Welcome back to Term 3 at St Joseph’s. I hope that the holiday break was a productive time for everybody.

At the start of term we welcome following new staff into a variety of teaching, support and tutoring roles: Gemma Tolan, Luke Rogers, Marta Paredes Andia, Charlie Harris, Mark Heenan, Katy Mackenzie, Vanessa Davis, Caitlin Nelson, Dean Farley, Vickie Dolder, Lisa Buttigieg, Wendy Hallowell, Ella Barker, and Sam James. We also welcome back from leave; Kerry Drever, Kate Gibbs, Rachel Roche, Koren Irving, Jessica Lancaster, Flynn Beste and Eliza Abbott. We also have some staff who have changed roles: Cassie Gleeson is Acting Deputy Principal Wellbeing, Nathanael Smith is Acting Director of Westcourt and Sean Trevaskis is Acting Yr 8 coordinator (with Sam Querella)

Last Monday, staff commenced the term with a day of professional development focused on our Catholic identity and its expression through our strategic plan. Fr Elio Capra led the first two sessions with a focus on the revolutionary teachings of Jesus and his vision of a just society. The afternoon session was conducted by Bedi Othow; an advocate for diversity and inclusion within the workplace. It was good to be reminded that in the midst of the daily busyness, our core mission must always remain based on gospel values.

Jesus is sometimes referred to as the great includer because he challenged discriminatory structures and rules… and people who excluded individuals and groups. He stood up for the full equality and inclusion in society of women, the poor, ethnic minorities and people with disability. In 2023 we continue this work.

The public debate surrounding the upcoming referendum on an indigenous voice to Parliament is one of the more divisive and rancorous of recent times. Late last term I was approached by our student leaders who wish to advocate for the “YES’ vote. They feel strongly that supporting a first nations voice to the Parliament is aligned with the values of the College particularly that of inclusion. The leaders are still working on the form that this advocacy will take but it will commence later this term.

Earlier this year, our Year 8s were visited by Henry Ekert, one of the few remaining survivors of the Nazi Holocaust. Henry has written about visiting St Joseph’s in a magazine accessible by the following link: https://www.jwire.com.au/henry-shares-his-story/.

The article highlights a letter that was gifted to him from one of our Year 8 classes, including a Twirl chocolate bar. (a chocolate bar was the first thing he was given when he was liberated from the Nazis). This letter (minus the chocolate bar!) has been framed and hangs on the wall of the ‘Courage to Care’ office.

During the holiday break there has still been plenty of activity around and relating to the school. We have upgraded the cricket training nets and wickets on Carey Oval to improve safety and amenity. I would like to acknowledge the support of the St Joseph’s Old Collegians Cricket club (Mark Appleford and Rav Ravee in particular) and the Australian Cricket infrastructure fund for their support of this project. We have also commenced the refurbishment of the toilet block at Westcourt.

As the only all boys school in the region we are experts in educating young men and are constantly seeking to become even better at it. During the holiday break Lisa Pope and Peter Ryan attended a conference in New Zealand conducted by the International Boys’ Schools Coalition and have returned with a range of ideas that will implemented in the College over time.

And finally congratulations to those students involved in the College production ‘School of Rock’. It was superb!

God Bless

Tony Paatsch
Principal

Deputy News

Subject Selections for 2024: Charting Your Learning Pathway

St Joseph's College recently conducted an informative senior subject selection evening on Wednesday, 12 July. The event was well attended by a number of our Year 9 students transitioning into Year 10 and Year 10 students moving into Year 11 in 2024.

During the event, students and parents were presented with an array of valuable information sessions on various academic pathways available at St Joseph's College. These sessions included discussions on the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), VCE Vocational Major (VM), Vocational Education and Training (VETis), Acceleration into VCE, and general career pathways. It was heartening to see a substantial turnout, indicating the enthusiasm and interest of our students and their families.

To further assist students in making well-informed decisions, subject displays were set up in our Gymnasium, showcasing the diverse range of subjects available. Additionally, representatives from Victorian universities and training organisations were present to answer any questions and provide insights into future pathways beyond the College.

For ambitious students seeking to accelerate into their VCE, St Joseph's College has organised subject interviews with members of our Senior teaching team. These interviews will be conducted from Monday, 24 July, to Wednesday, 26 July. To secure an interview slot, students are requested to book their appointments through our PAM (Parent Access Module) booking system. Furthermore, Year 10 students seeking additional guidance in selecting their subjects are also encouraged to book an interview with a teacher on Monday, 24 July, or Tuesday, 25 July, from 11.15 a.m. onwards. Parents are warmly invited to attend these sessions if they are available, as their input can play a vital role in supporting their child's academic journey. Again, appointments for these sessions can be made via the PAM system.

