Newsletter 14th May, 2015

Principal’s Message
No. 7, May 14th, 2015
High Performing Teams.
Last Friday St. Joseph’s College hosted staff from two other schools as part of the Dicoese of Sandhurst
performance development program. The speaker for the day was Brendan Spillane, a former Catholic
primary school principal who is now working with schools, businesses and sporting teams to help them to
identify and implement those things that high performing teams do that others do not.
Also last week our year 10, 11 & 12 students received
presentations from the Elevate program that helped them
to identify what high performing students do that other
students do not necessarily do.
One of the key messages in both presentations centred
around attitude. Brendan Spillane shared this diagram
with us. Successful teams/students operate above the
magic line while less successful teams/students operate
below the line.
The belief that, “A positive attitude attracts positive
energy”, is well illustrated in the following story. “A traveller entered a mediaeval town in the middle of a
very hot day and observed a number of stonemasons at work on the foundations of what would surely be a
very large building. He approached a nearby stonemason and asked what he was doing. The man glared at
him and said rather bitterly, “I am cutting stones!” The traveller waited for a while then moved around the
site for a few minutes before asking a second stonemason, “What are you doing?” This stonemason put
down his hammer and chisel, stood up, wiped the sweat from his brow and with a smile on his face said, “I
am building a magnificent cathedral”.
Brendan Spillane, Elevate and this story have a simple message: there are two ways to look at life, positively
or negatively. The choice is ours and there always is a choice provided we take charge of our attitude and
don’t permit someone else to choose it for us. Our attitude towards life determines life’s attitude towards us.
A positive attitude is the outward expression of a mind that dwells on positive matters; “As a person thinks
in his heart, so he is”. Proverbs 23:7
Continued….
Principal’s Message Continued….
Attitude is contagious. For those who were in attendance at last week’s Year 7 2016 Information evening this
was very evident among the teachers and students who had worked so hard to showcase our fine College. The
night was a tremendous success due to the positive attitude, teamwork and enthusiasm displayed on the night.
Thank you to everyone who contributed.
Positive attitude gives energy to you and to those around you.
So what type of attitude training do we give our children? Do we offer them encouraging thoughts? Do we
lead them to read and view positive material that will inspire? Do we encourage them to be outward in their
thinking? – there’s much more to think about in life than themselves. Do we provide for them the “triple
goodies” of good nutrition, good sleep, good exercise? Do we encourage them to focus on the “good things”
they have in life and to be content?
Samuel Johnston reminds us that, “Our attitude is the expression of our values, our beliefs and our
expectations.” How is our attitude perceived by our children?
It is important for our children to realise that no matter how hard they try to develop positive attitudes, they
don’t live in a vacuum. They will surely come across people who have an unenlightened view on life.
However, it doesn’t matter what kind of attitude other people present to them, what matters is how they deal
with it and how they perceive its worth. Hopefully, they will have us to look up to for their models for positive
living.
Blessing.
“May you arise each day
with a voice of blessing whispering in your heart, that something good is going to happen to you.
May you find harmony between
your soul and your life.
May there be kindness in your gaze
when you look within.
May the presence of the Almighty
be forever in you.
Amen.”
God bless
Michael Delaney
Principal.
Living Strength and Kindliness
What’s happening around the Diocese of Sandhurst?
There are some great opportunities available for our young
people…. here are a few ideas!
Sandhurst Stronger Rally
The Sandhurst Youth Ministry Team will be hosting a Sandhurst
Stronger Youth Rally on Friday the 22nd of May. This event will
be held at St Therese’s Church Hall in Kennington. The evening is
a night filled with fun, music, laughter, games and fellowship.
Interested students are asked to let Mrs Westblade know that they
would like to attend so we can put travel arrangements in place.
She may be emailed at kwestblade@sje.vic.edu.au. The College
will cover the costs of travel and there is no cost to participate in
the Rally.
