Catholic Education
2
Image
Stephen Elder,
Director of Catholic Education.
Contents
2
From the Director
3
Big week, big year
4
Hosting pilgrims
5
Cross and Icon on the way
6
Children rally for former teacher
7
Board Seminar Series 2008
8
Parent Seminar Series 2008
11
Being Connected
12
Around the Archdiocese
14
By golly, it’s a doodle google
14
Déjà vu... 46 years on
15
St Therese School in focus
From
the
Director
…there is good
reason for all of us
to be excited and
energised about
the year ahead.
Several major events are planned in 2008 starting with
Catholic Education Week (CEW) from 9 to 16 March.
The Catholic Education Office Melbourne (CEOM) has
been hard at work preparing for CEW, which is now in
its 11th year.
This year’s theme is Living Witnesses, which is drawn
from the scriptural reference and the World Youth Day
2008 theme: “You will receive power when the Holy
Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses
(Acts 1:8).” The Mass of St Patrick for Schools, the
Schools Concert, the Visual Arts Exhibition and the
CEW Address, will be influenced by World Youth Day
which will be held in Sydney in July.
In the lead up to World Youth Day (WYD08), thousands
of young Catholics from around the world will be in
Melbourne celebrating Days in the Dioceses (DID08).
There are stories in this issue of Catholic Education
Today detailing the DID08 events scheduled for
Melbourne from 10 to 14 July and a request for families
and volunteers to assist the pilgrims during their short
stay here.
A highlight will be the Commissioning Mass at the
Telstra Dome, giving young people of faith the
opportunity to come together and celebrate their
unique Catholic identity.
Families in the Archdiocese are encouraged to open
their homes to the thousands of young pilgrims who
will be coming to Melbourne. I am sure this generosity
of spirit will have a positive impact on the pilgrims and
their host families and, in many cases, lead to long
lasting friendships.
Catholic Education Today is produced by the Catholic
Education Office, James Gould House, 228 Victoria Parade,
East Melbourne, Victoria 3002.
© Copyright reserved
ISSN 1441–2802
Acknowledgments Thank you to those who contributed
to the articles and to the staff and students of the schools
featured in this issue.
The Melbourne contingent will join upwards of 500,000
in the Harbour City for WYD08 at a time when Mass
attendance is declining and many young people are
questioning their faith. I firmly believe Pope Benedict
XVI’s attendance in Sydney will have a positive impact
on young Catholics in Australia for many years to come.
Writer David Ahem
Design, artwork and cover shot Three’s a Crowd
Photography Les O’Rourke
Printing Print Media Group
Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of
the Catholic Education Office, Melbourne. The editor reserves
the right to amend or reject any item submitted for publication.
As I said at the start, there is good reason for all of us
to be excited and energised about the year ahead.
Correspondence is welcomed to:
David Ahem, Media and Promotions
PO Box East Melbourne Victoria 3002
Tel: 03 9267 0228 Fax: 03 9415 9325
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ceo.melb.catholic.edu.au
Cover image Soraya-Lea De Bono, a Year 10 student at Penola
Catholic College, Broadmeadows, began the new school year,
along with more than 138,000 Catholic school students in the
Archdiocese of Melbourne.
W
elcome back to the start of a new school
year. I hope you’re all well rested and ready
for what promises to be a tremendously
exciting year for Catholic education in the Archdiocese
of Melbourne.
Stephen Elder
Director of Catholic
Education
3
Big week,
big year
C
atholic school students in the Archdiocese of
Melbourne will be celebrating Catholic Education
Week (CEW08) from 9 to 16 March, 2008.
Catholic Education Week celebrates the work of Catholic
schools which is integral to the ministry of the Church.
Catholic schools “invite the young people they serve
to see their life choices as radically connected to the
choice to live within the Christian faith”.
Image above
Claire Wiedemann (left) and
Ebony Wright from Clonard
College, Geelong West are
looking forward to hosting
the overseas pilgrims. Photo
courtesy Fiona Basile and
World Youth Day Melbourne.
Highlights of the week will be the Mass of St Patrick
for Schools at St Patrick’s Cathedral on 13 March,
the CEW Address at Australian Catholic University
(ACU) on 11 March and the Visual Arts Exhibition at
the Victorian Artists’ Society, which will run all week
culminating in the awards presentation on 16 March.
Schools are also encouraged to organise events within
their local communities to celebrate all that is great
about Catholic schools.
CEW08 will precede two major events in July, Days in
the Dioceses (DID08) in Melbourne and World Youth Day
(WYD08) in Sydney, which together will attract pilgrims
from many overseas countries. The theme for CEW08
is Living Witnesses which is drawn from the scriptural
reference and World Youth Day theme: “You will receive
power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and
you will be my witnesses (Acts 1:8).”
