Reflections on Term 1

It has been a very eventful Term 1. Students reconnected with each other in person and began the task of readjusting to onsite learning. 

It was great to return to school and we welcomed a number of new staff.

We have two trainees from AFL SportsReady - former student from the Class of 2022  Nicholas Bosch (Based at the Main Campus) and Hayden Anderson (based at Valdocco).

Easter provided the opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of our lives. Of course, the current situation in Ukraine is terrible and our hearts go out to all those impacted by this abhorent situation.

Uniform

Overall the students are wearing the uniform well. 

Term 2 brings with it the move to the Winter Uniform. I appreciate the support of families in relation to the requirements which helps to maintain our high standards. It is important that students display pride in themselves and in their College. We trust our students to ensure that they wear the uniform extremely well, both within school and in public.

The Uniform for Term 2 and 3 for students continues to be the complete new College uniform. It is always on display in the College Reception Area.

A reminder regarding the compulsory items:

• College Winter Shirt with College Logo (tucked in and top button done up at all times).
• College Tie (worn properly with top button on shirt done up at all times).
• College Trousers or College Shorts with College Logo.
• College Black Belt with College Logo.
• College Jumper with College Logo.
• College Grey Socks with the light blue and yellow stripes.
• Lace up leather or leather-look polished black school shoes (no runner-like shoes).
• College Blazer – This must be worn to and from school as the outer garment. It may also be required to be worn on other occasions. 
• College Back Pack and College Haversack.
• College Tracksuit (top and bottom) and College Shorts (with plain sports shoes).
• College White Sports Socks with the light blue and yellow stripes.
• College Hat (2 styles).

Additional Items which may be worn with the uniform (optional):

• College Vest with College Logo.
• College Raincoat with College Logo (only worn when raining).
• College Long-sleeved Sports Top with College Logo.
• College Charcoal Scarf with College Logo (no other scarves may be worn).

The details of the St Joseph’s College Noone Uniform Shop, including the opening times, are located on the College Website.

The Noone Uniform Shop is on site and open Mondays: 8.15am - 1.15pm, Tuesdays 12noon - 4pm and Thursdays 12noon - 4pm. On Tuesday 26 April, the Unoform Shop will be open from 8am - 4pm.

Project Compassion

I acknowledge the leadership of our Head of Music and Ministry, Bronwyn Dean, in relation to the activities surrounding Project Compassion. Students and staff worked collaboratively to raise awareness and significant funds. The Project Compassion funds so far are in excess of $12,000. You can be assured that the funds raised will make a difference in our world to those who are less fortunate than ourselves. 

If parents/guardians would like to make a donation to Project Compassion, please do so via this link 

https://fundraise.projectcompassion.org.au/stjosephscollegeferntreegully

Enrolments

The first round of Enrolments for Year 7 2026 close on Friday 16 August 2024. We have limited places remaining for Year 7 2025. Principal's Tours are operating on a regular basis and can be booked via the College website under Enrolment Events. Any queries about enrolments can be addressed by phoning 9756 3112 or emailing enrolments@stjosephs.com.au.

Knox Council Career Expo

On Wednesday 18 May Knox Council, OELLEN and KIOSC are presenting the Knox Youth Career Expo from 5.30pm - 8.30pm. The event will be held at the KIOSC Trade Training Centre, Swinburne, 369 Stud Rd, Wantirna. This event represents a unique opportunity for our students to join the youth of the area to gain some valuable insights into future careers and the world of work. Details are included below in the flyer.

Condolences

We extend our condolescences to the family and friends of

• John Love who died recently. John is the father of James Love who is on staff. May he rest in peace.
• Megan Davies (nee Havers) who died in early April. Megan was employed at St Joseph's College between 2012 and 2015, and was the sister of former staff member, Jackie Macreadie. Her son, Harry, was employed at Valdocco for a time, and her niece, Elise Macreadie, was also on staff. May she rest in peace.

All the best for the next few weeks.

Cathy Livingston

Principal

The Values of St Joseph’s College

The start of a new school year is an opportunity to reflect and take stock of the things that matter to us as we prepare to move forward. One way of doing this is to reflect on our core values.

Utmost of these is the value of Safety. At St Joseph’s College, we aim to provide a safe environment where young people can thrive.

We’re also a learning community, which means that the opportunity to learn and achieve is something we cherish, promote and protect. This is the next of our values: Learning.

We are a dynamic community built around relationships, and as such the value of Respect is central to all our interactions. It’s vital that at St Joseph’s College we have respect for all members of the community and for our school environment.

