QUOTE: Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat!”

Dear Year 11 Parents/Guardians;

Assessment tasks and English speeches have been the order of the day of late around the dorms. Plenty of requests to eat meals and leave the dining hall early to finish assignments, or attend 8.10am Maths classes have been very common of late. Plenty on, as just about all of our boys continue to work well to the deadlines. Nothing is going wrong but little bouts of stress are appearing with boys worrying about will I cope with the fast approaching exams and what subject will I drop? Please be assured, all very normal, but for some of our boys, the end of the world. They need reassurance and to be listened to, repeating back to them their own logical conclusion. This helps keep our boys looking at the positives and helping them to re-focus, maintain or re-kindle the work ethic that has sustained them in the past and certainly in the future.

The Opening of the Students Art Show is being held tonight. Our Art Staff are very excited with the quality of work this year that was equally praised by our Guest Judge, Craig Waddell who was our Artist in residence earlier this year. The display will be open from 9.00am – 1.00pm tomorrow, Saturday and 9.00am – 3.00pm on Monday.  Congratulations to all our boys for their outstanding efforts and wonderful talent they have, along with the confidence and freedom to express themselves in this very public domain.

Over the last two Fridays, on the 19^th August James Christie, Oliver Hartnell, Louis Jenkins and Jack Hamilton and today Gus Rae, Hugh McGinness, Nick Berney and Eddie Browne, maintained our service at Matt Talbot, thoroughly enjoying their experience.

Last week Father Andrew invited the following thirty boys to commence their training as Acolytes for 20011/12. The selection process was a difficult one with 58 boys applying for this role. Congratulations to the following boys on their selection Alex Bellato, Lachlan Aston, Joe Callaughan, Jonathon Canturi, Ben Carolan, Sam Clarke, Joe Coorey, Oliver Coorey, James Dressler-Smith, Hamish Elliot, Jesse Fenech, Callum Flitcroft, Matt Hall, Max hall, James Harrison, Tom Laban, Tim Litherland, Harry Maher, Will McManus, Tom Murphy, Alex Newsome, Conor O’Gorman, Andrew O’Neill, Tiger Parker, Daniel Picone, James Quinn, Alec Rainnie, Andrew Raumer, Josh Schwager and Ethan Shaw.  

On Wednesday we spoke to the boys about the process of the important role in the College of Dormitory Seniors. This group of 12 boys helps assist the Boarding Staff in the supervision of the Years 7 – 10 Dorms, providing them with wonderful leadership opportunities.  The boys are invited to nominate firstly and I must tell you, I have been pleased with the number of boys who have already nominated. This is a truly outstanding sign of the commitment our boys have to their College. Unfortunately, most of them will miss out but their generosity and commitment from the very outset deserves high praise. The selection process will commence throughout the next couple of weeks.

On Tuesday evening of this week, the Old Boys Union along with our Careers Counsellor, Mrs Lorna Charters, held Career Talks for our boys. Our boys nominated a series of careers they were interested in and over the night had the opportunity of sitting with people from a range of professions in the career fields of: Primary and Rural Industries; Graphic Design; Transport & Defence; Construction (various trades); Finance; Engineering, Science & IT; Entertainment & Arts; Health; Hospitality & Tourism; Media; Legal, Security & Government and Sports. Our boys really enjoyed the opportunity to sit down over two sessions, to listen and talk with people in specific profession. The boys commented how much they enjoyed listening to the various old boys talk about themselves, highlighting the paths they took to get to the stage of their career, sharing with our boys their life experiences along the way. A wonderful initiative and greatly appreciated by all.

Wednesday of last week our Engineering Studies students witnessed the practical application on the manufacturing processes behind braking systems and engine operations, with an enjoyable day at Eastern Creek International Karting Raceway.

Last weekend marked the end of the Winter Season. It is hard to believe it is over, but certainly the efforts all boys and coaches have made indicated that there is nothing much left to give. There were two big weekends for the boys to finish on, and we were all very impressed with the manner in which our boys conducted themselves both on and off the field at Riverview and last weekend for the final home match against Newington. Although with no silverware to be put on display from any of our senior teams, the valuable experience our boys have been exposed to definitely places them in a position to play a very significant role in next year’s competitions, providing they put in the hard work over term four and in the Christmas break. On both weekends we were blessed with great weather and great footy on the rugby and football fields to conclude our winter season and this was finished off with our Winter Sports Rally in the evening.

