COLLEGE NEWS

IMPORTANT DATES

Read upcoming important dates here. 

PRAYER FOR COMPASSION

Merciful God,

Open my heart and mind to be fully present to those I interact with throughout the day. Allow me to listen to others without passing judgement or haste to solve what I cannot change.  Give me patience and understanding and grant me grace in my shortcomings. 

Be with me in times of fatigue and lift me up with the strength to carry out your compassionate love to all those I meet. 

Amen.

ROAD SAFETY PROCEDURES

CDC Mildura would like to take this time to remind passengers who travel on the school buses about the utmost importance of Road Safety when disembarking our services.

As per the Bus Safety Investigation Report in April 2017 (NSW), an unfortunate fatality occurred when a young student tried to cross the road unassisted in front of the stationary bus and was struck by a passing vehicle.

We cannot stress enough the importance of teaching our passengers the correct procedures once disembarking the bus. When a passenger disembarks the bus, they are to remain on the left-hand side of the bus until the bus has fully departed and it is not obstructing the view of oncoming traffic in either direction. Once the bus is not obstructing the view of any traffic, the passenger may cross the road if safe to do so. 

HISTORY ENRICHMENT PROGRAM 2020

St Joseph’s College Year 10 student Frances Strubelj, successfully applied for a place in the hugely popular History Enrichment Program this year.  This program was held by the History Teachers’ Association of Victoria during the recent school holidays, and places were allocated on the basis of school recommendation and a written student application. The program was held online for the first time in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. The staff who ran the program commended the passionate and knowledgeable history students that attended, noting that they sustained their interest and energy throughout the fast-paced and highly interactive two-day program. Students took the sessions on historical thinking skills in their stride, and leapt into the knowledge-based activities and lectures.  All of the HTAV and Federation University staff involved in the program were truly impressed and delighted with these students, and cannot wait to see what they produce for the virtual exhibition of their passion projects.

You can read Frances’ reflection on this year’s program below. For secondary students who may be interested in participating in the program in 2021, keep an eye out for information about it or speak to your history teacher. HTAV have obtained further funding from the Student Excellent Unit of the Department of Education and Training to run both the History Enrichment Program (for advanced thinkers and fast learners) and a school holiday program in 2021 and 2022.

This year HTAV’s History Enrichment program was run online via Zoom for two days during the last school holidays. The first day started off with a welcome and a small introduction activity in groups where we talked about our favourite kinds of history and why we like those histories. After a small break there was a presentation on “quack medicine”, which is medicine that claims to cure your illnesses - but actually has no scientific evidence to prove this.  We then did an activity in groups where we had to come up with our own quack medicine, such as ‘magic marbles’ that could cure your foot fungus. The day ended with a talk about a project we will be completing over the next month, which will focus on an aspect of history we are interested in, and will then be showcased in a virtual exhibition. My project will be focusing on Slovenia during and after World War II, and the different occupying forces during that time.

The second day of the program started with a discussion about everyone’s inquiry questions for the project, and a presentation about using objects as historical evidence. This focused on mud larking in the Thames. (A mudlark is someone who scavenges in river mud for items of value, a term used especially to describe those who scavenged this way in London during the late 18th and 19th centuries.) We then went into groups and discussed an historical object, and had to decide what it could have been used for. After the break, we played a game where we had to look at different images and gather as much information as we could from them to try and find out more about a person’s life. At the end of the day, we were given some useful tips and resources that will help us with researching and presenting our projects. 

The program was very interesting and engaging, and I really enjoyed it. I learnt a lot about history techniques, research and how to keep learning and expanding my knowledge.

Miss Frances Strubelj (Year 10)

VCAL STORY BOOK

As part of reaching our written and oral outcomes for literacy, our senior VCAL team had the responsibility of drafting, creating and publishing their very own unique picture story book. The aim of this task was to collaborate our creative and writing skills to help publish a descriptive, yet simple story book that will engage kindergarten children and allow children to grasp some comprehensive skills which they can build upon as they grow and develop in their schooling.

Mrs Vicki Ellis, the Year 12 literacy teacher created this task to allow each student to grasp their own creative skills and express their own individuality. Prior to the commencement of online schooling and implementation of COVID-19 restrictions, after publishing the story books, the senior VCAL team were planning on engaging with the younger students and reading our books to three-year-old kindergarten children. However, after facing difficult circumstances with online schooling, sadly, we were unable to do this. As a result, the team were forced to adapt to these difficult circumstances, collaborating a number of ideas via zoom to help determine how we can reach our oral outcomes in a fun and engaging way. We decided as a group to record ourselves reading our picture story books on an IMovie application. 

