St John’s College Newsletter No. 5 27th February, 2015 Dear Parents, Friends and Carers, The Leadership Team is currently aending the North Cluster Leadership Teams’ Symposium for 2015. This event happens about every five years and is a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon the meaning and purpose of Catholic Educaon in an environment which is rapidly changing under Pope Francis. Yesterday morning we were privileged to acvely engage as learners with Professor/ Brother David Hall who is a Marist Brother and has been a long term school principal and is now a professor at the Australian Catholic University. Brother David challenged us with the concept that Catholic schools and the Church do not have a mission as such, rather, that God has a mission that uses Catholic schools and the Church as an instrument for his work. Our purpose is different to schools in other sectors because our prime purpose is to allow students to encounter God every day and in every person and situaon. As an instuon at the heart of the church, we have to develop our own ecclesiascal vision which may not necessarily align perfectly with the tradional catholic vision. Pope Francis has brought a more human aspect to the interpretaon of church law in recent mes and while not changing any aspect of the teaching, he has refused to judge others for their different views. He challenges us to reflect upon whether truth defines our life or does our life define the truth. In this new facet of the Church, Brother David asked us to see the Church in a more motherly light rather than the harsh hierarchical church of earlier mes. We could be choosing compassion over compeon, humility over power, inclusion over hierarchy, understanding over dogmasm, community over legalism, educaon over condemnaon and love over entlement. Moving a whole school to this view of life would be a major challenge and will only be possible in small steps. Here at St John’s we would like to think we are already on this journey. The move would start with everyone realising that they are made in the image and likeness of God so they have a contribuon to make and that they are extremely valuable. Similarly, our relaonships with other people would be so much beer if we could come to appreciate that they are also made in the image of God. A consequence of this would be that we would create a collecve strength that would inspire hope and infinite possibilies. As a leadership team we certainly have been given something to think about. Earlier on in the week we saw approximately seventy students parcipang in the North Zone Swimming Carnival. Congratulaons to our North Zone swimmers who achieved third place at the interschool carnival this week. The year 12 students spent a wonderful day yesterday with presenters from Mighty Minds, developing strategies for the QCS test to be held in early September. The cohort seem to have grasped the concept that teamwork is the essenal ingredient in this operaon. Finally, next week we will commence the enrolment process for year 7 for 2016. We will visit Stella Maris on Tuesday and St Joseph’s on Wednesday. The year 7, 2016 Informaon Night will be on Tuesday 10 th March. We are expecng to be significantly oversubscribed in 2016 so please pass this informaon on to any families that you know who may be thinking of enrolling in this cohort. Although you are reading this as our Symposium concludes, we are at the end of week five and an eighth of the way through the year. Time to get busy! FROM THE LEADERSHIP TEAM
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St John’s College Newsletter No. 5 27th February, 2015
Dear Parents, Friends and Carers,
The Leadership Team is currently attending the North Cluster Leadership Teams’ Symposium for 2015. This event happens about every five years and is a wonderful opportunity to reflect upon the meaning and purpose of Catholic Education in an environment which is rapidly changing under Pope Francis.
Yesterday morning we were privileged to actively engage as learners with Professor/ Brother David Hall who is a Marist Brother and has been a long term school principal and is now a professor at the Australian Catholic University. Brother David challenged us with the concept that Catholic schools and the Church do not have a mission as such, rather, that God has a mission that uses Catholic schools and the Church as an instrument for his work.
Our purpose is different to schools in other sectors because our prime purpose is to allow students to encounter God every day and in every person and situation. As an institution at the heart of the church, we have to develop our own ecclesiastical vision which may not necessarily align perfectly with the traditional catholic vision. Pope Francis has brought a more human aspect to the interpretation of church law in recent times and while not changing any aspect of the teaching, he has refused to judge others for their different views. He challenges us to reflect upon whether truth defines our life or does our life define the truth.
In this new facet of the Church, Brother David asked us to see the Church in a more motherly light rather than the harsh hierarchical church of earlier times. We could be choosing compassion over competition, humility over power, inclusion over hierarchy, understanding over dogmatism, community over legalism, education over condemnation and love over entitlement. Moving a whole school to this view of life would be a major challenge and will only be possible in small steps. Here at St John’s we would like to think we are already on this journey.
The move would start with everyone realising that they are made in the image and likeness of God so they have a contribution to make and that they are extremely valuable. Similarly, our relationships with other people would be so much better if we could come to appreciate that they are also made in the image of God. A consequence of this would be that we would create a collective strength that would inspire hope and infinite possibilities. As a leadership team we certainly have been given something to think about.
Earlier on in the week we saw approximately seventy students participating in the North Zone Swimming Carnival. Congratulations to our North Zone swimmers who achieved third place at the interschool carnival this week.
The year 12 students spent a wonderful day yesterday with presenters from Mighty Minds, developing strategies for the QCS test to be held in early September. The cohort seem to have grasped the concept that teamwork is the essential ingredient in this operation.
Finally, next week we will commence the enrolment process for year 7 for 2016. We will visit Stella Maris on Tuesday and St Joseph’s on Wednesday. The year 7, 2016 Information Night will be on Tuesday 10th March. We are expecting to be significantly oversubscribed in 2016 so please pass this information on to any families that you know who may be thinking of enrolling in this cohort.
