Major Building Works __________________________Page

from Virtus SJC Yearbook 2013

Roll Call _____________________________Pages

WESTCOURT CAMPUS

Last year, the College purchased half of the former Western Heights College, Minerva Road Campus. The total Campus area is 3 hectares, with St Joseph’s purchasing the southern portion and Clonard College the northern. Both Colleges are using the space for their own independant programs. Oval space is located at the rear of the campus, so there will be generous recreational space for all. We have named this new campus, Westcourt Campus, which is the name of the birthplace of Edmund Rice, the founder of the Christian Brothers. In 2011 a committee was formed to develop a program tailored to the needs of our Year 9 students. Members of the committee visited more schools, both Catholic and Government, with alternate Year 9 programs. An early decision was made to have a strong focus on literacy and numeracy in our program, along with some exciting new activities and different approaches to teaching and learning. Some of the significant benefits for the boys will include the opportunity to develop strong relationships with a dedicated group of staff who will work exclusively with the Year 9s, more in depth learning and a more hands on approach Building works have progressed well on the site with extensive repair and renovation work being conducted throughout the Campus and the surrounding grounds. The innovative classrooms with their bright furniture and open spaces will no doubt be exciting for the 2014 Year 9 cohort. We are very excited about this new venture and see it as an opportunity to challenge the Year 9 boys, enhance their learning experience and to consolidate and further develop the skills and attitudes needed for their senior years.

JOSEPH INNOVATION TRADE TRAINING CENTRE

In 2011, St Joseph’s College submitted an application for funding a new Trade Training Centre as part of the Government’s Round 4 application process. The College formed a cluster of schools to submit the application to fully fund a new Trade Training Centre and extension to an existing building at Sacred Heart College. The cluster schools included St Joseph’s College, Sacred Heart College, Clonard College and MacKillop Education Geelong. On 16 December 2011, the Hon Peter Garrett AM, MP Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth, announced the successful applicants from the Round 4 process of which St Joseph’s College was one. The funding approval was for construction of a new Trade Training Centre to be located at St Joseph’s College costing approximately $3.7M and an extension of an existing building at Sacred Heart College costing approximately $0.5M. Construction of the Trade Training Centre commenced in November 2012 and was completed by July 2013. St Joseph’s College will conduct Building and Construction, Furnishings, Electrotechnology, Allied Health, Plumbing, Furniture Making and Carbon Management courses at this facility and Sacred Heart will conduct Hospitality courses in its upgraded facility. The College held an opening celebration for the Trade Training Centre on Friday 22 November where it was officially opened by Senator the Hon Michael Ronaldson and blessed by Rev Father Kevin Dillon. hnology, Allied Health, Plumbing, Furniture nd Carbon Management courses at y and Sacred Heart will conduct y courses in its upgraded facility. lege held an opening n for the Trade Training n Friday 22 November was officially opened r the Hon Michael and blessed by r Kevin We are very excited about this new venture and see it as an opportunity to challenge the Year 9 boys, enhance their learning experience and to consolidate and further develop the skills and attitudes needed for needed for their senior their senior years. years.