Issue 7 SJC News 2021

COVID-19 has shown us in a brutal and tragic way how interconnected all humans are. Lines on maps, sea borders, racial and religious segregation all have proven insignificant in the face of the global pandemic. I was further reminded of this interconnection of people across the world on 5 May, the official feast day of Edmund Rice.

On 5 May leaders of our schools and communities from around the world gathered (online) to celebrate. Coordinated by Australia, led by Ireland, and involving leaders from Africa, India, South America, North America and New Zealand, this gathering was a reminder of our connection to the world. It was an opportunity to pledge prayerful support to communities where COVID is rampant including India and Sth America. It was also a timely reminder of the privileged position we are in here in Australia.

While we remain close to COVID-free in Australia it is important that we don’t become complacent and that anyone who has had a COVID test should remain home and isolate. At this stage, advice is that others are free to go about their normal lives including attending school.

I am delighted to report that the official celebration of Edmund Rice Day at St Joseph’s was a success. We experienced an engaging and meaningful liturgy, strong participation in activities, and raised almost $40,000 to assist communities in need. We sent our first donation from it with $4,000 sent to St Joseph’s Kensekka to provide funds to keep the school operating for Term 2. Parish priest, Fr Emma has asked me to convey to you the prayerful thanks and profound gratitude of everyone in Kensekka.

Year 12 is a demanding year for students, and I’m pleased to note that our Year 12 boys are working really well together with their teachers. Last week each Year 12 house group spent three days away together on renewal. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive with boys engaging in reflection, prayer, and interaction. The renewals were an important opportunity to re-energise as we approach the second half of the year. At this stage, we have high expectations of what this group is capable of achieving this year.

In recent months we conducted nine tours of the College for families considering enrolment. These tours were conducted by students from Years 8 to 12 and consistent feedback from families was how impressive our young men are. I’d like to thank and congratulate all students involved. Demand for Year 7 places at the College in 2022 has been strong and we look forward to formally enrolling students in the coming weeks.

Earlier this week we hosted our annual Mother’s Day breakfast. Attended by about 200 mums of our year 7 and 8 boys it was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge the gift that our mothers are to us. Dozens of staff were on deck from 6:00 am preparing breakfast in what was a great affirmation of the strength of the St Joseph’s community.

I’m pleased to confirm that the next two building projects for the College, the infill of the lower floor of the Peter Chanel Centre and the construction of a pavilion on Carey Oval are almost ready to commence. We expect work to begin on the former before the end of this term and the latter shortly afterward.

Stay well and God bless

Celebrating St Joseph’s Mother’s Day Breakfast

Our College founder Blessed Edmund Rice was nurtured by his mother, Margaret Rice, who shared her great faith with him. On Monday morning, we gave gratitude for and celebrated our newest Mothers/Carers/Grandmothers to the College with their Year 7 and 8 students. While enjoying a beautiful breakfast prepared by our volunteer staff, Year 7 student Alex Assemani and Sue Collins our Koorie education Wworker led an Acknowledgement of Country followed by a prayerful reflection of gratitude.

Edmund Rice Day Reflection

Much excitement and anticipation was felt around our College in the weeks leading up to our annual Edmund Rice Day celebrations, held on Friday 30 April. After last year’s cancelled events, our students were eager to get involved with the list of activities offered.

The Edmund Rice Liturgy captured Edmund’s life journey. From his birth place in Westcourt where his faith began to finding success then heartbreak in Waterford. His complete devotion to those plagued by misfortune saw him establish and grow his first school for poor homeless boys, called Mt Sion. We listened to his story and connected its message to our own call to action at St Joseph’s College. We are very grateful to past students Will Magher and Ryan Birthisel for coming in and sharing their experiences of visiting St Joseph’s Vocational School in Kensekka, Uganda. The less than adequate living standards reflect the struggles of accessing education. It is for this reason we are very grateful to our St Joseph’s community for donating in the hope that every child in Kensekka will benefit from the school we help build.

The glorious weather enabled us all to enjoy the fun activities offered around the College including inflatable world, battle ball and our annual staff vs student Gaelic football match. Those participating in the cross country also enjoyed a successful day before returning for the celebrations.

All funds help support St Joseph’s Vocational school in Kensekka, the community in Viqueque, East Timor, along with Edmund Rice Camps and Lifeboat. A group of students and staff from St Joseph’s College gained an insight into the current needs of the Viqueque community in Timor Leste at the annual Geelong-Viqueque Friendship Schools Dinner on Thursday 29 April at Truffleduck. Our support was greatly appreciated and allows us to continue to maintain and strengthen the ties between our two regions. Guest speaker Brother Frank Hennessy shared his memories from his time in Timor Leste. He worked in East Timor for five years as a ministry leader where he changed the lives of thousands of Timorese. Heavy rains across the country in March and April have resulted in severe flash floods and landslides affecting all 13 municipalities in Timor-Leste to varying degrees, with the capital Dili and the surrounding low-lying areas the worst affected. Our funds will directly support the flood relief.

