Kostka Hall... newsletter

Transcription

1 X A V I E R C O L L E G E A JESUIT SCHOOL Kostka Hall... newsletter Phone: Fax: Number July 2013 FROM THE RECTOR Dear Parents and Guardians During the holidays there were a number or overseas immersions, sporting and cultural tours undertaken by staff and students. They included the combined Jesuit schools immersion to Timor L Este, the World Challenge experience to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands, the Global Young Leaders Conference in Washington and New York, the Athletics Tour to the United States of America and the Music Tour to Europe to compete in the Summa Cum Laude Festival in Vienna. Congratulations to our musicians and singers, who won first place in the Male Choir section, and to members of our string orchestra who were awarded third place. This is a great achievement as there were 1300 performers from 38 ensembles and from 18 countries participating in this festival. I would like to thank all the staff who accompanied our students. These experiences would not be possible without the generosity of staff. I had the opportunity to participate in the immersion to Timor L Este. This two week experience brings together two Year 11 students from each of the schools in the Australian Jesuit Schools Network. Joseph Barlow and Daniel Vaughan represented our College. The immersion leader was a teacher from Xavier Catholic College in Hervey Bay, Queensland and the assistant leader was from St Ignatius College, Adelaide. It was a most fruitful experience with the Australian Jesuit and Jesuit partner schools working together to learn about the Jesuit mission in Timor L Este. We visited a number of historical sites of significance in Dili including Santa Cruz Cemetery. Standing at the gates to the cemetery, where the 1991 massacre took place, and then walking to the grave of Sebastian Gomez, was a confronting experience. We also visited the church in Liquica where militia groups in 1999 threw hand grenades into the church while Mass was being celebrated and then shot the members of the congregation as they fled the church. But amid this devastation, there were signs of extraordinary resilience and hope grounded in the people s deep faith in our God. We visited the Jesuit mission in Railaco which is about 90 minutes from Dili in the mountains. We met Fr Bong SJ, a Filipino Jesuit who is also a medical doctor. He runs a medical clinic for the people and this is supplemented by a food program for the youngest and the oldest in the surrounding villages. We also visited the high school and engaged with the students, who were so excited by our visit. Many of these students walk two hours each morning to have the opportunity to be educated. We also met Sr Rita Hayes SGS, an extraordinary Australian Good Samaritan Sister, who has worked tirelessly in this school and the community for the last decade. Our final stop was a visit to the newest Jesuit school in the world, Colégio Santo Inácio de Loiola which is located in Kasait, 22 kilometres west of Dili. There are 85 Year 7 students and later this year they will be joined by a new intake of 90 students. The school is still being built and there will also be a teachers training college adjacent to the site. Our students played sport with the locals, taught them Mathematics and helped them further develop their nascent English. We also celebrated the Eucharist together and had a wonderful cultural concert. There was so much joy, hope and happiness present and it was a privileged time to experience God s grace. I would like to thank the Burke Hall Fathers Association who donated $500 worth of soccer balls and basketballs for this new school. I was very saddened last week to hear of the death of Mr Craig Boyhan. Our deepest condolences are extended to his sons Matthew in Year 11 and James in Year 7 at Burke Hall and their mother Philippa. Please remember them in your prayers at this time of great sadness. Wishing you every blessing as we begin this term. Fr Thomas Renshaw SJ Rector Tom.Renshaw@xavier.vic.edu.au COMING EVENTS Saturday 20 July 3YO Magdalena Parents Function 7:00pm Sunday 21 July Production Rehearsal (All Cast) Manresa Hall 10:00am - 4:00pm Monday 22 July KHMA Meeting Companions Room 7:30pm - 9:30pm Tuesday 23 July Year 2 Coffee Morning Hawk and Hunter 9:00am Voluntary Mass Chapel 8:15am - 8:35am School Assembly Manresa Hall 8:50am - 9:40am Wednesday 24 July KHMA Parent Representative Meeting Companions Room 9:00am- 10:00am Production Rehearsal (All Cast) Drama Studio 3:30pm - 4:30pm Production Rehearsal (All Cast) Manresa Hall 4:30pm - 5:30pm Thursday 25 July Year 4 Ricci KHMA Coffee Morning Oli and Ari 2:00pm Friday 26 July Yr 6 Parents Luncheon Ladro Prahran 12:00 pm Prep Parents Social Gathering 7:30pm Saturday 27 July Xavier Championships Weekend Mt Buller Sunday 28 July The Pirates of Penzance Junior Rehearsal (All Cast) EHPAC 10:00am - 4:00pm Monday 29 July The Pirates of Penzance Junior Dress Rehearsal (All Cast) EHPAC 3:30pm- 9:00pm Tuesday 30 July Voluntary Mass Chapel 8:15am - 8:35am 5-8 Swimming Program Orientation Day Klim Swim 12:00pm - 3:00pm The Pirates of Penzance Junior Dress Rehearsal (All Cast) EHPAC 3:30pm - 9:00pm Wednesday 31 July Year 5 Mothers Gathering 3 Campus Mass for the Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola Stephenson Centre 10:00am The Pirates of Penzance Junior Dress Rehearsal (All Cast) EHPAC 3:30pm- 9:00pm Thursday 1 August 3YO Magdalena Parents Coffee Morning Groove Train, Church Street 9:00am Piano Concert Manresa Hall 3:30pm - 4:30pm Friday 2 August The Pirates of Penzance Junior Performance EHPAC 7:30pm A comprehensive list of College events is available all year via the online calendar on the Xavier Community Portal. Xavier Web Site: Jesuit Web Site: Kostka@xavier.vic.edu.au

