It was a great joy to welcome students back to school last Friday. Traditionally the first day is made extra challenging by extreme heat, not so this year with torrential rain for much of the day which was heaviest while boys were arriving. I’m certain that our Year 7’s will remember this as part of their first day at St Joseph’s for many years!
College Advisory Council
This group, formed in 1983 was, prior to this year known as the College Board. The change in name to College Advisory Council is being implemented in all Edmund Rice Schools in Australia and is felt to more accurately reflect the role of the group. This year we are pleased to welcome Anna Sullivan and Paul Clohesy to the Council members joining Council Chair Joanne Van Slagaren, Barry Knight, Chris Hickey, Barny Lee, Andrea Kelly, Shona Casey-Eland and Mark Appleford.
Changes at Edmund Rice Education Australia
EREA was formed in 2008 and accepted ownership and governance of St Joseph’s and approximately 50 other schools across Australia from the Christian Brothers. The inaugural Chief Executive Officer was Dr Wayne Tinsey who retired at the end of 2020. I have written to Wayne on behalf of our community thanking him for his leadership and his support of St Joseph’s during the past 12 years. Wayne is replaced by Dr Craig Wattam who visited the College late last year to meet senior staff and discuss our current educational context.
Events
One significant event early each year is our Senior Awards Ceremony. Unfortunately this year our COVID normal environment means that we are unable to have all students present. We are also unable to have invited guests at the ceremony itself and are limited to hosting only invited guests of our Year 12 group of 2020 at the post ceremony function. The ceremony will be live streamed to enable the broader College community to be present remotely.
Our College Athletics is also an event which generates considerable interest and parental attendance each year. Sadly our COVID safe restrictions precludes parents from attending this year.
I am however delighted to report that we are able to resume College Tours for prospective families. Detail and directions for booking a tour will be available on the College website soon.
Expectations of students
As outlined in my previous communication with families we are committed to the highest standard of uniform and grooming for all students at all times. This was not seen as a priority in 2020 and it was clear late in the year that our standards had slipped. I reiterate the expectation that students are in full and correct uniform each day and ask for your support in this.
Our rules relating to ear jewellery have changed. Following advocacy from our student leaders we have made a change to bring the College in line with societal expectations of gender equality. Boys may wear a small single stud in the lobe of each ear should they wish. Sleepers, spreaders, nose studs, and jewellery in parts of the ear other than the lobe are not permitted.
Capital works this year
This year we plan to complete the Carey Oval change rooms / pavilion. This will be an important addition, providing toilet and change facilities for users of Carey Oval, something which has been needed for a long time. In addition to use by our PE classes and visiting teams it will also support weekend sport including female teams representing our Old Collegians Cricket and Football clubs. The second major project for completion this year will be classrooms on the bottom floor Peter Chanel Centre. These will include general classrooms and a purpose built STEM area to support the teaching of science, technology, engineering and maths.
Stay well and God bless
It’s nice to be back at school and I have a strong sense that all students are pleased to be back amongst their peers and teachers also. The students have been provided many key messages in the first few days that complement those provided during Headstart at the end of 2020.
GROOMING, UNIFORM and MOBILE DEVICE STANDARDS
We are keen to see a vast improvement in the grooming, uniform and mobile device standards and behaviours of the students. I was really disappointed with our senior students’ commitment to these standards on day one but I have been pleased with the quick turnaround since. I ask that parents and carers support the College to uphold these standards as we are keen to do better than ever in 2021.
- All boys are to be clean shaven and have their hair tied back if their hair touches their collar. There is no policy against a mullet style of haircut, however, if it touches the back collar it needs to be tied back. Students who have two tones of hair colour or a have a haircut or style that brings untoward attention, will be questioned and asked to fix.
- Wearing a visible t-shirt under their shirt is not part of our uniform either is wearing the sports jacket with the summer uniform. Their shoes also need to be black, polishable and lace up and the sports uniform is only to be worn to school on their day of practical Physical Education.
