Educational Tour of Italy

In November, 2006, the first group of students, teachers and some friends of St. Joseph’s College landed at Leonardo da Vinci airport, Rome, the first stop of a three week tour of Italy.

From Rome we moved on to Siena, and the small town of Tavernelle where a small group of Australian Carmelite nuns minister to the local community. Florence and Pisa, the Cinque Terre, Milan, Verona – the home of Romeo and Juliet, Padua, Venice, Perugia – the home of Baci chocolates, Maranello – a tour of the Ferrari museum, Assisi, Pompei, Sorrento and the island of Capri – this is a quick snapshot of our visit.

The highlight for the students was a week’s homestay with Italian families in Milan. This was arranged with a group of schools who have sent some of their students to be welcomed by the St, Joseph’s community over the past few years.

We hope to offer the trip every two years to students of year 10 and 11 Italian. However, if numbers permit, the trip will be open to other interested students and friends of the College.

Italy has much to offer in terms of history, religion and art. For the students, it is also a marvellous opportunity to use their language skills and to experience some of the exciting culture of this beautiful country.

China Visits

St. Joseph’s College offers students biennial trips to China as part of a cultural exchange which also includes involvement with our sister school in Beijing – Beijing Number 5 School.

Whilst first priority and encouragement is given to students currently studying Chinese as part of their school curriculum, the trip is also available to others as a wonderful cultural opportunity. In addition, ‘friends of the College’ (comprising mainly parents, but not necessarily exclusively) also have the opportunity to be part of the tour group. Tour groups have ranged in number from between 20 and 40.

Tours occur during one of the school holiday breaks and are generally about 14 days in length. Attempts are made each trip to vary the itinerary, however, the final leg of the trip in recent years has always ended in Beijing, with overnight stays for our SJC students at the home of a Chinese family from Beijing Number 5 School. Included also, are two days as a student participant and observer at our sister school.

Recent trips have involved visits to such places as: Xian, Guangzhou, Guillan, The Yangtze River, Chonquin, Inner Mongolia, The Silk Road, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Most trips visit: The Great Wall, The Terracotta Warriors and The Forbidden City.

China is rich in diversity – in its history, culture, architecture, historic sites, living conditions, the arts and not forgetting, shopping experiences (!). Tour group members have outstanding opportunities to be immersed in enormously rich encounters.

Tours are advertised via our SJC Newsletter and students studying Chinese are informed during classes.

Preparatory sessions are offered at the school where participants are informed in more detail of: itinerary, requirements and other important aspects.