WHAT’S BEHIND A DOOR?

This is the door to my Year 10 RE class. Lovely, isn’t it?  But what’s it all about?

As part of Reconciliation Week, and before National Sorry Day, we produced some wonderful displays on our classroom doors that responded to the theme of Reconciliation Week: “From Now to Next.”.

In my Year 10 class, we began our enquiry into what to do by asking ourselves: “What is Catholic Reconciliation about?” Of course, it is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic church. It is a time to be absolved of our sins by God, by confessing them to a priest.  

Well, what has that to do with Aboriginal Reconciliation? This point led to connection that as an Australian society, we need to “confess” what we need to be absolved of.  Some of the things we discussed were:

• Racism in sport and how it still hurts the Aboriginal people that it is directed to;
• The disposition from lands that are important to Aboriginal communities;
• The hurt that some Aboriginal people feel after the vote “No” in the recent referendum;
• Artifacts that were taken from Aboriginal communities;
• Educational and health outcomes for Aboriginal people from the “Closing the Gap” report that are still to be fulfilled.

Of course this is not a comprehensive list, but a great insight into our students awareness of the challenges requiring further work.

For the “Next” to be different to the “Now”, reconciliation has to occur.  Truth telling that leads to empathy and understanding will see our “Next” be very much brighter that our “Now .

In the community of students at St James Catholic College, I see the young adults of the not too distant future who will be agents of change for the better.  Thanks to their education, they hear the stories, not just with their heads in an intellectual way, but with their hearts, which will lead them to speak and act in just ways.

Bishop Gauci of the Diocese of Darwin said recently, “Reconciliation requires us to admit what has been wrong. But it also asks us to be resilient – to work together for justice and for dignity of every human being.” He goes on to say that, “Reconciliation remains not just a national priority, but a Gospel imperative.”

My prayer is for our students; to know that imperative and act for it.

PRAYER GARDEN

Between the main office and the early years classrooms is a little narrow cavity which is our college prayer garden. It was built some 15 years ago initially by a class that I taught life skills in. Over the years it's been added to and one very special way that it's been added to is by plaques placed at the back of the prayer garden to remember individuals that were important to our college that have passed away.

My invitation to the community is to ask if there are any people who are dear to you and were members of our college community that you would like added to our prayer garden. If so please e-mail me on sjcc.principal@catholic.tas.edu.au

SCHOOL CLOSURE 

From time to time, due to extreme weather or other unforeseen circumstances, school may need to be cancelled for the day.  Please be aware of how this happens and how it is communicated:

In a nutshell, Mrs Elizabeth Radnidge and Mr Joe Sandric review the weather/incident by 7am, Joe makes the decision then contacts other colleges and buses in our region. Mr Brett Tanner contacts staff via email and text by 7.15am and Mrs Sharlene Duggan contacts families via compass and text by 7.15am.

BUS TRAVEL CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

Over the course of 2021, our students, with a selection from Cygnet Primary, worked on a code of behaviour for bus travel.  You would have seen this before and this code has seen bus travel more ordered and safe in recent years, but I post it again for your information:

FOR STUDENTS…

I understand that my behaviour and attitude while travelling on buses impacts on the safety, comfort and wellbeing of myself, the driver and all other passengers.  While travelling on the school buses:

FOR FAMILIES…

I acknowledge that travelling on the school bus is a privilege and not a right, and that inappropriate behaviour on the bus affects the safety of the driver and all passengers.

If walking my child(ren) to and from the bus stop, I will deliver and collect my child(ren) on the same side of the road as they board or exit the bus.

If I drive my child(ren) to and from the bus, I will park my vehicle in a safe location on the opposite side of the road from the bus stop.  I will cross the road to meet my children when they exit the bus and escort them safely back to my vehicle once the bus has resumed its journey.

I understand the above Code of Student Behaviour and have discussed these expectations with my child(ren).  I understand that failure to comply with the Code of behaviour may place others at risk.  I understand that the following process will be followed by the schools if my child(ren) do not comply with the Code of Behaviour:

1. A first offence will result in a written letter of warning, stating the inappropriate behaviour
2. A second offence, even if different to the first, will result in a three-day suspension from bus travel, communicated in writing and stating the inappropriate behaviour
3. A third offence or serious physical assault will result in a two-week suspension from bus travel, communicated in writing and stating the inappropriate behaviour

My child(ren) using the school bus services implies that our family agrees

to comply with all aspects of this agreement.