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UNSUAL TIMES WITH SOME POSITIVES
Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
But, they say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise you can hear the birds again. They say that after just a few weeks of quiet the sky is no longer thick with fumes, but blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi people are singing to each other across the empty squares, keeping their windows open so that those who are alone may hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the west of Ireland is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today young people are busy spreading flyers through the neighbourhoods so that the elders may have someone to call on.
Today churches, synagogues, mosques and temples are preparing to welcome and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary.
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting.
All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way.
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality, to how big we really are, to how little control we really have, to what really matters, to love.
So we pray and we remember that, yes there is fear, but there does not have to be hate, yes there is isolation, but there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying, but there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness, but there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death, but there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe, listen, behind the factory noises of your panic the birds are singing again the sky is clearing, Spring is coming, and we are always encompassed by love.
Open the windows of your soul and though you may not be able to touch across the empty square, sing.
AFFIRMATIONS
- The vast majority of families who have been very supportive of the College at this time. Who have understood the pressures that staff have been under and have sent messages of thanks and support.
- The College Board who collectively wrote to the staff to affirm their support and encouragement.
- All staff for the professional and calm manner we have responded to the COVID-19 issue. I especially thank the staff who have assisted to respond to the directives we have been passed on from CET and to the staff who have had to adjust arrangements because of cancellations.
- The executive team, I've personally enjoyed the wisdom and support of the members of our executive. Our meetings are always rich and respectful as we work through many diverse and challenging issues - this one being a biggy! As a community we are well served by strong leadership from Mary Macrae, Polly Marriott, Samantha Wilton, Rachael Adams, Donna Duggan, Susie Bond, Les Gardner and Susan McGann. I thank them on your behalf.
NEWS
From the Sisters
Hello everyone, the latest edition of Journeys newsletter is now available. Please Click here to view.
Prayer app - as we move through this uncertain and frightening time everyone can benefit from prayer and personal reflection. We encourage you to use our Voices from the Heart app which is available from the Apple and Google Play stores - Click here for links to download or you can visit wwwvoicesfromtheheartt.com.au
Stay safe and well.
Angela Thomas
Operations Manager
Kingston-Channel Parish Mass Online
Fr Chris, with the assistance of Polly, Hannah, Robert and Sam will now be broadcasting Sunday Mass online each week.
We encourage families to join these services either by live stream, at the usual Sunday mass time of 10:00am, or the service can also be viewed at a time that is convenient to you and your family.
Internet is required which may not be a possibility for all Parish members but hopefully it will reach, and be a comfort to many. We are working on a step by step help-sheet with images to assist those who would appreciate some instruction. Hard copies of this document will be left in the church, Click here to view the document.
If you wish to view the services each week, please Click here to access the St Aloysius live streams YouTube page.
We thank and congratulate Fr Chris and his team for their efforts and adaptability during this time.
Payment of Fees
With family members potentially under employed or unemployed during this health crisis, please click on the link below to view information regarding fee assistance.
SCHOOL STREAM
A reminder to families of the importance of having School Stream downloaded on their devices to ensure they receive the important information that is being issued particularly during this changing time.
Click on the link below for information on downloading and using School Stream -
2021 KINDERGARTEN ENROLMENTS
Any current families looking to enrol their child in Kindergarten for 2021, or know of families outside the College, are asked to complete an Expression of Interest form which is available on the College website Click here
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
As parents and guardians caring for your own mental health and well-being is critically important right now as we navigate our changing world. You may find the attached documents helpful as a means of supporting your own well-being.
Headspace have put together some information about COVID-19 including how to maintain a healthy headspace during this time and a list of support services. Details are available in the links below
Families are reminded that they can contact the College Counsellor Joanna Orchard if they have any concerns joanna.orchard@catholic.tas.edu.au
FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL & SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER
SUSTAINABILITY AT HOME
We are in a period of uncertainty, anxiety and confusion. How do we continue to support each other and stay productive whilst continuing to stay safe?
How do we make good decisions and continue to care for our earth and each other?
At St Aloysius Catholic College we still continue to seek opportunities to work on sustainability within our community. Every fortnight we will share ideas which we can all use at home to do some good and reset daily habits to be more sustainable. Share this with your family and friends, get everyone involved!