2 FROM THE PRINCIPAL Dear Parents and Guardians I hope you have had an enriching and renewing time with your family during the recent school holiday break. We can never take this precious family time for granted. Our prayers and thoughts are with the Boyhan family, following the sudden death of Craig Boyhan, father of Matthew (Year 11, Ignatius House) and James (Year 7, Burke Hall) and their mother Philippa. The use of creativity and imagination is central to Ignatian education and spirituality. On Monday all staff from our three campuses came together to explore in a tangible way our theme for the year of setting hearts on fire. The purpose was to look at how we, as a school community, can continue to inspire all our students to live a disciplined and authentic life. Jesuit education demands a thoroughness of preparation, a rigorous approach to engagement and a keen desire for challenging the mind, heart and the senses. Our staff wholeheartedly embraced the experience of the day. I have no doubt the benefit will be felt by all our students in the coming days. I join Fr Renshaw in thanking so many of our staff who gave up their break and families to accompany a large number of our students on overseas immersions and excursions. Particular congratulations to Mr Greg Carey and the Music staff on the wonderful success of the recent Austrian tour for Xavier in the Summa Cum Laude Festival. We received the first place award for the Male Choir and third place for the String Orchestra. This is fantastic for our boys with 1300 performers from thirty-eight ensembles representing eighteen countries. Grace and peace for the coming week. Dr Chris Hayes Principal Chris.Hayes@xavier.vic.edu.au FROM THE DIRECTOR OF KOSTKA HALL Dear Parents and Guardians A warm welcome back to Term 3 after the winter break. We especially welcome the following students and families who join us this semester: Year 5 student, Samuel Grogan, who is coming to us from our Burke Hall Campus and his parents Steve and Katrina Year 8 student, Andy Park and his parents Andrew and Lucy We also welcome our new Kostka Hall nurse, Mrs Catherine Nash. We are delighted to welcome Catherine to our community. Catherine comes to us as a Cabrini Nurse. She has been with Cabrini Hospital for 17 years working at Cabrini Malvern and most recently at Cabrini Brighton for the last three years. The school holidays are a wonderful opportunity to spend more time with our children and to pursue a range of leisure activities. I spent quite a bit of time exploring the Arts in Melbourne with my children a visit to Circus Oz, the Hollywood Costume Exhibition, Galleries, Buskers and Films and fireworks at Docklands. Melbourne is rich with Arts opportunities. In Federation Square at the winter lights exhibition there was an installation of a tree made from lighting tubes. If you stood around it and sang it would light up in different colours according to pitch and tone. It was quite an experience standing there on a cold and dark winter night singing with other families in an effort to light up the tree. I am so pleased to live in a city that values creativity and imagination and to work with the Jesuits who place such value on the development of creativity and imagination in young people and the staff who work with them. Much of what we read today about research into the skills required for future citizens places an emphasis on the skills of flexibility, creativity and imagination. A visit to Screen Worlds the story of film, television and digital culture at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) will convince you of this. There has been so much progress in this area of human endeavour due to the remarkable creativity and imagination of so many individuals. (Continued on page 3) Page 2

