Issue 5 SJC News 2021

Welcome to the final newsletter of Term 1. For most of last year, like most Australian individuals and workplaces we operated under great uncertainty. From the start of this year notwithstanding the three day “circuit breaker” lockdown early this term and the fears that it revived, it has been fantastic to have things almost “business as usual”. This term has been a really productive one and the return to interschool and community music, sport and cultural events, the reintroduction of excursions and larger gatherings, including open days, has been a real positive.

I had the pleasure of attending our Term 1 music concert last week. The music was of high quality and the engagement and enjoyment shown by our musicians was wonderful to see. As a non-musician, I marvel at how wonderful it must be to have a skill that brings so much pleasure to oneself and others! We wish our ACC Swimming Team well as they prepare for the ACC Carnival on Wednesday night. A good result would be a fitting finish to the term which has seen our Athletics Team finish second and the First XI Cricket Team undefeated until the last ball of the semi-final.

There is a strong and optimistic sense throughout the College that great things will be achieved in 2021. Throughout the year levels, boys respect for each other is pleasing as is their approach to their learning. The Year 7 boys completed their camps this week and all reports suggest they were a very positive experience. Our VCAL students have returned from a week at Corryong assisting in bushfire recovery. I want to acknowledge the leadership of our Year 12 students who appear highly motivated, and most of whom are working diligently and setting high standards and a great example to younger boys.

We were saddened this week by the death of long-serving College volunteer Len Alford. For over 20 years Len assisted our Football and Cricket teams in a variety of roles and, while very ill, was still operating the scoreboard at cricket matches until a couple of weeks ago. A remarkably generous and humble man who gave us so much and asked for nothing in return, he will be sadly missed.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord

May perpetual light shine upon him

May he rest in peace

Amen

The end of term will see some staff changes. We recently welcomed Zara Szakiel, Shannen Holmes and Virginia Schubert to roles in administration and Leah Kelson as Laboratory Technician. We farewell and thank Doug Byrt for his service to the College and wish him well in retirement. We also farewell Cassie Gleeson and Susan Dickinson as they commence parental leave along with Jane Emrick, Gemma Gray and Vin Brown who will be taking periods of leave from the start of Term 2.

We are now deep into the season of Lent with Easter imminent. In his Lenten letter of 2021, Pope Francis writes the following:

“may we be increasingly concerned with speaking words of comfort, strength, consolation and encouragement, and not words that demean, sadden, anger or show scorn. In order to give hope to others, it is sometimes enough simply to be kind, to be willing to set everything else aside in order to show interest, to give the gift of a smile, to speak a word of encouragement, to listen amid general indifference”.

Easter is a time of reflection and an opportunity to recognise the presence of the risen Christ in the world. We believe that each of us is created in the image and likeness of God and I hope you see and experience this in your son, friends and family this Easter. Best wishes to you and your family a very happy Easter.

Stay well and God bless