2022 | Issue 14 SJC News

Last Friday we awoke to the news of the death of Queen Elizabeth II. In death as in life, this remarkable woman hardly attracted a negative word from anyone. Elizabeth became Queen in 1952 when St Joseph’s College was 17 years old…it is now 87. The Virtus school magazine of that year records that “On Friday, February 15 at a school assembly in the hall we stood in silence to mourn the passing of his late Majesty King George VI”. It does not record any similar acknowledgement of the Queen’s coronation on 2 June. Simply because it fell during the school holidays.

While those Australians who favour the continuance of a constitutional monarchy and those who favour a republic with an Australian Head of State disagree on the most appropriate form of governance, they generally agree that Queen Elizabeth was a remarkable and admirable woman. I think her life provides us with a great example of the importance of commitment and the value of perseverance during changing times. May she rest in peace.

Last week I was privileged to attend a ‘Club 32’ gathering and on behalf of the College to accept a cheque from the Michael Carmody Foundation for $10,000 towards the College Bursary Program. Our Bursary Program provides families for whom our school fees are out of reach, with the opportunity to access a St Joseph’s education. The program currently has approximately 20 students receiving full-fee bursaries. We are confident that next year this number will be 30 and we are well on our way towards the goal of 50 bursaries by 2025.

In 2008, three of the then four Geelong Catholic secondary schools participated in the first ‘triUMPH’ music festival. Deriving its name from three (tri) schools Uniting to Make Poverty History and conceived and planned by student leaders with the support of St Joseph’s teacher Simon Cahir, this first festival headlined by ‘The Galvatrons’, saw 4000 students gather at St Joseph’s for a one day music festival. This event raised $43,000 to support education in Timor-Leste. Running on a three-year cycle the festival was scheduled for 2020 but postponed due to COVID-19 until 2022. Uncertainty about whether COVID regulations would allow 6000 students from the now five Geelong Catholic secondary schools to gather saw the event reimagined as ‘triUMPH - lite’.

Last Friday triUMPH-lite was celebrated across the five schools with music, food and other activities. While we do not have final fund raising figures available, all funds will support the training of East Timorese teachers to assist the young people of our nearest neighbour to live lives free of poverty. Thank you to everyone who contributed to ‘triUMPH - lite’ in any way. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the work of Mr Gerry O’Callaghan as part of the organising committee.

It is generally said that a strong sport and a strong music program are pillars on which successful schools are built. In recent days there has been much to be proud of with students representing us in Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC) events in both these areas. Our Cross-Country team finished a close second in the annual ACC carnival, winning the Under 15 and Under 17 age groups. Our musicians performed in the ‘ACCent on Music’ concert at Hamer Hall performing magnificently. I had the privilege of being present, enjoying and admiring the skill of our students.

In 2022 the College benefited from a strong group of student leaders led by Deputy Captains Arden C and Seamus R and College Captain Patrick F. In recent weeks students and staff have been involved in the process to identify and select our senior student leadership group for 2023. One might describe those who made themselves available as providing the College with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to selecting our leadership group for 2023. I look forward to making these announcements in coming days.

God Bless

“Persons always live in relationship. We come from others, we belong to others, and our lives are enlarged by encounter with others” Pope Francis- Lumen Fidei Light of Faith.

Last Friday after two years, we had a special sending off ritual for our first interstate immersion experience to Daly River in the Northern Territory with the Nauiyu Community. Sixteen Year 9 students applied to take part in the immersion and committed to a series of preparation sessions together with staff Luke Parsons and Annalee McKew.

The purpose of an immersion is to provide students with a profound experience of service and exposure to culture on a deep level. To "immerse" means to plunge into; to be involved deeply. It requires being involved with another culture for a length of time and being engaged in service activities that will allow for a more complete understanding of cultural differences and similarities and how the ‘other’ lives. To do so we need to disconnect and retreat from the daily activities and distractions of our usual existence and place ourselves at the service of others.

It requires participants to travel not as a tourist but as a guest – one who steps out of the ordinary into active anticipation, into encountering difference, and welcomes moments that broaden and deepen an appreciation of the world.

