QUOTE: “IT IS GOOD TO HAVE AN END TO A JOURNEY FORWARD, BUT IT IS THE JOURNEY THAT MATTERS IN THE END!”

Dear Year 11 Parents,

The dorms sit quietly and dusty after the high energy of a long ten week term. Our boys go home tired but satisfied in rounding off this last week, where they received back exams and assignment marks, with much instruction concerning the process behind dropping a subject or picking up a one unit course to organizing their text books, all in readiness for the commencement of their HSC studies next term.

Last weekend was the GPS Track and Field Championships and our boys were magnificent in all their performances, the vast majority of them recording personal best efforts on the day and this resulted in an outstanding second place finish behind the Kings School. After a long winter sport season our boys worked intensely for three weeks before the championships and many of them scared the life out of competitors with State and National rankings, whom had the luxury of a winter’s preparation due to not playing Rugby or Football. I would like to congratulate Zac Guilfoyle, Tim Palmer, Joe Callaughan, Hugh McLean, Sam Barclay, James Harrison, James Goldie, Alex Beasley, Ben Rodgers, Tom Martin, Josh Wilde, Laurence Nelmes, Tom Cleary, Magnus Heywood, Andrew Hookey and Josh Schwager for their outstanding performances on the day. It was impossible for me to see all the boys compete so I cannot comment on them all, but I found the efforts of Ben Rodgers and Tom Martin to be absolutely inspiring and  Alex Beasley’s efforts across the day were sustained and exceptional. 

Our Division Meeting on Wednesday was dominated by the details concerning the boys’ patterns of study and Year 12 text books, which Darren outlined to the boys very comprehensively. Wednesday was also the day we announced our Year 11 Cheer Leaders, Callum Flitcroft, Max Hall, Charlie Landers, Eddie Browne, Tiger Parker, Brendon Follington, David Ryan, Dom Mullane, Kian Heffernan, Oliver Roberts and Michael Thompson revved up our Years 7 to 11 boys with a cheering practice in preparation to take on the mantle of leading the school for the first time on Thursday to send off our Class of 2011 at their Final College Assembly. The Farewell Assembly went extremely well and to quote many a Year 12 boy commenting about the cheering after the event, “Year 11 was awesome!”  Fitting praise from their senior peers and a great start for our new Leading Year of the College.

Further to the wonderful examples our boys are setting in undertaking their leadership role in the school seriously, is that forty-three boys also nominated to take on the role of Dorm Seniors for 2011/12. Unfortunately only fourteen boys are chosen for the positions that leave the majority disappointed, but the generosity and commitment from all of the boys who did volunteer for this role, is greatly valued and appreciated. In a very difficult process to select the fourteen amongst so many worthy candidates, the following boys have been selected to commence as Dormitory Seniors next term.

In Year 7: Seth Turnbull, Jade Tubnor.

Year 8: James Quinn, Tom Murphy, Alex Newsome.

Year 9: Joe Callaughan, Ben Carolan, Alec Rainnie, Connor O’Gorman and Charlie Landers.

Year 10: Max Hall, Josh Kay, Josh Wilde and Anthony Baker.

One for the diary, the Semi-Formal will be held at the College on November 18^th and I have been finalising details for the evening. We will need to have about 40 parents helping out on the night, so if you could keep that night free and volunteer some time it would help with the smooth running of the evening and make it a really special occasion for our boys.  Once the semi-formal is underway, you can sit back and relax and enjoy an informal get-together with pizza and a glass of wine.

You will receive by early next week the very comprehensive Year 11 Academic Reports for the completion of the Year 11 Preliminary Course and an Interim Boarding (Pastoral) Report. There finally ends a busy term in the lives of our boys. In Term 4, Full Boarders and all Weekly Boarders return at 8pm on Monday evening, 10th October; Day Boys – 8am on Tuesday morning, 11^th October our boys commence the first term of the HSC.  Be rest assured your son is ready for it. They all have worked hard over this term and I do hope your son’s Report rewards his efforts this year.

I do hope all the boys have an enjoyable break as these holidays will be their last where they can feel totally free of any need to do school work as they return refreshed ready to take on the mantle of leadership in the many facets of College life at Joeys.

QUOTE: “TAKE YOUR LIFE IN YOUR OWN HANDS AND WHAT HAPPENS? A TERRIBLE THING: NO ONE TO BLAME!”

