The positive start to the school year that I reported in the last newsletter has continued with the vast majority of students approaching all aspects of their schooling in a positive manner. This includes their attention to uniform, grooming and punctuality and I thank boys and families for your cooperation in these small but important matters.
With the sudden announcement of lockdown last Friday I am proud of staff and students for the way that we were able to rapidly transition to remote learning mode with no loss of continuity. While we look forward to being back on site later this week it is reassuring to know that learning continues when we can’t be physically at school and that we are able to switch learning modes rapidly.
In the last two weeks we have held multiple events whereby families have been invited either in person or remotely to join with College staff. These have included Year 7 and Year 9 information nights, the Mt Sion well-being Expo and the Parents’ and Friends’ Comedy Night. I would like to record my gratitude to the families and members of the community who made time to attend and the staff involved in the events. Events scheduled during the period of lockdown, including the Mt Sion Awards ceremony will be rescheduled with families notified as soon as possible.
Communication between families and staff is critical, as is the support at home for the expectations of the school including those relating home work and study and value of ensuring that each student engages fully in the life of the school. The most successful educational outcomes are achieved by students who treat school as something to fully immerse oneself in rather than an educational supermarket where one wanders the aisles picking out the bits that suit them. Amongst our high achievers of 2020 (and every year for that matter), it is noteworthy that most were heavily involved in the life of the school, including in leadership, sport and extracurricular activities during their time at St Joseph’s.
Last week we received our VTAC report which showed that that 85% of our 2020 Year 12’s who applied for tertiary study received an offer. 15% whose marks did not reach the cut-off for course entrance or whose English mark was below the required benchmark did not. Of course these students still have alternative pathways on offer and may still receive a supplementary offer in coming weeks. This provides a salient message to our current Year 12’s around the importance of hard work and commitment to their VCE studies. It was pleasing to see almost 50 senior boys present at the ‘Aspire’ group meeting last week. This initiative is to support and encourage the aspirations of senior boys. The group meet twice a term and all are welcome.
The VTAC report shows that Deakin remains the most popular destination for our students with 77 students receiving an offer for 2021. This continues our status as the largest provider of undergraduate students to Deakin University from Victorian schools. The area of study most popular with boys was ‘management and commerce’ with those courses in ‘society and culture’ and ‘health’ and ‘engineering and technology’ also featuring prominently.
This week on Ash Wednesday we commenced the Church season of Lent. In his Lenten message to us Pope Francis emphasises Lent as a time for welcoming God into our lives through the love of others.
He writes that “Love is a leap of the heart. It brings us out of ourselves and creates bonds of sharing and communion.” Pope Francis emphasises the need for “social love” in building up “a civilization of love.”
"Love is a gift that gives meaning to our lives, he says. It helps us to see all men and women as our brothers and sisters. Charity is multiplied when given with love and to experience Lent with love, means caring for those who suffer or feel abandoned because of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Pope Francis concludes by saying:
"The call to experience Lent as a journey of conversion, prayer and sharing of our goods, helps us – as communities and as individuals – to revive the faith that comes from the living Christ, the hope inspired by the breath of the Holy Spirit and the love flowing from the merciful heart of the Father."
Stay well and God bless
Homework Expectations at SJC
One way to instil a positive approach to learning is to have a coordinated and planned strategy to homework and study. Whilst the effect of Homework on learning has greater benefits as students move through the senior school, it is important that these habits and routines are embedded early in secondary school. Homework has two important components: to complete and consolidate work that has been introduced in class, as well as to study, the process of revision to help to prepare for tests and examinations. It is often the latter, that is left to the last minute, leaving a student to cram for these assessments, leaving students feeling overwhelmed and under prepared. One way to avoid this situation is by embedding an organisational approach to Homework and creating an environment at home that ensures time is set aside to attend to further learning. During our first Year Level and House assemblies, College Principal Tony Paatsch reminded our students of the importance of finding time throughout their week to attend to the recommend hours of Homework. The recommended times can be found in the College Diary and as outlined below.
Recommended Homework/ Study Times
Times are the average total hours for all work done at home in a week. Variation will occur due to the needs of individual students and specific demands at different times during the school year.
Year 7: 5 hours (there is no expectation in the first two weeks of school)
Years 8-10: 5-10 hours
Year 11 & 12: 10-20 hours
For our Senior students who are studying VCE, they can also use their scheduled timetabled study periods as inclusion towards the expected twenty hours of study, therefore, using these periods wisely, as well as embracing learning opportunities before and after school, the recommended hours can be achieved with good planning and a conscious effort.
