Issue 3 SJC News 2021

This week we welcomed Bill Jennings back to St Joseph’s College in-person to successfully present his Time and Space Year 8 Father/Mentor and Son evening. Bill Jennings has over thirty years experience in ‘people program’ innovation and design. Bill is the Founder of Time & Space, a service for schools he established in 2006. Time & Space now reaches schools in every state of Australia and has been international since 2013.

This experience very much encompasses the values of our four Edmund Rice Touchstones and is a powerful opportunity for students in Year 8 to find some time and space to connect in an ongoing way with the special supportive mentors in their lives, whether they be fathers, carers, grandfathers, stepdads or uncles.

These events can only run when we have the support of our student leaders and helpers who gain Service-Learning hours. Bill commended them on putting up their hand to develop 21 Century skills in leadership. Developing emotional intelligence. The ability to recognise and manage one’s emotions and understand others' emotions is imperative when working with a diverse group of people. To communicate well, collaborate and actively participate in conversations and respect perspectives.

Comments from Year 8 Fathers/Mentors

“Really good to hear that as parents we have the same challenges and to hear from the other students puts my boy into perspective”.

“Fantastic, great opportunity for boys and men to open up and share/speak openly.”

"Thank you for tonight it was totally not what I expected and better than I thought it would be. The discussions that were brought up tonight continued on in the car on the way home and I think going forward we will look back on this night as a really great night.”

Year 8 Boys

“I loved to have a chat with my dad, it was a really good time to bond with each other and reflect our relationship.”

“It was very good talking to my dad about how it was like raising me and how it’s like for me being his son and I think it grew us closer.”

"Was a chat we hadn’t done much before but was much easier than I thought, and might have a lasting positive effect on our relationship”.

We look forward to having Bill Jennings celebrate our Year 7 Mother Mentor & Son Event on Tuesday 27 July 2021.