The last two years have been quite an extraordinary time for the teenagers of St Joseph’s. In the last couple of months, we have moved toward a ‘living with COVID’ setting which promises a return to something like the pre-COVID world. As we find opportunities, between enjoying reinstated freedoms, to reflect on the last two years I wonder what we will discover.
I hope that one of the things that we will recognise is the capacity that we have to be generous and caring towards others. Perhaps our young men will understand that while they are young, healthy, vaccinated and resilient, that they sanitise, socially distance and wear a mask to care for and protect others more vulnerable. Enhanced recognition of one's obligation to others can only be a good thing!
This obligation is part of our story. In scripture, the first question that the creator God asks of young men is in chapter 4 which tells the story of brothers Cain and Abel. God asks Cain "Where is your brother?" and Cain (having killed his brother in a jealous rage) famously replies “Am I my brother’s keeper?" The rest of the story makes it quite clear that the answer is an emphatic yes. We are our brother's keepers and responsibility and care for all other human beings is the purpose of our creation. Perhaps our reflection of the last two years will remind us that we have all been pretty good at it!
For over two decades the St Joseph’s staff have gathered annually to celebrate what has become known as the ‘Staff Gratitude Dinner’. From humble beginnings in the old staffroom, to other larger onsite and offsite venues it has usually commenced with liturgy followed by a meal celebrating all that is great about working at St Joseph’s. Over the years it has been themed, (I recall riding a camel across Aphrasia Oval from Mass to dinner one year!), it has been a lunch, a dinner and last year an online gathering. In recent years it has come to include the presentation of Service Awards for long-serving staff, the Prof Frank Larkins Award for teaching excellence, and the Damian Moynihan Award for outstanding service by education support staff.
After frequent rescheduling, this event is being held this Thursday 28 October online. The staff have worked hard to support students throughout the year and this is an opportunity to pause and reflect on a job well done. My opening remarks at this gathering were as follows:
“Working with young people is the greatest job in the world. We occupy the privileged position of being welcomed into the lives of our students as teachers and support staff where we become mentors and role models. It is the greatest blessing we could ever experience, but for all that we take from the profession, there is a cost. It is personally draining and never more so than in the last two school years. While the rewards of the job are magnificent, the cost to us is significant, but we continue to give of ourselves… because we know how much our work means to the young people whose lives we are part of.
Tonight is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate who we are and what we do and acknowledge some of the exemplars amongst us who provide us with models of how we might do what we do even better. And acknowledge some of those who have served St Joseph’s with distinction for many years
But above all else, tonight is about saying thank you to each of you on behalf of the 1850 boys we teach and care for every day. I hope you enjoy this evening and look forward to the time when we can be together to celebrate in person."
The end of 13 years of schooling for our Year 12’s has no doubt caused much reflection in families. I recently read this article in the Sunday Age. The author; Michael McGirr was a teacher in an EREA school for many years and is a well-known author. I hope you enjoy his reflections on the graduation of a son.
My son’s final day of school is a turning point in both our lives
I have been looking at a photo of my son on his first day at school. He looks awkward in his uniform, a plain polo shirt with a sensible sun hat. He had spent his life to that point in exuberant fancy dress. There are photos of this in the album as well: the pirate, the goatherd, the magician, the spy, the musketeer, the clown. Now he looks worried. His shorts are propped up to his belly button. He is trying to hold it together.
My son has held it together for 13 years. Friday was his last day of school and, in that time, I have seen him grow in strength and dignity as he has weathered one storm after another. He is one of the most courageous people I have ever met, one of the most honest.
Maybe I say that because I have seen the friendlessness that comes from being a bit different in a tightly scripted environment. He has been both isolated and bullied; a beautiful letter of encouragement from the former principal has been pinned to his wall for years. I have realised how similar we are. Nobody has taught me as much about living with anxiety, about picking myself up and trying again. My son has learnt to laugh at those who are born to rule.
We don’t talk much about God because I know there is a point at which mum and dad have to shut up and let God do the talking for God’s self. I wonder now if he might have felt the hunger for God more authentically in a school that was not overtly religious. I am concerned that he has experienced belief as part of the uniform. Yet I also know there is so much tenderness and kindness beneath his unvarnished exterior that his life will be open and loving, searching for a deeper explanation of the mystery of his being.