The College also outlines the family responsibilities for supporting their son in their homework routine. This includes:
• Working together in setting schedules which allow the recommended homework time to be achieved. As your son transitions to senior school greater independence is recommended here.
• Providing a setting which allows work to be done effectively.
• Monitoring your son’s work regularly and engaging in discussions to gain an understanding of the commitment required.
It is challenging as parents to know when the right time is to intervene, and more importantly our role in supporting our child/ren’s learning. The goal is to have a child that is self-motivated and independently accepts the responsibility for their learning. Therefore, there will be times to intervene, without taking control, and motivate without taking ownership. What is important is that we believe our children are on a continuum of learning, and as such we work as a team to help guide and support the process of moving them forward.
Year 8 Father & Son Night
Tuesday 2 March 2021
Br O.S. Adams Centre (Gym)
6.45pm for a 7.00pm Start (finish by 9.15pm)
St Joseph’s College is delighted to offer you an opportunity to experience a lifetime memory with your son at the annual ‘Father and Son’ Night.
This innovative single evening program is an event we have planned especially for our Year 8 students and their fathers (or male mentors). We think that this is a great time to bring you together.
To register please:
Visit the link http://bit.ly/SJCGFS2021
This helps with our activity planning for the session.
This will be a COVID safe event and if required due to a lockdown will occur remotely via a Zoom link.
This session is exclusive to Year 8.
If you have any other enquiries, please call Acting Director of Identity Mary Malone on (03) 5226 8176.
We know that families come in all shapes and sizes and not all fathers can attend an evening such as this.
A male mentor such as a grandfather, uncle or family friend is welcome to attend.
Thank you to all of our students who participated in the Athletics Carnival. We had a team of student photographers working on the day and we are hoping to launch an extensive photo album from the day soon!
The Houses battled it out all day with students running, jumping, throwing and cheering hard for their team.
Congratulations to Brophy who celebrated a "three-peat" taking out the Athletics Day shield for the third consecutive year!
Jarvis Miles set a new record in the U/17 Discus throwing an astounding 36.55!
We hope all of our students enjoyed the day, we look forward to further House activities in 2021.
TERM 1 - UPCOMING EVENTS
Every day - CUT THE WRAP
Friday 12 February - "Take 3" launch
Friday 5 March - Schools Clean Up Day
Sunday 7 March - Clean Up Australia Day
Monday 15 March - Enviroservice
Friday 19 March - National Ride to School Day
Friday 26 March - Earth Hour Schools Day (time TBC)
Saturday 27 March - Earth Hour 8.30pm-9.30pm
"TAKE 3 FOR THE SEA" LAUNCH
Ahead of the latest COVID lockdown news on Friday 12 February, with a little food incentive and plenty of hand sanitiser, many students were "caught" doing the "Take 3" (for the Sea) salute, as they placed their rubbish in the appropriate bins to keep the school grounds clean during the Athletics Carnival. I would like to thank the following students for their assistance with the distribution of prizes throughout the day: Luca Baum, Edward Helmer, Colby McCallum and Kane Morgan.
CUT THE WRAP
As we find ourselves adapting to new remote learning platforms, we challenge all to also embrace change with respect to sustainable practices. All families are encouraged support our CUT THE WRAP initiative (in alignment with our COVID safe procedures) by adopting a wrap free approach to making lunches every day, to help reduce waste in our school grounds. We would like to thank all families that have already adopted the CUT THE WRAP approach to making lunches to date and we encourage new families to join us.
SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP
Would you like to become a Sustainability Leader?
If you are passionate about the environment and would like to develop your leadership skills, then Sustainability Leadership may be for you! During the coming weeks, we will be seeking one to two representatives from each Year 7 Homeroom to join the team. New team members from other levels also welcome! Interested students are should email an expression of interest to; [email protected]. Students are also encouraged to attend the Sustainability Leadership meetings during Monday lunchtimes. Scheduled meetings will alternate between campuses on a weekly basis, commencing at the Edmund Rice Campus on Monday 22 February. Further details will be published in the school bulletin.