Between 10 and 14 July, pilgrims from around the
globe will descend on Melbourne for the Days in the
Dioceses (DID08) program of activities, including a
Mass at Telstra Dome, a rock concert, a peace rally
and a public lecture by Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez,
president of Caritas International.
Melbourne youth are also being encouraged through
schools and parishes to become pilgrims and to
participate in the DID08 program.
Pilgrims will travel to Sydney for the 12th international
gathering of young Catholics, which has become known
as World Youth Day, from 15 to 20 July.
Through CEW08 schools will join the whole Church in
preparing for both the Melbourne and Sydney celebrations.
More stories on Days in the Dioceses and World Youth
Day on pages 4 and 5.
Catholic Education
4
Hosting pilgrims
T
he Australian Open and the Grand Prix thrust
Melbourne into the limelight each year with
millions of people tuning in world wide. The
exposure for Melbourne and the marketing opportunities
these sporting events present are tremendous.
A further opportunity for international exposure will exist
in 2008 when Melbourne’s Days in the Dioceses (DID08)
program of events is held from 10 – 14 July. Up to
25,000 young people will travel here as pilgrims from
across the globe, before making their way to Sydney
for World Youth Day (WYD08) from 15 to 20 July.
It is the tradition of WYD and Days in the Dioceses to
host pilgrims in family homes for the duration of their
stay. As part of the Melbourne Stay program, about
10,000 families are needed to accommodate at least
two pilgrims who will be arriving as early as 5 July.
Image above
Ready to assist: Aisling
McCarthy, Star of the Sea
College, Gardenvale. Photo
courtesy Fiona Basile and
World Youth Day Melbourne.
Melbourne Stay Project Officer, Fairlie Crozier, said that
to reach this target the message needed to be spread far
and wide. “We have already received great support from
parishes and schools but it’s also important to involve
other members of the community,” Ms Crozier said.
Meanwhile, more than 600 volunteers are being sought
to assist in running the major events during the Days
in the Dioceses (DID08). The Commissioning Mass at
Telstra Dome on 11 July and the movement of more
than 50,000 pilgrims to Sydney will require massive
coordination and effort.
Officially called TEAM DID08, the volunteers will be
involved in a variety of roles, including welcoming
international pilgrims at the airport, helping with
transport arrangements and assisting at the Mass.
The Chief Executive Officer of World Youth Day
Melbourne, Br Mark O’Connor said he had every faith
that the target of 650 volunteers would be reached.
“I look forward to our volunteers becoming the heart
and soul of the event.”
For further information about the Melbourne Stay
program and the other roles available go to:
www.did08.com or call 03 9412 8484.
5
and Icon on the way
T
he two World Youth Day symbols, the Cross
and Icon, will tour Catholic schools in the
Archdiocese of Melbourne for 15 days, from
25 April to 8 May.
The 3.8 metre high Cross and Icon, which is a symbol
of Mary, arrived in Australia on 1 July last year and
will reach Melbourne 60 days before the Days in the
Dioceses (DID08) series of events on route to Sydney for
World Youth Day.
Official JCI (Journey of the Cross and Icon) celebrations
will include silent prayer vigils, veneration and symbolic
opportunities for reflection. The JCI symbols will visit
local parishes, schools, prisons, hospitals, sacred
indigenous sites and those of religious significance.
The Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, said the
opportunity to touch the Cross and Icon will stay with
those who encounter it for many years to come.
Day
“The World Youth Day Cross provides our youth with a
timely reminder of the sacrifice Christ made for us on
the Cross. It is a beautiful symbol of hope, reconciliation
and peace and will provide our youth with a special
encounter with Christ,” said Archbishop Hart.
World Youth Day 2008 Coordinator, Bishop Anthony
Fisher OP, said the arrival of the Cross and Icon heralds
the countdown to Days in the Dioceses and World
Youth Day in Australia in July.
“It is a special time for Australians to be custodians
of these simple, yet powerful symbols,” Bishop Fisher
said. “Like an Olympic torch, only more sacred and
meaningful, these symbols will herald the coming of
World Youth Day.”
The World
Youth Day Cross
provides our
youth with a
timely reminder
of the sacrifice
Christ made for
us on the Cross.