Dear Year 11 Parents and Guardians;

A huge sigh of relief was heard as our boys finished their last exam, Mathematics, this afternoon. Our boys have been totally immersed in their Final Year 11 Preliminary Exams that have dominated these last two weeks. Darren Frost and I have been very impressed as to how the boys have applied themselves to their Studies. Mind you, Study has been tough for some as they drag their brain exhausted bodies back to the classroom to continue their vigil. It is not easy to sit day and night studying when your next exam may be two or three days away. It was just simply hard work and our boys have certainly put in. We have changed their program that sees a Morning exam; Lunch at Midday followed by a good hour and a half break with the afternoon session beginning at 1.33pm. The boys have enjoyed playing Touch, kicking the footy around or shooting a few baskets as a way to keep things in balance and burn off some energy. Actually it has been very pleasing to see the way many of them have routined themselves, with early morning training sessions being popular to kick start their days. Night Study also saw optional sessions introduced as we moved later into the second week, with a choice of movie/World Cup Rugby that the boys really enjoyed.

 The views from the exams have varied with some comments being: Geography – “Okay”; PD/H/PE – “Looong”, “Frantic”, “All okay but a lot of it”; while one of the Economics students declared, “I think I’ll be dropping that subject next term!” English received thumbs up but most were flat out in completing the 2 hour exam. Our Extension Maths students walked out of the exams with mixed responses of quiet joy and some loud declarations of “definitely only doing 2 unit next term”. I don’t know whether it was the last exam but the 2unit Maths Paper was well received by the boys with many claiming it was “Very Fair” I love their ratings or maybe their relief! Anyway, it is always hard to know how you went in exams but one thing for certain; our boys are really putting in an effort.

At yesterday’s Headmaster’s Assembly Ross challenged the boys to be young men who not only take responsibility for their actions, but also take responsibility for their decisions and their decision making. For our boys who have just finished their exams, they need to reflect, at some stage and honestly ask themselves whether they are presently doing all they can to make the most of the education you are supplying them; and they will need to take responsibility for these actions. Ross said he found it a sad situation when boys make a decision based on the premise that they will probably get away with their actions. As Wayne Bennett told the boys a few weeks ago, true character is what you do, and who you are when no-one is watching you. Ross went onto wish the Year 12 students all the best in their final week of the term as well as the GPS athletes all the best for this coming Saturday.

Our Senior athletes were then given their competition singlets for this weekend. The following Year 11 boys will be competing on Saturday – Zac Guilfoyle, Tim Palmer, Joe Callaughan, Hugh McLean, Sam Barclay, James Harrison, James Goldie, Alex Beasley, Ben Rodgers, Tom Martin, Josh Wilde, Laurence Nelmes, Tom Cleary, Magnus Heywood, Andrew Hookey and Josh Schwager. I wish them all the best in their events for Saturday. Whilst on Saturday just to remind you that all boys are to be in attendance, in their Full Blues and they leave Mark St gates at 8.30am. We will be back at the College be approximately 4,30pm, when the boys will have dinner and then relax until the Rally at 6.15pm. The Rally should conclude by 7.15pm when all dayboys and students with overnights may check off with me. It should be a good day, but it will be a long and looks like hot one for the troops.

Mr Greg Thompson, Mathematics Coordinator, then handed out the awards from the Australian Mathematics Competition, which has been running since 1976 and was held on the 4^th August with 600,000 students from the Pacific and S.E Asia region sitting for the Competition. The following boys were awarded a Distinction due to their efforts: – Nathan Salmon, Geoff Choy, Michael Lawler, Andrew O’Neill, Daniel Picone, Rob Sidaway, Jon Canturi, Tom Murphy and James Harrison. Congratulations to all these boys.

Our commitment to the Matthew Talbot Hostel continues with James Quinn, Conor O’Gorman, Callum Flitcroft and Alec Duffy attending on Friday, 9^th September and this evening, Jesse Fenech, Morgan Thomas, Max Hall and Hamish Elliot.

ONE FOR THE DIARY: “A message from year 11 parent reps: Our next parent social function will be held on Friday 2^nd December at Bayview Tavern in Gladesville. Please put the date in your diary. Details will follow next term.”

Next term the boys go on the annual Yr 11 Retreat, from Sunday 16^th October. As you know, Helen Smith has asked you to write a letter for your son, I have re-attached the guidelines of this letter as a result of numerous requests. Please keep it confidential from your boys

Jeremy

QUOTE: “SUCCESS IS DEPENDENT UPON THE GLANDS; SWEAT GLANDS!”

