Issue 14 SJC News 2020

Last week was National Child Protection Week which happened to coincide with eSafety week and RUOK Day on the Thursday. At St Joseph’s College we have been promoting that RUOK Day is every day and all the wellbeing initiatives that have been introduced from the students and staff compliment the three themes of the week. I felt it important to communicate our initiatives with the community and I hope it makes you even more proud to be a part of it.

• Our Child Safety Officers put together a Child Safety online lesson providing all our students with a deeper understanding of their rights as a young person, the College’s commitment to providing a safe and inclusive education as well as guiding them towards the child safety student policy. The different types of abuse were also unpacked and the lesson concluded by highlighting the wellbeing supports we have in the school and the importance of speaking out against unsafe behaviours.

• Westcourt have been successful in a grant application with Project Rockit delivering a range of online webinars to the Westcourt students. These webinars have a focus on “Looking out for each other online” and “Taking positive action with digital wellbeing.” These have been run in the final weeks of term.

• Our VCAL department have made a partnership with Barwon Health which involves the Year 12 VCAL students completing a unit of work of men’s mental health and contributing to the #shakaupformental health campaign. Further explanation is provided by Leah Irving in the article below.

• We had a great interest in the webinar we hosted last week called “Supporting Adolescents to Make Positive, Safe and Responsible Choices on Line.” It was very insightful and helped both educators and parents understand the supports we are provided by the eSafety Commissioner who took the time to personally speak in the webinar.

• Likewise, the special screening premier of the film ‘Angst’ also proved to be an amazing experience for all involved. This was another opportunity for our families to sit with their sons and learn more about the anxiety that occurs in our lives.

• I have previously mentioned how we have also secured a partnership with LifeChanger Foundation, a non for profit organisation who will come in and work with all our Year 8 students in 2021. LifeChanger was formed in 2017 by Scott Watters and Trevor Hendy and their mission is to create a generational shift in society by focusing on positive psychology to ‘Awaken the Hero’ that lives within Australian youth. I have had a great uptake to the mentor program that is aligned with this with over 50 Mt Sion students signing up the 2.5 hour program which takes place tomorrow at 9.00am.
  
  
• The Movement and WellbeingProgram has proven to be an amazing asset offered to our students and staff throughout remote learning 2.0. 'Do 8 with a Mate' on RUOK Day allowed students be proactive in checking in with a friend and incorporating health and fitness whilst doing so.
  
  
• Toilet Rejuvenation Project. Research, in Australia and abroad, commonly finds students are dissatisfied with their toilet facilities, that students often avoid going to the toilet at school, and that expenditure on toilets is a low priority for many schools. A concerning number of St Joseph’s College students’ report avoiding eating and drinking throughout the day to ensure they do not need to use the facilities. The Respectful Relationships team, College Leadership and Headspace have made the connection between the provision of clean, pleasant and safe toilet facilities and young people’s short and long-term physical and mental health and learning outcomes. In response the College is reimagining the toilet facilities through the use of inspirational quotes, functional artwork and colour psychology.
  
  
• Thanks to the Year 10 Student Leaders who created a video message on Cyber Safety that was delivered to all our Year 7 Students.

• In the fight for suicide prevention and awareness, The Black Dog Institute has started a 'Mullets for Mental Health' campaign. Throughout September, our team will be sporting mullets of all shapes and colours to raise much needed funds, which will go towards mental health research and services. We hope all members of the SJC community join our cause and continue to advocate for such a worthwhile initiative - Anton Ridgway (Year 11) & Callum O'Leary (Year 12) have been the driving force behind this campaign at St Joseph's, leading the team SJC HEADCHECKS. Team members: 51 (includes 2 staff – Dan Hale & Charlie Purdy + a number of past students and dads). Total funds raised so far: $30,000 approx.
  
  
• Mullets for Mental Health House Challenge – During the final weeks of term, students currently growing a mullet will be encouraged to send in a photograph of their mullet it in all its glory. A selection panel will choose the top 10 based on the following selection criteria: Length, Style and Flair. Winners will receive points for their House in the race for the Adam Bryant shield. More student lead initiatives to take place next term including ‘The Polished Man’ that will take place in October raising awareness against domestic violence.

• The College Respectful Relationships team are also planning to create a 2021 Respectful Relationships calendar with the help of the artistic expertise of an old boy Jake Hogan. We intend the calendar to highlight the important wellbeing and respectful relationships themes we have at the different times of the year with a real link to our EREA Touchstones. Watch this space.

Finally, thanks to all the support the families have provided the College throughout this term. It has been tough on everyone but we are feeling the strength and vibrancy of the community which is being led by the student leaders and those who are buying into all the initiatives listed above.