This immersion experience complements our St Joseph’s Touchstones and Reconciliation Action Plan commitments to build:

Relationships around the School

Collaborate on projects that visibly and authentically embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures in learning programs and the physical environment. Through this culture of collaboration across the school and with the community, we commit to creating an environment where young people, staff and community members acknowledge, respect and experience connection to the First Australians.

Opportunities with the Community

We commit to learning more about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and contributions of the Country on which we live, work, learn and play, by working with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to learn about events of historical and cultural significance and visit appropriate sites.

Relationships with the Community

We will develop our everyday program to ensure it provides students with explicit opportunities to build their knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, within and beyond the classroom. This commitment extends to the inclusion of cultural competence principles, fostered in teachers and educators, in the ethos of our classrooms and across our school.

Our 2023 Daly River Immersion team are currently on day 6 of their 9-day immersion.

On arrival into Darwin they took part in a Welcome to Country ceremony and cultural awareness session at Nungalinya College with Traditional Owners.

The following day they journeyed via the historic Adelaide River War Cemetery to set up camp at Banyan Farm followed by an introduction to the Nauiyu community at 5.00pm Mass at St Francis Church. Over the next few days, students will be participating in service learning opportunities through school-based activities at St Francis Xavier Catholic School coordinated by former Westcourt teacher Rebecca Westwood.

“Our first day at the school was really busy as we helped to learn about and take part in a range of engaging activities with the students.”

“We enjoyed meeting Miriam Rose this afternoon, listening to her and meeting some of the local community”.

“We had a baptism into country at the river crossing”.

During the first week of Term 4, other groups of Year 9 students will experience their own journey to the heart of our country on the Central Australia experience, where The Uluru Statement from the Heart was formed. We are called to listen to the voices who gathered at the 2017 National Constitutional Convention where we were invited to, ‘walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.’ Our St Joseph’s Community was given the opportunity to sign a copy of the statement during Reconciliation week, which is displayed in our staffroom.

We seek constitutional reforms to empower our people and take a rightful place in our own country. When we have power over our destiny our children will flourish. They will walk in two worlds and their culture will be a gift to their country. We call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution. Makarrata is the culmination of our agenda: the coming together after a struggle. It captures our aspirations for a fair and truthful relationship with the people of Australia and a better future for our children based on justice and self-determination. https://ulurustatement.org/the-statement/

Next term we look forward celebrating ‘Koling Wada-ngal Day,’ meaning ‘Let us walk together’ in Wadawurrung language. It is a student led combined Geelong Catholic College initiative in support of celebrating First Nations Peoples and raising awareness of the educational support provided by the ‘Opening the Doors Foundation’. The Foundation is Aboriginal led and listens to the diverse educational needs of Victorian Aboriginal families.

Recently on 24 August, Sue Collins and Ben McDowell accompanied our St Joseph’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, along with over 150 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students from Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Melbourne who came together at the Richmond Football club for Watta Watnanda Day. It celebrated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture through presentations, dialogue and activities. The day was hosted by Luke Murray, Indigenous Community Engagement Manager at Korin Gamadji Institute, and featured presentations by Joel Garner from Port Adelaide Football Club and Linc Yow Yeh from Australian Catholic University.

Mary Malone Director of Identity

With the end of term imminent, we will be concluding with our Parent Student Teacher Interviews. For those families who did not feel a need to engage in the interviews, I would still encourage you to read over the mid-semester reports and check any feedback on your son’s assessment in PAM.

Last week we welcomed over two hundred Grade 6 students to the College to complete testing conducted by Academic Assessment Services, which we refer to as Allwell testing. It was great to see the enthusiasm of our new students, as they took on the testing process which provides the College with an overview of how to support our students in learning.

Similarly, we had over three hundred students complete the newly revised GAT, which now is divided into two assessments. As part of the reform of the VCE and VCAL system, all Victorian senior secondary students had their literacy and numeracy skills measured against new standards. These new standards will indicate whether students have demonstrated the literacy and numeracy skills typically expected of someone completing their secondary schooling, providing an indication of their readiness to move on to further education, training or employment. Students who studied a Unit 3-4 VCE or VET scored sequence were then required to sit Section B in the afternoon, which is used to check that VCE external assessments and school-based assessments have been accurately and fairly assessed. During the break between both assessments, our boys enjoyed a BBQ fundraiser to support Disabled Surfing with our staff who had spent the day working on curriculum planning throughout the day.

