This week the Year 12 class of 2020 had their final week of classes at St Joseph’s. The events of 2020 have been difficult for everybody but particularly for our Year 12 students. Untimely deaths, truncated on-site attendance, remote learning and the cancellation of many ‘rites of passage’ events have really had an impact.
In the 1989 film ‘Dead Poets Society’ Robin Williams plays the lead role as teacher John Keating. One of his great lines to his students is “Carpe Deim. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary”. One could argue that ‘seizing the day’ in 2020 has been impossible for Year 12’s and that their opportunities to grow and thrive have been limited, but I don’t agree.
I believe that the day could have ‘seized the boys’ rather than the reverse, but they didn’t allow this to happen. If it had, many would have just given up, but they didn’t and we have seen many doing extraordinary things during the year. One hopes that this is just the start of a life filled with more of the same.
We have a group of graduands who have thrived and for whom Year 12 really has been a triumph with the hallmark of unity through adversity. We are proud of these young men and wish then every blessing as they become Old Collegians.
A second group who have had particular challenges throughout the year have been our Year 7 boys. On our return to face-to-face learning two weeks ago our youngest students had only been at school for one week longer than they had been learning remotely. Many of the events that help Year 7’s get to know each other and learn what it means to be St Joseph’s student have not been possible.
Half of the group were unable to attend their first camp. It is some consolation that we have been able to schedule a single day event at Lake Dewar where they will be able to undertake some of the activities that would have been part of the camp.
At St Joseph’s there is a long tradition of recognising and celebrating the efforts of staff with the formal gathering each year. This year, like so many other events this moved online. Part of the event is the announcement of the Professor Frank Larkins Outstanding Teacher Award and the Damien Moynihan Outstanding Support Staff award. As part of the formalities of the evening I was pleased to make the following remarks:
At St Joseph’s, where one of our core values is innovation, there has never been more important time for us to recognise the contribution of outstanding teachers and support staff than in 2020. This year we have all been called to change and adjust and innovate in ways that would have been unthinkable eight months ago… and we have done it with extraordinary success.
Our community recognises and appreciates this and I have shared with you many of the dozens and dozens of emails thanking and congratulating you for your work this year. Those presented with awards tonight do not stand apart from us but with us as mentors, leaders, collaborators and colleagues who are representative of the extraordinary efforts of all St Joseph’s College staff in 2020. This year we received more nominees for the Professor Frank Larkins and Damian Moynihan Awards than ever before, an indication that each of us recognise and value the support, encouragement and example of our colleagues.
The first recipient of the 2020 Frank Larkins Outstanding Teacher Award is Rebecca Westwood. Her nomination notes her innovative approach to lessons in science and PE during remote learning, her advocacy for wellbeing, particular with those students most in need, and her willingness to share her expertise and empathy.
The second recipient is Greg Waller. His nomination references his rapport with and care for students, his collaborative and empowering faculty leadership and his innovation in the use of technology.
The first recipient of the 2020 Damian Moynihan Outstanding Support Staff Award is Paul Robertson. Paul’s nomination references his remarkable contribution as College ICT Manager where his vision and hard work has been crucial in enabling teachers and support staff to perform their duties during remote learning along with his contribution to Child Safety and e-safety.
The second recipient is Mary Holmes. Her nomination notes that as one of our team of clinicians, she has been integral in our suicide postvention, supporting staff and students during lockdown and remote learning this year and her constant accessibility and boundless enthusiasm and positivity.
Congratulations to all our staff and our award recipients.
Stay well and God bless
Families as Partners
As we prepare to farewell our Year 12 Cohort in the College’s 85th Year, we acknowledge with gratitude the role that each family has played as partners with us as a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition in their son’s education.
Catholic Education Melbourne has recently released as part of their Horizons of Hope series a Foundation Statement, ‘Families as partners in Catholic school communities.’ It explores the important role of families in Catholic school Communities and how these partnerships are honoured. It states, “In choosing a Catholic school parents enter into a partnership with the school, in which there is shared privilege and responsibility for the child’s faith formation, learning and wellbeing. Families have chosen a partner to help them help their child achieve the highest outcomes possible-a partner to support them in their role as nurtures of their child’s formation into adulthood. It is a journey towards hope, undertaken in partnership.” P3. Horizons of Hope.