Being a community means that we have expectations and rules that reflect our values, and which are designed to provide the best possible community. These are rules and expectations that we all acknowledge, observe and support. This value – that of Shared Expectations – is essential to a community built around respect, where young people can thrive and achieve.

As a community, we also value Involvement. We expect each St Joseph’s College student to be involved in all aspects of school life, to attend all days and classes, all activities and special events. Involvement has been showed to enhance both thriving and achieving among young people, and it is something that all of us should be encouraging. 

Last in this list of values, but not in our priorities is our Catholic Heritage. Our community is underpinned by this shared heritage, a set of gospel values animated by our Salesian tradition. It is what gives us our character and makes us distinct from other schools in the district, and we ask all members of our community to honour it.

Safety, learning, respect, involvement, a set of shared expectations, involvement and our Catholic heritage: these are our core values, the same values we expect our students to live out every day at St Joseph’s College.

Guido Piotti

Deputy Principal (Students)

I had the privilege of attending a number of important Year Level Information Evenings at the very beginning of the school year. Those sessions are a great experience – it is always enjoyable catching up with student and families after the Summer holidays and the attendance to these events illustrates the connection these students and their parents have to their schooling.

At some of these evenings I had the opportunity to say a few words to the audience and the message imparted was centred on building and maintaining a strong connection to schooling – and the best way to do this is by attending every day.

Dr Terry Bowles, from the University of Melbourne, describes building connectedness to school as being achieved via attending school regularly to help build and develop relationships, both peer to peer relationships and student to teacher relationships.  This helps to enhance students sense of self and their relations to others. This social, emotional and behavioural connection opens the door for strong engagement with learning, allowing young people to achieve their personal bests in the classroom, which ultimately leads to a strong sense of flow at school. This is critical as a sense of flow promotes immersion and focus and helps to build motivation to succeed amongst students.

This research ultimately underlines how important it is that our students are her every day. Every day matters in schooling. In fact, it is not just every day, but every minute that matters.

MACS – Melbourne Archdiocese of Catholic Schools – recently launched some redeveloped attendance policies for schools, emphasising this same message. The image below offer some compelling statistics about school attendance:

These statistics show how much absences really do add up over time, even arriving late to school or class leads to problems in terms of educational outcomes for young people.

There will be days when students are unwell, or when family circumstances do not permit a student attending school on a given day, or the odd day when a student arrives late, but these should be very irregular. If students can’t be here 100% of the time, the next best option is to be here 99% of the time so they get their best shot at achieving flow in their schooling.

Liam O’Keefe

Deputy Principal (Community)

“What we learn with pleasure, we never forget." Alfred Mercier

Year 8 Four Seasons – Dromana Beach (Life Saving) 2024

2024 has started, with a splash (at least for the Year 8’s!). Whilst we are just a little over three weeks into the year it is obvious that students have returned with renewed enthusiasm. The school yard is once again full of the sounds and activity of our energetic young men. Classroom activities are also in full swing with a full range of learning activities being undertaken. It is wonderful to see the many incursions (guest speakers), excursions (including Year 8 Four Seasons, Year 9 Camp Prep Days, Year 11 RE excursion etc), Science and Physical Education practical classes etc. helping to engage our boys in the learning so early in the year. It is also wonderful to see many students staying back to get assistance from their teachers in Homework Club and after school lectures (i.e. Year 12 History Revolutions classes) and the like. The opportunities for learning are abundant in the ‘everyday’ of St Josephs, at least for those prepared to do a little extra.

NAPLAN

The NAPLAN (National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy) for 2024 for Year 7 and 9 students will be held between the Wednesday 13 March and Monday 25 March. NAPLAN tests seek to measure student performance standards Nationally across writing, reading, language conventions (spelling, grammar, and punctuation) and numeracy.

Students will require their Headphones (iPad adapter wills be provided free of charge) as well as their Logitech keyboard (part of the iPad case provided to students when they first received their device). Please contact Philip Skiller (ICT Manager) if your son’s device, headphones or keyboard is non-functional.

Exemptions (from undertaking one or more NAPLAN tests) may be requested by parents or guardians for students with significant intellectual disabilities and for students who have been learning English for less than one year. The Occhiena Centre will contact parents and guardians of any student that may be eligible for Exemptions. Parental consent is required before exemptions can be finalised (Student Exemption form provided to applicant parents to be returned by Tuesday 12 March).