Last week, our Year 7 and 9 NAPLAN results were released to the College. Each student's test results have been enveloped and mailed home to our families. Currently, there is no other data provided by VCAA to analyse NAPLAN performance, as National and State results have not yet been made available to schools. Congratulations to the following Year Nine boys who received a letter of achievement, being in the top band for the following areas:

VCE Revision Lectures

In the first week of the school holidays, 19 & 20 September, the College will be holding VCE revision lectures in the areas of: Legal Studies, Chemistry, Physics, Further Mathematics, History Revolutions and Psychology.

The link to book tickets https://events.humanitix.com/sjc-vce-lectures-22

This link is also located on the College website and has been sent to all Unit 3-4 Students.

VCE Unit 3-4 Practice Examinations

In the second week of the holidays, the school will also be conducting Unit 3-4 Trial examinations. These exams are a valuable opportunity for our students to apply their knowledge and skills under the same examination conditions as the end of year to provide feedback on areas our students need to focus and develop. The exam schedule has been sent to both students and parents and we thank our VCE teachers, led by Mr Brad Smith who guides this process to support our students to be well prepared for their final exams.

On Wednesday 17 August, a group of Year 9 and 10 students travelled to Mazenod College in Mulgrave to compete in the Debating and Public Speaking Competition.

The students had to compete in three debates against a range of other ACC schools. One of these debates was a secret topic where the students only had 45 minutes to prepare their speeches without any assistance from teachers or electronic sources. Well done to Hamish C, Oliver P, Connor O, Charlie D, Bjorn D and James D for their commitment on the day and Jack G for his preparation and teamwork.

Ty M, Noah B and Thomas F participated in the Public Speaking Competition. They had to present a prepared speech on a topic of their choice and also an impromptu topic. Ty M scored the highest individual speaking score on the day.

Congratulations to all of these students for extending themselves to develop skills that go beyond the classroom.

Friendly – Monday 2 September

SJC Geelong 11.11 (77) def by Iona College Geelong 15.6 (96)

GOALS: Riley M 4, Tom C 3, Liam S 1, Kai M 1, Lewis G 1, Dylan F 1

BEST: Riley M, Kooper S, Tom C, Tai M, Will A, Kai C, Tom S, Kai M

Carey Oval – St Joseph’s College Geelong

On Friday 2 September, St Joseph's was lucky enough to play a friendly footy match against Iona College. Before this game, both teams were nervous coming into the match as it is the first Interschool football game in the two school’s history. It is also the first of many games to be played for the Courage Cup.

The first quarter started off like most football games, the environment was quiet and both teams were figuring each other out. Both teams kicked multiple goals and both needed to tighten their defence up.

The second quarter was quite the opposite in the way of atmosphere. Lunchtime had just started and there were kids left right and centre coming down the hill to watch our match. The cheering and support coming from the crowd felt like we were playing at the MCG. A gigantic highlight was a fast break from the middle and a one-on-one between Dylan F and another Iona player, with a tough fight Dylan snagged a goal late in the second quarter and the crowd went wild! Our whole entire team was there to celebrate this amazing goal.

At three-quarter time the scores were level and our Coach Mr Brad Lynch gave us an inspiring speech and we were ready to battle this game out to the very end. However, the quarter started poorly for us with Iona piling on the goals. They eventually ran over the top of us and were too strong.

Although the final result was very disappointing we would like to congratulate Riley M, he was awarded best on ground for the team and also kicked four goals. Tom C was also outstanding kicking three goals. Some of our better performed players were Kooper S (editor note), Tai M, Will A, Kai C, Tom S and Kai M.

Everybody contributed to this enjoyable afternoon and it was a great experience to represent the College.

TERM 3 - UPCOMING EVENTS

September National Biodiversity month

15 September H-Block garden installation

12-18 September National Organic Week

22 September World Car-Free Day

TERRARIUM WORKSHOPS

On Tuesday 30 August, several students participated in a Terrarium making workshop during lunchtime, to create a living gift in preparation for Father’s Day. The students involved were engaged in learning the process and worked productively to complete their creative masterpieces in the given time. On the success and interest from this workshop, a second Terrarium workshop was conducted during lunchtime on Monday 12 September to enable all interested students to experience this creative process.

