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Principal’s Report ______________________________Pages
Welcome to the 2017 Virtus which will record the achievements of the College during another highly successful school year. At the outset I would like to record my gratitude to Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) for appointing me as Principal. I am also grateful to Paul Tobias and current leaders of the College for assisting my transition to the role. As a past parent and past staff member, returning to St Joseph’s felt like coming home in some ways and I’m very grateful to everyone who made me feel welcome this year. In this report I don’t intend to try to list all the achievements of the year, but would like to make some observations and point out a few events of significance. The reader can discover all the activities and successes of the year in the remainder of the magazine. The year commenced with 1738 students including 305 Year 7 students. We also welcomed new members of staff: teachers Quentin Lydall, Scott Harris, Greg Waller, Matt Walsh and Ben McDowell and support staff Tania Spence, Meg Wilson, Di Makings, Michelle Martin, Catherine Jones and Spencer Lupino. René Maltese, Kate McLaren, Coby Cunningham, Rebecca Westwood, Lauren Flint, Lauren Hall and Claire Connell returned from leave.
Early in Term 1 we celebrated the academic achievements of senior students with our Senior Awards Ceremony with guest speaker and former staff member, Paul Hood. In December we received the results from the 2017 VCE students. 10% of students achieved study scores of 40 or above. 6.9% of our students received an ATAR of above 90. The mean study score this year was 31.4, the same as in 2016. There were many results this year of which individual students should be proud because they represented the student’s best efforts. I would like to congratulate all those for whom this is the case. Congratulations to Michael Bongiorno who is the 2017 Dux of the College having achieved an ATAR of 99.55 closely followed by Hugh McMahon with an ATAR of 99.45. The Aspire program for Year 12 students seeking to maximise their ATAR score continued again this year, with regular lunchtime meetings attracting solid numbers. The faith dimension of the College saw regular liturgies and full school masses for significant events. For the last 17 years Fr Kevin Dillon has provided great support to the College celebrating many of these masses. It was fitting that his formal farewell to the Parish was held here at the College providing many from this community the chance to thank him for his contribution. Following Mass on Edmund Rice Day, students and staff forgot our first world problems and focussed on the needs of communities in the developing world and the marginalised of our own community. The Edmund Rice charism is a particularly robust and practical take on Catholicism. This was seen throughout the year with every student involved in service learning. In this area the staff led by example with many staff committed to supporting Samaritan House, Vinnie’s outreach and other local community agencies. Our student renewals program took a different form for each year level but provided every student with the opportunity for reflection and engagement with their faith. During 2017 the Royal Commission into institutional child sexual abuse continued to make findings public. EREA responded to these findings by making a formal apology for all abuse, including sexual abuse that had occurred in all our schools across Australia. This was an enormously significant event at most EREA schools. In our community this broad apology built on the public apology made by St Joseph’s to the Geelong community in 2001, and reinforced our commitment that such abuse must never be part of our story again. Indigenous issues and education continued to be prominent. Highlights included the opening of the Reconciliation Garden adjacent the bluestone Tom Howe Centre. Students immersed themselves in the communities at Daly River, the Tiwi Islands and Yeppoon as part of a practical commitment to reconciliation. Reconciliation Week was a highlight for those unable to be involved in immersions and we were delighted to welcome Indigenous elder Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr to St Joseph’s for this time. Student well-being and pastoral care was to the fore throughout the year. The senior years well-being and information night in Term 1 was a highlight. Diversity Day was again significant with the College student body publicly committing to a strong stance against homophobic bullying and celebrating our acceptance of diversity. We were pleased to be accepted as a lead school in the Victorian government
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Edmund Rice Day Edmund Rice Day
Reconciliation Garden Reconciliation Garden Opening Father’s Day Father’s Day Breakfast Breakfast
