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Friday, 8th August was the Feast Day of the only Australian born Saint of the Catholic Church, St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Friday was also the 10th anniversary of her Canonisation, the Mass to celebrate her becoming a Saint of the Church.
Ever generous God,
You inspired Saint Mary MacKillop
to live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ
and constant in bringing hope and encouragement
to those who were disheartened, lonely or needy.
With confidence in your generous providence and through the intercession of Saint Mary MacKillop we ask that you grant our requests.
We ask that our faith and hope be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit so that we too, like Mary MacKillop, may live with courage, trust and openness.
Ever generous God hear our prayer.
We ask this through Jesus Christ. Amen.
Want to know more about our Aussie saint? Click Here
Saturday, 1st August was the Feast of St Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuit order. St Aloysius, a Jesuit, and Mary Aikenhead followed the "Ignatian way” in discerning their paths in life. I offer a few nuggets of Ignatian wisdom on having a joy-filled life. There are many principles from Ignation spirituality that can be helpful, but let's look at just three essential ones.
Desires – Ignatius believed that the deep desires of our heart, those good longings deep within us, are desires shared by God. They can clue us into what God wants for our life. Pay attention and let them guide you. What are your dreams and hopes? What are those yearnings you have that lead you deeper into who God is calling you to be? Listening carefully to those deepest desires can lead us to lives of great joy.
Gratitude – Ignatius begins the Examen with a pause to "thank God for the benefits received". Recognising God's gifts becomes the foundation for everything, which leads us to a loving response. Search the App Store and you'll find plenty of apps that can aid you in a gratitude practice. I find I sleep better when, before bed, I name three things that I was grateful for today. And practising gratitude, I've found, is a great antidote to negativity. You’ll find that it’s hard to hold gratitude and
negativity in your heart at the same time.
Indifference – This is our ultimate principle for a joy-filled life. Ignatian indifference means simply wanting what God wants in my life, "not wanting health rather than sickness, riches rather than poverty..." It does not mean not having a preference, but rather holding things lightly, trusting that in God all will be well. Ignatius even has a Meditation on this kind of indifference. This kind of freedom and detachment brings a certain okayness with, however something turns out, whether I get that job or not, if I'm honoured or not, etc. Life can be a lot more joyful when we're not clinging to certain outcomes.
Where are you finding the joy of God in your life?
Mr Joseph Sandric
Acting Principal
LOCAL TUTORING - COLLEGE ALUMNI
My name is Billy Blackett and I am a former student of the College (2017).
After graduating college, I began tutoring as a side job on top of my university commitments and childcare work. Quickly, tutoring went from a hobby to a full-time job, with students from across Hobart reaching out for tutoring.
Recently, I started my own local tutoring business, titled Affordable Tutoring Tasmania (A.T.T). In these challenging times it is not uncommon for students to fall behind in a big way, and it has become my purpose over the past few months to support them through experienced-based one-on-one academic support. Most excitingly, the business is in the process of contracting former student and current staff member, Hannah Donovan, to assist in this process.
We offer tutoring for students from Kindergarten to Grade 10. ATT's tutors are amongst the top graduates of Tasmania and are required to have their WWVP registration and Police check. Moreover, our services are affordable, and are provided face-to-face. Subsidised tutoring can also be arranged in some circumstances. For more information on what we do, check out the links below!
Website: wwwaffordabletutoringtasmaniaa.com
Facebook: https:/wwwwfacebookk.comAffordabletutoringtasmaniaa
BillyBlackettt
Affordable Tutoring Tasmania
E:billyblacketttattt@outlook.com
P: 0435 296 774
2020 CENSUS DATA COLLECTION
Please see the attached document for information regarding the yearly 2020 School Census.
GRADE 7 ENROLMENTS 2022
Any current families looking to enrol their child in Grade 7 for 2022, or know of families outside the College, are asked to complete an expression of interest form available on the College website - Here
MID YEAR PROGRESS STATEMENTS AND COMPASS
All students will be receiving their mid year progress statement tomorrow, Friday 14th August. To access these statements parents need to login to Compass (either through desktop or via the Compass app) with the log in details sent home earlier in the year.
If you should have any difficulty with accessing or using Compass, please email compassshelp@staloysius.tas.edu.au
POSITIONS VACANT
The College is currently seeking applications from suitably experienced candidates for the following positions:
KINGSTON CAMPUS TEACHING POSITIONS
Early Childhood Teacher – position 1
Limited Tenure: Parental Leave Position – 1.0 FTE
Commences: Monday, 12 October 2020
Concludes: Friday, 18 December 2020
Early Childhood Teacher – position 2
Limited Tenure: Parental Leave Position – 1.0/0.6 FTE
Commences: Monday, 12 October 2020
Concludes: Friday, 26 February 2021
Term 4 2020 - 1.0 FTE (5 days per week: 12/10/20 – 18/12/20)
Term 1 2021 - 0.6 FTE (3 days per week: 27/1/21 – 26/2/21)
Early Childhood Teacher – position 3
Ongoing position – 0.2FTE
Commences - Monday, 7 September 2020
An Application Package can be accessed by visiting the College website - Here
Please direct confidential enquiries to Rachael Adams on 6229 0102 or by emailing rachael.adams@catholic.tas.edu.au
CHOIR
It's term 3 and our choirs are back!