Our Year 11 Senior Cross Country representatives, Matt Hall, Gus Rae and Sam Clarke completed a very solid 2011 GPS Competition. Over the season, injury plagued our boys and it wasn’t until the last round that the fully fit team all competed, taking out 2^nd place in the last Carnival to secure their 4^th placing over the season. Congratulations to our boys who gained many honours and to their coaches, Mr. Craig Attwater and Mr. James Gray.

Six Year 11 boys were part of the Firsts & Seconds Football Teams. Congratulations to our First XI representatives: Ed Dudley, Magnus Heywood, Matt Alessi and tom Booth along with their coaches, Mr. Craig Sharpley and Mr. Darren Frost on a very sound season, where they finished off with an excellent 3 – 1 victory over  a strong Newington side, who were playing for the Premiership. As a result of this, Scots won the GPS Football competition.  Also Harry Maher and Tim Palmer, members of the Second XI who finished second to Newington, a team they beat 1 – 0 in their final match. Congratulations to coaches Mr. Lee McMaster and Mr. Miguel Nunes, who produced a fine season with their team. A big thanks to Football Convenor, Mrs. Sue Tracey, who helps in producing the continual development of Football at Joeys.

The Rugby Season for the College saw Joeys win two-thirds of the 248 competition games played this Season. What also must be taken into account was that over a third of the fixtures this season saw our teams play against a team of a higher grade. Congratulations to our 10 Yr 11 boys who were selected to play in the 2^nd XV – Kian Heffernan, Ben Carolan, Oliver Bartlett, Alex Newsome, James Harrison, Jack Watts, Andrew Hookey, Ben Rodgers, Tom Cleary and Hugh McLean. Seven of these boys at some stage of the season were also selected to play for the 1^st XV. The 1^st XV consisted of 7 Yr.11 boys and Tom Robinson, Josh Schwager, James Goldie, Tom Murphy, Josh Kay, Sam Barclay and Josh Wilde gave the College and it’s supporters many memorable moments this year, none more so than a stirring effort to scare the life out of the eventual Champions, Riverview, two weeks ago. And, as mentioned before they and many other boys have had some valuable experience for them to do something very significant next year, providing they are willing to put their heads down and work hard.

WAYNE BENNETT

We were all extremely lucky have the opportunity to listen to an address by Wayne Bennett last Monday. All sport was called off and the college went to the hall to listen to Wayne’s address. Many pearls of wisdom for the boys and I have included for your reference as well some of what I believe would be very beneficial for our young men:

There is more to life than yourself, learn to care about relationships with other people. Treat everyone with equality, no-one is better than you, but teach yourself, you are not better than anyone else.

The most important thing is not about your career, but the type of man you want to be. What do you want to stand for?

He spoke to the boys about chasing their dreams. He left school at 14 and he had 3 dreams which lead to three crucial decisions:  1) Join the Police Force: here he thought he could make a small difference and it would challenge him. 2) Play Rugby League for Australia – his father had left home when he was 9 and his mother had never seen him play. 3) Not to drink alcohol – he had seen too many drunks and he did not know what type he would be; the violent one or one who regrets what he says the next day. He also had seen the way alcohol affected his father and he did not want to let his mother down after all she had been through.

Don’t dream you will never be the person you could be.

True ability is not being better than the other person, it’s being better than your previous self.

Don’t lie to yourself. Do you say you’ve done your best when you know you haven’t?

Teach yourself. You are your best teacher. Teach yourself to stop looking at what you don’t have. Teach yourself to start looking at what you do have.

I am not going to take any notice of criticism from someone I don’t respect. But, if someone I do respect criticises me and it is justified, I will make the change. If not I will get on with my life.

VALUES: 4 values which are non-negotiables:

1. TRUST: Do you trust yourself in all situations and circumstances that you will do what’s right?
2. RESPONSIBILITY: Do you take responsibility for yourself or do you blame others?
3. CHARACTER: What do you do/who are you when no one is watching you? How hard do you work when the boss/coach/teacher is not looking over your shoulder?
4. EXCUSES: the ability not to make excuses.

SELF DISCIPLINE: The ability to make yourself do the things you don’t want to. Best example he has known – Darren Lockyer.

I hate doing “sad”; it’s the highway to no-where.

My goal- is to get out of bed every day happy. I will be happy if I’ve done my best the day before, and acted with self-discipline and character.

Value your own opinions. Other people’s opinions are important but you must value your own.

You will never be confident young men if you are happy to live in a comfort zone. You must do things that challenge you.

