Last week the conversation at home turned to what Christmas might look like this year. Someone remarked that “it would be weird to not be able to go to Mass.” The COVID-19 restrictions have disrupted long held habits and patterns of behaviour and Sundays must feel weird to many for whom the rhythm of spiritual life is centred on Sunday Mass. Similarly, sacraments other than the Eucharist are either unavailable or inaccessible in our parishes.
A few weeks ago the Vatican released a document suggesting possible reforms to parish life… while it was in preparation it looks like the global pandemic have reformed it for us! There are some welcome suggestions in the document including that parish structures should be looser and more flexible.
Perhaps the online connection currently available may be a way for us to increase our engagement with our Parish. Perhaps more of us might come to place greater value on parish life and connection and it might feel weird to not be at Mass (in some form) each Sunday, rather than just at Christmas! Things are unlikely to be the same in our parishes post COVID but it is interesting to think of what benefits changes may bring.
In tough times one of the things that human beings value is solidarity. We are one of six schools in Victoria governed by Edmund Rice Education Australia. There are over 40 more interstate some of which have sent those of us in Victorian schools messages of solidarity. https://www.erea.edu.au/messages-of-support-to-our-victoria-schools/
This week is National Child Protection Week. In recent years there has been an increased focus on all matters relating to safeguarding children in our schools. In May this year the College was audited by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority in relation to our compliance with Ministerial Order 870 which places the obligation on schools to ensure the safety of children. I am pleased to report that the audit found that all aspects of our child safe policy and procedures were fully compliant and we are making pleasing progress towards a fully embedded culture of child safety.
As part of developing this culture a Wellbeing lesson will be delivered to students this week. It clearly outlines their rights to safety and wellbeing in their school and home environments. The presentation is explicit in outlining the rights of young people and appropriate responses should these rights be breached. Of course another key element of keeping children safe is ensuring that they are safe online. We are delighted to have the opportunity for families to join the online safety webinar next Tuesday, a flyer about which is attached to this newsletter.
Remote learning is hard work for most of us and almost without exception we look forward to the time when we can safely resume face to face teaching. (At this stage we expect that to be at the start of Term 4 on 5 October). Author Alexandre Dumas writes in The Count of Monte Christo; “All human wisdom is contained in these two words, Wait and Hope” And so we wait for a return to school and hope that the lessons we have learnt during remote learning will hold us in good stead into the future.
Stay well
God Bless.
Season of Creation
In our last newsletter, Touchstone leaders Lachlan Kelly, Thomas Romaniuk, William Baum and Patrick Fitzgerald, launched our Edmund Rice Advocacy for Change, ‘Speak up for Climate Campaign: 28 Days For Climate'. During each week the students are sharing facts on our Student Messages and school social media sites focusing on Water, Energy, Waste and Emissions. During the final week of term, they will conclude the campaign by sharing a video message created by all EREA Colleges Nationally, a quiz and the sharing of the ways our students and families have acted on the fun facts to enact change for our climate.
Every year, Christians of all denominations join in prayer and action for our common home and celebrate the Season of Creation starting on 1 September, the Day of Prayer for Creation and ending on 4 October, the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. This year, amid crises that have shaken our world, we’re awakened to the urgent need to heal our relationships with creation and each other. During this year’s Season of Creation, we enter a time of restoration and hope, a jubilee for our Earth, where we hold tight to God’s intention to see the flourishing of the whole of creation. ‘Young people demand change. They wonder how anyone can claim to be building a better future without thinking of the environmental crisis and the sufferings of the excluded.’ Pope Francis Laudato Si’ #13
To Live Life to the Full
The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting the mental health of many members of our schools, parishes and communities. In fact, most of us will experience a mental health problem at some point over the course of our lives. Understanding mental health will help us to be aware of those who need our support. Our education facilities, parishes, organisations and communities can be places of acceptance care and healing, not places of rejection, judgment or stigma. People living with mental health issues are part of the Body of Christ – ‘us’ and not ‘them’ – and share equally in Jesus’ promise of the fullness of life (Jn 10:10).
Social Justice Sunday took place last Sunday 30 August via our online Mass celebrations. This year, the Australian Bishops’ Social Justice Statement is titled: To Live Life to the Full: Mental health in Australia today. The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the mental health of many members of our schools, parishes and communities. Understanding mental health will help us to be aware of those who need our support. The Bishops invite us all to reject stigmatisation, to work for the transformation of social determinants of mental ill-health, and to call for policies and service provision that meets the needs of people in need of support.
