With communications e-mailed out on Tuesday from Tony Paatsch this newsletter article is written by Deputy Principal Student and Staff Wellbeing, Mark Kennedy.
The Return to School
It has been great having our Year 11 and 12 students back the past week and a half and I am very proud of the way our students have adjusted to the new sets of COVID-19 norms we have in place. All boys are showing respect to the staff, the school property, themselves and each other whilst practising healthy hygiene habits. We have also welcomed back our Year 9 students to Westcourt today. This decision was made in consultation with Headspace, Catholic Education Melbourne and Edmund Rice Education Australia in the best interests of the Year 9s health and wellbeing after the tragic loss of Abraham Knox. We wish them all the best as the reconnect with each other and get the support and guidance of their supportive teachers. We are really looking forward to welcoming back Year 10 and our Year 7 & 8 Waterford students next Tuesday as well.
Our senior leaders have set the tone of our new expectations to their peers which can viewed on the link below:
The consistent message is that we are working extremely hard to ensure we have processes in place that will keep people safe at school whilst maintaining our focus on student wellbeing and support. Our full working SJC COVID-19 Safe Plan document is located on the College website under ‘Our Wellbeing’ and we welcome families to read through it.
Wellbeing sessions for students
Headspace led our first online presentation on Monday in the Wellbeing period helping the Year 11 and 12 boys understand ways of supporting each other in tough times, reading the signs of friends in distress and self-care. The themes came from some of Tom Barnett and Louie Shearman’s close friends. We will also be offering the boys lunchtime sessions to help open up healthy conversations.
We had originally intended on these sessions being delivered early Term 2 during renewals and in seminar week but were postponed with the COVID-19 restrictions. The advice from headspace is that we should only offer sessions of this manner in a school setting when extra supports can be made available from teachers and counsellors which they were on Monday.
Dr Chris Hall, a motivational speaker, will lead another online presentation on Monday 15 June in the Wellbeing period focusing on overcoming adversity, stress management and resilience. This will involve all Year 10, 11 and 12 students and hopefully help our students plan for a positive and proactive Semester 2.
Both these presentations will be adapted to suit our Westcourt and Waterford students when they return and settle in to their classes. Surveys from students will help provide future direction for the College.
Community Support
I would like to thank all families for the support you have shown St Joseph’s during this challenging year. Our partnership is a key factor in schooling success for our boys and it will need to remain that way whilst we integrate everyone back next week. To help strengthen this school connectedness and positive thinking Peer Support Australia is currently providing a series of free webinars for parents and school leaders with adolescent psychologist Andrew Fuller. This is a great opportunity for our community to engage and build own understanding of wellbeing in the comforts of their own home or office.
Special offer for our SJC families
The headspace Schools Be You team are also willing to offer our SJC families a range of on line parent information sessions on Understanding Grief and Loss in Adolescents. This parent session aims to assist parents to:
• Recognise what grief might look like in adolescents
• Understand bereavement after suicide
• Practical strategies for parents to support a young person who is grieving
• Identify signs of difficulties and when and where to seek professional support
The parent sessions will be co-facilitated by headspace Schools Be You team and Jesuit Support after Suicide. The first of these free sessions will take place on Wednesday 10 June at 7.00pm. Only 25 families can register and take part in a particular session and we will run more sessions if our numbers proceed this.
Please email [email protected] if you wish to take part and you will be provided with the online session details.
Br Kevin Woodfuff
Finally, Br Kevin Woodruff, long serving staff member and the last Christian Brother to have worked at St Joseph’s died on Saturday 23 May. Eternal rest, grant unto him O Lord and let the perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
The theme for World Environment Day Friday 5 June is ‘Time for Nature’ with a focus on biodiversity, a call to action to combat the accelerating species loss and degradation of the natural world. One million plant and animal species risk extinction, largely due to human activities. The foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the climate that makes our planet habitable all come from nature. ‘Yet, these are exceptional times in which nature is sending us a message: To care for ourselves we must care for nature. It’s time to wake up. To take notice. This World Environment Day, it’s Time for Nature.’ Explore the website here: https://www.worldenvironmentday.global/
Kelly Jenkins our Sustainability Coordinator has introduced some changes to our waste management during this time of ‘COVID 19’. To minimise waste in the school, students are asked to bring a “waste free” lunch to school and reusable water bottle (filled) and to continue to submit work electronically.
