St Mary s School Warwick Newsletter

Transcription

1 St Mary s School Warwick Newsletter 25th May 2017 Term 2 Week 6 School Photos Friday, 2 nd June 2017 Envelopes to be returned no later than Wednesday 31 st May 2017 Important for next week Monday, 29 th May Assembly 2.00pm MacKillop Centre Led by Yr 5O Tuesday, 30 th May Yr 2 Class Liturgy- 9.00am Thursday, 1 st June P&F Movie Night Friday 2 nd June SCHOOL PHOTOS Monday, 29 th May Thursday, 1 st June Formation workshop 3- Sacrament of Confirmation 3.30pm Dear Parents and Caregivers, As many of you are aware, St Mary s School Warwick is currently involved in the ECSIP (Enhancing Catholic Schools Identity Project). The following information is taken from excerpts from a paper, The Tablet ( The World Congress on Catholic education in November 2015 addressed a wide range of global challenges. Top of the bill were concerns regarding Catholic identity, as schools across the world face important questions amid increasing secularisation and religious diversity. So, what does it mean to be a Catholic school and to engage in Catholic education when students and teachers are today more religiously, culturally and ideologically diverse than perhaps ever before? The Enhancing Catholic School Identity Project helps schools strengthen their Catholic identity. Based in sound theology and the traditions of the Church, and with appreciation for the changing needs of students and cultures, the project is conducted in partnership between the Faculty of Theology and Religious Students at KU Leuven in Belgium, the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria and a consortium of dioceses in Queensland, Australia. Parents, Staff and students in Years 5 and 6 were invited to participate in surveys. The results of the surveys give a detailed analysis about the approach of the school, its staff and students. The results further deliver a rich and accurate array of data that provides each school (and in turn diocese) with trends in relation to Catholic identity. At a school level, the Principal and his/her leadership team know more about whom they are dealing with. From a diocesan perspective, big picture responses are determined in response to the emerging data. On page 2 of this newsletter, I have provided a summarised reflection on the beautiful but challenging parable of the Good Samaritan. Catholic identity is a verb. It has to be done and made real through acts of love and compassion. Only when this happens which is always a moment of grace do we become Catholics. When we act out our Catholic identity, freely and courageously, and make God s unconditional love come alive in all aspects of school life, then we become Catholic schools and the appeal will be irresistible. Have a lovely week. Margaret 163 Palmerin Street (PO Box 555) Warwick Qld 4370 Phone: Fax: smwarwick@twb.catholic.edu.au Website: http: //

2 Reflection The Good Samaritan One day, an expert in the law, critical of Jesus teachings, stood up to test Him: Tell me, teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus refers to the famous commandment in the book of Leviticus: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and you shall love your neighbour as yourself. (Lev 19.18) Desiring to justify himself, the lawyer asks Jesus, Who is my neighbour?. Who am I to love as myself? Surely it would be undoable to show unconditional love to all people in an equal way. Who belongs to the circle of those deserving my love, and who does not? Where do I draw the line, reasonably speaking? Surely it does not include those who do not belong to the people of Israel? Surely it does not imply harming my own (religious) interests? Jesus avoids answering this trick question; instead, He tells a rather provocative story, which has become known as the famous parable of the Good Samaritan. A man fell victim to robbers on the dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho. It is not stated who the victim was. His identity is unimportant to the story; it could have been anyone. Two devout Jews, a priest and a Levite, passed by, saw the wounded man, but did nothing. However, a Samaritan traveller stopped and helped him. Even more so: he does everything that is humanly possible more than can be reasonably expected- to help the victim. Since Samaritans were unwanted outsiders who were generally despised by Jesus targeted audience, this plot must have come as a shock to them. Then Jesus turns the initial question upside down and asks: Which of these three has been the neighbour to him who fell among the robbers?. The challenger has no other choice than to answer: He who showed mercy on him. After which Jesus sent him out into the world: Go and do likewise. Reflection: The calling for me (each one of us personally) is BECOME the neighbour of all the people I encounter on my path, just because I have no other choice than to love them as myself. And not just the happy and collaborative ones, but especially those who are in need. Only then do I testify that I love the Lord my God who is love. Jesus frees us of self-serving impulses and then sends us into the world to show mercy on our neighbours. Our present day challenge is not how to safeguard a circle of faithful and to advance its interests, so that the Catholic identity of our schools can be saved. Instead, our continuous calling as Catholic schools is to become the servants of young people who are entrusted to our care, in a way that testifies an authentic Christian inspiration. The challenge is not so much theological as practical. HOW to do this as Catholic schools, in an era when time-honoured traditions fragment, people individualise and school populations pluralise? The question is HOW to Recontextualise Catholic school identity so that we are enabled to serve pluralising school populations? (ESCIP Queensland Intensive Course Part 1 Boeve, Pollefeyt, Bouwens)

3 St Mary s Parents & Friends Movie Night Baywatch Premiere Thursday 1 June, 2017 Devoted Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon (Dwayne Johnson) and a brash new recruit (Zac Efron) uncover a criminal plot that threatens the future of the bay. Other cast members include: Priyanka Chopra and Alexandra Daddario ST MARY S P&F MOVIE NIGHT Tickets on sale now at the school office. Ticket Price: $20 includes drinks and nibbles (GF avail.) from 6pm until movie time. Lucky Door Prize. Movie time: 6:30pm RE News Sacrament of Confirmation Week 3 Workshop : Life in the Spirit In the third workshop we explore the idea of growth in the spiritual life. Just as we mature physically, we also mature spiritually, learning to live a life in the Spirit. This session introduces the fruit of the Spirit and the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Here we also look at the symbolic action of laying on of hands in the Confirmation ceremony.