A message from the EREA Council for Edmund Rice Day

“Edmund’s charism and mission is ours – ours to shape and to turn into a dynamic, contemporary force. Such a force is very much needed in our complex and fragile world where both its peoples and its environment need the protection of a courageous loving hand.”

(Kathy Freeman and David White Edmund Rice Education Australia Council)

Our neighbours, near and far, friend and stranger “challenge us to listen compassionately and creatively to the hidden silences…” (John O’Donohue)

Semester One Testing and Assessment

Assessment is a tool to guide and inform student learning and also a way of systematically gathering evidence to make reliable and consistent judgments about where a student is at in any aspect of their learning at the time of the assessment. It clarifies what the learner knows, understands or can do, and highlights what is needed to progress the learner further.

The three main purposes of assessment are:

1. Assessment “for” learning – This is a monitoring and diagnostic assessment designed to monitor and identify areas for target teaching to support student’s progress to meet learning expectations.

2. Assessment “as” learning –This occurs when students are their own assessors. Students monitor their own learning, ask questions and use a range of strategies to decide what they know and can do, and how to use assessment information for new learning.

3. Assessment “of” learning – These assist teachers at the end of a unit or set of learning experiences to gather evidence of student knowledge, understanding, and skills as described in the year-level curriculum.

As the semester progresses the following assessment and diagnostic testing will occur:

Year 7 - NAPLAN testing (11 – 13 May), On-Demand Testing and Summative Assessment of subject learning.

Year 8 – Allwell Testing (17 June), On-Demand Testing, Semester Exams in English and Mathematics, and Summative Assessment of subject learning.

Year 9 - NAPLAN testing (11 – 13 May), On-Demand Testing, Semester Exams, and Summative Assessment of subject learning.

Year 10 - Allwell Testing (9 June), On-Demand Testing, Semester Exams, and Summative Assessment of subject learning.

Year 11 and 12 – Students will have End of Semester Subject Exams. Students who are completing a VCE Unit 3/4 sequence will be required to sit the GAT Wednesday 9 June.

Parent Reporting for Summative Classroom Assessment will be released to Parents through PAM on the first Friday of Term 3 (Friday 16 July). This is due to End of Semester Examinations occurring in the last week of term, and therefore appropriate time is required to mark and provide appropriate feedback on these tasks.

Note: On-Demand testing will occur in English and Mathematics classes as it is an online tool that is linked to the Maths and English curriculum standards, and these results will be placed on the student’s report.

Student Leadership

In my short time at St Joseph's College, I have had great pleasure in witnessing the Student Leaders of the College and how they make such an important contribution to motivating, influencing, and amplifying student voice. This has clearly been supported by the staff of the College, including those who have led the Student Leadership Portfolio, the College Leadership Team and the staff who have valued the input that students have in the direction of the College and more importantly their learning.

Having been part of the recent College Open Day sessions, where several of the College Leaders had given up their mornings to walk prospective families around the College to show them our impressive facilities, it was clearly evident from parent feedback that our leaders were equally or if not more impressive. The student’s recent contribution and participation in the College’s Opening Mass, ANZAC Day Assembly, Edmund Rice Day are all examples where College Leaders have clearly set the tone, imbuing and capturing the Four Touchstones of Edmund Rice.

The College is well represented by our Leaders at a range of Community events, as well as contributing to Child Safety initiatives, Respectful relationships and even having the opportunity to have the College Captain on our recent staff position of leadership interviews, shows great insight and value that student voice has in the future direction of the school. Student voice is not simply about giving students the opportunity to communicate ideas and opinions; it is about students having the power to influence change.

Whilst the scope for student voice and agency is still continuing to grow in the College, it would be remiss of me to not acknowledge the time and effort the College Leaders have given up unselfishly to ensure they pave the way. Catching up on missed classes, diverting study time to prepare for a College event, or even missing time with family and friends at night or on weekends to give service to our school community, provides a positive legacy to ensure they have left the College in a better place.

Year 12 Renewals

Congratulations to all staff and students who participated in the Year 12 Renewals last week. The renewals provided time for our boys to reflect upon themselves, their families, their unique stories, their relationships with their peers, and their future. The program had a combination of reflective sessions as well as physical challenges, but the joy of seeing our students mingling and appreciating each other’s company after a challenging 2020 reminded us of how precious such experiences can be. We hope that the students have returned with a renewed sense of self and with a broader perspective on life and their relationships with others. Students formed bonds outside of their regular and comfortable friendship circles and enjoyed spending time with teachers in a very different environment from the classroom. It is our hope that each student experienced moments that encouraged them to be strong in mind and gentle in heart and provided them with fond memories as they near the final few months of their schooling.