 Dear Parents/Carers;

The week has been one with some good life messages and experiences for the boys as they head into their exams which commence next Tuesday. On Wednesday Yr. 11 attended the funeral for Joe Fazio (’61). Now the boys had heard of Joe’s story earlier this year when he was asked to give the 1^st V111 their rowing skins before the Head of the River. As Joe was ill, with dementia, his wife, Di, who is on the College staff fulfilled this role on his behalf. Just to fill you in, Joe came to SJC from Taree in 1955; his father had died when he was 9. In 1959, when in Year 10, whilst on cadet camp in Singleton Joe and close mate, Michael Farrell came across a live ammunition shell which exploded, killing Michael and critically injuring Joe.  Despite this harrowing tragedy, Joe, showing tremendous resilience, finished his time at SJC strongly and along the way was in the 1^st V111 and 1^st XV in 1960 and 1961. After following his passion for rowing, Joe was selected in the 1968 Olympic Games in the men’s V111, which won a silver medal. Tragedy again revisited when a spinal injury, requiring extensive surgery cut short his rowing career. Despite this Joe lived out his life forging a successful business career with the Hilton Group and returning to coach our boys rowing in 1995. 13 years ago, Joe was diagnosed with dementia and the illness gradually ate away at him, making him dependant and a shell of his former self. Di explained to the boys that these setbacks had taught Joe resilience, perseverance and the need to follow his dreams and goals rather than wallow in self-pity and sadness. Di works with our boys in the Support Education Centre and she supervises Yr. 11 Office/dorms on Monday and Wednesday afternoons. We were sadly informed last Tuesday that Joe had died on Monday night. Whilst looking for someone to fulfil Di’s role in the dorms on Wednesday afternoon, I was quite amazed to find Di at the College and to see her coming down to our dorms after school had finished and, in her words, she simply said she could not think of anywhere else she would rather be at this time than around the boys.  I told the boys this and said the way they could best support Di, was by the way they presented themselves and participated in the Memorial Service. They did not disappoint. What they also saw, was what a wonderful woman in Di Fazio they have working with them. Despite the crippling illness which was slowly eating her husband away, she would always turn up here and go about her duties cheerfully and with a great sense of service and dedication. Life lessons I am sure did not go unnoticed by the boys.

A quick twenty minute break to have a can of coke and muffin and the troops were called upon to welcome a group of students from St Edmund’s School, Wahroonga which is a Year 7-12 co-educational special high school for teenagers with a wide range of disabilities including sensory impairment, intellectual disability and autism. Over the past four years, they have been coming to perform for our Year 11 students and then join them for lunch. The “Eddies Entertainers” were a most excitable group and danced two numbers, the Time Warp and Eye of the Tiger. Our boys were a wonderful audience showing great appreciation and acclaim for our visitors’ efforts. James Christie, Ross Davey and Nick Henry then played a piece of music which their guests thoroughly enjoyed and then Laurence Nelmes, Chris Spooner, Lewis Mullins and Andrew O’Neill played two pieces, the second a truly memorable version of “Stand by Me” with special back-up vocals by Brendon Follington, Andrew O’Neill and Ben Chaplin, which brought the house down! Our guests then joined us for lunch in our refectory. The boys were great in their care of our special guests right down to cutting up their meal for some of them. It was a wonderful experience with our boys’ hospitality to these special children and three Staff from St Edmund’s, lead by Margriet Shaw-Taylor, capping off a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

At yesterday’s Headmaster’s Assembly, Ross Tarlinton acknowledged the extraordinary efforts of plenty of our boys, which was exemplified in the recent Students Visual Arts Exhibition. Such efforts were examples of good choices made by boys. He then brought to their attention some examples of not so good choices which some make, abuse of drugs and alcohol, misuse of Facebook, turning it into “Facelessbook” and saying gutless things to bring down others and their character. Ross also highlighted the behaviour of some of our old boys on a five year reunion at the recent Newington rugby match and how they displayed behaviour totally against our principles when the Newington kicker was lining up a conversion and how this behaviour drew a favourable response from some of our boys in the crowd. He asked them not to be sucked into wrong choices and to think about what they stand for especially in relation to Facebook, Drug/alcohol use or abuse and making others feel safe.

Whilst on the Students Visual arts Exhibition Michelle Markuse, Acting Visual Arts Coordinator gives the following account –

“Last week was the opening of our annual student art exhibition. Each Year 11 student had their artwork on display. I’d like to take this opportunity to acknowledge all Year 11 students who participated in this occasion. At the opening, I was struck by the sense of pride from the students and their parents. The exhibition was opened by our 2011 Artist in Residence Craig Waddell who commented on the high quality of the Year 11 artwork. It is a great honour for one of our year 11 artists each year to have their artwork selected for the Year 11 Art Prize. This year the honour went to Jesse Fenech and Harrison Gould. Congratulations to Jesse and Harrison on their hard efforts”.