To follow the JCI on its journey, visit the World Youth Day
website: www.wyd2008.org/index.php/en/journey_of_
the_wyd_cross_icon
Date
Event/Location
Suburb
1
Fri 25 Apr
Handover Mass – St Patrick’s Cathedral
East Melbourne
3
Mon 28 Apr
Penola College welcomes the Cross and Icon
Broadmeadows
4
Tues 29 Apr
Loyola College welcomes the Cross and Icon
Watsonia
5
Wed 30 Apr
Xavier College welcomes the Cross and Icon
Kew
6
Thurs 1 May
Aquinas College welcomes the Cross and Icon
Ringwood
10
Mon 5 May
Star of the Sea College welcomes the Cross and Icon
Gardenvale (Brighton)
10
Mon 5 May
Sacred Heart Girls College welcomes the Cross and Icon
Oakleigh
11
Tues 6 May
St John’s Dandenong welcomes the Cross and Icon
Dandenong
13
Thurs 8 May
Sacred Heart Geelong welcomes the Cross and Icon
Geelong
14
Fri 9 May
Caroline Chisholm welcomes the Cross and Icon
Braybrook
Image above
Powerful image: The Cross
and Icon will visit Catholic
schools in April and May.
Catholic Education
6
Image below
Well satisfied: Students
Monique Elliott (left), Sarah
Paterson and Cameron Dyer,
who helped raise money for
the headstone, with three local
residents who were taught by
Mary Slattery: Alex Gardiner
(back standing), Pat Lovell
and Peter Gardiner.
We are really
proud of ourselves
and now we can
do something
great and change
the world forever.
Children
rally for
former
teacher .
A
former teacher of a Catholic primary school in
Gisborne who was buried in an unmarked grave
in 1951 has a new headstone, thanks to the
determination and compassion of the student population.
Mary Slattery taught at St Brigid’s School for more than
50 years but was buried at the local cemetery without
a headstone.
St Brigid’s principal Margaret Garvey said the children
were horrified when they realised what had happened.
The Year 3/4 children learned of the unmarked grave
during research for the school’s 150th anniversary
celebrations in 2006.
“Their research indicated Ms Slattery had retired in her
late 70s after teaching at the school for more than
50 years,” Mrs Garvey said. “But when the children
visited the cemetery they found she had been buried
in an unmarked grave, which they believed was unfair
as she had given so much to St Brigid’s.
“With the support of their class teacher, Krystina Wojcicki,
and a student’s grandmother, the children organised
a dinner dance in a bid to raise funds for a headstone.
They raised about $2,500 – a tremendous achievement.
“The whole school has been committed to the project.
The students have come to understand that they have
the power to make a difference in this community and
beyond, and that learning can have a real purpose.”
Mrs Garvey said the whole school community was
justifiably proud of the students’ efforts. As one Year 3
student wrote, “We are really proud of ourselves and now
we can do something great and change the world forever.”
Parish priest Father Gerard Spillane blessed the
headstone in December.
7
Poles apart
T
wo Year 11 students at Our Lady of Sion College,
Box Hill, have been doing their best to bring the
plight of some Indigenous Australians to the
attention of others.
“The Indigenous people of Australia suffer from just as bad
conditions as others who live under the poverty line in
Africa, However, we never think of these people because
we believe that the Australian peoples don’t live in poverty
which is wrong,” say Samantha and Shivani.
Samantha Dugg and Shivani Patel have embraced the
‘Make Indigenous Poverty History’ project. Last term,
they sought numerous signatures on their poverty poles
to highlight the predicament of the first Australians.
The project is aimed at ensuring the United Nations’
Millennium Development Goals include the poverty
suffered by Australia’s Indigenous peoples.
Image above
Students Sarah Yule (left) and
Shivani Patel with Sharron
Partridge from Whitehorse
Friends for Reconciliation.
“By creating poverty poles we are recognising that many
Australian live under the poverty line, and we are making a
visible sign of personal commitment to a more just Australia.”
By signing the poles, the students say, “we are
remembering the past, recognising the present and
rectifying the future”.
