Issue 16 SJC News 2020

This week the Year 12 class of 2020 had their final week of classes at St Joseph’s. The events of 2020 have been difficult for everybody but particularly for our Year 12 students. Untimely deaths, truncated on-site attendance, remote learning and the cancellation of many ‘rites of passage’ events have really had an impact.

In the 1989 film ‘Dead Poets Society’ Robin Williams plays the lead role as teacher John Keating. One of his great lines to his students is “Carpe Deim. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary”. One could argue that ‘seizing the day’ in 2020 has been impossible for Year 12’s and that their opportunities to grow and thrive have been limited, but I don’t agree.

I believe that the day could have ‘seized the boys’ rather than the reverse, but they didn’t allow this to happen. If it had, many would have just given up, but they didn’t and we have seen many doing extraordinary things during the year. One hopes that this is just the start of a life filled with more of the same.

We have a group of graduands who have thrived and for whom Year 12 really has been a triumph with the hallmark of unity through adversity. We are proud of these young men and wish then every blessing as they become Old Collegians.

A second group who have had particular challenges throughout the year have been our Year 7 boys. On our return to face-to-face learning two weeks ago our youngest students had only been at school for one week longer than they had been learning remotely. Many of the events that help Year 7’s get to know each other and learn what it means to be St Joseph’s student have not been possible.

Half of the group were unable to attend their first camp. It is some consolation that we have been able to schedule a single day event at Lake Dewar where they will be able to undertake some of the activities that would have been part of the camp.

At St Joseph’s there is a long tradition of recognising and celebrating the efforts of staff with the formal gathering each year. This year, like so many other events this moved online. Part of the event is the announcement of the Professor Frank Larkins Outstanding Teacher Award and the Damien Moynihan Outstanding Support Staff award. As part of the formalities of the evening I was pleased to make the following remarks:

At St Joseph’s, where one of our core values is innovation, there has never been more important time for us to recognise the contribution of outstanding teachers and support staff than in 2020. This year we have all been called to change and adjust and innovate in ways that would have been unthinkable eight months ago… and we have done it with extraordinary success.

Our community recognises and appreciates this and I have shared with you many of the dozens and dozens of emails thanking and congratulating you for your work this year. Those presented with awards tonight do not stand apart from us but with us as mentors, leaders, collaborators and colleagues who are representative of the extraordinary efforts of all St Joseph’s College staff in 2020. This year we received more nominees for the Professor Frank Larkins and Damian Moynihan Awards than ever before, an indication that each of us recognise and value the support, encouragement and example of our colleagues.

The first recipient of the 2020 Frank Larkins Outstanding Teacher Award is Rebecca Westwood. Her nomination notes her innovative approach to lessons in science and PE during remote learning, her advocacy for wellbeing, particular with those students most in need, and her willingness to share her expertise and empathy.

The second recipient is Greg Waller. His nomination references his rapport with and care for students, his collaborative and empowering faculty leadership and his innovation in the use of technology.

The first recipient of the 2020 Damian Moynihan Outstanding Support Staff Award is Paul Robertson. Paul’s nomination references his remarkable contribution as College ICT Manager where his vision and hard work has been crucial in enabling teachers and support staff to perform their duties during remote learning along with his contribution to Child Safety and e-safety.

The second recipient is Mary Holmes. Her nomination notes that as one of our team of clinicians, she has been integral in our suicide postvention, supporting staff and students during lockdown and remote learning this year and her constant accessibility and boundless enthusiasm and positivity.

Congratulations to all our staff and our award recipients.

Stay well and God bless