‘May you live in interesting times’ is a Chinese curse that confusingly has sometimes also been invoked as a blessing. The current times are certainly interesting. The economic and social havoc wreaked by COVID is a curse, however, the way in which we respond to it has the capacity to be a blessing.
Tough times are a curse if they make us more self-centred, insular and fearful of others. They are a blessing if they make us more empathetic and altruistic. As educators, we need to find ways to help students avoid the curse and find the blessing. The emphasis that our College places on ‘inclusion’ and care for others reminds us of how core the latter is to our mission.
Our model for inclusion is Jesus Christ who was ‘the great includer’ whose core message was to love one another. The Gospels show Jesus seeking out and including sinners, lepers, tax collectors and ethnic minorities, all of whom the society of the day tried to exclude.
Our goal at St Joseph’s is to ensure that everyone is welcome, everyone feels that they belong and that no one feels marginalised or discriminated against in any way. This is our goal every week, but it was in sharp focus as we celebrated ‘diversity week’ last week. The core message of diversity week is acceptance and inclusion of all people regardless of age, race, religion, gender or sexual orientation. Some students (and some adults) find aspects of this message difficult and confuse ‘inclusion and acceptance’ with promotion.
While we continue to educate our students about their legal and moral obligations in how they treat those who are different, we understand that this educative process is an ongoing one. To those who would seek to run the argument that acceptance does equal promotion, I would refer them back to the Gospels. Jesus did not encourage sin or sinners, just inclusion and acceptance of all.
It is also worth reflecting from Pope Francis’ words (from his weekly audience 23/6/21):
“Indeed, today too there is no shortage of preachers who, especially through the new means of communication, can disturb communities. They present themselves not primarily to announce the Gospel of God who loves man in Jesus, Crucified and Risen, but to insist, as true “keepers of the truth”—so they call themselves—on the best way to be Christians. And they strongly affirm that true Christianity is the one they adhere to, often identified with certain forms of the past and that the solution to the crises of today is to go back so as not to lose the genuineness of the faith. Today too, as then, there is a temptation to close oneself up in some of the certainties acquired in past traditions……. Ultimately, faith in the Holy Spirit present in the Church carries us forward and will save us.
It seems increasingly likely that we can expect state-based lockdowns to continue in Australia until the great majority of people are vaccinated. In the coming months as a variety of COVID-19 vaccines become more widely available there will be ongoing debate around whether or not one should be vaccinated, and whether or not one’s children should be vaccinated (as children seem more prone to infection by the Delta variant).
We know that vaccinated people are less likely to suffer serious illness if infected and less likely to transmit it to others. In short, vaccination makes you and the people around you safer. Of course, there will be those who choose not to be vaccinated as is their right. This individual right must be respected, but at the same time must be balanced with the obligation to help keep those around us safe.
In these interesting times, we continue to be challenged to not lose sight of our obligation to care for others. I think that our gospel imperative to ‘love one another’ makes the answer to the ‘should I be vaccinated’ question relatively straightforward.
One of the strategic goals of the College in recent years has been to improve student literacy and reading. Our Library Manager, Joy Whiteside, and the library staff have continued to improve the amenity of the library and it is a wonderfully welcoming and inviting space. I’m pleased to report that the borrowing rates in our library are continuing to climb as are the number of students using the library as a space to read and study. More literate students are better equipped to understand their world and make proper informed decisions. I hope that your son and all students will take the opportunity to visit and enjoy learning in the library.
Some students in the Hamlyn Heights area have been approached by an adult male, driving a white car. He asked them to get into the car.
Please reinforce safe behaviours with your children and remind them of how to respond to strangers if approached.
God Bless
St Joseph’s is committed to ensuring that we embody a supportive environment for all students of diversity to thrive in and live the motto ‘Ad Alta Virtute’.
The primary function of Diversity week is education. SJC plays an important role in educating students about the core gospel messages. Key among these is inclusion as our guide comes from Jesus Christ, the great includer. He sought out and included those who many whom the society of the day excluded. Diversity week is a living example of what we seek to do every week.
I am proud to be a teacher at St Joseph’s College and one reason for this is our strong culture of Service Learning. Service Learning is strongly connected to the EREA touchstone of Justice and Solidarity, “We are committed to justice and peace for all, grounded in a spirituality of action and reflection that calls us to stand in solidarity with those who are marginalised and the earth itself.”
Over the past three years, much has changed in this area. New initiatives have been introduced, the logistics of how service learning hours are recorded, and the way in which we recognize students who have gone above and beyond expectations have evolved.
Given the many challenges presented by the pandemic, a show of solidarity exhibited through volunteering allows our students to remain socially connected whilst maintaining social distancing. It is very important for the students, and those we have committed to help, that we continue to offer service learning opportunities. It is expected that EVERY student at EVERY year level undergoes THREE service learning hours in a St Joseph’s College initiative (ie a Breakfast Club program).