We thank all of the families who have their last son graduating from the College. We are blessed to have partnered with your family to build the relationships required to enable your son to have a hope-filled future. Let us look forward to celebrating their achievements, including academically and as young men who have developed a sense of compassion and integrity, who are able to reconcile differences, provide support in times of adversity and recognise the face of their creator God in the other. May they carry with them the desire to continue to strive for the highest in whatever career, employment or vocation they explore knowing they carry with them the enduring spirit of Blessed Edmund Rice to be strong in mind and gentle in heart and are always welcome back, as a member of the Young Joey's Connection Old Collegians group!
Investiture of 2021 Student Leaders and FIRE Carrier Commissioning Ceremony
We congratulate all of the 2021 Student Leaders who took part in our Investiture Ceremony last Thursday in a COVID safe setting that was Zoomed live and a recording link will be sent out to families for viewing. We look forward to working with these leaders who took up the challenge to apply for a role across the many year levels as Touchstone Prefects, House Leaders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Captains and Class Captains.
Congratulations to our College leaders, this morning our 2020 leadership team inducted our 2021 cohort at our...
Posted by St Joseph's College Geelong on Wednesday, October 21, 2020
A moving FIRE Carrier Commissioning Ceremony took place fittingly in our Reconciliation Garden. Flynn Kinsey our 2020 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Captain handed over the Possum Skin Cloak to Connor McCarthy-Grigg to do the Acknowledgement of Country. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, Sue Collins our Koorie Education Worker recommissioned some of our 2020 FIRE Carrier students and teachers to continue in their role to enable them to participate in our Reconciliation Action Plans and FIRE Carrier opportunities as we journey forwards together, Friends Igniting Reconciliation Education.
Year 7 Annual ‘Time & Space @ Home’ Mother/ Carer / Female Mentors & Student Event
We are delighted to be able to offer our annual Time & Space, Mother Son event, ‘Time & Space @ Home.’ We think it will be lovely to have an opportunity to gather Year 7 students with their mums, carers or female mentors via a Zoom event, whilst the social isolation rules prevent us from gathering at school. Mums, Carers and Female Mentors of our Year 7 students please save the event date: Monday, 16 November at 6.30pm.
This will be a live, interactive, online event and will not be recorded for viewing at a later date. You need to register for this special event via this link: You can book your place now
You will receive a confirmation on screen. More details to come. Time & Space will send you a reminder email and a link to the zoom meeting closer to the date. We thought it would be good to give you this advance notice now, so you can secure the date. These evenings help to connect us socially and emotionally building the wellbeing of our newest members of our St Joseph’s community in their foundation year.
In our last ‘News from the Deputy’ report, Mark Kennedy outlined 7 Tips for parents/carers to assist young people in their transition back to on-campus learning. Essentially these tips involve remaining open to fluctuating emotional responses from your child as he regains ground in the physical world of ‘school’ again, staying abreast of the procedures and protocols required to keep all people safe in our COVID world at school, and re-establishing routines that encourage a sound rest/ work/ play balance.
Andrew Fuller, a clinical psychologist specialising in the wellbeing of young people and their families, provided a list of seven ‘priorities’ worth our consideration as we move forward from Remote Learning 2.0. The earlier priorities have been canvassed in the tips provided to parents two weeks ago: stepping straight into priority #3, Fuller writes the following –
'We are all in the care of one another. There needs to be a clear understanding that we intend to keep everyone safe and well and have planned as much as we can, for this outcome… In these times, ambiguity is our enemy and will increase anxiety. Clarity is our friend.’
We know what we have agreed to as a community to keep one another safe, and we need to work together to maintain our present rights in regional Victoria.
Fuller suggests in his priority #4 that we need to embrace a fresh start, by forming new connections and embracing new learnings, and this also presents some challenges –
‘Limbering up for learning will involve rekindling friendships, warming up our curiosity and stretching our imaginations. We will all need a few practice runs before we feel we can safely regain our full stride.’
Priority #5 specifically addresses our senior students –
‘For senior students the risk is feeling that the year has got away from them and they feel they cannot succeed. Clearly this is not true. Firstly, they have all experienced the same setbacks. Secondly, there is plenty of time to catch up and succeed. Clear systems and plans will outdo slogging themselves into a frenzy or giving up.’
And priority #6 is a reminder to us all to be kind to ourselves –
‘It is understandable that some people will feel in a rush to make up for the time and opportunities missed in the early part of the year…Given the upheaval of past months, rushing too much or putting too much in place too early is a recipe for exhaustion, disenchantment and disengagement. While we are back in business, easy does it. Taking our time now to slowly rebuild a sense of success will pay off. Take it slow and make it fun! We have all had more misery than we need this year.’
