Today, Year 8 English students had the privilege of taking part in a session run by Ms Rachael Colmer. In preparation for viewing the documentary In My Blood It Runs, students were taught about the importance of land and Country to Aboriginal culture. Using a timeline, Ms Colmer showed just how long Aboriginal people have lived with and cared for the land in Australia, compared to the approximately 230 years since the First Fleet arrived. Students were given an insight into the hardships faced by Indigenous Australians in recent history, and how it is important that we reflect on these issues when understanding the deep history of this Country. Students came away from this session with new knowledge and wisdom that will help them to appreciate the documentary about to be studied. We once again thank Ms Colmer for being so willing to share her knowledge and history with our students.

Mr Shane Bransby

Head of English

St Jerome Emiliani

Feast Day: February 8

Patron Saint of: Orphans and abandoned children

Prayer:

Saint Jerome, watch over all children who are abandoned or unloved. Give us the courage to show them God's love through our care. Help us to lose the chains that keep us from living the life God intended for us. Saint Jerome, pray for us!

There has been some confusion this week due to number of changes to Transperth bus routes and the Ulster Road roadworks are not helping the situation. Many buses are running later than planned. Hopefully, all buses will return to expected times when the Ulster Road roadworks are complete.

If your child lives in the Lower King / Bayonet Head region and usually goes home on the 735.

1. Please travel home on the  734 It will come to SJC at approximately 3.25pm and stops at the same stops in Bayonet Head and Lower King. 
2. The 735 is not suitable for St Joseph's students to catch in the afternoon (arrives at 4pm), however, students may travel to school on it.

If your child lives in the Gledhow/ South Coast Hwy area the best bus for you to catch home is the 742 which arrives at school at approximately 3.10pm. You need to be prompt in getting to the bus.

1. Do not wait for the 739 as it does not actually come to our bus pick up zone.

If you are confused at all, please contact Mr Morcom or Mrs Trichilo, we are happy to help.

Further details below

Albany TransRegional School Brochure.pdf

Carpark and pick-up zone congestion

Please read the information below carefully to minimise congestion and help our children get home safely.

After school

Please do not sit in the Pick-Up Zones at either the main carpark or the basketball courts and wait for your child of any age to arrive. This leads to congestion.

When is a good time to come?

Parents of Early Learning students only

Arrive before 3, park in the carpark and your child’s classroom doors will open at 3pm. Then try to leave as soon as you can to allow carpark space for parents of older students.

Parents of Junior School students

Junior School classes are dismissed at 3pm. If you are using the pick-up zones, please do not arrive until after 3.05pm.  By this time, you child should be at the pick-up zone and waiting for you. If you have arrived and your child is not there you may be asked to move on to avoid congestion building up.

Parents of Secondary School students.

Secondary School classes finish at 3.10pm. Please arrive after 3.15pm. By 3.15pm your child should be at the pick-up zone and waiting for you. If you have arrived and your child is not there you may be asked to move on to avoid congestion building up.

I have children in both Junior and Secondary School, when do I arrive?

Arrive after 3.15pm, your Junior School child will be supervised by duty teachers before then. When your Secondary School child arrives, you need to access the pick-up zone only once and reduce congestion.

Alternatively, you may park in the carpark with your Junior School child and wait for your Secondary School child to arrive.

I have arrived early, where do I park?

If you do find yourself arriving earlier than when your child will be dismissed, please park in the top church carpark where you can park without causing any congestion until your child is dismissed. You can then drive to the Pick-up Zone when your child is likely to be there.

Please time your run so we can minimise congestion each day. If you are asked to move on by a staff member, please understand that they are trying to reduce congestion and make the end of the day safe for everyone in our school community.

Kind regards

St Joseph’s College Executive

If you have ever been interested in trying the sport of orienteering now is your chance. The Albany and Denmark Hinterland Orienteering club (ADHOC) are hosting their next event at St Joseph's College on Saturday 22 February. Details for the event are listed below and for further information please check their webpage or contact ADHOC via email at jt.gone4run@gmail.com. The course at St Joseph's College is suitable for Year 5's and above to complete as solo. Students from younger years may be best to 'tag along' with an older sibling or parent for their first time.

