Around Catholic Schools

Transcription

1 Around Catholic Schools Catholic Education in the Diocese of Sale Issue 3, June 2009

2 Contents Deputy PM visits Don Bosco Primary New school of thought Schools on TV Lumen Christi students earn and learn Exploring other lives at Trinity Keeping fit at St Joseph s All the fun of carnivale Animal antics On the job learning When in Rome Around our schools Fundraising for bushfire victims Students unite for world peace A long way from home Active Wednesdays at St Patrick s Hat trick for Lavalla Catholic College St Peter s students rise to the occasion St Vincent s gets greener A fresh new look Holy Man in residence Ficifolia Festival Parade Child s play at Mary MacKillop Holy Week brought to life Developing leaders at St Laurence s Changes in the air Something in the water Top award for former Director Scalan lends a helping hand Living Witnesses recognised The right career choice FROM THE DIRECTOR I am delighted to present the 3 rd issue of Around Catholic Schools, our exciting journal that reflects the vibrant nature of our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sale. It is clear from what is in these pages that, despite the fact that we are in the midst of challenges from bushfires, from economic gloom and from all sorts of other places, our Catholic schools remain strong. It is very apparent that a wide range of positive activities present our schools as places of learning and as places of hope. We should all thank God for the gifts we find in our Catholic schools: gifts in students, in staff members, in parents and in other community members. These gifts are true signs of hope. Many of these gifts were recognised recently as our Living Witnesses awards were presented at the Annual Leadership Dinner. I congratulate the recipients of these awards but also the many others who were nominated. Unfortunately, there are only so many awards that can be made but this does not devalue the extraordinary contribution made by these others. I know that there are many living witnesses right throughout our 40 (soon to be 41) Catholic schools and that we will all continue to treasure them. FRONT COVER Main photo: St Vincent s Primary, Morwell East Bottom left: St Agatha s Primary, Cranbourne On top of that, of course, we are celebrating the benefits flowing from the Australian Government s Building the Education Revolution program. This is an exciting development from which every school will benefit. All primary schools will gain substantially and, while the money flowing to secondary schools will not be the same, there will be action there, too. No doubt, future editions of Around Catholic Schools will showcase some of the wonderful projects now under way. Bottom centre: Marist-Sion College, Warragul Bottom right: St James Primary, Nar Nar Goon Peter Ryan DIRECTOR OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION DIOCESE OF SALE Around Catholic Schools This magazine is published by the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Sale, and is distributed to all staff in our 40 schools, as well as parish offices. Please story ideas and feedback to kpitman@ceosale.catholic.edu.au Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Sale, 6 Witton Street, Warragul, Victoria, Phone Editor/Writer: Kirsty Pitman Photography: John Moore and contributors Layout: Kirsty Pitman Printing: Embassy Print Solutions 2

3 In pictures: Deputy PM visits Don Bosco Primary Tuesday May 19 was like any other day in the Don Bosco Primary school library. The seats were full, the room was buzzing and the person at the front of the room had everyone captivated. The only differences were that the seats were filled with Principals and the person at the front of the room was Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard. As part of the Federal Government s Building the Education Revolution package, Julia Gillard has been conducting a series of forums for Principals in government, private and Catholic schools to discuss the $14.7 billion package. Don Bosco Primary School was chosen as host school for the forum in Melbourne s south-east. In her address to Principals, Ms Gillard commented on the very competent Don Bosco students who had welcomed her and other guests to the Narre Warren school. She spoke of the Federal Government s commitment to supporting schools from all education systems State, private and Catholic. The key part of Ms Gillard s address was an outline of the three elements of Building the Education Revolution: Primary Schools for the 21st Century (large scale school infrastructure projects), Science and Language Centres for 21st Century Secondary Schools and the National School Pride Program (refurbishments and minor infrastructure projects). All Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sale are expected to benefit in some way from the package. The Federal Government is to be commended on these important initiatives, said Director of Catholic Education, Peter Ryan, which will assist us to start building the education facilities our students deserve. 3

4 ST BRIGID S PRIMARY New school of thought St Brigid s Primary, the forty-first school for the Diocese of Sale, opens in Officer in These five children will be part of the school s first intake of Grade Ones. A new Catholic primary school is opening in Officer next year in response to the growing demand for Catholic education in Melbourne s south-east corridor. St Brigid s Catholic Primary School is being constructed on Bayview Road and will cater for families living in Officer, Beaconsfield, Upper Beaconsfield and Guy s Hill. It will be the third parish primary school of St Michael s Parish (Berwick) and a feeder school of St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield. Enrolments are now being taken for Grades Prep to Six. The current Principal of St Ita s Primary School in Drouin, Ken Gale, will take up the position of Foundation Principal of St Brigid s from the commencement of next term. With thirty years experience in Catholic education, Ken is the ideal person to help the fledgling school find its feet. I m very excited about my new role at St Brigid s, said Mr Gale. My goal is to help develop a really strong community. In the meantime, though, it s full steam ahead with the new school. Construction of Stage One commenced earlier this month. Publicity and the communication of relevant information to enrolled families has been a key part of preparations for the new school: St Brigid s Primary now has its own website, designed by St Michael s parishioner Ewan Arnolda The St Brigid s information pack, containing school brochure, parish directory and enrolment form, is available from both St Michael s and St Catherine s Primary Schools The St Michael s Parish Officer School Committee has been working tirelessly on the project now for three years. It has advised the Parish Priest, Fr Peter Slater, on matters such as the physical design of the school through to the school uniform. 4