Catholic Education Office Melbourne
School Board Seminars
Focus
Date
Time
Seminar Description
Venue
Primary (GOVP1)
Wed 9 Apr
9.30am – 1.30pm
The parish priest and the school board
Simonds Hall Toorak
Primary (GOVP2)
Wed 23 Apr
9.30am – 1.30pm
The principal and the school board
Simonds Hall Toorak
Primary (GOVP3)
Mon 18 Feb
6.00pm – 9.00pm
Board members (Southern Region)
Simonds Hall, Toorak
Primary (GOVP4)
Thurs 6 Mar
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Board members (Eastern Region)
Our Lady’s School Ringwood
Primary (GOVP5)
Thurs 28 Feb
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Board members (Nth & West Region)
St Vincent’s School Strathmore
Primary (GOVP6)
Tues 26 Feb
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Board members (Geelong area)
St Joseph’s College, Geelong
Primary (GOVP7)
Tues 6 May
6.00pm – 9.00pm
Funding for primary schools
Simonds Hall Toorak
Primary (GOVP8)
Tues 13 May
6.00pm – 9.00pm
The school board executive
Treacy Centre Parkville
Primary (GOVP9)
Tues 27 May
6.00pm – 9.00pm
The primary school board constitution
Treacy Centre Parkville
Primary (GOVP10)
Tues 11 Mar
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Board chair network (East & Sth Region)
St Mary Magdalen’s School Chadstone
Primary (GOVP10)
Wed 28 May
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Board chair network (East & Sth Region)
St Mary Magdalen’s School Chadstone
Primary (GOVP10)
Wed 27 Aug
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Board chair network (East & Sth Region)
St Mary Magdalen’s School Chadstone
Primary (GOVP11)
Tues 4 Mar
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Board chair network (Nth & West Region)
St Vincent’s School Strathmore
Primary (GOVP11)
Thurs 29 May
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Board chair network (Nth & West Region)
St Vincent’s School Strathmore
Primary (GOVP11)
Thurs 28 Aug
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Board chair network (Nth & West Region)
St Vincent’s School Strathmore
Primary (GOVP12)
Tues 18 Mar
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Board chair network (Geelong)
St Joseph’s College, Geelong
Primary (GOVP12)
Tues 17 Jun
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Board chair network (Geelong)
St Joseph’s College, Geelong
Primary (GOVP12)
Thurs 11 Sept
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Board chair network (Geelong)
St Joseph’s College, Geelong
Secondary (GOVS13)
Wed 27 Feb
6.00pm – 9.00pm
Board chair network
Treacy Centre Parkville
Secondary (GOVS13)
Thurs 11 Jun
6.00pm – 9.00pm
Board chair network
Treacy Centre Parkville
Secondary (GOVS13)
Wed 10 Sept
6.00pm – 9.00pm
Board chair network
Treacy Centre Parkville
Secondary (GOVS14)
Tues 3 Jun
6.00pm – 9.00pm
Funding for secondary schools
Simonds Hall Toorak
8
Catholic Education
Parent Seminar
Series
All workshops
are informative
and enjoyable
and presenters
are qualified
and expert in
their field.
C
atholic schools and the Catholic Education
Office Melbourne (CEOM) are committed
to providing opportunities for parents to
participate in the lifelong education of their children.
The Parent Seminar Series, which has been operating
in the Archdiocese of Melbourne for more than
16 years, invites parents to discuss a range of topical
issues relating to their own children’s education and
personal development.
As parenting is one of the most challenging yet rewarding
tasks a person undertakes as an adult, the series gives
parents the opportunity to increase their own parenting
skills, as well to meet other people who are facing
similar challenges with their children. The workshops
provide information on a range of topics of both primary
and secondary school age children. The topics and
descriptions contained in this lift out will provide
information of what may be suitable for you and
your child’s needs.
Although seminar days, workshops and evening
programs are presented on a regional basis, parents
may attend in their own or another region. A special
invitation is extended to those new to Catholic
education and to parents who have not yet attended
a parent seminar or workshop. All workshops are
informative and enjoyable and presenters are qualified
and expert in their field. Opportunities for interaction,
discussion and questions are provided.
The 2008 Parent Seminar Series workshops will cover:
1. Sibling Rivalry
2. Growing Self-Esteem in Children
3. Children’s Wellbeing/Body Image
4. Family Budgeting/Living on a Shoestring Budget
The Evening programs will cover:
1. Raising Boys
2. Understanding Girls
3. Transition from Primary to Secondary School
4. Family Management/Resilience
Other topics to be covered in 2008 are Parenting
Challenges, DIY Family Makeover – “How to Build
a Resilient Family”, and Resilience in Parents.