ENVIROSERVICE
Enviroservice (Service to the Environment) is a wonderful opportunity for students to conduct their Service Learning hours, whilst enjoying the outdoors and learning more about the environment at the same time. Over recent years, our efforts have been concentrated on the Carey Oval Revegetation Project, planting both endemic native species and indigenous species around the embankments and maintaining the garden beds. Commencing in 2017, to date over 700 trees shrubs and grasses have been planted on the embankments. The Term 1 Enviroservice is scheduled for Monday 15 March from 3:30pm - 5:30pm at the Edmund Rice Campus. Students interested in attending must apply via email at: [email protected] by Tuesday 23 February.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
DISCOUNT ON BATTERY PURCHASES
As participating members of the “Schools Battery Recycling Program”, all members of the St Joseph’s College community receive 15% off purchases any time at Battery World Geelong, upon mentioning this newsletter article.
BICYCLE COLLECTION WANTED – PRELOVED BICYCLES
Since the inception of this initiative, community member John McKinnon, Corio Norlane Lions Club, has now restored and distributed thousands of bikes to various organisations running bike education programs and for the needy.
If you have bikes to donate, simply email Kelly Jenkins at [email protected] to arrange collection.
Furthermore, if you love to tinker with bikes and would be interested in assisting John, he may be contacted directly on; 0419319664 or via email at; [email protected]
PLASTICS WANTED - NUMBERS 2 AND 4 ONLY
We encourage all families to hold on to your plastic bottle tops and other polymer containers to support our VCAL students with their recycling projects next term. Specifically we are seeking items with numbers 2 or 4 clearly identified. Items should be washed prior to donating. Further details will be published regarding donation times when on campus learning resumes.
RECYCLING OTHER ITEMS
The City of Greater Geelong have launched a new recycling campaign, to support residents to recycle more efficiently. There are many opportunities for everyday household items including Mattresses, polystyrene and E-Waste to be recycled rather than ending up in landfill.
For more information regarding items that may be recycled and Recycling Resource Centres in the Geelong region, visit the following website:
St Joseph’s Geelong is excited to announce we will be conducting College tours this semester!
We are proud to continue offering an innovative education for Geelong’s young men, we welcome all senior primary school boys and their families to visit us.
The tours are an opportunity for families who have a son wishing to apply to the College for 2022 enrolment, to tour the College facilities during the normal school day. Whilst we encourage families to attend, it is not compulsory and non-attendance will not affect your son’s enrolment application.
It is a requirement that any guests wishing to complete a tour register to attend. To ensure a quality experience, tour numbers will be capped.
Registration is free and each family can have up to 3 people attend on the day. Tours will depart at 9:00am sharp and will depart from the Peter Cannon Performing Arts Centre, at St Joseph's College Geelong Edmund Rice Campus. Tours will run for approximately one hour, but perhaps allow a little extra time for questions.
2021 College Tour Dates
- Thursday 11 March
- Wednesday 17 March
- Thursday 18 March
- Tuesday 30 March
- Wednesday 31 March
- Tuesday 20 April
- Wednesday 21 April
- Tuesday 27 April
Parking will be available on Queens Road. Enter the College via Gate 5 and follow directional signage to the tour start point.
College Tours and COVID-19
The 2021 College tours will be conducted as a COVID safe event, as such the College will be following the appropriate protocols as recommended by the state. While we are excited to plan for College Tours and hope to be able to welcome you all to the College for a tour, we are also aware that the situation may change at any time. Your safety and the safety of our students, staff and other guests is our top priority and we will keep you informed if changes are made to this event.
We ask all attendees to adhere to COVID safe rules and practices.
We ask that:
- All attendees bring a face mask and wear while on tours
- All attendees check in via our QR codes on the day
- All attendees maintain appropriate social distancing where possible
- All attendees use hand sanitiser that is provided on arrival
- Any attendee that is unwell, or suffering from any symptoms that may be associated with COVID-19 we ask that they remain at home even if they have made a booking. This includes any students attending tours.
For further details, please refer to the College COVID-19 Safe Plan which is available on our College website.
Register to attend a College Tour
https://www.trybooking.com/BOULY
Year 7 2022 Enrolments are now open
Online enrolment is now open for Year 7 students who wish to apply for a place in 2022. Click on the link below to go to our enrolment page.
It’s never too early to start thinking about career ideas, researching your options, developing a career action plan, or simply having a discussion with your Career Adviser.
If you are in Year 12, it is essential that you discuss your options with the key people in your life as soon as possible.
