I was recently doing some reading on the history of the College and was reminded that in the early days the College grounds were far more extensive, at one time bounded by Shannon Avenue, West Fyans and Aphrasia Street and the Barwon River. The few photos available from this era show, that far from beautifully manicured grounds, most of the site was a farm which was worked by the orphans of St Augustine’s. Also part of our history, albeit much more recent, was Sunday Mass in the College Chapel to which everyone was welcome and many local families attended.
Reading this information made me reflect on the role that the College plays in the local community. Our grounds are maintained by the College and are formally occupied and used by the St Joseph’s Cricket Club and St Joseph’s Football Netball club seasonally. Informally, locals make regular use of the grounds for recreation. This is a win-win as having neighbours around assists keep the site secure. Friday night will see the formal opening of the Carey Oval Pavilion. A welcome addition to this part of our grounds, it provides change and toilet facilities and a small social area that can also be used as a classroom.
This pavilion will be particularly important for female football and cricket which are held on Carey Oval most weekends. That the sporting clubs of a boys school are significant providers of opportunities for females participating in sports in the region is noteworthy and consistent with our emphasis on inclusivity. This commitment by the College in supporting community sport was recognised by the City of Greater Geelong who provided the St Joseph’s Cricket Club with a community and infrastructure grant to contribute to the development of this facility. I would like to formally acknowledge the foresight and support of the City of Greater Geelong with this.
This week families have been welcomed into a range of wellbeing workshops which have been well publicised on our website and on social media. One of the best attended was on the topic of phone ‘addiction’. When I was growing up “Get off the phone” was a common refrain at our house. It usually meant that someone had monopolised the (only) landline, usually with the cord run under a door into the next room to ensure a degree of privacy. It was difficult to get ‘addicted’. Today in our houses, classrooms, school yards, bus stops, in fact just about everywhere we are all on our phones and it seems young people more so. At school, we expect that phones will not be used during the day and students are asked to leave them in lockers. If we confiscate a phone from a student we find that the screen seems to buzz constantly with messages and notifications particularly from snapchat and tic-toc.
Our current students were born between 2004 and 2009 and belong to the generation called ‘Gen Z’. A recent article called “What Gen Z actually do online” reports that:
- Almost 60% spend between 3 and 6 hours per day on a device (most often a phone)
- 37% spend over three hours a day on social media
- 75% of males ‘game’ weekly
- 41% of those in regional areas ‘game’ daily
- 88% chat or message online daily ( 50% also report that they study online daily)
- 48% say they ‘feel addicted’ to social media
Addiction of any type is damaging and I hope that many families felt supported by the ‘phone addiction’ online session. In this newsletter, you will also find an article about vaping which is becoming more prevalent amongst young people and poses serious risks of addiction. I encourage you to access it and have a conversation with your son about it.
Work on the College strategic plan continues. There has never been a more important time for us to ensure that we are providing the education that successfully equips our graduates for the world beyond school and we need to hear from everyone with ‘skin in the game’. Parents are among the most significant stakeholders and we need your input. You are invited to gather at 7.00pm on the evening of Tuesday 5 April in the College staff room. Please confirm your attendance by emailing Adele Watt at [email protected] A light supper will be provided.
Thank you to everyone who attended the ACTT SJC Golf day, held on Friday 18 March at the magnificent Lonsdale Links With players arriving as the sun rose above the fairways, there was a great buzz as teams enjoyed a delicious breakfast before heading out onto the course. Nearly 290 players took part in a fun day with AM and PM fields enjoying the event.Congratulations to our AM winners: IDAWS – Felice Male, Michael Noonan, John Bantow, Chad Rivett. Runners up: Balls Up – Andrew Green, Greg Smith, Gav Devola, Col Gillet, Nathan Clarke. As the AM players relaxed for lunch and a few drinks, the PM players headed out to start their own Ambrose competition. The weather held out really well and the competition continued into the afternoon. Congratulations to our PM winners: Kieser – Brodie Leishman, Tony Speed, Ned Arundel, Sarah Reid, Martin Reid.Runners up: Paatsch 5 - Will Paatsch, Ned Harris, Mitch Diamond, Nick Egan, Braden HockingPlayers returned to the club house, for a well earned drink, dinner and presentations after the round. A huge thank you to our Master Sponsor, Associated Cold Tread Tyres, and to all of our wonderful Sponsors and participants. With your support we have raised over $31,000 towards the College Bursary program! This will provide a quality education for those who otherwise would be unable to afford an SJC EducationThank you to the team at Lonsdale Links for looking after all of our guests on the day, we have received great feedback from all the players with those who were involved treated to plenty of food and drinks.