Saturday afternoon, starts from 3pm to 3:30pm. Courses close (i.e. be back by) 4pm

2 courses: Short 1.2km Medium 2.3km PLUS an OPTIONAL mass start SuperSprint 1.2km (with butterfly loops) at 4pm (or a bit before).

Online Entry by midnight Thursday for both Members and Non-members.

Non-members need to create their username and password to Eventor and then join as a member of the 'club' CASUALS WA, then enter & pay online. Non-member fees are $8 for U18s, $12 adults, $20 for groups of 3-5 people.

If entering as a group, please register and pay for one adult only and then contact the club to confirm how many more will be attending. Additional group members can be added on the day at the event with the additional $8 paid by EFT or cash on the day. One map and one timing chip per group.

**Entries on the day will be taken only if there are maps available for the course - contact the club beforehand if you want to participate but cannot enter online **

PARKING: north side of St Joseph's, ULSTER ROAD entry

START TIMES: 3pm to 3:30pm

COURSES CLOSE: 4:20pm

We are seeking people with disability or lived experience to participate in a community sports reference group.

This is aiming to increase the number of sporting/social inclusion opportunities for people with disability by discussing current barriers and increasing the knowledge/confidence of sporting/community groups to be more inclusive.

JOIN THE YOUTH WRITERS’ GROUP: CRAFT YOUR STORY, SHAPE THE FUTURE

The Albany Project is a fantastic opportunity for youth interested in writing and storytelling based in the Lower Great Southern. This Youth Writers' Group will explore the theme of a future where anything is possible, whilst honouring Albany’s rich history.

Are you passionate about writing? Whether you're dreaming of penning a play, poem, novel, or even writing your own songs, our Youth Writers’ Group is the perfect space to develop your skills and explore your creative potential.

Across 14 fun, interactive sessions, learn from industry experts and connect with accomplished writers who will guide you on your journey. Engage with local elders and hear the rich Menang country stories and histories that have shaped this land for generations.

Be part of something bigger—contribute your ideas to a groundbreaking new music production being crafted by Breaksea and West Australian Opera, set to premiere in 2026. Get an insight into the creative process for writing a new stage production. As Albany approaches its 200-year mark in 2026, dive into thought-provoking discussions about the complexities of colonisation and its ongoing impact.

This is your chance to share your voice and make your mark on history!

Don't miss out—join today and start writing the future.

Participants are welcome from Albany, Denmark, Mt. Barker and Lower Great Southern

● Sessions are:

Saturday 1 March 10:00-5:00pm Kalyenup Studio, Albany Entertainment Centre

Saturday 22 March 10:00-5:00pm Meeting Room, Albany Public Library

Thursdays 6, 13, 20, 27 March, 3 & 10 April 6:00-7:30pm Southern Edge Arts

For more information and to register your interest, visit breaksea.org/thealbanyproject

ClickView Parent Info Guide

SCHOLARSHIP

Rotary Youth Exchange is offering a full scholarship to a suitable student whose family would otherwise be unable to fund the exchange. We are doing this to give the opportunity to a young person who shows a commitment to working to the best of their ability and demonstrates care for others. It would be appreciated if you could work with your staff to bring this opportunity to the attention of any such student who possibly wouldn’t otherwise apply due to their family’s circumstances. Attached please find a flyer regarding the scholarship.

While we can only offer one FULL scholarship, some financial assistance may be available to other students whose family needs some support. Last year we were able to offer financial assistance to five students.

INFORMATION DAY

Our Committee (all volunteers) is running an Information Day Sunday, 16 February, for interested students and their family. We would appreciate it if you would circulate the attached flyer to your students in Years 10 – 12 so they are aware of it – eg notice boards etc. Any other publicity you are able to offer would be much appreciated. It’s a fantastic program run via Rotary International and we’d welcome applications from your students. As this Information Session is very soon we would greatly appreciate urgent action.

Rotary has no affiliation with any political or religious organisation and is a worldwide community service organisation.

Please contact Jill Hanna at ryechaird9423@gmail.com or 0417 982 315 if you have any questions.

2025 Hawaiian Ride for Youth Albany Launch

We are excited to invite you to our 2025 Hawaiian Ride for Youth Albany Community Event!