All Year 9, Year 10, and Year 11 students are reminded that their subject choices must be entered into the web preference system by Friday, 28 July. This deadline ensures that the school administration can efficiently allocate resources and tailor the curriculum to meet the needs and preferences of our students.

Recognising the significance of informed decision-making, St Joseph's College ran the My Future program for Year 9 students. This program, which occurred in the first week of the term, incorporated a series of engaging activities, including guest speaker sessions and career exploration opportunities. Through this program, students were empowered to make informed choices regarding their subject selection, keeping their future aspirations at the forefront.

In addition to the initiatives for Years 9 and 10, students in Year 8 transitioning to the Westcourt campus (or Year 9 campus) will receive presentations at school in the next few weeks. These presentations will provide valuable insights into subject choices for 2024, as well as the Westcourt project—a semester-long, project-based learning unit. To ensure that both students and parents are well-guided in making their decisions, an invitation has been extended to visit the Westcourt campus on Wednesday, 26 July, at 6 p.m., for an information evening.

Not to be forgotten, our Year 7 students moving into Year 8 will receive support from the staff at Waterford to outline their elective options. They will guide students through the process of selecting their elective subjects for 2024 through the web preference portal, ensuring a smooth transition and an opportunity to explore their interests.

Year 7 and Year 8 students are reminded that their subject choices are due by Friday, 11 August. Heads of Learning from each subschool will be in regular contact with students, via email, to provide updates and keep them informed throughout the subject selection process.

St Joseph's College is committed to empowering students to make informed choices regarding their academic futures. By providing a range of resources, information sessions, and ongoing support, the school aims to continue to provide pathways that are tailored to students' needs.

In Summary: Key Subject Selection Dates

NAPLAN

The 2023 NAPLAN testing results will be released this week, and a hard copy of the results will be sent via mail to our parents later this week.
From 2023, NAPLAN results are reported against proficiency standards, with student achievement shown against 4 levels of proficiency. There is a standard for each assessment area at each year level. This replaces the previous numerical NAPLAN bands and national minimum standards. The NAPLAN measurement scale and time series have also been reset.

To help understand the new reports please refer to the video

https://youtu.be/AcYsiLtE7a8

Lisa Pope
Deputy Principal - Learning

Topics this week

YEAR 12 STUDENTS

• University applications – resources
• Compulsory university entry tests for undergraduate law and teaching
• Business Cadetship Program – Melbourne
• University of Tasmania – applications now open
• Australian Catholic University – early entry webinar
• Indigenous Apprenticeship Program with the Australian Public Service

YEAR 10 & 11 STUDENTS

• Agriculture program – Defying the Drift

ALL STUDENTS

• Open days are almost here!
• Careers in cyber security
• Studying business at university
• The important of post school qualifications
• 5 emerging careers in agriculture
• The Heywire competition
• UNSW Bragg Student Prize for Science Writing
• Competition – Tax, Super + You
• Free employability toolkits
• Student exchange
• Monash University - Medicine and Pharmaceutical Science
• Careers with STEM articles – meteorology, maths and economics
• Have you considered a VET pathway after school?
• What type of apprenticeship would you be suited to?
• Upcoming career events

Kokoda Trek in PNG

A group of 28 students, parents and teachers from the SJC community recently undertook the gruelling Kokoda trek in PNG. This was our first overseas immersion since COVID. The experience was profound, with our bodies, minds and emotions being challenged every day as we walked in the footsteps of our servicemen and women who defended our shores during the 1942 campaign. Many thanks to the staff from Australian Kokoda Tours for leading this life changing experience and the truly amazing local porters who shared the journey with us. Stay tuned for more information soon regarding the 2024 experience for Yr 11 and 10 students.

A Reflection on the experience

My thoughts and reflections on the Kokoda trail was that overall, it was a very good experience with practically nothing negative about it.

All the locations we went to were interesting and unique in their own way, whether it be the Hilton Hotel in Port Moresby, the Bomana war memorial or one of the many villages along the track. The Bomana Cemetery was especially a highlight for me, highlighting the sacrifice of the diggers who fought on the very trail we were hiking, the atmosphere was eerie but calming. The landscape along the track on the other hand was simply beautiful, whether it be the dense tropical jungle, vast open plains or the many streams and rivers, the trail was stunning.

