PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE

Welcome to the sixth edition of Community for the 2024 school year. As you will see on the following pages, the past five weeks of Term 3 have given our community quite a bit to celebrate. 

From camps and excursions that challenge and enrich, to visitors and events that bring learning to life, every day offers new things to discover at St Joseph’s College.

SNOW CAMP REFLECTION 

In Week 7, I had the pleasure of accompanying the Year 11 cohort on their Snow Camp at Perisher in New South Wales. Despite inconsistent weather, everyone had a fantastic time. On the whole, the students approached every day with positive attitudes and made the most of their time on camp, whether on the slopes or at the lodge. Their maturity and optimism impressed me and the other staff chaperones. We were all proud of our future Class of 2025 and their behaviour. 

Camps provide challenges that hone resilience and reward students with opportunities to assume responsibility for aspects of their wellbeing. Away from the comforts and routines of home and family, young people must learn how to make some decisions on their own and solve certain problems. As a result, they stand taller and more confident.

CATHOLIC STUDENT WELLBEING RATES HIGH 

I was very pleased to learn that Australian Catholic school students recently rated their emotional and mental wellbeing the highest across all secondary school sectors.

Issued in July as part of the National Australia Bank’s 2024 State of Education Series, the ‘NAB Insights Special Report’ presented the results of a survey on how students across the country from Catholic, independent, and government schools feel about their lives. 

On a scale of 0 to 100, Catholic schools scored 68.5 in emotional and mental wellbeing – higher than independent schools (66.6) and government schools (64). 

Students in Catholic secondary schools also reported the lowest feelings of loneliness. The Victoria Catholic Education Authority believes that this result indicates how strongly Catholic schools commit to creating a community that includes families, parishioners, local residents, and area businesses. –And I think we would all agree with them.

Importantly, the 2024 scores for mental and emotional wellbeing and loneliness represent improvements in those same areas from statistics within the 2023 report.

Wellbeing affects a student’s learning outcomes, both in terms of academic results and the ability to make healthy life choices. Here at St Joseph’s College, we have woven our approach to helping students create and maintain positive wellbeing throughout the fabric of college life. Experiences on camps like the Year 11 Snow Camp are but one element of our wellbeing program, which centres on child safety and pastoral care. 

Students participate in Extended Pastoral Care activities each week in their year levels, Homerooms, or Pastoral Care Groups. They can also make appointments with our dedicated Wellbeing Team of experienced mental health clinicians to discuss any worries or issues they may be facing in their lives.

We give students the option to get involved in college wellbeing initiatives, too. They can help support their classmates by assisting in vertically integrated Homerooms, acting as Year 9 Peer Support Officers, taking on leadership roles, and creating conversations as part of R U OK? Day. 

Improving positive wellbeing outcomes for young people will continue to drive our decision making at St Joseph’s College. We will always search for more avenues and strategies to provide our students with the tools they need to navigate life’s ups and downs, both large and small.

In the spirit of hope and faith,

Mr Greg Kluske

College Principal

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST BOARD DIRECTOR

Mercy Education Limited (Mercy Education) is seeking Expressions of Interest for the position of Director Mercy Education Limited Board. Vacancies have arisen as current board members are reaching the end of their tenure. Mercy Education currently seeks suitably qualified Directors, with experience or a background in:

• principalship in a Catholic school or education system leadership; or
• legal; or
• risk and compliance.

APPLICATION

Your expression of interest needs to include a brief résumé and a covering letter detailing why you are interested in being a Director of Mercy Education along with the specific skills and experience you believe would contribute to the work of the Board. A full description is attached below.

For further information please contact Judy Sailors, Company Secretary at judy.sailors@mercy.edu.au.

Applications close 20 September 2024.