Michelle Markuse

At our previous Assembly, two of our boys Matthew Hall and Max Hall presented to the College a wonderful initiative of recycling the food which is not consumed in our Dining Halls so that it does not go to waste. This project was initiated by Matt and Max and they are to be commended on their energy and thoughts and proactive behaviour in helping others less fortunate. Following is an account of Matthew’s address to the College:

Today I have been asked to introduce an initiative to you that we as a school have decided to undertake. Over the past few months Max Hall and I have investigated the possibility of minimizing the wastage that Joeys as a school produces and putting it to good use in the community. As everyone is well aware, after each meal there is often a lot of wasted food. Especially at dinner times, the wastage can be monumental with dozens of leftover trays of perfectly good hot food left from all of the 6 year groups. This food could be utilised in many different ways, but is instead often disposed of, serving little purpose. With this obvious problem in mind we were introduced to an initiative that could possibly provide a solution, called OzHarvest. Basically OzHarvest is a not for profit charity that collects leftover food from authorised caters such as Alliance who are responsible for the food at Joeys. This leftover food is then taken and distributed to those in need at centres such as Matt Talbot, youth off the streets and many other charities and centres across Sydney and the surrounding areas. By distributing our leftover food through this channel we can always assure that our food never goes to waste and is always put to good use. Here at Joeys, every morning where left over hot food is available from either the day before or those mornings OzHarvest will pick up the left over’s and distribute it out.  It is something simple, thoughtful and an innovative that our school community can participate in order to benefit the wider community.

A few people need to be thanked for their help and dedication, without which I am sure the project would never have become a reality. Also to Br Anthony Boyd and the college leadership team whose support has been invaluable to us in the implementation of this initiative, providing the framework for the project to quickly become a reality. Thank you must also be given to Mr Daniel Curran who introduced me to the idea last year.

We will now watch a short video on OzHarvest’s work.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smH7jPPOrrE&feature=related

Whilst on boys achievements I would like to congratulate Tim Palmer who won the NSW AWD Cross Country Championships and came 2^nd in the National Championships which were subsequently held in Canberra. A terrific effort by Tim who also played in the successful 2^nd X1 Football whilst achieving this.

TWO ISSUES TO CONSIDER

I would like to bring a couple of issues to your attention and if we both deal with these issues together it will be for the benefit of our boys.

1.      DORM SENIORS / MARIST CHILDREN’S CAMP:

At the moment, some of our boys have applied for positions as Dorm Senior or the Marist Children’s Camp. There are 14 dorm Seniors who will be chosen and 35 Carers for the Camp. At the moment the number of boys who have applied far exceeds the number who will be chosen. I spoke to the boys last night about going for things, a part of life we all want them to do. I also said that when they do this, they need to be prepared to be acknowledged or chosen for the job, and they need to be prepared to miss out. If they are successful, be thankful, humble and take it in your stride, and carry out the role to the best of your ability, which you offered to do. It does not mean you are better than others around you or you are more important than others. Conversely, if you miss out, don’t take it personally, don’t withdraw into a shell, think you are not as good/important as others and begin to stop trying for positions. As we all know, knock backs are part of life, simply reload and refire. If we can do this from both ends, it will certainly assist the boys.

2.      FRIDAY NIGHT OVERNIGHTS:

With the culmination of the winter sport season a steep rise in the requests for Friday overnights has arrived. I would like to simply say, the strengths of the boarding model at St Joseph’s is that the boys have 5 nights of supervised study and at this time in their education they need these nights. I would be confident in saying not much work would happen on Saturdays, and, Sunday nights we have the boys do at the most, one hour of study after Sunday night Mass. To go from Thursday nights to basically Monday’s I think a boy would be in danger of falling behind academically and to give your son the best chance, I would like to ask that Friday nights be seen as another important night of study and any requests be kept to important family occasions such as birthdays etc. Requests to go out to see a mate play in a band, or to attend an ex-girlfriends birthday I will find quite difficult to support for the above mentioned reasons. Our boys do not always see this, but they need our guidance and I trust in your support and understanding in this matter.

Finally, to all the Dads, Happy Father’s Day for Sunday and have a great day (and weekend) with your sons and families. I will leave you with a quote I like regarding fathers:

“Small boys become big men through the influence of big men who care about small boys”.

Regards

Jeremy