Respectful Relationships program with a particular focus on family violence. St Joseph’s continues to be a leader in the field of sustainability. The myriad of activities including the installation of a further 88 kW of solar panels, Cut the Wrap, redcycling, tree planting, and a talking bin resulted in sustainability leader Kelly Jenkins being recognised as the Resource Smart Victorian Teacher of the Year. Good schools are deeply rooted in their communities and the level of community support at St Joseph’s is quite remarkable. The Josephines, the College Foundation, the Parents and Friends, the Men’s Association are just some examples along with our myriad of volunteers in a range of areas including the canteen. Parents joined students many times at the College during the year. For me the Father’s Day breakfast was a highlight with staff cooking breakfast for boys and their dads and male mentors from 6am. This really made a powerful statement about the education of young men being a shared and collaborative undertaking between parents and teachers. Another remarkable group that goes about its work quietly is the College Care Group. In a large community there are inevitably bereavements and people who need help in a very practical way. The Care Group provide food and practical support in times of greatest need. In mentioning bereavements, this year saw the death of many significant contributors to the community, among them Mrs Pat and Mr Owen Bourke, Anthony Costa, former Principal Br Kevin Tuck and long serving staff member Larry Davis. May they rest in peace. The visit of past students is always a highlight and this year we welcomed back the classes of 1977, 82, 87, 92, 97, 2002, 07 and 12 for reunions. It was also a pleasure to welcome back old boys who had lived at St Joseph’s as boarders prior to the closure of the boarding house in 1967. We also hosted the St Augustine’s reunion on what the St Augustine’s old boys acknowledge as their spiritual home. In the performing arts the annual joint College production was again a highlight with our boys starring in Pirates of Penzance, hosted this year by Sacred Heart College. On the visual arts front, the Mrs Pat Burke Art Gallery was utilised for the “Alumi” Exhibition, showcasing works by Old Collegians, this was also the site of the Year 12 Art and Technology Exhibition later in the year. Many high-quality pieces were exhibited at the Associated Catholic Colleges Arts and Technology Exhibition at Federation Square. The St Joseph’s 15 word Film Festival showcased some amazing talent. There were many sporting highlights throughout the year both inter-house and inter school, through the Associated Catholic Colleges competition. Foley triumphed with a clean sweep in the inter-house swimming, athletics, and crosscountry. In the ACC carnival events our swimming and athletic teams acquitted themselves well and represented the College proudly but the highlight of the year was our first ever carnival victory by our cross-country team winning the aggregate award. Having entered this association in 1996 this is the first carnival event St Joseph’s has won. A momentous achievement. Our senior cricket team had a successful season narrowly defeated by De La Salle in the ACC Grand Final. Our Year 10 cricket team came up against St Joseph’s Ferntree Gully in the Grand Final resulting in St Joseph’s being the runners up for the second year in a row. Senior football and soccer teams reached finals without success and Year 10 soccer bowed out in the semifinals. Our Year 10 footballers were ACC Premiers and narrow runners-up to Xavier College in the inaugural Year 10 Herald Sun Shield. Our musicians provided multiple performances of which to be proud. Some of the highlights included, participation in the Geelong ANZAC Parade, first place in the Secondary School Bands Competition at the Geelong Show and the outstanding performances on the evening of the Years 7-10 Awards and Music Showcase. The evening was a wonderful celebration not only of our students academic achievements, but also the musical talents of our students. There were many highlights including the Stage Band’s performance of Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk and Mark Taylor’s Brass Machine, the Vocal Ensemble singing Bryan Adams’ Everything I Do and People Get Ready and the Senior Band’s performance of Bach’s Toccata featuring the percussion team. Abba’s Thank You for the Music was a surprise inclusion to recognise and thank Frank De Rosso, John Shawcross and David Gallaher for their contribution to St Joseph’s over the years. The finale featured a performance of John Farnham’s You’re the Voice sung by all of our Year 7 students accompanied by our Intermediate and Senior Concert Bands and College Vocal Ensemble. The quality of the music on show was exceptional and a great credit to the musicians and their teachers.