Have no idea what you would like to do when you leave school? No stress! Don’t delay seeing your Career Adviser- now is the perfect time. Not sure what to say? Don’t worry- it’s their job to guide you and open up possibilities you may not have considered before.
As a starting point, if you are interested in studying at university or TAFE in the future, it’s important you attend open days and plan out your course interests early.
If you are interested in pursuing a traineeship or apprenticeship pathway, it is important that you gain as much industry experience as possible. You can undertake work experience once you turn 15 years old.
Seeing the Career Coordinator early in the year is important to ensure you can get organised early and to be able to start making links with local employers.
The Careers Download above includes information on:
- Casual employment
- ADF Careers
- Parents/Carers – School to Work Resources
- Interested in pursuing an apprenticeship or traineeship?
- University scholarships for Year 12 high achievers
- Other scholarships
- University course search tools
- Get savvy about your finances
- Free online career planning and job seeker program
- Science at Monash University
- University Newsletters
- Overseas Student Exchange
- Hair and Beauty courses
- Career Events
- Victoria University (VU)
- Endeavour College of Natural Health
- Charles Sturt University
- Space Careers
- UCAT Preparation Sessions
- Medicine Information Session
- Australian Defence Force
- More Career Events…
- ADF Gap Year Program
- Interested in a career with the Victoria Police?
- My Health Career
- Who wants to be an engineer?
- Train to become a flight attendant
- Free study skills subjects
- Upcoming Career Events
- Start the school year by setting goals
- Careers in International Trade, Freight and Logistics
- Competitions
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 of it.
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 Paul Tobias Centre Staffroom. (Upstairs, in the Paul Tobias Centre) all parents and friends of the College are welcome to pop in for some nibbles and a chat.
Meeting dates for 2021 are:
- Tuesday 23 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 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]
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
• All Year 9, 10, 11 and 12 classes will run as normal periods 1-6.
• Year 9 elite swimmers in the U/14 age group will be bused to the pool after Homeroom, all other Year 9 elite swimmers will be bused to the pool at recess for their trials.
• Year 10, 11 & 12 swimmers will only be those who nominate or are selected to swim in the afternoon finals by their Houses prior to the day. These boys will be bused to the pool at 11.50am.
• All swimmers who win or place in the finals will qualify for the ACC squad and will be expected to represent the College at MSAC on Wednesday 31 March from 5.00pm - 9.00pm.
PROGRAM FOR THE DAY.
8.50am - 9.00am Homeroom
9.00am - 9.15am - All Years 7 & 8 and Year 9 U/14 elite swimmers bused to the pool
11:00am - Year 9 elite swimmers bused to the pool
11.50am - Years 10, 11, 12 swimmers bused to the pool
12.20pm - Inter-house competition 2 pools
2.45pm - Presentations
3.00pm – Students return on buses to the College.
AGE GROUPS:
Ages are taken as of 1 January. If you are 14 at the end of 2021, you are in U/14 and so on. (under 12s swim in the U/13 age group).
MAXIMUM PARTICIPATION: It is expected that all students in Years 7-9 participate in the 25m trials across the pool. Not everyone is an elite swimmer, but you all can have a go and earn some points for your house towards winning the Adam Bryant House Shield!
NON-SWIMMERS: Must have a parental note in their diary.
UNIFORM: Full P.E. uniform, with House polo shirt & College shorts and hat.
Swimming - all appropriate shorts are allowed.
BACKPACKS: Students are advised not to bring a school backpack on the day to avoid bag mix ups. Students should bring a bag they can easily identify. Students are not to bring valuables as security is limited.
LUNCH: Students should bring their own food & drinks as canteen service is limited.
BUSES TO AND FROM THE POOL: All swimmers will be bused to and from the pool from school. Students will return in time for normal buses and pick up.
SUNSCREEN: Please bring and apply sunscreen. SLIP SLOP SLAP!
DIVING POOL: For safety, no flips or somersaults. Only dives and jumps allowed.
Don’t bring or use noise making devices, electronic games, phones, or valuables as your belongings can’t be properly supervised. No ball games. The toddlers pool is not to be used. Students are not to draw inappropriate markings on themselves.
On Tuesday 23 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]
ACC SENIOR CRICKET RESULT
Highlights:
• 12 debutants played their first game for SJC
• Josh Appleford hit 3 sixes and 6 fours in his innings of 62
• Angus Codd took 3/6 in his six overs, including 3 maidens.
