The Coracle
Term Two, Week 5

Junior School

This term we were fortunate to have members of the Defence Force join us for our first R-12 Anzac Day Liturgy, held in the College gymnasium on Wednesday 28 April. During the Liturgy, representatives from 7RAR formed a Catafalque Party around the cross and spoke to us about the significance of Anzac Day. It was a very moving occasion where students from our Defence families led the Liturgy in a respectful and honourable manner. Students placed wreaths at the foot of the cross in remembrance of members of the Australian Army, Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Airforce who have given their lives in the promotion of peace. During the prayers, small rosemary branches were presented as a sign of remembrance of the past, gratitude for the present and hope for the future.

Another special occasion this term was our Mother’s Day Liturgy, celebrated on Monday 10 May in the Junior School. The lifting of COVID restrictions meant that we could invite our Mums and caregivers to the Liturgy and following this, an afternoon tea to say ‘thank you’ for all they do. This Liturgy was led beautifully by the Year 1 students and attended by about 50 caregivers and their children. They were also given roses as a sign of appreciation for their love and care.

Mrs Jane Bailey | Head of Spirituality R-5

Middle/Senior School

200 Years of Catholic Education – Faith in the Future

This year schools across Australia are celebrating 200 years of Catholic Education!

The first Catholic school was established in Parramatta, October 1820, by Irish Catholic priest, Fr John Therry. Here in Adelaide, the Therry Theatre Company is named after him. Over this time, Catholic schools have grown to become the largest provider of schooling in Australia (outside government) with one in five school age students attending a Catholic school. This represents 777,000 students in 1,755 schools across the country and employing over 100,000 teachers and staff.

On the Monday 24 May, the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, patron of Australia Mass was celebrated across the nation to celebrate this event.  School representatives around Adelaide gathered at St Francis Xavier Cathedral to celebrate Mass with Archbishop Patrick O’Regan.
 

Combined Anglican Schools Worship Service

On Tuesday 18 May, House Captains from the Middle School and the Year 6 SRC members represented the College at the Combined Anglican Schools Worship at St Peter’s Cathedral in the city. These students attended workshops that included listening to Bishop Chris about Reconciliation, writing scriptural quotes in chalk on the footpath outside the Cathedral, and learning songs. The day concluded with a Prayer Service together. 

Ms Eugenia Stopyra | Director of Spirituality 6-12

Term 2 commenced with all staff participating in professional learning about The Berry Street Education Model. This is a Trauma-Informed Positive Education initiative. The program is a strengths-based approach designed to inform and guide teacher practice and student learning, engagement, and psycho-social functioning. The key focus of our first session was “Body” and how we can assist students to learn how to regulate themselves. It was reassuring to hear that many of our school initiatives already support this self-regulation, eg, breakfast club, brain breaks, mindfulness activities, our healthy wrapper-free food focus and access to water in classrooms.

Congratulations to the following students on their healthy wrapper-free lunchboxes! They will go in the draw with other students for a healthy canteen surprise.

   

 

 

Thank you to our families who attended our Three Way Learning Conversations either face to face or via phone calls during weeks 2 and 3. We appreciate your partnership in student learning.

NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy) was successfully completed over the last two weeks and we thank Mrs Michelle Arthur and Year 3 & 5 staff and additional staff who assisted to ensure the tests ran smoothly in the Junior School.

This term our children have been involved in a range of incursions and excursions including the Year 1 Climbing Tree Incursion, the Year 3 Nature Play Excursion, the Reception Gorge Wildlife Park Excursion and the Year 4 Excursion to the Central Market and St Francis Xavier Cathedral. These opportunities are linked to the classroom curriculum and enable our students to transfer their skills and knowledge into real life contexts and experiences.

Mrs Julie Hancock | Head of Junior School

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ANZAC Day

Upon returning from the holiday break, we commenced the Term 2 with a wonderful R-12 ANZAC Day Liturgy in the gym on Wednesday 28 April. The occasion was an important time for us as a community to pay respect to our past and present service men and women.  A highlight for the ceremony was the involvement of an Australian Army Catafalque party.  It was great to see our students display respect and reverence during this time.

NAPLAN

This term our Year 7 and 9 students completed testing for NAPLAN (National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy). Overall, the students engaged in the process positively and we hope that the information we gain from this will have a positive impact on student learning into the future. I would like to thank our Assistant Principal - Teaching and Learning, Mr Dan Stratford for his hard work and commitment in facilitating this.

Saint Columba Day!

In Week 7 of this term we will have our annual celebration of Saint Columba, the patron of our College. On Saint Columba Day, Wednesday 9 June, we will be commencing the day with an R-12 Liturgy followed by a College fete. Students across Years 6 –12 will be running both food and activity-based stalls in their House groups. The Junior School students will have a great opportunity to participate in the fete and enjoy the festivities of the day, too.  To conclude the day, we have House-based activities planned.

I hope everyone in our community remains fit and healthy was we move into the winter season.

Mr Shane Dowling | Head of Middle School

It has been great to see our Year 11 and 12 students so ready to re-engage with their learning and work with their teachers to achieve personal goals since receiving their Term 1 Progress Reports. It has also been a delight to see how all students have responded in positive ways to their school work after attending a Three Way Learning Conversation. If you have not had a chance to read your child’s report, they are located on SEQTA, or you can contact the Senior School administration who can arrange a printed copy for you. We welcome you to connect with your child’s teacher/s about their progress if you did miss a 3WLC session.

Across this term, multiple excursions have taken place which have enabled students to explore, extend and enrich their learning and see real world application of their studies. A highlight was the Road Awareness Program (RAP) that was presented at the College by the Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS) on Monday 10 May. This was a powerful, hard-hitting road safety presentation delivered by firefighters to young and new drivers across South Australia. It actively engaged and empowered our Year 11 students with its core message: “You get to choose the risk; but you don’t get to choose the consequences”.  

Another highlight of the term has been the new outdoor seating near the canteen and under the main admin shelter in the Senior School. This has been relished by students and helped create a positive environment during their breaks; giving them a space to meet, eat, talk and interact with friends. Given the heavy study season that’s ahead for our seniors, planning breaks that include getting some fresh air will prove essential for wellbeing and set students up for success.

Mrs Deirdre Walters | Head of Senior School