College Board Report It has been another extremely productive year at St Joseph’s and as 2016 draws to a close, I would like to thank teachers, support staff and the various committees who work tirelessly to make St Joseph’s the positive, engaged and inclusive community that it is. St Joseph’s is very fortunate to have such a dedicated team of teaching and support staff and I’m confident that all parents join me in commending and thanking them for the outstanding work they do in education and for the many ways in which they go ‘above and beyond’ in the service of the school. A major highlight of the year has been the official opening of Mary’s Chapel, which stands proudly on St Joseph’s Westcourt campus and which completes another aspect of the College’s master plan to benefit all students now and into the future. The continued success of trade training,VET and VCAL programs and also including a number of community-based initiatives, reflects the College’s commitment to looking outward to maximise the education advantage for our students. A many number of highly successful activities such as Edmund Rice Day, the Old Collegians’ Golf Day, Upstart Entrepreneurial Challenge and Parents and Friends Fashion Show conducted throughout the year prove just how dynamic, diverse and committed our sub committees and support groups are who all work in support of St Joseph’s. I would to take this opportunity to acknowledge Board members Louise Paatsch and Kathleen Rawson who leave the Board at the end of this year. On behalf of remaining Board members, we thank them for their respective contributions, fellowship and generosity as valued members of our college community. We wish both Louise and Kathleen well in their future endeavours.
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Thank you to staff, sub committees and Board members for the time they have invested in the College. I am proud to say that our efforts have and will remain focused on the strategic direction of the College. Finally, I would like to acknowledge Principal Paul Tobias who retires at the end of the year. On behalf of the College Board, I would like to express our sincere and heartfelt appreciation for the contribution Paul has made to the culture and reputation that St Joseph’s College now enjoys and the vibrant, community-minded education services that operate. From his earliest days at St Joseph’s, Paul has championed cultural diversity and the need to be accepting of all people which has been of paramount importance to his efforts. He has guided St Joseph’s through a period of steady and sustained growth which has seen school enrolment numbers grow from around 1100 in 2000 to in excess of 1700 in 2016. He has worked consistently to provide a wide range of subjects and pathways to meet the needs of all students and promoted and supported the creation of alternate pathways and programs in applied learning at the College such as VET and VCAL. Paul’s leadership is testament to the commitment and selfless dedication he has shown in the service of catholic education, and in particular the St Joseph’s College community. We wish Paul and his wife Dianne good health and happiness in retirement. In closing I wish everyone a safe, prosperous and fulfilling 2017. Brett Harman - Chair, St Joseph’s College Geelong Board