Overall, the Year 12 VCAL team felt privileged to take part in such a fun and engaging activity where we were also able to build upon our knowledge and skills in relation to literacy and creative skills. Mrs Vicki Ellis assisted us in a great way, ensuring our story books were produced, published and edited to a high standard, in effort to help her students reach the best outcome possible. Not only did we build upon our knowledge, but we are able to keep a small memento that will remind us of our unique Year 12 experience forever. 

Miss Brianna Scullino (Year 12)

ART IN LOCK DOWN

This term Harley Caldwell concluded his Masters practicum placement amid a very different classroom environment of remote learning during a pandemic.

When we learnt that school was going back into lock down, Harley and I quickly crafted a practical art task which related to our street art unit. For their art responding, students had been navigating through the NGV's virtual tour of the Keith Haring and Jean Michel Basquiat exhibition. Upon reflection of Lockdown 1.0, I discovered students had limited art supplies at home. So Harley formed an art making task where students were encouraged to think laterally about sourcing their art materials and mediums. 

Inspired by the way artist Keith Haring compulsively drew and painted on whatever was on hand, students created Haring inspired artworks on plywood, glass, Lego and clothing.

Harley and I found that online platforms allow students to continue sharing and talking about their artwork, just as they would in school. Students learnt how art is not just about creating in isolation, but also the sharing process.

Remote learning has helped forge new, creative ways to encourage students to create and present even when school buildings are closed. 

Mrs Jo Fraser

ZOMBIES ATTACK VO GEOGRAPHY

During Term 3 the VO Geography classes have been studying the biomes of the world. Their assessment task was to survive in a biome of their choice for five days during a zombie apocalypse. The task required students to demonstrate their knowledge of the characteristics of the biome including the flora and fauna, climate, dangers of the biome, and their impact and how to minimise this. A diagram or diorama was necessary to demonstrate the environment and shelter they would create. Below are examples of dioramas by Montanna Avery, Matilda Kelly and Olivia Elliott. 

Mrs Michelle Winderlich

YOUTH PARLIAMENT 2020

This year, I had the privilege of participating in the YMCA Youth Parliament program. 

Youth Parliament is a program run by YMCA Youth Services that gives young people between the ages of 16 and 25, a chance to be heard at the highest levels of the Victorian Government. Through this incredible program, participants can share their views on a wide range of topics and issues relevant to their own lives. 

Twenty teams of six participants across Victoria receive training in public speaking and leadership. With assistance from a very well experienced taskforce, each team will research and debate a state issue that they have chosen, and present it as a Bill in the parliamentary chambers. In the program’s 35-year history, more than 30 pieces of state legislation have originated in the Youth Parliament.

This year, the Mildura Team agreed on the topic of air-conditioning in public housing. Our Bill argued that like heating, which is already mandatory in public housing, air-conditioning should be too. This is an issue that affects so many people, particularly places like Mildura in the north-west of the state, where temperatures are known to exceed 40°. 

We spent multiple weeks researching together, thanks to the help of Mallee Family Care, who provided us with detailed information on how the lack of air-conditioning affected people in the Mildura area. Not only did it heavily affect their physical health, but their mental health, social wellbeing, work ethic, and education. 

With the help of our amazing taskforce and mentors, we wrote the Bill that we planned on presenting in the parliamentary chambers. This experience in itself was amazing, as reading over legislation is one thing, but writing it yourself is another.

Although we were not able to make the trip to Melbourne this year, we were fortunate enough to have stakeholder meetings via Zoom with DHHS, as well as with the Victorian Housing Minster. Both were incredible experiences, as was the entire program. 

I have definitely taken a lot away from this experience; I have learnt multiple new skills, improved on my public speaking, and met so many new people. From here, we will continue our advocacy on the topic and look forward to continuing to work with other local advocates both prior to, and beyond the upcoming state budget. 

Miss Ella Beard (Year 10)

COMMUNITY SERVICE

The picture shows my little sister Alice, who was a player in the Mildura Settlers Under 12’s team I coached, and myself with our favourite cricket bats. My good friend Liam Goss and I assisted coach Mr John Bergin with some of the roles and duties faced by a coach for the majority of the cricket season. Such activities saw me go from creating and implementing fun fielding drills for the kids to develop their skills, to helping out on weekend games as a coach, umpire, scorer, or a mix of all three. 

I had a brilliant time coaching and getting to know all those young children and it was a great experience to watch a coach as gentle and educating as John go about his business in helping to develop the next generation of male and female cricketers in Sunraysia.

