2023 | ISSUE 10 | SJC Newsletter

Welcome back to Term 3 at St Joseph’s. I hope that the holiday break was a productive time for everybody.

At the start of term we welcome following new staff into a variety of teaching, support and tutoring roles: Gemma Tolan, Luke Rogers, Marta Paredes Andia, Charlie Harris, Mark Heenan, Katy Mackenzie, Vanessa Davis, Caitlin Nelson, Dean Farley, Vickie Dolder, Lisa Buttigieg, Wendy Hallowell, Ella Barker, and Sam James. We also welcome back from leave; Kerry Drever, Kate Gibbs, Rachel Roche, Koren Irving, Jessica Lancaster, Flynn Beste and Eliza Abbott. We also have some staff who have changed roles: Cassie Gleeson is Acting Deputy Principal Wellbeing, Nathanael Smith is Acting Director of Westcourt and Sean Trevaskis is Acting Yr 8 coordinator (with Sam Querella)

Last Monday, staff commenced the term with a day of professional development focused on our Catholic identity and its expression through our strategic plan. Fr Elio Capra led the first two sessions with a focus on the revolutionary teachings of Jesus and his vision of a just society. The afternoon session was conducted by Bedi Othow; an advocate for diversity and inclusion within the workplace. It was good to be reminded that in the midst of the daily busyness, our core mission must always remain based on gospel values.

Jesus is sometimes referred to as the great includer because he challenged discriminatory structures and rules… and people who excluded individuals and groups. He stood up for the full equality and inclusion in society of women, the poor, ethnic minorities and people with disability. In 2023 we continue this work.

The public debate surrounding the upcoming referendum on an indigenous voice to Parliament is one of the more divisive and rancorous of recent times. Late last term I was approached by our student leaders who wish to advocate for the “YES’ vote. They feel strongly that supporting a first nations voice to the Parliament is aligned with the values of the College particularly that of inclusion. The leaders are still working on the form that this advocacy will take but it will commence later this term.

Earlier this year, our Year 8s were visited by Henry Ekert, one of the few remaining survivors of the Nazi Holocaust. Henry has written about visiting St Joseph’s in a magazine accessible by the following link: https://www.jwire.com.au/henry-shares-his-story/.

The article highlights a letter that was gifted to him from one of our Year 8 classes, including a Twirl chocolate bar. (a chocolate bar was the first thing he was given when he was liberated from the Nazis). This letter (minus the chocolate bar!) has been framed and hangs on the wall of the ‘Courage to Care’ office.

During the holiday break there has still been plenty of activity around and relating to the school. We have upgraded the cricket training nets and wickets on Carey Oval to improve safety and amenity. I would like to acknowledge the support of the St Joseph’s Old Collegians Cricket club (Mark Appleford and Rav Ravee in particular) and the Australian Cricket infrastructure fund for their support of this project. We have also commenced the refurbishment of the toilet block at Westcourt.

As the only all boys school in the region we are experts in educating young men and are constantly seeking to become even better at it. During the holiday break Lisa Pope and Peter Ryan attended a conference in New Zealand conducted by the International Boys’ Schools Coalition and have returned with a range of ideas that will implemented in the College over time.

And finally congratulations to those students involved in the College production ‘School of Rock’. It was superb!

God Bless

Tony Paatsch
Principal