Our Coordinator, Ms Leah Irving, has been creative in ensuring these opportunities have been adapted to suit these COVID times. Such initiatives include:
- Winter Sleep Out: Over 500 students, staff and families have already slept rough at home to raise awareness of people experiencing homelessness. Students are welcomed and encouraged to sleep rough, fundraise and donate until Monday 16 August. Personal hygiene items will be donated to, and distributed, by volunteers at Lazarus Community Centre and to women and children through the Geelong Sexual Assault & Family Violence Centre.
- SJC Care Group: families can cook for those within our College community experiencing hardships.
- Breakfast Clubs: at Northern Bay Secondary College and St Thomas Aquinas Primary School have continued to be supported by Year 8 and 9 Homeroom teachers and students (when restrictions have permitted).
- Mac & Joe’s: students, staff and families have been cooking on campus and at home for McKellar Centre palliative care at-home patients and their carers.
- Car wash for Caritas: had many Year 12 students accepted the invitation to wash staff cars to raise funds for Caritas in a House challenge. Butler won!
- Treat People with Kindness Month: In February Waterford students were supported in the completion of their compulsory hours through participating in a month of kindness. Completing random acts of kindness and following it up with reflection students were introduced to the culture of kindness we foster at the College. It was hoped they were inspired to continue giving to others throughout the year.
- Online activities and advocacy projects were also on offer to celebrate International Women’s Day, Refugee Week and Ambulance Victoria’s online CPR education program.
Please encourage your son to get involved in Service Learning activities and to register his three hours. Once your son has undergone his activity he needs to submit a form (via SIMON). His hours will be registered in his SIMON profile - Social Behaviour- Commendations. Each hour of Service Learning equates to one House point. If your son achieves 15 House points, through participating in Service Learning initiatives, he will be awarded a House Pin to be worn on his blazer.
Once again, we have returned to face-to-face teaching after a short time in remote learning, and we would like to thank the teaching staff, students and parents for adapting so quickly to the changing learning environments. The Curriculum executive team reviewed many of the important processes that are occurring across each subschool this term and wish to share the following update.
Mid Semester Reports
We will be issuing Mid Semester Reports for all students in Years 7 – 12 on Friday 27 August. We felt it was important to provide all parents with a snapshot of how their students are working prior to Parent Teacher Interviews in Week 8.
Parent,Teacher, Student Interviews
For the safety of all members of the College community, the College Leadership team has made the decision to move all Parent, Teacher, Student interviews to an online environment through Microsoft Teams.
The Bookings for these interviews will be made available in PAM after the release of the mid-semester reports on Friday 27 August and remain open until 3:30pm on Wednesday 1 September.
The interview times will occur on:
Thursday 2 September from 4:00pm – 7:00pm.
Friday 3 September from 9:00am – 12:00pm. (Note: Friday will be a student free day)
Mt Sion News
There are a number of important processes and events occurring at Mt Sion this term which we will continue to email parents and students about to keep them informed.
The GAT has been rescheduled for Thursday 12 August. Students who complete a VCE Unit 3-4 Sequence or VCE VET Unit 3-4 Sequence are required to sit the general knowledge and skills tests.
GAT results are used to check that your VCE external assessments and school-based assessments have been accurately and fairly assessed, and it is recommended students familiarise themselves with the GAT by reviewing past papers available on the VCAA website. The College is currently waiting for further information regarding examination settings, but all students will be expected to sit the GAT in their College Uniform. Students in Year 11, who are not involved in studying a VCE Unit 3-4 sequence will not be required at school this day.
Once again, the College has engaged Elevate Education to work with our Senior Students in their Touchstones classes through the presentation “Ace your Exams”. This presentation will be online, and an email has been sent to Year 12 parents extending the opportunity for parents to be involved.
Thank you to all staff, parents, and students who have been involved in the 2022 Subject Selection Process. The portal for web preferences has now closed, and the College timetabling team will use this information to begin to put the blocking pattern together for the senior school timetable, and students will be informed via email of their subject allocation mid-Term 4.
The College will also be offering VCE Revision Lectures on Monday 20 September and Tuesday 21 September, and our VCE Trial Examinations will occur from Monday 27 September through to Thursday 30 September. Given the changing nature of onsite learning, we will release more information to students and parents in regards to how these sessions will occur as we move closer to the dates.
Westcourt News
Thanks to all Year 9 students for completing their subject selections for 2022. It was pleasing to see many boys applying to study a VET subject or accelerate their pathway into a VCE subject. The students presented themselves very well in their online interviews and it was pleasing that many parents joined in the process. There were also quite a few applicants for the Applied Learning program. All students have now selected their subjects online, and the final timetables will be provided in time for Headstart in mid-November.
Waterford News
The Subject Selection process for our Year 8 students heading to Westcourt next year and our Year 7 students moving to Year 8 will be occurring over the next couple of weeks. The student's Homeroom teachers will help guide this process, directing them to the Subject Handbooks linked in SIMON, as well as support the entry of subjects into the web preference portal. The Westcourt Information Session is also available on the Careers website for Year 8 students and families to provide further information on the Westcourt experience.