5 While St Brigid s Primary will continue the tradition of excellence that exists in fellow parish primary schools St Michael s and St Catherine s, it will also have its own unique identity. At the core of this is the new school s commitment to offering differentiated learning programs. Flexible learning areas are a key feature supporting the school s pedagogy. Stage One will see the development of an administration block, relocatable multipurpose building and one Flexible Learning Centre, which comprises five indoor learning areas and a learning common. Secondly, they promote active, collaborative learning which is a strong motivational tool for many students (particularly those who favour hands-on and social learning). Thirdly, they can positively influence behaviour. The use of space sends a clear message to students about expectations. If learning areas are laid out to encourage independent work habits and self-discipline, this is precisely what students will strive towards. As student numbers at St Brigid s increase, the school will move towards its master plan, adding two further Flexible These flexible learning areas allow students to move seamlessly between like-ability, mixed-ability and multi-age groupings depending on the activity. The areas can be configured to be more open or indeed more closed. Flexible learning areas, which have risen to the fore in the past 15 years, aim to keep children s highly desirable thirst for learning and self-discipline alive from the minute they commence Prep. They are becoming increasingly common in primary schools, secondary colleges, universities and vocational training institutions alike. Flexible learning areas allow students to move seamlessly between like-ability, mixed-ability and multi-age groupings, depending on the activity. Learning Centres (each with five indoor learning areas and a learning common), a permanent multipurpose building and canteen, staff block and resource centre / library. Parish Priest Fr Peter Slater. The school s long-term enrolment is estimated to be around 450 students. The next major event in the St Brigid s calendar is a morning tea on Monday July 20 at St Michael s Primary (Berwick) where enrolled and prospective families can meet each other, Foundation Principal Ken Gale and Research suggests flexible learning areas have three main advantages over traditional classrooms. Firstly, they are by design more student-centred, switching the focus from teaching to learning. It is common for students in the same flexible learning area to be working on completely different projects using different learning technologies. The development of St Brigid s is very exciting for all involved, said Fr Peter. As Berwick, Beaconsfield and Officer have grown over recent years, St Michael s Primary and St Catherine s Primary have been hard-pressed to meet the demand for enrolments. Our new school means we re still able to cater for all families in these areas seeking a Catholic education for their children. 5

6 Schools on TV If two heads are better than one, imagine the potential when seven Catholic school Principals combine forces to promote their schools. Wellington is a large shire encompassing 11,000 square kilometres in the heart of Gippsland. Within this shire are seven Catholic schools: St Mary s Primary School, Maffra; St Patrick s Primary School, Stratford; St Mary s Primary School, Yarram; St Michael s Primary School, Heyfield; St Mary s Primary School, Sale; St Thomas Primary School, Sale; and Catholic College Sale. The idea behind banding together as Wellington Shire Catholic Schools was to provide a united front and to show the many students enrolled across the region that they are members of a much larger Catholic community that strives to the same end. By pooling funds and skills, the larger schools among the group are able to support the smaller schools with the rising cost of promotion. 6

7 Ideas for the 2009/2010 Wellington Catholic Schools campaign were discussed among the seven Principals in mid 2008 and a unique approach was decided upon. In particular, the group wanted to build the profile of Catholic schools in central Gippsland and highlight the success of past students in all aspects of life. has located many graduates who are very proud of their school and Catholic Education in general. IMAGES FROM THE TV COMMERCIAL Success is measured in a multitude of ways by each individual - it can be a mother raising her happy children, a tradesperson, a professional, someone following their dream of a stage career, someone running away to join the circus, someone who makes a difference in their community. Liz Whitehill Catholic College Sale Based on the theme Making dreams a reality, the current campaign sets out to inform the community of the advantages of a Catholic education and focuses on the encouraging and guiding role played by the Catholic school. A television advertisement was designed which showed one student from each school musing over what he or she would like to be as an adult, followed by a past student speaking about achieving that goal. Production of the television commercial took more than one year from the initial concept to its completion, but was well worth the effort said Catholic College Sale Promotion and Communications Officer, Liz Whitehill. It was easy to find past students to fit the bill and each one was very eager to support their alma mater. It was very important that the people chosen for the ad were current students and past students, not actors, as we wanted to deliver a genuine message that the local community could connect with. The Wellington Catholic Schools advertisement has been run extensively on WIN TV and local radio networks and has already received some very favourable feedback. Community members have really responded to the fact that they can identify with the people in the ad some are children that they know, some are local business owners or people they went to school with themselves, said Ms Whitehill. The creation of the campaign has itself been a rewarding process for the seven schools as it 7