For advice with regards to Student Exemption (from one or more tests) please contact Peter Wright (Director of Learning Enhancement).

Withdrawal of a student (from one or more NAPLAN tests) may be requested by the student’s parent or guardian. This is a matter of consideration by parents and guardians in consultation with the school. If, after consultation, you decide to withdraw your child, you must sign a Student Withdrawal form. These forms are available at the school and must be signed by Tuesday, March 12.

For queries regarding Student Withdrawal of your son from one or more tests, please contact me directly (acooper@stjosephs.com.au).

Withdrawal and Exemption forms MUST be received by the College no later than Tuesday March 12.

Interim Reports and Parent Teacher Student Conferences (Thursday March 21)

Interim Reports will be available from the Parent Access Module (PAM) by 9am Wednesday 13 March.

Interim Reports provide parents and guardians with a ‘snapshot’ of their son’s current Work Habits, estimated Academic Progress, and indicate whether a Parent Teacher Interview is requested. Whilst most student performances in the first six weeks will not necessitate a request by staff for parents and their son to attend Parent Teacher Student Conferences, it should be noted that attendance is nonetheless encouraged for all students and parents.

Parent Teacher Student conferences for Term 1 will take place on-site at St Joseph’s during Week 8 from 11am until 8pm, Thursday 21 March (pupil free day). Bookings will open shortly after Interim Reports are released.  

Andrew Cooper

Deputy Principal (Learning)

It has been another busy start to the school year in Sport, with students enjoying the opportunity to engage in physical activity with their peers across a variety of settings.

The Athletics season is a feature of the month of February but unfortunately, a couple of false starts has seen the postponement of both the House Athletics Carnival and ACC Athletics Championship due to extreme weather forecasts. With both of these events rescheduled for the last week of February, we look forward to enjoying two great days of competition both on the track and in the field. A number of our Year 7 students have already been involved in various trials for the ACC Athletics squad and it has been terrific seeing the competitive spirit on display from our youngest student athletes. 

Our Term 1 Senior ACC teams have enjoyed the start to their respective seasons. The Senior Cricket team are well placed, following a strong Round 3 Home win against Mazenod. The Volleyball A team also have finals in their sights, boasting a 2-1 record after three rounds, while the Volleyball B team will need results to go their way if they are to see postseason action, as they take a 1-2 record into their Round 4 fixture. Despite the Senior Tennis team finding the competition extremely strong, the camaraderie is a highlight of this group, as they eagerly await their Round 5 matchup against Mazenod, where they will compete for the very first time on our brand-new tennis courts facility.

The Year 8, 9 and 10 students have commenced tryouts for the Term 2 ACC Football, Soccer and Badminton teams, during their weekly Sport classes. Tryouts for our Year 7 teams will commence in the coming weeks, with these students currently enjoying the opportunity to develop friendships within their homeroom groups, while rotating through various sporting activities in their timetabled Sport classes.

Our weekly Swim Club that trains each Thursday morning before school has recently commenced for the year and is available for all students at the College to enjoy, whether the aim be to improve individual swimming ability or for general health and fitness. In addition to these sessions, details for our ACC Swim squad will soon be made available to students, as preparations will soon commence for the ACC Swimming Championship in the last week of Term 1.

Along with the upcoming ACC Open Lawn Bowls Competition and ACC Triathlon events, we wish all students, staff and teams the very best for the many Term 1 competitions.

Paul Trubiani

Director of Sport and High Performance

What the Career Centre can assist you with?

Career decisions are some of the most important ones of your life, so getting help in making those decisions is vital. This Career newsletter is one source of information available to you, providing information about how to choose a career, about information sessions being held on various courses and careers, Open Days at institutions where you might want to study, career expos, insights into several careers, and where you can get help. Students who do their research during Year 10-12 usually find it easier to make some career decisions at the end of Year 12. The Pathways Centre can offer the following services.

Tax File Number (TFN)

Any student will need at tax file number if he/she starts work (part-time and full-time) and all students planning on a tertiary education require one when they start.

Importantly, current Year 12 students are reminded that they can only enrol in a CSP (Commonwealth Support Place) course at university with a Tax File Number, so it is worthwhile getting an application submitted early.

Visit Apply for a TFN | Australian Taxation Office

Year 12 students wishing to apply for medicine must complete the UCAT.

University Clinical Aptitude Test 

The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is an admissions test used by the UCAT ANZ Consortium of universities in Australia and New Zealand for their medical, dental, and clinical science degree programs.  Universities requiring the UCAT are listed at this link - Universities requiring the UCAT but also listed below.  Students intending to apply for courses requiring the UCAT at any of these universities are reminded that they will need to book a test. 

