QUOTE: “COURAGE IS RESISTANCE TO FEAR, MASTERY OF FEAR, NOT ABSENCE OF FEAR”.

Dear Yr. 11 Parents and Carers;

On Monday, we celebrated the Feast Day of St Joseph, with a day off school with activities at Queenscliff Beach, Golf plus Ice Skating and Movies at Macquarie Centre. Due to the rain, the boys who were scheduled to go to Queenscliff went to Top Ryde Cinema complex to put their feet up and take in two movies. It was a well-earned break for all our boys who gained much praise with how they conducted themselves. That night, with plenty of work on, we had a session of Study and the boys were straight back to the books as the work rate continues. Our boys work hard in their studies, sport and other co-curricular activities and it is equally important for them to enjoy each other’s company in a more relaxed and fun day.

Our Year 11 boys have now commenced their Lenten Appeal having contributed $300 so far and we look forward to increasing this amount each Sunday night and Monday morning on our boys return. Our aim is for Year 11 to raise $2000 for our various Lenten Projects.

Jade Tubnor, Heath Green, Will Elsley, and Joe Wisemantel maintained our service in helping with the evening meal at the Matthew Talbot Hostel for Homeless men today.

The meeting of the Year 7 & 11 Buddies on Wednesday afternoon went very well and I was very proud of how our boys talked and related with their new Year 7 buddies, helping them to write a letter home to their parents. Please find attached a list of the 156 boys who have volunteered for the Buddy Program and the name of their Year 7 Buddy. Please encourage your son to meet with his buddy often and even invite him to lunch if you happen to drop into the College for such occasions.

At our Assembly three weeks ago we were able to watch and listen to the experience of three students who were lucky enough to have the opportunity to go to Antarctica. Aaron Curtis and Brendon Follington along with Tim Hill (Yr.12) had the trip of a lifetime and they provide us with an insight through the following excerpts:

Antarctica November – December 2010
“During term two 2010 year 10 and 11 students were made aware of a 2 to 3 week expedition to the interior of Antarctica, generously supported and organised by joeys parent Mr Mike McDowell and my science teacher Mr John Cherry. This trip was to be the first Australian school trip to the interior of Antarctica and was nothing less than a trip of a lifetime. On this trip was Timothy Hill, Aaron Curtis, and I. Before I even applied for the expedition I really thought I would have no chance of making the cut, but with a bit of hard work, motivation and drive I was able to grasp an opportunity of a lifetime. At first I didn’t really know what to expect. When John Cherry explained to me that I was selected among the three boys to embark on this expedition I was both nervous yet excited at the same time. The idea of actually going to the most isolated, coldest and driest region on earth was a shock to me all the way to the icy runway which our Illusion-76 cargo jet landed on. But the moment we laid eyes on the landscape when the cargo hole opened we were instantly mesmerized with feelings which we can’t explain still to this day”.

Brendon Follington
“During our time in this icy cold continent we did a vast range of activities from marking out crevasse safe roads to every day jobs around the camp, such as building storage containers, helping the kitchen staff after meals, moving emergency supplies and transporting jet fuel from depots to ice ridden air fields in one of the most remote places on the planet. Not only did we do these activities in Base Camp but we ventured out into the Antarctic wilderness in the form of the Ellsworth Mountain Range where we stayed for two extraordinary nights in the unexplored regions of Union Glacier. It was here where Tim, Brendon, John Cherry, Mike McDowell, Darren (guide) and myself travelled by skidoos and cross country skis to unexplored corners of this area such as ‘Hidden Valley’ and never before climbed peaks which names are non-existent to this day. This was a life changing experience which will never be forgotten. We learnt many valuable lessons which cannot be learnt elsewhere such as the extraordinary people we had the great privilege of meeting and listening to their stories and ideas. We also had the benefits of learning the arts of glaciology and mountaineering through experts in the Arctic regions. Overall, I know I speak for the other two boy’s when I say this experience of a lifetime will never be forgotten and special thanks must be given to John Cherry for organising and taking care of this expedition and also to Mike McDowell who generously supported us before, throughout and after the expedition was completed”.
Aaron Curtis

TAKE A LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING VIDEO TO SEE THE BOYS REMARKABLE EXPERIENCE FOR YOURSELVES.

Excursions have been providing the boys with invaluable learning experiences of late. Biology classes went to the Australian Walkabout Wildlife Park at Calga where they had the opportunity of seeing up to 180 species of wildlife in their native habitats. The boys thoroughly enjoyed the experience provided to them by Mr Bruce Cook and Mr Ciaran Collins.

Geography classes had a relaxing day looking at the various coastal landforms at Palm, Narrabeen and Collaroy beaches.

Michelle Markuse and Michelle Tinta took their visual Arts classes to the White Rabbit Gallery at the Museum of Contemporary Art. This gallery being one of the world’s largest and most significant collections of contemporary Chinese art.

Our Senior Scientists ventured to the Botanic Gardens to study the propagation of plants as well as the water conservation program used in the Gardens. Mrs Di Stewart was most impressed with the boys’ behaviour and general interest.

Mr Andrew Drewitt-Smith and Mr Jonathon Talbot took the Design and Technology students to the Powerhouse Museum to listen to lectures to give them inspiration in Design and then view the showcase of HSC Major Works from 2010.