- The students are able to bring a mobile phone to school but at 8:45am when the bell rings for homeroom their phones must be kept in their locker for the day. Staff are able to confiscate the phone and the students would need to collect from reception at the end of the day.
I have attached our uniform code to ensure we all know what is and what is not acceptable. Please provide a note for your son if ever he finds himself unable to be in correct uniform.
OUR COLLEGE LEARNING AND BEHAVIOURAL NORMS
We have developed three sets of norms that align to the three subschools of Waterford, Westcourt and Mt Sion. Our teachers have been reinforcing these to the students to help them reach their best. The norms all fall under the subheadings RESPECT, RESPONSIBILTY, KINDNESS, RESILIENCE and POSITIVITY. I have attached the norms so you can help us instil them into all our students.
MT SION WELCOME, WELLBEING & STUDY EVENING
Next Thursday 11 February we will hold our annual Mt Sion Welcome, Wellbeing & Study Evening. This will be an online event and an e-mail with key information and links should have been sent out to all Year 10, 11 and 12 families. Whilst we usually host this at school we feel our reach may go further by adopting a similar format online. The presentations are all designed to help parents and carers support their sons during the final few years of their schooling life. The sessions this year are based around Restorative Relationships with Kristie Elliott, Careers with Karen Shum, Study Skills with Elevate, Wellness with Joanne Chappell and Mentorship with Tom Robb. The sessions will commence at 7:00pm and families are encouraged to choose two sessions to attend. The College Leadership team and House Coordinators will also introduce themselves via a pre-recorded link with some key messaging. For more information and to register go to: Mt Sion Welcome, Wellbeing & Study Evening
2021 SAFER INTERNET DAY - Tuesday 9 February
Parent Webinars
New webinars for parents/carers are being offered each Term.
Term 1 Webinar: eSafety’s parent guide to cyberbullying and online drama.
On Tuesday 16 February at 6.00pm in the PAC, we will be holding our annual Music Information Evening.
This information evening is an opportunity to promote the SJC Music Program to Year 7 students, new students and their parents.
The evening will commence with a performance by the Senior Band, followed by instrumental demonstrations.
New students will then have the opportunity to see demonstrations on the various instruments available and meet with some of the instrumental teachers and senior students.
Applications for the Junior Academy Band and individual instrumental lessons will be taken on the night.
If you would like further information about the SJC Music Program, please contact Laura Martin, Music Administrator via email [email protected] on 5226 8156 or the Music Director, Mr Michael Wilding via email on [email protected]
We have much to be grateful for and celebrate as we begin this fresh new year of 2021!
As staff returned to prepare for the year, we gathered in a COVID safe way to celebrate in solidarity with the other four Geelong Catholic Colleges, each at their own campus. Traditionally we gather, as a Catholic community and fill St Mary of the Angel’s Basilica.This year at St Joseph’s we launched our Identity theme for the year, ‘Living the Golden Rule’ in the ‘Year of St Joseph’. ‘Living the Golden Rule’ is the principle of treating others, as you want to be treated. This theme, in collaboration with the ‘Building Bridges Program’, Peter Griffin our Religious Education Learning Leader is coordinating, is a key focus of ours in 2021. We believe that by treating others, as you want to be treated, will not only make for a better college community, but if we spread this idea in our community, it will help our recovery and create a kinder and more compassionate world.
We will explore this theme in further newsletters. It will also be launched at our Commencement Masses, at our Edmund Rice and Westcourt campuses this week thanks to the preparations of our Faith Development Coordinator, Belinda Milverton.
This year, our college is committed to being faithful to our touchstones of Liberating Education, Gospel Spirituality, Justice and Solidarity and Inclusive Community. In St Joseph’s College, the student community is diverse as we are an inclusive community. Whilst a range of faiths are represented, we have a large Christian community. We want to give a voice to all of our students and join with others in the local and global community to improve our inter faith and intercultural understandings. Through dialogue and advocacy with support from our Intercultural Understanding Partnership (ICUP) team members including Ginette Everett and Ian Grant from the Jewish Christian Muslim Association of Australia (JCMA) and ‘Together for Humanity,’ to foster greater inclusion and connection among students.