Bookings will open on 5 March 2024 and close on 17 May 2024.  The testing dates will be from 1 July 2024 to 9 August 2024.

Students preparing for entry into any of these courses are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the format of the UCAT Test Format and the practice tests and preparation material provided at UCAT Preparation.

Institutions that will require the UCAT are:

Find out more at UCAT.

APAC-accredited Psychology double degrees at ACU 

ACU offers two Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC)-accredited psychology double degrees.

In the Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, students will come to understand the complex causes and impact of crime. 
Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice explores the causes of antisocial behaviour and develops the knowledge and expertise graduates need to contribute to the criminal justice sector. 
The Psychology program helps students acquire knowledge, assimilate theories and concepts and develop applicable skills that are valuable to enhancing human functioning in a broad range of professional settings. 
Together, this combined program provides students with the knowledge of the legal system and an understanding of human behaviour, providing ACU graduates of this course with a competitive edge in the justice sector.

In the Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science, students will gain insights into the motivations for eating behaviours, how habits are formed and ways to increase behavioural change through the Nutrition Science course whilst, at the same time, understanding human functioning in a broad range of professional settings.

Combining the Bachelor of Psychological Science and the Bachelor of Nutrition Science allows for more significant insights into both disciplines, thus benefiting the course graduates.  For instance, knowledge gained from the Bachelor of Nutrition Science can be applied by clinical psychologists working with eating-disordered populations for better treatment outcomes.  Health psychologists working with chronically ill populations, such as people with heart disease or Type 2 diabetes, will benefit from knowledge in the area of nutrition science.

Engineers Australia

Engineering design is involved in almost every item we use daily, from our toothbrushes to the vehicles we drive, the computers we operate, the buildings we work in, the medicines we take and the healthcare we experience.  Engineering is a broad and exciting field with diverse career paths following graduation.  We encourage students of all ages to consider and pursue a career in STEM and engineering.

Engineers Australia is the trusted voice of the engineering profession, committed to creating solutions to make the world a better place. 

When students are researching engineering at university, it is helpful to pay attention to which Engineers Australia accredits courses. 

Completing an accredited course means that graduates of that course are eligible to become members of Engineers Australia.

Students should watch this sound YouTube clip from the University of Newcastle on what engineering is - What is Engineering? 

Work Experience

The Year 10 Work Experience Program aims to provide students with valuable insights into work and help them develop essential skills for their future careers. This program is a crucial component of our student's educational journey and offers numerous benefits, including:

Career Exploration: Students can explore various industries and professions, helping them make informed decisions about their future career paths.

Skill Development: Work experience provides students with hands-on experience in a professional work environment, allowing them to develop essential skills such as communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and time management.

Real-World Experience: Students will gain practical experience and exposure to workplace culture, norms, and expectations, preparing them for future employment opportunities.

Personal Growth: Work experience encourages personal growth and self-discovery as students navigate new environments, challenges, and responsibilities.

The Year 10 work experience program is compulsory for all students.  Students should source placements based on their interests, skills, and career aspirations. 

All signatures are required before returning the forms to school. Students completing work experience in the industry connected to their VET studies should complete the SWL (Structured Workplace Learning) form. All other students must use the Work Experience arrangement form. Copies of the form have been given to Homeroom teachers.

Work Experience will occur from Monday, 24 June, to Friday, 28 June. 2024.

Year 11 VCE VM Work Placement

Work Placement for Year 11 VCE VM Students took place from Monday 4 March, to Friday 8 March. 

Students were expected to source their placements. Further support was provided in work-related skills and VET Small Business classes. Students could complete their work placement in any industry or organisation.

Certificate II in Plumbing

I have exciting news regarding our Certificate II in Plumbing training program at St. Joseph's College. As part of our ongoing commitment to providing hands-on, industry-relevant education, we proudly introduce our state-of-the-art Plumbing facility.

The Plumbing Shed is a dedicated space designed specifically for practical training and skill development in plumbing. Equipped with the latest tools, equipment, and materials, this facility will offer students an immersive learning environment to gain valuable experience and expertise in plumbing techniques and procedures.

The Plumbing Shed will have fixtures, pipes, and fittings for hands-on practice and demonstrations. A comprehensive range of plumbing tools and equipment, including wrenches, pipe cutters, welding bays, and more, to facilitate practical training activities. It includes a large sandpit for mock plumbing installations and systems to simulate real-world scenarios and challenges and allow students to apply their knowledge and skills in a controlled environment.