You are already having a massive impact on your carbon footprint. Working from home greatly reduces the amount of commuting we do. The idea of commuting to work is very much a 19th century idea, reinforced by car companies who promote it as a sense of freedom. Zoom, Google hangouts and multiple other video-conferencing services have made the idea of working from home a reality. An affordable way of communicating, with over 100 people being able to participate at any time. Maybe after all of this is over, working from home will become a normal way of life for some people.
PLAN TO SHOP SUSTAINABLY
There is a lot of concern and anxiety around going grocery shopping at the moment. During lock downs in other countries, residents are worried about travelling to the shops with a list, and after arriving, finding nothing on the shelves. The act of shopping in Australia is a weekly or even daily habit, which has now turned into the exhausting task of having to have an awareness of other people’s movements, coughing, sneezing, what they are touching while also ensuring you aren’t touching your own face, keeping 1.5m away from everyone and getting in and out as quickly as possible. But with a massive disruption in food supply chains, not only from Australia but from overseas, has already altered what is available from
the supermarkets.
Now is a fantastic time to reduce the carbon footprint of your diet, get in touch with all your locally sourced food, not only will you cut down on CO2 produced from transporting goods, you are also supporting local jobs. The reality is with COVID-19 people are now very conscious of where their food has been. Make a big change in the way you shop, fresh local foods are still readily available and generally the businesses which you source them from are far less crowded than busy supermarkets. Usually it comes directly from the farm so transportation and handling of the produce is much less, and the farmers get more for all their hard work so it’s a win win situation. This also includes meat, there are some fantastic locally grown, locally owed butchers around. You don’t have to go vegan to make an impact, if every household made a conscious effort to eat one or two vegetarian meals a week, greenhouse gases caused by meat production would see a significant drop.
We can all make small positive changes within our households that will benefit not only our community, but our planet too.
“Many things have to change course, but it is we human beings above all who need to change” - Pope Francis, Laudato Si’
LEARNING FROM HOME
Please click on the link below for detailed information that has been prepared, should the College need to move to an off site/online learning arrangement from the start of term two.
Please don't hesitate to contact Donna Duggan (Head of Teaching and Teacher Development) or Samantha Wilton (Head of Organisation and Curriculum Services) should you require clarification on any of the details in the document.
TASMANIAN YOUTH CLIMATE LEADERS CONFERENCE
On Monday, 23rd March a group of seven students from Grades 7 to 10 attended the Tasmanian Youth Climate Leaders virtual conference. Originally planned to be held at Kingston High School, students embraced digital alternatives to attend via video conference from the Huntingfield campus.
Their first experience with web conferencing was initially somewhat chaotic but we quickly learned how to use the technology and managed to get up and running with around 140 other students, teachers and mentors from southern Tasmania.
Throughout the day they heard from several speakers, including Gardening Australia's Costa Georgiadis, who talked about the importance of action on climate change and the issues surrounding it such as food security, Eco fashion, school canteens, transport and earth connected practices.
Students then planned their school project with a focus on waste reduction. We are looking forward to continuing with this and sharing with the St Aloysius community when we return to school.
GRADE 9/10 PHOTOGRAPHY AND MEDIA
The Grade 9/10 photography and media elective class have been exploring still life composition, shadows and lighting using the College's pop-up studio and lighting.
GRADE 9/10 VISUAL ARTS
Students have been exploring mixing muted colours and completing colour wheels and flower paintings using the colours they mixed.
MUSIC
Music elective students from Grade 7 to 10 have been working together in small ensembles. Some have created computer-based compositions to which they have added 'live' components. Others have been working on effective practice techniques, leading to successful performances.
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Grade 9 student Emelia Howell was announced as the Kingborough Young Citizen of the year 2020 in January and local legislative representative Meg Webb recently discussed Emelia's award as her special interest story in parliament. To hear the speech click on the link below
GRADE 3/4 OUTDOOR EDUCATION CLASS
Military Mumma HQ recently took the Grade 3/4 outdoor education class to engage and teach the students about the basics of health and well being.
ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDERS
Grade 2 students this week have been learning about Tasmanian Aboriginal history and culture. Children enjoyed role playing a Dreaming story about the creation of lutruwita (Tasmania) and crafting miniature bark huts in the new outdoor learning space milathinna (Country).
MASS AS WE HAVE NEVER SEEN IT BEFORE!
In this time of ever-increasing need Fr Chris and the Kingston Channel Parish team are continuing to serve the spiritual needs of our community and with the assistance of Parish Associates Hannah Donovan and Robert Elkerton have been finding ways to share Sunday mass online with Parishioners. With the help of Sam Howell, IT technician, a YouTube Channel called Kingston-Channel Parish Mass Live streams has been created. With ever-changing health regulations, various formats are being tried out and we ask that you bear with us and check in on Sunday if you can. These Masses are also recorded and can be watched at a time that is convenient to you.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWsCT3P6Cwt5YV4jio3VBgQ
As a community we may be physically apart or even in isolation but know that you are never alone. If you would like to reconnect with your spiritual side, keep up to date with Parish information and live-streamed Masses or would like to find out more about the Catholic faith; Fr Chris, Deacon Michael and the team are available to offer support, guidance, or a friendly listening ear. Please get in touch at kingstonchannel@aohtas.org.au for more information or to be added to the Kingston Channel Parish mailing list.
COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE
If you or someone you know is self-isolating or finding it difficult at this time and in need of assistance please let us know. There are people in the College and in the Parish who are available to assist with shopping, collecting items or supplies or even just chatting on the phone.
Please contact Pauline Marriott at pauline.marriott@catholic.tas.edu.au or 0457001551
PURPLE DAY
Unfortunately, Purple Day was scheduled for Monday 30th when all students were advised to not to come to school if possible. I hope you all had your purple at on at home! Thanks to all those who wore purple to spread the message of hope and show support to those facing challenges even before COVID-19. Never before has the name of this project meant so much to us all:
There are so many things that we don't have control over but we can control our attitudes. Be calm, be positive, and most importantly, look after yourselves and each other.
And if you are able you may wish to make a donation. Link below:
https://lent.caritas.org.au/donate/
HOLY WEEK
Click on the link below for more information
FROM CATHOLIC EDUCATION TASMANIA
We extend a welcome to parents and guardians to become members of the John Wall Community Library and access its services and resources by signing up for free membership via
https://catholic.tas.edu.au/
The resources for faith and community include:
- Liturgy Help
- Links for the live-streaming of Sunday Mass in the Archdiocese of Hobart
- Making Jesus Real resources for schools and families
- Family life and Relationships
- Youth Ministry
- Music for prayer and praise
- Links to Archdiocesan agencies that support faith and community life
We are happy to share some relevant parenting topics in each newsletter for parents and families to watch or read and reflect.
Helping Siblings resolve their fights
SCHOOLTV, SPECIAL REPORT: Preparing for Homeschooling
Homeschooling could soon be a reality for many adult carers as nations act to implement strategies in the prevention of COVID-19. The daunting task of establishing new routines and schedules, whilst juggling work responsibilities, could prove to be disruptive and challenging for families and schools.
Some young people will transition seamlessly, whilst others may struggle. Therefore it will be vitally important for parents to be vigilant in looking for signs of anxiety and depression. Parents will need to continue to be reassuring and supportive in this time of uncertainty and acknowledge that this may be a stressful time for students of all ages.
Schools will be working hard behind the scenes to ensure a child’s academic needs are met, but parents will need to play a key role in providing them with the structure and groundwork for success. Young people will be looking towards their parents to keep things in context and help ease the transition to a different learning environment.
In this Special Report, parents and caregivers will be provided with some guidelines on how best to navigate this time of transition with minimal disruption. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this Special Report, and as always, we welcome your feedback.
If you do have any concerns about the well being of your child, please contact the College for further information or seek medical or professional help.
Here is the link to your special report - Click here
WHAT'S ONLINE - LIBRARIES TASMANIA
Click on the link for more information
ONLINE INFORMATION EVENING: MATCHING THE PACE OF LEARNING TO A CHILD'S NEEDS
Click on the link for more information
KIND ACTS - KINGBOROUGH
Click on the link for more information
STUDENT FREE DAYS/VACATION CARE
Click on the link for more information from Adventure Patch