Canteen order waste is to be to placed in the the correct waste bins according to the new recycling guidelines outlined on the posters sent to students due to several changes because of the new City of Greater Geelong recycling guidelines.
Lachlan Kelly, one of our Gospel Spirituality Student Leaders, has written a reflection on the ERA for Change National Launch Day 20 May. This day reflected on the theme, ‘Laudato Si’ Care for our Common Home. Pope Francis’ words in this document are an inspiration to help us reflect more deeply and create a vision of integral ecology where we see connections between how we treat God, nature and each other. We have seen the effects of this as we have stayed home across the world, as we have paused, we have seen our skies clear of pollution; animals thrive and people reconnecting in new ways. What new lessons have we learnt and must we keep from this time of COVID 19?
‘The recent ERA of Change Conference was a great experience that allowed Edmund Rice students around Australia to connect with each while developing their skills of advocacy. It was incredibly empowering to see how connected we really are, with over 150 participants joining in a Zoom Conference. We were able to explore an area of choice, with our generation’s concern for the environment highlighted with over one third of the student body choosing the climate change conference out of the six conference workshops available. Not only was it a great opportunity to develop our advocacy and leadership skills, it also allowed for collaboration of ideas between students from schools across Australia. For me, this day also reaffirmed the amazing job that the community of St Joseph's does, highlighting that St Joseph’s is definitely a model and leading Edmund Rice school and we are very lucky to be a part of it.’ - Lachlan Kelly
We have just concluded Reconciliation Week with the final day acknowledging the Mabo decision. The Mabo decision was a turning point for the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' rights, because it acknowledged their unique connection with the land. It also led to the Australian Parliament passing the Native Title Act in 1993.
As a FIRE Carrier School (Friends Igniting Reconciliation Education), we joined in our R.E. classes to receive this inspiring Fire Blessing a part of our reconciliation Reflection Liturgy.
Spirit of the Fire,
be on our lips,
that we may speak the truth in kindness.
Spirit of the Fire,
put your glow in our eyes,
that we may see what is good in life and in all people.
Spirit of the Fire,
burn in our ears, that we may hear
with deep listening.
Spirit of the Fire,
be in our arms and hands,
that we may serve others with care.
Spirit of the Fire,
be in our legs and feet,
so that we may walk the earth with respect
and give thanks for its life-giving nourishment.
Spirit of the Fire,
brand our hearts with the eternal flame
of your love,
that we may become
the bearers of peace, beauty, hope, harmony and Reconciliation.
Term 2 Upcoming Events
5 June - World Environment Day
8 June - World Oceans Day
TEMPORARY RECYCLING REGIME CHANGES
Several changes to our recycling regime have recently been implemented to accommodate COVID-19 restrictions and safety measures. Students should familiarise themselves with the changes and ensure "best" practice at all times.
FOOD WASTE MANAGEMENT
• To minimise waste in the school, students should bring a “waste free” lunch and reusable water bottle (filled) to school each day.
• Waste from canteen food orders should be recycled according to the guidelines below. (Note several changes due to City of Greater Geelong renewed Recycling Guidelines).
• Temporary removal of compost buckets from the yard necessities the placement of food waste directly into a general waste bin (maroon lid).
HYGIENE
• Students and staff to sanitise hands upon entry to class. Paper recycling bins should be utilised for used paper towel only.
• Students to manage their own paper recycling. Paper recycling bins are located in the library.
• Wash hands with soap (located at amenities) before/after eating and/or touching bins.
WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY 5 JUNE
In response to Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato Si and his calling for all to "care for our common home", Sir David Attenborough's view suggests that "for people to care about the Natural World, they must first love and understand it".
With this in mind, Year 10 Environmental Science students have been conducting research of native flora and flora in their local vicinity and uses of native flora species by the Wadawurrung people, to develop a better understanding of the Natural World around them. In addition, students have also tried their hand at a "Sir David Attenborough mini documentary.
Click on the link below to view Year 10 student Jaylen Winieki's mini documentary of native species surrounding the You Yangs.
COMMUNITY NEWS - FREE HARD RUBBISH COLLECTIONS
From July 2020, Geelong residents will be eligible to arrange two curb side hard rubbish collections for the financial year (July 2020-June 2021). Changes to recycling rules will enable mattresses to be collected as part of the hard rubbish collection.