Having been a carer for my mother as she lived with mental illness, I found this quite a powerful statement calling for a compassionate response for caring for those in our care with dignity and the normalisation of seeking assistance and improving policies to support people to their right to live life to the full. You can access the Social Justice Statement 2020-2021 here: http://bit.ly/SocialJustice_2020
Blessings to all of the Dad’s, Grandads and caregivers in our community for Father’s Day! Please support the upcoming Barwon Health ‘Shaka Up Initiative’ being launched by our VCAL students, all the funds stay in Geelong to support men’s mental health programs. We are blessed at St Joseph’s to have such a compassionate, supportive community where we truly look out for one another at every level with the professional supports of our Wellbeing Team, College Clinicians, Heads of Campus, Coordinators, House Leaders, Homeroom teachers, Teachers, Education Support Staff, our many essential non-teaching staff, all led by our good shepherd, principal Tony Paatsch. Bless him and all of us in this year of 2020.
Jesus, you invite us all into the fullness of life.
You invite us to share in your ministry of love and true compassion.
May we be empowered by your Spirit to reach out to all people in need.
May we build communities of welcome and inclusion. Amen.
TERM 3 - UPCOMING EVENTS
September - National Biodiversity month
7 September - National Threatened Species Day
7-14 September - National Organic Week
22 September - World Car-Free Day
CAREY OVAL REVEGETATION PROJECT
Over the past fortnight, a mass planting of indigenous species has been carried out on the east embankment of Carey Oval, marking the completion of "Stage 4" of our Carey Oval Embankment Revegetation project (commencing 2017). What would arguably be one of the most challenging planting feats in our St Joseph's College history, Graham Stockturn (West Coast Indigenous Nursery), together with Phillip Hunter, successfully planted 160 trees on the steep slopes of the east embankment. In preparation, the seeds for our selected species were collected by Graeme in 2019 and were propagated to a viable size for planting this season. The species selected for the east embankment include; Drooping Sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata); Lightwood (Acacia implexa); Melbourne Yellow Gum (Eucalyptus leucoxylon ssp. connata) and Wedge-leaf Hop-bush (Dodonea viscosa). We are very fortunate to have the expertise and ongoing support and guidance of Graeme Stockturn. I would like to take the opportunity to thank Graeme, and Phillip for their time and dedication involved in this project.
YEAR 10 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE ECOLOGY PROJECT
Over the past few weeks, semester two Year 10 Environmental Science students have undertaken the ecology research project; "What's In Your Backyard". With the intention of encouraging students to learn more about the natural world, students investigate the species living in their local vicinity. In addition, they conduct research for a nominated indigenous flora species planted at SJC and discover uses of native flora species by the Wadawurrung people. The unit culminates with a "Sir David Attenborough inspired" mini documentary on a species of their choice. Below is the culminating video on the Sea Rush by Year 10 student Jasper Girvan.
A moment that has stayed with me over the decades, since my very first teaching role at Camberwell Grammar School in Melbourne as an attendee at a full school assembly, is the powerful speech made by the then Principal, Arthur David Pearson Dyer. In a school that hung its hat on solid HSC results, nestling comfortably in a neighbourhood of marked aspirational wealth and populated by the privileged ranks of society, Dyer spoke passionately to his students about the importance of using leisure time constructively and creatively. Posthumously, he is credited with introducing wellbeing into the independent school system long before wellbeing was recognised as a powerful part of one’s being.
Forced into an embargo of all that we have taken for granted in terms of social activity, we recognise the power of constructive engagement in leisure time and its ability to provide fulfilment, personal peace and a semblance of autonomy in a time where we are not in control of our topsy-turvy world.
Our boys have lost the ability to ‘play’ with each other – whether that be sport, music, chess - and we need to reconfigure ‘connection.’ We need to channel those curious minds and encourage the desire to improve existing skills, master new skills and network with each other in whatever ways are available to us.
So how do we connect when connection is virtual?
