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 21st
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.