Vaping
It has come to the attention of the College that a number of students are using vapes, and there is a common misconception amongst students that vapes contain harmless water vapour and are a 'safer alternative' to traditional cigarettes. Vaping is undoubtedly not an issue unique to St Joseph's, and Cancer Council research suggests it is becoming more and more popular with Australia's youth. However, this trending activity poses a serious concern to young people's health.
Talking to children and teenagers about the risks of vaping can be difficult. But did you know that vaping can be a gateway to nicotine addiction and future cigarette smoking? Research has unveiled that many vape liquids contain nicotine, even when labelled as 'nicotine-free.' They also include a cocktail of toxic chemicals that haven't been tested as inhalants. The long-term health impacts of vaping are also still unknown, but what has been discovered about traditional cigarettes in recent decades has experts concerned that vapes could lead to the next generation of lung disease and lung cancer.
During our Mt Sion assembly next Monday, vaping will be addressed with the following key points highlighted:
- In Victoria, it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes or a liquid intended to be used in an e-cigarette to a person under 18 years (even if it doesn't contain nicotine).
- According to Quit.org.au, most e-cigarettes on the market in Australia contain nicotine, even those that claim they don't. E-cigarettes are unregulated, so there are no consequences for a manufacturer who inaccurately labels their product.
- Nicotine has been proven as among the most addictive substances known. In addition, nicotine can harm adolescent brain development and impair memory and concentration.
- E-cigarettes can cause significant harm in both the short and long term, even if non-nicotine varieties are used.
- If any student has been using a vape recreationally or for self-medication purposes, they should seek help from a trusted adult, particularly if they feel addicted.
- Any students found using an e-cigarette or vape on school property or in school uniform (off-campus) will be externally suspended from the College, pending a re-entry meeting with College Leadership.
I highly recommend that you take the time to read a powerful article which recently featured in The Sydney Morning Herald, written from a student’s perspective: https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/vaping-a-constant-craving-for-too-many-of-my-school-friends-20220314-p5a4dv.html
The health and wellbeing of every student is a priority for the College. Each sub-school has collaborated to ensure that all students at the College have been provided with information around vaping. Waterford has included such lessons in their Health units. Westcourt students were addressed in an assembly earlier in the term, along with communication and information sent home to families and carers.
Year Level Coordinators, House Coordinators, the Wellness team, and Heads of Subschool Wellbeing are available to support and assist families should you require any guidance and support in this area. Please see below a range of free, downloadable resources for parents and young people to help empower you with the facts and information you need to have for an informed conversation with your child.
http://lungfoundation.com.au/vapingforparents
https://teen.smokefree.gov/quit-vaping
https://www.quit.org.au/articles/teenvaping/
Meleah Zanos
Head of Mt Sion Wellbeing
Last Thursday 17 March, we held our annual Time and Space Father/Mentor and Son Event in the Br O.S. Adams Centre. We welcomed Bill Jennings back to our school to facilitate this unique experience for our Year 8 students and their male mentors in their lives.
It is important to have gratitude for the communities in which we work and live, particularly our St Joseph’s College community, which is filled with compassion. We are blessed and thankful to have the love, care an understanding of our fathers, grandfathers, uncles, carers, teachers, and the many mentors in our lives who are always there to listen and support us. This Time & Space for ‘Stepping Up’ innovative single evening program, gives a signpost to each student about the best ways he can ‘step up’ to be a good man. This was a great night for the boys as they witness their fathers discussing what it means to them to be a dad (or mentor) and the importance of showing their son what a good man is.
As a helper and a facilitator on the father son evening, I was impressed with the calibre of students this year they are the most polite and articulate students that I’ve seen come through this program in the past few years.
This is a credit to the staff and teachers at St Joseph’s College with their ability to maintain education remotely over the last few years and keep the students on track with morals and respect at the same time.
Darren McDine – Father of 3 St Joseph’s Students
Great initiative to be more involved in the school and to share a unique experience with my son.
Great to hear the other lads talk about the same themes / topics that concern them and understanding that all the boys are going through a similar development period.
It was awesome my dad shared with me a letter he wrote the day I was born.
I really loved the event I think it was a great way to interact with my dad and to express how I was feeling and how I could connect with him.
The small group conversation was good because I got to view other older adults’ opinions and views of their sons and their life.
I was a bit nervous at first because I was talking to people I hadn't, but after a while, I think we broke the ice and were able to get to know each-other and understand and empathise!
I found it really good to talk to my dad about what we value in each other and it made me feel really good.
We give thanks this evening for Bill and his team and for our volunteer student helpers and small group leaders who gained a valuable Service Learning opportunity and for all involved in the preparations for this unique event.
