The Angel Thursday 9th March 2017, Volume 5 Principal’s News Dear Parents / Guardians, Staff, Students and Friends of St Mary of the Angels, THE SEASON OF LENT: Throughout this Lenten season I hope to provide some words of inspiration relating to education. Each week I will quote a different piece of literature relating to schools and young people. I hope you enjoy the read. Prayer for Lenten Grace: ‘Do not be disheartened in the face of the difficulties that the educational challenge presents! Educating is not a Loving God, profession but an attitude, a way of being; in order to During the sacred season of Lent, educate it is necessary to step out of ourselves and be bring me closer to you. among young people, to accompany them in the stages Prepare a place in my home and of their growth and to set ourselves beside them. Give heart for silence and solitude, so them hope and optimism for their journey in the world. that I may re-discover the grace of a Teach them to see the beauty and goodness of creation prayer-full life. and of man who always retains the Creator’s hallmark. Help me to fast from those things that But above all, with your own life be witness to what you threaten the well-being of body and communicate. As educators we pass on knowledge soul; and remind me of the grace of and values with our words, but these words will have simplicity. an incisive effect on children and young people if they Enlarge my heart so that I give to those are accompanied by witness; a consistent way of life, in need and, in so doing, Without consistency it is impossible to educate! We re-discover the grace of gratitude and are all educators; there are no delegates in this field. generosity. Thus collaboration in a spirit of unity and community May this season be a grace-filled time among educators is essential and must be fostered and to rekindle my love for and faith in you. encouraged. Schools can and must be a catalyst, they Amen must be a place of encounter and convergence of the entire educating community, with the sole objective of training and helping to develop mature people who are simple, competent and honest, who know how to love with fidelity, who can live life as a response to God’s call, and their future profession as a service to society.’ Pope Francis, 2013 SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday 22nd March is the Annual General Meeting of the College Board. If you have an interest in strategic, visionary work and would like a deeper understanding of the College please consider joining this dynamic group of people. Nomination forms are available in this week’s edition of The Angel. Please contact Mr. David Booth on 0408 313 554 or myself at the College if you have any interest or questions about joining our College Board. Pace e bene, Matt Carver St Mary of the Angels Secondary College stmarysnathalia Chapel Street, Nathalia, Victoria, 3638 Ph: (03) 5866 2222 | Fax: (03) 5866 2471 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.smotanathalia.catholic.edu.au Page | 1 College Board Nomination Form St Mary of the Angels Secondary College Board NOMINATION FORM - 2017 AGM (Nominations close 4.00pm on Tuesday 14th March 2017 at the College Office, to the returning officer, Danielle Dowling) I ..................................................................................... wish to nominate .......................................................................................(name of nominee). as parent representative for……………………………………............................... (eg Numurkah Representative, Cobram Representative, Nathalia Representative, Other). Nominator Signature: ………………………………………………… Parish Priest (Seconder) Signature: …………………………………. I …………………………………...........accept the above nomination for the St. Mary of the Angels Secondary College Board. Nominee Signature: …………………………………………….. Date: / /2017 St Mary of the Angels Secondary College Chapel Street, Nathalia, Victoria, 3638 Ph: (03) 5866 2222 | Fax: (03) 5866 2471 Email: [email protected] | Website: www.smotanathalia.catholic.edu.au Page | 2 Deputy Principal’s News Joshua 1:9 Ruth Hartnett-Carr Deputy Principal - Catholic Identity Social Justice News As I write this I am sitting in the waiting areas of the specialist clinics at the Royal Children's Social Justice Fundraising Social Justice leaders Kate Berend and Livindya Sooriarachchi Hospital. People from all walks of life spoke passionately at College assembly about Social Justice surround me. The unique thing about illness and the organisation Caritas who are helping the poorest of the in children is that it does not discriminate. poor live a life of dignity. The leaders also used this opportunity Parents in this area are resigned to waiting. to roll out this year’s project compassion event which helps There is a feeling of unease that hangs raise money