DEPUTY PRINCIPAL LEARNING AND TEACHING

ST JOSEPH'S COLLEGE INTERNAL SCHOLARSHIPS 2023

To encourage excellence, acknowledge our diverse student population, and recognise and reward the students for their achievements, the college offers a number of scholarship opportunities to our students in Years 11 and 12. The scholarships fall into three categories, Enrichment, Inspiration and Achievement.

 

Last year, the college introduced the Enrichment Mercy Academic Internal Scholarships. These scholarships were offered again this year on the basis of academic merit to students continuing in Years 11 and 12 at the college in 2023 and 2024. The scholarships have a tenure of two years and are for the remission of 50% of the school fee. These scholarships are offered to a limited number of Year 10 students ranked in the top 10% of the Year 10 cohort.

 

We congratulate the following recipients for 2023:

Grace Albanese

Sosaia Ale

Emily Birch

Massimo Brigante

Connor Burns

Francesco De Maria

Adam Flore

Ashleigh Goss

Peter Huynh

Lara Hyland

Rupert Kendall

Molly McDonald

Meg Neagle

Darcy Noonan

Angel Pollifrone

Arabella Rankin

Giselle Ribarits

Darcy Toms 

 

The college presents Inspiration Year 11 Founding Sisters of Mercy Scholarships annually to Year 10 students who respect and display our Mercy Core Values, and who have shown excellence both in their academic and personal school life. The scholarships have the value of $1,500 and are presented to Year 10 students transitioning into Year 11 at the college. 

 

We congratulate the following recipients for 2023:

Emmalee Beggs

Maddison Aiello

James Bell

Jessica Birch

Nanga Fangaloka

Olivia Kambouris 

River Southwell

Neve Tingey

 

Each year, the college awards one Year 12 VCAL student the VCAL Award for Excellence Scholarship. To be eligible for this scholarship, each interested student must submit an application to the scholarship committee. The application addresses criteria based on VCAL achievement, personal conduct, college community participation and a confidential reference from a college VCAL teacher. 

 

The recipient of the 2022 VCAL Award for Excellence Scholarship is Molly Heeps. Congratulations Molly.

 

All scholarship recipients will be acknowledged and receive their certificate and cheque (if applicable) at the first college assembly to be held in Term 1, 2023 in the Sacred Heart Church. 

 

Congratulations to all our scholarship recipients. We look forward to following their progress and the contribution they will make to our college community.

ACADEMIC AWARD WINNERS

I would like to acknowledge the 2022 Term 2 Academic Award winners. These students are in the top ten percentile of their year level based on scores averaged across all assessment tasks for subjects in Years 7 to 11. Congratulations to the following students:

 

YEAR 7

Ava Hazer, Sienna Kelly, Connie Wan, Riley Cox, Aine Doody, Liana McClaer, Lacey Dichiera, Arnold McCoy, Eadie Neagle, Lee-Min Sheehan, Pasquale De Maria, Heidi Gibson, Rio Irvine, Cherry Foreman, Ava Gemits, Mollie O'Callaghan, Charlize Paterson, Sadie Woollard.

 

YEAR 8

Ananthu Dinkar, Lucy Johnson, Georgiana Rule, Jessica Anstey, Elsie Jenkins, Amelia Petrolo, Eva Challis, Elke Meehan, Julia O'Bryan, Aryah Hughes, Matilda Johnson, Sofia Tabacco, Bianca De Maria, Juliet Leng, Saffron Miller, Ithika Parvez, Rosetta Senior. 

 

YEAR 9

Estelle Floramo, Rebecca Hayes, Makenna French, Taylor Gregg, Rivith Herath Mudiyanselage, Juliet Moodley, Mabel Morrison, Julia Nguyen, Evie Oldham, Makayla Pel, Sarinna Chun, Harneer Singh, Lily Detenon, Charlotte Ferdelja, Sebastien Klarich, Ellie Pitt, Angus Thornton, Archie Conner, Sofia Plany, Giorgia Zappia.

 

YEAR 10 

Kristyn Alexander, Charlotte Fleri, Taya Higgins, Ashleigh Goss, Lara Hyland, Connor Burns, Adam Flore, Meg Neagle, Giselle Ribarits, Emily Birch, Lucy Gallienne-Innes, Grace Albanese, Sosaia Ale, Charlotte Boyd, Rupert Kendall, Darcy Noonan, Ruby Woollard.            