The locals, whether it be the hotel staff, porters or villagers were all incredibly welcoming and hospitable, and getting to interact and learn about them was one of the highlights of the trip. My favourite part had to be when we played sports with the village children. A close second would be any time the villagers would sing for us.

Another part of the trip that was enjoyable for me was meeting all sorts of new people, every student and dad who went on the hike were enjoyable to be around and the overall atmosphere throughout the trip was of fun and laughter. I met plenty of people who would’ve simply just been another face I would occasionally walk by when at Joey’s. Meeting Carl, our guide and group leader was personally for me one of the best things to come out of the trip, as he was an amazing guy to be around and had a great personality. I also met a man named Lee who was our group medic, and he really helped me up those difficult hills. It was also great to get to know my teachers Mr. Jones and Mr. Cashin.

The historical aspect of the track was my favourite part, as it’s the main reason people even go to hike there. Carl did an excellent job explaining the history behind the track as we walked it, the weapons dumps were all rich with history, giving you a firsthand idea of the equipment used by both sides. The best locations with historical significance was Myola Lake and Cons Rock. Myola Lake was stunning to look at, and it’s where the ANZACS held off the Japanese for a while, whereas Cons Rock was where the ANZAC medics performed surgery on the wounded. I also appreciated how the contribution of the Papua New Guineans wasn’t overlooked and also taught.

The hiking was honestly something I was worried about, but upon reflection it was probably one of the most enjoyable parts of the trip. Whether it was a river, a muddy swamp or another mountain to climb, the satisfaction of completing something challenging was incredibly satisfying. Some people were better at the hike than others, but everyone put in 110% effort and we all made it in the end!

Overall, my reflections on the trip was that it was an amazing experience that I absolutely recommend if anyone is interested, every aspect of the trip was amazing, and I feel I definitely grew as a person after coming back.

Ty Ooju Morgan
Year 11 Student

Last week at Westcourt students participated in our ‘My Future 2023 Week’. We were fortunate to be visited by 9 SJC Old Collegians as part of an ‘Old Boys Forum’. Many thanks to Simon Bryant, Adam Walters, Justin Shannon, Harry Smith, Nick Madden, Tom King, Robbie Byrne, Mark Genua and Jimi Kelly for sharing their stories of their employment journeys since leaving SJC.

During the rest of My Future week the Westcourt students had visits from CAL subjects leaders from Mt. Sion to explain each of the subjects on offer at our senior school. We also had a visit from the team at Crazy Ideas College to present their Future Me program to the students which was followed by Friday’s student excursions to Deakin University, Federation University & ACU Ballarat Campuses and our applied learning program at the Edmund Rice Campus.

Paul Hood
Head of Learning

Waterford Public Speaking Competition

In Term 2, all Year 7 students in their English classes focus on persuasive writing and speaking. Each student wrote a persuasive speech about their chosen topic and presented it to their class. English teachers then nominate their best speaker to enter the Waterford Public Speaking Competition.

The following students are to be congratulated for representing their Homeroom:

On Friday 16^th of June, we welcomed family, friends and supportive teachers to the PAC to watch the finalists. It was a fierce competition with each representative speaking passionately about their topic and impressing the audience and judge. All of the competitors should be very proud of the research, writing skills and effort they put into preparing for the competition.

Sam Rayson from 7J was declared the best Waterford Public speaker for 2023. He has had his name etched in the perpetual trophy and will be presented with a gift voucher at our up and coming Waterford Assembly. Thank you to Laura Gordon and Michelle McRae for being our judges. Well done Sam and we look forward to another persuasive battle next year.

Rebecca Barker
Head of Waterford – Learning

Circle of Solidarity Refugee Week

Representatives from student leadership, the Identity team, Principal Tony Paatsch, staff and students gathered in a circle of solidarity to express our support and prayers for issues facing refugees and people seeking asylum. We all understand how lucky we are to call Australia home, but we recognise that there are many people who face extreme injustices and challenges on their journey to a safe haven. The theme for Refugee this year is, ‘Finding Freedom’. The theme aims to highlight aspects of the refugee experience and helps the broader community to understand what it is like to seek and celebrate freedom as a refugee. Please generously support the ‘Welcome Place Food Drive’ in our homerooms as an act of advocacy to support our local refugee and asylum seeker families in our Geelong region, where they are free to feel safe and welcome.