For more information and/or to arrange a hard rubbish collection, click on the link below:
https://geelongaustralia.com.au/hardwaste/article/item/8d685f1bd5f80e7.aspx
We have received some great photos of our students cooking at home during isolation, in Years 7, 8 and 9.
Here are just a few of our many successful cooks:
Harris Henderson (Year 7), Digby Lawrence (Year 8) and Felix McDonald (Year 9)
Well done boys and thanks to our students, on your hard work, preparing some delicious meals and recipes at home!
Thanks from your Food Studies Teachers
Mrs Rivett, Mrs Edwards and Mrs McCarthy.
Unit 3 Parent, Student, Teacher interviews will be held from 4.00pm to 7.00pm via Zoom. Information will be sent to parents this week.
Click on the link below to read about the Year 10 Career program, Quick links to useful resources, upcoming virtual events including virtual expos with universities.
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Whilst at home during this isolation period, many of us have had time to catch up some outstanding jobs around the house and in the process of tidying up, you may just have found some treasures.
The Music Department would happily offer a home to any pre-loved instruments that might be taking up space and gathering dust. The department is always on the lookout for any instruments, especially brass and woodwind, to increase our resources to avoid the sharing of too many instruments. Please let us know if you have any working instruments that you are willing to donate by contacting Michael Wilding via email [email protected] or Lynne Mullins 5226 8156.
May Hager passed away locally at 93 years of age. Great Gran to current student Jaxon Mohr (Year 11) and Ethan Mohr (Year 8). We are thinking of you at this sad time.
Kevin Woodruff a long serving staff member and the last Christian Brother to teach at St Joseph’s College. We pray for the repose of his soul and the consolation of his family and the Christian Brother’s Community.
Lazo Delkovski passed away peacefully at 87 years of age. Grandfather to Ethan current (Year 10) and Nicholas Naumovski (Year 12). Rest in peace.
“Our hearts go out to you all as we pray “That God will welcome these faithfully departed into His loving arms. And that precious memories will be of comfort to those left behind, knowing that their love will live on in their hearts forever.”
Am Amble Autism & Disability Services
AmAble offers support and programs (such as after school programs) to people with disabilities. See flyer attached.
The SJC Library digital collections give access to a wide range of databases and online encyclopedias at home as well as at school. These are excellent learning resources for our students.
Recently, The Age newspaper has also made home access available. Students can access The Age from the library homepage after clicking on the Library link on SIMON. Complete archived editions date back to 2006.
For assistance with access to library resources, please contact the library.
We received a lovely letter of thanks from John & Susan Scott from Corryong thanking our students for their assistance earlier this year, we share it with you below:
Dear Mr Paatsch,
Want some good news?
On or about March 10 a group of your Year 11 VCAL students came to our farm in Cudgewa in the Upper Murray. Two staff were with them. We spent the day pulling down a fire ravaged fence and putting up a brand new one. In fact they put up two fences. They arrived ready to work and had gloves, pliers, hats etc. The staff and students never stopped, took in the hints and instructions on how to do the job and took pride in their final product.
We enjoyed their company and were most grateful for the help.
This was a great initiative by the school and gave some of those boys some ideas for a future career. The teachers were very impressive.
Thank you for lifting our spirits.
Best regards,
John Scott.
Our Ad Alta Magazine is hitting mailboxes this week! We have packed as many articles in this edition as we could, there are just so many fabulous stories from our past students sometimes it is difficult to know when to stop. 🤩 We have linked to the digital edition if you haven't managed to get your hands on a copy. Enjoy!
National Youth Science Forum
The National Youth Science Forum is a residential program designed to give students a broader understanding of the diverse study and career options available in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and to encourage continued studies in these fields.
Applications are open to Year 11 students interested in STEM and close on the 14th June
See the link for information or speak to Ms. Barber
Have you entered the ISO Trick Shot Challenge yet?
All St Joseph's students and staff are invited to take on the challenge to produce a video of epic trick shots they can perform, let your imagination run wild! (But please stay safe).
Film and edit your video so it is just the trick shot itself and label the video YOUR NAME and HOUSE e.g Scott Gaunson BROPHY.
Submit your entry in Term 2, finals will be in Week 10.
Submit your trick shot here:
& here…