Music saw our eight Music elective students, dressed most impressively in their Blues, head off to the Opera House for a concert from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
All important excursions in our boys’ educative process.

Our Debaters will be in action against Stella Maris tonight and Max Hall provides us with a brief update on how they have been performing:

“The Firsts and Seconds debating teams have begun their competitive season with debates in both the ISDA and FED competitions. Strong performances and improvements by all speakers and the assistance of coaches have led to both the Firsts and Seconds winning two out of their four debates. Last Friday night saw the teams cross the river to face off against the old enemy at Riverview. Fierce rhetoric ensued with the merits of Australia’s foreign policy coming under close scrutiny. The Seconds performed well and didn’t give much to the opposition resulting in a Joeys win. Firsts were exceptional in what was their best debate of the season. However, to the surprise of many the adjudication was awarded otherwise leaving the Firsts resolved to coming back even stronger. With two losses both teams cannot afford to lose another debate in their attempt to make the knockout rounds and will face up against Stella Maris tonight”.

This weekend is the final round of summer sports for our boys. A number of teams are well placed in their respective competitions and we know they will be very tough in their matches wherever they are playing tomorrow. The 1st and 2nd competition teams in each sport have all had fine seasons and special mention to the 2nd X1 who are playing Scots and a first innings victory will see them in line for a Premiership. I have asked some of the boys to provide a brief insight into their teams performances so far:

WATERPOLO
“Water Polo this season has been challenging and rewarding. The step up from the Seconds competition, which we won last year, to the first competition was a massive one. With 5 trainings sessions a week, many boys have struggled with the workload that has been put on us from the start. Special mention to Laurence Nelmes, who in his first year of playing, managed to score a goal against the winners of the competition, Riverview. Michael Thompson has been a legend in goals with great saves that has kept us close to the opposition. Henry Brindle is excellent in rallying the troops before games and giving us all a pump up speech to prepare for what lies ahead. Duncan Baxter and Nick Henry rejuvenised the team at the start of this year and helped us to our first and only victory against Knox. Harrison Holgate has been excellent on attack and played the full time of most games. Saxon Dunworth works hard and scored the most goals in the trial season to help lead our attack. Special thanks must go to our out of school coaches Jay Smith and Mr Frank who showed up at 6 in the morning to take our training sessions, especially in the winter, where most boys came out of the water with a headache. Overall this season has improved our skills and fitness for next season”.
Will Glenn

TENNIS
“The 2011 season has been a season of highs and lows for the firsts and seconds tennis. After experiencing a promising trial season in both divisions, we have not performed as well as we had hope to in competition season. Although there have been some good results especially in the seconds division each week who are currently placed 5th. However the season has been thoroughly enjoyed by all with a great team atmosphere present in both teams. We will be sure to take the disappointment from this season into training this winter in preparation for a hopefully better season next year. Congratulations to Maurice De Costa who has represented the firsts team well all season this year”.

A reminder that this weekend marks the conclusion of the regular Summer Sport Season with the exception of our Senior Rowers with the Head of the River being held on Saturday, 2nd April. This Saturday evening will be the Summer Sports Rally to be held in the Brother Emilian Hall commencing at 6.30pm. It will conclude by 7.30pm. All boys must be in attendance dressed in their Blues. The night has been shortened with the usual Mass transferred to the Sunday night, 27th March at 8.15pm. Therefore, all Boarders and Weekly Boarders, returning Sunday night, will need to return by 8pm on Sunday night.

Also a reminder that all boys will be attending the Head of the River in their “Blues” on Saturday, 2nd April leaving the College at 7.45am travelling with their Year 7 buddy to head up to Sydney International Rowing Centre. On return to the College, the Rowing Rally will then commence at 4.30pm in the Brother Emilian Hall with boys free to leave after the Rally from around 5.30pm. Whilst on the Head of the River I would like to thank the number of parents who called and gave me a “heads up” to a Harbour Cruise which was being organised by some of the boys for that evening. This was great, as because of the open and honest communications it quickly became evident that this social occasion should be knocked on the head for numerous reasons especially as it had the potential to put any number of our boys in grave danger. At a time in the term, when they should be prioritising their studies as well as their winter sport trials, I strongly suggest you keep a close eye on your son’s movements on that night, and this is definitely one of the occasions when they need to hear the word “No”. Next Saturday, we will be expecting the boys to compete hard in the Regatta, or assist in leading the rest of the College in support of the Rowers. This itself is quite demanding and tiring on them. This morning at breakfast there is plenty of tiredness and a good dose of some kind of a “bug” well and truly doing the rounds amongst the boys. I told them the last thing they need is a “big night” after the Head of the River or this weekend, with exams and some very competitive winter sport trials to face them in the final weeks. I ask you to join with me in doing the same, so your son has the best chance to perform to his abilities in the things which matter most at this important time of the term.
Less than two weeks to go! I spoke to the boys at our Division Meeting this week that Joeys never winds down but “Winds Up!” We are all here until 5pm on Thursday, 7th April, where we finish. This is a totally fair conclusion time as it is when all boys’ commitments are complete. Thank you for respecting this finishing time. Countrylink bookings close on Friday and these boys will obviously stay here on Thursday evening and commence departing early Friday morning.

Let’s hope for a successful end of season for our Summer Sports Teams.

Regards

Jeremy