2023 | ISSUE 1 | SJC Newsletter

‘Open our hearts and minds to build a better world for all’ (Romans 12:2)

The Identity Team have had a busy start to the school year as we launched our new theme for 2023 at our College Commencement Masses. At the Edmund Rice Campus, we welcomed and Fr Daryl Montecillo from St Francis Xavier in Corio and St Anthony of Padua in Lara, to celebrate the Mass. At our Westcourt Campus we welcomed Fr Sang Ho from St Bernard’s Parish who both welcomed families from St Joseph’s to be a part of their weekend Parish celebrations of the Mass. Our College Captain Jaeger Fawcett, Deputy College Captains Matteo Bove and Jesse Conroy along with the Westcourt Campus Captains Henry Martin, Noah Marcus and Henry Grogan shared their understanding of our theme and goals for our academic school year at our St Joseph’s College in the Edmund Rice tradition.

Our theme this year, ‘Open our hearts and minds to build a better world for all’, stems from the Liberating Education Touchstone statement which states, ‘We open hearts and minds, through quality teaching and learning experiences, so that through critical reflection and engagement, each person is hope-filled and free to build a better world for all’ (EREA, 2016, p.5).

Further to this, Romans 12:2 expresses, ‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.’ Romans 12:2

“As College captain this year, I have the privilege of looking back on my time at St Joseph’s thus far, and reflecting on what this place has afforded me. I am eternally grateful for the opportunities, the challenges, the special moments and even the hardships I have experienced as all of these things have shaped me into the person I am today. When making your choice about the kind of year you would like to have, look around you first. Take notice of the opportunities presented, the ones you would have looked past, notice the potential friendships you could make, take notice of service learning opportunities that could enrich your lives, and imagine the progress you could make with your studies with some fine-tuning of your schedules and self-motivation. Make your choice with your heart and mind open, have the year you deserve.”
College Captain Jaeger Fawcett

“As a Joeys student, we have always been encouraged to have strong minds with a gentle heart. This is a profound notion. Our mind is the most powerful asset we have. If we are able to demonstrate resilience, grow from mistakes and have a positive mindset, then our lives become rich and fulfilling. If we allow ourselves to be compassionate, show empathy and be selfless, our hearts are guided by gentleness and purpose.”
Deputy College Captain Matteo Bove

“This idea is the foundation of our theme for 2023. ‘Open our hearts and minds to build a better world for all’ (Romans 12:2). It is the message from Romans chapter 12, and we can easily find relevance in its words and meaning. Shifting your patterns and focus can change your life. Renewing your mind, changing the way you think and opening your heart to others can create a better life for yourself and the world around you. In doing so, we will be living out our school motto to really, ‘Strive for the highest’, in all we do.
Noah Marcus Westcourt Campus Captain

Yr 8 Time & Space Event

Registrations are open for our upcoming annual Year 8 Father-Son Night on Wednesday 8 March 2023 in the O.S. Adams Centre (Gym) 6.45pm for a 7.00pm start.

St Joseph’s College is delighted to offer you an opportunity to experience a lifetime memory with your son at the annual ‘Father and Son’ Night. This innovative single evening program is an event we have planned especially for our Year 8 students and their fathers, grandfathers (or male mentors). We think that this is a great time to bring you together.

To register please:

Visit the link http://bit.ly/SJCG823

This helps with our activity planning for the session.

This session is exclusive to Year 8.

Lake Mungo and Culpra Milli Immersion

This year we are offering Year 10 and Year 11 students the opportunity to take part in the Lake Mungo and Culpra Milli immersion program which will take place on Monday 10^th – Saturday 15^th July 2023. We have 14 more places available. See link below for details and contact [email protected] if your student is interested. We will have staff from Red Earth give an onsite information session in the coming weeks.

https://www.redearth.edu.au/destinations/lake-mungo/

World Youth Day 2023 Melbourne to Lisbon

If your son is interested in living out our theme for 2023 to ‘Open minds and hearts for a better world for all’, we have a unique opportunity for Mt Sion students over 16 to go to the World Youth Day 2023 Melbourne to Lisbon Pilgrimage with St Joseph’s staff and fellow Edmund Rice school representatives. Please see the link below for some details. Send expressions of interest to [email protected] and I will arrange an information session regarding further details and sponsorship/funding opportunities.

https://udisciple.melbournecatholic.org/wyd

Mary Malone - Director of Identity