EREA Adolescent Men's Project Survey

The EREA Adolescent Men’s Project survey is part of a large research project being undertaken by Edmund Rice Education Australia and a number of EREA schools in Victoria/Tasmania. The focus of the study is on being a young man in Australia today. The survey asks students about the pressure society puts on men to act in a certain way. The aim of the survey is to find out what students think it means to be "a real man". We are one of the first schools in Australia to be invited to do the survey. We look forward to using the data to help inform our wellbeing program.

Year 12 VCE Unit 3/ 4 - Parent / Student / Teacher Interviews

During Term 2 there will be an opportunity for parents and students of VCE Unit 3/4 subjects to seek feedback on their son’s learning. Providing the environment is COVID safe, we will be exploring a Hybrid model, where parents will need to book online through PAM, however will be given the opportunity to attend face-to-face or online. There will be more information regarding these interviews closer to the date, which is currently set for 7 June.

eSafety Parent and Carer's Seminar

This webinar will look at how parents and carers can set up devices and apps to help keep kids and young people safer online.

Audience: Parents and carers of children aged 4-13

The webinar will cover:

• The benefits and limitations of parental controls

• How to set up iOS and Android devices for safety

• How to set up popular games and apps like YouTube and Roblox for safety

• Using family tech agreements and other parenting strategies to manage online risks

• How eSafety can help when things go wrong

The webinar will include practical tips, demonstrations, and advice for parents and carers to help keep young people safer online.

Dates available:

8 June 2021 12.30 – 1.30 pm

16 June 2021 7.30 – 8.30 pm

Register via the website: esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars or link below:

https://register.gotowebinar.c...

Year 10 Politics students Jaeger Fawcett and Colby McCallum recently accompanied Mr Bertino to take part in a schools community Climate Forum with Federal Shadow Minister Chris Bowen.

The following is a summary of the event from Jaeger Fawcett:

Chris Bowen who is the Labor, Shadow Minister for climate change and energy and Libby Coker, the member for Corangamite facilitated an open forum around climate change. They both unquestionably displayed their individual passion for climate change and the environment when undertaking their speeches. Chris expressed Labor’s ambitious target of 0% emissions by 2050 with a strong vision backed by planning and the hope of technological advancement that would support this imperative goal. The floor was open to questions and issues such as media bias, sources of renewable energy and the funding and subsidisation of fossil fuels were put to the Ministers. Bowen and Coker both agreed that it is up to government and media to put aside political agenda to enact real action to combat this issue and to look to investment in renewable energy and other sources of sustainable infrastructure such as an upgraded power grid to foster the uptake of renewable energy and the incentivisation of electric vehicles. Emissions under the current government are going up and it may be up to a change of government and policy to ensure Australia does its part to halt the impacts of climate change and transition to a more sustainable and climate-friendly nation.

At St Joseph’s College, we want every student to achieve his best. To best support this, attendance at school each and every day is essential. Absences from school can have a major impact on academic and social development. School helps young people to develop the important skills, knowledge & values that will set them up for lifelong learning and participation in the community.

There is no safe number of days for missing school – each day a student misses puts him behind and can affect his educational outcomes.

To support your son’s regular attendance avoid scheduling hair, dental or medical appointments during school hours. Arrange family holidays during scheduled school holidays so that students don’t miss out on classes. Planned extended absences require a letter to the Principal.

If your son is absent, please SMS 0427 687 117 as early as possible on the day of absence or login to your PAM account to enter the absence and reason.

The library collection includes fiction and non-fiction resources that are inclusive of all of our students. The current display and promotion supports IDAHOBIT, the International day against LGBTQIA+ discrimination, which will be celebrated on May 17. The display cabinet near the main entrance of the ER campus library features some of the print resources in the SJC collection.

As a part of the display there are LGBTQIA+ bookmarks available. The front of the bookmark includes a QR code to a reading list of resources in the library catalogue, and the reverse includes a list of reading suggestions.

The Wheelers Wellness collection also features inclusive and supportive resources for students. There is a link to the Wellness collection of eBooks and eAudiobooks on the library homepage. The collection can be accessed on phones and tablets as well as school laptops. To access on personal devices, download the Wheelers App from your App store, search for St Joseph’s College Geelong, login with student details, and then browse and borrow a book. The loan period is two weeks.

The fiction resources promote empathy and understanding of the perspectives of others, and the non-fiction resources are an informative source for students looking for support.