9
Eastern Region Program
Date
Time
Venue
Type of program
Topics
Tues 29 Apr
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Beau Monde International, Doncaster
Evening
4 workshop topics*
Wed 28 May
9:30am – 2.30pm
St Gregory the Great, Doncaster
Full Day Activity – Day 1
DIY Family Makeover How to Build
a Resilient Family
Tues 3 Jun
9.00am – 2.30pm
Beau Monde International, Doncaster
Seminar Day
4 Workshop topics*
Wed 18 Jun
9.30am – 2.30pm
St Gregory the Great, Doncaster
Full Day Activity – Day 2
DIY Family Makeover How to Build
a Resilient Family
Tues 28 Oct
7.00pm – 8.30pm
St Timothy’s, Vermont
Evening
Transition from Primary to Secondary
Northern Region Program
Date
Time
Venue
Type of program
Topics
Wed 16 Apr
7.00pm – 9.00pm
Darebin Arts Centre, Preston
Evening
4 Workshops
Wed 21 May
9:30am – 2.30pm
Darebin Arts Centre, Preston
Seminar Day
4 Workshops
Wed 11 Jun
7.00pm – 9.00pm
St Clare’s West, Thomastown
Evening
Raising Boys
Tues 24 Jun
7.00pm – 9.00pm
St Clare’s West, Thomastown
Evening
Understanding Girls
Wed 10 Sept
7.00pm – 8.30pm
Darebin Arts Centre, Preston
Evening
Transition from Primary to Secondary
Tues 16 Sept
7.00pm – 8.30pm
St Michael’s, Nth Melbourne
Evening
Transition from Primary to Secondary
Tues 21 Oct
7.00pm – 8.30pm
Catholic Regional College, St Albans
Evening
Transition from Primary to Secondary
Southern Region Program
Date
Time
Venue
Type of program
Topics
Wed 12 Mar
1.00pm – 2.30pm
St Joseph’s, Collingwood
Afternoon workshop
Basic Parenting
Tues 14 Oct
7.00pm – 8.30pm
St Paul Apostle South, Endeavour Hills
Evening
Transition from Primary to Secondary
Tues 11 Nov
7.00pm – 8.30pm
Sacred Heart Primary School, Oakleigh
Evening
Transition from Primary to Secondary
*Participants choose two of the four workshops for the day and one in the evening referred to on the first page of this lift out.
Catholic Education
10
Parent Seminar
Series
continued...
Western Region Program
Date
Time
Venue
Type of program
Topics
Tues 22 Apr
7.30pm – 9.00pm
St Anthony’s, Lara
Evening
Building Resilience in Children
and Families
Tues 19 Aug
7.00pm – 8.30pm
Christ the King, Newcomb
Evening
Building Resilience in Children
and Families
Tues 26 Aug
10.00am – 12noon
Sacred Heart College,
Geelong/Newtown
Morning workshop
Building Resilience in Children
and Families
TBA
TBA
Thomas Carr College, Tarneit
Evening
Transition from Primary to Secondary
Some descriptions of the 2008 Parent Seminar Series,
which will be delivered as two full-day seminars and two
evening seminars at Preston and Doncaster.
1. Sibling Rivalry Workshop
“HE GOT MORE THAN ME!” – SIBLINGS SERVING IT UP!
If you have more than one child you’ll often be
challenged: to be fair; to help children sort out their
differences; to understand each child’s individual needs
and to provide a loving, supportive environment for all
children. This workshop explores issues around sibling
rivalry. It considers the dynamics which develop between
children and the reasons why parents are often “hooked
into” issues created by their children. The workshop
provides suggestions and strategies for stressed parents
who want their children to cooperate, be happy and
supportive, and to grow up with good values.
2. Growing Self-Esteem in Children
‘Help-Lines’ provide 24-hour support and offers
self-help strategies to deal with and prevent a wide
range of issues that impacts on our experience of
life. You are your child’s ‘help-line’. You help them
learn, how to relate to the world and to prepare
for adulthood. George Krupinski, a life-coach and
specialist in self-esteem development, will share
a number of strategies that will assist the process.
3. Children’s Well Being/Body Image
The insecurities of young girls growing up can be
confusing for the girls and for their parents and families.
This workshop explores how parents can have a positive
impact on their daughter’s self-image and also how to
connect and communicate on issues of self esteem.
Kelly Vennus, ex-Australian netballer and former PE /
dance teacher, is currently facilitating workshops across
Australia focussing on the wellbeing and interactions
between school-age children and how we can help
them prepare and enjoy what can be a stressful time.
4. Family Budgeting/Living on a Shoestring Budget
Goals include:
• How to set and achieve savings goals
• Saving and spending
• How to save and spend wisely
• Money planning
• Set up savings for the future.
For more information refer to the parents section at
www.ceo.melb.catholic.edu.au
To find out how to participate contact your school
or the Parent Seminar Series Coordinator:
Mrs Shirley O’Sullivan Ph 9464 5225
or email: [email protected]
11
Being
E
ducators universally agree that engaging
students is critical for maximum student learning.
If children are disengaged, their studies and
friendships can suffer.
