今日吃瓜

Across the College this term, we marked the significance of ANZAC Day by gathering as a community to respectfully mark the occasion and acknowledge the sacrifice men and women made for others. I sincerely thank the staff and students who led these services. The reverence and behaviour of all students was nothing but exemplary and a true reflection of the spirit of the ANZAC’s.

I extend my welcome to returning and new staff members and families to the College community and our Marist family. The commitment, preparation and planning that all teachers undertake to ensure a smooth transition to each term is indicative of the calling of our vocation to holistically educate the young people in our care. Best wishes for the term ahead and all the experiences that it holds.

Welcome new staff

We welcome back, after a period of long service leave, Leader of Learning Literacy, Aaron Richard. We also welcome the following new staff to our Community.

• Bridgeen McDermott, Education Assistant Diversity Education Years 7 – 12
• Michelle Wells, Education Assistant Diversity Education Years 7 – 12
• Davina Sankar, Year 4 Teacher
• Katie Closey, Pre Primary Teacher

Code of Conduct

A reminder to all families that the can be accessed via the College website. The Code is mandated by Catholic Education Western Australia and the application of the Code extends to all staff, students, parents, guardians, caregivers and volunteers.

The Code seeks to value the dignity of every person, foster positive relationships, ensuring confidentiality and accountability and supports professional boundaries. Events held during school hours AND outside of school hours that are associated with the College are also supported by the Code of Conduct. Any perceived breaches of the Code can be discussed with any member of the Senior Leadership Team. We thank you in advance for your understanding and support of how we strive to partner positively with one another.

Child Protection and Safety

In addition to writing to the College community regarding our Code of Conduct, we feel it is also appropriate to communicate the processes, policies and frameworks the College applies to ensure our school is a safe place for all children and that our staff are informed, assessed and aware of their responsibilities to this commitment.

Staff adhere to the following principles as articulated in the Staff Code of Conduct:

• Employees must always treat students with respect
• Employees must always treat students in a consistent manner without inappropriate familiarity or spending excessive private time with a student
• Employees must be very cautious when engaging in any social activity with students
• Using any form of technology for contact of a personal nature with students is unacceptable. Any interaction with students via technology must be professional and directly related to the educational context. Employees must be aware that as role models for students they have broad responsibilities 鈥� even beyond the school bounds

These guidelines inform processes to ensure child safety is a priority, for example, teachers are directed to not be in a space with a student in a one to one ratio.

If you would like any further clarity or information regarding the professional standards expectations and obligations at 今日吃瓜, please call or email me so I can provide you with further support.

Professional Learning 鈥� Aboriginal Education Improvement Planning

On Monday 29 April, all teachers gathered for a professional learning experience that was facilitated by Catholic Education Western Australia to understand our commitment to improving education outcomes for aboriginal people and begin to consider the development of our Reconciliation Action Plan. The College, together with Catholic Education is committed to the Transforming Lives 2025 strategy and we look forward to sharing our RAP and Aboriginal Education Improvement Plan with our wider community in the months ahead.

College Calendar 鈥� Pupil Free Days

Please note the following dates as Pupil Free Days:

Term 3

Friday August 16 and Monday August 19

Term 4

Monday October 14 (Please note, all Year 10 students depart for Year 10 Camp on this day).

Year 6 Camp

Today I attended the Year 6 Camp which took place at Forrest Edge Waroona. To acknowledge the significance of the students’ final year of primary schooling, I presented each student with a commemorative shirt. This process is intended to begin a new tradition at 今日吃瓜 in recognising the contribution of our Year 6 cohort to the life of the School.

I joined the morning activities where I was inspired by the courage and camaraderie as they took part in the flying fox and the pamper pole tasks. The confidence developed at camp, along with the great example set by our Year 6 students throughout the year will no doubt serve to encourage and empower all Lavalla students to Shine through Discovery.

I would like to extend my thanks to the Year 6 teaching team for their support in organising this amazing experience.

MOTHERS DAY

There is but one and only one,
Whose love will fail you never.

One who lives from sun to sun,
With constant fond endeavour.