Author Mark Smith’s visit to Westcourt to discuss his novel The Road to Winter was a highlight last week. Most boys rate the novel highly and can relate to its premise of a teenage boy surviving ‘down the coast’ after an apocalypse. Mark covered a great deal of information relating to his own adolescence, how he came to write the novel and the struggles in getting it published. Much practical advice was shared about the pitfalls and highlights of storytelling, which is bound to help Year 9 boys in Think later this term when they create their own post-apocalyptic story.

Explore your university course options

Many universities offer the option for prospective students to speak directly with course advisers via Zoom or a phone call. The following are examples of universities offering this service:

Australia National University

Book a study consultation: book a 30-minute phone call or video conference to discuss your study options with Australia National University course adviser Clara Hill, https://bit.ly/3tVOOHy

University of Wollongong (UOW)

Chat with a current UOW student and ask any questions you have about life at Wollongong. Use the drop-down filters on this webpage and find the best student to help you - www.uow.edu.au/study/ask-a-student/

Charles Sturt University

Book a study consultation: book a 30-minute phone call or video conference to discuss your study options with a Charles Sturt University course adviser, https://study.csu.edu.au/contact-us/consult

Australian Catholic University

Book a 30-minute phone call or video conference to discuss your study options with an Australian Catholic University course adviser, https://bit.ly/2QYwkYq

Interested in sports physiotherapy?

Have you considered clinical exercise physiology as being a more suitable pathway than physiotherapy?

“Where physiotherapists assist people with movement disorders using techniques to assist muscles and joints to move to their full potential, clinical exercise physiologists use exercise to prevent and rehabilitate disease and injury in the community”.

Students will study an Exercise and Sport Science Australia (ESSA) accredited undergraduate exercise science degree followed by graduate studies in exercise physiology. The following are examples of courses at Victorian universities:

Deakin University, https://bit.ly/2TPWDQ3

Australian Catholic Uni., https://bit.ly/2CiUimH

Victoria University, https://bit.ly/2Q1iwXx

La Trobe University, https://bit.ly/2wnnpoq

Federation University, https://bit.ly/2Y12H7S

Swinburne University, https://bit.ly/3hNfELr

Prefer Sports Physiotherapy?

You can research physiotherapy courses at the following universities:

La Trobe University, https://bit.ly/2LFOsz6

Australian Catholic Uni., https://bit.ly/2HdYV58

University of Melbourne, https://bit.ly/2Tr3GhV

Monash University, https://bit.ly/2Qo3TSs

Charles Sturt University, https://bit.ly/2OaaGux

Swinburne University, https://bit.ly/2PKY2Yc

Victoria University, https://bit.ly/2QUWJGP

Federation University, https://bit.ly/33fxsJP

Applying Medicine, Dentistry or Oral Health?

If you are in Year 12 and plan to apply for any of these health science courses to start in 2022, you may need to sit the UCAT ANZ (University Clinical Aptitude Test).

The UCAT ANZ is a two-hour, computer-based test which assesses a range of mental abilities identified by universities as important to practicing in the fields of medicine and dentistry.

It consists of five separately timed subtests which each contain a number of questions in a multiple-choice format.

You will sit the test in July 2021 and selected universities use your UCAT ANZ results as part of the selection process, in conjunction with your ATAR and HSC/VCE results, and in some cases an interview.

You will only have one chance to sit the UCAT ANZ this year. It’s important to note that applications close on Monday 17 May and late applications close on Monday 31 May.

Please go to https://www.ucat.edu.au/ for more information about the UCAT ANZ, to see if you have to sit the test, and to register for the test.

Victorian Careers Show 2021

This event follows on from the success of the recent VCE and Careers Expo

Students and families are invited to attend the Victorian Careers Show.

Over two days you can attend seminars on topics including:

• VCE subjects
• Tertiary courses
• Careers
• Employment opportunities
• Gap year options

You can speak directly to organisations with:

• Information and resources for the VCE
• Information about tertiary study, university, TAFE and training courses
• Career advice
• Study advice
• Employment advice and opportunities
• Apprenticeship and traineeship advice
• International exchange and gap year programs

Information:

Dates: Friday 14 – Saturday 15 May

Venue: Melbourne Showgrounds, Ascot Vale

For information and to purchase tickets, visit www.victoriancareersshow.com.au

Preparing to attend a Careers Expo

Career Expo success for students lies in effective preparation.

My Career Match offers the following advice to students preparing to attend a career expo:

List the priority exhibitors with the ‘must visit’ at the top of list. If they are busy make a time to come back and see them. Don’t leave the expo without visiting the “must see” exhibitors.

Allocate time to spend with each of your priority exhibitors. Non priority exhibitors can be visited if you have time.

Prepare an introduction. Keep it short. Introduce yourself and say why you’re interested in this career or a particular study area.

Have a list of questions to ask. Don’t leave it to memory. Take notes and gather information. Ask for their business card or get their name and email to follow up.