Leah Irving - Winner for the category 'Women in Community Life for Education' in the City of Greater Geelong Women in Community Life Awards
Our very own Service Learning Coordinator - Leah Irving has been announced as the winner for the category 'Women in Community Life for Education' in the ‘City of Greater Geelong Women in Community Life Awards.’ They are an opportunity to celebrate and recognise women across our community who are, 'Changing Climates to create Equality today for a sustainable tomorrow'. In every aspect of her life, Leah goes above and beyond in her role in the Respectful Relationships Team to collaborate with them to achieve meaningful change. Leah as the Identity Team’s, St Joseph’s Service Learning Leader has seen Joey's community service participation skyrocket due to her tireless work to provide the school with opportunities to live out our touchstones while advocating for those in most need in our local community.
Congratulations to all of the students who took part in the House Swimming Carnival last Friday! The weather was challenging, but the competition in the pool was fantastic. Well done to Jordan House who took home the Swimming Shield!
Congratulations to the following students that have made the ACC Swim Team. This year the event takes place during the school day on Wednesday 30 March.
- Jake J
- Jarvis M
- Charlie L
- Samuel D
- Michael R
- Kaleb N
- Toby B
- Bailey G
- Charlie P
- Noah C
- Matthew S
- Jack O
- Luca Z
- Leo H
On Wednesday 9 March the 1st XVIII Football team travelled to Ballarat for the second edition of the Respect Cup. The Respect Cup was formed in 2021 to recognize International Women’s Day with St Joseph’s College Geelong and St Patrick’s College Ballarat coming together to play a curtain-raiser to the main match of the day between Sacred Heart College Geelong and Loreto College Ballarat. The winner of the Respect Cup are the two schools with the combined highest score between Geelong and Ballarat.
In the first game, St Patrick’s led narrowly all day in the extremely windy conditions and held on in a tense final few minutes to win by 2-points. Captain Ted C led from the front as well as Matthew S whilst Year 11 students Nick D, Patrick H and Joel C impressed in their first outings. The team will take great confidence from the match into the ACC season in Term 2.
The second game was a much more free-flowing affair with both teams moving the ball well from end to end. Sacred Heart led coming into the last quarter, but Loreto kicked a goal in the final few minutes to level the scores in the match whilst hitting the lead in the overall Respect Cup. Sacred Heart were deep in attack in the final stages of the match but Loreto held on to salvage a draw and allow Ballarat to hold onto the Respect Cup for the second year running.
Ted C and Mia V were adjudged best on ground for the Geelong schools at the after-match presentations at St Patrick’s College which featured a guest interview with Old Collegian of both boys schools and newly appointed Head of AFL Victoria Ben Kavenagh.
Thank you to Mr Mark Kennedy and Ms Leah Irving for their organization of the Respect Cup as well as Mr Peter Adams, Ms Gilda Incigneri and coaching staff for their help on the day.
Next year the Respect Cup returns to GMHBA Stadium on International Women’s Day 2023.
Combined Respect Cup - Wednesday 9 March
Ballarat 7.16 (58) def Geelong 8.8 (56)
Girls Respect Cup
Sacred Heart Geelong 5.4 (34) drew with Loreto Ballarat 5.4 (34)
Boys Respect Cup
St Patrick's Ballarat 2.12 (24) def SJC Geelong 3.4 (22)
SJC Geelong 0.0 2.0 2.3 3.4.22
SPC Ballarat 1.7 1.9 2.11 2.12.24
GOALS: Harry D 1, Sol B 1, Patrick H 1
BEST: Ted C, Matthew S, Nick D, Patrick H, Joel C, Jai M, Jack T, Max M
At City Oval, Ballarat
TERM 1 - UPCOMING EVENTS
Every day CUT THE WRAP
Friday 25 March National Ride to School Day
Saturday 26 March Earth Hour 8:30pm-9:30pm (Global event)
Tuesday 29 March SJC “Switch Off” hour – Time TBC
NATIONAL RIDE TO SCHOOL DAY
We encourage all students and staff alike to join thousands of people across Australia on Friday 25 March, by riding to school to show their support of National Ride to School Day. All participants registering at the bike racks (at either campus) between 8:00am and 8:40am will receive a canteen voucher and a house point will be awarded to all student participants. We would love to witness record numbers this year, so pump up those tyres and become involved.
ENVIROSERVICE
Over the past fortnight, several Enviroservice activities have been undertaken to conduct maintenance of various garden areas including; the reconciliation garden, “Otways” inspired garden, north embankment, Aphrasia Oval and south embankment, Carey Oval. Enviroservice workshops enable students the opportunity to conduct their service learning hours at school, whilst at the same time, develop a greater understanding of the natural world by learning about the indigenous flora and fauna species on our campus and in particular, how the Wadawurrung people utilised these plants for their everyday living.
"TAKE 3" FILMING COMPETITION
A reminder that our TAKE 3 Filming Challenge for 2022 is coming to a close on Friday 1 April.