Although you are reading this as our Symposium concludes, we are at the end of week five and an eighth of the way through the year. Time to get busy!
Good morning parents and carers It is that time of the year when we need to do “housekeeping” in relation to parent information that we have on our database here at St John’s. Each student was given through the week a “BCE Student Validation” report to take home. Parents/carers are asked to make any corrections to this paperwork and return it to the office by Monday 16 March. It is most important that the college has the most up-to-date phone numbers in case of any emergency (particularly medical) that may arise with your son or daughter. Please also pay particular attention to email addresses, residential and billing addresses. With kind regards Maree Cuthbertson Secretary to the Principal
Cross Country Training Running training has already started with the years 9-12 having a good ‘hitout’ at Mudjimba beach on Thursday. We
will be running 2 sessions per week for the remainder of this term. The next 2 weeks are outlined below and then a
program until the holidays will be developed around student interest.
Years 7&8 Session 2 special sessions for Years 7&8 only.
Tuesday 3 March & Tuesday 10 March
Meet at Mudjimba Surf Club car park at 6.30am OR
Catch the school bus from school (library courts) at 6.00am
School bus brings runners back to school at about 8.00am
Breakfast is not supplied so bring something to eat or buy from the tuckshop
Year 7&8’s are NOT to come to Thursday session at Mudjimba for the first 2 weeks(with the surfers)
Years 9-12 only Sessions Thursday 5 March at Mudjimba Beach
Meet at Skate Park end of Mudjimba Beach at 6.00 OR
Catch the school bus from school (library courts) at 5.40am
Thursday 12 March at Mt Coolum
Same arrangements except that the bus will pick anyone up at Mudjimba and take to Coolum. We will be at Mt Coolum at
about 6.15.
I will send out the next round of training sessions in the newsletter in 2 weeks time when I have a good idea about student
numbers.
Ian Fenwick
From the finance desk…..
Band – Costs included on Term Two invoice
Senior Jerseys – Letter sent home from Mr Brown. Qkr is preferred payment option.
Listed as Senior Jersey in School Uniform section. Payment due by Friday, 13th March
2015.
School Fees –Term One Fees due 2nd March 2015, unless you have a payment plan in place.
Payment Plans – preferred payment option at St Johns College. All Forms available on the
SJC website under Enrolment/Fees.
Sport Registration Fees –Netball, Rugby and Soccer Fees included on Term Two invoices.
Concession Applications – For those families experiencing financial difficulties, please
contact Danielle Twomey (Finance Secretary) or Kim Harrison (Business Manager) sooner
rather than later.
Qkr! Payment Option – Free Mobile phone app for a variety of school items, including
Uniforms. There is a ‘How To’ Guide available on the SJC website, under Enrolment/Fees.
Sibling Discounts – It’s not too late to apply! Form available on the SJC website under
Enrolment/Fees.
“Dogs have no money. Isn’t that amazing? They’re broke their entire lives. But they get
through. You know why dogs have no money?....No pockets.” Jerry Seinfeld
Enjoy your week!
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CAMPUS MINSTER NEWS What a wonderful week we have had with 12 Candidates being enrolled into the Catholic Church the
biggest group we have had in 15 years that I know of. Many of our young people have then continued
their faith journey in Mission work both in Australian and overseas. They have been empowered and
strengthened by the by the Holy Spirit. Congratulations to all the Catechumens and their sponsors.
Our Sacramental Program which we have named GIFT (Growing in Faith Together ) will be
celebrating the Baptisms of 3 of our Candidates at St Joseph’s Catholic Church after 6pm Mass on
Saturday 28th March. This will be followed by a BBQ and the NET ministry Brisbane team
encounter evening. This free youth group event open is open to all our young people ( 12 years and
over) and will start at 7.30 pm til 10.30 pm in the Ryan Room. The night will include music and games
in a contemporary Christian setting.
The Prayer and Liturgy committee will be having a spiritual formation twilight reflection afternoon on
Friday 6th March in the GSC. The aim of this afternoon is to assist students in understanding the
celebration of the Eucharist and and develop practices in our school. This includes the symbols of the
Liturgy, THE Word, the gestures, the rituals , the environment and the seasons. It will also encompass
the practical considerations of organising ministry, the Words, the space and the Communion rite .
See Cortney Claridge or Ms Baker.
Social Action Committee will be doing their Easter egg drive and delivery to Aged care facilities on
Easter Saturday. Only 10% of nursing home residents are visited in these facilities so you can help
make a difference to the residents by giving up 1 hour on Easter Saturday or bring in eggs. Contact
person Ashton Darracott and Breanna Heely or Ms Ashton.
As we approach the second week of lent here is a prayer you might like to share with your family
Lord as we begin this holy season of Lent, grant us a change of heart we may turn away from sin and follow the Gospel. We ask you to fill us with hunger for what is just. By your grace may our lives become less selfish and more deeply rooted in self-sacrifice and a willingness to share. May your reign of justice fully flourish in our class during Lent, truly showing itself when we greet your risen Son at Easter. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.