Take the visit seriously. It’s about your future so it’s important you focus and don’t get distracted.

www.mycareermatch.com.au

Explore your global university options

Are you interested in learning about universities from around the world? Crimson Education has developed a YouTube channel that profiles global universities. You can access the channel at https://bit.ly/2qcWRiX

Careers in Sport

My Career Match has developed an excellent 3-page guide to careers in sport. You can download the resource at this link - https://bit.ly/2UwkqB8

Future of Work Predictor

Have an occupation goal? Want to know how this job may change over the next 10 years? University of New England (UNE) has developed a ‘future of work predictor’.

Using the online software, simply search for the occupation you are interested in, choose the education level you are planning to attain (e.g. Bachelor degree), your post code or the post code of where you would like to work in the future and your email address.

UNE will provide you with information on how this job may change in terms of tasks, duties, qualifications, wages and employment growth.

Visit https://bit.ly/2SxZpbc and start searching!

Apprenticeships and Traineeships

Australian Apprenticeship Pathways have developed an excellent four-step guide to assist you to start planning - http://bit.ly/2E2R7T2

Read through Step One and take the work type explorer quiz, download the AusAppPathways app to your phone, and complete practice aptitude quizzes to ascertain the level of literacy and numeracy skills you will need for different occupations.

Casual employment

You can sign up for employment opportunities at the following websites:

About 80% of all job vacancies aren’t advertised, so it is crucial that you market yourself to businesses with an excellent resume and cover letter.

Make sure you tell as many people as possible that you are looking for work as often employers rely on ‘word of mouth’ to recruit for their positions.

Job seeking resources

For excellent job seeking tips, and resume/cover letter templates, check out the resources at the following two websites:

Skillsroad - www.skillsroad.com.au

Youth Central - www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au

Rights and responsibilities

Know your rights and responsibilities when starting a new job - https://bit.ly/2SggKUP

Tax File Number (TFN)

If you don’t have a TFN, you will need to apply for one via the Australian Tax Office - https://bit.ly/37VdCnP

Parents – School to Work Resources

Supporting your child in preparing for the world of work after school can be a challenge. Casualisation and globalisation of work force, automation and rapid advances in technology will all have an impact in your child’s navigation of the world of work.

The Australian Government has developed resources to support parents through their Future Ready Career Education Portal. To access the resources, go to https://bit.ly/2Ok0wsL

Careers in Business & Commerce

When people think of careers in business, they often think of occupations such as business management, accounting, finance, and marketing. The following are three business career areas you may not have considered:

Insurance

As one of the biggest, most diverse industries in the world, insurance has more roles than you’d imagine – including ones that are perfect for you. Love numbers? You’re needed. Love people? Insurance has roles for you. Analytical? A big thinker? A problem solver? Whatever you are, insurance has a job with your name on it, http://careersininsurance.com.au/

Economics and Econometrics

Economists perform economic research and analysis, develop and apply theories about production and distribution of goods and services and people's spending and financial behaviour, and provide advice to governments and organisations on economic policy issues, https://careerswithstem.com.au/read-it-here/

Actuarial Science

Actuaries evaluate risk and opportunity – applying mathematical, statistical, economic and financial analyses to a wide range of business problems. Actuaries work in insurance, superannuation, wealth management, investments, health financing, banking, data analytics, energy resources and the environment etc., https://bit.ly/2TdcFiy

Commerce vs Economics

Which study area would you be more suited to? The Australian School of Business, UNSW, has developed a video to help you decide. They have also developed a video focused on careers in economics.

Bachelor of Commerce versus Bachelor of Economic, http://tinyurl.com/qb2zswp

Careers in Economics, http://tinyurl.com/njlehwg

Explore Commerce and Economics courses via the Course Seeker website, www.courseseeker.edu.au

2022 National Youth Science Forum (NYSF)

In Year 11? Love STEM? Want to engage in a life changing experience? You should consider applying for the NYSF.

This is a two-week on-site and digital program where students are immersed in hands-on science activities, lab experiments, field trips and meet researchers who are leaders in their field.

In-person STEM visit days and events will be held over a week of the program at major city hubs across the country, enabling students to meet each other and network with like-minded peers.

A continuous program of digital events will run alongside the in-person events meaning the program is accessible to all.

The program will be held during January 2022. Applications close Friday 2 July. For more information and to apply, go to www.nysf.edu.au

Natural Health Courses

Have you considered natural health? The following two colleges are located in the Melbourne area:

Endeavour College of Natural Health

Courses: Acupuncture, Myotherapy, Naturopathy, Nutritional and Dietetic Medicine, and Complementary Medicine, www.endeavour.edu.au

Career profiles of graduates, https://bit.ly/2fJpe6O

Events and information webinars, www.endeavour.edu.au/events/

Southern School of Natural Therapies

The School is part of Torrens University and Think Education.