3 FROM THE DIRECTOR OF KOSTKA HALL - CONT D On Monday 15 July the staff across all 3 campuses came together at the Senior Campus in Kew where we participated in a program Men and Women for Others Setting Hearts on Fire. It was a day of prayer and reflection and creative and performing arts workshops. We explored the following: Art and Spirituality Reconciliation with Creation Music and Spirituality Media and Spirituality Indigenous Art and Spirituality Storytelling and Spirituality All groups produced something creative that had set their hearts on fire a mosaic, a sustainable garden, a digital story, a drawing poetry to name a few. It was truly an enriching experience for all staff involved. This Semester we will celebrate the Visual and Performing Arts across Xavier in 3 special events so please mark these in your diary: 3 Campus Art Show on 24 July Kostka Hall Pirates of Penzance on 2 and 3 August 3 Campus Music Concert at Hamer Hall on 3 September One of the privileges I have as an educator is to nurture creativity and imagination in children not just in the Arts but in Science, Maths, Humanities, Religious Education, Health and Physical Education and Languages. I look forward to seeing many moments of creativity, imagination, awe and wonder in your children this semester. Kathleen Upfold Director Kathleen.Upfold@xavier.vic.edu.au FROM THE DEAN OF OPERATIONS AND MIDDLE YEARS Welcome back to Term 3. It is the term where the students can consolidate what they learnt in Semester One and add to their knowledge. It is also a term that will be exciting and will offer our girls and boys numerous opportunities to involve themselves in the co curricular programs on offer. National School Photography REMINDER The Official school photographs will be distributed during the first week of Term Three to all classes. A reminder that any student photographs which you do not wish to purchase should be returned directly to National Photography for a full refund. Their details are as follows: National School Photography, PO Box 3001, North Burnley Sports Photos Semester One All Middle Years Sports photos and Music photos taken at the conclusion of Semester One can now be purchased online via National photography. The details are as follows: Password = XVC3 You can order by clicking Online Ordering (from the top of our website) then by clicking on the orange option that says Group and Event Photos. (Continued on page 4) Page 3

4 FROM THE DEAN OF OPERATIONS AND MIDDLE YEARS - CONT D Home Learning Club Term 3 Home Learning Club will commence for Term Three on Monday 22 July [3:30pm 4:30pm]. The Home Learning Club is held in the Library, providing students with the opportunity to work in a supported environment. As you are aware, in 2013 we have extended the Home Learning Club which will now operate on a Monday and Wednesday. For further details. please see the separate letter that has been distributed via Homerooms, or alternatively contact Ms Annie Tomkins, Learning Enhancement Coordinator. School Assembly 23 July Our next school assembly will be held on 23 July at 8.50am in Manresa Hall. This assembly will be conducted by the Arts Department. Parents are most welcome to attend our school assemblies as they are an integral part of the celebration of learning and tradition at our school. Assembly dates are published on the College Calendar via the Community Portal throughout the year. Reminder The College will gather to celebrate the Feast of St Ignatius of Loyola on Wednesday 31 July at the Senior Campus. A letter outlining the day and specific details will be distributed via homerooms by week 2 of Term 3. Greg Gaudie Dean of Operations & Middle Years Greg.Gaudie@xavier.vic.edu.au FROM THE DEAN OF EARLY YEARS Welcome back to Term Three. I hope the mid year break has been a relaxing and enjoyable time for your family. In the holidays you would have received your child s Semester 1 report. I am hopeful that all families would have read and discussed the report and talked about the achievements and areas to concentrate on as we begin Semester 2. Hopefully your child s portfolio would have given you many examples of work that supported the comments made in your child s report. Could you please return your child s portfolio to your child s classroom this week. It is with great excitement that we welcome back Miss Gaby to the Year 2 Chisholm classroom. Miss Kylie and Miss Gaby have met a number of times to enable a smooth transition and so we wish Miss Gaby a rewarding second half of the year and Miss Kylie all the very best in her future teaching positions. This term we will have an Arts focus with many exciting events occurring throughout the term. We start with our Arts Assembly and Art Show at Senior School in Week 2, the School Production in Week 3, a visit to the National Gallery in Week 5 and then we move to two special music events, the 3 Campus Concert at Hamer Hall in Week 8 and our Early Years Music Concert in Week 10. Towards the end of Term 2 we had our first Strings Concert for our Year 3 and 4 students in Manresa Hall. It was delightful to watch all students play and perform so confidently and capably in front of a large audience. Reminders: Co-curricular sport will commence in Week 2. Please look out for the notice outlining the dates and activities for Term 3. Hair Buttons in the winter uniform are available for purchase from my office. I look forward to another term full of activity and action. Years 3 and 4 Strings Concert Bernadette Williams Dean of Early Years Bernadette.Williams@xavier.vic.edu.au Page 4