Stand for something. Stand for you!

Overall it was a great experience for the boys and plenty of pearls of wisdom which if we feed them with from home and school, will certainly benefit them.

DEBATING REPORT: The following is a report from our 1^st Debating Rep. Harry Maher:

The senior debating teams this year has had a strong Year 11 representation, with seven of the ten spots being filled by our year; Oliver Coorey, Hamish Elliot, Max Hall, Daniel Harrington, Tim Litherland, Harry Maher and Tim Palmer respectively. The GPS competition finally began in week one of term three after two terms of preparation and a holiday debating camp, and the practice showed as all three teams pushed Sydney Grammar, last year’s champions, right to the wire and were unlucky to come away with defeats. As the season has progressed all speakers have expanded in confidence and skill, and despite setbacks and the constant battle against pre-conceived adjudicator prejudice towards Joeys, the firsts managed a memorable victory against Sydney Boys High, while seconds and third have both recorded two victories out of five over Riverview and Newington respectively.

A variety of topics have been debated, including Facebook, Chinese miners, Afghanistan, female judges… just about anything, from apples and oranges to revolutions, with teams consistently reversing from staunch fascist to radical left-wing loony’s within the space of one week- but then again, that is part of the skill. And through these topics, we have gradually gathered momentum and are now looking to end the season on a high. This must be accredited to the coaches, Mr Pietriche, Mr Bentley and Mrs Bradridge for their commitment and guidance through-out the season, to the boys themselves for their effort in training and on Friday nights, and also to the growing crowds who have turned up to watch us debate; it is a great advantage and privilege for us to debate to a full theatre of Joeboys. With promising potential for the next season of debating, we can hope and dream of finally bringing the coveted Shield back to joeys, and breaking the 33 year drought against Riverview in the next year.

As we tell ourselves after each debate, when we come so close to winning but are just denied, anyone can give up; it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength.

Even with Spring in the air, we certainly haven’t escaped the usual bugs and sickness amongst our boys. We have been hit reasonably well so much as to keep the Health Centre very busy. Probably information mainly for new parents, the doctor visits the College daily to check on our sick or injured boys. I do give timely reminders to our boys about the importance to wash their hands before eating and covering up coughing and sneezing with a handkerchief or tissues. Little but equally important things.

I have attached the weekend’s sporting fixtures for your assistance, take care and enjoy your weekend with your families.

Regards

Jeremy

QUOTE: “Did is a word of achievement, Won’t is a word of retreat, Might is a word of bereavement, Can’t is a word of defeat, Ought is a word of duty, Try is a word of each hour, Will is a word of beauty, Can is a word of power!”

Dear Yr. 11 Parents and Carers;

Week 4 has come around after a busy weekend for many of our boys who made the trip to Armidale, where they acquitted themselves on and off the field very well. There has been a cold/cough doing the rounds which has laid quite a few of the boys low, and basic hygiene, as well as ventilating the dorms has been stressed to them to help minimise their chances of being affected. I spoke with our boys at our Division Meeting on Wednesday complimenting them on their consistency and ability to slog away at their work. At the moment assignments are becoming due with a huge amount work going into Senior Geography Projects; Business Studies Plans, Biology, English, Ancient History assignments, let alone our seventeen Accelerated Maths students who have just completed their HSC Maths Trials. All we can see around us is hard work that is something many of our boys are very familiar with but still the demands and time commitment being asked of our boys is new territory for some. I stressed to them to make the most of and enjoy their journey and at all times ensure they give their best to each day and, if they are feeling too swamped, talk and we will do all we can to help them out. The following is a reflection which we took time to consider as it has a valuable message for them all: –

¨  How strange it is, our little procession of life! The child says, “When I am a big boy”. The big boy says, “When I grow up”. And, grown-up, he says, “When I get married”. Then, when retirement comes, he looks back over the landscape traversed; a cold wind seems to sweep over it; somehow he has missed it all, and it is gone. Life, we learn too late, is in the living, in the tissue of every day and hour.

Yesterday, our seventeen Year 11 Accelerated Maths boys completed their HSC Mathematics Trial Papers. These boys are doing the Accelerated Maths course that they commenced at the beginning of Year 10. After testing at the beginning of last year, the class was selected and began their tuition under Mr Thompson. The boys basically complete their three years Maths Program from Years 10 –12 in two years. The major benefit is in their final HSC year, allowing for more time dedicated to their other subjects. Though many of the boys may re-sit for the exams in 2012, the experience they gain is also of huge benefit. We wish Henry Brindle, Ethan Chin, Geoff Choy, Oliver Coorey, Ed Dwyer, Hamish Elliot, Harrison Gould, James Harrison, Michael Lawler, Nathan Le, Derek Lo, Harry Maher, Tom Murphy, Alex Newsome, Daniel Picone, Oliver Roberts and Seth Turnbull all the best of luck in their HSC Mathematics studies.