RECYCLING WORKSHOPS

In alignment with the current Year 7 Religious Education unit “Guardians of the World”, over the past fortnight, Year 7 Sustainability Leaders and Class Captains facilitated recycling workshop for their class, with the aim to educate and reinforce correct recycling methods at St Joseph’s College. Students were engaged in visiting the school’s Sustainability Website page to reiterate the correct bin for recycling various items, followed by several fun and engaging activities to reinforce their learning. The workshops concluded just ahead of our Tri-UMPH Lite day, in which compost buckets were reintroduced to the quadrangle for recycling food waste, in addition to 240L blue bins for the purposeful collection of aluminium cans.

RECYCLING REGIME

With many COVID restrictions now lifted, provisions are underway for the reinstatement of many of our recycling initiatives, to commence at the beginning of Term 4. White compost buckets will be reinstated in the Years 7, 8 & 9 eating areas (adding to current Commingled Recycling and General Waste bins) and will be introduced to the Mt Sion eating areas, for the purpose of recycling all food waste at the College. In addition, Blue paper Ecobins in classrooms and offices will resume their use for paper recycling and REDcycling bins will be added to Mt Sion homerooms, completing a full complement of REDcycling bins across each homeroom in the College.

To minimise the time spent engaging in recycling, we implore all families to adopt our CUT THE WRAP approach to making lunches to minimise waste brought into the College.

JANE PERKINS ART DESIGN COMMITTEE

On Thursday 1 September, members of the Jane Perkins Art Design Committee; Harris Henderson, Kade H and Calan P, together with student leader Callum W, collaborated online via Teams with the ICUP Team from Sydney University, to share their thoughts and insights of their experiences and learning opportunities incepted by the implementation of the ICUP program. Students rose to the challenge to reflect on changes and perceptions relating to cultural identity, providing further insight to the necessitation of careful consideration and empathy when designing a commissioned artwork that is culturally inclusive to all. It is envisaged that a draft design for the artwork, will be ready to “reveal” at the start of Term 4.

INDIGENOUS ARTWORK NARRATION

Over the past fortnight ATSI students; Jacob A, Zachariah M and Morris O have been productive in the radio station, recording the “narration” for the Indigenous Artwork series created by local Indigenous Artist, Bri Apma Hayes. The artworks were created to complement our Indigenous food planters in the Paul Tobias Centre courtyard and support our school’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Once recording is completed, interactive plaques (incorporating QR codes) will be installed near the artworks and onto the planters, creating an exciting new outdoor learning experience for all visitors to the area.

Year 10 Environmental Science students have been industrious creating new videos for indigenous flora species (predominantly in the Reconciliation garden) over the past fortnight, as part of their current Ecology Unit. In addition, several students have engaged in CNC Cutter training with Mr Brendan Fairfield, in preparation for creating some of the interactive plaques to be installed near the flora species.

POLYMER REFORMING WORKSHOP WITH ST COLUMBA’S COLLEGE ESSENDON

On Thursday 8 September, Mr Andrew Read’s Year 11 VCAL Community class and I, embarked on an excursion to St Columba’s College Essendon, to participate in a “kids teaching kids” polymer reforming workshop to gain insight to their utilisation of their CR Clarke polymer reforming equipment (including a Shredder and Sheet Press) and gain "hands-on" experience creating a product from reformed sheet plastic, showcasing the process involved in creating a circular economy. Facilitated by Melissa D‘Amico (STEAM Leader), Jen (STEAM Technician) and Julianne (Student Environment Captain), the team presented an insightful and engaging workshop, enabling students to create and take home a reformed coaster, providing an inspired creative vision, to propel our student’s further with their own plastic reforming journey.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank Melissa and her team at St Columba’s College, for welcoming us to their school, for their time involved in the preparation and facilitation of the workshop and for their generosity in catering a beautiful lunch for all to share.

“Today I learnt what the Precious Plastics are about at St Columba’s College, with the wonderful teacher Jen, guiding us through what it is about and who started it all and what types of machines they use. We sorted plastics into different containers (by recycling number) and it was completely different to what we do at St Joseph’s. After sorting, we made some coasters out of number 4 plastic. It was very enjoyable and a really good day. A big thank you to Ms Jenkins and Mr Read for making this possible.”