Identity News

‘Finding Freedom’ Refugee Week at St Joseph’s College

This year’s Refugee Week theme is Finding Freedom. Refugee Week promotes harmony and togetherness. The theme unites individuals, communities and organisations from many different backgrounds behind a common cause. The common theme is a reminder that, regardless of our differences, we all share a common humanity. To be free means to live without the fear of war, to have your basic human rights upheld, to live in equality and without the fear of persecution are just some of the examples of what freedom can entail. Every day millions of people across the world embark on dangerous journeys for the sole purpose of finding safety and freedom. From Australia to nations across the globe, settling into a new environment after experiencing the perils of a refugee’s journey can also provide the opportunity to live in freedom, to love and to dream. The Greater Geelong region has been recognised as a 'Refugee Welcome Zone' since 2002 and welcomes hundreds of refugees every year.

“This week’s events at St Joseph’s featured wellbeing lessons across all year levels, creating further awareness of the much-needed freedom sought by refugees, especially in Australia. This week ties into our theme this year to, ‘Open our Hearts and minds to build a better world for all’. Our library has created a display of themed books celebrating the stories of refugees. We shared ‘The Little Refugee’ storybook, by Anh and Suzanne Do. ‘The Little Refugee is about one family’s survival against the odds, and the transforming power of hope. We gathered for our traditional Circle of Solidarity, held on Tuesday at lunchtime in the Quad. Students welcomed the opportunity to participate in such an important gathering, to show their support for refugees in our community and for people seeking asylum. We gathered not just on the basis of educating others, but more importantly to uphold our touchstones of Justice and Solidarity, Inclusive Community values of compassion and integrity, just as Edmund Rice would have done.”

Michael Ahearn - Year 11 Inclusive Community Touchstone Leader

Refugee Welcome Place Food Drive

Please generously support the ‘Welcome Place Food Drive’ in our homerooms as an act of advocacy to support our local refugee and asylum seeker families. You can support this advocacy action, by making donations of the items listed on SIMON messages. Students place Year Level culturally specific grocery items in the boxes or bags in their homerooms. Collection will be Tuesday 25 July. We will welcome back former St Joseph’s College History teacher and Refugee Coordinator Kelly Jenkins, a member of the Combined Refugee Action Group in Geelong, (CRAG) with news from ‘The Welcome Place’ and the difference our food drive will make in our Geelong community. We are committed to justice and peace for all and together the actions of our hands, hearts and our voices in solidarity, bring peace in our world! Your support is greatly appreciated by people who have come to Geelong to seek freedom, peace and safety.

Joey’s Community Cultural Diversity Cook Book

As we celebrate Refugee Week we are inviting our St Joseph’s families, students and staff to share a much-loved recipe from our cultural heritage to contribute to our inaugural, ‘Joey’s Community Cultural Cook Book’. We have some delicious recipes, add one of yours! Please send your recipe in to [email protected].

Format: Size 12 font Arial, Ingredients, Method Steps, Photo, Family name. We look forward to sharing these recipes with our community.

Celebrating the Archdiocese of Melbourne’s Pilgrimage to World Youth Day Lisbon 2023

As World Youth Day is fast approaching we invited our staff and student representatives, Ms Natasha Scanlan, Mr Charlie Purdy, Ethan Withers and George Cotter to join us for a special blessing prayer as they prepare to join over 500 hundred pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Melbourne for a journey to join Pope Francis in Lisbon in Portugal to deepen and celebrate their faith with other young Catholics from around the world. In what will be the largest ever contingent from the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne to attend an overseas World Youth Day event, the pilgrims will join more than 1 million young people from around the world from 2-6 August to share their faith in Jesus Christ through prayer and celebration.

“There is much excitement and anticipation for the weeks ahead,” said Archbishop Comensoli. “World Youth Day is an incredible opportunity for our young people and emerging leaders to experience being part of the universal Church.” “We pray that this will be a time of powerful spiritual encounter with the Lord for each in their own personal journey of faith.”

Melbourne pilgrims will represent some 134 parishes, schools, and movements from across the Archdiocese, including almost 100 students and 60 teachers from 57 Catholic secondary schools at this 16th World Youth Day gathering.