Our Certificate II in Plumbing program provides students with the foundational knowledge and skills required for a successful career in the plumbing industry. Whether students aspire to become licensed plumbers, pursue further education in plumbing and related fields, or explore alternative career pathways, this program offers a solid foundation for future success.

We are committed to providing our students with the best possible learning experience, and the introduction of the Plumbing facility is a testament to that commitment. Hands-on, practical training is essential for preparing students for the demands of the workforce and empowering them to achieve their goals.

Vivienne Egan

Director of RTO & Pathways

Year 8 News

The start to the term has been busy for our Year 8s, and they should be commended for their adaptability in the face of last-minute changes with Athletics day and the Four Seasons Program. The boys recently enjoyed the first instalment of the Four Seasons Program down at Dromana, where they immersed themselves in hands-on learning experiences that not only equipped them with life saving skills like basic water safety and the recovery position, but also helped to instil a sense of confidence and empowerment in them. The beautiful weather also added to the positive experience had by all.

It has been great to see so many regular students attending homework club on a Monday to Thursday, and we continue to encourage any student who feels like they might benefit to come along.

Recently, we held a Year 8 Assembly where the Year 8s were reminded of what is expected of them as members of the St Joseph’s College community. They were reminded to look out for one another, to be kind and inclusive of everyone, and that their actions should always contribute in a positive way to the school environment.

Below are some reflections on the year so far from our Year 8 students:

 “One of the highlights of Year 8 so far was having the privilege of getting to participate in the Four Seasons Program. We went for a walk along the beach and hosted our own sausage sizzles and learned about life saving in the water. We also got to have a swim in the ocean and play some games on the beach. Thankfully the weather was great, so it was a fantastic day. Some other great things about Year 8 is all the new teachers for each subject compared to last year where we had the same teacher for almost every subject. I am really looking forward to doing Food Tech classes in semester two which I have heard from some of my friends that it is a lot of fun.” Hudson Ellis, 8 Edwards

“The start to my Year 8 has been absolutely amazing, and a very great way to introduces us to our second year of high school. We started Year 8 in the last two weeks of term where we were able to meet out new teachers, and were introduced to some new subjects. This year, the Year 8s will be participating in a language, Either Japanese or Italian, English, Maths, Science, Humanities, PE and R.E as well as our semester based subject Art, Stem, Drama and Food Tech. We have just recently elected SRC representatives for the year, and completed our first math test with our English essay on the horizon. It has been a great start and we can’t wait to see what the rest of Year 8 has in store”. Jack Greening, 8 Edwards

We are looking forward to continuing to build on a good start to the year, and finishing the term in a positive way. 

Lucy Brown               Claire Moody

Year 8 Leader            Year 8 Learning Leader

Using our Pillars to Inform our Approach

We are creatures of habit, as the old saying goes. As another school year begins each of us slowly but surely start to find our feet, build our individual routines and seek out our comfort zones. Part of this habit is to turn our attention towards the next big thing and prepare. For some of us, this next hurdle may be as immediate as our next class, as urgent as the next assessment or as exciting as the next major community event. For the Year 9 staff, students and parents, this time of year sees the arrow of our collective compass pointing towards our Outdoor Expedition. This time is always marked by an energetic and palpable buzz throughout the campus as excitement grows for this coming-of-age experience for our new cohort. In amongst the clumping of hiking boots, the meticulous planning and the obligatory butterflies, the four pillars of our campus remain a constant source of strength and are more important than ever.

The concept of rehearsal is central to our preparation for this expedition and has been the key principle in our camp preparation this term. The rationale behind this repeated process is simple, students who have had experience hiking, riding, cooking and working in a group will be better prepared for a week of adventure. Just as one would rehearse before a performance or a presentation, the aim of our dedicated camp preparation days is to give our students a taste of the experiences to come, to challenge them early and allow them to respond in advance. Think of the old boxing adage: “if you train hard, you fight easy”.

Similarly, an experience like this relies heavily on the strength of relationships. As with all challenging situations, we rely on those around us, who we trust to support us and share the experience with. Throughout our camp preparation activities, aside from the physical endurance and resilience required, the emphasis has been on students creating, developing and maintaining relationships with their peers through cooperation and collaboration. This has been through structured team building tasks to something as simple as encouraging a group member to push themselves to the top of the mountain when they feel all is lost. Although our camp groups are largely made up of homeroom combinations and existing friendships, students are strongly encouraged to branch out of their social comfort zones and reach out to others as they navigate through a new and shared experience. As the Year 9’s have come to understand, there is nothing quite like a hike in the sun to find some common interests and make a brand new friend.

