Wellbeing Report – July 30, 2015

Edmund Rice Day 2015

Congratulations to the following boys who raised a significant amount of funds for our Annual Edmund Rice Day Walkathon. These boys received a certificate of appreciation as well as a gift card form JB Hi-Fi for their efforts at a recent whole school College Assembly.

Year 7 Highest Fundraiser- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Harry Wills – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – $482.00

Year 7 Runner Up- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Ethan Jungbauer- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – $167.30

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Connor Chatham- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – $140.00

Year 8 Highest Fundraiser- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Jaiden White- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – $225.00

Year 8 Runner Up- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – McArthur Roberts- – – – – – – – – – – – – – $172.20

Year 9 Highest Fundraiser- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Curtly Wilson- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – $330.00

Year 9 Runner Up- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Jacob Nolan- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – $272.95

Year 10 Highest Fundraiser- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Ciaran Corrigan- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – $153.00

Year 10 Runner Up- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Henry Ward- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – $118.00

Year 11 Highest Fundraiser- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – James Parini- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – $456.55

Year 11 Runner Up- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – David O’Doherty- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – $200.00

Year 12 Highest Fundraiser- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Mitch Canny- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – $710.00

Year 12 Runner Up- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Joel Wilmott- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – $190.00

Overall Winner- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Mitch Canny- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – $710.00

Class Winner- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 7A Mrs Willis- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – $1834.00

Runner Up- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 8I Mr McKee- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – $1329.45

Total Raised in 2015:- – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – $43,171.39

I wish to thank all students for their assistance and support this year in raising a total of $43,171.39 which I believe is the most raised for some time. In particular, I would like to thank the Student Council and Congress for their efforts in supporting this wonderful initiative which will no doubt change the lives of many in our community and abroad.

Personal Responsibility

Everyone knows a story about a little child who, after an indiscretion such as breaking something, blames their little brother or sister -“ who happens to be 6 months old and can’t even crawl yet. It’s an amusing, but telling insight into the human psyche. The defensive human tendency to shift the blame for one’s own imperfect actions or omissions onto someone or something else is there from an early age and we can battle it all our lives. Or in the case of some people, not battle it at all, but carry on in a delusion of blamelessness, shifting fault to all around them. The Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) is a superb Catholic tradition which is very much in touch with this tendency. Because in private, before God and with a priest to listen, knowing they are safe from judgment and the only thing to fear is themself, a person can openly admit fault and say it aloud -“ and know they will be forgiven. It is a shame, and also a telling insight, that fewer people now take advantage of this opportunity.

A breakthrough moment in educating and working with boys at school is when they can accept fault, take on responsibility, apologise and deal with the consequences. There is no question that wrong things are regularly perpetrated by students in all schools -“ schools would seem strange if that wasn’t so. Therefore, of greater importance than achieving the elusive status of being perfect, is the ability to accept fault and deal with it. It is a real sign of courage and character. I am sure all parents want their sons to have courage, not to be trapped in fear or denial, and to have the character to face up to their indiscretions. If we can model that as adults -“ teachers and parents, admitting fault – all the better. In the last couple of weeks I, and some other staff, have had cause to talk to different boys about poor behaviour. It was such a relief when some of those boys accepted fault and are now dealing with it. But it is such a frustration that some have struggled to take responsibility -“ through fear, pride or anger – instead blaming other boys, the teacher, the school -“ whatever comes to mind. It is made worse in a few cases when parents back them in this. That kind of blame shifting is a real problem, because not only does it denigrate the motives and actions of others, it also reinforces in the student a victim mentality, which if not challenged and corrected will become a great impediment to their capacity to happily and openly be part of any community, school or beyond. I encourage any student (or parent) who thinks there has been an injustice or error in managing an issue to talk to the staff member managing it, and follow our Student Grievance Policy if necessary. But I urge everyone not to create a bigger and more time consuming problem simply because they are reverting to the mentality of a little child who, when standing in a puddle of spilt milk with the carton in their hand, blames the cat.

SIS PARENT SURVEY

A cross section of the parent community will receive a letter from Insight SRC on behalf of the Catholic Education Office Melbourne and St Patrick’s College to participate in a survey to help in identifying the strengths and areas of development for the College. The survey is conducted on-line and access to the website including login ID and a password are contained in the letter. We would encourage you to consider participating in the survey and help shape the ongoing improvement of the College.

Please click on this link to view a flyer regarding the School Improvement Survey.

FATHER SON / MOTHER SON EVENINGS -“ DATE CLAIMER

I draw parents to two very important nights that will be offered to Year 7’s and Year 10’s in the coming weeks. Bill Jennings from -‘Time & Space’ will help facilitate the inaugural Father Son and Mother Son evenings at the College. I have included information about both evenings below- and would encourage parents / mentors and students to attend these very special evenings. Year 10 and Year 7 families will receive information about the upcoming Father Son and Mother Son evenings in the post.

Father Son Evening (Year 10)- – – – – – – – – – –

Thursday September 10 commencing at- 7pm in the O’Malley Gymnasium

Mother Son Evening (Year 7)- – – – – – – – – – – –

Tuesday October 27 commencing at 7pm in the O’Malley Gymnasium- – –

For more information on the Father Son Evening please click on this link–

Please click on this link for more information regarding the Mother Son Evening.

Please contact Ms Kerrie Leach -“ Administrative Officer Leadership at the College should you have any further questions or need assistance with registration.

Best wishes for the week ahead.

Kind regards

Jon Franzin-

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