St Joseph’s College is a school for boys.
We therefore have the luxury of being able to focus specifically on how boys learn.
More than this we know that before boys can learn successfully a number of conditions need to be in place.
Identity
Firstly, boys need to be known. Questions like “Who is this boy?” and “What does he like to do?” need to be asked. In other words we need to understand the identity of the young man. Once that is known we can meet him where he is at and use this as a starting point for his educational journey.
Relationships
Secondly, the boy needs to know that he is respected and valued as an individual member of the school community. He needs to feel a sense of connection to school.
This is achieved through the development of strong relationships between teachers and students and teachers and parents.
At St Joseph’s we ask the questions: “How do boys form positive relationships?” and “Who does he form positive relationships with?”. Boys are provided with the opportunities to form these relationships with teachers in two ways.
Firstly, the educational philosophy of St John Bosco – founder of the Salesian order of Priests and brothers – guides us to adopt a relational, approachable, caring and interested attitude with regard to every interaction we have with boys both in and outside the classroom. In other words, to walk with boys in their journey.
We also develop strong relationships with boys through the programs we offer. For example, at each year level the homeroom teacher teaches their own class for a number of subjects. In this way the boy develops a strong relationship with one person who comes to know them very well.
Learning
Once identity has been established and relationships have been formed then learning can take place. Again here we ask ourselves some questions: “How do boys learn?” and “What does he want to learn?”. These questions direct us to develop educative programs which engage boys in, and connect them to, their learning. We know that boys enjoy learning in real and purposeful ways. We know too that developing academic literacy requires the development of social/emotional literacy. Finally, and most importantly, all of this is achieved within a Catholic environment where Gospel Values and our Salesian Charism are central to the holistic education of the individual.