Our choirs have been able to recommence rehearsals now that some of the restrictions have been lifted in our music room. The students are very excited and are hoping that they can perform for families later in the term.
KINDER
During their mid year reflection, Kinder Green students shared that they would like to learn about space. They have been exploring the sun, moon and planets and have been creative with space themed art. The students were fascinated by videos of astronauts on the space station and learnt how they eat, sleep and go to the toilet when there is no gravity.
Every fortnight this term Kinder White and Blue will be visiting Boronia Beach to connect with Country and explore this amazing nature play environment. On their last visit they saw pademelons and penguins. The students are very excited to see what their next visit brings.
NEW RECYCLING SYSTEM
This week a new recycling system was implemented at the Kingston Campus. All classrooms now have paper, co-mingled and food waste recycling stations. Students were very excited to see the new bins and being able to take responsibility for their own waste, emptying their recycling and compost bins on Fridays.
This is an amazing way to educate our students about the environment, personal responsibility, community action, sustainability and natural resource management. We are very proud of the way the children embraced this new system, which will significantly reduce our waste to landfill.
A new recycling system will also be rolled out at the Huntingfield Campus in the next few months.
Mrs Michelle Dance
Environment & Sustainability Officer
GRADE 7 & 8 FITNESS FOR GIRLS
Students have just finished attending classes at All Aerobics Fitness Centre in Hobart. It was great for the girls to go off Campus and out into the community for these classes. They participated in circuit classes with machines and the Grade 7 students got a bonus HITT class. The instructors at All Aerobics mentioned how engaged and enthusiastic our girls were - great effort!
GRADE 8 ART
In term 2, Grade 8 students were introduced to the basic skills and knowledge of composition, lino carving and printmaking. This unit included exploring images of birds, flora and artists working within this theme and medium. Key artists include Rachel Newling, Cally Conway and Barbara Hanrahan.
LOST PROPERTY
If you are missing any uniform items they might be located at the College Office. Students and parents are encouraged to come and check for any lost property.
MUSIC TUITION
Joel Roberts is a guitarist-teacher-composer who has lived in Hobart since 2010. In that time he has taught guitar to students of all ages from his studio and at several Hobart schools, as well as tutoring UTAS students in theory and music history. Joel plays in several Hobart bands and runs all ages workshops where musical instruments are created from recycled materials.
Joel studied classical and jazz guitar and has a Bachelor of Music in Composing.
Joel has several spots available for interested students on Tuesdays. To contact Joel email: joelroberts.musician@gmail.com
Tuesday, 4th August was National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children's Day: an annual day that celebrates and recognises the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children. This year's theme: 'We are the Elders of tomorrow, hear our voice' encourages children to stand tall and feel connected and proud of their culture.
Many families from the College community gathered together to celebrate the day with a BBQ at the Kingston Campus. Despite the wild weather, everyone had fun!
You can read more about Children's Day - Here
STAFF SPIRITUALITY
On Wednesday, 29th July all staff at the College attended an after school spirituality session based around Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Si’ which deals with human ecology and calls for us all to be protectors of our environment and of the poor. Staff listened to a brief outline of Laudato Si then experienced a reflective walk around the beautiful Peter Murrell Reserve before hearing about the various sustainability initiatives such as new recycling bins being implemented at the College. This also gave staff the chance to reflect on their own environmental impact and habits.
View a short animation explaining Laudato Si Here
VOLUNTEERS THANK YOU
Thank you to all of our volunteers who help to keep our College ticking over. It has been hard with Covid19 not being able to have helpers in the classroom, however parents, grandparents, parishioners and community members have been supporting us in so many other ways.
Special thanks go to:
- All those who hemmed prayer cloths for our new prayer tables at Huntingfield
- Louise Wilson (parishioner) who made beautiful robes for our Early Years students to be able to participate in play based learning of liturgy, Baptism and the Mass
- Duncan MacFarlane and Joe van Tienen (parent, grandparent and parishioners) who created two beautiful bookcases to house our Godly Play materials in the convent
- Leah Willis (parent and parishioner) for giving up a warm, comfy bed for the night to assist with the Vinnies Sleepout
- John Pforr (parishioner) for repairing some of our wooden Godly Play materials
If anyone has any special talents, skills or ideas to contribute please let in touch! pauline.marriott@catholic.tas.edu.au
CARDS OF CARE PAEDIATRIC
Another batch of cards reaching out to those in need to let them know that they are not alone, have been shipped off to the paediatric ward at the Royal Hobart Hospital. Hopefully these will help to brighten up the day of a young person who is stuck in hospital. There was also a note in there for all the hard working staff at the RHH to let them know we acknowledge all the hard times they have been through with Covid19 and appreciate their hard work, dedication and compassion.