We also welcomed our newest members of staff to the college and our Identity Team welcomed three new members. We welcomed Lisa Pope to our St Joseph’s family as our new Deputy Principal of Learning and Identity. We are excited to learn from her experience and wisdom she brings from her vast educational experiences. Lauren Hall is taking on the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Coordinator with support from Sue Collins our Koorie Education Officer. Lauren has been an active member of working with Curriculum Leaders to implement curriculum aspects of our Reconciliation Action Plan. Rachel Ivey is our new Refugee Coordinator who is looking forward to sharing a welcome afternoon tea with the families and their teachers and implementing a homework club at Westcourt.
You can look forward to hearing about your student’s involvement with many aspects of the Identity Team as they participate in Sustainability endeavours including enviro service led by our expert Kelly Jenkins. Our enthusiastic Student Leader Coordinators, Sam Querella and Ash Crook guide the formation of our College Student Leaders to provide student voice and advocacy for issues they are passionate about in our community whilst leading us to live out the Touchstones.
Leah Irving our Service learning Coordinator has been very busy preparing the launch of two Service Learning opportunities for our students, which reflects our theme, ‘Living the Golden Rule’. For Waterford, a ‘Treat People with Kindness Challenge.’ Mt Sion and Westcourt can take part in an ‘International Women’s Day 2021 Service Learning Task’.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Yarns
We congratulate Tyson Neal 2020 St Joseph’s Graduate is the winner of the Rikki Marks Rising Star Award for 2020. The Ricci Marks Award encourages and supports young Aboriginal leaders to pursue their aspirations.
‘Tyson is a young Gunditjmara Arrernte man with a passion for impacting community. He is an active member of community who learns and performs cultural dance. Tyson, although young, is a strong advocate for mental health and suicide prevention. Tyson thrives off sport and considers it an effective tool for managing mental health. Whilst quiet, Tyson is a leader having captained his football team for three years in a row, played for AFL Victoria’s Laguntus team for the last two years, and participated in several AIME programs.
Tyson feels his biggest achievement, and the one he holds closest to his heart, is delivering a speech to all his peers at St Joseph’s Geelong. The speech was about young men speaking up and asking each other, 'Are you ok?' In a time of grief, Tyson identified that the practice of asking the question 'are you okay' was not occurring. Tyson positioned himself to deliver a powerful speech about mental health and suicide prevention to his school community. This had a strong impact on his school community from the Principal right through to the students and even the Alumni.
Tyson went on to lead the establishment of a Mental Health Action Group with the assistance of Headspace Melbourne, a not-for-profit for youth mental health. Tyson aspires to continue his pursuits and passions by studying Sport Physiology or something similar.’
https://www.aboriginalvictoria.vic.gov.au/ricci-marks-award
Congratulations to Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr 2021 Senior Australian of the Year
St Joseph’s College congratulates our faithful friend of the college, the 2021 Senior Australian of the Year Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM, from Nauiyu in Daly River, Northern Territory. The College maintains a strong connection to Miriam and her community with staff and students visiting Nauiyu as part of our immersion program. On their visits, students learn the importance of Dadirri and deep listening along with the strong community connection to country. We look forward to being able to offer the ‘The Daly River Immersion’ once again when possible. We proudly display her painting, "Welcome", in our Staffroom for all to see. Staff members Jules and Jonathan Holt and their children made the trip in December to Darwin and were able to get access through the wet season roads to spend time in Dadirri in community with Miriam Rose. We all can access Dadirri and need to more often. Take a moment for some Dadirri and support her Foundation.
Dadirri
Take a moment for some Dadirri and support her Foundation.
The Parents and Friends is a large group of parents and carers of current and past students, providing social activities as well as being a huge support for major fundraising events and College functions.