There is but only and only one
On earth there is no other.
In heaven a noble work was done
When God gave us a Mother.

We wish all families a happy Mothers Day this Sunday. It is a time when we can give thanks for our mothers and the mother figures in our world.

ANZAC DAY

ANZAC Day draws on the very best of Australian spirit as it calls to mind the sacrifice of those who have gone before us to fight for our nation. At each of our ANZAC Day ceremonies we remembered and gave thanks for those men and women who served and for those they left behind. At our Lavalla Assembly we were blessed to have Warrant Officer Class 1 Damien Liddell (Irwin Barracks 鈥� Army) speak to the students about his career; the experience of being a serving officer, both in Australia and overseas. The powerful and insightful words challenged our students and staff to consider how integrity, strong values and perseverance underpin our Australian identity. We are very fortunate to have the freedoms that are ingrained in our democratic nation. We want our students to be good citizens who, as the leaders of tomorrow, will ensure these rights are preserved. St Marcellin Champagnat鈥檚 instructive words to the early brothers was to ensure that our young people became good citizens and good Christians. Our Year 6 students who led the Lavalla ceremony are to be congratulated on their dignity and respect for the occasion.

Federal Election

The upcoming Federal Election will highlight some of the contended issues that may affect our College, such as school funding and the right to religious freedom. For the certainty of our community, clarification of federal funding will enable the College to forecast and plan into the future in the continued delivery of excellent teaching and learning. Moreover, certainty that recognises the changing demands on education as well as the rising cost of operating a school that keeps pace with the educational and wellbeing needs of our students. I ask you take time to 聽and read the National Catholic Education Commission Facts on School Funding.

Newman Parents Consultative Committee (NPCC)

This Monday 13 May will be our first Newman Parent Consultative Committee Meeting for the year. Our interaction with families is instructive to the strategic and operational direction of the College. In Term 1 we had multiple parent engagement opportunities through our annual information nights and the very successful Newman Parents evening with Dr Justin Coulson. This Monday, Director of Operations and Engagement Tom Wagner, Leader of Wellbeing Early Childhood Lisa McClue and Deputy Principal Wellbeing Secondary Alan Fitzpatrick will be present. We look forward to your attendance.

Staff Development Tour

Our continued commitment to improve the learning experience of our students has led to the establishment of an international relationship with Republic Polytechnic Singapore. Next week, Mr Peter Jones PK-12 Leader of Pedagogy will lead four staff in a professional learning tour to Singapore, to undertake a course in Design Thinking and Problem Solving. Improving the skills of our teaching staff is fundamental in our drive to advance learning experiences for our students. Our Vision for Learning, Shine through Discovery 鈥� Let your light shine, highlights the need for our teachers to work hand in hand with students in this journey of discovery. We want our students to be flexible learners, to solve problems, work together and be challenged in their learning. This unique opportunity for our staff will open up new and innovative ways to enhance classroom activities that will drive better learning outcomes. This partnership with this internationally acclaimed College further supports our development as a College of excellence.

Mothers Day 2019

In May each year, Catholic communities around the world hold Mary the mother of Jesus in pride of place. We too as a Catholic community in the Marist tradition, hold Mary as a model of faith, perseverance, acceptance, strength and enduring courage. Inspired by this example, we turn to celebrate the unique gift that each of our mother and mother figures in life represent. At the College this week, we have had the opportunity to give thanks for our mothers and mother figures at the weekly Thursday Morning Mass, as well as at our Marian Campus Liturgy.

We wish all mothers and mother figures a happy Mothers Day for Sunday!

K-12 Celebrating Champagnat Day 鈥� Friday 14 June

Thursday 6 June 2019 is the Feast Day of St Marcellin Champagnat, the founder of the Marist Brothers and of Marist education. To mark this very special day in the life of the International Marist Institute, our K-12 College community will be celebrating Champagnat Day across the College on Friday 14 June.

