COLLEGE NEWS
IMPORTANT DATES
Read upcoming important dates here.
COLLEGE SCARF
A limited number of St Joseph's College scarves are available at our uniform shop. The quality scarf is an optional item and retails for $40. Drop in to the uniform shop and get your hands on the college scarf. Special thanks to Tamika for the fabulous modelling.
FROM FATHER MATTHEW
I am now into my ninth week in the Parishes of Mildura, Red Cliffs and Merbein. I am looking forward to spending time in the communities and meeting new people. I was here 11 years ago, and for some of you I was a colleague while for others I was the priest who visited your school when you were in the lower year levels. Either way, I am most grateful for being welcomed into the college community in my new role as Parish Priest. A few facts about me:
- Geelong supporter.
- Blue is my favourite colour.
- I like Queensland holidays.
- My two cats are Millie and Molly.
- My gold Labrador is named Rosie.
- My favourite food is chicken schnitzel with mash and gravy.
- St Patrick is my favourite saint, as I was ordained on his feast day in 2006.
Besides being a priest, I am a teacher. You just never know if I am going to be teaching your class one day. I look forward to meeting you and saying ‘Hi' in the schoolyard and at a school mass, assembly, retreat day or whenever our paths may cross.
Fr Matthew
PROJECT COMPASSION EASTER EGG RAFFLE
This year the Mercy Action Groups at the Enright campus and the Mercy campus along with the rest of the college organised the annual Easter egg raffle to raise funds for Project Compassion. Staff and students donated Easter eggs, wrapping paper and baskets for the prizes.
Before we could draw the raffle at the end of Term 1, remote learning occurred. So the Mercy Action Group decided to wait until we returned to school to draw the annual Easter egg raffle. Although the draw was held after Easter Sunday, the students were still excited to see who took home the major prize. Our wonderful maintenance man, Mr Troy Rivett took home first prize.
Twenty One lovely baskets were drawn and the winners were all excited about enjoying some chocolates.
Miss Paula Cox
Director of Catholic Identity
ST VINCENT DE PAUL WINTER APPEAL
In Term 2, St Joseph’s College Mercy Action Group put a call out to our staff and students to encourage everyone at home in isolation to clean out their cupboards looking for non-perishable food, warm clothing, and blankets to donate to our annual St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal.
Once students returned to school in late May, they were able to drop off all the collected items to the library for donation to our local St Vincent de Paul agency. These donations will be put to great use with an average of 255 people experiencing homelessness each night in this electorate in 2019. Mildura has the fourth highest level of homelessness in regional Victoria. The Mercy Action Group would like to thank everyone who kindly donated to the Winter Appeal. The spirit of Community lives on in the Sunraysia area where ‘We are all in this together!’ is the catchphrase of the Covid-19 experience.
VIRTUAL SLEEP OUT
The Mercy Action group developed a social justice initiative to raise awareness and understanding of homelessness in our community and supporting those in need. Students were invited to participate in a virtual sleep out, where students will be encouraged to sleep on the on a couch or floor or sleep outside in a tent, as if they were homeless, couch surfing or sleeping out. Students were able to select a night to sleep out over a two week period where they had to limit their evening meal to a bowl of soup and a bread roll and have no access to technology. The college also encouraged students to donate hygiene or health products to be given out to those in need at the Sacred Heart Parish Soup Kitchen and St Vincent de Paul in Mildura. Our senior students were asked to also watch at least one episode of ‘Filthy Rich and Homeless’ (an SBS TV show from June 9 to 11) and write a reflection about their experiences and understanding of homelessness.
Miss Paula Cox
Director of Catholic Identity
I had decided to get involved in the virtual sleep out as a way to understand what it may be like for those living homeless, or couch surfing. In my case, I had slept on the couch in a caravan outside, to be like those who may be couch surfing, as they do not have a permanent residence. Before 8.00pm, when technology was not to be used, I had watched an episode of ‘Filthy Rich & Homeless’, to understand what is like to be homeless.
I learnt that it is difficult for those who sleep rough, as they do not have the security that we do, or the comfort one has in their home, or bedroom.
Kaitlyn Thompson (Year 12)
My sister and I participated in the virtual sleep out, still not sure why we picked the coldest night. We are very aware of homeless people and how bad it really is for them as we come from South Africa where homelessness is a HUGE problem. Unemployment is higher than 28% in South Africa and young people have less than 50% chance of finding a job. A large portion of the population is either homeless or living in informal cardboard and tin shacks.
We had a simple dinner of one cup of soup and a small meat pie with no treats like ice-cream or cookies. We also only had water to drink from 6.00pm to 8.00am. We do not yet have a tent so we slept on the sofas in our TV room, this was uncomfortable and quite cold. We limited our technology, so no television, cellphones, radio or tablets and instead we played a board game and I read a book.
Although we were in the comfort of our home and we each had two blankets and a soft sofa to sleep on, it was still quite uncomfortable and cold and I missed my hot chocolate drink. It made me realise how fortunate we are and how many comforts and luxuries we have and take for granted every day. I will be sure to appreciate the things that I have much more than I have done in the past.
Tiaan Potgieter (Year 9) and Megan Potgieter (Year 8)
COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS HOSPITALITY PROGRAM
COOKING FROM THE HEART
Humankind has always connected through food. Whether working together in a vegetable garden or orchard, passing down recipes in the kitchen, or sharing a table together, food helps us to connect and celebrate happy times.
The Mercy Action Group with the support of the Principal, Mrs Marg Blythman created the Community Connections Hospitality Program (CCHP) to help families create more happy times by staying connected with loved ones during current social distancing regulations in Term 2.
The St Joseph’s College catering team, Mrs Louise McGlashan, Mrs Sally Fishwick and Mrs Kerrie Walsh the CCHP will re-commence the program and this is once again available to college families to order a meal and arrange contactless delivery to someone who is socially isolated. Please be aware that delivery to NSW is not available due to border restrictions.
All St Joseph’s College families can utilise this free service and order one meal for a person of their choice. The catering team prepare warming soups, delicious mains, and succulent sweet treats for each meal. Packed by and paired with handwritten notes from the Mercy Action Group, these tokens of love from afar have brightened the days of many lucky recipients.
Finding ways to continue living our Mercy values in these troubled times allows us to stay connected to our students’ families, and they in turn can give back to loved ones throughout Sunraysia.
Inspired by Catherine McAuley’s efforts, we are grateful that we can continue to honour her and celebrate the values of hospitality and community, even from a distance.