The Australian Catholic Youth Festival
This event will be held in Adelaide from the 3 rd – 5th of December.
The Festival is hosted by the Australian Catholic Bishops
Conference and aims to engage and empower young people in the
life of the Catholic Church. This is the second festival of its kind to
be held in Australia. The Festival was initiated by our own Bishop
Grech who was a well loved Bishop of the Diocese of Sandhurst.
We had 25 young people who attended the first festival in 2013.
This year we are offering this opportunity to students in Years 10, 11
and 12. Costs at this stage are around $500 to attend (some
sponsorship will be available), this price will include all costs except
personal spending.
In the next newsletter I will have some more information regarding
World Youth Day 2016, which will be held in Krakow in Poland in
July of next year. There will be some great opportunities available for young people to attend this world
event.
If you or your student/s would like any further information regarding these events please email me at the
address in this article or phone the College on 54822577 to speak to me.
Kirrilee Westblade
Catholic Identity Leader
Aladdin Cast Announced
The Production Team welcome and congratulate the cast for this year’s school production Aladdin!
The depth of talent demonstrated throughout the auditions was nothing short of amazing which made
the task of selection extremely difficult at times.
Thank you to all those students who auditioned and we look forward to working with the 50+ cast
who will no doubt provide some fantastic entertainment in August.
Onwards and upwards!
Ms Rolfe, Mr Dunstan, Mr Chalkley
& Mr Mac
Narrator - Tahlia Doidge-Lia
Aladdin - Aaron Duggan
Iago - Nick Keely
Jafar - Kat Stewart
The Sultan - Danika Tayte
Princess Jasmine - Alyssa McMaugh
Razoul - James Coleman
Genie - Ruby Green
Rajah - Rosie Miechel
Abu - Braden Hosking
The Magic Carpet - Alyx Glanville
Guards - Michael King, Jai Byrne, Ally Coustas-Boughton, Ryan Dyson
Townspeople - Annabel Lee, Carissa Kirchofer, Maisy Mollusso, Jack Chiswell, Emma Morona,
Matilda Gray
Shopkeepers - Ella Hore, Madisyn Colville, Shannon Dunstan, Rose Berryman, Chelsea Hard, Ben
Lineham, Chantelle Leggett
Matron - Tahlia Neve
Trio of Harem Girls - Charlie Darcy, Abbey Williams, Emily Powell
Dancers - to be confirmed.
Full choir - to be confirmed, currently accepting expressions of interest.
Public Safety Camp 2015
For PBS camp 2015, the PBS team travelled to Castle Hill near Daylesford.
The team left on a bus on Monday the 27th arriving and meeting Stan and
Bernie at Castle Hill at 12:30. After eating lunch the team met for the first
time in the Integrity room, and were briefed on the camp before the first
activity, named Chaos as a warm up. The team was split into three groups and
the game proved challenging to understand for each group. Once confidence
was gained, the yellow caps dominated the game each day.
The first day’s main activities included stepping stones, key punch and the
indoor rock climbing wall. Stepping stones and key punch were a test of
teamwork: communication, co-operation and persistence. The first attempts at
these activities was a fair effort leaving much room for improvement. The
indoor rock climbing was a taste before the team tackled the outdoor, almost
20m high rock climb. Each team member gave the indoor wall a crack,
reaching the top to ring the bell. As a team, a plan for co-operation was made,
outlining how the team should behave in order for the team to achieve top
performance.
The second day started with a second chance at Chaos, stepping
stones and key punch, with the team making major improvements,
possibly due to the plan for co-operation. After a short break, the
team grabbed their PPE bag and headed off to the outdoor climb
wall for an activity called the flying possum. The flying possum
made the team work as one unit, pulling one person up then down
the abseil wall. After the lunch break, it was back to the outdoor
climb wall, ready for the 20m rock climb. Everyone had a go with
the team encouraging everyone. The climb provided a physical
and mental challenge as it was harder than it looked. The next
activity saw four people in a canoe with three people blindfolded.