Australian Catholic Youth Festival, Perth (December 8 鈥� 10, 2019 Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre)

In December this year, Perth will be hosting the Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF), a national gathering of young Catholic people established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC). Registrations are now open. 今日吃瓜 is looking forward to supporting this important event with selected students representing the College. We look forward to the opportunity to showcase Perth to visiting young Catholic people from across Australia.聽 to learn more about the ACYF.

Years 7 and 8 Retreat Days 2019

In Weeks 1 and 2 of Term 2, all students in Years 7 and 8 had the opportunity to participate in their annual retreat days with the 24:7 School Ministry Team. As a community of living faith, these opportunities are integral to providing intentional spaces for considering how each of us individually comes to understand our own journey of faith, and how each of us are called to live in community as witnesses to a Gospel of enduring hope, love, compassion and service to all.

2019 Marian Lecture: 鈥楢fter the Angel Departed 鈥� Seeking God: hints and glimpses of the God within鈥�

The Marist Association of St Marcellin Champagnat hosts a biennial lecture series across Australia known as 鈥楾he Marian Lecture鈥�.

The biennial Marian Lecture for the Marist Association will be an encounter with international speaker, biblical scholar, author and award-winning poet, Dr Bonnie Thurston, who will draw on the rich tradition of contemplation and how to be attentive to the God within.

Our Lady of the Rosary Parish Sacraments Dates 2019

Confirmation: Saturday 8 June, 6.00pm Mass

Parent Talk by Fr Greg Donavan: Wednesday 15 May, 7.00pm Parish Centre

Commitment Masses: Saturday 18 May, 6.00pm or Sunday 19, 10.00am Mass

Parent/Child Workshop: Tuesday 21 May, 5.00pm or 6.30pm Parish Centre

Weekly Thursday Morning Community Mass (Champagnat Chapel 鈥� 8.10am 鈥� 8.35am)

All parents, guardians and families across our PK-12 College are invited to attend the weekly Thursday morning Mass. Our weekly 今日吃瓜 Community Mass is an important way that we as a Catholic community seek to nourish and live-out our faith in community with one another.

Project Compassion 2019

Through the generous support of Caritas Australia in 2019, the College community has demonstrated the power of hope. 今日吃瓜 has once again demonstrated a willingness to stand in solidarity with the poor and marginalised in our world. Your efforts towards Project Compassion in 2019 has raised a total of $18908.89. This is a phenomenal effort and we thank you for your kind generosity and support of Caritas Australia, through Project Compassion.

St Vincent de Paul Winter Sleep Out

On the afternoon and evening of Friday 24 May students on the Marcellin Campus (Years 7 鈥� 12) will have the opportunity to participate in the St Vincent de Paul Winter Sleep Out. for more information.

National Sorry Day

Sunday the 26 May is National Sorry Day. This is a day for all Australians to reflect on the profound grief and trauma experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly members of the Stolen Generations due to past Government policies. It is also an opportunity to celebrate the strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and to reaffirm our shared commitment to healing and reconciliation. As a Church community we played a role in the outcomes of some of these policies and we can take to heart the words of John Paul the II in his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation the Bishops of Oceania in 2011. 鈥淭he Church expresses deep regret and asks forgiveness where her children have been or still are party to these wrongs. Aware of the shameful injustices done to indigenous peoples in Oceania, the Synod Fathers apologized unreservedly for the part played in these by members of the Church, especially where children were forcibly separated from their families.鈥�

National Reconciliation Week

Monday 27 May – Monday 3 June is the National Week to celebrate and build respectful relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and all Australians. This year is the 50th anniversary of the 1967 referendum that saw over 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Commonwealth the power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and recognise them in the national census. The week ends on Monday 3 June which commemorates the 25th Anniversary of the High Court of Australia鈥檚 landmark Mabo decision in 1992, which legally recognised that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have a special relationship to the land and a relationship that existed prior to colonialisation which still exists today. This recognition paved the way for land rights or Native Title. 鈥淕rounded in Truth: Walk Together with Courage鈥� is aimed at recognising that if we want to foster positive race relations, our relationship must be grounded in a foundation of truth. to learn more about National Reconciliation Week and the Australian story.