Mr Charlie Purdy, St Joseph’s Religious Education Curriculum Area Leader, is about to begin his journey early next week with other Geelong staff as part of the Emerging Leaders Program which begins in Rome. Archbishop Comensoli and Executive Director of Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) Dr Edward Simons will travel with a group of emerging leaders from Catholic schools, healthcare, and social service agencies, with an itinerary tailored to forming leaders for mission.

“It is important that our leaders, across all aspects of the Church’s mission and outreach, understand and hear the concerns and dreams of young faithful in today’s world,” the Archbishop said.

We will bless our St Joseph College pilgrims on their journey from 28 July – 9 August and pray for them as a community at our Inclusive Community Assembly on Monday as we light their commissioning World Youth Day Candle presented at the commissioning Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral last Sunday. Archbishop Comensoli officially commissioned and blessed the pilgrims ahead of their journey. “World Youth Day, and the shared pilgrimage, will be a once in a lifetime opportunity for all involved – and one that will bear great fruit in the years ahead.”

World Youth Day Prayer

Loving God,

Help our pilgrims as they travel to World Youth Day in Lisbon.

Be their companion and strength on their journey,

Open their hearts to the prompting of your Spirit.

We pray that they will be open to your word in their lives and be encouraged to sow the seeds of faith in others. We pray they openly share the gift of World Youth Day with us on their return, sharing the Good news in our Geelong faith community. Our St Joseph’s College community blesses them. May the Holy Spirit empower the pilgrims to be true witnesses to all they encounter. May they go in peace to love and follow the Lord on their pilgrimage to World Youth day.

Amen.

We also send our blessings on a group of three staff Meleah Zanos, Leanne Adams and Andrew Smith and twelve Mt Sion students who have been preparing to attend an Immersion experience to Daly River with the Nauiyu Community in the Northern Territory. This will include time with Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann, 2021 Senior Australian of the year, who is a renowned Aboriginal Artist and Educator along with experiencing NAIDOC week and educational activities in the St Francis Xavier Catholic School community. We look forward to them sharing their unique immersion reflections.

Mary Malone
Director of Identity

Welcome back College Families

Have you got your tickets yet for the SJC P&F Comedy night on Friday 4 August? Perfect opportunity for our College Community to catch up and enjoying some laughs together.

Book them today via the link below so you don’t miss out being entertained by NICK CODY, BEN LOMAS & our MC for the evening, BILLY STILES when they head down the highway to the PAC.

https://www.trybooking.com/CIPPW

Our next meeting

We have our first meeting for the term on Tuesday 1 August in the staffroom at 7pm. Come along if you can, it is a great way to meet fellow parents and hear from College Leaders about what is going on in and out of the classroom and perfect forum to ask questions and be involved in the College.

If you would like to be involved in the social event of the year, the SJC Fashion Dinner, we have our meeting before the committee meeting on Tuesday 1 August at 6pm and would love as many people to come along and be part of the Fashion Dinner Team.

Please reach out to Jodie if you have any questions [email protected] or 52268122

Thank you to Sasha and the P&F Committee for all of the support

Jodie Warrick
Events and Community Engagement Coordinator

SUSTAINABILITY NEWS

UPCOMING EVENTS TERM 3

Monday 31 July Official CUT THE WRAP relaunch day for Year 7

Sunday 30 July National Tree Day

Tuesday 1 August Schools Tree Day – Tree Planting activity

Tuesday 1 August Enviroservice (3:20pm – 5:20pm) - Tree Planting activity for Schools Tree Day

August 7-13 Keep Australia Beautiful Week

August 20-24 World Water Week

September 7 National Threatened Species Day

CUT THE WRAP

On Monday 31 July, our CUT THE WRAP initiative will recommence for Year 7 students.

Lunchboxes will be inspected during the Wellbeing period on a weekly basis (with the exclusion of the last week of each term).

CUT THE WRAP PROCEDURES & REWARDS

Students presenting a “plastic wrap free” lunch will be rewarded with a credit stamp.

Classes with 100% participation (on any given week) will be awarded a second credit stamp (each student).

Note: A canteen order or money for the canteen, does NOT qualify as a wrap free lunch.

END OF TERM REWARD

The class with the highest level of participation for a given term (provided they reach a minimum of 100 participants) will receive an Eddie Coin. Note, the number of coins distributed will be determined by the highest number of participants in a given week for that term.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

National Tree Planting Day, with the Friends of Waurn Ponds Creek

Service Learning Opportunity

All families are invited to join the “Friends of Waurn Ponds Creek” on National Tree Day for tree planting activities. They will gather from 9.00am on the creek to plant grasses and shrubs at a site between Brearly Reserve bridge and Winter St. You may access the site via the walking track from Winter St. Morning tea will be provided at approximately 10.15. Volunteer may simply turn up and register on the day. Please take your own gardening gloves.