Our Music Department have had online sectionals occurring and are gearing up for a Virtual Band Performance with the Senior Band in the next couple of weeks; the Curious Minds Book Week invited students to partake in quizzes and competitions and enjoy and appreciate literature and film. Boys can choose to be a part of the Postcards project, contributing their story from 2020. There are Wellbeing Tips and Gift Time activities every week, and Skills Challenges - in week 7 Australian Socceroo, Josip Skoko, set a juggling challenge for the boys to master. We have many student driven activities including a Friday ‘catch up with your mates’ Zoom session for our Year 12 boys, and a new podcast series delivered from our Year 11 students about to drop.
As always, we recognise that we are a part of the wider community, and we have opportunities to shop or to bake to assist the homeless in Geelong and an accessible drop-off point to facilitate easy delivery, and we look forward to the two new mullet cuts on the block, as Cal and Anton raise funds for mental health awareness by chopping off prized locks.
Our staff and students are particularly grateful to the SJC PE staff, who have fielded all manner of events – online Pilates and Yoga, Strava competitions, the Run Australia program, and the SJC MOVEment and Wellbeing plan that encourages online classes, technique tips and sporting initiatives that bring people together. Here is the link to an array of great activities – Movement and Wellbeing Program – and particular thanks go to Chris Lynch, Coby Cunningham and Bec Westwood for keeping people engaged in so many ways through these activities. I am sure I speak on behalf of all of the participating players and spectators in Year 12 who were involved in the football game against Geelong College on Saturday 1 August, to give thanks to the staff and our AFL trainees who organised the event. For many Year 12’s this was their one and only opportunity to play for the school and their one and only football match for 2020 – a fantastic day and now a special memory.
Motivation is possibly our greatest challenge at present: we know all of those activities await, but getting started - tuning up an instrument or putting on the right gear to go and exercise on your own - is a real challenge in and of itself.
Here is a little clip, shared with us by one of our College Clinicians, Amanda Williamson, that reminds us of the importance of balance and order in our lives:
Yes, we do have a lot of time in our present world.
Be creative, be selective, be curious – the very same principles advocated by David Dyer many years ago.
Find balance and structure to your day.
Refresh with recreation.
Develop your ‘creation station’ and prove your best self to yourself.
Join us for a Virtual Father's Day Breakfast this Friday 4 September!
All of our male guardians, grandfathers, brothers and any male mates are invited to join us for this online event from 8:00-8:20am. The event link will be emailed to all families so you can join us to celebrate the amazing love and support our male mentors and father figures provide every day. So let's get together and celebrate! 🍳☕️
Mid-Semester Reports
Mid-Semester reports will be available on line through the Parent Access Module (PAM) after 4:00pm on Monday 7 September. Reporting on assessment happens throughout the semester and can be accessed any time through PAM.
Parent/Student/Teacher Interviews
Parent/Student/Teacher interviews (PSTs) are on Wednesday 16 September from 4:00pm-7:00pm and Thursday 17 September from 9:00am to midday. These interviews will be held via Zoom and will be open for booking by parents/carers from Monday 7 September with bookings closing at 5:00pm on Monday 14 September.
Teachers will send a link for your meetings in an email after all bookings have closed.
It is our expectation that students are present at the interviews, as this provides an opportunity for them to have a voice in the important conversations happening around their learning.
DATE | EVENT |
Monday, 7 September | Mid-Semester reports released |
Monday, 7 to Monday 14 September | Interviews open for booking via PAM |
Wednesday, 16 September 4-7pm | PSTs |
Thursday, 17 September 9-12pm | PSTs |
Friday, 18 September | Student Free day – End of Term Three |
We look forward to seeing you and your son at the upcoming PSTs.
Click on the link below to read the latest Careers News
This edition includes:
- SEAS presentations
- Studying in the USA
- Virtual University Events & Open Days
- VTAC Presentations
- ESA Podcast
- ADFA Open Day
- Hospitality, Midwifery & Engineering Information
On Wednesday 16 September we invite all SJC families to join Australia's first Premiere Screening of an award-winning documentary ‘Angst’. From the producer of ‘Screenagers’ and ‘LIKE’, this short documentary style film focuses on raising awareness around anxiety and teenage mental health. This will appeal to all Year 7-12 students and families
Join the screening from 7:00pm - 8:00pm on Wednesday 16 September.
The screening will commence with a welcome from Executive Producer, Scilla Andreen. We will all then watch the documentary and be treated to a panel afterwards who will engage in an interactive Q&A type forum. Dr Michael Carr-Gregg will be part of this panel as will Scilla and other members of the film.
https://angstmovie.com/about/.
