On Friday, October 14, we celebrated and farewelled the Graduating Class of 2022!

This significant rite of passage was made even more special as we were able to gather together for the first time in two years

From all in the St Bernard’s Community to our Year 12’s – to those preparing for exams, we wish you well. To all – our Blessings as the possibility of an amazing future continues to unfold.

To the families of our Year 12 students – thank you for sharing the gift of your son’s with us. We are pleased to share with you some of last Friday’s celebrations.

After a long two years of COVID preventing us from hosting Mass in person, we are looking forward to being able to honour Collegians & Staff members who have since passed, on-site at the College in the Marian Chapel.

Please join us on Saturday, November 5 at the College from 9am for the Mass, followed by a morning tea.

To RSVP click please click here

If you have any questions or would like assistance with your RSVP, please contact Mr. Chris Nicholl from our Development team on 0400 475 531 or via email at cnicholl@sbc.vic.edu.au.

We look forward to welcoming those that are available to attend back to the College for this special occasion on 5 November.

On Thursday, 20 October, We hosted our very first Arts & Technology Exhibition evening

It was an amazing and historic evening, showcasing student work from Year 7-12 in all Arts & Technology mediums offered the at College, a celebration of the hard work our students put in and the dedication to these fields of study they possess.

A massive thank you to all staff involved, special thanks to Ms Sarah Cassar and Ms Hayley Fitzgerald who organised the evening and put in countless hours of work to ensure its success

Social Media Specialist, Basil Zoccali

Do you like your job?

I love my job! Not only do I get to work for one of the top 5 ranked media and entertainment companies, but I also get to share this experience with amazing people who I work alongside with. They say that when you get excited to wake up for work, that’s when you know that you’ve found the right job.

What work do you do?

I am the social media specialist for The Walt Disney Company; Marvel, Lucasfilm, and National Geographic.

What does that role involve?

I work alongside our Integrated Marketing team to ensure that the strategy and content we create is shared and managed on Disney’s social media accounts such as Facebook and Instagram for Marvel, Star Wars, and National Geographic Australia & New Zealand.

Tell us some of the greatest challenges you face at work.

Given the large scale of each brand and they all have different objectives, sometimes having to work with multiple at the same time is a challenge, however, I am learning more about them every day and enjoy it quite a lot.

What sort of rewards do you have in your role?

The greatest reward of this role is the reactions from fans. Social media provides a fast way to interact with people. I love being able to create content and see the fans engaged positively with it. Reading their stories through comments about what a certain movie/ television series means to them and how just sharing a piece of content can make somebody laugh and excited for a release.

What skills do you need as a Social Media Specialist?

You need a strong understanding of all social media platforms, advertising, proficient organisational skills to stay on top of all the brands and their key objectives, data analytics, content strategy, and using programs such as photoshop and video editing.

What did you do after life at St Bernard’s?

After St Bernard’s I went to Victoria University and studied for two years in Psychology and Business however when the opportunity came to me to work at Essendon FC, I made the hard decision to put University on hold to pursue my career in digital media.

Was that study helpful?

Even though I was unable to complete my degree, the two years of learning at Victoria University helped build the foundation when entering my full-time job at Essendon FC. Through my seven years in social media and marketing, my desire now is to complete courses in the future that will tailor to the needs of my career.

What advice would you give a student considering doing tertiary study?

Please don’t feel pressured or rushed into deciding on what you want to do after school. It's okay to not know what you want, and you have plenty of time to work out what your interests are and the courses you would like to devote your time and energy to. Sometimes the opportunity just comes to you!

So was studying after school for just two years worth it?

In my experience, it was worth it because it gave me the foundations I needed when entering the workforce. Choosing to leave my course mid-way was a hard decision however it made me learn that my style of learning is through ‘doing.’ Just as the 70-20-10 rule reveals that individuals tend to learn 70% of their knowledge from challenging experiences and assignments, 20% from developmental relationships, and 10% from coursework and training.

How did you land this job?

I worked very hard and made sure I learned as much as possible during my time with Essendon FC, Channel 10, and Bupa – but I had always made it my goal to work at The Walt Disney Company. So, I ensured that my personal brand was of reach to recruiters through networking and LinkedIn. Through this, I was able to showcase my abilities and was invited for an interview for what is now my current role.

What does a typical day look like?

Not one day is the same at Disney, so a typical one generally involves checking emails to see if anything has come through overnight from America, going to meetings regarding certain projects, and then making sure the social media accounts and strategies are up to date.

What’s most interesting about your work?

Being able to be creative with content and learn what the fans enjoy seeing on social media. I also enjoy data analytics – dissecting information to work out exactly how I can progress my work but also make it better.

Are there any bits you don’t enjoy?

Given that Disney’s headquarters are in the USA, the time difference can be strenuous. There are the occasional 4 am starts for trailers or announcements that sometimes need to go live across the channels right at that moment – even in Australia!

What did you learn about your job only once you got there?!

My expectations of social media would probably be the same as everyone reading this: “All you do is post on Facebook and Instagram!” Once I got into the role, I learned very quickly that to be successful you had to bring skills such as strategic thinking, planning, and creativity – skills that I was able to learn through experience and working with experts around me.