Service learning hours will be assigned in accordance with the number of hours of service.

For more information, visit the following website; https://friendsofwaurnpondscreek.org.au/aa%202023/07%20July%2030%20NTD.html

Kelly Jenkins
Sustainability Coordinator

U16 & U18 National Championships

Michael Rudd (Year 12) and Giuseppe Posterino (Year 11) both put up strong performances for their respective Vic Country teams in the U18 and U16 AFL National Championships over the last month.

Rudd kicked 7 goals in the first three matches in the U18 Championships before missing the final game through injury whilst Posterino kicked a goal in each game in the U16 Championships.

Read what was said about the boy's performances below:

Michael Rudd (Game 3 v Allies)

"The Geelong Falcons product has enjoyed some really good form when donning the Country guernsey, continuing on with two goals and six marks against a strong Allies outfit. Rudd’s real strength comes from his ability to get up and down the ground through work rate, making it difficult for defenders to keep up as he’s always on the move looking for an opportunity to lead for the footy. Rudd also demonstrated his contested marking prowess, fighting hard for front position in contests and nudging opponents away from the drop zone to keep the ball out of arm’s reach."

Giuseppe Posterino (Game 2 v South Australia)

"The only Vic Country player to kick a goal on Tuesday, Posterino was his lively self in the forward half. His score came via a strong overhead mark and 40m set shot, with the former a handy trait to have at 175cm. The Geelong Falcons prospect was forced to advance high up the ground to get his hands on the ball and provided good energy with limited opportunities to notch 12 disposals, four marks, and five tackles."

ACC Open Golf Division One Championships

On 27^th to 30^th of June, 4 of our St Joseph’s college students that were part of the recent successful ACC Open Golf Division One Championships winning golf team, competed in the Victorian Junior Amateur Championships.

Played on the NSW side of the Murray River at Cobram Barooga Golf Club (Old Course) and Tocumwal Golf Club (Captains Course), the Championship is a contested pinnacle 72-hole junior stroke events played over 4 days, which has fast become one of the most coveted titles in the country. Year after year it attracts a huge field with some of the best junior golfers from Australia and overseas assembling in chase of the title. The event is a Boys and Girls Australian Order of Merit and World Ranking event.

The boys, who are also members of the Geelong Golf Club, put in outstanding effort with some sensational individual rounds with Edward Sargeant finishing tied for 3^rd in the Overall Open Stroke division and Christopher Filipowicz being named Under 16 Boys Nett Champion.

(L-R: Christopher Filipowicz, Louis Van Ingen, Edward Sargeant, James Harry)

Under 16 Boys Nett Champion – Christopher Filipowicz

Tickets available here

St Joseph's Clinches Back-to-Back Grand Final Victory in Year 9 Showdown

In a thrilling clash that kept spectators on the edge of their seats, St Joseph's emerged victorious, claiming the Year 9 Division 2 Grand Final title against St Bernard's. The final score stood at St Joseph's 6.13 (49) to St Bernard's 5.6 (36) in an enthralling battle held on Murphy Oval at St Bernard's College in Essendon.

The reigning premier St Joseph's aimed to secure consecutive premierships after introducing a team to the competition just last year, against the undefeated boys from St Bernard's. Ironically, the team typically known as the yellow team, had to don red jumpers due to a clash, adding a unique twist to the showdown.

With a staggering 73 players representing the team this season (and a total of 91 players representing either Year 9 team), St Joseph's demonstrated their depth and commitment to nurturing young talent.

The match began with both teams making an immediate impact, each kicking a goal within the first three minutes. The early exchanges hinted at a high-scoring affair, but St Bernard's surged ahead, building a three-goal lead and overpowering their opponents with their physicality and intensity. However, St Joseph's managed to rally, kicking a few late goals as they started to display their skills.

The second quarter saw St Joseph's dominate the field, unleashing an onslaught of attacks that left St Bernard's struggling to gain any ground. The team's defensive intensity was relentless, as St Bernard's failed to breach their half for the first 15 minutes of the quarter. St Joseph's capitalized on their advantage, establishing a comfortable 16-point lead heading into halftime.