8 Lumen Christi students earn and learn Ask a room full of adults what their top ten concerns are and you re likely to hear the recurring answer money or finances. Yet despite the importance of financial literacy in everyday life, very few schools prepare students for this part of adulthood. Lumen Christi Primary is one exception. The Churchill school has been involved with the Earn and Learn program for a number of years. In that time, it has grown and developed to a stage where it now involves nearly the whole school. Earn and Learn, an open-ended problem-solving program developed by Rob Vingerhoets, has clear benefits for students numeracy learning. It shows children the relevance of mathematics to everyday situations, makes mathematics challenging yet enjoyable and encourages active student participation and problem solving. However, Earn and Learn is far broader than just a mathematics unit. It is essentially the development of a community with real-life financial situations. After initial discussions, employment positions are advertised for the local community of Lumen Christi. Applicants from Grade Five and Six need to justify their suitability for the position sought as well as have written letters of support from referees. Formal letters are drafted and applications submitted. Failure to make an application can lead to unemployment. A second income option for students is to submit a proposal for a commercial venture. These business proposals must be supported by parents as there are financial considerations to be taken into account. The community has its own currency and all wages are paid in cash by the local Bank of Lumen Christi. Jobs are taxed at varying rates and compulsory levies of rent, food and utilities are added. Children pay rent according to their seating in the classroom. A seat near the window attracts a high rent as it is classed as a room with a view! A seat near the teacher s desk is quite a secure location so it also attracts a higher than average rent. Students are responsible for the payment of additional expenses, such Our community becomes a thriving hub of activity and the level of excitement is sustained throughout the Earn and Learn session. as fines issued by the ever-vigilant police in each classroom! Businesses consult with the local Real Estate Agent who assigns various locations for them to carry out their trade. They must work with the local Bank Manager to negotiate business loans. Students in Grades Three and Four are provided with pocket money which they are encouraged to spend wisely in the local community. Saving money is highly encouraged but the children must fill out the necessary deposit and withdrawal slips. The greatest strength of the program is that it is self-reinforcing, delivering important real-world lessons. I thought Earn and Learn was a lot of fun said a Grade Six boy after the first session. One bad thing was that I had to pay all these bills and fines which left me with only $86. I spent all of it and now have no money left over. I am going to try not to get any more fines! 8

9 Exploring other lives at Trinity The first few weeks of each new year are always a challenge for Teacher Librarians: it s too early to begin lessons related to what is happening in students classrooms and uninspiring (for both students and the Teacher Librarian) to revise the various parts of the library. Fran Healy, Teacher Librarian at Trinity Primary School in Narre Warren South, this year decided to try something different. Her Term One unit for Grade 3/4 involved students researching a randomly selected classmate and writing a detailed biography about the peer. Key skills developed were planning, writing good questions to elicit the best information, interviewing, note-taking, managing time effectively, using information recorded in students own words and then publishing that information as a biography. After exploring biographies as a style of writing, children drew from a basket the name of the person they were to write about. It was impressed upon them the importance of being responsible and completing the biography because if they didn t, that particular child would miss out. Over the next few weeks, students brainstormed and selected good (open-ended, interesting) questions in preparation for their interviews. I eavesdropped and marvelled at the way the children spoke and listened to each other, said Mrs Healy. One student handled a boy who initially was self-conscious and gave inappropriate answers. She patiently repeated the question and refused to write down any answers she didn t consider appropriate. He got the message and settled down and the girl was able to get some very relevant information. This in turn taught the boy how to conduct his own interview. Once students had the answers to all their questions, they were able to use their notes to write an interesting, informative biography. Rough drafts were checked and edited then either hand written or saved in students folders on the computer. The students are all in different classes with different children to last year so I thought why not start the year getting students to research their classmates and write biographies about them! Children were so keen to use their fantastic decorated books they just had to finish their biographies! Student performance in each of the skill areas was assessed through rubrics, giving children a clear idea of what was expected at each stage of the project. The finished biographies were presented to students at a very special celebratory library party that included treats to eat and share. Copies were displayed around the school and a compilation book Magnificent Middles was catalogued and is now available for students and classes to borrow. Student comments highlighted the success of the unit, both in terms of personal enjoyment and learning. We learnt a lot about each other, It was a hard job and The biographies were all good to read. The lesson in which Mrs Healy showed children how to make a book for their biographies had the added advantage of spurring on those students with decreasing levels of motivation. 9