5 NEWS FROM FAITH AND SERVICE Year 8 Ignatian Service During Term Three, the students in Year 8 Arrupe will undertake Ignatian Service on a Friday afternoon and have the opportunity to work with a number of organisations in our local area. The rationale for Ignatian Service at Xavier College is to allow for the active involvement of students in the service of others. As a result, the Year 8 students will be offering assistance at the following Aged Care facilities: Mayflower, Hamble Court and Bayside Gardens, all in Brighton; Victoria by the Park in Elsternwick and MECWA in Prahran. Some students will also be assisting the intellectually disabled at Bayley House in Brighton. Placements commence on Friday 26 July for the following seven Fridays (other than Friday 9 August when the students are taking part in the Swimming Program). We wish the boys well. It is wonderful to have a connection with the wider community especially local schools. We have had the continued support from Xavier College (Kostka Hall) who have been a part of our program for a number of years now. Their visits and support are invaluable to our residents and staff. (Taken from the Victoria by the Park, Resident Matters Publication, May 2013) Voluntary Mass Voluntary Masses continue during Semester 2: Tuesday mornings at 8:15am in the Kostka Hall Chapel. All are very welcome. Class allocations: Tuesday 23 July - Yr 8 Arrupe Tuesday 30 July Magdalena and Gonzaga Rooms Michael Jones Faith and Service Coordinator Michael.Jones@xavier.vic.edu.au Parent Ignatian Formation Opportunities Term 3 Following on from the success of the first series of the Parent Ignatian Formation sessions held in March, a warm invitation is extended for you to attend the second series titled: The Heart of Ignatian Spirituality. Tuesday 13 August Tuesday 20 August Tuesday 27 August Venue: Time: The Centrality of Jesus Presenter: Fr Andy Bullen SJ Finding God in All Things Presenter: Fr Chris Gleeson SJ Discernment and Decision Making Presenter: Fr Michael Smith SJ Xavier College Senior Campus Dalton Room 7:15pm for 7:30pm start 8:45 pm No cost involved We have managed to secure three inspirational speakers who are informative, engaging and well versed in Ignatian Spirituality. The format of the evening sessions will be input from the presenter, opportunity for discussion and supper; a very gentle approach. Register your interest to attend one or all of the parent formation sessions at: If you require any more information please contact Karyn Young on karyn.young@xavier.vic.edu.au or by phone on Page 5