for Caritas and to recruit students for the 2017 in the air. The unknown creates a certain Social Justice group. level of stress and anxiety within people, but everywhere I look I see stoic adults. Around This year the Social Justice’s project compassion initiative is me conversations are striking up between named ‘Piggytas’. strangers. People here share a common story. Over the next couple of days homerooms will be given pig pens. For every $75 dollars raised they will receive a cut- I'm overlooking the childrens’ garden play out pig which represents the worth of a pig in disadvantaged area and I can see a parent supervising countries, to place in their pen. their child. The child is blissfully balancing on a garden bed while the parent has their Money raised during project compassion ‘Piggytas’ will help head bowed, with their head held in their fund things such as the purchase of pigs and livestock, hands. I know that feeling well. This garden agricultural training and give communities the opportunities to reminds me of the part of the Easter story build a stable income. of when Jesus went to pray in the Garden Homerooms have been asked to brainstorm and create their of Gethsemane. Was he resigned to his fate fundraising events in order to purchase a $75 pig. The class as he prayed? Was he in fact praying for a who has the most pigs in their pen at the end of term will receive miracle and his life would be spared? Was a special ‘Piggytas’ prize. he in denial as to what was unfolding around him? As a human, Jesus experienced the We only have four weeks left of term one so start rounding up full range of emotions that you and I feel. I your ‘Piggytas’ dollars! wonder about Mary, his mother. We aren’t privy to her story through the Gospels. How did she cope with her son’s journey to death and afterwards? As parents and guardians we cradle our Please make me children through the ups and downs of life. reality by donating to During this week of Lent, when you have a ‘Piggytas’ today! few minutes spare please join me in praying for those of us who are being stoic for family members who are facing challenges with insurmountable odds. stmarysnathalia Page | 3 Deputy Principals’ News Bev Thorp REPORTING CHANGES Deputy Principal - Learning and Teaching There have been some minor changes to the way that LEARNING ADVISOR INTERVIEWS we will report on your child’s progress and goal setting As previously advised, Learning Advisor Interviews will this year. Rather than having separate Learning Advisor be held at both Barooga and Nathalia venues starting and Semester Reports, in 2017 we will produce just the next week. Bookings for Learning Advisor interviews Semester Report. An interim semester report will be may be made via PAM, and bookings with subject generated prior to the Term 1 (and Term 3). Learning teachers for senior VCE and VCAL classes are now Advisor interviews, and the final report will be generated also able to be booked. at the end of each semester (Terms 2 and 4). One of the first changes that you might see is a revamp to the work habits on which we report. These work habits will be assessed each term, and the Semester Report will display both sets of work habits. A brief explanation of each work habit is included below. Strives to achieve their best in this subject It goes without saying - we expect students to give their best, regardless of the standard at which they are working. Everyone might have an off day occasionally, perhaps if we’re not feeling well, but on the whole the student tries their best at all times. Learning Advisor Interview & VCE Subject Teacher Actively seeks and acts on feedback appointments can now be booked through the Learning is an active process. Even the best teachers can’t Parent Access Module (PAM). force the learning process if the student is not involved. If you require assistance with this process please For students to learn they must seek out and respond contact the College Office on 58662222. to teacher (and peer) feedback and advice to continually work toward improvement and further progress in their PARENT/TEACHER/STUDENT INTERVIEW DATES: learning. Wednesday 15th March, 5.00 pm - 8.00 pm Barooga Sports’ Club- Garden Room Is able to work collaboratively with others The ability to work with others is considered as one of Wednesday 22nd March, 4.00 pm - 8.00 pm the key skills required for 21st century employment. St Mary of the Angels College, Nathalia Students learn to collaborate, to negotiate, to set agreed & Nathalia Secondary College expectations, and to respect and learn from the ideas and opinions of others. Thursday 23rd March, 9.00 am - 3.30 pm St Mary of the Angels College, Nathalia Is able to work independently This means that a student is able to begin and maintain work on a set task or program without prompting and Please note: reminding.