The third and fourth quarters evolved into an intense arm wrestle, with both teams squandering numerous straightforward scoring opportunities. These missed chances added an element of unpredictability to the match, leaving spectators unsure of what would transpire next. With a mere five minutes remaining on the clock, St Bernard's delivered a crucial goal, narrowing the gap to a mere seven points, setting the stage for a thrilling and highly anticipated conclusion.

In the end, St Joseph's emerged triumphant, sealing their victory and securing the coveted back-to-back premiership. Their commendable performance was buoyed by outstanding contributions from players such as Lenny Honner, who kicked two goals, William Eskrigge, Samuel Cations, Jacob Hanlon, and Will Skabla, each adding one goal to the tally. Additionally, players including Jack Trewin, Jack Kelly, George O'Dwyer, Lenny Honner, Patrick Sullivan, Rupert Flanders, Reuben Long, and Anthony Nao stood out as the team's best performers, making pivotal contributions to their side's success.

The coaching duo of Mr David McNeel and Mr Michael McMahon guided St Joseph's with expertise and provided the necessary guidance to help the team secure the coveted title. Their strategic insight and leadership played a crucial role in shaping the team's victory.

As the final siren echoed through the grounds of St Bernard's, St Joseph's celebrated their triumph, basking in the glory of another triumph. The young athletes demonstrated remarkable skill, resilience and determination, ensuring their place in St Joseph's sporting history.

The importance of a Student-Athlete

As interschool competition across various sporting codes has begun, it is important to recognise the balance between being a student and an athlete. Student-athletes play a pivotal role in the vibrant and dynamic environment at St Joseph's College Geelong. With a rich tradition of excellence in both academics and sports, the College recognises the significance of fostering a balanced development for its students.

Through the College’s partnership with the Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC), our main objectives within all sporting programs are centred around the following key outcomes:

• Strengthening Participation
• Developing Leadership
• Growth and Diversity
• Celebration Success

Through active participation in various sports teams, students are encouraged to strive for the highest both on the field and in the classroom. The College provides numerous opportunities for students to excel both inside the classroom and on the sporting field. It is important to understand that the College places equal emphasis on academic achievement, acknowledging that a well-rounded education is essential for long-term success. If a student is not meeting the standards in the classroom or academic expectations, the opportunity to represent the College is significantly questioned.

Lachie Doak
Director of Sport / PE Logistics Coordinator

Year 10 ACC Soccer

Year 10 Football

In an exhilarating display of talent and determination, St Joseph's proved their prowess on the field throughout a week packed with high-stakes sporting clashes. The undoubted highlight of the week came in the form of the Year 10 Soccer premiership, where St Joseph's became ACC Year 10 champions for the third time with a scintillating 4-3 victory over Salesian Chadstone.

Defending their Year 9 premiership from a year earlier, both teams were keen to showcase their skill and determination on the field. The match began with Salesian taking an early lead, putting St Joseph's on the back foot. However, the defending champions quickly responded, equalizing the score before Salesian regained the advantage just before halftime, leading 2-1.

As the game approached its final moments, the tension was palpable on the field and among the spectators. In the 59th minute (of 70 minutes), St Joseph's found the equalizer via Alex Giorgio, igniting a surge of hope and determination. The team continued to push forward relentlessly, and in the 65th minute, they took the lead with a goal that sent waves of jubilation through the St Joseph's team. However, Salesian fought back valiantly, scoring a last-minute equalizer, leaving the score deadlocked at 3-3 at the end of regulation time.

The stage was set for a gripping extra-time showdown, and it was in this intense period that St Joseph's showcased their resilience and unwavering spirit with passing sequences and magical touch. In a moment of sheer brilliance, Patrick Wall once again rose to the occasion, sealing the deal with a decisive goal in the 7th minute of extra time. This goal propelled St Joseph's to a glorious victory, sparking scenes of unbridled celebration and ensuring that the Year 10 soccer premiership was coming to Geelong for just the third time.

The triumph stands as a testament to the exceptional talent, teamwork, and resilience of the St Joseph's players, who refused to yield and fought with every ounce of their being. The coaching staff of Ms Gilda Incigneri and Mr Pat Prendergast empowered the unit and encouraged the boys to utilise their weapons throughout the season which resulted in the memorable finish. The boys can now revel in their well-deserved victory and look forward to the future in 1st XI Soccer with confidence and determination.