10 Keeping fit at St Joseph s Students at St Joseph s Primary School in Trafalgar have been working with former Australian Olympic and Commonwealth high jump medallist Tim Forsyth as part of the Bluearth program. More than just a physical education program, Bluearth is designed to engage children in activities that promote self knowledge, self control and self acceptance, with the aim of promoting health for both body and mind. Mr Forsyth has been working with Grades Three and Four, introducing students to a range of physical activities, movement experiences and games that are full of self discovery and social interaction. The children eagerly look forward to working with Mr Forsyth each week and enjoy the team building and game activities which challenge the coordination, agility, speed, motor skills, stability, flexibility and balance of each student. St Joseph s involvement with the Bluearth program reinforces the school s already strong commitment to health and wellbeing. By delivering personal health and fitness programs that are enjoyable, the school strives to maximise the chances of children continuing physical exercise and living a healthy lifestyle long after they have left St Joseph s. All the fun of carnivale What do you get when you combine masks, fun, food and entertainment? The St Mary s Primary School Twilight Carnivale! Once again, the Sale community was treated to an well-prepared, successful event that showcased the wonderful community spirit the school is known for. St Mary s students prepared special Carnivale masks during Art lessons to wear on the night, decorated bottles for the very popular Bottle Stall, wrapped potatoes for the Hot Potato Stall and donated items for the Spinning Wheel gift baskets. During the day, the children watched as their school ground turned into a vibrant fair ground tents, jumping castles, rides, food stalls, signs, laughing clowns and lights. Animal antics As part of their classroom learning, students from Columba Catholic Primary School in Bunyip recently visited Melbourne Zoo to discover some of the animals they had been learning about. Children were invited to handle some of the animals including snakes and turtles, as well as watch an elephant play football and learn about animal habitats from Zoo staff. It was a wonderful experience for the students and a great opportunity to see a range of animals in their Zoo habitats, said Columba s Grade 2/3 teacher Leonie Hester. 10

11 On the job learning You can t get much more hands on than St Francis Xavier College s Hands On Learning (HOL) program. HOL students were recently involved in cleaning up the wetlands area at Mary MacKillop Primary School in Narre Warren North, as well as building a new access path for students. Project results were described as wonderful. The program provides an incentivebased opportunity for students to engage in mainstream classroom learning, while enjoying one or two days per fortnight in supervised HOL activities, such as gardening and building. When in Rome Twenty four students from Nagle College in Bairnsdale spent their Easter break exploring the historical and cultural delights of Italy. Accompanied by five parents and three teachers, the group visited Rome, the Vatican City, Pisa, Florence, Milan, Lake Maggiore, Lugano (Switzerland), Venice, Verona, Ravenna, Assisi, Perugia, Sorrento, Pompeii and Capri. Students rode gondolas along ancient Venetian canals, walked the eerie Pompeii streets frozen in time by the eruption of Vesuvius and visited the iconic Colosseum, Sistine Chapel, Trevi Fountain and Spanish Steps. event, by the celebrating Cardinal. Another amazing experience was watching a master Murano Glass artisan manufacturing a vase and a horse using the blown glass technique. The group s circumnavigation by boat of the resort island of Capri including a stop at the world famous Blue Grotto was another highlight of the trip. Participants in the Nagle College 2009 Italy Tour gratefully acknowledge the generosity of the Nagle College Community and local businesses whose significant contributions and donations enabled the trip to take place. One of the significant events of the Tour was a High Mass in a packed St Mark s Cathedral in Venice accompanied by a magnificent world class choir. At the end of this, the congregation received a papal plenary indulgence, an extremely rare 11

12 EVERYONE BELONGS AT ST AGATHA S On March 17, St Agatha s Primary School in Cranbourne celebrated Harmony Day Everyone Belongs. Students were invited to come to school in cultural dress or bring something about their heritage to share. Children had great fun sharing the different names of their dress, telling stories about their culture and showing examples of their country s currency. St Agatha s staff also got into the Harmony Day spirit by having a multicultural lunch. READING TIME AT ST MICHAEL S Grade Five children from St Michael s Primary School in Traralgon are assisting local kinder children with their transition to school by holding regular story time sessions in the library. Parents are welcome to a cuppa in the staffroom whilst the children are busy. Sessions are held about three times each term. Parents and children from any kinders in the area are most welcome. ST KIERAN S DAY On March 5, St Kieran s Primary School in Moe celebrated St Kieran s Day. The day began with a whole school Mass, followed by fun activities in the classroom, a sausage sizzle for lunch and then entertainment by Japanese drummers. Some staff (including Principal Jo Johnson) and children were chosen to play the instruments. SPORTS STARS MOTHER S DAY BREAKFAST AT ST THOMAS Principal Jason Slattery had an army of willing dads to assist him with cooking and serving up a special breakfast in honour of the mums and female carers in the St Thomas Primary School community. The event was very well attended and everyone enjoyed a scrumptious breakfast of fresh fruit, eggs and bacon. St John the Baptist Primary School in Koo Wee Rup held its Junior Athletics Day on May 4. 12

