2023 | ISSUE 13 | SJC Newsletter

Dear Parents / Carers

Earlier this week the Prime Minister announced the date for the Referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament will take place on October 14. St Joseph’s has been engaged with the ongoing debate regarding issues surrounding the Referendum. In line with position articulated by our governing body, Edmund Rice Education Australia, (EREA) we support The Voice to Parliament; at the same time, we are conscious of our primary role as educators and our obligation to provide students with the information required for them to form their own fully informed view.

Two weeks ago, we welcomed Senator Sarah Henderson and Mr Warren Mundine to promote the case for the ‘no’ argument to senior students. Earlier today we welcomed Deputy Prime Minister Mr Richard Marles and local indigenous elder uncle Glenn Shea to speak to students promoting the case for a ‘yes’ vote.

For those accessing this newsletter in print please find a letter from Dr Liam Smith National Executive Director of EREA and Ms Philomena Billington President of the EREA Council of Trustees outlining position of EREA on the voice referendum. 

One important element of the College strategic plan is ‘student voice’ and an integral part of this is having effective student leadership structures throughout the school. Earlier this week I was delighted to announce our senior student leadership team for 2024. Process for identifying this team is extremely comprehensive and includes written application, address the students, vote from current yr 7 and year 11 students and staff and interview with a panel of senior staff.

Congratulations to College Captain Michael Ahearn, Deputy Captains, Jude Payne and Kaine Shaw, and Touchstone Prefects: David Iosefo and Danu Lakey (Inclusive Community), Ben Parish and Luke DiLisio (Justice and Solidarity), Josef Paatsch and Ky Berends (Gospel Spirituality), and Luke Stacey and Matthew Suhandi (Liberating Education).

This outstanding group of young men will be joined by House Captains and elected leaders from other year levels and will continue to provide the strong, principled and effective student voice in the College we have experienced with our 2023 senior student leadership team and those of previous years.

Each year the College is required to undertake the MACSIS Survey. Survey is undertaken by all students and staff and a representative sample of 450 families. Data provides an important snapshot into what we are doing well and areas where we need to focus on improvement. If you were one of the ‘lucky’ families randomly chosen receive survey will have arrived by email earlier this week and we would be very grateful if you would complete the survey at your earliest convenience.

Our current Year 12 students are rapidly approaching their final classes with approximately four weeks remaining for VCE students. Much can be achieved during this time with a committed and diligent approach to exam preparation. Students are also strongly encouraged to access the VCE revision lectures provided College during the term break. The current year 12 cohort have been onside and have worked really positively throughout the year and we look forward to seeing individual and collective excellence in their outcomes.

God Bless

Tony Paatsch
Principal