Courses: Health Sciences, Naturopathy, Nutritional Medicine, Western Herbal Medicine, Chinese Medicine, Clinical Myotherapy, www.ssnt.edu.au

Wellbeing Centre: open to the public, https://bit.ly/2Y0Mu2s

Careers with the Australian Federal Police

A career with the AFP can lead to working with the community, across the country or around the globe.

Whether in a non-policing support role, investigating transnational crime, combatting terrorism and people smuggling, investigating crimes against the ACT community and patrolling its city and suburban streets, providing high visibility protection to commonwealth infrastructure sites and establishments, or heading overseas to liaison posts or capacity building missions, you'll be on the frontline, contributing to keeping the Australian community safe.

There are three main employment pathways:

• Entry Level Sworn Recruit
• Lateral Police Recruit
• Professional (Non-Policing) Role

For information on entry requirements, careers, and the recruitment process, go to www.afp.gov.au/careers

Upcoming Career Events

UNSW – Medicine Information Sessions

Option 1: Virtual

The next Medicine Information Evening for Year 11 and 12 students will be held via a live stream on Monday 24 May. Information will be released soon. Explore medicine at UNSW via https://med.unsw.edu.au/

Option 2: On site

The UNSW Rural Clinical School (Albury-Wodonga campus) is hosting an information session for Year 10 – 12 students on Wednesday 26 May. Email Anj Comb to reserve your seat - [email protected]

Medicine and Dentistry

Year 12 students planning to apply for medicine and/or dentistry for the 2022 intake may be required to sit the UCAT ANZ test, www.ucat.edu.au

The following companies are running webinars and preparation programs in May:

National Institute of Education, www.nie.edu.au

MedEntry, www.medentry.edu.au

Upcoming Career Events

Monash University - information Evenings

Monash staff will be running information evenings for prospective students living in regional areas. For information and to register visit www.monash.edu/information-evenings

The following are dates for May:

Monash University – Inside Monash

Monash University is running a series of information evenings for prospective students focussed on courses and study areas. For information and to register visit www.monash.edu/inside-monash

The following are dates for May:

Year 13 Careers Expo

Finding your dream job has never been easier.

The Year13 Expo lets you find a career you’re genuinely passionate about without even having to get out of bed.

Over the course of the week, you’ll hear from experts, chat with influencers and explore all of your post-school options at our digital careers expo that you can access from anywhere you have internet.

Plus there is a $10,000 competition running! The Expo will run between 17 – 21 May. For information and to register your place, go to https://year13.com.au/expo/year13-expo-2021

Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE)

Discover the courses designed to get you started in game development, 3D animation and visual effects at the AIE Open Day.

Date: Saturday 15 May, online

https://aie.edu.au/aie_event/open-day/

Collarts – Open Day

Collarts is a creative media college located in the Melbourne area. The institute is running on online open day on Saturday 8 May. You will be able to listen to detailed information sessions and ask teachers and student advisers questions via Live Chat. For information and to register, visit www.collarts.edu.au/open-day

JMC Academy – Open Day

JMC Academy is a creative media college located in the Melbourne area. The institute is running an open day on Saturday 15 May.

You will be able to tour the Park Street campus, participate in information sessions, watch live events and demos, and speak to course advisers. For information and to register, visit www.jmcacademy.edu.au/events/open-days

Deakin University – Discover Deakin

Deakin University is hosting the following online seminars for prospective students in May. The seminars will showcase courses at the University.

More events will run during June. For information and to RSVP, visit https://bit.ly/2Phjwfa

JMC Academy – Sound Engineering

JMC Academy are offering free audio and sound engineering mentoring sessions to Year 9 -12 students in May. For information and to register, visit https://bit.ly/3aGVtxv

Victoria Police

For career information session dates, visit

www.police.vic.gov.au/police-information-sessions

Australia Defence Force

For career information session dates, visit www.defencejobs.gov.au/events

Maths and Data Careers Webinar

Maths is critical to not only fast-growing STEM jobs but also careers in insurance, health, trades, security, agriculture and more.

During this free careers webinar delivered by Careers with STEM, meet three featured role models from our latest Maths & Data issue. Ask them any burning career questions and hear their tips for study and work.

Date: Wednesday 19 May, 12:00pm

RSVP: https://bit.ly/3tfHu8o

RMIT University – Discover What’s Next

RMIT University is running the following online information sessions for prospective students in May. These are events not to be missed as you will receive up to date information for the 2022 intake and you will have the opportunity to ask questions about courses.

For information and to register for sessions, go to www.rmit.edu.au/events

The University of Melbourne

The University of Melbourne is hosting the following Meet Melbourne online seminars for prospective students in May and June. The seminars will showcase courses at the University.