While the soccer team basked in their triumphant glory, the Year 10 Football team faced a different fate in their Grand Final across the other side of Melbourne. The boys found themselves pitted against the undefeated Parade Bundoora in a rematch of the 2022 Year 9 ACC Grand Final which saw St Joseph's steal the premiership by 3-points. Despite an unwavering display of will and determination, the St Joseph's team struggled to contain Parade's relentless attack and resolute defence.

St Joseph's kicked with a stiff breeze in the first quarter but failed to capitalise, going in at quarter time down by 8-points. The boys were urged to defend with all they had in the second quarter but Parade were too strong piling on 6-unanswered goals. The second half proved a similar story as the goals kept coming for Parade resulting in a resounding 94-point win. Thomas Handley emerged as a standout performer, showcasing his talents with two well-executed goals whilst Eamon Roberts and Hugo Walsh also hit the scoreboard. Despite the loss, the players can take pride in their journey to the grand final and the invaluable experience gained from competing at such a high level. The lessons learned from this match will undoubtedly fuel their future endeavours on the field as they move into the 1st XVIII next season.

In the 1st XVIII Football Semi Final, St Joseph's came in full of confidence against the boys from St Bede's Mentone who had only lost one game for the season. The match was a true showcase of relentless pressure and determination from both sides. Two goals to St Bede's saw them jump out to an early lead, but a steadier to Noah Caracella late in the first quarter gave the Joeys boys come confidence at the first break. St Joseph's controlled the game in the second and third quarters holding St Bede's to just 2 behinds, but they were unable to put that dominance on the scoreboard themselves as they led by just 3 points at three quarter time. The scene was set for an enthralling final quarter, and that only amplified with a St Bede's goal in the first 30 seconds of the final term in front of the now huge St Bede's crowd. St Joseph's hit back immediately through a second Zekiah Davey major, holding on desperately throughout the final term. But the wayward kicking continued and St Bede's finally broke through with 2 late goals to break the St Joseph's players hearts.

Despite the 5.7 (37) to 3.11 (29) outcome, St Joseph's can take pride in the exceptional performances displayed by Year 11 students Lachlan Jaques and Jesse Mellor, whilst Year 12s Fletcher Hughes, Nicholas Dowling, Isaac Conlan, Finn Hoey, Liam Kershaw, Patrick Hughes and Ethan Borys gave their all in their final game of football for the College.

While victory may have eluded them in the football matches, the indomitable spirit and unwavering commitment showcased by St Joseph's student-athletes throughout the week serve as a testament to their character. The triumph in the Year 10 Soccer Premiership stands as a shining beacon of success for the school, while the football teams can find solace in their valiant efforts and the invaluable experience gained from the matches. The future of sport at St Joseph's is in a fantastic place, building upon the memorable moments from the week that was as we continue to nurture and foster athletic excellence.

Chris Lynch
Timetabler

The Resilience Project

In the final part of The Resilience Project's digital series, Martin shares an important message about creating environments where our kids can ask for help.

65% of adolescents do not seek help for mental illness.

In this presentation, Martin shares a personal experience about a traumatic event that happened to him as a child. He explains how he overcame adversity and built resilience by asking for support, particularly from his family.

Note: This video contains a story of sexual abuse that may be triggering. Please consider this before watching. For mental health resources and support information, visit The Resilience Project’s Support Page.

View Part 5 of the series here:
Part 5 - Summary: https://theresilienceproject.com.au/2023-parent-carer-hub-inspire-martin/

Thank you for participating in this Parent and Carer Digital Program series.

You can re-watch the videos and access activities and resources anytime via the Parent & Carer Hub.

You can also stay up to date with The Resilience Project news and events by signing up to the Newsletter.

Isabel McGann
Head of Student Services

SYMPATHY

Joe Exton (87 years) passed away on 1 July 2023. Father of Michael Exton, former staff member and Principal of St Ignatius College.

Now in God’s care, rest in peace.

Elizabeth Jean Adams (85 years) passed away peacefully on 2 July 2023. Mother in law of Leanne Adams (current staff member).

Deepest sympathy today and always.

Linda Bampfield (68 years) passed away peacefully on 3 July 2023. Mother of Ange Baker (current staff member).

May she rest in peace.

Our hearts go out to you all as we pray “That God will welcome these faithfully departed into His loving arms. And that precious memories will be of comfort to those left behind, knowing that their love will live on in their hearts forever.”