13 GRANDPARENTS DAY AT ST MARY S On March 12, St Mary s Primary School in Bairnsdale celebrated and recognised the unique contribution that grandparents play in the lives of their grandchildren. Over 300 grandparents, parents and special friends, along with their grandchildren, gathered at the school to celebrate Mass with Fr Denis O Bryan. After Mass, the adults were treated to morning tea and then it was into the classrooms where students took much delight in showing their grandparents around their classroom and the school grounds. SHAKESPEARE IN STRATFORD Grade Six students at St Patrick s Primary School in Stratford performed one of Shakespeare s plays as part of the town s annual Shakespeare on the River festival. In collaboration with students from Stratford Primary School, the St Patrick s students this year staged three performances of Midsummer Night s Dream: two matinees and an evening performance. The play received rave reviews from all who attended. TRINITY WINS INTERSCHOOL CHESS (AGAIN) Team A from Trinity Primary School in Narre Warren South won the Interschool Chess Competition held at Chalcot Lodge Primary on March 23. FAMILY CELEBRATION IN KORUMBURRA On April 22, St Joseph s Primary School in Korumburra held a special Family Celebration including an open air Mass. The music was led by the school s small but enthusiastic choir. Families shared a sausage sizzle cooked by the school staff and members of the school s Parents and Friends. It was a true community event and an enjoyable evening for all. MOTHER S DAY LUNCH IN ORBOST St Joseph s Primary School in Orbost held a Mother s Day Luncheon on May 8 for all mothers and grandmothers of the school and St Colman s Parish. The lunch was a delicious three course meal consisting of vegetable soup, lasagna and salad, followed by trifle for dessert. All the food was prepared the previous day by the students under the watchful eye of their teachers. SACRED HEART TURNS 125 Sacred Heart Primary School in Morwell celebrated its 125 th Anniversary in May. Celebrations included a whole school Mass, morning tea, open day and dinner dance. Visitors to the school marvelled at how it has changed and developed over the years. Current senior students conducted school tours, while in the new multi-purpose room photo displays and old memorabilia were looked over by young and old alike. 13

14 Fundraising for bushfire victims Mary MacKillop goes yellow In Leongatha, students at Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College held a Yellow Day to raise money for people affected by the fires of Black Saturday. The Yellow Day Committee organised for the whole school to dress in yellow and sold slices (kindly donated by parents and students of the school) at recess. Sausages and cans of soft drink were also sold at lunch time. The day was very successful with $2, being donated to the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund. This cheque was warmly received by South Gippsland Shire s Lew Wilson and volunteer fire-fighters Wayne and Greg. Students commitment to helping those in need was evident throughout the planning and administration of Yellow Day, particularly by those who volunteered their lunch times. St James goes white In Nar Nar Goon, students at St James Primary School planned a White Shirt Day to support bushfire victims. The school s Grade Five and Six students created posters for the event and asked the school community to donate to the appeal. The colour white was chosen to symbolise peace returning to fire-affected communities. To enhance the day, senior students shared prayers, reflections and presentations with the school, after which all children created a peace mural that was covered with individually decorated doves. Although a small school, St James raised over $600 which was presented to Hank Dortmans, member of the St Vincent De Paul society. The money raised will be used to purchase resources for local families affected by the bushfires. 14

15 Students unite for world peace That seven schools, over two thousand young people and several hundred staff would disrupt their normal program, take time out and come together to pray for peace in our world is a significant and impressive statement both to ourselves and to our community. Br Paul Kane CCS Principal More than two thousand Catholic primary and secondary students came together on May 6 to pray for world peace. Catholic College Sale s Peace Mass was held in the school s state of the art Bishop Phelan stadium. Currently in its fifth year, the Peace Mass was an inspiration of teachers at the College after the tragedy of the Bali bombings. Students from Catholic primary schools travel from as far as Yarram, Heyfield, Maffra, and Stratford to join their Sale counterparts for the event each year. This moving and memorable occasion provides an opportunity for students to appreciate that they are part of a larger Catholic student community. Our hope is if we come together to pray for peace in our school community, the idea will filter through to the greater community and beyond, said Catholic College Sale Head of Sion campus, Peter Centra. A long way from home Grade Five and Six students from St Brendan s Primary School in Lakes Entrance visited the Immigration Museum last month as part of their trip to Melbourne. This excursion helped the students gain an understanding of the issues related to immigration and the reasons why people leave their country of birth. Children participated in an educational activity titled Passport Plus, working in groups to look at the contents of luggage from 1788 to They used the items in the chests, bags and suitcases to work out the age and occupation of the owners, when they emigrated, where they came from and why they came to Australia. The children then received a Passport book and visited different rooms of the Museum to answer questions about immigrant journeys to Australia. The Koori Heritage Trust was a highlight of the St Brendan s trip. Students admired beautiful indigenous art work in the gallery area then were showed the tools, weapons and water craft used by the Aboriginal people of the region. One of the key points many of the students mentioned in their writing afterwards, was the respect that the indigenous people had for the land and the animals. The Melbourne trip was enjoyed by all and the St Brendan s students were, as always, a credit to the school. 15