Join our 2025 riders and support crew, along with Youth Focus and headspace Albany staff, for an evening of reflection, connection, and celebration with the Albany community.

A highlight of the evening will be reflections on the connection between Albany and this event, shared by headspace Albany Manager Andrew Wenzel.

After the formalities, you’ll have the chance to chat with riders and support crew while enjoying light refreshments.

We’d love for you to mark your calendar and join us for this special celebration.

Monday, 24 March 2025

Retravision Stadium, 156 Lockyer Avenue

4:30pm to 6:30pm

Click here to RSVP

My name is Zak, and I'm the WA Events and Operations Facilitator for Ocean Heroes, a NFP who aim to improve the wellbeing of those on the autism spectrum and their families through surfing.

Ocean Heroes is well established in Albany and we have taken over 9000 people living with autism surfing since we started in 2016. Please check out our website and youtube channel to show you exactly what we do.

www.oceanheroes.com.au

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHVEDQt4OmDivrG93bvvwNA

We have an upcoming free event at Middleton Beach on March 22nd/23rd however, due to high demand for our events we have decided to reach out to local schools to gauge interest for a mid-week session for your students.

Alternatively, we are back in November (dates to be confirmed). We'd love to take your students during one of the week days leading up to the event. Or, we could potentially arrange a separate trip altogether if you have multiple student groups which we could take over a few days!

The cost will be lower depending on how many students, and we can be flexible with times and cost.

General guide however is:

60 min session/ 90 min session

1 Student: $110/$130 per student.

2 Students: $100/$120

3 Students: $90/$110

4 students: $85/$105

5 Students: $75/$95

6 Students: $65/$85

We provide all equipment including surfboards, wetsuits, and lifejackets. Each student will be paired with a coach 1:1 and provided with the support they need to succeed. We tailor each session to the specific needs of each student.

The primary purpose of the Surf Experience program is social and community access to help NDIS participants achieve their NDIS goals.

We have taken many schools and groups, and it is a great chance for their students to learn new skills and experience surfing and the ocean in a controlled environment.

Our support workers have completed autism awareness training at the Autism Association of WA, are Community Surf Rescue, First Aid and CPR certified, and have extensive ocean experience.

Please reach out if you have any further questions about this program.

Looking forward to providing your students with an exciting new opportunity!

We are holding a community event Saturday February 15th at the Bornholm Hall . We are located halfway between Denmark and Albany along the Lower Denmark road and would love it if you could please share our event with your families . The day will incorporate indoor and outdoor market stalls , free children's entertainment such as Jamie the clown , face painting and a bouncy castle .We are holding a fundraisng sausage sizzle and will have a free little library for families to help themselves to.

Kickstart the School Year with the Better Health Program

Give your family a healthy start to the year with the Better Health Program! Learn with your kids how to pack nutritious lunches, keep your kids active, and build lifelong healthy habits and more —all for free!

🌟 What’s included?

📞 10 free calls with a health professional

🤸 Support from an accredited health professional

Join thousands of WA families making healthy changes today!

💻 Free spots are available all year—start whenever you're ready, but be quick, spots are filling fast!

👉 Signup - Better Health Program— it’s free!"

Albany Rovers Soccer Club open day!

The Confident ADHD Parent Formula program is being launched.

This transformative eight-week program (starting on February 18, 2025) is crafted specifically for parents like you—PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH ADHD.

For more info visit: https://www.theconfidentadhdparentformula.com.au/confident-adhd-parent-formula-sign-up

We have a HiveCombine Hockey Player Development Camp & Coaches Workshop coming up in Mt Barker on the 15/16th of February hosted by HiveMind Sports Australia.

With support from Healthway and DLGSC, Breaksea are providing weekly wellbeing focused singing, acting, performance skills & Noongar language sessions in 2025 with Lower Great Southern youth (ages 12-18), with performance opportunities at the Albany Entertainment Centre. The sessions will run on Thursdays 5-6:30pm, from 20th February, at Southern Edge Arts run by Choral director Neville Talbot, Repetiteur Julia Kershaw and Breaksea Directors. Participants will be coming from Albany, Denmark and Mt Barker.