 

YEAR 11 

Lily Lawrence, Endera Mammone, Lily Bruhn, Connor Ede, Maddalena Petrolo, Lucais Delacoeur, Mylee Mansley, Ella Briggs, Eva Caminiti, Shelby Couch, Kaitlin Hards, Chelsea Pollifrone, Anthony De Maria, Laila Zappia. 

YEAR 12 PRACTICE EXAM CYCLE - TERM 3 HOLIDAYS

We know one of the most effective ways to improve students results in VCE are for students to complete and receive feedback on as many practice exams as is possible. Hence, we are running a formal Year 12 practice exam cycle during the first three days of the Term 3 holidays.

 

The exam cycle will be run just like the actual Year 12 exams. Invigilators have been employed to supervise the exams (as they are for the VCAA Year 12 exams in October and November) and the same conditions which apply to the VCAA exams will apply to this exam cycle. Students will be given an exam timetable and will be expected to be in full college uniform.

 

We understand that given this is a new program there may be families who have already made plans for that week, but we are hopeful that the vast majority of students who are studying Year 12 subjects will be able to make the most of this opportunity, and consequently improve their VCE results.  All relevant details can be found in the attached document that follows. 

 

REPORTS

Interim reports will be made available via Parent Access Module (PAM) and SIMON on Friday September 16 (the last day of term) from 4:00pm. To access the reports:

  • Go to the college website www.sjcmda.vic.edu.au  
  • Login > SIMON/PAM > and enter your username and password. If you are unsure of your login details, please telephone college reception and they will be able to assist. 
  • Once you have logged into PAM, go to your child’s profile by clicking on their name or photo. 
  • Select the Student Assessment tab and it will give you access to all your child’s completed reports for the year.

Reports are also accessible for students through their normal SIMON profile.

 

I encourage you to discuss with your son/daughter the contents of their report which aims to communicate how students are progressing in their various subjects. The report is an important document and warrants parents/guardians and students taking some time to consider its contents and to reflect on progress and current levels of achievement.

PARENT, STUDENT AND TEACHER INTERVIEWS 

Parent, Student and Teacher Interviews will occur on Tuesday October 11 from 4:00pm to 7:00pm. More information about making bookings for these interviews will be distributed via SkoolBag.

YEAR 11 SNOW CAMP

It was very pleasing to see so many students attend the Year 11 Snow Camp. As the snow camp has not occurred for the previous two years due to COVID-19 restrictions, it was great to see such a large group enjoying each other’s company, learning new skills and important life lessons about persistence and resilience. 

 

I would like to particularly acknowledge the staff who attended.  To be successful, a camp requires a delicate balance between providing opportunities for growth and minimising risk. The staff ensured that the students were challenged, engaged and motivated. As a result, we saw enormous growth in individual students. 

 

We chose to travel further to Perisher rather than the Victorian resorts, as Perisher can provide lunches in an indoor setting for large school groups at their Blue Cow Café. It also allowed travel via train (Skitube) to Blue Cow, which means no windy, hilly roads and therefore no travel sickness issues. 

 

The students had a great time, and what an experience for them. 

 

I was pleased to receive some great feedback from SkiRider, who said St Joseph’s College were the best school group they have had stay with them.

GANDEL HOLOCAUST STUDIES PROGRAM

Congratulations to Mrs Michelle Winderlich (teacher) who made submission for and has been successful in being selected for the prestigious 'Gandel Holocaust Studies Program'.

 

The program includes a challenging and intensive teacher-training seminar at Yad Vashem’s International School for Holocaust Studies in Jerusalem, Israel. During the program, participants gain a detailed and in-depth understanding of the history of the Holocaust, as well as the tools and techniques to most effectively teach it as a subject. Leading historians will share the results of their latest research, and expert educators will introduce the pedagogical and age-appropriate approaches on how to teach various age levels about the Holocaust. 

 

Participants will have the opportunity to meet Holocaust survivors and hear their personal testimonies firsthand. They will also be able to work with a wide range of resources, participate in workshops and discussions, and share ideas. Additionally, participants in this program will have the chance to experience contemporary Israel through various tours around the country.

 

Further information relating to this program can be found here.

 

Mr Greg Kluske

Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching