachers on bus duty are unable to do this as their attention needs to be on the students waiting for buses. We are applying to the City of Albany for a warden. Secondly, drivers in the top Church carpark need to slow down. A near miss on Friday frightened not only the child but onlookers who reported it to the school.

Thank you to the P&F for the Book Fair last week. Our students are so fortunate to have the opportunity to view such wonderful items and raise funds for their school. Thank you to all the parents who supported the event by giving their time to run the stall and/or providing extra pocket money.

Code of Conduct - as a College, the Code provides principles and examples for the upholding and strengthening of healthy relationships. Staff, Students, Parents and Volunteers must follow the Code; any breach may indicate that a person does not genuinely wish to be a member of the College community. Bullying, harassment or behaviours which make others feel uncomfortable will be treated seriously. I am only a phone call, direqt message, email away - please reach out if you need my support.

Happy WA Day!

Rachael Keenan

These photos show a very interesting Visual Art activity using a diversity of leaf shapes in combination with a special sun-sensitive paper. These were done earlier in Term One and unfortunately the fickle Albany weather was against us and many students had their creative endeavours blown away and spoiled by the wind! It is with a very big thank you however, to our wonderful P & F, that all of the Year Five cohort will be able to enjoy this art and science activity later in the year when the sun is higher in the sky and a very large piece of Perspex will protect the paper from flying off in all directions. Thank you P & F for supplying the sun-sensitive paper and enabling this S.T.E.A.M. activity to be experienced by the Year Five classes.

Beautiful singing can be heard coming from the Undercover Area every Thursday afternoon as the Junior School Choir rehearses. With seventy-five students from Years Four - Six choosing to sing in the choir, it is not surprising that St Joseph's is gaining the reputation of being Albany's singing school. We are learning a song by JS Bach and another beautiful song called 'Stars'. We have recently begun a clever arrangement of 'Polly Wolly Doodle' complete with boom-whackers and kazoos! We can't wait to perform it for the Junior School when we've perfected it.

On Wednesday the Year 11 and 12 Volleyball teams took a break from their exams to contest, for some of them, their final ever Inter-School tournament. Some of the Year 12 students involved have been training and playing for five years and have dedicated themselves to the quest for Volleyball perfection.

The boys team had a great day, finishing third, with some impressive games and play along the way. Their first match against eventual winners, ASHS boys, went into overtime after being drawn at the end of play. Congratulations to these boys for their impressive performance.

The girls team went in as favourites after having won the previous two years in a row, but were going to have to overcome the other teams who were keen to topple them from the mantel. The girls built steadily throughout the day playing some excellent Volleyball and working hard to reduce their own errors. The team progressed through to the final against ASHS, whom they had defeated in the final in the previous two years. St Joseph's took the first set in a close fought battle before ASHS steadied to take the second set to force a sudden death third set. The game was tense but played at a very high level and when the final siren blew, St Joseph's were up by one point to be crowned champions three years in a row!

Congratulations to all of the students for their commitment and passion to Volleyball throughout their Secondary schooling. I hope it is only the beginning of the Volleyball journeys.

The Year 7 and 8 girls and boys AFL football teams competed at the recent Great Southern Inter-School carnival. The teams had completed several lunchtime training sessions and practice matches in preparation for the carnival under the watchful eyes of the Senior School student coaches.

The boys' team had a great start to the day but tapered in the afternoon matches, finishing third overall on the day. The girls' team were fantastic from the first match and won all of their round robin games. They lined up against Denmark again for the Grand final and played excellent football to win the Championship. The coaches, Charlotte C and Leilani W, had a difficult time choosing a player for the team player award with so many quality options. Congratulations to Anima O for taking the award.

Thank you to the numerous student assistants who helped on the day and with the training sessions.

Autism and Anxiety : practical strategies for supporting teens Webinar.

Online webinar is happening on Wednesday June 19.

The MACC is an ADF Careers Centre on wheels, bringing the opportunity of a career in Defence to regional and remote areas of Australia. Visiting MACC is a valuable way to learn how the Navy, Army and Air Force can offer much more than just a career.

This month CLA is offering an amazing Mindful Mandalas workshop in partnership with Parenting Connection and Denmark Art Club. This workshop is free and open to support staff and parents of children with disability. NON CLA Support Staff and parents of Non CLA participants are also welcome to attend. Morning tea and all art materials will be provided.

Spaces are limited so please book your spot today by contacting reception as soon as possible.

For any further enquiries please contact Claudia on 9843 3855 or email reception@mycla.org.au

Embark on an unforgettable journey to the Pride Lands as Albany Children’s Theatre brings to life this beloved Disney classic.

Based on the 1994 film and the iconic Broadway musical, this enchanting show brings the timeless tale of Simba, the lion cub destined to be king, to life on stage like never before. Witness over 80 talented young local performers as they sing, dance, and roar their way through this heartwarming story of friendship, courage, and the circle of life.

From the stirring opening number 'Circle of Life' to the Academy Award-winning ballad 'Can You Feel the Love Tonight', every moment of this production is infused with the unforgettable music of Elton John and Tim Rice. Get ready to groove along to the lively 'I Just Can't Wait to be King' and join in the carefree spirit of 'Hakuna Matata'.

Join Simba, Nala, Timon, Pumbaa, and an unforgettable cast of characters on an epic journey of courage, friendship, and self-discovery. With stunning costumes, dazzling performances, and timeless music, Disney's The Lion King Jr promises an experience that will leave audiences of all ages spellbound.

Tickets are available from the Albany Entertainment Cente box office 9844 5005 or online at:

https://www.artsculturetrust.wa.gov.au/venues/albany-entertainment-centre/whats-on/disneys-the-lion-king-jr/

Please find information about Academic Task Force – July Holiday Skills Development for Yr 7-10 and July ATAR Revision Courses for Yr 11-12.