The aim was to get the four groups to gradually improve which was just about achieved. Before bed, a night
mission was handed to the team. It involved everyone staying together and helping each other as the team got
it done in record time.
In the final morning, everyone woke with disappointment as the team was leaving that afternoon. The final
attempt at stepping stones saw the team achieve their goal, making it to the new world. In Key Punch, the
team was seconds off reaching the mission goal after completing the sequence but not making it to the safety
zone. The very last mission of the camp was to save the human race. Team members had to abseil to a
chromosome (tennis ball), three quarters up the abseil wall. Once everyone who abseiled to a chromosome
had come down, it was off to the giant swing. After letting go down the swing, the tennis ball had to be
thrown to one of three catchers. Every ball that was caught
was recorded to see how successful the team was at the
mission. Four chromosomes were saved and the mission was
successfully completed.
The camp was enjoyable plus it helped the PBS team improve
their team work skills and develop into a high performing
team, proven by the improvements in each activity,
particularly in stepping stones. Each member of the
team came away from the camp with new skills and more
confidence.
Written by Tom Creighton
Beacon Pledge Signing
On Friday 25th of April all Year 10 students from St. Joseph’s College and Echuca College attended the
Beacon Pledge signing at Moama Bowling Club. The goal of the BEACON program is that all students in the
area proceed to further education, training or employment at the completion of Year 10. During the morning
students were addressed by Mr. Russell Jarrett. Russell grew up in Kyabram and went to Kyabram secondary
School, he spoke about his journey and the importance of following your passions and interests and to keep an
open mind when considering our future. Russell has been fortunate to achieve his goal and he is now a
successful business man in the Kyabram area, he has travelled overseas and studied extensively.
Students in Year 10 were then asked to publicly sign the pledge board from their school. It was their
opportunity to make a difference and commit to the pledge:
“I willingly commit myself to active participation in the Echuca Moama Beacon Foundation Project and its
programs. I also pledge myself to exploring my career options and applying myself to my studies with the aim
of moving on to further education, training or employment when I finish my time at this school.”
Thank you to the Beacon board and Mrs Cheryl Sweeney for the work that they put in to helping make the
Beacon program. We look forward to our next event, the Careers Expo, at Rich River Golf Club.
VCE Unit 1 Excursion to Gunbower Forest
Last week Mr. Phillips’ Environmental Science Year 11 class had a field study day in the
Gunbower Forest. The day was organised in conjunction with North Central Catchment
Management Authority (NCCMA) and was a great opportunity not only to learn more
about the importance of our forests and how they are being managed, but also to interact
with environmental professionals.
Our expert for the day was Adrian Martins (also know as Panda). Adrian has eleven
years experience as a project manager with NCCMA, especially in the area of pest
species control. His particular focus at the moment
is trying to ensure the survival of the three local
species of turtles, which are suffering from fox
predation. He is working with local shooting associations and experts in the field to try and find
ways to ensure that more turtles make to their nesting sites without being eaten and that their eggs
are not being dug up by foxes. Adrian would like to work with St. Joseph's and develop a
cooperative program where students revisit nesting sites over the years and develop an in-depth
understanding of the issue and perhaps even develop strategies to ensure that this species does not
become another of Australia's extinctions.
Adrian took us to three sites on the day. The first was at Gunbower Creek behind the football oval,
where some willows have been removed to allow native vegetation to establish and to free up the
shoreline. He spoke of the need to find a balance between environmental and cultural values.
Although willows are not native, they are important to both the environment and to people in some
places - many people have memories of cool afternoons spent on a hot summer's day under a willow
on the lawn. Too many willows, however, can choke waterways and erode banks.