LOVE OUT LOUD - FREE FAMILY RESOURCE
Love Out Loud Oz is a non-profit charity from Newcastle NSW established to assist local churches and families by providing fun bible based videos for kids. All their content is available on their website, www.loveoutloudoz.com, and it’s 100% free for home and churches use. Subscribe for free and get access to over 50 video lessons – it’s as easy as that!
GRADE 4 WHITE MASS
It was wonderful to welcome the students back to the church with a Mass for the Feast of Mary Mackillop facilitated by Grade 4 White last week. Unfortunately due to social distancing restrictions we are unable to open these Masses to the public. However, we are pleased to be able to celebrate once again with our friends and teachers and, of course, Father Chris.
SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM
We are looking to resume our Sacramental Program this term in order to complete the Sacrament of Reconciliation before the end of the year. This is open to all students (even those who are not Catholic but are thinking of becoming Catholic) particularly those in Grades 3 and above. Those who attended the first session earlier in the year do not need to reapply. Mrs Marriott will be contacting the Grade 3 families shortly and if anyone else is interested please get in touch at pauline.marriott@catholic.tas.edu.au
YOUTH GROUP
We're back! Youth Group has returned on Wednesdays from 4:00pm-5:30pm in the Sisters of Charity Centre (St Aloysius, Kingston Campus) open to those in Grade 5 and above from any school or college.
We will be running student driven sessions based on ideas such as Laudato Si’ and environmental sustainability, outreach in the local community, seasons and festivals, and Parish based music and liturgy projects as well as general socialising, games and activities. Keep up to date by joining our new private Facebook group by searching Facebook for Kingston-Channel Parish Youth Group, clicking the 'Youth' tab on the Kingston-Channel Parish website or contacting Polly Marriott at Pauline.marriott@catholic.tas.edu.au
KINDER CHURCH ORIENTATION
The Kinder classes were recently given the experience of a tour of the Church of Christ the Priest. They got to step up on to the altar, ask questions about what they could see and take a sneak peek inside the sacristy cupboards.
Kinder Green had many questions about the church. Why are there so many seats? What are the pictures on the wall? Why are there flowers over there? Why is that candle so tall? It is refreshing to see the church through the eyes of a child discovering it for the first time.
Here’s what Kinder Blue had to say about their visit:
Zackary: When I went to the Church, I saw a cross and the red light which told us that God was listening.
Lucy: "When we visited the Church, I saw Mary and special flowers and the little box with the wine and the toast. I saw lots of seats and a very special seat"
Edmund: "At the Church I saw the Easter candle and what looked like a bath and they pour water on your head with a towel around your neck to baptism you. And I saw where you talk or tell a story about when someone has died. There was a chair where Father Chris sits and that light means when God is around and there is special wine and bread and a St Aloysius picture"
Zara: "On our Church visit we saw lots of wooden seats and a cross on the outside and inside. There was also a door we went through"
Laith: "When I went to the Church, I saw a cross and lots of chairs inside. There was a special little box that was locked and had special bread inside"
Kinder White drew some beautiful pictures of the church.
All the Kinder classes look forward to learning more about God's house and visiting again in the future.
VINNIES SLEEPOUT
We are happy to share some relevant parenting topics in each newsletter for parents and families to watch or read and reflect
This month on School TV - School Refusal
School refusal, sometimes called school avoidance or school phobia, is not uncommon. It is different to ‘wagging’ or truancy and is often related to worry or anxiety-related issues about going to school. School refusal may start gradually or happen suddenly. Although it is normal for a child to occasionally miss a day of school, parents should only be concerned if a child regularly complains about feeling sick or often asks to stay home due to minor physical complaints.
School refusal is a complex issue as there is rarely a single cause. It affects children of all ages across primary and secondary levels. It can often occur during times of transition at school. More recently, the Corona virus pandemic has disrupted the educational experience of all students, affecting some more than others. Dealing with a school refusal child can affect the whole family, adding pressure to an already challenging time. School refusal is not considered a formal psychiatric diagnosis. It’s a name given to an emotional and/or behavioural problem.
In this edition of School TV, adult carers will learn how best to approach this issue and work towards a solution. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this month’s edition, and we always welcome your feedback.
If you do have any concerns about the well being of your child, please contact the school for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Click on the link to this month's edition - Here