May

June

To RSVP, visit https://bit.ly/3egroGe

Meet Melbourne Shepparton: Prospective students and families are invited to participate in this on campus information session about The University of Melbourne.

Information: Wednesday 5 May, 6.30 – 8:00pm, Shepparton campus, https://bit.ly/3dTQ9Jp

Torrens University

Torrens University is running an open day on their Melbourne campus on Saturday 8 May. Students who can’t attend can participate in a virtual open day, www.torrens.edu.au/whats-on/open-day/

Student Absences

If your son is absent for a school day and you wish to notify the College, you can notify via SMS to 0427 687 117. Text your son’s name, year level and reason for absence. This number can only be used for SMS messaging. It will not receive voice calls. Mobile numbers must be registered with us to use this system.

If your son is away for an extended time (outside of normal school holidays) the College also requires an email to [email protected]

More recently the option to use your PAM account is available to enter absences. Login to your PAM account or use the app and enter the absence. This will enter the absence and reason directly onto your son’s roll at the College.

School Uniform (lost property)

Can I please ask parents to check ALL of their son’s uniform to ensure it is named. There is a large number of blazers and sports jackets being handed in, without names on them.

As soon as a NAMED piece of uniform is handed in the staff notify the student and the homeroom teacher. If items aren’t named, they sit in lost property until someone can identify them.

Term 2 - Upcoming Events

Every day - CUT THE WRAP

Thursday 13 May -  VCAL Polymer Recycling workshops former student Sam Lancaster and Zero Plastics Australia.

Wednesday 19 May -  Enviroservice, (3.30pm-5.30pm), Edmund Rice Campus

Saturday 22 May - International Day for Biological Diversity

Monday 31 May - Enviroservice, (3.30pm-5.30pm), Edmund Rice Campus

Saturday 5 June -   World Environment Day, theme: Ecosystem restoration

Tuesday 8 June - World Oceans Day

Take 3 For The Sea Filming Competition

I would like to thank all entrants for the 2021 "Take 3" for the Sea filming competition, for their enthusiasm to raise awareness regarding the impact of waste, in particular plastic waste, on our environment, both locally and globally.

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the competition as outlined below;

First Harper Fawcett  - $100 JB HiFi voucher

Second Andrew Davidge - $50 JB HiFi voucher

Third Harry Kanellos - $25 JB HiFi voucher

Kokedamas For Mother's Day

Several years ago we were blessed with the good fortune of working with an SJC mother Amanda (owner of Smellies Florist), who taught students and staff the magical Japanese art form of making Kokedama planters. The process involves using natural products to create the planters, including; moss, hessian, jute and silk string. This year, students from Westcourt continued the annual tradition to create beautiful Parlour Palm Kokedamas for Mother's Day.

New Planter And Tree For The Year 7 Precinct

Incepted by the desire for a vertical garden to enhance the aesthetics in the lower levels of H Block, Sustainability Leaders have been industrious planting out our new planter box and planter pot, located in the Year 7 precinct outside the ICT office. Initial stages for a vertical garden are also underway, with eight trial planter boxes currently being installed. Lotus "Red Flash" has been selected specifically to trail down the sloping walls as it grows.

Bras For Fiji Campaign

I would like to thank all families that donated to the campaign this year. The donations filled a 60L container and will be warmly received by the ladies in Mau Village, Fiji (Viti Levu).

On Wednesday 5 May, I was lucky enough to be selected along with two other students, Jaeger Fawcett and Jonathon Cole, to have a meeting/conversation, hosted by Cameron Ling, with St Joseph’s Old Collegian (1956-1962) Brian Weston, a retired Air-Vice Marshal. Brian told us many stories about not only his time at St Joseph’s 60 years ago, but also his experience flying fighter jet planes. He had many good life lessons to tell and he was a very inspirational and interesting person. Jaeger, Jonathon and I all asked one question about Brian. 

I asked Brian how his passion for flying started because from what I could gather, he had been passionate and determined to be a pilot for a long time. He explained to me that he has always been driven to become a pilot but his obsession started when he was roughly 7 years old and went to an air show with his father in 1951. Brian was intrigued by all the different mechanics used by the pilots while in the air and loved the idea of flying. He said since then he had always had a part of his heart dedicated to flying. 

Brian was very intelligent academically and was fortunate enough to finish school, because in those days it was much harder for people to graduate. Since he finished school he had the opportunity to become a pilot, so obviously he did. He was a RAAF fighter pilot for 34 years and after he finished flying he worked as a squadron commander for a bit too. Overall my time with Brian was an absolute honor and we were so grateful to have had this opportunity.

Henry Martin & Jono Cole, 7E Class Captains

When, Air Vice-Marshal Brian Weston was asked how St Joseph’s College helped with his journey to the air force, he reflected fondly on the values instilled in him during his time at the Joey’s from 1956-1962. He said Joey’s helped him to understand how to overcome making mistakes and more importantly to acknowledge mistakes and to keep moving. While not academic, Brian outlines just one of the ways Joeys taught him values and principles that stuck with him right through his time in the RAAF.