6 NEWS FROM THE MIDDLE YEARS - YEAR 5 CEO Drama Festival Congratulations to the wonderful cast of this year s CEO Student Wellbeing Festival. All students performed admirably at Whitehorse Theatre on 18 June and were awarded 3 rd place in the festival. An outstanding achievement in which they should be very proud. Thank you to everyone who supported this event and to all the staff who helped with supervision throughout the process. DVD s are available of the performance which was professionally filmed. Please contact Laura Roso if you would like to order a DVD for the price of $15 by Friday 19 July. Arts Assembly Adrian Bevilacqua, Jacob Jones and Tom Nelson in the CEO Drama Festival Parents are invited to attend the Arts Assembly on Tuesday 23 July. A representative from the Catholic Education Office will be in attendance to present the Year 5 students and Year 6 mentors with a plaque for achieving 3 rd place in the Drama Festival. The assembly commences at 9:00am in Manresa Hall. Year 5 Making a difference The students in Year 5 have learnt a great deal from being involved in the CEO Drama Festival. Not only have they learnt about teamwork, but they have developed an awareness and understanding of many issues relating to social justice. The boys have learnt that Words are not enough. They must be followed by deeds ; an idea sparked by a Year 6 student and incorporated into their performance. Following this, Year 5 students decided they wanted to make a difference. After many ideas were presented, the Year 5 classes decided to start collecting 5 cent pieces. Tins have been placed in both classrooms and the boys have been enthusiastically filling them. These collections will be donated to Y GAP- Y Generation Against Poverty. The Year 5 group are aiming to introduce the concept to other Kostka Hall classes over the course of the next term. Cast performing at the Whitehorse Theatre Sovereign Hill In Humanities, students have been learning about the Gold Rush, in particular looking at where gold was found, methods used to find gold and who came to Australia during this time. A trip to Sovereign Hill has been organised to compliment this unit of work. This excursion will take place on Thursday 25 July, departing Kostka at 8:30am and returning at 5:00pm. Please write the following date into your diary. A note will be distributed at the start of Term 3. Sam Pollock contributes money to Y Gap Farewell Aidan Harrison It is with deep sadness that we farewell Aidan Harrison and his family as they return to the USA at the end of Term 2. Aidan has been a very valuable member of the Kostka community and will be sadly missed in Year 5. We wish him all the very best and thank him for the contributions he has made to Xavier College. Laura Roso Year 5 Home Room Teacher Laura.Roso@xavier.vic.edu.au Fiona Riewoldt Year 5 Home Room Teacher Fiona.Riewoldt@xavier.vic.edu.au Year 5 farewell to Aidan Harrison Page 6

7 FROM THE MIDDLE YEARS COORDINATOR Welcome back to Semester Two. It is my hope that all Kostka Hall families have had an enjoyable and relaxing break from school. By this stage all students and families will have had an opportunity to peruse your son s Semester One report. I believe that it is very important to heed any advice given in these reports and to make a determined effort to put these suggestions into practice in the immediate future. As we now enter the second semester for 2013, I think it is important to recognise the importance of beginning the term well in terms of approach and attitude. We should also be conscious of the need to look ahead to next year and perhaps set some longer term goals for all students. At the very end of Term Two we were delighted to receive the great news that our Year 5 students achieved third place in the CEO Drama Wellbeing Festival. This is an outstanding result and well deserved. I congratulate all of the students involved and also the staff, Mrs Riewoldt, Miss Barber, Miss Norton, Ms McLennan and in particular Miss Roso for all of her great work with the students in this venture. I am also very much looking forward to the upcoming musical, The Pirates of Penzance, to be held on 2 August and 3 August at the EPHAC. At the end of Term Two staff and students made a great effort to donate necessities to the Sacred Heart Mission. These gifts are invaluable to the staff at the Mission as they assist many of the needy in this area of the city. I thank all students and parents for their generous contributions. Year 5 students at the CEO Wellbeing Drama Festival doing Kostka Hall proud We welcome two new students to our ranks this term. In Year 5 Arrupe we will be joined by Sam Grogan and in Year 8 Arrupe Andy Park will also join us. I offer both boys a very warm welcome on behalf of all of our staff and students. At the start of a new term, I urge all students to pay special attention to their organisational skills and to begin the term in a positive manner. I am looking forward to another great semester at Kostka Hall. Jeremiah Mulcahy Middle Years Student Coordinator Jerry.Mulcahy@xavier.edu.au Year 8 students helping to fill the bus with donations for the Sacred Heart Mission FROM THE SPORT DEPARTMENT - MIDDLE YEARS HOUSE SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIP The House Swimming Championship is scheduled for Wednesday 14 August at the Stephenson Centre. Competition will commence at approx. 9:45am and conclude at 2:30pm. All parents are welcome to attend. APS AND EASTERN METROPOLITAN REGION CROSS COUNTRY TRIALS Congratulations to the Year 5 and 6 students who represented the College at the APS Trials in May. Three Year 5 students - William Doquile, Thomas Dunne and Jacob Jones - qualified for the Eastern Metropolitan Region Trials due to their high placings. CHRIS MARSHALL ENGLISH SOCCER COACH The Year 7 and 8 soccer teams have been fortunate during this winter season to have their training sessions conducted by Chris Marshall. Chris played for two years as the goalkeeper in the Sheffield Wednesday youth team and has been employed as an Academy Coach at Sheffield United. (Continued on page 8) Page 7