The students will receive an email and an instructional video on how to enter their preferences into the Portal in the coming days, and they will need to have their subjects selected by Friday the 13 August.
#igiveasock
Here's how you can help.
Post a silly sock pic on your social media account using the #igiveasock, tag us @stjosephsgeelong & @underworksaustralia and you'll be donating a pair of socks to an Aussie in need. It's that simple!
You will also receive 1 House point for service learning if you complete the form on SIMON before the end of Term 3.
Visit the website for more information: https://igiveasock.com.au
TERM 3 - UPCOMING EVENTS
16-22 August Keep Australia Beautiful Week
16 August "Otways" Garden Revamp
23 August Enviroservice at Edmund Rice Campus (TBC)
31 August Tree Planting with Great Ocean Road Parks and Coast Authority (TBC)
September National Biodiversity month
7 September National Threatened Species Day
20-26 September National Organic Week
22 September World Car-Free Day
OTWAYS GARDEN REVAMP
Over the past week, Sustainability Leaders have conducted maintenance and Clean-Up of the "Otways" Garden bed in the Quadrangle in preparation for "Stage 2" planting to commence on Monday 16 August. In addition to a variety of ferns, Sustainability Leaders will endeavour to create more Kokedamas to enhance the visual impact of the existing hanging planter feature.
INDIGENOUS FOOD SPECIES PLANTERS
VITA students have been vigilant with the upkeep of the Indigenous food species planters in the Paul Tobias Centre courtyard and were "Caught on Camera" this week conducting routine weeding/maintenance of the planters. With recent rain, the plant species have now started to establish well and we have beared witness to the first berries of the Seaberry saltbush (Chenopodium candolleanum).
H BlOCK VERTICAL GARDEN
During Semester One, eight small garden beds were established at the top of the sloping concrete wall at the base of H Block, to trial the success of planting Lotus- Red Flash (Lotus berthelotii) with the intention of it "cascading" down over the wall. As the Lotus seems to be thriving in this location, planning is now underway to continue implementing the garden beds across the remaining sections of the wall during the course of Semester 2.
Click on the link below to read the latest Careers News
Do you currently have a business idea or solution to a real world problem? Are you ready to invent the next big idea? Do you have an interest and or skills in Enterprise and Commerce, Business Studies, STEM or VCAL?
If you answered yes to any of these questions then consider joining the Upstart Challenge. This challenge is for young entrepreneurs looking to design, develop and make a solution to a real world problem. Design solutions in the past have included: a Mental health app for teens, democratising the news, and our very own talking rubbish bin. If you are in Yr 8-10, with strong skills and interests in Enterprise and Commerce, Business Studies, and or STEM and VCAL please email Miss Koren Irving by 3:30pm Friday 6th August.
The Upstart Express is an entrepreneurial journey from Idea to Impact. Students can identify a problem people have, they then explore how this problem affects people and they then imagine ways to solve it.
This year's program themes are:
- Health and Wellbeing
- Community and Society
- Food Futures
- Environment & Sustainability
- Sport & Leisure
Weekly Career News - Tertiary Applications
DownloadAll parents & carers are welcome to come along to the Parents & Friends meeting on Tuesday 17 August, if COVID restrictions stay as they are, the meeting will be held in the Paul Tobias Centre Staffroom at 7:00pm. Come along for a casual catch up and hear about what is happening and upcoming events at St Joseph's College.
We all have a duty of care to be wearing our masks inside our classes and in the yard. We need to improve in this to keep our community safe. Other than if you are eating, drinking or engaging in physical activity your masks must be worn.
If you require more information check out the state website where it states clearly.
Face masks
- Face masks must be carried at all times and must be worn indoors and outdoors.
https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/coronavirus-covidsafe-settings
At the Geelong Cats our new draftees live with a host family in their first years with the Club. Moving interstate or away from family can be a daunting prospect for a young person as they start their AFL journey with the Cats. The Club places enormous trust in the host family and sincerely appreciate that they open their homes, hearts and minds in assisting a young person in their development as an AFL footballer and growth as an individual.
We are seeking expressions of interest for suitable host families from St Joseph’s College
Key criteria include:
- A positive, friendly, caring and happy living environment, where the player has the opportunity to be involved in family activities.
- Emotional support.
- Appropriate nutrition is critical for an elite sportsperson. Host families will meet with the club dietitian who will advise specific diets following
the player’s assessment. - Be respectful in regard to cultural backgrounds, beliefs, choices and opinions.
- Be supportive of their football career.
- Injury may impose an additional demand on the Host Family (medical appointments, hospitalisation and disability).
An allowance is provided to host families for rent, bills, food and household items.
Please feel free to contact Shaun Grigg to discuss this further and express your interest.