Our second stop was at a feeder channel running off
Gunbower creek. This channel was choked with Pale
Yellow Water Lily, a significant local weed. It blocks
access to waterways for boats and totally shades the water beneath it, killing off native
vegetation, impoverishing the food chain and taking oxygen from the water - issues that can
become even more serious in the summer months - especially in times of low water flow.
The Pale Yellow Water Lily is almost impossible to control. It is the subject of ongoing
research. However because it is not a significant weed in other areas, these projects do not
receive much funding.
Our third stop was at Reedy Lagoon which has been rejuvenated through careful use of
environmental flows. It is dry now and we were able to walk right into it. The students
commented on how soft the soil was and on the thin carpet-like covering of young plants.
Reeds and rushes grew in stands up to three metres high providing habitat for birds, reptiles
and amphibians. The river red gums were thick and solid - majestic trees in their own right.
It is a rare opportunity to work with such a positive organisation of professionals, so
open to helping schools and responsive to their stakeholders. Having worked with
environmental professionals all my life, I can say that this association and the
openness of this organisation is special. We look forward to developing this
relationship further in other subjects and across other year levels. Perhaps we can
even begin a few projects right in our own back yard.
Legal Studies Adventures
The Year 12 Legal Studies students have spent the past 2 Wednesdays getting a ‘hands-on’ experience of
State Parliament and the Magistrates’ County and Supreme Court.
They have participated in role-plays, watched a very heated Question Time in Parliament and have witnessed
civil and criminal court cases.
All of these learning experiences have been valuable to the students’ understanding of key topics covered in
the course.
Thank you very much to Mrs Claire Hogan, Mrs Sarah Mai and Brendan Moyle for organising and taking the
students to Bendigo and Melbourne.
The Year 11 Legal Studies class walked down to the Echuca Court House on Tuesday the 12th to observe a
sitting of the Magistrates Court.
Students sat in the public gallery and watched the morning session where defendants were remanded in
custody; given good behaviour bonds, suspended sentences or were sent to rehabilitation; had charges struck
out; were ordered to pay a fine; and in the case of a number of defendants who did not show, had arrest
warrants made out against them.
After the session, Magistrate David Faram and Police Prosecutor Chris Jones then spent 40 minutes speaking
with the students explaining the happenings of the court session, reasons for decisions, the court hierarchy,
what is required to become a police prosecutor, answering student questions and imploring the students to be
vigilant against offers to use the drug 'ice' because of its destructive nature both personally and communally.
This excursion was a great eye-opener into some of the rather harsh realities facing country towns, as well as
enhancing student learnings in Unit 1 Legal Studies.
FRIDAY 15TH
STJOSEPH’S
HOUSE CROSS COUNTRY
OF MAY
@ 1:35PM
‘Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try’
LIVE PEACE, GIVE PEACE
VCAL students are organising a…..
Tea For Timor
On Tuesday 19th
May
Join us at Recess in the Hall for a fundraising morning tea.
$10 per person will allow you to enjoy a delicious plate of
tempting treats, tea or coffee, great conversation and the heart
warming knowledge that you have made a contribution to a worthy
cause.
All money raised will go towards
the SJE Timor Immersion
students' fundraising effort. This
money goes directly to health
and education projects in Aileu
and Lequidoe where people live
on less that $1 a day.