8 FROM THE SPORT DEPARTMENT - MIDDLE YEARS - CONT D STEWART CRAMERI ESSENDON FOOTBALL CLUB Year 5 and 6 students concluded their Term Two football season with a training session conducted by Stewart Crameri from the Essendon Football Club. Stewart is one of the AFL s elite power forwards who is establishing a successful career in the AFL. JOHN-PAUL CALLIL BASEBALL ACHIEVEMENT (L-R) Sebastian Dalton, Thomas Dunne, William Doquile, Liam Hill, Stewart Crameri, James Hansen Cameron Childs Middle Years Sport Coordinator Cam.Childs@xavier.vic.edu.au Congratulations to John-Paul Callil (Year 7), who recently played in the Australian Baseball Federation Little League Championships in Queensland as a member of the Victorian Championship team, the Southern Mariners. Combining the critical roles of lead-off hitter, short stop and relief pitcher, John-Paul was a valuable contributor in ensuring that his side finished in the top half of all teams competing. Best wishes for the Victorian team selection trials later in the year. John-Paul Callil FROM THE HEAD OF MUSIC - KOSTKA HALL On the last day of Term Two, parents and friends of students were treated to a wonderful morning of music at the End of Semester Concerts in Manresa Hall for the Year 3, 4 and 5 music programs. Many parents commented on the high standard of music and were impressed with how far the students had come in just two terms. We look forward to continued improvement as students strive for the Magis. Please note the date for our 3 Campus Concert on 3 September 2013 at Hamer Hall. Please see attached flyer on the next page. Year 5 Concert Band Year 5 String Orchestra Kieran Casey Head of Music - Kostka Hall Kieran.Casey@xavier.vic.edu.au Page 8

9 FROM THE HEAD OF MUSIC - KOSTKA HALL - CONT D Page 9

10 NOTICEBOARD Bookings: Thursday 15 August 2013 at 7:00pm Your Diary Note Please keep this date free, it s the one and only Beef and Burgundy Dinner at Xavier College to be held at Burke Hall, in the Garnet Hall Drugs in Sport.is it the Unwinnable War? More details and to book, go to Kind regards the BHFA & BHMA Page 10

11 NOTICEBOARD - CONT D BRIGHTON DEANERY LEADERSHIP GROUP PRESENTS A TRIVIA NIGHT IN ST MARY'S SCHOOL HALL 59 HOLYROOD ST. HAMPTON Enter from Hayward Grove or Holyrood St Melways Map 76 F 5 FRIDAY 19 JULY AT 7:30 PM COME AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS - TABLES of 10 or 12 JOIN IN A FUN NIGHT AND TEST YOUR SKILL YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A GENIUS ALL PROCEEDS GO TO SUPPORT THE BRIGIDINE ASYLUM SEEKERS PROJECT ENTRY $20 PER PERSON BYO SUPPER AND DRINKS 1 RAFFLE Tea, Coffee and Nibbles Provided To Book a Table, contact: Sr. Michele Kennan Page 11