Last Friday saw our 1^st Debating side, which Harry Maher is a member of; score a terrific victory over Sydney Boys High, the first one in seven years. Our boys in the Seconds and Thirds were not so lucky but acquitted themselves very well. Last Friday also saw our wonderful service to the Matthew Talbot Hostel for Homeless Men continue with Vincent Salinos, Julian Paul, Magnus Heywood and Oliver Coorey, going along to serve the evening meal to the guests of the Hostel. Tonight, Mackenzie Broom, Ben Pedley, Max Honner and Cameron Haddad will travel out with Miss Stambouliah for this wonderful experience.

I would also like to commend Matthew Alessi for his recent selection in the Combined GPS 1^st Football side who were victorious in their match against CAS, 2-1. Well done Matthew.

During the past week two of our Indigenous students, heath Green and Anthony Baker were fortunate enough to travel to Uluru and Gove respectively. Heath relays the following:

“On Thursday July 28^th I went to Uluru, for an Aboriginal youth leadership program (IYLP). Me and another student were chosen to go to represent St Joseph’s College and because I was given a scholarship from the Smith Family last year. The highlights of the experience wasn’t only to see Ayres Rock but to meet people from every state in Australia. And also listening to inspirational stories from many aboriginal people who have struggled through their lives but managed to get back on track and keep moving forward. On the trip we did many activities to help build our leadership and character such as putting up a tent blind folded, also to get to know the people that were on the trip and their backgrounds. We also went to see another place. Kata Tjuta which is not far from Uluru and I walk through the Valley of the Wind. On Saturday night we watched a very inspiring documentary which Uncle Bob Randell made about the Aboriginal people and a story about his life. Then on the last day we had to wake up at 4:00 in the morning to go and catch the sun rise at Uluru and walk around the base and see artwork that have been there for over hundreds of years and many sacred sites. The highlights of my experience were learning how to be a leader and learning from other people on how to do so. And meeting people that you had never seen before in your life and getting to know them. And also seeing Uluru”.

Anthony attended The Garma Festival, this is located in Gove (Nhulunbuy) Northern territory.  Anthony was asked as by the Australian Defence Force to represent the Army and St Joseph’s College as a key speaker at the Defence Indigenous Development Program (DIDP) Forum. On the 7^th of August he was asked to give a speech about his life before joining the DIDP in 2009 and coming to Joeys in 2010. In Anthony’s words : “From this trip I have gained pride of being an Indigenous Australian and being part of Joey’s history, culture and heritage. Also Academic Excellence & Cultural Integrity, which was the key theme of the whole weekend”.

This weekend will be another great test for our boys with a full list of fixtures in Round 6 of the GPS Competition against Riverview, which by now you all would have received. There will be plenty of exciting matches commencing with the debating on Friday night followed by the sports fixtures on Saturday. Just a reminder for those of you whose sons are going on overnights or gatherings to other friends places, please make contact with the parents of where your son is going, and if you are unsure of contact details I am more than willing to assist. I would also like to thank those parents who have had gatherings, for letting me know the details of the night, so that I can communicate this to parents of our country boys. If we all work together to look after, direct and ensure our boys are safe at weekends, it will be for everyone’s benefit.

This Sunday is the Family Mass that will be held in the Brother Emilian Hall where boys are to be seated by 9.50am. All boys are to be present in their full Blues. This will be followed by Jazz on the Lawn which you can use the following link to find out more of what is a great way to fill in your Sunday morning if you can:

                                http://www.joeys.org/newspublicationsevents/news/JazzontheLawn.cfm

The boys will be free then to leave after marking off with me at 11am and then Full Boarders and Weekly Boarders, returning Sunday night, are back by 8pm for this weekend. I would also like to draw to your attention the copy of the Welcome Newsletter, which has been attached, that Ross Tarlinton sent to all families at the beginning of the year. I would like to bring to your attention the section ‘Holiday Plans During the Year’ and ask any of you, considering taking your son out of school during the term to adhere to the listed requirements.

Take care and enjoy the weekend with your families.

Regards

Jeremy