Where does chocolate come from? What is the difference between cacao and cocoa? Where are cacao beans grown? How are they harvested and turned into chocolate? Is it ethical to use child labour in cacao plantations? What does Fairtrade mean?

These are some of the questions put to visitors viewing the Geography Week display in the Resources Centre in November. The focus on chocolate corresponded with the Year 9 Geography investigation into rainforest biomes, and specifically cocoa production and ethical farming practices. The interactive display invited students to “follow the chocolate trail” and make discoveries along the way:

• see real cacao trees from tropical north Queensland
• feel the texture and weight of cacao pods
• carry a 15kg sack to experience the weight carried each day by many children sold into slavery to harvest cacao beans
• taste cacao beans, both raw and roasted
• observe the great variety and form of chocolate products
• view infographics about cocoa and chocolate production
• read about the importance of choosing fair trade products

The Resources Centre in collaboration with the geography department conducted lessons for the Year 9 Geography students to gain in-depth knowledge of cocoa production, child exploitation in the chocolate industry and the ongoing efforts of fair trade organisations to improve farming and labour practices.

To coincide with the chocolate theme, the library has launched the Summer Chocolate Reading Challenge. All students and staff are challenged to commit to reading three, six or nine novels over the summer holidays. Readers are asked to post a book review per challenge level to earn a Fairtrade chocolate on their return to the College in 2018. For more details, click here.

No money is changing hands!

Mr Ross Tarlinton was joined by his wife, Lorna, and his children for his final assembly after 12 years as Headmaster.

The 1st Basketball team was presented to the school at the final assembly for the year. In the team from Year 9 was Quinlan van Jaarsveldt.

At last Thursday’s assembly a number of sport awards were presented including one to Josh Noye who was awarded the Grogan-Murphy Memorial Trophy for the Best Athlete Cross Country Open Team.

Also receiving awards were the points winners from the College Swimming Carnival last Wednesday. Year 9 boys won in both the u14 and u15 age groups:

14 year old boys

1. Jordan Lancaster – Red – 88
2. Jarrah Ronan (Year 8) – Red – 86 *Tied 2nd
3. Aymeric Moloney – Red – 86 *Tied 2nd

15 year old boys

1. Kane Rodwell (Year 10)– Gold – 92
2. Joe McCauley – Gold – 90
3. Lachie Sinclair – Green – 70

Also recognised for breaking a college record:

Will Gibbs – 2.20.26 200m Freestyle Juniors – previous Bronson Ronan (2013) – 2.35.03

Also recognised were Tyler Banducci, Mitchell Quick and Brendan Zenere who are representing the College in the 2nd Tennis.

Congratulations to Massimo Fiore who took out the best student cake at the Year 9 Cake Stall at the Spring fair last weekend. The winning cerise and blue cake was purchased by a parent and donated back to Year 9.  The delicious sponge was demolished by the boys on Tuesday night.

Fish and chips, cricket, touch footy and basketball by Sydney Harbour at Drummoyne Oval on Saturday evening.

During a busy week, a busy term and an even busier weekend Year 9 students, parents and friends came together to celebrate the well-loved Charles Dickens tale ‘A Christmas Carol’ adapted for the stage as ‘Scrooge’. It was a significant effort and achievement.

A full house enthusiastically received the performance and the nuanced message of the play as the Year 9 boys generously stepped into the shoes of their characters, supported each other and showed the benefits of their work in creativity, collaboration, critical reflection and communication in the classroom and for the stage.

A big thank you to Di Fazio, Judy Gillespie and Bridget Tate for their support of the boys; Alice Morgan (our production and costume person from our Musicals) for supporting the ‘look’ of the show; Year 10 Drama for the lighting, video recording and sound; Alliance Catering and the Friends of Joeys Drama for their superb contribution to the night of student theatre; Michael Blair and David Hill for their unwavering support of the boys.

‘Our job is to take the audience into the dream we have created on stage’.

Conor McPherson.

All present certainly agreed the boys created that dream on Friday night.

Mr Pat O’Shea

Head of Drama

Last Friday during Period 6 Mr Capelin’s and Miss Clark’s  Commerce classes had a guest speaker. An SJC Old Boy from the class of 1991, Mr Matthew Roberton.

Mr Roberton is a criminal lawyer and took the time to share some first hand stories which were related to the current topic of Law in Action. He shed some light on the different types of punishment, the bail application process, the life of a criminal lawyer and various other matters that boys have been learning about.

Lots of interesting stories and lots of questions from the boys.

Apologies for the delay in posting, below are details from the 2nd XI Cricket courtesy of Mr David Wiseman.

The St Joseph’s College 2^nd XI cricket team travelled to Riverview for the round 2 competition game against St Ignatius’ College.  With day 1 washed out, the game reverted to a 100 over match on day 2.

The Joeys team played strongly to defeat St Ignatius’ by 6 wickets with only 2.2 over reaming.

Match Scores:  St Ignatius’ 10/144 (52 overs) defeated by St Joseph’s 4/148 (42.4 overs)

The year 9 boys again performed well with Adrian Dawson scoring a half century and being man of the match.

Adrian Dawson

Batting:                57 runs

Bowling:              1 wicket for 18 runs (4 overs)

George Martin

Bowling:              3 wickets for 26 runs (12 overs)

Ben Jones

Wicket Keeper:                faultless display behind the stumps and took 3 great catches

Willis Gunesekera

Bowling:              0 wicket for 29 runs (8 overs)

The matched paused at 11.00am for a poignant Remembrance Day ceremony.  The boys were exemplary in their participation in this service where we remembered our fellow Australians who had served in the wars.

The Year 9 Japanese class recently went on a dinner leave to a Japanese restaurant. There they were able to practice their Japanese and enjoy some delicious food at the same time.

Mr Corcoran’s science class today examining radioactive isotopes (from a distance)