St Joseph’s has a great history of our community extending beyond students in the classroom, parents are welcome to be directly involved with the College. We have missed seeing so many of our volunteer 'family' members in 2020 and are so excited to be able to welcome you all back to the College in 2021! Our Parents and Friends already have an exciting year planned and you all can be a part.
New and returning parent volunteers are all welcome, every effort will be made to make you feel at home. (It's not just the students that can have fun and make friends at St Joseph's!)
P&F Meeting Dates 2021
All Parents & Friends meetings start at 7:00pm and are held in the Maureen Bryant Board Room. (Upstairs, in the Paul Tobias Centre - adjacent to the Staffroom) all parents and friends of the College are welcome to pop in for some nibbles and a chat.
Meeting dates for 2021 are:
- Tuesday 16 February – AGM
- Monday 15 March - Bring a Friend Night
- Tuesday 20 April
- Monday 10 May
- Tuesday 15 June
- Tuesday 10 August
- Monday 6 September
- Tuesday 5 October
- Monday 8 November
Each month one of the Deputy Principals updates the P&F on what is happening around the College.
Some Upcoming P & F Events in 2021:
Term 1
Friday 12 February - Comedy Night (7:00pm)
Term 2
Friday 30 April - Trivia Night
Saturday 29 May - SJOCA Reunion
Friday 4 June - Fun Food Day
Term 3
Fashion Dinner – Mt Duneed Estate (TBC August)
Sign up as a Volunteer or Join the Parents & Friends in 2021!
CLICK HERE to join us in 2021 - we understand circumstances can change so remember you can always update your volunteer preferences throughout the year.
For Further information regarding Parents and Friends Contact: Natasha Solczaniuk [email protected]
Towards the end of last year, we sent out our Kensekka Appeal to our College community. Many generous community members, families and staff at St Joseph's made a donation towards supporting our friends at St Joseph's Vocational Secondary School in Kensekka. We were thrilled to receive a message for you all from a group of senior students at the school who wanted to share their thanks. Your generosity has meant that they can continue their education.
The St Joseph's Geelong community was responsible for the initial development of a primary school in Kensekka, support for which has currently been picked up by the Cotton On Foundation. We have funded the development of the secondary school and remain committed to supporting its ongoing operation. We hope this year to be in a position to fund the completion of a second three classroom block.
Thank you to everyone who has supported our friends in Kensekka!
Thank you from Kensekka
Year 12 2021 First Round Offers
It is always exciting to see the University and TAFE offers made to our former Year 12 students. The offer data provide us with a picture of the types of study areas of interest, of our students, as well as their potential career pathways of the future. The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) organises students’ preferences for University, TAFE and some independent tertiary providers. It is important to note that not all TAFE providers are represented in this data, and this includes The Gordon, as they do not use VTAC at present. The following information is provided by VTAC and reflects first round offers. A summary of results is provided below.
Students travelling by car should be dropped off and collected from near the Queens Road entrance. Please note that council regulations do not permit cars stopping on the school pedestrian crossing or in areas where there are marked yellow lines - if you stop your car to allow passengers to exit or enter the vehicle, you are considered parked - and can be fined accordingly.
Council Officers do regularly patrol the area and it is obviously a high traffic area with a lot of students to look out for. To avoid fines and for the safety of our students,please be patient when doing school pickups and dropoffs as it will always be a busy time. Parking on Noble Street and letting your son(s) walk accross O'Driscol Oval may assist you in making your school drop offs smoother.
This week the library is launching the 2021 reading challenge. The Read 21+ in 2021 challenge is for students (and staff) to read for 21+ minutes each day. The challenge will promote the habit of reading regularly and assist students to become better readers. Each student in Year 7 and 8 will receive a Challenge document that includes a calendar for recording the days that they have read for 21+ minutes. It also includes a reading record so that students can document the books that they have read, write a brief review, and give the book a star rating out of five. Students in other year levels will also be encouraged to participate. We invite you to join the challenge and Read 21+ in 2021!