The pillar of responsibility is also firmly ingrained within the fabric of these community activities. Students looking to help one another, organise themselves and each other, actively communicate, delegate and be accountable for their actions all work towards a common goal of creating a positive and constructive shared experience. Often an experience out of one’s comfort zone can quickly reveal the leader in us all and build a new sense of maturity through the need to adapt and be flexible to our new circumstance and environment. Our expedition aims to push our students to be more responsible for themselves and for others, and return with a new sense of service and empathy for their peers and their community.

Finally, the process of reflection is arguably the most important principle of all as we embark on a new adventure in unchartered territory. The aftermath of a new challenge is often where the learning occurs, when we ask ourselves how it felt, what it meant and how we would change it if we could. As our students learn and grow off each other, arguably the most important lesson we can impart is how to thoroughly and mindfully reflect on one’s actions. Any experience presents a learning opportunity, and when we reflect, we allow ourselves a moment to bask in the shade of that experience and take away its true meaning.

The pillars and principles of Rehearsal, Relationships, Responsibility and Reflection are what holds our community together. They act as a guide for our individual choices and represent a standard for our interactions with each other. As we embark on our outdoor expedition, these four principles take on even greater meaning and strengthen our sense of sharing in this unique experience. Good luck to all. See you on the other side of the mountain.

Louis Goutos                Brian Martin                Jordan Tailby

Head of Valdocco         Year 9 Leader              Year 9 Learning Leader

Year 12 Theme

With the 2024 school year well underway, the Year 12 cohort have settled well into Don Bosco Place and ready to take on the challenges and responsibility of being leaders of St Joseph’s College. Our theme of Year 12 in 2024 surrounds the principles and applications of Integrity.  Integrity serves as a guiding principle, reminding students to uphold honesty, fairness and moral values in all aspects of college life. For Year 12 students, integrity is not just a personal virtue but also a crucial trait that can impact their academic achievements, relationships and future endeavours. I encourage all Year 12 students to uphold this theme during their final year at St Joseph’s College.

Ash Wednesday Service

St Joseph's College's Ash Wednesday service and subsequent Year 12 involvement stands out as a testament to the school's commitment to spiritual growth and community engagement. Year 12 students take centre stage in this annual tradition, participating in a meaningful liturgy and then leading the way by running liturgy for the Homerooms in other year levels. This spiritual activity not only fosters a sense of responsibility and leadership among the seniors, but also creates a deeply impactful experience for the entire school community. With the words ‘We come from dust and to dust we shall return’, Year 12 students traced the symbol of a cross on the foreheads of all students of the College. The cohort took on this opportunity with great responsibility and I am extremely proud of their efforts in upholding the values promoted at St Joseph’s. I would like to personally thank Father Jim Acreman and Bronwyn Dean for their organisation and guidance for this important spiritual event for the College.

Get Involved

In recent years, the high achieving academic students at Year 12 all share one important message, “be involved in the extra-curricular activities offered at St Joseph’s”. Events such as the Year 12 Formal, House Athletics and celebrating St Joseph’s Day, offer students a well-rounded high school experience that bridges into academic success. Engaging in these events foster a sense of belonging and community, which is essential for overall wellbeing and motivation. Furthermore, these activities provide opportunities for students to develop important skills such as time management, leadership and teamwork, which are invaluable for future academic successes. We encourage all Year 12 students to get involved and make the most out of their final year at St Joseph’s College.

Support

Year 12 presents a unique set of challenges for our students, whether enrolled in the VCE or VCE VM Program. Stresses ranging from SAC assessments to planning for future work occur through the year, so it’s crucial for students to recognise when the workload becomes overwhelming and to seek support when needed. Whether it’s reaching out to a Homeroom teacher, the Year 12 Learning Leader Adriana Velardo or to Stuart Cram, the Year 12 Level Leader, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. The Year 12 support team are there to provide guidance, encouragement and resources to help students manage their workload and maintain their overall well-being. I strongly encourage parents to reach out to their son’s homeroom teacher or myself if there is any way we can help your son manage and succeed in their year 12 experience.

Stuart Cram                      Adriana Velardo

Year 12 Leader                  Year 12 Learning Leader