4 Administration School Photos for 2017 School photos for 2017 will be taken on Friday, 2nd June. Children are to wear the correct winter uniform (as per our winter uniform procedure page 16, 17 Parent Handbook), including correct shoes, socks and hair accessories. There will be no sporting activities on photo day. Therefore, no-one is required to bring a sports uniform to school. Individual photo envelopes have been sent home. Family photo envelopes are available at the School Office. This year, Advanced Life Photography is offering on-line ordering. If you order on-line there is no need to return the envelope. However, if paying by cheque or cash, envelopes must be returned to School by Wednesday, 31 st May at the latest. Please ensure that each student returns his/her own envelope even if payment is made in the eldest child's envelope. Envelopes are not to be placed inside other envelopes. All photos must be pre-paid. Prep enrolments for 2018 We are currently accepting applications for Prep enrolments for the 2018 school year. It is vital that all families considering a placement for their child in Prep for 2018 contact the school office with their details (child s name and date of birth, parents name, address and contact phone number). Interviews with the Principal will be held early in Term 3. Anticipated enrolment numbers for Prep are an integral part of the prediction for the staffing allocation for the whole of St Mary s School for Parents/caregivers are reminded that enrolment at St Mary s Kindy and current family enrolment does not automatically mean enrolment in Prep. Each Prep child and his/her family (2018) must have participated in the enrolment process: Completion and return of the Application for Enrolment Meeting with the Principal Received an offer of a placement Accepted the offer of placement (where possible) Participate in designated Open Morning/s for 2018 Prep children Each family s support of this process is greatly appreciated. If members of our school community are aware of other families seeking enrolment at St Mary s School Warwick, please encourage them to make contact with the school office for an enrolment package. Tuckshop Roster The tuckshop relies heavily on the generosity of volunteers. Our volunteer numbers have greatly depleted this term. If you are able to give some time on a Thursday or Friday or add your name to the emergency list please contact either the school office or Kathy Moses on Fri 26/5: Thurs 01/6: Fri 02/6: Tanya Roche, Natalie Carey, Natalie Nolan Laura O Leary, Edelweis Mack, Sarah Williams Lauren Killen, Krystyna Petersen, Natalie and Veronique Sykes, Nicole Hutchinson New Item on Tuckshop Menu for Winter Hot chicken and gravy rolls $4.00 each

5 Curriculum Curriculum Reading Focus: Predicting Next week we turn our focus to the Super Six Strategy of Predicting. Good readers use information from graphics, text and experiences to anticipate what will be read/ viewed/ heard and to actively adjust comprehension while reading/ viewing/ listening. Questions you could ask: Before Reading What do you think the text is going to be about? What information might be included? What information do the heading/pictures/graphics tell you about the text? After Reading What did you wonder about? Can you see a possible problem/solution? How close were your predictions?

6 Sport Congratulations Congratulations to Ben Carey in 5S who has been selected to represent Darling Downs at the Queensland Cross Country Championships to be held in Brisbane in July. Athletics Training This year our athletics training will be held during weeks 6-9 as a lead up to our carnivals. Each class will be involved in at least 2 hours of training per week. All students will train for sprints, relays and ballgames, while students from Year 3 to Year 6 will be involved in high jump, long jump, shot put and discus. Sports uniform days during athletics training are as follows: Year 1: Wednesday & Thursday Year 4: Wednesday & Friday (not 2 nd June) Year 2: Tuesday & Thursday Year 5: Thursday & Friday (not 2 nd June) Year 3: Tuesday & Thursday Year 6: Wednesday & Friday (not 2 nd June) All students will be involved in sprint run offs on Wednesday, 31 st May. Therefore, sports uniform must be worn on this day also. Wednesday 31 May: Run off all students born 2007, 2006 & 2005 at Hamilton Oval from 9:00am. Wednesday 31 May: Run off all students born 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 & 2008 at Lower Campus from 11:30am. Wednesday 14 June: 200m heats & 800m finals for students born 2008, 2007, 2006 & Students will be required to nominate if they wish to participate in these events. These events will be held from 9.00am at Hamilton Oval. Friday 16 June: High Jump, Long Jump & Shot Put for students born 2008, 2007, 2006 & These events will be held at the Upper Campus. Monday 19 June: Athletics Carnival which includes sprints, relays, novelty events, finals of 200m, discus for students born 2008, 2007, 2006 & This carnival will be held at Hamilton Oval. Monday 24 July: Ball Games Carnival for all students to be held at Upper Campus from 9:00am. Notices Blue Light Disco A Blue Light Disco will be held at the Redbacks Clubhouse Jackie Howe Drive on Friday, 26 th May from 6.00pm 8.30pm. Entry is $5 per person. The theme is Crazy Hair or Hat Night. Some free passes are available from the school office.