Book Week was celebrated at SJC last week. Congratulations to the following winners of the Book Week competitions, and well done to all who participated. Winners will receive a book voucher prize.
Writing Competition Winners:
Mt Sion: Matthew Tripodi
Waterford: Daniel Di Santo and Kade Hyde
Trivia Quiz Winners:
Jimmy Dewar and Michael Ahearn
Match the staff member to curious book Winners:
Lachlan Schoemaker
You can still explore the resources on the Curious Minds LibGuide, including the eBook and eAudiobook collection on the Wheelers platform, examples of which are here. Click on the link on the library homepage to access the collection.
We’re excited to announce that St Joseph’s was a successful recipient of the PROJECTROCKIT and GoogleAustralia (cyber)bullying grant. The grant was awarded to 40 schools across Australia as a response to the dire impacts of the global pandemic on school communities and student wellbeing. The grant will provide our Year 9 students with PROJECT ROCKIT’s empowering (cyber)bullying webinars in Semester 2.
National Science Week is Australia’s biggest week celebrating science and technology. The theme in 2020 was ‘Deep Blue: innovations for the future of our oceans and St Joseph’s College celebrated in Week 7 of Term 3.
The boys participated in a variety of remote activities, including a virtual Escape Room.
First place went to Malik Davis from 7H and second place to Oscar Hart from 8C.
Well done to all students who participated.
GEELONG COMMUNITY FREE WEBINAR EVENT
Join the St Joseph’s College community for an online webinar titled:
Supporting adolescents to make positive, safe and responsible choices online
on Tuesday 8 September at 7:00pm. This Geelong region event is hosted by St Joseph’s College Geelong. We are privileged to have the following key presenters: 🔵 Tony Paatsch, SJC Principal 🟢 Julie Inman-Grant, E-safety Commissioner 🔵 Greg Gebhart, eSafety Trainer 🟢 Hannah Jamieson, eheadspace Victoria
Register to join the free webinar:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5810339919029270030
In the fight for suicide prevention and improving mental health, The Black Dog institute has started a 'Mullet for Mental Health' campaign. Throughout September I and over 200 others will be sporting a mullet to raise funds that will go towards mental health research and services. Considering how many mullets we already have at school and the fact that this lock-down will most likely spark a second wave of Iso cuts, it would be great to see others get on board by joining the team (see link below) and spreading awareness. This includes staff! Anything positive you do can help to make a push in a direction of good.
Raised: $22,558 (updated 31/8/2020)
Link to join our SJC team: https://www.teamblackdog.org.au/fundraisers/Headchecks?fbclid=IwAR0SCDhmIHXzUsShZRJaG5CfmYYx8AFeaP6-9SN0K3ehFDx4z3uyzY4WRGM
SJC Run Australia Challenge // Week 7 Update
Here is the update from the SJC Run Australia Challenge as of 11:00am Monday morning. We've made it to the Northern Territory! We're currently just out of Birdum in Binbinga Country, Northern Territory - 5226km from Geelong!
make sure you fill out your km to keep SJC moving!
Below are the current results for the challenge:
YEAR LEVEL KM
7 - 1612.2km
8 - 400.9km
9 - 1147.5km
10 - 437.6km
11 - 362.8km
12 - 42.8km
HOUSE CHALLENGE KM
Jordan - 1985.4km
Butler - 1487.0km
Brophy - 1007.5km
Foley - 745.9km
HOMEROOM CHALLENGE KM
7H - 390.0km 1st
7K - 381.2km 2nd
9K - 328.2km 3rd
7C - 287.6km 4th
9F - 250.5km 5th
When someone donates blood or plasma not only can they make a lifechanging difference for up to three people per donation, he/she can also donate as part of a team.
There are already 219 members in the SJC Lifeblood Team (awesome!) and to date there has been 51 donations this year which has accounted for 153 lives saved!
You can't travel far at the moment, but your blood can. It only takes an hour to donate, you get a drink and a snack afterwards and you can make a lifechanging difference.