Visit website below for more information.

https://academicgroup.com.au/july-holiday-courses/

UWA Albany is holding an Information Session for the Smart Start Enabling Course for students considering this entry pathway into university in the future.

Smart Start offers you:

1. A course delivered over 14 weeks or one semester gull-time study (or equivalent port-time);
2. The opportunity for entry into first-year degree studies delivered through Albany campus upon successful completion;
3. No fees are charged for this course;
4. A supportive study environment;
5. The opportunity to learn new skills and experience the rewards of university life; and
6. Contemporary coursework that provides an excellent foundation for university and lifelong learning.

Applying for Smart Start:

The application steps for the Smart Start course can be found here and are listed below.

1. Apply online

Fill in an application form here — uwa.edu.au/albany/Study-at-Albany

Be sure to attach a copy of your Australian Residency to your application.

2. Complete two literacy and numeracy tasks

Complete the English & Maths tasks either in person at the Information Session or online using the links below.

Written Task

Maths Task

These tasks are simply to gauge the support you may require in these areas.

3. Attend the Information Session

You should attend the Smart Start Information Session held prior to every semester.

(semester 1 entry — December & January; semester 2 entry — 19 June 2024 10am).

You can register for the next session via the link here or emailing uwa-albany@uwa.edu.au

4. Attend a short interview

Attend a short interview, either in person at the Information Session or online. This interview is an informal chat about your future study plans.

Today we launched our media campaign ‘Blanket Albany’ here at Triple M Albany!

Not everyone gets to go home tonight! Homelessness affects people of all ages and from all walks of life and here at Triple M, we want to help our community!

Across 4 weeks from Monday 20th May, we’ve partnered with Harvey Norman to run a blanket drive, asking everyone to donate any new or unused blankets to assist our efforts.

On Saturday 15th June, we will be hosting a live broadcast between 8am-10am where we will spread the donated blankets out over an area, seeing how much of that area we can cover. We will then take all the donated blankets and distribute them among local charities supporting the homeless population ahead of the cold winter months around Albany.

Main drop off locations from Monday 20th May – Friday 14th June:

Harvey Norman Albany

Triple M/Hit FM Albany

The Empty Bobbin

Get ready to enter a world of “Pure Imagination” and join ALOTCO as we present a mesmerising production of this much-loved story of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. An amazing chance for theatre goers of ALL AGES to join this incredible production, an experience not to be missed!

Director – Lachy McLean

Assistant Director – Fiona Kuiper

Musical Director – Neville Talbot

Co-Assistant Musical Directors – Matthew Clarke & Will Elms

Choreographers – Kelly Seaton & Lachy McLean

Based on the famous novel by Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features an original score composed by Marc Shaiman with lyrics by Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray) and a book by David Greig. The score also pays homage to the Leslie Bricusse/Anthony Newley score from the 1971 film with songs from the motion picture including "Candy Man", "I've Got a Golden Ticket", "Oompa Loompa Song" and "Pure Imagination".

The world-famous Willy Wonka is opening the gates to his mysterious factory... but only to a lucky few. Charlie Bucket, an imaginative boy with a knack for making something out of nothing, dreams of acquiring a golden ticket to tour Willy Wonka's over-the-top chocolate factory and can't believe his luck when it actually happens. Fellow contest winners: the gluttonous German, Augustus Gloop; Daddy's spoiled rotten princess, Veruca Salt; chewing gum celebrity, Violet Beauregarde; and over-amped computer hacker, Mike Teevee, have no idea what they're getting themselves into as they each learn lessons about selfishness and greed from Wonka who is not only out of his mind but potentially dangerous. With Wonka's world of pure imagination including chocolate waterfalls, nutty squirrels and the great glass elevator, all to be revealed by Wonka's army of curious Oompa Loompas. You'll devour this family friendly adventure that's full of mouth-watering visuals that "Must be Believed to be Seen".

Information Night: Thursday 13th June 6pm

Auditions: Saturday 29th of June and Sunday 30th of June

Performance Dates: October 4th, 5th, 6th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 18th, 19th, 20th, 25th, 26th and 27th

Stay tuned for more information and the Audition Pack coming soon! https://www.alotco.com.au/charlie-and-the-chocolate-factory-australia

It is that time of year again when we are getting the kids out and about! Please see our Term 2 kids club.

After a couple of months of uncertainty, it is with great pleasure that I am writing to let you know that the foundation finds itself sailing again. Although Minderoo Foundation are now providing financial assistance for the next few years, this does not cover sponsored voyage places. This funding is only for maintaining the ship.

Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation provides a range of tailored programs suitable for various ages, backgrounds and abilities. Our voyages aim to

1. Foster Leadership: Develop leadership skills through hands-on experiences and challenges aboard our iconic tall ship, STS Leeuwin II.
2. Promote Teamwork: Encourage teamwork and collaboration in a dynamic and engaging maritime environment.
3. Enhance Personal Development: Unlock hidden potential, boost self-confidence, and instil a sense of responsibility and accountability.
4. Inspire Environmental Awareness: Connect students with the marine environment, fostering a deep appreciation for our oceans and promoting sustainable practices.

This is a fantastic course for free and online.

MyTime is a facilitated peer support program for parents and carers of children with disability, developmental delay or chronic medical conditions.

Parents/Carers are welcome to attend even if they are yet to receive a diagnosis and would like to meet parents/Carers who may be in a similar situation to theirs.

MyTime groups are for all parents and family carers of children under the age of 18 who need a higher level of care than other children.

We meet weekly on a Tuesday afternoon from 12:30-2:30 during the school term.

MyTime now meets at the Child and Parent Centre near Mt Lockyer Primary School. Click link here.