16 Active Wednesdays at St Patrick s If the mark of a healthy school is a full bike shed, then St Patrick s Primary School in Pakenham couldn t be better! St Patrick s students know that walking, riding or scootering to school forms part of a healthy lifestyle. As an added bonus, though, on the first Wednesday of each month (Active Wednesday), classes compete for trophies and certificates based on the number of students choosing an active means of getting to school. Road safety is an important aspect of the Active Wednesdays initiative. All students riding to school, whether by skateboard, scooter or bicycle, are required to wear a helmet. Students are also encouraged to walk or ride with friends. Hat-trick for Lavalla Catholic College Lavalla Catholic College Year Nine student Georgina Van Der Staay was recently named overall winner in the Spirit of Anzac Competition. She follows Lavalla students Annie-Ross Ferguson and Logan Edwards in an unbroken line of winners of the competition since its inception in Two other Lavalla students Ashley Bransgrove and Mitchell Turnbull were among the 27 regional finalists in this year s competition. Georgina and Mitchell both wrote research essays which explored the idea of the Anzac spirit and related that to contemporary Australian society, whilst Ashley painted a scene of Anzac Cove, incorporating the symbols of mateship, bravery and the selflessness of the Australian soldier. Entrants were also required to demonstrate their personal community involvement, reflect on the courage and initiative of the Anzacs and discuss how this legacy has influenced Victorian communities of today. Kim Widrich, who introduced interested Lavalla students to the competition in 2006, is thrilled that the College has now won the Spirit of Anzac Prize three years in a row. We are very proud of our students and their success in the competition. It is a very good way of perpetuating a significant part of our identity as a nation and to ensure that the spirit of the Anzacs lives on today after nearly one hundred years. Georgina received her prize from Victorian Premier John Brumby at an awards ceremony held in Melbourne. 16

17 St Peter s students rise to the occasion The St Peter s College equestrian team shone at last term s Interschool Show Jumping Event held at Hillcrest Christian College. St Peter s, represented by Tesse Cook, Lauren Halstead, Amber Cargill and Brittany Jubb, finished strongly at the event, which places them third overall for the ongoing 2009 series. Year Eleven student Tesse Cook dazzled onlookers with her astute ability to control her horse Portia with absolute precision and patience, coming in at first place in the Level Three division and being crowned overall champion. Year Nine student Lauren Halstead said equestrian sport was all about confidence. Representing St Peter s College is special for all of us, said Lauren. Coming third was a huge success mostly because the competition is so tough and we have one of the smallest group sizes in the series. St Peter s College sports co-ordinator Cathy Heijden said the girls should be commended on their fine achievements thus far. The result was by far the best performance by St Peter s College at an inter-college equestrian event ever, Ms Heijden said. I wish them the best of luck for the rest of the series. St Vincent s gets greener St Vincent de Paul Primary School in Morwell East recently joined an impressive list of Catholic schools in the Sale Diocese by becoming involved in the Victorian Catholic Sustainable Schools Project. Teachers, students and parents of St Vincent s will be involved in this exciting initiative where everyone will look at ways to sustain the environment at school in a much more proactive way. Along with the many wonderful environmental initiatives already happening at St Vincent s such as paper recycling, printer cartridge recycling, water tanks and worm farm students will be able to input their ideas supported by great research and information provided to them through the program. All staff at the school will participate in professional development to help facilitate children s learning and awareness in this very important part of their world and that of future generations. The St Vincent s community is excited about implementing its new Sustainability Plan through the School Environment Tracking System (SETS) where children and families will be able to see the progress that can be made by implementing changes in how we use energy. 17

18 Holy Man in residence Catholic College Sale has embarked on a new era of staff care by introducing the Holy Person in Residence program. A fresh new look St Mary s Primary School in Yarram is sporting a new look administration building, upgraded office and staff room, two new general learning areas and a teacher resource room (replacing the old multipurpose room). The exterior of the building has been rendered and painted, giving the once boring grey brick work a completely new spirit. A portico has also been added to protect and welcome visitors to the school. Inside, St Mary s office has a new coat of paint and a more open and welcoming reception area. The staff room has been given a makeover and a new teacher resource room and courtyard created to allow for classroom preparation and relaxation during break times. The two new learning areas include bi-fold doors to enable teachers to open up their classroom for inside and outside learning. The concept came from Catholic College Sale s Director of Faith and Ministry, Steve Nash. It is a way to nurture the spirituality of staff and help further develop staff focus and consciously bring to mind the Catholic College vision of education, he said. The idea was floated with College staff who responded enthusiastically to the suggestion and moves were made to construct the program, which was two years in the planning. Catholic College Sale invited Jim Quillinan, a well respected educator and spiritual leader, to spend a week at the College and interact with staff. I think the benefits of running a program like this are enormous and I congratulate Catholic College Sale for looking after one of their most important assets - their staff, said Mr Quillinan. Throughout the day I was approached by staff wanting to talk and discuss their roles and where they fit into the big picture of Catholic education and of an evening I was amazed by the number of s I received from staff. The program also involved more structured activities and discussion groups designed to encourage reflection and enable staff to more easily envision the real meaning of what they do and who they are. With the construction of a new multipurpose hall scheduled for the near future, St Mary s continues to provide its students with greater opportunities for learning in a caring and innovative environment. 18