Some staff were spotted out and about working and giving back to the community over the end of year holiday period, it is wonderful to see the St Joseph's College community spirit spreading far and wide.
Thank you to:
Ange Wilson who donated Christmas stockings made by VITA students to Barwon Health Children’s ward for those in hospital over the holiday season.
Nicole Lucas with past student Michael Nolan donated homemade shortbreads to the Lazarus Community Centre Christmas lunch attended by the homeless and socially isolated.
Michelle Anderson & Leanne Sims glazed hams for the Lazarus luncheon. Attendees had ham for days and were very grateful for this special taste of Christmas.
Thank you to all of our staff and communtiy who lent a helping hand in 2020, we look forward to continuing the tradition in 2021.
Late last year, our Year 12 VCE students received their results. The results across the College were consistent with those of recent years and reflect well on the hard work of students and dedication of teaching staff. I would like to congratulate every student who achieved their VCE regardless of their study scores and ATAR. A ‘2020’ VCE is a powerful statement of a young person’s ability to persevere through adversity and overcome challenge. While academic achievement is important and ATAR a stepping stone to a Tertiary goal, the capacity to overcome adversity is a critical for thriving in one’s career and life.
While these results focus on VCE students, I would also like to acknowledge the successes of our senior VCAL students all of whom successfully completed their VCAL certificate and have begun fulltime apprenticeships and further education, or fulltime employment.
At the higher end of our VCE results 9.5 % of students achieved an ATAR of greater than 90 and 25% achieved an ATAR of greater than 80. These numbers were slightly down from the 2019 cohort and similar to those of the 2018 group.
Congratulations to 2020 College Dux, Clancy Hehir who achieved an ATAR of 99.65, and to our high achievers:
Patrick Day (99.55)
Luke Dowd (99.25)
Liam Bindokas (99.05)
Ethan Owens (98.5)
Congratulations to Will Holdsworth who was the recipient of the VCAL High Achiever Award.
This time can be challenging for those VCE students who did not achieve the marks they had hoped for or expected and who may now be rethinking their plans for further education. Thank you to the College Careers Advisor, Karen Shum who has been working hard over the term break to support students with their further study and career options. We wish all of the 2020 cohort all the best as they take their first steps in their journey beyond St Joseph's College.
The Mt Sion Welcome, Wellbeing & Study Evening will be held on Thursday 11 February 2021.
This will be an online virtual event.
There will be five sessions that can be selected from.
- Sudy Skills
- Male Identiy & Mental Health
- Morrisby Careers Assessment & Careers Program
- Restorative Practices
- Bridging the Gap
Register for your session online:
*Please note - due to COVID-19 restrictions this event is to be attended by SJC students and staff only. Parents, carers and guests are not able to come on site to spectate at the Athletics Carnival.
Time: Admin from 8.30am to 8.50am. Students should go to Homeroom to have their names ticked off the roll. They will be then given permission to head off to Zampatti Oval for the opening ceremony. Late comers must report to the office to get a late pass so you are registered as being at school.
Age groups: Ages are taken from 31 December 2021 ie. The oldest you will be this year is the age group you are under.
Uniform: Normal PE uniform, with SJC hat. Competitors in running events must wear shorts.Tracksuit pants are only acceptable in field events. - NO THONGS
Participation: Attendance is compulsory. Absentees will be checked. It is expected that ALL students participate. Athletics Day is about participation and having fun. Not everybody can be an elite athlete but everyone can have a go! A roll will be taken at each event and an absence will be treated with the same penalty as missing a class. You should compete in EVERY event
(that way you will get maximum points for your House!)
Points for your House: You will receive points for participating, and bonus points according to the standard you reach for each event. Eg. U/15 - 100m 1 point: under 19 secs, 2 points: under 17 secs, 3 points: under 14sec
Placegetters and Champions: The first five placegetters in each event will be awarded points towards the overall age level champion result. 1st, 2nd, 3rd will receive ribbons. (Collect RIBBONS from Mr Cashin at the Cricket Pavilion)
The only event which has finals is the 100m. The best 3 in each House will run in the final and the first 4 make up the relay team. Relays will be held at the end of the day.
