Issue 4 SJC News 2021

In recent years many of our staff and students have visited the community of Mannya in rural Uganda. Three years ago I had the privilege of spending a week there with colleagues. We visited schools that are largely dependent on financial support from Australia. These included the St Joseph’s Secondary Vocational School in Kensekka which relies on the generosity of our community in St Joseph’s Geelong to continue operating.

The history of our involvement in Uganda dates back to 2007 with a substantial contribution to the establishment of a primary school in Kensekka. This school now thrives, having been adopted by the Geelong-based Cotton On Foundation, which supports 17 primary schools and one secondary school in the region along with other initiatives in the health sector.

In this part of Uganda 70% of all households survive on less than three dollars (US) per week, HIV Aids has wreaked havoc on the adult population meaning many households are headed by children due to the death of adults and the most common form of work available (irregularly) is farm labour which barely brings in enough income to feed a family much less educate children. The traditional extended family system among Africans where relatives care for orphans has been weakened with many children left to fend for basic needs like food, shelter, clothing and education.

Most children here are doomed to poverty with education the only possible circuit breaker. St Joseph’s Kensekka is the only secondary school in a 24 km radius. The circumstances of many students are heartbreaking and the work of the school inspiring. Those young people who ‘want to’ and who ‘can’ attend school need very low or no fees, basic requirements like pencils and paper, and food at lunchtime (for some their only meal for the day). Those who experience success in their schooling have vastly different lives from those who don’t.

While on leave I also visited Ireland and the first two schools started by Edmund Rice two centuries prior. The similarities between 19^th century Ireland and 21^st-century Uganda were striking. They include parental unemployment, low life expectancy, limited vocational options, child exploitation, starvation and malnutrition, large families and a commitment to Catholicism.

Edmund Rice recognised the desperate need of Irelands’ youth and responded. We recognise the desperate need of Ugandas’ youth and because of our Edmund Rice traditions, our Christian obligation and our humanity, we must respond.

Earlier this week our student leadership group launched Edmund Rice day at a full school assembly. Their goal is that we raise $50,000 on Edmund Rice day on April 30. In order for this to happen each student needs to commit to donating $30 or each family $50. The reality is stark… if we do students in Kensekka will eat every day and be educated, if we don’t then they won’t and will remain impoverished. And we have the opportunity to make an incredible difference with a level of generosity that for most of us will not affect our lives.

Prior to the COVID travel bans, a group of Year 12 students were traveling to Mannya after their exams. (more in keeping with our commitment to Justice and Solidarity than partying on the Gold Coast). We hope to visit again in 2022 and it will be a great joy to see what we have made possible. Please support our leaders by ensuring that your son donates on Edmund Rice Day.

During COVID lockdown students and staff had the opportunity to develop a range of skills through remote learning. We are currently investigating a number of options whereby some students in some subjects may choose the option of undertaking some classes remotely. While there are many challenges to this not least the logistics, we think that this option has the potential to enrich the skills our students will need in many post-secondary studies or vocations.

Remote learning also offers the opportunity for continuity of learning during periods of school disruption. From 3-5 May, Year 12 students are undertaking their renewals off-site. For this period Year 10 and 11 students will undertake lessons remotely delivered online in a mixture of real-time and any time learning. This will assist students consolidate their remote learning practices. Families will be provided with further details regarding expectations and roll marking during this period by letter shortly.

At this time there seems to be a nasty ‘gastro’ illness circulating in the community. We have had a number of boys arrive at school quite ill, and obviously, in the school environment, this carries the risk of rapid transmission to many others. If your son is not well, whether with COVID, gastro, or symptoms of other illnesses please keep him at home until he has recovered. Teachers are providing detail of work to be completed for all their classes in class notices or OneNote so he can keep up with school work until he is well enough to return to school.

Stay well and God bless.