Issue 14 SJC News 2020

Last week was child safety week. For many years the College has had detailed policies and procedures designed to ensure that our young people remain safe. Today, while these policies and procedures remain in place, we are focused more on developing a ‘culture’ of child safety.

A key element of this is making certain that our students understand their right to be safe, have the capacity to recognise anything that has the potential to make them unsafe and have the confidence to know what to do and who to inform should this be the case. The progress we are making was affirmed in our recent audit by the VQRA. The report was highly complimentary of our existing policy and practice and our progress towards an embedded culture of child safety.

Our governing body, Edmund Rice Education Australia, is currently making some changes in their governance relationship with schools which will be implemented from the start of 2021. While most of these changes will not be noticeable or impact on the day-to-day operation of the school there will be some changes to the way the College Board operates.

The most visible of these changes is the change in name from “College Board” to “College Advisory Council”. The rationale behind this change is to more accurately reflect the advisory nature of the Board (Council) and clarify that there is no personal legal or financial liability for members. The ‘Finance and Planning’ subcommittee will continue to advise the Board on relevant matters.

We have been fortunate to have had a period of great stability on the Board with minimal opportunity for new membership. From the start of 2021 a number of positions have become available on both the Board (Council) and the Finance and Planning subcommittee. I would like to encourage any members of the community interested in being considered for a position on one of these bodies to lodge an expression of interest. The form on which to do this can be accessed via this link

which should then be emailed to [email protected] . It would be helpful if these could be received by Friday 16 October.

Last week the College Student leaders for 2021 were announced. I would like to acknowledge with gratitude all students who made themselves available for consideration. The group appointed are an enormously impressive group of young men who enjoy the support of students and staff alike and who will continue to drive the strong supportive and aspirational culture of the College. Particular congratulations to College Deputy Captains Benji Mangar and Will Baum and College Captain Oscar Morrison.

Term 3 2020 will be recorded as one of the most challenging in our 85 year history. On the weekend I was in touch with Fr Emma in Mannya. In Uganda, schools are closed for the year, online learning is not conceivable, money and healthcare are in short supply. Perspective is important as Robert Fulghum is quoted in Phosphorescence by Julia Baird emphasises;

‘If you break your neck, if you have nothing to eat, if your house is on fire ---- then you’ve got a problem. Everything else is an inconvenience, life is inconvenient. Life is lumpy … A lump in the oatmeal, a lump in the throat, and a lump in the breast are not the same kind of lump. One should learn the difference.’

The term has been tough but not without some silver lining...and it could have been worse! As the term ends I wish all students and families a restful break. We return to one last week of remote learning on 5 October before welcoming all boys back onsite on 12 October.

Stay well

God Bless