Issue 14 SJC News 2020

Shaka Up for Mental Health

During remote learning, the Identity Team has come up with some creative and innovative ways for students to continue to help those in need and opportunities can be found on the student bulletin. Thank you to those students who have participated in the initiatives on offer throughout the term. This is a reminder that every student at every year level is required to complete 3 hours of service learning hours through the College. The service learning form under Student Links on SIMON must be completed in the same term that the service is performed. Students’ accrued hours can be viewed on Student Commendations; however, these hours will not be updated until week 4, Term 4 due to remote learning.

This week our newest wellbeing campaign was launched thanks to a partnership with Barwon Health and the St Joseph’s College Year 12 VCAL students. Mr Jack Jenkins and his Year 12 students, who have spent the term focusing on health and wellbeing in their personal development classes, have driven the campaign. Men’s mental health is an issue of great importance to our College community and the Shaka up for Mental Health campaign aims to raise awareness and funds for the issue. All money raised stays in Geelong to support men’s mental health programs.

Instructions for participation are on the student bulletin and they have been emailed to all students. Please check out the promo video and make sure you follow the College social media pages for campaign updates. For further information and to donate, please visit Barwon Health’s website via the link: https://www.barwonhealthfoundation.org.au/shakaup

Leah Irving - Service Learning Coordinator

St Joseph’s Students Speak Up for ‘28 days for Climate’

This week our ‘ERA for Change’ student leader’s team have concluded the ERA National ‘28 days for Climate, Speak Up,’ campaign via our social media and daily messages. As a culminating event and advocacy action, Waterford students have been provided with a homeroom quiz based on the daily facts on Water, Waste, Energy and Emissions. Students have also been invited to participate in the final week of the campaign by sending out an electronic letter drafted by the student leaders to Australian politicians, calling them to act on our current climate crisis earning enviro-service time and a house point.

We have seen the healing powers of slowing down during this time of COVID19 on the environment across the globe. Air quality has improved as air traffic and fewer cars are on the road, waterways have replenished, our ecosystems have been given a chance to thrive. Let us not forget the positives of this time as it has offered us a taste of the air we might breathe in a low carbon future.

‘This current crisis reinforces just how unequal the impacts are globally, nationally and locally. The same people who are most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are those who are most affected by the climate crisis. As Edmund Rice people, we are called to walk with them, to be prophetic in naming the injustices and to seek change in the structures that create and maintain them. And as Edmund Rice people, we are called to live this through the way we operate our schools, the way we engage with our communities and the way we seek to reach out beyond the school gates.’

(ERA Climate Change Statement Reference Group)

Year 7 Time and Space for Mothers/Carers and - Sons Session Online Term 4

We are pleased to announce that we will welcome Bill Jennings back to St Joseph’s for our annual Time and Space Mother and Son Evening Event for our Year 7 Mothers/Carers and Sons in an online format mid-term 4. Details to come in Term 4 via email.

‘In this most extraordinary and challenging of years for everyone, and especially for families, Time & Space is still able to deliver its programs. In 2020, they have developed ways to connect directly with families in school communities, in their homes with an online program. Time and Space programs are designed to strengthen and grow relationships, especially during times of change and transition.

'In a busy world, Time and Space provided time to stop, learn and discover what really matters in life.’ Bill Jennings – Time & Space.

As we move forward with much hope for all of our St Joseph’s community into a renewing spring holiday break, I share the words of St Mary MacKillop whose 10th year anniversary of her canonisation as Saint Mary of the Cross, Australia’s first Saint takes place in October.

‘Take fresh courage!’