Age Level Champions: The first five placegetters in each event will receive points toward the age-level champion. Medals will be presented to the winners of each age group.
800m Run: Everyone is expected to run the 800m.
The COLLEGE CLASSIC 1500m race: Is open to the best ten 1500m runners in each age group. The top placegetters in the 800m will qualify for the classic.
Canteen: Will be closed. A food stall will be run by the VCAL team out of the PAC Canteen.
OOB: The tennis courts are out of bounds and no ball games are allowed on the day. When the boys are not competing they are to be around the Zampatti Oval precinct.
Sunscreen: Please ensure you bring and apply sunscreen.
SLIP SLOP SLAP!
Let's get together and share some laughs! Three fabulous comedians right here in Geelong - Dave O'Neil, Lehmo & Evan Hocking. We missed both this event and the Melbourne Comedy Festival last year - so get your comedy fix early in 2021!
On Friday 12 February 2021 at 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Parking available on Queens Road.
Doors and Bar open from 7:00pm for an 8:00pm show.
18+ years only.
Tickets only $25 and are available online at: www.trybooking.com/BHFDM
Parking available on Queens Road.
Join us for a Day on the Greens for our SJOCA Associated Cold Tread Tyres Golf Day on Friday 12 March 2021!
Held at the beautiful 13th Beach Golf Course in Barwon Heads. All Old Collegians, students, staff, parents, friends and family are welcome. Teams of up to 5 players can play in the Ambrose style competition with some great prizes up for grabs. All abilities are welcome.
The day includes:
• Green fees
• Supper
• Golf Day Raffle ticket
• Drinks available at bar prices (No BYO)
Great Array of Prizes:
• Creek & Beach Course winners & runners up
• Nearest to Pin x 8
• Longest Drives for Old Collegians’ Year Level Competition
• Betting Hole on each course
Prices
$140 per player
$125 for SJOCA Members
$100 for YJC Members
$95 for SJC students (ID required)
13th Beach FULL Members pay $90
Book Online:
Sponsorship packages available
Contact Kristen Gleeson
Ph: 52268120
Email: [email protected]
Proceeds from the day go towards supporting bursaries for needy families at St Joseph’s College Geelong.
Need tyres? Contact Associated Cold Tread Tyres. www.associatedcoldtreadtyres.com.au
Our canteen is operating but to reduce contact and lines at the moment students are to order their recess or lunch online via the College shop.
Orders must be completed before Homeroom.
NEW IN 2021 - WEDNESDAY SPECIAL: JOEY'S BUDDHA BOWLS!
Brown rice, spinach, avocado, roast capsicum, black beans, onion, corn and lime.
Your choice of protein and dressing. Chicken / Tuna / Falafel. Salsa/Tahini/Mayo/Sweet Chilli
Order by 9.00am on the day for lunch delivery to the staffroom.
Check out the Specials on the online shop!
Login to the College shop using your email address, if you have not used the shop before, put in your email address and select 'forgot password' to setup a password.
It is a pleasure to welcome you into the St Joseph’s College community.
The College extends a warm invitation to an important gathering on:
Monday 15 February 2021
At 6:15pm in the Br O S Adams Centre (Gymnasium)
This welcome evening is strictly for parents/carers of new students only.
A tour of the College is on offer at 5:45pm.
To RSVP for this event please click the link below:
RSVP online via the link below:
Due to the VCE results being released late last year the College yearbook is still in production. Students will be recieving their copy via their homeroom early in Term 2.
Maureen Moynihan, 75 years. Loved sister of staff member Damian Moynihan. Passed away peacefully on 2 February in Box Hill Hospital.
“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.”
We would like to remind you that all passengers including students on public transport, school and charter services are required under the Victorian Health Directions, to wear a mask when travelling. This requirement helps keep both drivers and passengers safe.