St Peter Chanel School, Deer Park, is into the second
year of a three-year project which focuses on student
engagement in schooling. With funding provided by the
CASS Foundation (Contributing to Australian Scholarships
and Science), St Peter Chanel, which has more than
600 students from a variety of backgrounds, including
Vietnamese, Filipino and Italian, was the only Catholic
school in Victoria accepted for the Connect project.
Sister Anne Porter, the student wellbeing coordinator,
says the project has several components: “It’s really
about engaging students in the whole life of the school
and getting them to participate in activities they may
not normally do,” says Sister Anne.
“It’s about connecting the kids in relationships so they
interact with other children which in turn can instill a
sense of belonging.”
Lunchtime activities introduced by the school include
karate, hip hop dancing, chess, sewing, soccer and
gardening. Other initiatives revolve around student
leadership, peer mentoring and staff professional learning.
The older students have an important role to play with
the Prep Play and the Prep Read programs.
It’s about
connecting
the kids in
relationships
so they interact
with other
children which
in turn can
instill a sense
of belonging.
“The Year 5 (students) have a greater sense of
importance and the Preps are being looked after, so
it works to everyone’s advantage,” says Sister Anne.
Teaching and learning coordinator, Luisa Parissis, says
staff professional development is also important.
“The curriculum component is about the teachers who
are developing effective learning strategies to better
engage the children.”
The project also focuses on the parents, Sister Anne
adds. “It’s important that the parents also connect with
the school. Each grade had to organise a parent expo
last year. The children invited their parents into the
classroom and showed them what they are doing and
basically what’s going on. The response was great.”
St Peter Chanel plans to make more use of the school
hall and increase the number of lunchtime clinics this year.
Images left to right
Playful: Sister Anne Porter
with Tiana Anastasio during
a Prep play session.
All ears: Year 5 student Givens
Otuo-Acheampong reads to
Prep Jamerson Pilla.
Concentrating: Hanna Spratling
and Tommy Phan try their hand
at chess with Luisa Parissis
watching on.
Catholic Education
12
the
Archdiocese
Good Samaritans
Tolerance and understanding
hen a Catholic primary school sent out an
SOS last year, Samaritan Catholic College,
Preston, was more than happy to answer
the call. Nine playground benches at St John’s, Mitcham,
were in urgent need of repair. The timber was splitting,
the metal was rusted and there were loose bolts.
St John’s principal, Bert Benne, approached a teacher
at Samaritan, Andrew Russell, seeking assistance.
A group of pre VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied
Learning) Year 10 students set about restoring the
benches. The student assessment of the damage,
says Mr Russell, made them realise it was more than
a couple of weeks’ work. “They identified the key
activities in the project that needed to be addressed,
including structural issues in the benches’ design,
as well as their own personal skills development.”
Five months later and the benches were delivered to
St John’s in pristine condition. No doubt, St John’s
students in future years will have a good resting place
for those tired limbs and bones.
A free conference promoting better understanding
between religious faiths was held at the Melbourne
Exhibition and Convention centre on 18 February.
The event, Day of Understanding, was hosted by the
Melbourne Interfaith Intercultural Cluster comprising
St Monica’s College, Epping; Siena College, Camberwell;
Australian International Academy, Coburg; King David
School, Armadale; and Thornbury High School,
Thornbury. Staff and students had the opportunity to see
music and drama performances by students and listen
to a panel of representatives from different faiths and
cultural backgrounds speak about diversity in Australian
society. The Catholic Education Commission of Victoria
Ltd (CECV) was a supporter of the event.
W
One approach
Two Catholic primary schools in Melbourne’s west
united against world poverty at the end of 2007.
St Margaret Mary’s Primary School, Spotswood and
Sacred Heart Primary School, Newport, believe that
more should be done to assist those most in need.
Students, teachers, special guests and community
members gathered for the Make Poverty History
campaign which began with a Mass celebrated by
the Most Reverend Christopher Prowse, Auxiliary
Bishop for the Western Region, and the parish priest,
Father Joe McMahon. After the service students
participated in various workshops aimed at raising
student awareness about global poverty. The
workshops were supported by St Vincent De Paul’s,
Catholic Mission Australia and the Melbourne Catholic
Commission for Social Justice. The day culminated in
458 students, staff and parents standing together in
unity against world poverty.
New edition
A 2008 version of the popular parent handbook,
Catholic Schools: First Choice, Information Handbook
for Parents and Guardians, has been reprinted for a
third time. New parents whose child started in Prep
or Year 7 at the start of the school year should have
received a complimentary copy. The publication has
important information about Catholic primary and
secondary schools, including curriculum, student
services, health and safety issues, fees, useful contacts
and important dates. Produced by the Catholic Education
Commission of Victoria Ltd (CECV) and the diocesesan
Catholic Education Offices, the handbook is available
online at: www.cecv.vic.catholic.edu.au. It is also
available in Arabic, Chinese and Vietnamese.