To enter, students simply film themselves “TAKING 3” somewhere in the community, conduct the “TAKE 3” salute and say “TAKE 3 for the Sea”. Entries must be submitted by email to [email protected] by the end of the day on Friday 1 April.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Earth Hour – Saturday 26 March at 8:30pm
Are you “Switching Off” to #ShapeOurFuture at 8:30pm on Saturday 26 March?
Since the inception of Earth Hour in 2007, millions of people around the globe, have participated in this global initiative simply by switching off lights and other unnecessary power in a bid to “cool the globe”. As we witness the impacts of Climate Change with the fourth significant bleaching event of the Great Barrier Reef in six years and the devastation of Australian communities and wildlife by raging bushfires then in quick succession by devastating floods, there has never been a more critical time to come together and act on Climate Change than right now.
To find out more and register your participation of #ShapeOurFuture Earth Hour 2022, visit; https://www.earthhour.org.au
The College has arranged for Barwon Health Immunisation Service to be on site from 3.30 - 6.30pm on Tuesday 5 April to offer a family immunisation / vaccination service. No need to book at the doctor. This is a clinic being offered to students and families of SJC. COVID-19 vaccinations will also be available if needed.
It will be held in the St Joseph's College Performing Arts Centre (PAC), Edmund Rice Campus, near Gate 5. Parking and entry via Queens Road.
For more information and to book the relevant vaccination/vaccinations please click here and enter the code SJCclinic
https://www.trybooking.com/BYGXK
Any queries please email [email protected]
Any families who would like to submit a Year 7 Enrolment application for 2023 are reminded that enrolments close on 6 May 2022.
This enrolment cut off also includes families who already have a sibling attending St Joseph's College. Applications for any new Year 7 student who wishes to attend St Joseph's need to be submitted by the cut-off date to avoid disappointment.
Late submissions will be placed on a waiting list.
Places are awarded using the College Enrolment Guidelines. Parents will be notified of enrolment acceptance by mid-June for Year 7.
Information regarding the Online Application process can be found on the College website.
Commencing Term 1, all coastal student bus passes will no longer be issued by McHarry’s or accepted by the driver, MYKI student passes have now replaced all coastal bus passes.
Students will now be required to use a top-up Myki, or load a Victorian or Regional Student Pass onto a Myki to travel on Myki School Services. The receipt for these Regional Student passes need to be handed into the school office with your son’s name on it. Alternatively you can email your receipt to Lisa McDine.
MYKI student passes can be purchased from the train stations or at the PTV stand in Westfield. You will need a student concession card, which your son’s student card with the PTV logo in it is acceptable. For Year 7 students you may need to purchase a student concession card and you will need 2 passport photos attached. The form for this is in reception and the ladies can sign the passport photos for you.
Please note you need to live 4.8KM’s from the school, and remember Year 9 students may or may not be eligible depending on how far they live from the Westcourt Campus.
Any queries please contact Lisa McDine.
We are excited to announce that we will be conducting College tours this Term! We are proud to continue offering an innovative education for Geelong's young men. We welcome all senior primary school boys and their families to visit us.
TOUR DATES:
Friday 25 March
Monday 28 March
Tuesday 29 March
Tuesday 5 April
Tours depart at 9:00am. Year 7 Applications for 2023 are now open - apply via the College website.
BOOK YOUR TOUR ONLINE:
The Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD) is a yearly count of students by all Australian schools across the country. The aim of the NCCD is to provide the Australian Government with information about the number of students with disability in Australian schools and the type of adjustments they need in order to access and participate in education on the same basis as other students.
If you are a parent, guardian or carer of a child with disability who requires ongoing adjustments at school, a teacher or another school staff member will consult with you to understand your child’s needs. This collaborative approach ensures the most appropriate adjustments are chosen to support your child’s learning and participation at St Joseph’s College. In some cases, a Personalised Learning Plan (PLP) may be developed to document specific educational goals and to review your child’s progress over time.
Your child will be included in the NCCD if they require ongoing adjustments at school due to a disability as defined by the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (the DDA). This is a very broad definition of disability, which includes physical and intellectual disabilities, learning disorders such as dyslexia and dysgraphia, and mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.
The Disability Standards for Education 2005 (the Standards) set out the obligations of schools towards students with disability. Information for parents, guardians and carers on the DDA and the Standards about how schools can work with students and their families is available at Disability Standards for Education: A practical guide for individuals, families and communities.
Please keep Michael McMahon, his wife Sarah and sons, Jack (SJOC), Archie ( Year 11) and Paddy (Grade 6) in your thoughts on the passing of Mick’s father, John McMahon, on 10 March.
We are sorry to hear your sad news.