Priority #7 looks towards week 5, suggesting that we measure how we feel we are tracking and reset goals if need be –
‘About five weeks after the resumption of school-based learning, we need to schedule time to review the process of re-integration. This needs to be an individual check-in of the pluses and the minuses of the experiences, what people feel has worked well (as well as what hasn’t) and a re-assessment of what we think is going to help in the future.’
In the classrooms at SJC, we have trialled the mylearningstrengths.com questionnaire, that provides a map of your best learning areas: essentially, how students naturally process data and what areas they could strengthen in future learning. Many of our staff members have also completed the questionnaire – it is an enjoyable and enlightening exercise, providing you with a personal profile that is then sent to your email address. It takes less than 5 minutes – sit down with a cuppa and make a learning date with yourself. Allow it to be all about you, just for a few moments! 😊
Keep safe, connected and cheerful.
PARKING ON QUEENS ROAD
The College is aware of the parking issues at pickup after school however, we ask parents to be mindful that when collecting your son from school not to block off Queens Road.
There have been a number of issues with local vehicles trying to get around the suburb and having to wait until school pickup traffic moves.
Please note that council regulations do not permit cars stopping at the school pedestrian crossing within 20 metres before the crossing and 10 metres after the 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. Parking on Noble Street and letting your son(s) walk across O'Driscol Oval may assist you in making your school drop offs smoother and keep access roads clear for local traffic.
DONATION OF UNIFORMS
The College is very grateful to the generous families who pay it forward by donating uniforms at the end of their son’s education.
If you are in the position to donate uniforms to the College, please drop them at reception during College hours. The College appreciates unstained uniforms in good condition. Once again, we thank you.
The SJC Library is supporting Australia Reads, an Australia wide promotion during the month of November. The main event is the Australian Reading Hour on Thursday 12 November and all Australians are invited and encouraged to stop whatever they are doing for an hour, and to pick up a book and read. If you would prefer to listen to an eAudiobook, the SJC library collection includes access to the Wheelers platform of eBooks and eAudiobooks available on laptops and personal devices via the library homepage. For assistance with the Wheelers platform, watch the ‘how-to’ video or contact the library team.
You can find more information about Australia Reads at https://australiareads.org.au/ The website includes links to online events and promotional videos that have been recorded by event ambassadors such as Will Kostakis and Peter Helliar.
St Joseph’s student Cam Klein and his family supports Down Syndrome Victoria because Cam’s little brother who was born with Down syndrome in 2010. Down Syndrome Victoria supports people with Down syndrome and their families, therapists and educators by organising education sessions, providing up to date information about Down syndrome, promoting and facilitating pathways for people with Down syndrome that have finished school and organising family support groups amongst other things.
Cam usually volunteers his time to help out his Mum and other parents from the local Down Syndrome group when they run their local Step Up event on the Geelong Waterfront. This year he heard about the 21 Your Way challenge and thought it was something he could participate in instead. Cam set himself a challenge to ride his pushbike 21kms a day for 21 days starting at the beginning of October.
When asked why he was doing the challenge, Cam said “My little brother Rowan is an awesome kid and I am proud to undertake a challenge like this to help raise awareness of Down syndrome in the community and to raise money for an organisation that tries to do the same.”
You can still support Cam for his challenge via the link below:
TERM 4 - UPCOMING EVENTS TERM 4
4 November - Enviroservice
9-15 November - National Recycling Week
21 November - World Fisheries Day
NATIONAL RIDE 2 WORK DAY
Blessed with glorious weather, on Wednesday 21 October 29 students and six staff members traded their fuelled travel options for pedal power to celebrate National Ride 2 Work Day. Westcourt staff and students in particular, demonstrated wonderful support with 11 students and five staff members riding to work. All participants received a hot drink voucher for their efforts.
ENVIROSERVICE
On Monday 26 October, Enviroservice commenced for Term 4, providing students an opportunity to conduct their Service Learning hours at school and help maintain our native gardens and beautify our College grounds at the same time. Students involved maintained our new indigenous food planter boxes and the indigenous garden on the south embankment of Carey Oval (established 2017). Whilst toiling the soil, students were provided information regarding the binomial names of the species, their potential use by the traditional custodians of the land (the Wadawurrung people) and the origin of where the seeds were propagated (including Queens Park, East Geelong and Avalon). The next Enviroservice is scheduled for Wednesday 4 November.