My father died a few weeks before my final day at school. I am still coming to terms with that experience and, again, sharing these days with my son is helping to heal injuries I had almost forgotten. For this, I give thanks.
My son and I are normally the first two awake in the house. His mother, brother and sister will be still asleep as he systematically prepares his coffee. I will be on the couch at the other end of the room, for this is my quiet time. Since he was born, I have begun every day with the words of Psalm 63: “God, you are my God, for you I long, like a dry, weary land without water.” My son has been a big part of God’s response.
Stay well and God Bless
Service Learning Opportunity for all Students
Take the Shaka up School Challenge:
1. Watch the video
2. Go to https://www.barwonhealthfoundation.org.au/shakaup
3. Donate $5 to Barwon Health mental health programs
4. Send a shaka 🤟 to a mate today to check in on them
5. Complete a service learning form to earn 1 hour of service & 1 House point
Every $5 donation goes into the raffle to win some major prizes!! Shaka up today 🤟🤟🤟#theshakaproject #shakaschoolchallenge #barwonhealthfoundation #sjcgeelong
Booklists for Year 7 and Early English Novel Booklists for students in Mt Sion have been emailed to parents, and can also be located on the College website. The early English novel list enables students to have access to the 2022 novels before Headstart as well as provides an opportunity to read these texts over the holidays. The Booklist for all other classes and year levels will be made available once subject selections have been finalised, and students have a copy of their 2022 electives. This will occur very soon and we hope to have all booklists published early in November. To order follow the instructions on the front cover of the Booklist, and Campion education will post orders to families by the dates outlined on the pdf.
Booklist Information can be located on our webpage:
https://www.sjc.vic.edu.au/cur...
Due to the time spent in remote learning, we have made alterations to our end-of-semester report formats, in particular, the enterprise skill section. This semester we have replaced this section with Learning Dispositions to place greater focus on the way our students relate to and engage in their learning, The four areas below will be reported against a frequency scale:
● Completes all Learning Tasks
● Arrived prepared and organised for each lesson
● Engaged in Remote Learning
● Actively seeks feedback for improvement
Reports for all students in Years 7 - 11 will be released in the week beginning 13 November.
The following outlines the examination schedules for students in Year 8 - 11.
St Joseph’s College is offering an exciting opportunity for our 2022 Year 10 and Year 11 students. Due to the pandemic, all of our immersions and camps have been put on the hold for the past two years. The current Year 9 and Year 10 students have not had the opportunity to participate in any of our First Nation immersions, camps, or renewals. We feel that 2022 will allow greater freedom to travel interstate and therefore we have partnered with Red Earth to offer Mt Sion students an immersion to Lake Mungo. This will occur in the last week of Term 2 next year (20 – 25 June) and cost $1950 per student.
Daniel Carson from Red Earth spoke to our Year 10 students yesterday and to our Year 9 students this morning. He provided the students with information about the immersion. During the 5 nights away students will:
Students were sent an email with an application form. The application form is due Friday 5 November as we plan to take between 18 -35 students. On Monday 8 November at 6:30pm we will be holding a virtual information session for the parents of interested students. A link will be sent for this session so please look out for this link in your emails.
Last Friday Mary Malone and I engaged in a virtual conversation with Thane from Brother Rice High in Detroit, Michigan. We were conversing because both schools are part of The Global Classroom Partners Program, which links young people from around the world to learn from, with, and about each other, while exploring some of the world’s most pressing issues.
Early in November, a group of our student leaders will have a video conference with students from Brother Rice High. Initially, the 30-minute zoom will have students introduce themselves and learn about the world each other lives in. Two weeks later a second zoom call will occur, facilitated by a member from the EREA office. During this zoom students will dialog about a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) topic such a Sport Moves the World, Black Lives Matter Globally or Faith as a Force for Good. We are really excited to be able to engage and connect students with each other who share a common interest. Stay tuned for more information!
18 -24 October National Water Week
22-28 October National Enviroweek
8-14 November National Recycling Week
10 November National Ride 2 Work Day
21 November World Fisheries Day
As the nation celebrates National Enviroweek this week, it is a pertinent time for us to reflect on the wonderful opportunities the year to date has provided in enabling us to take a little time each day to literally “smell the roses” or take a walk along a local river or nature reserve. With a lower density of traffic, the increased number of indigenous bird species viewed on the Campus has been encouraging. In addition, the weather conditions resulting from the La Nina, have enabled the planting of flora species to continue throughout Semester 2. Over the past fortnight, several classes have been productive with various ecological endeavours around the College grounds. Year 11 Outdoor Education students completed weeding/mulching of Gate 5 garden beds and maintenance/tree planting on sections of the Carey and Aphrasia oval embankments. Vita students planted herbs in the Edmund Rice Campus Veggie Patch, Year 7 students created Terrariums and Year 11 VCAL students have been industrious creating Kokedamas.