Supreme effort
An excursion to Parliament House was a highlight for
students at St Therese’s School, Essendon, as part of
a Civics and Citizenship unit of work. Year 6 students
Roslyn Callaghan and Adrienne Smyth said, “We went
on a guided tour of both houses of parliament and
were shown many of the books containing our laws.
It was fascinating to see where each political party and
13
The timber was
splitting, the
metal was rusted
and there were
loose bolts.
their elected members sat.” Another highlight was a
visit to St Therese’s of Supreme Court judge, Elizabeth
Curtain. Justice Curtain explained the different types of
crime and how being convicted of a crime has lasting
consequences. Justice Curtain also modelled the
different robes worn in particular courts. “They were
most impressive and helped give us an understanding
of the traditions involved,” said Roslyn and Adrienne.
Images left to right, top to
bottom
United we stand: Children
stand up for poverty. Photo
courtesy St Margaret Mary’s
Primary School.
Future leaders
New benchmark: St John’s
students, Connor Russell,
Karlie Roberts and James
Santamaria are happy to test
the new bench, witnessed by
Andre Weiman and Leo Rijcken
from Samaritan College.
The annual Father Wall Bursary Achievement Leadership
Awards for outstanding leadership and community
involvement were announced in December. The Bursary,
valued at $2,500 for each winner, is given to four Year
10 students who make a solid contribution in a range
of areas, including the arts, science, public speaking,
sporting activities, community service and social justice.
The 2007 winners were: Rose Kenny, Sacred Heart
College, Newtown; Stephanie Mansour, Our Lady of
the Sacred Heart College, Bentleigh; Melissa Lees,
Sacred Heart College, Kyneton; and Caitlyn Petrie, Avila
College, Mt Waverley. The awards are named in honour
of Father James Wall, a priest of vision and inspiration
who founded the Catholic Development Fund (CDF).
Congratulations to the 2007 winners. Applications for
2008 will be sought in Term 3, 2008.
Law and order: Justice
Elizabeth Curtain with students
Marcus de Leur and Laura
Drenen. Photo courtesy
St Therese’s School.
Winners are grinners: St Brigid’s
winning team. Photo courtesy
St Brigid’s Primary School.
Worthy recipients: The Bursary
winners with the Director of
Catholic Education, Stephen
Elder, the Archbishop of
Melbourne, Denis Hart and
John Hurren, General Manager
of the Catholic Development
Fund. Photo courtesy
Elizabeth Callahan.
Great minds
Imagine trying to open a jar of vegemite without thumbs.
It was a scenario put to seven students from St Brigid’s
School, Healesville, at a recent Tournament of the Minds
competition. After winning the regional and state finals,
St Brigid’s students travelled to Canberra for the
Australasian/Pacific finals, featuring more than 400
teams from across Australia and several from overseas.
St Brigid’s competed in the maths/engineering section
of the challenge. Principal Brett Collison says the
students had to imagine they were from a land where
the inhabitants had no thumbs. “Visitors came to their
land and introduced them to vegemite,” says Mr Collison.
“They managed to get hold of a large supply but found
when the visitors left it was difficult to open the jars
without thumbs.” Students had to build a device to
open the vegemite jars and, without using their thumbs,
demonstrate its effectiveness. Their invention was
made of icy pole sticks, masking tape and the inside
of a masking tape roll. The children then had to write a
script and rehearse and perform a play, all within three
hours. “Everything went well in the presentation,” says
Mr Collison. “The lids came off the jars without a hitch.”
St Brigid’s came second, which was a tremendous
effort by the students and teachers, says Mr Collison.
Catholic Education
14
By golly, it’s a
google
Principal Clare Hilbert says Janelle and her mother
flew to Sydney for the national judging after she won
the Victorian final. She says the whole school community
is proud of her effort.
Janelle describes her Doodle 4 Google logo as such:
“The sun shines brighter here in Australia; upon the sky
and inside each Australian. We are so diverse, it is what
brings us together. By accepting anyone, regardless of
age or race, it makes us Australian.
A student at the School of the Good Shepherd in
Gladstone Park has won a national website competition.
Image above
Janelle San Juan
and her winning entry.
The Doodle 4 Google ‘My Australia’ logo contest
attracted thousands of entries from across Australia,
but Janelle San Juan’s drawing was deemed the best
in the Year 4 to 6 category. Her entry appeared on the
Google homepage on Australia Day.
