Issue 10 SJC News 2021

Welcome to the final newsletter of second term and semester one.

In the final week of term the College celebrates Refugee week. The saga of the Sri Lankan Muragappen family from Biloela (and Christmas Island) and their fight to stay in Australia has been front-page news recently and provides a human face to a complex issue. We can debate ‘strong borders’ and ‘strong messages to people smugglers. We can watch news clips of ‘bleeding heart lefties’ and ‘redneck patriots’ whose protests come physically closer together while their philosophical positions become further apart and be none the wiser as to what is right and what it all really means for people.

At St Joseph’s we are called to be gospel people and as a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition we are committed to ‘justice and solidarity’ and ‘inclusive community’. The right position seems pretty clear when we read the story of the last judgement in Chapter 25 of Matthew’s Gospel:

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

For many years St Joseph’s, along with most other secondary schools, has offered two separate senior certificates; The Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL). Recently the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority announced the change to a single senior secondary certificate from 2023.

Mt Sion Head of Learning Brad Smith has provided more detail of these changes and transition arrangements later in this newsletter. I encourage you to familiarise yourself with them, particularly if your son is in year 9 or 10 and considering a VCAL pathway. More specific detail as to arrangements at St Joseph’s will be provided in due course.

Last Friday offers for positions in Year 7 2022 were made to families. I am grateful to College Registrar Adel Mawson, for her work in arranging open Day tours and managing the enrolment process. At this time we have offered 308 students places in 11 classes in 2022.

As this is my fifth year as principal at St Joseph’s, Edmund Rice Education Australia will be conducting a review of my performance. A survey has already been conducted with a random sample of staff, students and parents. On July 13 and 14 a panel will be in the College meeting with a range of staff, students and members of the community. There is an opportunity for any parent to meet with the panel or provide written feedback. Should you wish to take up either option please contact Adele Watt at [email protected]

In recent days Director of Westcourt, Mark Deverall has accepted the position of Deputy Principal at Bacchus Marsh College commencing at the start of semester 2. I’d like to congratulate Mark, thank him for his contribution to St Joseph’s and wish him well in this new challenge. I am delighted that Luke Parsons has agreed to accept the role as acting Director of Westcourt for semester two.

At the end of this term we farewell Dave Breheny who been teaching at St Joseph’s since 1985 … a career spanning 5 decades. We wish him a long and happy retirement and thank him for his contribution to St Joseph’s. We also thank and farewell Bridget Blackburn, Eamonn Vines and Annie Bourke who have made valuable contributions this term in replacement roles. We also wish Mike Davies well as he takes long service leave for term 3.

I wish all families a safe and restful holiday break and look forward to seeing your son back at school on Tuesday 13 July.

God Bless