I personally would strongly recommend to all future students seeking to complete their community service, that they participate in it at a sporting club or community group they are involved in. The sheer satisfaction of giving back to an organisation that has given so much to you as a child is a truly rewarding experience and one that has created memories and relationships I will not soon forget. 

William Rodgers

2020 College Captain

When on my placement at the RSPCA Op shop I would take donations, put out donations and serve customers. I learnt that the service is operated solely by a dedicated team of volunteers who raise funds which go towards supporting the RSPCA’s mission to end animal cruelty, and help those in need in our community. 

By volunteering at the RSPCA Op Shop it helped open my eyes to how some people are living in our community. It made me feel better that I was helping the community and I will definitely come back again and suggest others to volunteer at the RSPCA Op Shop. 

Paige Lock (Year 11)

END OF YEAR MASS

On Friday October 18,  Xavier house was delighted to be leading the filming of the end of year Mass celebration for the college with Fr Matthew Thomas. It has been another busy and exciting year at St Joseph’s College. Although almost two terms of the school year has been spent in remote learning, the college has displayed its commitment to ensuring the 2020 college value of Community has shone through.

It is a year of endings; the Year 12 students have come to the end of not just another year but their final year at St Joseph’s, while the Year 7 students are finishing their first year. For other year levels the final days are filled with the last of assessment tasks, exams and other final activities. For a number of staff, it is also goodbye as they move on to new opportunities. And for the Victorian community, it is hoped, an ending of lockdowns and Covid-19 restrictions.

During the Mass, Fr Matthew Thomas blessed our 2020 and 2021 College Captains and Vice Captains, seeking God’s grace to be present in their relationships, lead them to fulfilment in their future lives and to live out the Gospel’s and college’s core values.  Following the blessing our College Vice Captains, Alexandra Marwood and William Forrest spoke about their time at the college and their dreams for a better world.

The Mercy Tradition with the core values of: Service, Hospitality, Justice, Excellence, Spirituality, Community and Compassion, have been a guiding light for all of us at St Joseph’s College during this challenging year of Covid-19 restrictions and remote learning.

As we draw to the end of another school year, we acknowledge the Sisters of Mercy who have served our college so wonderfully for so long, and who provide examples of how we can face life beyond 2020 with compassion, hospitality, service and justice in our words, actions and ideas.  

Miss Paula Cox

Director of Catholic Identity

LA TROBE UNIVERSITY ASPIRE EARLY ADMISSIONS PROGRAM 

This year the college has had a record number of students apply for and successfully be accepted into the La Trobe University Aspire Early Admissions Program; 17 in total! The finalised list of students below.  Congratulations to all these students.

Ms Fiona Dimasi

Careers Practitioner

YEAR 12 RETREAT

This year’s Year 12 Retreat was, with no doubt, very different from what we thought it would be at the beginning of the year, but due to the combined efforts of a dedicated group of staff we were able to still hold a redrafted two-day Retreat that was just as meaningful.  

Monday was (as many Year 12’s would agree) full of food, high on emotion and packed with light-hearted activities. The first activities for the day included ice-breaker games and a relaxing arts and crafts session of decorating blocks of the first letter of our names. This was then used in our final prayer service on Tuesday afternoon. This was followed by presentations from Dr Tony Finn and Fr Matthew Thomas about their personal life journeys, which got us thinking about our own journey, the things that are important to us and what will be important to us in the future. 

Throughout the day, we also separated into groups where we further reflected on ourselves as people, our relationships, goals, and aspirations and our journeys. We also took part in group activities that allowed us to share our personal stories, which helped us become closer as a group and get to know people who we may have never really had the chance to get to know before. 

In the afternoon we received and opened letters that were addressed to us from ourselves from our 2019 Seminar Day and 2020 Seminar Day earlier this year, as well as recent ones from family and friends. Every letter was different. Some were lighthearted and full of jokes, others held memories we may have long forgotten. Some spoke of hopes and dreams for us and our future and some were addressed from relatives that live around the world. For many people who don’t often say these things out loud, these letters were a chance to convey their love, hopes, dreams and voice how proud they are of the student. All of the letters held some sort of sentimental value. This was an hour of personal reflection and an emotional time for everyone, this hour also highlighted the close bond within the cohort as it saw many students comfort one another when many people were in tears after reading their letters. 

In the same fashion as the day began, it ended in a light-hearted way with several intense games of zorb soccer and a quiz night accompanying a three-course meal in the Holland Room. 

Tuesday included a lot of team-building activities held by the Wild Side Outdoors team. There was a wide variety of fun-filled activities that challenged students’ leadership skills, creativity and their ability to think outside of the box. The outdoor games were followed by relaxing affirmation activities in assigned groups, before the final prayer service at the end of the day. The service involved a prayer circle made up of our decorated letter blocks where everyone had the chance to share something that held significance to them with the entire year level. 