Jaeger Fawcett, Year 10 Gospel & Spirituality Touchstone Prefect

Last month Hope Bereavement Care (Hope) was lucky to receive a cheque for over $1000 from the students, staff and the community of St Joseph's College. Catriona Barnett, mother of Tom, who died in 2020 invited me to come to St Joseph’s and to be presented the cheque by a good friend of Tom’s and student Joel Edwards, and Principal Tony Paatsch. The money was raised over the last year by selling ‘yellow laces’ in memory of Tom, and to raise awareness about suicide.

Hope provides support to anyone grieving the death of a baby or child, the sudden or unexpected death of an adult and anyone grieving after suicide. The money raised by the St Joseph’s community will be used to support the Kids Grieve Too (KGT) program, a new service funded by the Costa Foundation. Kids Grieve Too was developed to increase capacity to support students grieving, particularly the increase of those affected by suicide grief. KGT is a flexible service model providing direct support and counseling for children, young people and their families, as well as capacity building for those in the community including schools and youth services, that support them.

Fundraising efforts like this one not only allow Hope to continue to support children, young people and families left devastated in the aftermath of grief but are incredibly important suicide prevention programs. Thank you to Joel, Catriona and all the staff, students and community members that helped out or brought yellow laces, we are so grateful.

If you need any support contact Hope via email [email protected]

www.bereavement.org.au

GenU / Karingal School Leaver Employment Supports (SLES) can support your transition from school to work.

SLES is about giving you the skills and confidence to help you move from school to employment. We offer individualised support in your final year of school and for up to two years.

genU SLES helps young people prepare, look for and gain employment. We provide meaningful, individualised capacity-building activities so you can achieve your employment-related goals.

On Wednesday the 28 April, the staff and students of Westcourt raised money in support of the Paws4Kids program which is run by Mackillop Family Services. The money raised was going towards continuing the support program that they currently run, and funding for a Companion Dog in the Geelong Region. MacKillop Family Services noticed a need for a Therapy Dog in the Geelong Area.

“Over the past two years, Mackillop Family Services have built up a multi-disciplinary team using therapy dogs to help the most vulnerable kids including kids living in residential care homes - only 1/3 of whom are attending school full-time, Kids who have been excluded from mainstream classroom because of behaviours that can't currently be managed, Kids who’ve fallen behind due to a crisis at home and many, many more.”

Westcourt students ordered potato cakes and soft drinks and purchased cookies from the canteen to raise funds for this worthy cause. With over 150 students and staff throughout the campus ordering the $5 meal deal, we raised over $500 dollars. This amount was matched by a fundraising sponsor, the money donated from St Joeys, combined with all of the other donations has now resulted in enough funds for a Companion Dog in the Geelong area!

We would like to thank everyone that donated to this very worthy cause including the Staff and Students of Westcourt. We would also like to congratulate the Student Leaders for their support and help in promoting the event and distributing the potato cakes on the day. Thanks also to Kristen Grant for helping to sort out the logistics behind the scenes of the event and also to Mr Deverall for his support of the cause.

The St Joseph's College ACC Open Golf team came second on Monday 10 May in the Division one competition.

The boys played at Northern Golf Club. The team included: Tom Hyland, Ben Waterson, Louis Van Ingen, Edward Sargeant, William Norris, Angus McKoy, Joseph Argus, James Harry.

Best scores were Louis Van Ingen 73, Edward Sargeant 81 and Angus McKoy 82.

Year 12 renewals are a great opportunity to get to know the boys in your homeroom during your final year of school. There were lots of opportunities to talk with each other and get to relax away from the pressures of school and take time away from the mental pressures of Year 12.

Some things I enjoyed were the walk as a Butler group along the beach and participating in a friendly game of Laser tag. I enjoyed listening to the staff who came along and helped us reflect on our own lives by sharing their stories and special mementos. Year 12 renewals are definitely a highlight of my time at SJC and I won’t forget my time on camp.

Click on the link below to read the results of the Edmund Rice Day Cross Country, Edmund Rice Gift and House Points Tally! 

Click on the link below to view the latest ACC Sports Results for 

First XVIII Football

Year 10 ACC Football

Year 9 ACC Football

First XI Soccer

Year 10 ACC Soccer

Year 9 ACC Soccer 

Newtown Hockey Club

Newtown City Hockey Club is seeking players for U17 Mixed (boys and girls) teams, to play in weekend competitions - Saturday and Sunday mornings. All welcome regardless of experience. http://newtownhockeyclub.com.au/membership/

Contact: Claire, ph 0417 015130