Principal Our Lady of Sion College Newsletter
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Principal Our Lady of Sion College Newsletter 2020 College Theme: How Do I Bring Hope To My World? Greetings from Strasbourg, France. As Important Dates mentioned in our first newsletter this year, I am currently in France attending an Week A International Sion School’s conference with the Chair of our College Board, Mr Andrew Monday 2 March Maxwell. Attending the conference are sixteen Sion schools representing Australia, Year 9 City Experience Brazil, Costa Rica, Canada, France, Turkey, Tuesday 3 March From the the United Kingdom, and the United States. Year 9 City Experience Principal – The theme of the conference centers on how the Sion history and charism informs Space School Information Evening Miriam Theatre Tina the governance of our Sion schools. At the Juniors - 6.00 pm Apostolopoulos time of writing we have had very informative Seniors - 7.30 pm sessions on how we may live our Catholic Wednesday 4 March school identity in a contemporary world and how the key people within our Sion history - Fr Theodore Ratisbonne and Year 9 City Experience those who influenced him, in particular Louise Humann, can support us in Thursday 5 March authentically responding to the learning and spiritual needs of our students. Later in the week, we will visit the key sites in Strasbourg where Theodore Year 9 City Experience and Louise lived and began their ministry. I look forward to sharing more Friday 6 March upon our return. Year 9 Retreat College Open Day Week B Our annual Open day is fast approaching. This year, the day will be held on Tuesday, 17 March. Classes for all students will be held between 2.30 – 6.30 pm to allow all within our community, including prospective families, Monday 9 March to experience our school environment in action. We hope you can join us Labour Day Public Holiday and invite you to share this date with families who are considering a Sion Wednesday 11 March education for their daughter. Year 10 Retreat Lenten Season Thursday 12 March This week we began our season of Lent, a time in the Church’s year when Year 7 Family Mass we are encouraged to enter a more prayerful space within our lives and to LHC, 7.00 pm fast or let go of the things that hold us back. We are also called to consider the needs of others and give generously in whatever form assists them to live a good life. In the recent edition of Catholic Education, the article The significance of Lent reminded us that “lent is a time of stripping back to what is essential, in a word, hope”. It described how in Australia, Lent coincides with autumn, when nature also enters a time of dormancy, many trees lose their leaves, “retreat into their core self and begin their slow regenerative process. It is their hope.” I currently find myself in Europe Our Lady of Sion College 1065 Whitehorse Road Box Hill Vic 3128 1 Our Lady of Sion College Newsletter | Edition 2, 28 February 2020 Ph: +61 3 9890 9097 E:[email protected] Principal where winter is coming to an end. I am surrounded by trees on the cusp of bursting forth their green leaves and bulbs are emerging from their winter hibernation. In many ways, this cycle reflects the hope that the Catholic tradition promises. All of us benefit from a time of reflection that leads to a new beginning and the hope of a new and better life. However, it requires a change within us. As we enter into this Lenten season, it might be a timely opportunity for all within our community to really reflect on our 2020 College theme: How do I bring hope to my world? God bless for the fortnight ahead. Tina Apostolopoulos College Principal The Term 1, 2020 edition of Catholic Education Today is now available on the Catholic Education Melbourne website. Click here for online version. The Lenten Journey Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the most important Christian festival, and the one celebrated with the greatest joy. This week we have recognised Ash Wednesday - the beginning of Lent, as we prepare ourselves for the Easter event. Faith and Mission On Tuesday afternoon, the staff gathered together to participate in the Lenten – John McInerney Reflection. This is a reminder to us all of the significance of Lent and our hope in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We travelled the journey of the Stations of the Cross. During the ninth station, where Jesus falls for a third time, we reflected on the following: Jesus falls for a third time, broken and exhausted physically and emotionally. Lying on the ground, Jesus must decide – does he get up once more or does he just stop and give up? Our students struggle with the concept of failure and at times forget that without failure success is not possible. Sometimes they see a task and declare it to be too hard without attempting it; they are tempted to stop trying – Lord help us to not be frustrated at this time and to instead work with our students helping them to see that they can persevere. Help us to work with our students, to celebrate their wins with them and challenge us to make teachable moments out of their losses, to find out about their hopes and dreams for who they want to become and empowering them to be that person. Lord, we pray that when our strength fails, when our hope fades and when our spirit grows weary that we will put our unbounded trust in you. In turn, may we bring your love in a word or action of comfort to another, in their moment of despair. In Jesus we find our hope. The third fall of Jesus reminds us that even in our moment of complete helplessness, we can stand up again. Even when we know discomfort lies ahead. 2 Our Lady of Sion College Newsletter | Edition 2, 28 February 2020 Deputy Principal What makes a good learner at Our Lady of Sion College? There are some great examples of successful learners and learning around the buildings of Our Lady of Sion College. Below are just a few tips that have been demonstrated to be successful. Learning and 1. A Growth Mindset Teaching – At the recent Year 7 Parent Information Allison Stott Evening, Mrs Janine Crociani presented an overview of what it means to have a growth mindset. Based on the work of Carol Dweck, this idea suggests that if we close our minds to learning a new idea we will not be able to learn it. For instance, if we tell ourselves that we are not good at Mathematics, we will not have as much success at Maths as when we believe we can do well in Mathematics. Dweck talks about the power of ‘yet’, that feeling of optimism and positivity about learning mastery that leads to much greater learning outcomes. 2. Actively Seeking Feedback on Your Work Melbourne University’s Professor John Hattie has analysed the greatest impacts on student learning and has found that students that actively seek out and apply teacher feedback have improved learning success. This is because the feedback is targeted to the specific learning task and the skills and abilities of the student. When students receive feedback on an English essay, for example, a strong learner will re-write the essay applying the feedback given, rather than waiting for the next opportunity to write an extended piece. Hattie tells us that the learning is reinforced more effectively and students are more likely to deepen their understanding and therefore transfer the learning. 3. Resilient Learners Mrs Apostolopolous spoke about the need for our students to take control of their own learning and to be their own advocates. This is not just a sign of a learner that is aware of their own needs, but is a life skill that will empower our girls beyond the school gates. Resilient learners can see a set back; a disappointing result, a concept that takes them longer to understand than others, asking for help when not understanding, as an opportunity to learn. We learn more from our mistakes than our successes and therefore seeing mistakes as failure is a self-perpetuating cycle. When students recognise when they need assistance, and seek support themselves, they not only learn from that example but empower themselves to solve problems in the future. 3 Our Lady of Sion College Newsletter | Edition 2, 28 February 2020 Deputy Principal Mental Health is an important issue for all ages but adolescence, with its physical and emotional changes, can be a time of wavering wellbeing for our young people. It can be challenging for parents/ guardians to determine whether mood shifts are part of ‘teenage angst’ or a mental health issue that needs further support and possible intervention. Student Wellbeing It is important that parents/guardians can – Christine Kralj identify the signs and symptoms of poor mental health and know where to find support and advice. A good indicator of significantly poor mental health is when: • You hear your daughter is using really negative self talk • They isolate themselves from family AND friends • Changes of eating or sleeping is significant and detrimental to enjoying life • They no longer find joy and interest in activities that they have had a passion for • Schoolwork or the part-time job become too tiresome when they previously were not a problem • Emotional reactions to issues are severe and prolonged • Behavior towards family is aggressive and even physically threatening If you see any of these changes or just feel that things are just not quite right, it is important to start with a non-judgmental conversation with your daughter about what you have noticed.