To celebrate Enviroweek, on Monday 25 October, several Year 7 students and Sustainability Leaders participated in a Terrarium-making workshop during lunchtime. Using a variety of plants, pebbles, moss and soil, the students worked with great care to create their masterpieces. The completed terrariums will be on display in the staffroom throughout Enviroweek before being taken home by their creators.
Over the past fortnight, Year 11 Outdoor Education classes took to the Edmund Rice Campus grounds with great gusto, conducting weeding, mulching and tree planting across several areas. Facilitated by staff, Mark Rayson, Sam Hughes and Adam Noble, the students commenced with mulching the Gate 5 entrance garden beds, followed by weeding/mulching and tree planting on the south embankment of Carey Oval. Their efforts culminated with the weeding and distribution of 10 metres of mulch on the north embankment of Aphrasia Oval. Collectively, the three classes spread 13 metres of mulch across the garden beds over the course of the week. Species planted on the south embankment of Carey oval incorporated; Australian Bindweed (Convolvulus angustissimus) Common everlasting (Chrysocephalum apiculatum), Running postman (Kennedia prostrata) and Australian tobacco (Nicotiana suaveolens).
In addition, VITA students, together with staff member Elley Heard, have been productive in the Edmund Rice Campus veggie patch this week, planting out a variety of herbs including thyme, basil, and mint.
Early English Novels
Each year students in Year 10 and VCE have the opportunity to purchase their English novels early. It is recommended by the SJC English teachers that students purchase their novels early for reading during the holiday period.
Order Online
Please order your novels online by Friday 29 October 2021 by visiting the Campion website and using the code 6373.
For more information on booklists and ordering visit the booklist information page on our website: 2022 Booklist Information
Orders will be received by prepacked delivery direct from Campion. Due to COVID-19 restrictions – pick up onsite will not be available. Campion has reduced the delivery fee as a result
Year 11 VCAL students have been busy this term, making the most of their return to on-campus learning. They have been involved in a number of workshops to produce some great Christmas-themed décor and gifts. Everything made will be for sale soon via the SJC shop.
At the beginning of Term 2 Year 11 VCAL had grand plans to work with the volunteers at Lazarus CC to help with the maintenance of the facilities and provide support where needed. Obviously, as a result of COVID, access to Lazarus CC was restricted and students had to come up with other ways to show their support. Proceeds from sales of these gifts and decor will be donated to Lazarus Community Centre.
The SJC community is invited to select from a variety of goods including Christmas Doormats, Tiny Kokedamas, tabletop Christmas trees, pottery Christmas decorations, and delicious homemade Lemon Butter. Items will become available online via the SJC shop as they are made, so stay tuned.
Last week was very successful with the production of Tiny Kokedamas. Students enjoyed getting their hands dirty and practiced their dexterity to make a variety of indoor and outdoor Kokedamas. Thank you to Kelly Jenkins for her expertise in helping out with this workshop.
It is good practice to review the College Uniform policy every few years and get buy-in from staff, students and parents. Over the last few months, a team of staff has come together to put forward suggestions. As you can imagine there are a range of opinions on this topic and some feel firm uniform standards are really important whilst others believe less is more. I spoke at our Parents and Friends meeting last month about uniforms and I am interested in people’s thoughts on the following questions that have been raised.
Whilst these discussions are taking place in 2021 there will be no changes made for 2022 that will affect families. If you would like to offer feedback or your opinion on our uniform feel free to e-mail me at [email protected].
A reminder that in Term 4 our students mostly wear their summer uniform. They can wear the winter uniform but still need to ensure their shirts are tucked in, tie done up and blazer is worn as the outer garment. We also notice some students wearing a t-shirt underneath the summer uniform shirts which should not be visible. As the weather warms up we would like to see all students wearing a hat and applying sunscreen to protect their skin.