ACC Arts & Technology Exhibition ACC Arts & Technology Exhibition ACC Cross Country Team ACC Cross Country Team ACC Arts & ACC Arts & Technology Technology Exhibition TriUMPH TriUMPH
ANZAC Parade ANZAC Parade
Debating and public speaking continues to have a strong presence in the College and along with the “thinking man’s sport” of chess achieved pleasing results in ACC and local competitions. The student leadership was strong throughout the year with boys leading and planning multiple activities including the TriUMPH Music Festival which raised over $70,000 for initiatives in Timor Leste. I would like to acknowledge the leadership of College Captain Andrew McNeel and Deputies Michael Bongiorno and Liam Jelly. The ongoing process of providing facilities that cater for increased numbers along with spaces that support contemporary teaching and learning was in full swing during the year. Significant happenings included the commencement of the Year 8 PBL Centre on the escarpment adjacent to the current Music Centre, the provision of additional parking adjacent to O’Driscoll Oval and planning for the gymnasium at Westcourt. The College is blessed with a generous and talented Board who are supported by a committed building and finance committee. I’m grateful to all those who have supported the College in these significant roles, in particular I acknowledge the generous service of Mr Brett Harman who stepped down as Board Chair during the year due to work commitments and Mrs Joanne van Slagaren who generously accepted the role. The end of every school year brings sadness as we farewell staff. Mrs Maureen Bryant has been PA to the Principal for the last 25 years. Maureen’s lasting contribution will be the focus on supporting all members of the community in times of need. Hundreds of families have been supported during times of sadness and need as a direct result of Maureen’s work. This commitment was acknowledged last year with the naming of the Maureen Bryant Board Room. She will be greatly missed and I would like to add my thanks to Maureen for her support to me this year. We also celebrate and acknowledge the contribution of other long serving staff who also retire after great service to the College: Frank DeRosso leaves us after 32 years outstanding contribution to our Music program, and is joined by John Wilcox, 21 years, Anne Condon, 20 years, Rosemary Friend, 18 years, John Shawcross, 13 years and George Tomadin, 11 years. We thank and wish them well. Thank you and best wishes to those who are finishing at St Joseph’s and continuing their careers elsewhere: Andrew Hobbs, 18 years, Claire Wrigley 18 years, Jono Holt, 16 years, Jules Holt, 15 years, Michael Wrigley 15 years, Hannah Smith, 10 years, Christopher Jansen, 6 years, Annalee McKew, 6 years, Mark Stracey 4 years, Jason Coghill, 4 years, Melissa Nantsou, 3 years, Ingrid Marshall, 1 year, Kerrie Deller, 1 year, IT Trainee Nick Barbir and AFL Trainee Spencer Luppino. In conclusion I would like to thank all staff for their support this year, in particular I thank the leadership team with whom I have worked most closely. Deputy Principals Michelle Brodrick and Mark Kennedy, Director of Identity Rachel Roche, Director of Curriculum Michael Goss, Westcourt Campus Director Michael Wrigley, Human Resources Manager Rolf Audrins, College Business Manager Terry Fowler and Personal Assistants, Maureen Bryant and Adel Mawson, all passionate and talented in their fields and providing exceptional service to St Joseph’s. The year concluded with a range of events. Each year level gathered for a Mass to give thanks for the blessings of the year. For the first time the Year 12 valedictory dinner was held in GMHBA Stadium at Kardinia Park. The opportunity to see one’s Year 7 and Year 12 photos juxtaposed on the big screen was a highlight. The Year 7 to 10 Awards were presented at Costa Hall as part of the annual Awards and Music Showcase. It has been another wonderful year in the life of this remarkable community. On behalf of the staff I thank all families for the privilege of assisting you in the education of your sons. God bless
- Tony Paatsch, Principal
Valedictory Dinner Valedictory Dinner
