ST JOHN'S COLLEGE WOODLAWN

Principal: Mr Aaron Beach

St John’s College, Woodlawn is a Catholic secondary College which builds on its traditions as a welcoming family based on the Catholic faith, and aims for its members to be touched by a Christian spirituality.

We aim to provide a relevant 21^st Century education based on a harmony of the physical, academic, cultural and spiritual. Through a ‘community of leaders’ model, we endeavour to assist all in our community to achieve their full potential.

The College is a co-educational day school and caters for approximately 785 students.

We strive to achieve excellence in our every endeavour so that our students

• love coming to school
• get involved in the myriad of offerings available
• are possessive of a generative attitude
• have the requisite skills and attitudes to make a difference in society

Since its foundation in 1931, the College has built a reputation for high standards in education.

The ‘family spirit’ reinforces the students’ sense of belonging to a community.  The students take pride in their College and display strong school spirit. The College promotes Christian principles and attitudes of humility, respect, compassion and generosity to build self-esteem, self-respect and resilience. Woodlawn strives to build character and develops in students the skills and values for life-long learning and growth.

 

Religious Education

Religious Education is compulsory for all students at the school.  The Religious Education Program includes Study of Scripture, Catholic Beliefs and Practices, Social Justice, Moral Issues and related topics.  The College is privileged to have its own Chapel in a central location on campus.  We gather as a school community to celebrate a number of significant liturgical events in each school year. 

Leadership

Student Leadership is based on a servant model of shared leadership. We promote leadership in each year group.

The Student Representative Council members are highly skilled and motivated young people with a desire to make a difference and work as a team in shared portfolios to manage school and student issues.  All Year 12 students are considered part of the leadership team and use their leadership capacity in the everyday.  Other leadership opportunities exist in the sporting and cultural areas where teamwork and talents are fostered.  Students also have the opportunity of further developing their skills by participating in various leadership camps and forums.

Curriculum

St John’s College provides a curriculum which is designed to meet the academic, physical, social and spiritual needs of all students.  Our Religious Education, Retreats/Outdoor Education Camps combined with the offering of a comprehensive range of subjects, provide students with the diversity of choice and the generation of skills appropriate to the demands of contemporary society.

The curriculum at St John’s focuses on the needs of the individual student.  In our classes we encourage teachers to provide a full range of enrichment activities, specialised attention and personalised interaction with students. 

Flexible elective choices allow specialisation and alternative curriculum pathways in Years 11 and 12.

 

Opportunities

Students at Woodlawn are given many opportunities to achieve outside of the classroom and follow interests and pursuits in all areas of the curriculum.

Public speaking is represented through Lions Youth of the Year Public Speaking Awards, Debating Competitions, Mock Trials, the State Constitutional Convention and MUNA (Model United Nations Assembly) as well as student assemblies.  Students also compete in the Sydney Morning Herald Young Writer of the Year Award and the Northern Star Newspaper Group Writing Competitions.

Tournament of Minds is an Australasian problem solving competition that challenges Years 7-10 students to develop skills in critical thinking, collaboration and time management. Catholic, private and state schools compete at regional, State and the Australasian finals. Woodlawn has a commendable history in this competition having been represented in each discipline at state level. and being honoured the Australasian Champions on two occasions. 

A large number of students also took the opportunity to sit the Australian Schools Competition in Mathematics, English, LOTE, Science, Computers, Geography and History with some exceptional achievements.

 

A commitment to Social Justice is a Gospel imperative.  As members of a global community we believe our students have a vital role to play in supporting and promoting a range of valued causes.  Our Social Justice Committee facilitates fundraising activities, charity appeals, youth conferences and to encourages students to empathise with those whose lives are challenged politically, emotionally or physically.  The Committee raises funds to assist a range of international, national and local organisations and provides students with opportunities to develop leadership skills, build confidence and gives them a sense that everyone has the capacity to make a difference. Our Cambodian Immersion Program gives students an opportunity to provide service to the Marist community south of Phnom Penh. In Years 11 and 12 students can join the St Vincent de Paul Conference to further develop their commitment to social justice.

 Open Sports Teams compete in National Marist Carnivals in Basketball, Cricket and Netball.  Students from all years have the opportunity to compete for the College each year at diocesan and/or state level in the above sports as well as swimming, rugby union, rugby league, hockey and soccer.Other opportunities include the Northern Rivers Science and Engineering Challenge, Sunsprint Solar Car Challenge, Young Scientist of the Year Competition, Cows Create Careers Competition, Chess Competitions, Gifted and Talented activities, South Passage and Antipodean adventures and HSC Study Days. 

The College also offers an opportunity for students to experience friendship, understanding, encouragement and growth through special activities and a varied curriculum including but not limited to: St John’s Day; Reflection Days; lunch time concerts in the Quad; twilight concerts; vibrant liturgies; Showing Cattle, Annual Art, Music, Drama and Dance Exhibitions and Performances; Maths Olympics; and Maths/Science Enrichment Days.

Excellent Facilities

The College has some of the finest facilities in the region.  We have extensive buildings offering a wide range of teaching and learning opportunities across a broad range of subjects to suit individual needs. As well as core curriculum offerings the College boasts the Woodlawn Trade Training Centre offering Furniture Making and Hospitality Operations and a new Performing Arts Centre.

As part of our complex we have expansive ovals, our own swimming pool and a magnificent indoor sports centre, which includes indoor soccer/cricket and a gymnasium.