VSL (The Victorian School of Languages) offers face-to-face and Distance Education classes in over 50 languages!
Learning a language has been shown to have many benefits, including enhancing creativity, problem-solving ability, literacy skills and the maintenance of cultural identity. In recognition of this, Victorian students receive a bonus towards their ATAR score for successful completion of a VCE accredited language.
Languages provide advantages for employment, with increasing numbers of companies seeking bi/multilingual speakers to remain competitive in an interconnected global world, not to mention possibilities for adventures travelling, working and living overseas.
If you would like more information, please visit www.vsl.vic.edu.au.
The VSL is a state-wide service of the Department of Education and Training with a role to assist schools by providing additional choice of language classes. If you would like more information about how this can fit in with your studies at SJC, please come and see Ms Biviano.
Make sure you SIGN UP AND JOIN the SJC Geelong "St MOseph's" Team. Make and account with your school email. Search SJCGEELONG team. Or Click the link below. Let's make a difference.
https://movember.com/t/sjcgeelong?mc=1
WHY GET INVOLVED?
Men are dying before their time. But you can help us change and save lives.
With the money you raise, we fund ground breaking health projects across mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer – 1,250 projects so far. We’ve had a huge impact and we’re hell-bent on making it even bigger – that’s where you come in.
GROW A MO
Patchy, lopsided, itchy or epic – whatever Mo you grow this Movember, your face will raise funds and awareness for men’s health.
MAKE A MOVE
Run or walk 60km over the month. That’s 60km for the 60 men we lose to suicide each hour, every hour across the world.
MO YOUR OWN WAY
Whether it’s a gruelling test of physical endurance or some other wildcard idea. Whether it’s a day, over several weeks or across the year – take whatever Mo Your Own Way means to you and run with it.
In Episode 2 of the SJC Take, Tom & Benji are joined by Mr Cashin. Mr Cashin adds to his many duties at the College next month by promoting Movember and men's health (and growing an impressive mo). The boys have a great chat about the many challenges in life, what it is to be strong mentally and how friends are so important. And why is Mr Cashin running up mountains?
Sign up for the College Movember team!
https://movember.com/t/sjcgeelong?mc=1
Lead by our 2021 student leaders, "The SJC Take" is a podcast series with a focus on spreading positivity and encouraging others to continue to ‘talk’ about mental health. Each episode will cover different topics - and even may feature some special guests!
Help Yourself, Help Your Mates
Forms with instructions on how to order your 2020 student photos were sent home via Homeroom this week, please check your son's bag to make sure you have not missed your form.
Photos can be ordered from Arthur Reed Photos following the instructions provided.
To watch the video recording of our Investiture of Leaders Ceremony or to view the photos taken on the day, click on the links below:
Photos (via Facebook Page):
Video of Ceremony:
The College has received a lovely thank you message from the staff at St John of God Geelong Hospital for the Messages of Support that had been sent in by our Service Learning students.
Well done to all of our young men who contributed messages towards the project. There was an overall wonderful response from caregivers, who greatly appreciated all of the thoughtful messages supporting our Frontline caregivers at St John of God Geelong Hospital.
We shared a combined School Booklet with caregivers that was placed in the caregiver lounges and at the nursing stations throughout the Hospital."
Read the messages sent in by students here: https://padlet.com/artsinhealthsjoggeelong/briodltprxxandr6
Well done to all of our young men who contributed messages towards the project.
Today our Year 12 students attended their first Young Joey's Connection BBQ!
Young Joey's Connection is a new group which works in partnership with our Old Collegians Association. The YJC will offer support to our boys beyond Year 12 and into their first four years after graduating St Joseph's through mentoring programs, work experience, employment opportunities and social gatherings.
The boys were joined today by Brad Edwards (SJOC 2019) Fletcher Adams (SJOC 2019) and Roko Gudasic (SJOC 2018) who are all great ambassadors for the YJC program. We look forward to continuing to be a part of the journey for our young men as they look towards their futures after SJC.
Katrina Honner, has passed away from her brave battle with cancer.
Mother to John (Year 11) and Alana (SHC Year 8). We are holding you close in our prayers.
Hugh Tighe sadly passed away. Grandfather to current student Harry Gower and Joey's boys Tom Attard (SJOC 2012), Hugh Attard (SJOC 2014), Peter Attard (SJOC 2016) and SHC students Isobel Gower (2015) and Hannah Attard (2017). We are thinking of you at this sad time.
“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.”