Outside of technical skills or knowledge, what personal qualities and attributes help you in your work?

I like to talk a lot! Because of this, I’m able to communicate and bring people along the journey with me. I am also a very creative person and that spark helped me in my job to want to do more, be more fun and interact with our audience.

How did COVID affect what you do at work?

I was very fortunate that COVID did not impact my role. I am able to work from home however the challenge for me was not being face-to-face with colleagues for 18-months, as I am very extroverted and enjoy bouncing ideas off people.

What are your stand-out memories of SBC?

I did the school musical from year eight to year-12 and loved every moment of it. Another one was Santa Monica camp which was such a great experience to do. I have also made many lifelong friends from SBC.

Who has helped you in your career journey?

There are a few people, firstly my parents have always trusted my decision and supported me. My partner is someone who I use as a soundboard, and she provides me the confidence to know I am making the right choices. Finally, my friends who I have grown up with through high school and now in our respective workplaces, being able to celebrate our milestones and face challenges together is something I am very grateful for.

If there’s something you could say to your 17-year-old self, what would it be?

Carpe Diem! Every obstacle that may come your way is a learning and it will only make you a better person in the end.

Some extracts taken from the 2002 Clairvaux to connect us to St Bernard’s history:

The Santa Monica Campus

‘The Santa Monica experience has added a new and exciting dimension to the year nine curriculum at St Bernard’s in 2002. Each year nine class has had the opportunity to spend four weeks at the campus, located on the Great Ocean Road between Aireys inlet and Lorne. The program at Santa Monica is designed to educate and challenge boys in ways that are difficult to achieve in the classroom. The first challenge is undoubtedly the development of community living skills required to coexist with 27 other students, and three staff, for the four weeks. To this end, every student is assigned different cabin groups, duty groups and activity groups, so that they get to mix and work with a broader cross section of their classmates then the normal school timetable allows. Together they forge an interdependence that allows them to meet the physical and mental challenges of the program.’

The Weights and Gym Room

‘This year has marked the start of a new era in health and fitness at SBC with the opening of a fully equipped weights gymnasium in June. Our facility is air conditioned and very conducive to training all the year round. The students have responded enthusiastically, with consistently high numbers attending the four afternoons that the gym is open. Many thanks to the staff who have given of their time generously throughout the year to supervise the students’

Bendigo 150 Relay fundraising event

‘From humble beginnings in 1982, when the team consisted of eight students, the Bendigo 150 has grown into a massive logistical event. This year saw naming rights go to our major sponsor for the first time and it also saw over one hundred students involved, as well as twelve staff. Even the distance of 150 kilometres had increased to accommodate the legions of runners that now make the Bendigo 150 their yearly pilgrimage.’

Note that in recent years this event has become the Maribyrnong 150 around the Maribyrnong River.

The College Dash

‘The college dash is a one kilometre time trial, run in and around the college inspired by the scene in the 1982 film ‘Chariots of Fire’. It was established in 1998 and is held throughout Term Four each year. Although most of the competitors are members of the athletic or cross-country squads, the event is open to any student or staff member currently at St Bernard’s. Any competitor who can run under three minutes for the course is inducted into The College Hall of Fame and records of fastest time for each year level are kept. This year the dash has really come of age, with an elite group of the college’s best athletes, from all year levels, trying to rewrite the record books each time they ran. New records were established on just about every occasion the race was held and incredibly ten new members, seven students and three staff, were inducted to the Hall of Fame.’

From the St Bernard’s College Principal in 2002, Mr Frank FitzGerald

‘The new Year 12 and AGERE building has proven to be a very helpful facility for the staff and students who use it. The new Pool and Weights Room, along with the relocated Canteen, have been popular with the students and the broader community’

The Year 11 Outdoor and Environmental Studies class had the pleasure of spending the morning with the President of community group Friends of Steele Creek, Peter Hoyne (Old Collegian, 1966).

Peter explained the history of the area and how it has changed over time, as well as what the group does in advocating for the local environment. Students were challenged to think about how their actions have an impact on the ecosystems around them. Students were also able to see the results of tree planting by former students in the Steele Creek Reserve, a part of the revegetation effort led by Friends of Steele Creek.

As of May 2020, the Uniform Shop will be operating by appointment only. This will help alleviate lengthy queues during peak periods.

Click here to make an appointment

If you know the sizes of the items you require, visit https://shop.sbc.vic.edu.au/ to order online.

For all other uniform enquiries, or to volunteer in the uniform shop, please email rbuhagiar@sbc.vic.edu.au or phone 9289 1176.

On Friday 21 October, our Global Classroom Project boys participated in another Zoom conference with their friends from Stella Maris College in Uruguay. The topic for this session was,

"The view from my window during Covid-19". It was great to hear reflections from both sets of students - not only about the obstacles faced over the past couple of years, but also the triumphs and the sense of community that they were able to foster.

St Bernard's looks forward to continue growing in partnership with Stella Maris College!