368 Ross River Road, Cranbrook Ignatius Park College Townsville Australia 4814 Newsletter E: [email protected] W: www.ipc.qld.edu.au Number 9 | 22 March 2018 T: 07 4796 0222 F: 07 4796 0200 From the Principal Dear Parents, Friends and Caregivers Ignatius Park College acknowledges that the land we meet on today is the traditional lands for the Bindal and Wulgurukaba People and that we respect their spiritual relationship with their Country. We also acknowledge the Bindal and Wulgurukaba People as the traditional custodians of the Townsville region and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living Bindal and Wulgurukaba People today. This week the Queen’s Baton Relay was in Townsville as it makes it way around the country in preparation of the XXI Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. On Monday, our Year 7 students lined Ross River Road as the baton was carried by the bearers past Ignatius Park College. This was a once in a lifetime event for our students to witness the baton, containing a message from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which calls the athletes of the Commonwealth to come together in a friendly and peaceful competition, being carried. As a College community we were fortunate to have Ben Judge, our Year 12 Prefect (Inclusive Community), carry the baton along Gregory Street on the weekend as part of its procession through the city. The Commonwealth Games occur every four years and involves countries from all continents that are members of the Commonwealth. This comprises 2.2 billion people which make up 30% of the world’s population representing many faiths, races, languages, culture and traditions. The Commonwealth Games is often depicted as the “friendly games” and has three foundational values being humanity, equality and destiny. These values reflect both our College ethos and Christian values, and calls us to be a College community who is accepting of all people, does not judge others negatively due to race, religion, culture or opinion and strives to be the best we can be in all our personal endeavours. These are values to be instilled in the classroom, in our personal relationships and on the sports field. Although we will be watching the games with excitement and hoping Australia performs well in the medal tally, it is important to remember that the baton and the games are an event that reminds us that, despite our diversity on this planet, we all have a responsibility to create a world that is just and inclusive of all. It is also fitting that this Wednesday we celebrated Harmony Day. Harmony Day celebrates our multiculturalism in Australia and acknowledges the successful integration of migrates into our community. The day is celebrated on the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and is about inclusiveness, respecting and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural and linguistic background, and is united by a set of core Australian values. A Catholic Secondary College in the Edmund Rice Tradition The Edmund Rice Community acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which the College stands, the Bindal and Wulgurukaba People, and pay our respects to the Elders past, present and future. Pastoral From the Principal continued On this day, the colour orange is used as it signifies social communication and meaningful conversations. It also relates to the freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect. At Ignatius Park College I am proud of our cultural diversity, with over 20 different cultural groups reflected in our student bodies. Our diversity is an absolute gift in our College and our students have a strong sense of ‘brotherhood’ that exists, irrespective of our different cultural backgrounds, and this is a wonderful reflection of the college living the EREA Touchstones. Some important facts about Australia’s diversity: • Nearly half (49%) of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was; • We identify with over 300 ancestries; • Since 1945, more than 7.5 million people have migrated to Australia; • 85% of Australians agree multiculturalism has been good for Australia; • Apart from English, the most common languages spoken in Australia are Mandarin, Arabic, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Italian, Greek, Tagalog/Filipino, Hindi, Spanish and Punjabi; and • More than 70 Indigenous languages are spoken in Australia. In 2019, Ignatius Park College will introduce our BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) computer program. Current Year 7, 8 and 9 students will need to purchase their own laptop from next year. Students currently in Year 10 and Year 11 will continue to use the school provided laptop. These laptops were initially funded via the Federal Government’s Digital Education Revolution [DER] program. Each student in Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9 will be posted a package during the holidays containing documents on the proposed BYOD Program, BYOD College Network Connection Policy, information regarding device minimum specification, frequently asked questions and guidelines for acceptable use of the device within the College. Further information will also be available on the Ignatius Park College website or please contact our Deputy Principal – Operations and Data Analysis, Allison Elcoate, who can assist you. Congratulations to Brendan Haylett (Year 12 Prefect) who has been selected in the Queensland 15 - 19 years Cricket Team. Brendan will be playing at the National Championship in Sydney, later in the year. This Sunday is Palm Sunday and marks the beginning of Holy Week. Palm Sunday is a commemoration of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, coming in peace and riding on a donkey. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem coincided with the Jewish festival of Passover. Jesus was met by crowds of followers and supporters who lined the road into the city and waved branches cut from palm trees. They laid palm fronds on the road and even laid down cloaks for Jesus to ride over and within a week was sentenced and crucified. During the last week of Lent (Passion Week) may we continue to pray for a world of peace and justice. God of yesterday, today and tomorrow You created a world of beauty and plenty for us all to share, You gave us responsibility for this earth, Rich in life and variety. Create in us a desire to act in solidarity, sacrificing some of our freedom and self-interest for the sake of the common good. Enlighten and strengthen us so that we may challenge the social and economic systems that create and sustain poverty. Show us the paths that lead to mutual assistance among peoples, to a deepening of human knowledge, to an enlargement of heart, and to a more human way of living within society. May we carry forward the work of Christ under the lead of the befriending Spirit. Inspired by Paul VI. Populorum Progressio, 1967 Live Jesus in our Hearts, Forever. Shaun Clarke I Principal P 2 | Redefining the Education of Young Men Identity & Mission Inclusive Community God, you created all people in your image. We thank you for the astonishing variety of races and cultures in Australia and in our community. Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of friendship and show us your presence in those who differ most from us. Grant that we may always promote the justice and acceptance that ensures lasting peace and racial harmony. Grant that we may show equal respect to all persons of different cultures that we may come across. And help us to remember and appreciate that we are one country, with many stories. AMEN. Are we an inclusive community? Do we acknowledge the traditional ownership and cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Australia, and welcome them into the community? Harmony Day is held on March 21 every year. Harmony Day is a day to celebrate Australian multiculturalism, based on the successful integration of migrants into our community. Australia is a successful multicultural country and we should celebrate this and work to maintain it. Harmony Day is about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values. Fair Trade Chocolate at Easter In 2015, Pope Francis said that “every person ought to have the awareness that purchasing is always a moral, and not simply an economic, act.” Cocoa is a key ingredient of chocolate. Much of the chocolate sold in Australia is made using cocoa beans picked by children, many of whom have been enslaved, or forced to work in exploitative conditions. Most of these children have never even tasted chocolate. To buy slavery-free Easter chocolate look for any of these three certification symbols on the wrappers: FAIRTRADE, Rainforest Alliance and UTZ. For more information click HERE. • Chocolatier Australia’s Fairtrade milk and dark chocolate, available through Coles, Woolworths and various other stores. • Coles also has a range of branded UTZ, Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance-certified Easter chocolates. • The Haigh’s Chocolate-made Easter egg range is UTZ Certified. • Devine chocolate eggs and bunnies are Fairtrade certified, and are available through IGA, other selected stores and online. • Cadbury sells some Fairtrade-certified Dairy Milk chocolate products, but no longer sells any as part of its Easter range The Australian “Shop Ethical” consumer guide has a comprehensive list that goes beyond the mainstream chocolate brands for more ethical choices, many of which can be purchased from stores around Townsville. Take a look HERE. Retreat in Life Please take ten minutes a week to reflect on the following. How has this applied to your life in the previous week? What are you inspired by for the week ahead? P 3 | Redefining the Education of Young Men Identity & Mission We are just one week away from Holy Week and our celebration of God’s love for us in his passion, death and resurrection.