• Hayden Burns sent the middle stump cartwheeling with his first ball in Senior Cricket
ROUND 1 SJC V ST BEDE’S
SJC 10/ 176 (34.1)
Josh Appleford 62, Matt Sorgiovani 29, Hamish Dawson 25, Angus Codd 16, Harry Massey 15.
defeated
ST BEDE’S 10/53 (23.5)
Angus Codd 3/6, Jedd Burns 2/2, Charlie Clark 2/23, Hayden Burns 1/9, Angus Farrow 1/9.
Next Game: St Bernard’s (away)
The Br Rahill Library lunchtime clubs have commenced again at the Edmund Rice Campus. It was fantastic to see the students enjoying the Books and Movies club on Tuesday and the Creative IT club on Thursday. Friday is board games day and the library was full of students making the most of the games on offer.
Books and Movies Club – Tuesday lunchtime
Activities include:
• Reading and book chats
• Watching movies and engaging in discussions
• Recommending and reviewing books and movies
• Recording podcasts for the Library website
• Creative writing challenges
• Playing word games
• Running Book Week events.
All students are welcome and refreshments are provided! If students enjoy reading and watching movies and want to share their interest with other students they are encouraged to come along at lunchtime on Tuesdays.
Creative Technology Club – Thursday lunchtime
Experiences include the following technologies:
• Virtual Reality headsets
• Makey Makey kits
• Lego Mindstorms
• Spheros
• Arduino
• Tinker Cad
If students enjoy using different creative technologies they are encouraged to come along at lunchtime on Thursdays.
Board Games – Friday lunchtime
Students enjoy a range of board games including Chess, Uno, Cluedo, Balderdash, Ultimate Werewolf, Bananagrams, Man Bites Dog, Saboteur, and Rubik’s cubes.
Students also spend time in the library during break times every day reading in the Reading Room and completing school work.
It is a pleasure to welcome you into the St Joseph’s College learning community.
The College extends a warm invitation to an important gathering on:
Monday 22 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.
RSVP online via the link below:
The Elevate parent sessions were first run last year and received some excellent feedback. By tuning into their webinar series you will learn how to better support your sons at home through reinforcing the skills they learn at school. See below for further details.
Elevate Education’s Parent Webinar Series for Term 1, 2021.
- Wednesday 24 February - Time Management techniques to align the family expectations on homework and school-life balance.
- Wednesday 10 March - Technology devices and self-regulation strategies.
- Wednesday 24 March - Note taking skills to help your child deepen their revision.
Registration is essential and is free for parents of St Joseph's College Geelong. More information on the next webinar is available by clicking on this registration link.
You can register by clicking here.
The webinar is run live online from 6pm – 7pm where the presenter will share Elevate’s key research and skills, and will conduct a live Q&A so you can ask them questions directly.
Should you have questions or would like to contact Elevate directly, their details are listed below:
📞 1300 667 945
Join our free one hour webinar for parents and carers on Tuesday 9 March 2021 from 7:00 - 8:00pm
The session will include:
Online trends for adolescents
Ideas to start the chat
Social media and the impact on mental health
Managing screen time
Register via the link below:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2181287446261448207
Notice of Annual General Meeting – St Joseph’s College Old Collegians Association
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Members of the St Joseph’s College Geelong Old Collegians Association will be held at St Joseph's College, 135 Aphrasia Street, Newtown on Tuesday 9 March 2021 at 5.30 pm in the Maureen Bryant Board Room.
Ordinary Business :
To receive and accept the Minutes of the 2020 Annual General Meeting.
To receive and consider the Annual Financial Statements and reports of the Chairman and Treasurer.
To consider the retirement of the current Committee and the election of a new Committee.
Other Business:
To transact any other business which may legally be brought before the meeting.
At the conclusion of the meeting refreshments will be provided.
Please RSVP your attendance to [email protected] or on 5226 8120
By order of the Committee
Dear St Joseph’s College Foundation Members & Supporters,
Please find attached notice of St Joseph’s College Foundation – 2021 Annual General Meeting
Where: St Joseph’s College – Maureen Bryant Board room
When: Tuesday 23 March
Arrive: 5.45pm
Start: 6.00pm
For catering purposes and COVID guidelines please rsvp direct via email [email protected] or on 5226 8120.
A General meeting will follow the AGM.