Geelong Lifeblood Donor Centre:
Address: 136 Moorabool St, Geelong VIC 3220
Phone: (03) 5222 1699
Join the St Joseph's College Geelong Team and book your next appointment today!
https://www.donateblood.com.au/lifeblood-teams
Want to know more about donating blood?
https://www.donateblood.com.au/learn#how-donation-works
During Secondary school, even more time is spent online: learning, socialising, as well as gaming. Socialising online in particular presents a minefield of issues, from cyber bullying, to trolling and peer pressure. Our Year 7 students have been completing a set of eight ESmart Cyber Safety sessions which provide essential tools and tips to help navigate this online environment safely. The boys have enjoyed exploring all of the different areas and answering quizzes. They were joined by some of our senior students who created their own video to help highlight some tips for staying safe online.
I have been talking with a lot of parents/carers about their concerns about remote learning for their boys, and the impact of gaming. Parents often have to sort through conflicting advice on gaming – with some experts saying it is good for young people and while others emphasise the harm.
Some of the health risks of excessive gaming include the impact on sleep, limited physical activity, day-night reversal, headaches, neck pain, etc. Some signs of excessive gaming might be a decline in the young person’s ability to concentrate, lack of interest in relationships with others, change in mood and emotional outbursts, and gaming becoming the young person’s priority.
In this time of remote learning, it can be helpful to sit with your young person and help them plan their day. It is important to keep the dialogue open and for parents to be flexible and open to change. Ask for their input, and assist them to timetable gaming into their day. Talk with your young person about the possible negative impact that gaming can have on their well being..
Some ideas
1. Set some limits
• keep gaming systems outs of bedrooms
• have a digital curfew
• timetable when gaming is permitted
• no games on phones or school computers
• offer a transition task eg dinner is in 30mins, can you walk the dog?
• Check classifications for games, as violent games can lead to young people being unable to empathise with others and to experience heightened negative emotion
2. Monitor your young person’s behaviour before, during and after gaming. Monitor their sleeping patterns and diet, with relation to gaming
3. Game together or as a family
4. Suggest alternatives. This can be difficult when activities are limited during COVID restrictions, however some ideas are
• Exercise together
• Games night
• Movie night
• Starting a new hobby
• Cooking together
Some helpful websites are
Headspace
https://headspace.org.au/assets/Uploads/Understanding-Gaming-FAF.pdf
ReachOut
Practical suggestions around filters for devices
https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/skills-advice/taming-technology
Screenagers (2016) is a film that the College has used in the past. It is a documentary created and directed by Delaney Ruston, a physician and film director, to describe growing up in a tech saturated world where it is her opinion that balance needs to be drawn between screen time and screen free time.
https://www.screenagersmovie.com/
Of course gaming offers many positive aspects for your young person. In this time of remote learning gaming can help young people connect with their peers, it provides entertainment, and it gives the young person time to relax. As with anything, it’s keeping the balance.
Mary Holmes
On behalf of the Wellness Team
One of the best things to come out of 2020 is the way our community has come together to support each other. The Hop Inn is a local family run business that is connected with St Joseph's and have just added a little bonus to help take the edge off after a challenging 2020!
The Hop Inn is currently offering an extensive take away menu and are offering our community a special discount - all you have to do is load up your cart with delicious food from their website and enter the code "Joeys" when finalising your order in the payment section.
It is easy to collect via their Drive-Thru window or if you live in their local area, they can even deliver!
Order online at: https://www.thehopinnmtduneed.com.au/take-away-menu/
MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER ONLINE WEEKEND
If you are spending time together, but feel the distance between you …
THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND A WEEKEND IMPROVING YOUR COMMUNICATION IN THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME
This VIRTUAL Weekend gives couples the chance to sleep in their own beds and check-in on kids or animals during meal times.
Come and learn how to keep/rekindle the passion in your relationship and how to keep your love growing!
The weekend we offer is based around Catholic values but couples of all faiths are welcome.
Couples from regional areas may find this option ideal.
9-11 October 2020.
Information/Bookings: Phone Mercy & James 0409 183 676 or
Email: [email protected]
Website: wwme.org.au
FREE COMPUTER SYSTEMS AVAILABLE - LIONS CLUB CORIO NORLANE
The Lions Club of Corio Norlane are making available an offer of free computer systems for families who are without computer access.
They have available:
• Desktop Computer systems (Win 10, Office 2016, antivirus, zoom, skype and acrobat reader)
If any families are interested in taking up this offer, please contact College Reception so they can notify the Lions Club and organise pickup/distribution.