19 Ficifolia Festival Parade In a wonderful show of community spirit, staff, students and parents from St Ita s Primary School in Drouin joined together on February 14 to participate in the 21 st annual Drouin Ficifolia Festival Parade. The theme for the Festival this year was World of Music, focusing on the colour, diversity and entertainment of the magical world of music. Students, staff and parents filled the streets dressed in bright imaginative costumes. Some rode on the float and others walked behind, chanting St Ita s rocks! as the parade wound its way down the main street of Drouin, past hundreds of spectators. The parade ended at Civic Park, Drouin, where families enjoyed the carnival-like atmosphere of the Party in the Park, with food, market stalls and musical entertainment. Child s play at Mary MacKillop Students at Mary MacKillop Primary in Narre Warren North had been eagerly awaiting the day they would be allowed to play on their new play equipment. They watched patiently as the workmen constructed it piece by piece and were counting down the days until Friday 27 February when it would be announced at playtime which class would be the first to play! So when it was advised late on the Thursday afternoon that Mary MacKillop Primary would be forced to close on the 27th due to the extreme weather forecast, the staff took advantage of the opportunity for a quick outdoor play! Holy Week brought to life On April 2, the students at St Michael's Primary School in Berwick participated in a Liturgy re-enacting Holy Week, including the Stations of the Cross and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus can be a difficult concept for children to understand, so the St Michael s teachers decided the best way to help students understand the enormity of the event was to act it out. The children experienced the sombre events leading up to the Crucifixion and the joyful celebration of the Resurrection. Each child now has a greater understanding of the significance of Holy Week and Easter after re-enacting what took place all those years ago. 19

20 Developing leaders at St Laurence s During 2007, staff at St Laurence O Toole Primary School in Leongatha began to consider new models of student leadership that would provide opportunities for more students to develop leadership qualities. A structure used at St Mary's, Myrtleford, was chosen and then adapted to suit the needs of the St Laurence s school community. It has taken a year to establish the system but the results have been impressive, with students demonstrating much higher levels of initiative and organisation. At St Laurence s we don t have school captains, explains a Senior student. We have leadership teams. Each team comprises between four and six students and is responsible for a specific area of school life. In the students own words: Community Service Team Some of the activities we enjoy are: helping at the local kindergarten, keeping up with St Laurence s school newsletters each week, organising fundraisers, representing our school proudly out in the community and much more. Zachary, Georgia, Aimee, Gemma, Nikki and Richard Prayer and Liturgy team We prepare and present prayer each Friday assembly. We represent our school at Liturgy Masses. Our meeting is every Wednesday. Darcy, Kirsty, Bridget and Sean Sport Leadership Team We take the Grade 1/2s every morning and afternoon for Huff and Puff. They are great kids that work together well and listen. We all love to encourage them to keep fit. Kaila, Beth, Nick, Jack and Neil Library Team We are working on BLN which is our library radio station. We are also helping to organise Book Week. We read books to classes and help kids to find books in the library. We also enjoy working behind the counter. We sometimes help Mrs Gatehouse run library times and take classes. Xavier, Mikayla, Josh, Josh and David Environmental Team We maintain and clean the gardens and have organised Clean Up Australia Day and The-Tank-A-Day Challenge. We also water the plants and are thinking of building a new worm farm. Katherine, Brayden, Jayden, Nick, Ryan and Shawn Assembly / Organisation Team Each Friday we organise and run our school assembly. One person is the MC who reads out reminders and class presentations, two people read our weekly awards and two people announce birthdays. We rotate jobs each week. We were very nervous at our first assembly, but as the weeks went on our confidence increased. Being in the Assembly Team has been so much fun and we have learnt heaps. We always look forward to Fridays. Sophie, Caitlin, Maddy, Dominic and Lauren 20