Seth B (FOLA)

H BLOCK VERTICAL GARDEN

On Thursday 15 September, VCAL students are scheduled to collaborate with Wild Places staff Phil Hunter, Ellie Brunt and Angela Hope to commence the ambitious Stage Two of the H-Block vertical garden implementation. It is anticipated that twenty new planters will be added to the H-Block ledge, to house the new garden installation incorporating Philodendron Hope (Philodendron bipinnatifidum) and Feather Falls (Carex oshimensis). To complete the project, a third species referred to as Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) will be added to the garden bed during Term 4, to create a cascading effect over the stone wall.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

CALLING FOR PLASTIC BOTTLE TOPS AND BREAD CLIPS

We are calling on all SJC families to support our Year 11 VCAL students in the collection of plastic bottle tops, for the purpose of creating a circular economy, by reforming and transitioning these items into new and purposeful products. In particular, we require clean plastic items with either the number 2 or 4 clearly identified on the items.

In addition, other items that I will be recycled at the College include; corks, stamps and plastic bread tags (in support of the "Bread Tags for Wheelchairs" project).

All donations (washed and dried) may be delivered to the Reception of either campus.

YEAR 7 2023 ENROLMENT

If your family has been considering joining us at St Joseph’s College, we are pleased to be able to offer further enrolment opportunities for Year 7 students in 2023. Applications can be completed online via our website or you can contact our College Registrar Adel Mawson on 5226 8177 or email [email protected]

TRIUMPH RAFFLE WINNERS!!!

The Xbox Series X Raffle has been drawn and here are the lucky winners!

1st PRIZE - Xbox Series X Console - Ticket #913 - Teresa Soutter

2nd PRIZE - $150 JBHiFi Gift Card - Ticket #423 - Ryder Brydges

3rd PRIZE - $100 JBHiFi Gift Card - Ticket #6 - Catherine Day

Thank you to everyone who has supported the Triumph Raffle by purchasing tickets.

Joan Pratt (1947-2022) SJC Staff Member - 1990 - 2004

We pay tribute and respect to former staff member Joan Pratt, who was integral to the fabric of St Joseph’s College from late1990 through to 2004.

Joan moved to Geelong to commence working at SJC as a Laboratory Technician and later transitioned to the role of Laboratory Manager. Throughout her tenure, Joan made a significant contribution to the Science faculty and to the education of all students. She was a driving force behind the planning and upgrade of the E Block science laboratories and provided ongoing support for the implementation of the middle school vertical “Pathways” structure, introduction of VCE Psychology and Environmental Sciences units, the implementation of Risk Assessment and the inception of National Science Week camps to Canberra.

Joan’s enthusiasm, innovative approach and devotion to enhance the profile of Science, ensured a vast array of experiences, availed through the integration of guest speakers, excursions, involvement in academic pursuits and immersions in Science Week experiences.

High-profile guest speakers for Science week included; Tim Flannery, Peter Garrett and David Brown. Joan revelled in the challenge of aligning activities with the annual Science Week themes and in 1997, with the theme “Flight,” a hot air balloon was tethered to the back of Carey Oval for students and staff to enjoy rides throughout the day. Other activities undertaken at SJC throughout Joan’s time included; Chanel 7 TXU Air-watch Program, Sound house tour, Swinburne travelling Science Show, “Star Lab” (portable planetarium), Solar Shuttle, Professor Bunsen, CSIRO Forensic Frenzy and Gene Technology workshops, Water Watch, Solar Car Challenge and the infamous annual Year 8 “Egg Drop” and Year 7 “Rubber Band Powered Vehicle” Challenges.

Joan was a wonderful staff member and revered by all colleagues she worked closely with on a daily basis, especially in the Science faculty. Often referred to “Aunty Joan”, she provided ongoing support to staff, working with teachers to ensure all practical activities ran successfully and safely and she was a wonderful mentor for new staff to the Science faculty. Joan always treated the staff at SJC with great respect and no task was ever too difficult.

Upon retiring, Joan spent her later years residing in Portarlington and relished in the lifestyle afforded by living on the Bellarine Peninsula and in close proximity to the beach.

Joan leaves behind two fabulous daughters; Anna and Kate and six grandchildren.

“Whilst we will no longer hear your steps, you will forever walk with us in our hearts; full of gratitude for your legacy left with us”