JUSTICE & SOLIDARITY
Service Learning Reimagined Compassion, Innovation and Integrity were alive and well in the 2020 Service Learning program. Whilst Semester one was business as usual, the Identity Team got creative and reimagined the College outreach programs throughout remote learning. Given the many challenges presented by the corona pandemic, a show of solidarity exhibited through volunteering allowed our students to remain socially connected whilst practising social distancing. It was vital for the students’ sense of purpose and connectedness that they continued to volunteer throughout the year. During Semester 1 the Outreach Van was well supported by staff, students and parents. Members of the community experiencing homelessness and/or marginalisation accessed clothing, bedding, food and hot beverages every Sunday night as College members cruised the streets of Geelong in the Salvos minivan. The last major sporting event to be held in Australia prior to the COVID-19 outbreak was the ICC Women’s World Cup T20 final on 8 March. Fifty students, accompanied by staff and parents travelled to the MCG to watch the Aussies beat India. As an added bonus, Katy Perry performed and it was all in celebration of International Women’s Day. Students wore purple, in recognition of the global awareness day. They were awarded service learning credit for representing the College at the event. In March, the Year 11 VCAL students led by teacher Michelle Anderson, participated in service learning by volunteering in the bush fire relief efforts in Corryong and surrounds, notably the small town of Cudgewa, where 14 homes were lost. The students decided the best way to support a fire affected community was to visit that community, spend money there and put feet on the ground to help farmers fix hundreds of kilometres of burnt fencing. So…they did. Students witnessed first hand the devastating effects of the fires and listened to the farmers’ stories. Most of their time was spent working on fencing, either removing and winding wire from burnt fences or building new fences. This was difficult work, but extremely rewarding. One example is, on the Wednesday a large team of students worked on a very steep slope to rebuild fencing that had been too hard for some other volunteer groups to tackle and too daunting for the farmers to do themselves. The team got over a weeks’ worth of work for the farmer done in just one day. The boys’ reflections on their experience included the sense of privilege they got from hearing stories of loss and hope,
and sharing in some of the recovery experiences. Every year we endeavour to offer new ways of serving our local community. This has never been as prevalent as in 2020 and our innovation was evident in the remote approach to the Winter Sleepout. In 2019, participant numbers doubled from 50 to 100 Year 7, 8 and 9 students sleeping over in the Gym. This year over 300 students across all year levels took on the challenge of sleeping rough in their own backyards and donating clothing and blankets to Lazarus Community Centre. Some of the projects offered during remote learning were; messages of support and gratitude to St John of God health care staff, signing refugee petitions, surveys and feedback for the SJC Toilet Rejuvenation Project. Along with, cooking meals and donating pantry items to the College Care Group and OneCare. Students also learnt the lifesaving skill of CPR by completing Ambulance Victoria’s ‘Shocktober’ challenge. While teachers and students were connecting online, Food Tech and Canteen Staff were on Campus cooking meals for donation to OneCare. The local agency was one of the only charities to continue offering assistance throughout restrictions and our food staff supported them by providing meals for the marginalised and socially isolated. Teacher Jack Jenkins and the Year 12 VCAL students formed a partnership with Barwon Health and created the ‘Shaka Up for Mental Health’ campaign. Students gained service learning hours by sending a ‘Shaka’ to a mate as a welfare check in and donating $5 to men’s mental health programs in Geelong. The motto “once a Joey’s boy, always a Joey’s boy” came to life when past students reached out through the social media campaign to send messages of support and hope to current students and the wider SJC community.This project provided us with another highlight in a difficult year by virtually bringing together past and present students. Overall, this year’s commitment to service in the community is indicative of the unique and caring environment fostered at St Joseph’s College. Thank you to the students who showed initiative by assisting the elderly and socially isolated in their neighbourhoods by putting out bins, gardening and delivering groceries to neighbours. We are also grateful to the many students who demonstrated a commitment to serving others by accruing more than the three hours of compulsory service. Just as Edmund Rice saw a need in his community and responded, so too has the St Joseph’s community recognised the greater need in our own neighbourhood. Thank you to the staff, students and families. Leah Irving, Service Learning Coordinator
Bushfire Relief
Winter Sleepout Donations
Past Student Messages
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