All in all, the Retreat was a memorable couple of days that gave us Year 12’s a chance at an appropriate final send-off even if it wasn’t the usual Retreat at Anglesea as many of us had wished.

We extend a huge thank you to Miss Paula Cox, Fr Matthew Thomas, Dr Tony Finn  and college student leaders Ellie Scott, William Rodgers, Alexandra Marwood and William Forrest for the numerous redrafting of the Retreat program; Fr Matthew Thomas and Dr Tony Finn for their presentations; the canteen staff and Mr Haydn Collins who provided the mountain of food for everyone over the two days; College Executive who handled all the legal aspects of holding the Retreat within COVID regulations and restrictions and allowing the event to go ahead; the teachers who had given up their Monday and Tuesday classes to spend the day with us; and Wild Side Outdoors team for holding the team building activities.

Pathama Wankhuan

Year 12

YEAR 12 STUDENTS V STAFF SOCCER MATCH

Despite its best efforts, even Covid couldn’t stop the annual Year 12 V Staff soccer match. And like every other year it didn’t disappoint with a fine display of official rule bending, theatrical diving and less than graceful flailing of arms and legs.  

After some pre-match spruiking the teachers came hot out of the gate with the first goal of the match and soon followed with another unanswered goal. But out-and-out domination was short lived as the Year 12’s clawed their way onto the board with their first goal. Or perhaps outnumbering would be a more apt description as it became impossible to swing as they all flooded the field, despite Mr Ficarra’s very, very vocal protests. But in the end it wasn’t enough, the best the students could do was level the score for a very anti-climactic final score of 2-2. No doubt the staff will be keen for a reprisal next year and reclaim the victory flag. 

Thanks to all who got out on the field, helped set up and pack up and braved the sidelines to cheer us all on. As always it was a fabulous match and to our current Year 11’s…… look out, we’re coming for you! 

Miss Samantha Dakis

Language Learning Area Leader

CELEBRATIONS - CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK, R U OK? AND MERCY WEEK 

Every year, Mercy Week occurs during the final week of Term 3, to celebrate this significant milestone of the House of Mercy.  While in remote learning, St Joseph’s College began its celebrations during Catholic Education Week on Thursday September 10, which is also R U OK Day. We commenced our celebrations, as Catherine herself would have started every meeting, by asking R U OK? At recess the staff and students at the college where given an R U OK cup cake with a smile. I am sure Catherine would have had a smile on her face as she watched us come together as a community.

At lunch Fr Matthew Thomas, opened our Catholic Education Week and Mercy Week BBQ with a blessing focusing on while the whole school was not there, we were coming together in their honour to recognise the good work of all those involved in our Catholic Education and the wonderful work of our Sisters of Mercy.  Although, small in number the buzz of excitement and pride in all the good work we as a Catholic Mercy College does was apparent. Everyone enjoyed their cold drinks and BBQ meal.

Mercy Week provides everyone associated with the Sisters of Mercy with the opportunity to honour the past, celebrate the present and imagine the future. It is an occasion when we reflect on our college’s Mercy Mission and Values and generally rejoice that we are part of a Global Mercy community. On Friday the college filmed the Mercy Liturgy in the chapel.  Fr Matthew Thomas and our students filmed the liturgy with Sr Patricia, Sr Rosemary, Sr Helen and Sr Carmel. Sr Carmel shared her personal Mercy journey with the students in the liturgy. The liturgy paid homage to Catherine McAuley, the Sisters of Mercy who arrived in Mildura to establish our college in 1906 and all those Sisters who have been part of our college community since.  

On Tuesday September 15, in line with our Mercy Tradition at St Joseph’s College, the staff and students at the college received an ice-cream, just as the Sisters of Mercy gave to the college community in the past. The Gospel Values and Spirit of Mercy continue to be lived out in all that we say and do at the college. Everyone is encouraged to celebrate Catholic Education Week and Mercy Week by spending some time with his or her family and friends, especially in this time of COVID 19. 

I would now like to remind everyone of some inspirational sayings of Catherine McAuley;

• “The simplest and most practical lesson I know . . . is to resolve to be good today, but better tomorrow.”
• “The Poor need help today, not next week.”
• “There are three things the poor prize more highly than gold, though they cost the donor nothing; among these are the kind word, the gentle, compassionate look and the patient hearing of their sorrows.”

Let us all aim to aspire to follow in Catherine McAuley’s footsteps and live by these three simple sayings.  

Miss Paula Cox

Director of Catholic Identity