There are many ways parents, family members and carers can be part of our community at St Joseph's College, from our wonderful Canteen Volunteers who help with serving and preparing lunches, to our parents who lend us a hand at College events, perhaps cook a spare meal for our Care Group, help out at our working bees or inspire future generations by helping our Careers Centre. Volunteering is a great way to make connections with fellow parents and have some fun/ If you are able to share some of your time or experience with us - we would love to hear from you.
If you would like to know a little more about how you can help, please don’t hesitate to contact any of the staff listed.
Contact: Jodie Warrick – Events & Community Engagement Coordinator – Ph: 5226 8122 [email protected]
We provide a strong connection with the broader SJC Community to work together to support students and the College. Our gatherings highlght College updates and upcoming events, offering insights from various departments including Leadership, Wellbeing, and Career Pathways. Additionally, we hold three social events annually to unite the SJC community in supporting our students.
Contact: Adrienne Tuck – Principal’s PA – Ph: 5226 8119 [email protected]
We offer meals to families facing challenges like illness or loss. Members occasionally provide meals for delivery to those in need. We encourage the College community to reach out if they're experiencing difficulties or ill health.
Contact: Susan Belluzzo – Archivist – Ph: 5226 8272 [email protected]
The Heritage Centre Volunteers assist the Archivist with organising and cataloguing the College Heritage Collection, setting up & taking down displays and housekeeping tasks.
Contact: Danni Thompson – Canteen Manager Ph: 5226 8138
daniellet@sjc.vic.edu.au or Karen Sherman [email protected]
With over 1000 boys to feed, we rely on volunteers to assist in serving. Sign up via Operoo for shifts from 10:30am-1:45pm. If no slots are available online, please call. Your help is vital for the canteen's independent operation and is deeply appreciated.
Contact: Karen Shum 5226 8143 [email protected]
You can help out by providing a work experience opportunity for senior students who are keen to spend a week in different workplaces or you may wish to talk to the students during careers week about your own career journey and share your own working experiences.
If you would like to know more about the areas above please contact the person listed. By expressing an interest in Volunteering you will be placed on the appropriate notification list so we can keep in contact with you about your areas of interest.
Kristen Gleeson - Director of Community and Development
5226 8120 [email protected]
Interested in lending a hand? We would love to hear from you, we welcome all volunteers who have helped out in the past as well as any new volunteers wanting to give something a try.
On behalf of the students, thank you for considering joining us as a volunteer at St Joseph’s College. The role you will play is vital in the success of the College and the wider school community. Paramount to the College is your safety and the safety of the students. For this reason, the College Ministerial Order 1359 – Implementing the Child Safe Standards – Managing the Risk of Child Abuse in Schools and School Boarding Premises imposes a number of requirements relating to volunteers.
We want your support to the College and ask you please understand that this process is required to provide a safe environment for the students.
Please click on the link to complete some basic information to get us started and then we will reach out to provide additional information through email with an induction regarding our Child Safeguarding Program including the child safety code of conduct.
Click hereThe College appreciates donations of uniforms that are still in good condition. These uniforms are afforded to families that need support from our Community. Please drop these into reception at the Edmund Rice Campus during business hours.
Each year at Barwon Health, the Barwon Best Care Awards are held to celebrate the incredible work our staff do.
This year, a ‘community engagement’ element has been introduced to the Barwon Best Care Awards. This initiative involves students producing a piece of artwork, with inspiration drawn from one of the five Barwon Health Values:
• Respect: We respect the people we connect with
• Compassion: We show compassion for the people we care for and work with
• Commitment: We are committed to quality and excellence in everything we do
• Accountability: We take accountability for what we do and act with integrity
• Innovation: We drive innovation for better care
This initiative encourages high school students from across the Geelong region to create and submit a piece of artwork, which will be presented to the Barwon Best Care Awards winners. The artwork will be displayed within Barwon Health and the winning entrants will receive a prize to support them to continue with their art studies.
The competition is open to any current Year 7-12 students in the Geelong region. The original artwork will need to be completed at A3 size, and will need to be high enough quality to be digitally reproduced. The art competition terms and conditions, along with an entry form, will need to be completed by each entrant and submitted along with their artwork. These are available for download here:
• Barwon Best Care Awards: art competition terms and conditions
• Barwon Best Care Awards: art competition entry form
We look forward to seeing some amazing art work submissions from the Geelong region high school students!
Queries? Please contact:
Pen Griffin
P: 4215 8922
E: [email protected]