2015 TERM 2 CALENDAR DATES
May
Frid May 15th
Tues May 19th
Thurs May 21st
Frid May 22nd
Sun May 24th
Mon May 25th
Tues May 26th
May 27th– June 3rd
Wed May 27th
Thurs May 28th
Frid May 29th
June
Tues June 2nd
Wed June 3rd
Thurs June 4th
Frid June 5th
Whole school assembly (9:00-10:25)
MTC Theatre Performance (9:15-2:30)
House Cross Country (1.35pm start )
Campaspe Cross Country
VCAL Tea for Timor (10.25-10.50)
Learning Walk (9.30am)
Keys Please Seminar
Pentecost Sunday
LMR Snr & Int Soccer
Learning walk 9:30am
National Sorry Day
National Sorry Day Liturgy
(11:00-12:05)
Yr 7 2016 Interviews (3:30-8:30pm)
National Reconciliation Week
Round 2 Football (Swan Hill)
Year 7 Immunizations
Year 10 Play (7:00-9:30pm)
Year 8 Retreat
Year 7 2016 Interviews (3:30-6:30pm)
Year 10 Play (7:00-9:30pm)
Cohuna Careers Expo
LMR Cross Country
Year 10 Careers Expo RRGC
(9.30am-12.45pm)
Learning Walk 2pm
Year 7 2016 Interviews
(3.30pm– 6.30 pm)
VCE Drama evening (7.00pm-9.30pm)
Year 9 Retreat
Year 7 2016 Interviews
(3.30pm-6.30pm)
Learning walk 9.30am
CANTEEN ROSTER
Week Beginning May 18th
Monday May 18th
9:00-11:30 Bronwyn Williamson 1:00-2:30 Kerri Nicholson, Leanne
Greenaway
Tuesday May 19th
9:00-11:30 Annette Walters 1:00-2:30 Denise Lalor, Sam Nicol
Wednesday May 20th
9:00-11:30 Fiona Simpson, Val Mulcair 1:-00-2:30 Jenny Cain,
Vera Curnow
Thursday May 21st
9:00-11:30 Sara Thomson, Mary-Lou Paterson 1:00-2:30 Julie
Smith, Emma Jo Arthur
Friday May 22nd
9:00-11:30 Anna Marshall, Yvonne Cain 1:00-2:30 Lara English,
Sally Russell
Week Beginning May 25th
Monday May 25th
9:00-11:30 Shevaun Lamb, Ann Higgins 1:00-2:30 Dianne Johnson
Tuesday May 26th
9:00-11:30 Kylie Goyne, Tracy Hard 1:00-2:30 Jodie Stovell, Kylie
Kirk
Wednesday May 27th
9:00-11:30 Michelle Haw, Fiona Yates 1:00-2:30 …..
Thursday May 28th
9:00-11:30 Kelly Membrey, Mary Byrne 1:00-2:30 Kristyn
McAsey
Friday May 29th
9:00-11:30 Kristy Wright, Tracy Farrell 1:00-2:30 Rochelle
Rigoni, Heidi Williams
Student Immunisations Information
Please note all Year 7’s will be receiving the next round of immunisations on the 27th of
May. Any students form Year 7-10 who missed the first round of immunisations can use this
opportunity to have the immunisation.
Call for cups/ mugs
please
If any one has any unwanted
cups or mugs at home would you please
consider donating them to the Breakfast
Bar as we are running very low.
If you are able to assist please contact
Mrs Westblade.
kwestblade@sje.vic.edu.au
Thank you.
Year 12
The Year 12 Graduation Mass and Graduation
Dinner will be an event held in 'one' evening
this year.
The date for this event is Thursday the 19th of
November. The Mass will be held at St Mary's
Church at 5.30pm followed by the Graduation
Dinner at the Rich River Golf Club's Tatalia
Room commencing at 7.30pm.
More information to follow. Please note this
date in your diary.
Would your child like to sing and perform?
Here is the opportunity to learn in a group setting with a
trained music and voice teacher.
♫♫ River Voices ‘Piccolo’ group is for children 7-12 yrs
old and meets Tues.
5–5.45pm.
♫♫ ‘Allegro’ group is ages 12+ and meets Tues. 5.456.30pm.
Come and try this term at Echuca Moama Uniting Church
Chapel (enter via Hall door), Hare St, Echuca.
Cost $80/term.
For inquiries contact Martina
rivervoicesechuca@gmail.com or 0477 436 375. You can
also find us on Facebook! ♫♫
Fun singing with friends!
For Sale
Guitar
$250.00
Please contact Gary Jurey on
0409253441