Issue 17 SJC News 2020

The lifting of COVID restrictions in Victoria this week has allowed reconnection between many families and friends for the first time in months. There was a sense of hope and genuine joy in the voices of many callers to radio stations this morning as they detailed plans to visit loved ones. No doubt there are many St Joseph’s families looking forward to reconnecting with loved ones from the other side of the ‘ring of steel’.

At the start of each week at school our staff gather in prayer (remotely at the moment). This week we lit the first Advent candle symbolising hope. While the Church season of Advent begins in the first week of December, at school we replicate it during the last four weeks of the school year. Lighting this candle the day after the lifting of travel restrictions seemed so appropriate, although I guess love joy or peace, the other three candles on the wreath, could also be appropriate. Over the next three weeks the remaining candles will be lit and on Christmas day the central fifth candle, often referred to as the Christ candle, will be lit symbolising Christ bringing hope, love, joy and peace to the world.

This week is also NAIDOC week with the theme this year being ‘always was always will be’. NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee and traces its roots to the 1930s when a group of prominent indigenous leaders called for a ‘day of mourning’ to coincide with the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of British settlers to Australia.

As an inclusive community committed to liberating education we are committed to reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. Earlier this year the St Joseph’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) was launched including the official adoption of the possum skin cloak. Development of the RAP was a collective effort of fire carrier students and staff, student touchstone leaders and our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student leaders. The RAP promises to make an important contribution to the inclusiveness of our community.

One important element in the St Joseph’s community is student voice. We are committed to students being heard and involved in decisions that affect them. Of course being heard doesn’t always mean that you will be agreed with, but rather that your views will be valued and considered.

Student leaders, who were invested in a ceremony recently, play an important role in ensuring the collective view of students is represented in decision making. I am delighted in the quality of the young men who have accepted leadership roles for 2021 and congratulate each of them and their families.

Oscar Morrison - College Captain

William Baum- Deputy College Captain

Matueny (Benji) Mangar - Deputy College Captain

Jack Doyle - Gospel Spirituality Touchstone Prefect

Harry Roache - Gospel Spirituality Touchstone Prefect

Thomas Corray - Liberating Education Touchstone Prefect

Alex Con Foo - Liberating Education Touchstone Prefect

Thomas Brooks - Inclusive Community Touchstone Prefect

Max Jones - Inclusive Community Touchstone Prefect

Anton Ridgway - Justice and Solidarity Touchstone Prefect

Connor O'Sullivan - Justice and Solidarity Touchstone Prefect

Patrick Visentin - Butler House Captain

Angus Codd - Butler House Captain

Oliver LaBonte - Jordan House Captain

Rhys Devlin - Jordan House Captain

Timothy Hannan - Foley House Captain

Alexander Dunn - Foley House Captain

Luke Bartolo - Brophy House Captain

Campbell Burns - Brophy House Captain

Tane Berends - Gospel Spirituality Touchstone Leader

Patrick Johnstone - Gospel Spirituality Touchstone Leader

Zakary Ekberg - Gospel Spirituality Touchstone Leader

Flynn Beste - Liberating Education Touchstone Leader

Arden Cunneen - Liberating Education Touchstone Leader

Patrick Fitzgerald - Liberating Education Touchstone Leader

Matthew Sorgiovanni - Inclusive Community Touchstone Leader

Seamus Ryan - Inclusive Community Touchstone Leader

Willem Sanders - Inclusive Community Touchstone Leader

Jaylen Winiecki - Justice and Solidarity Touchstone Leader

Samuel Dripps - Justice and Solidarity Touchstone Leader

Sascha Wheelwright - Justice and Solidarity Touchstone Leader

Jaeger Fawcett - Gospel Spirituality Touchstone Leader

Kane Morgan - Gospel Spirituality Touchstone Leader

Ethan Powe - Gospel Spirituality Touchstone Leader

Joshua Walpole - Liberating Education Touchstone Leader

Noa Skoko - Liberating Education Touchstone Leader

Patrick Reed - Liberating Education Touchstone Leader

Colby McCallum - Inclusive Community Touchstone Leader

Ethan Borys - Inclusive Community Touchstone Leader

Thomas Burke - Inclusive Community Touchstone Leader

Archer Jones - Justice and Solidarity Touchstone Leader

Luca Baum - Justice and Solidarity Touchstone Leader

Nicholas Dowling - Justice and Solidarity Touchstone Leader

Michael Ahearn - Westcourt Campus Captain

Noah Caracella - Westcourt Campus Captain

Jude Payne - Westcourt Campus Captain

David Iosefo - Touchstone Leader

Oliver King - Touchstone Leader

Matthew Suhandi - Touchstone Leader

Josef Paatsch - Touchstone Leader

Oscar Hart - Touchstone Leader

Ethan Whitcher - Touchstone Leader

Noah Erwin - Touchstone Leader

Daniel Gnjec - Touchstone Leader

Nicholas Anglin - Westcourt Foley House Captain

Will Smith - Westcourt Foley House Captain

Oliver Sanders - Westcourt Butler House Captain

Hamish Codd - Westcourt Butler House Captain

Benjamin Parish - Westcourt Brophy House Captain

Luke Stacey - Westcourt Brophy House Captain

Marley McCombe - Westcourt Jordan House Captain

Ky Berends - Westcourt Jordan House Captain

Connor McCarthy-Grigg - ATSI Captain

Jacob Assemani - ATSI Deputy

Morris O'Neill-Wood - Westcourt ATSI Captain

This week our VCE students commenced their exams. After the year they have endured having an Advent ‘hope’ candle burning as they start exams seems appropriate. We wish each and every student well in his exams.

Stay well and God bless