21 Changes in the air Students at St Mary s Primary in Newborough were delighted with the refurbishment of three portable classrooms and completion of their new toilet block earlier this year. Initially, the novelty of the high tech hand dryers and the sensor soap dispensers created a greater than normal demand for the facility. As the term progressed, though, this area became just another part of the landscape of St Mary's. Next month, the school will be back to a building site as construction commences on the new St Mary s library and ICT area. The school was successful in obtaining funding in the first round of the Building the Education Revolution Primary Schools for the 21 st Century grants. This building project will cause disruption in the short term, said St Mary s Principal Teresa Greenough, but in the end we will have a contemporary library with a dedicated ICT area. This facility will benefit all members of the St Mary's community. Architect Chris Brown is enthusiastic about the work. This project will complete the school's master plan that was set in motion some five years ago. It will just complete the school. Something in the water Both Catholic primary schools in Traralgon have excelled in the swimming pool this year. St Gabriel's Swimming Team recently won the Traralgon and Districts Schools Swimming Carnival. Thirty-six swimmers swam well, winning the shield by 200 points. Twelve members of this talented team made it through to the Zone Championships, four to the State Championships in Melbourne. Eleven children from St Michael s represented the region at the State Championships, with Grade Six student Maggie O Keefe (pictured) placing second in the 50m freestyle. Maggie now goes on to compete in the National Primary Schools Championships in Perth in September. Both schools are very proud of their students achievements. 21

22 Top award for former Director The Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Sale, congratulates former Director Terry Synan on being awarded Australian Catholic University s highest honour, Doctor of the University. This prestigious award recognises Terry s outstanding contribution to Catholic education in Victoria as a whole and, in particular, the Diocese of Sale. Scalan lends a helping hand The Scalan group spent Friday May 15 as volunteers for the day at Sacred Heart Mission in St Kilda. It was a wonderful experience, said Pauline Low. We prepared the vegetables for the lunch time meal, then served it to the needy when they came in and cleaned up afterwards (the sign of a good cook, so I m told!). Around 300 people were served.. Living Witnesses recognised Five staff members in Catholic schools were recently recognised with a Living Witnesses Award for their outstanding contribution to Catholic Education. Eileen Crowley, (St John the Baptist Primary School and St James Primary School), Michael Brennan (Mary MacKillop Catholic Regional College) and Victoria Lopez (St Patrick s Primary School, Pakenham) received their awards at the Catholic Education Leadership Dinner. The adult children of Mary Giddens (Lavalla College) accepted Mary s award on her behalf while the Acting Principal of St Peter s College, Tim Hogan, represented award winner Paul Gyulavary. 22

23 The right career choice Two former recipients of the Elizabeth Hunt Scholarship reflected on their teaching journey in preparation for the 2009 Catholic Education Leadership Dinner held in Morwell: It is hard to believe it s been four years since I received the Elizabeth Hunt Scholarship. I was so excited to have finally started uni and I was one step closer to fulfilling my dream of becoming a teacher. This year I am extremely fortunate to have a beautiful Grade Prep class at St Patrick s Primary School in Pakenham, which ironically is where Elizabeth Hunt taught. Having 18 Preps has definitely been a challenge at times, especially when they are running around the classroom pretending to be zombies or taking half an hour to eat a sandwich because they are more interested in seeing what everyone else around them is doing. But the hard work is definitely worth it when their faces light up because they have finally understood something you have been teaching them for the past three weeks, they give you a drawing they have worked so hard on, or you get told you are the bestest teacher they have ever had in their entire life! I have never experienced a dull, uneventful or mundane day in my classroom. Emma O Brien It only seems like such a short time ago I was giving my acceptance speech for the Elizabeth Hunt Scholarship. Now look where I am, working at St Thomas Primary School in Sale, teaching in a fabulous Grade Two class. Two things I love about teaching are having my own classroom and seeing how it progresses over such a short time. I love walking in and seeing the smiles and hearing the noise of a classroom. It is such a great feeling. Michelle Dorning The 2009 recipients of the Elizabeth Hunt Scholarship are Chantelle Mitchell, past student of St Ita s Primary School and Marist-Sion College, and Zoe Eldridge, past student of St Mary s Primary School in Bairnsdale and Nagle College. The Daniel Ahern Bursary winners are Samuel Griffiths, an integration aide at St Francis Xavier College in Beaconsfield and Kelli Ford, a teacher aide at St Joseph s Primary School in Warragul. Other winners announced at the Catholic Education Leadership Dinner were the recipients of the Archbishop D Arcy Religion Awards. With scores of 41 were Kathleen Gibb (Marist-Sion College) and Emma Marino (Lavalla College); with scores of 40 were Amelia Bragagnolo and Bernadette Spencer (both from Marist-Sion College). 23

24 It s on again! Start organising your students entries in our Christmas Card Design Competition. Following the enormous response to last year s competition, the Catholic Education Office is again offering students the chance to showcase their artistic talents on our Christmas cards! This year, we have made two small changes to the competition: - Major prizes will be awarded for the best student entry in each division: primary and secondary. - The best entry for each school will be printed as a Christmas card, giving the Catholic Education Office a set of up to 40 Christmas cards. Competition details and entry forms will be posted to Principals in early July. Entries close at the end of Term Three (Friday 18 September).