What an incredible three weeks we have just seen across the world! And it’s hard to fathom that the deadly COVID-19 pandemic has taken a backward step to any other topic. Yet that is what has happened in light of the very serious issues the Black Lives Matter Movement has raised. 

Scenes in the United States and various protests across many nations (including in various states across Australia) do highlight the overwhelming goodwill that the majority of individuals possess and their wish for enhancements in how people of colour are treated.

Last week Pope Francis denounced the “sin of racism”. In a message read out in Italian and English during his ‘general audience’, His Holiness spoke about the “tragic killing” of George Floyd and expressed concerns about violence during protests, saying it was self-destructive. Importantly he stated: “We cannot close our eyes to any form of racism or exclusion.” As Catholics, he is making critical points regarding how we should deal with one another.

Indeed, America is not alone when we consider the treatment of various races; one need only to consider the issues of indigenous rights and Aboriginal Deaths in custody in Australia. Quite often, very confronting information and data is not spoken about because it raises the proverbial ‘can of worms’, yet for our country to heal collectively, and move forward, we do need to engage with such topics and openly explore Australia’s own behaviour and how we treat our first peoples. 

Bans of various shows on such streaming services as Netflix may provide a reflection on issues such as ‘blackface’ and ‘casual racism’, but real work still needs to be done to combat clear instances of racial discrimination.

At Magdalene we obviously have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to how we deal with issues pertaining to racial intolerance, name calling and/or abuse. I encourage families to talk about their understanding of what is happening in places like America and how we need to make changes to what is being accepted in Australia and how people are and/or should be treated.

I acknowledge it is difficult when some world leaders are not setting good examples and it is also problematic when well-known identities in Australia put forward their own misunderstandings promoting flawed responses like “All lives Matter”. The fact is, racial bigotry does exist in Australia and it is everyone’s responsibility to recognise that the priority starts with those individuals or groups who are currently being discriminated against, are marginalised and/or experience institutionalised issues of racism. As Catholics, how can we raise the bar and reach out to those in need?

NEW UNIFORM & SECOND-HAND UNIFORM ITEMS

Once again, I remind all families that changes are afoot. From 2021 a new College Uniform will be introduced (both sport & academic). Year 7 2021, Year 10 2021 and Year 11 2021 will all be impacted and will need to move over to the new Uniform.

While students in Years 8 2021, Year 9 2021 and Year 9 2022 will not be required to purchase the new uniform they will have the option of moving over to the uniform if they wish.

Students joining the Senior School (this will start at Year 10 from 2021 onwards) will be required to wear the Senior Uniform.

Our current Year 11 2020 (Year 12 2021) students will not be affected.

All new uniform items will be available for purchase from the College later in the year from our Noone Store (pronounced noon) – which will be on-site.

In the interim, if there are any families with second-hand uniform items who wish to donate them back to the College, they are very welcome to do so. Items can be brought directly in to the College Office for collection.

END OF DAY STAGGERED FINISH

Arrangements for Year 7-9 parents/carers to collect students earlier of an afternoon will continue for Week 8. These arrangements may well continue for the remainder of the term until we get back to greater normality and fears of COVID-19 dissipate.

REMINDER ABOUT DRIVING TO SCHOOL 

In recent weeks we have had to speak to a few senior students about safely driving to and from the College, and their behaviour while in the Senior Car Park. This is extremely unfortunate and very unusual. The right to drive to and park on College grounds remains a privilege, and therefore can be removed. I also remind parents/carers about the need to drive safely and within the speed limit, both before and after school and whilst on or around College grounds.

CHEWING GUM

Chewing gum is not allowed at the College under any circumstances. Students have been reminded of this especially in relation to COVID-19 hygiene requirements; it is unsanitary and unfair for staff to have to remove gum from the bottom of chairs, tables, on carpets and other places around the College playground. We are very fortunate at Magdalene to have beautiful surroundings. As such, we are currently considering expanding consequences for the bringing and chewing of gum at school.

CAMP AND RETREAT PROGRAMME

I am very excited to announce that the Retreats and Camps (Years 7, 9 and 11) that were scheduled for 2020 will be rescheduled and will occur in 2021.

INTERSCHOOL AND MISA SPORT / CULTURAL EVENTS

I am equally excited to announce that as far as we know MISA Sport of a Tuesday afternoon is set to return in Term 3. See Sport announcements later in this Newsletter. Also note that the decision has been made that a truncated MISA Debating Competition will occur in Term 3 – great news for our Year 7 and 8 Debating Teams.

YEAR 11 2021 SUBJECT SELECTIONS

I would like to thank Mr Bubb, Mr Houghton, Ms Phillips, Mrs Dobbie and all the staff who were involved in preparations for subject selections for next year’s Year 11 subjects. Parents/carers of Year 10 2020 be sure to look out for relevant Compass notifications regarding this. I am hearing about great excitement and interest amongst our current Year 10s.

I thank all families for their ongoing support of our staff and the College as we move into our fourth week now of ‘normal’ face-to-face teaching.

Prayer

Loving and forgiving God, we come to You today recognising that in matters of ethnicity we have no choice – we are who we have been made to be. Before You we rejoice at our diversity, and our hearts lift at Your great vision of a worshipping multitude gathered from every nation, tribe, people and language. But nonetheless we recognise that our present reality is very far from this ideal.

Some of us have been born white, in a world where whiteness confers privilege. Others of us have been born black, in a world where darker skin carries disadvantage. We know that this is not the world as You would have it be, but it is our world, and it has been our experience.

None of us asked for our skin colour, none of us asked to be born the heirs of oppression, none of us asked to inherit power or powerlessness.

So before You, and in the name of Jesus Christ who loves all people equally, regardless of ethnicity, gender or social status, we come now to recommit ourselves to your vision of the world.

We come now to pray ‘Your kingdom come, on earth as it is in heaven’, and to offer ourselves once to live out Your coming kingdom of equality and justice in our lives, in our churches, and in our communities.

And so we confess our own complicity in the status quo which divides and distorts humanity. As we pray, we ask that You will release us from guilt, and will help us to find ways of laying down the burdens we have inherited.

Help us to discover our true and rightful place within the new humanity created in Christ Jesus. All races together, we confess that we have sinned, and that we have fallen short of the glory of God.

We confess our failures to speak out against injustice. We confess those times when, as individuals and as churches, we have witnessed the fracturing of humanity along ethnic grounds, and yet have remained silent. We confess those times when we have been the powerful ones and have chosen to withhold that power whilst another human suffered.

We confess the sin of exclusion, the abuse of power to oppress and demean. May those of us who have ourselves experienced exclusion be the first to speak up for others. May we create spaces for reconciliation.

We pray for our churches. May they become places of reconciliation, where each human soul is valued, and where equality in Christ is a reality in our midst. Forgive us those times where we do not live out our calling as Your people. May our churches model the new humanity of Christ to those in the communities where we live.

We pray for our communities. Where there is division, may we bring restoration. Where there is inequality may we bring justice. Where there is powerlessness may we lift up the broken hearted. Where there is damage may we bring healing.

Loving and forgiving God, hear our confession, hear the desires of our hearts to be different, grant us Your forgiveness, and remake us according to the likeness of Christ.

Finally, we pray particularly for our brothers and sisters of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent. We ask for the power of Your Holy Spirit to heal those that have suffered and continue to suffer injustice. Help all of us to be a force for good in recognising the true dignity of every human being and to walk together with each other towards compassion, forgiveness, reconciliation and love.

Amen.