Déjà vu…
“From the countryside to the city we are always advancing;
we all walk on different paths, but a mate will always be
ready to be at our side. In our open-minded society, we
can be laid-back, but opportunity is forever knocking,
and we can find the chance to do many things only in
Australia. My Australia is not mine. It’s ours.”
The School of the Good Shepherd received $10,000
for Janelle’s win.
years on
W
hen a school organises a reunion, meeting
old friends and acquaintances over a few
drinks is high on the agenda. When a
school celebrates its 150th, as The Academy of Mary
Immaculate, Fitzroy, did in 2007, there is even more
reason to celebrate.
A highlight was
the attendance
of Emeritus
Archbishop
Frank Little,
who had been
associated
with the school
in the past.
The school’s Sports Achievement Night was one of
many memorable functions held throughout the year.
About 500 students, past sports leaders, athletes,
staff and friends of the school were present at the
Collingwood Town Hall on 22 November.
A highlight was the attendance of Emeritus Archbishop
Frank Little, who had been associated with the school
in the past. In 1961, Archbishop Little, then a priest
based at St Patrick’s Cathedral, East Melbourne,
presented Academy’s Sports Captain of the Year
trophy to Kathy (Rogers) Overman.
Academy’s archivist, Dorothy Weekes, set about finding
the former student as the school believed it would make a
nice ‘then and now’ photo. As it turned out, Mrs Overman
had attended several of Academy’s 150th functions during
2007 and was delighted to be asked to the sports night.
Archbishop Little was also reminded about the photo
and the trophy presentation all those years ago. As the
photo shows, it was a heartfelt reunion, sprinkled no
doubt with a lot of reminiscing.
Archbishop Little and Mrs Overman also had the
opportunity to present the 2007 Sportswoman of
the Year Award to Year 8 student, Sylvia Rienks.
The award recognises outstanding contribution,
excellence and leadership.
Image
Hello again: Emeritus
Archbishop Frank Little greets
Kathy Overman with the photo
of their original meeting in the
background. Photo courtesy
Peter Casamento.
15
Standing for
Confidence, Persistence, Resilience, Organisation and Getting Along
P
rincipal Pauline Audley believes St Therese
School, Torquay, has the best of both worlds.
The beachside school is located in one of the
state’s best summer holiday playgrounds and is still
close to major centres such as Geelong.
Apart from being a few streets back from the beach,
St Therese also has a semi-rural feel, evidenced by
the chicken enclosure and the vegetable garden,
both of which are eagerly tended by the children.
A major focus
of the school is
learning for the
21st century
And despite the unavailability of the inground sprinkler
system due to the drought, the large play areas continue
to be major asset, thanks to the efforts of the parents.
The first thing visitors notice are the five colourful bollards
at the entrance. The following key messages are instilled
in the students: Confidence; Getting Along; Persistence;
Resilience; and Organisation. They are taught as part of
the social skills program, says Ms Audley, and are an
important element of the day-to-day teaching.
“A major focus of the school is learning for the 21st
century,” says Ms Audley. “We organise the buildings
and the learning structures around the world we live
in. It’s not just about coming to school and leaning
in an insular environment but more about the internal
and external environment of the classrooms, the world
around us and the children’s role in that world.
Images left to right, top to
bottom
Teacher’s pet: Emma Wright
with her dog Levi and students
Catelyn Ashley and Mia Gross.
Hardboiled: Melissa Melnik with
one of the school’s chooks.
Upfront and personal: School
captains Millie Cooper (front)
and Ruby Johnson with principal
Pauline Audley and deputy
principal Peter Teggelove.
Being smarter: Daisy Johnson
(front), Zoe Spriggs and
Bree Walters use the
interactive smart board.
“There has been an increased focus on new technology
and, in particular, e-learning, with the middle and senior
students. Two smart boards (interactive computer
whiteboards) that were bought with the assistance of
an Australian Government grant have greatly assisted
student learning.”
In keeping with its seaside setting, the school also offers
a surfing program for students in Years 4 to 6. “A lot
of our parents are involved in the surf industry and the
parents are very supportive of what we do in this area,”
says Ms Audley.
Literacy has been a focal point in recent years, adds
literacy coordinator Joanne Zampatti. “The teachers
have worked hard to build activities for students, with
the result that student literacy has improved dramatically.”
Another advantage is the strong cohort of male teachers.
Primary schools traditionally have more female teachers,
but of 14 classes at St Therese in 2008, six have
male teachers.
With a student enrolment of about 330, exciting times
lie ahead for St Therese. Work is due to begin this year
on a large learning area that will involve a shared space
around four classrooms.