COLLEGE NEWS
FATHER'S DAY BREAKFAST
The college proudly welcomed the fathers, grandfathers, uncles, and the other fatherly figures in our students’ lives at our annual Father’s Day Breakfast on Friday 30 August.
Following a delicious breakfast buffet meal, our special guest speaker, sports commentator and former Zimbabwe test cricketer Henry Olonga spoke about his remarkable life and experiences. When he was 18 years old, Mr Olonga became the youngest ever test cricketer for Zimbabwe and also the first ever black test cricketer for that country.
Mr Olonga suffered hardship and was forced into exile when he criticised the Mugabe government in 2003. However, he persevered, worked hard, and credits his success to making time for doing what inspires him creatively: singing and performing on stage. (You may have even seen him on the 2019 season of ‘The Voice’.) He also presented to and performed for our very enthusiastic Year 8 cohort after the Breakfast. We thank him for visiting us and for sharing his talents and outlook on life.
MERCY MASS
Mercy Week honours the Sisters of Mercy, their legacy, and everything they have done to improve the lives of people all over the world since Catherine McAuley founded the Order in 1831.
Here at St Joseph’s College, we celebrate our Mercy heritage with a specially dedicated Mercy Mass. On Thursday 5 September, the college gathered in the Sacred Heart Church for this important annual event and to bid farewell to Sister Patricia Fitzgibbon RSM, the last Sister of Mercy in Mildura, who also happens to be a former St Joseph’s College student. We thanked her for everything she has done to support our college and the Mildura community before wishing her all the best as she prepares to move to Melbourne.
Following the Mass – as has been the tradition for decades at St Joseph’s College – all students enjoyed an ice cream in their Homerooms.
APPOINTMENT OF DEPUTY PRINCIPAL LEARNING AND TEACHING
It gives me great pleasure to announce that Mr Emmet Brown will officially assume the role of Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching from Term 1 in 2025.
Emmet Brown has been acting as our Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching since I vacated the role to become College Principal at the end of Term 1 this year. Prior to that, he has held several roles at St Joseph’s College, the most recent being our Director of Learning and Teaching.
Mercy Education presided over the process of selecting a permanent replacement for our Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching. Following a shortlisting, four strong candidates emerged. A four-person panel consisting of myself, the Head of People and Culture at Mercy Education, a secondary consultant from the Catholic Education Office Ballarat, and a St Joseph’s College Advisory Council member interviewed them all.
Given the high quality of the candidates, the panel faced a challenging task when deciding on the successful applicant. However, Emmet’s thorough knowledge of the college curriculum, empathetic nature, and deep-seated connection to the Mercy Charism – coupled with his strengths in data analysis and change management – made him the ideal choice.
Please join me in congratulating Emmet Brown on this career milestone. I am confident that his appointment will greatly benefit our community and ensure the consistency and stability our college needs to grow and build on the 118-year legacy of learning entrusted to us by the Sisters of Mercy.
Mr Greg Kluske
College Principal
Emmet Brown is from Derry in Ireland. He has been a member of the St Joseph’s College community since 2006, during which time he has held several leadership roles, including Camps Coordinator, English Learning Area Facilitator, Director of Excellence in Learning, Director of Learning and Teaching, and Acting Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching.
Throughout his career, Emmet has shown a deep commitment to fostering a supportive and thriving school environment. He is passionate about continuous improvement and always seeks opportunities for growth while remaining empathetic to the needs of both students and staff. He has a deep-seated connection to the Mercy Charism and strong links to Mercy owing to his childhood in Ireland and his time at St Joseph’s College Mildura.
COLLEGE TOUR AND TEACUP TUESDAY
Families interested in enrolment or a college tour are warmly invited to attend the next college tour at 9:30am on Tuesday 8 October. Following the tour, you are welcome to join the College Principal, Mr Greg Kluske, and the College Executive team for morning tea. Bookings are essential, so please reserve your spot at the link below.
PROCEDURE FOR STUDENTS WHEN UNWELL WHILE AT SCHOOL
There are increasing numbers of students who contact parent/guardians themselves when they feel unwell and want to go home from school, bypassing the First Aid Office. Students must comply with the college's guidelines on reporting illness to ensure student safety. These guidelines enable the college to adhere to child safety standards and reinforce the college's Student Mobile Technology Policy.
Students should not be contacting parents or guardians themselves.
Not only does this breach the mobile phone policy, but it causes difficulties when trying to locate the unwell student.
If a student feels unwell at school:
- The student is to attend the First Aid Office where the College Nurse or First Aid Officer will assess the student.
- If the student needs to go home, contact will be made to the parent/guardian or emergency contact that is listed in the student’s contacts on PAM. The college will not be able to contact anyone outside of this listing, so please ensure all student contacts are up to date.
- The parent/guardian or emergency contact must come into the student office to collect the unwell student.*
*Students in Year 7–10 must be collected from front reception. Upon your arrival, reception will notify First Aid that you have arrived and will send your child over for collection.
*Students in Year 11 and 12 may leave the college grounds through front reception once permission has been granted by parent/guardian.
Mrs Louise Clohesy
College Nurse
COLLEGE UNIFORM ALTERATIONS AND REPAIR SERVICE
A uniform alteration and repair service is available through the college.
Items can be brought to reception and should be clearly labelled. Once alterations and repairs are completed, the items will be sent home via students.
Please attach cash payment with any submitted items. Services and costs are outlined below:
Pants Hem – $20
Summer Dress Hem – $20
Winter Skirt Hem – $30
Re-sew Shirt Pocket – $10
Blazer Pocket Changeover – $30
Button Replacing – $5
Other repairs and minor alterations – negotiable.
Contact Jill Peters jpeters@sjcmda.vic.edu.au for any further information.
IMPORTANT DATES
Read about upcoming important dates here.