Dear Parents and Carers, Term 2, Issue 4 5th June—16th June 2017 In this Issue: Page 1. Principal’s Message 2. Mercy Girls Inspire 3. Message from the Religious Education Co-ordinator 5. Message from the Director of Student Wellbeing 6. Student News 8. Message from the Administra tor of Curricular Activities 10. P & F News Upcoming Events: TERM 2 Week 9 20th June— 8.30am—3.00pm Year 9 Drama Excursion 21st June—8.30am—3.00pm BBSSSA 13 & 15 Year Soccer 22 June Athletics Carnival Week 10 26th June— Year 12 HSC Trial Per- formance Evening 27th June— 2.00pm—6.30pm Year 10 Parent/Teacher Interviews 28th—30th June—Band Camp 30th June LAST DAY OF TERM 2 TERM 3 - CLASSES RESUME 17 JULY FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS “Strive for Better Things” Mercy Catholic College, Chatswood [email protected]101 Archer St, Chatswood NSW 2067 Telephone: 9419 2890 mercychatswood.nsw.edu.au NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT: You have received cor- respondence from Peter Hamill (Director of Schools) and hopefully by now you have received my email, sent on Thursday, asking you to take action and voice your concerns to your local federal member of parlia- ment about the proposed changes in educational fund- ing. If you haven’t read the emails I urge you to do so and follow the instructions on how to contact your local MP. If we as a com- munity don’t act now it will have major implications for Mercy College and all Catholic schools in the northern beaches and north shore areas. The Bill has been read three times in the House of Representatives and now will go to the Senate next week. We need to lobby government to amend the Bill to avoid the major impact it will have on Mercy College and other schools in the Diocese of Broken Bay. RETURN FROM LEAVE: As you were aware I have been on leave for the past three weeks, revisiting a school I have spent time at in Tanzania and attending the graduation ceremony of the girl I have sponsored from kindergarten to Grade 6 (Year 12 equivalent). It was a wonderful time for me catching up on the school and teachers progression and really reinforced the importance of education, particular- ly for girls, and how education can break the poverty cycle. Margreth is my sponsored child and I have been privileged to not only see her at school but to visit her and her family on a number of occasions at home. Take note of the photos below, showing when I first met Marg- reth when she was in Year 2 and the other one at my recent visit. Marg- reth didn’t begin school until she was 9 years of age as the family could- n’t afford to pay for her to go to the local school. Twelve years later she has graduated as a 21 year old, with grades good enough for her to at- tend university and achieve her goal of becoming a Chemistry teacher. I alwas feel privileged to be invited into their simple mud structured home of three rooms with dirt floors and no glass in the windows. Two to sleep in and the other the lounge/dining room. The kitchen is another mud structure outside with an open pit for a fire. Here lives Margareth's family of mum, dad, three brothers, sister and herself, supported by a small field of corn, six chickens, five goats and a cow. No electricity and water from a common village pump which is a 15 minute walk away. We sat and exchanged stories of families, mine more difficult to explain to someone who had little experience of paved roads and electricity nor brick houses and shopping centres. This family had to sell one of their goats to pay for one son’s education. No banks here, the animals were not for food but a storage of their wealth, which was sold off when they had a big expense. Unfortunately Margreth being a girl, didn’t get a goat sold for her schooling.
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Dear Parents and Carers, - Mercy College Chatswood | … 1 Term 2, Issue 4 Dear Parents and Carers, 5th June—16th June 2017 In this Issue: Page 1. Principal’s Message 2. Mercy
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Page 1
Dear Parents and Carers, Term 2, Issue 4 5th June—16th June 2017
In this Issue:
Page
1. Principal’s Message
2. Mercy Girls Inspire
3. Message from the Religious
Education Co-ordinator
5. Message from the Director of
Student Wellbeing
6. Student News
8. Message from the Administra
tor of Curricular Activities
10. P & F News
Upcoming Events:
TERM 2
Week 9
20th June— 8.30am—3.00pm Year
9 Drama Excursion
21st June—8.30am—3.00pm
BBSSSA 13 & 15 Year Soccer
22 June Athletics Carnival
Week 10
26th June— Year 12 HSC Trial Per-
formance Evening
27th June— 2.00pm—6.30pm Year
10 Parent/Teacher Interviews
28th—30th June—Band Camp
30th June LAST DAY OF TERM 2
TERM 3 - CLASSES RESUME 17
JULY FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS
“Strive for Better Things” Mercy Catholic College, Chatswood [email protected]
August. Additionally a Sunday Retreat Day on Sunday 20 August.
With the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in December and 2018 being declared as a ‘Year of Youth’
for the Australian Church it is an opportune time to provide this program for the students to explore
their faith and consider their own discipleship to the Gospel Values of Jesus Christ.
Students can collect a permission note from Ms Stojanovski in the REC Office. Permission notes must
be returned to the College by Monday 19 June.
Ms Gabie Stojanovski
Religious Education Coordinator
Page 4
Message from the Religious Education Co-ordinator
Page 5
The Power of Words
Over the week I have been reflecting on the events happening in the world and the power of words. I heard of a story about a group of people on a train after the Manchester fundraising concert. The carriage was quiet, the atmosphere felt as though there was tension, suspicion and concern about arriving home safely. The carriage was full. Suddenly, a
three year old broke the air by asking a man about his bald head and whether he felt cold. The people on the carriage erupted into laughter and people began to talk. This story reminds us how important a simple act such as saying ‘hello’ or asking if someone is alright makes such a difference in someone’s day. I have often written about the use of language and how when we speak we either are, or are not, modelling acts of grace and mercy. To be aware of the impact that words have in making someone feel special or making them feel hurt can never be underestimated. I always draw on the words of wisdom from Father Richard Leonard a Jesuit priest “when speaking to someone always come from a place of love”; “if someone is saying something nasty, think more about what is happening in their life to make them speak in that way”. Below is a very moving poem titled ‘The Power of Words’ written by American poet and civil rights activist- Maya Ange-
lou You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may tread me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I'll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? 'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I'll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries. Does my haughtiness offend you? Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I've got gold mines Diggin' in my own back yard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I'll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history's shame I rise Up from a past that's rooted in pain I rise I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear I rise
Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise. Mrs G McDermott