St. Joseph's College, Ferntree Gully

Infobox Secondary school
name = St. Joseph's College

motto = "Agite quae didicistis"
'Put into practice those things which you have learned'
established = 1965
type = All-male secondary college
principal =
founder = Silvio Quaranta and Linus Donohue
chaplain =
chairman =
enrolment =
grades = 7-12
colours = Yellow & Blue
campus =
city = Ferntree Gully
state = Victoria
country = Australia
website = [http://www.stjosephs.com.au/ www.stjosephs.com.au]

St. Josephs College is a Roman Catholic boys' secondary school in the eastern suburb of Ferntree Gully, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

History

Its history is closely tied up with the Salesians of Lysterfield (indeed the parish priest of Ferntree Gully wanted the school to be called Don Bosco). The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne founded St. Josephs in 1965 as one of the strategic places. Classes began in February with 70 Year 7 and 8 students. Most students came from the parishes of Belgrave, Ferntree Gully, Scoresby, Boronia and Bayswater. The original building had three classrooms in it and a storeroom, and every year a class was filled up until there were all classes.

Curriculum

The curriculum is based on the Salesian Preventative System, and as such nurturing relationships between teacher and student are important. Religious Education from years 7-12 is a compulsory subject, and other subjects are informed by the Curriculum and Standards Framework and the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

The LEAP programme was introduced in 1997 for Year 7 students, and as it was successful was introduced the following year for Year 8 students. Their classrooms are off-limits to the rest of the school, and team teaching takes place. That is, one teacher is up the front and the other helps the students around the classroom. Students take a common curriculum at this stage with Religious Education, Italian, English, History, Geography, Mathematics, Art and Graphics, Science, Music and Drama.

Year 9 students who achieve a B average in the first semester (and confirmed in the second semester) may take a Unit 1/2 subject as part of the Accelerated Program. This is as per the Acceleration Policy. The results entry criteria in the case of a small Year 11/12 subject is a C average in English and a B average in other subjects. Year 9 is also a transition year into the Middle School, with core subjects and elective subjects including Multimedia and Agricultural Science. Civics and Commerce is a compulsory subject. Year 10 students move into the senior curriculum and choose four electives including a VCE study. As of 2005, the Year 9 students will have their own campus and innovative curriculum.The Occhiena Centre provides educational support for students in Years 7 - 12 and extension learning program for students in Years 7 - 8. Students in Years 7 - 12 are able to participate in extension or accelerated learning programs.

The Senior School offers VCE, VCAL and VET studies.

Moving into the next grade is controlled by the Promotions Policy and there is a committee for this. In Year 7 students must get at least a D+ in Religious Education, English and Mathematics and D+ in other units to move into Year 8 and so on until Year 11. If they fail to do this they attend an Academic Advancement meeting and argue their case for promotion which may include factors like family history and resillence.

Co-curricular activities

The four houses at St. Josephs are Bosco, Magone, Rua and Savio.

Students participate in sports run by the Eastern Independent Schools of Melbourne. Camps are conducted in Years 7, 8 and 9.

In term 2 holidays the boys are offered the opportunity to go to Kiribati or another Pacific Island.

From years 7 to 11 boys also participate in Retreat Days. The themes may include Leadership, Relationships, Community and Faith in Action

St Josephs also has a homework club which runs from Mondays to Thursdays.

The school magazine "Heart and Soul" runs three times a year.

Notable alumni

*Darren Crocker "North Melbourne Football Club premiership player and assistant coach"
*Damien Hardwick "Essendon Football Club premiership player"
*Matthew Larkin "North Melbourne Football Club player"
*Matthew Lobbe "Port Adelaide Football Club player"

External links

* [http://www.stjosephs.com.au/ St. Josephs' College official website]