Greater Normality

As greater normality returns to College life it is great to see students giving their best and showing notable achievements. One need only read the remainder of this newsletter (and view the various images) to see how students are excelling in academic, cultural, extra-curricular and sporting domains. I therefore commend students on their aptitude and willingness to be involved in College life.

I also thank Mr O’Neill for his reflection later in this newsletter on how Mary Magdalene can inspire us to live a full life.

World Teachers’ Day

Today we celebrate all teachers on World Teachers’ Day and I thank all our staff for their wonderful commitment and ongoing outstanding work. I continue to be impressed by their hard work and their dedication to our young people.

College Uniform

I’m pleased to say that further information (and graphics) regarding the College Uniform (Yr 7 2021, Yr 10 2021 and Yr 11 2021) will be sent out by Compass in the coming week. Be sure to look out for this and contact the College if you have any queries.

Faith in the Future

Earlier today I attended a virtual conference on “Faith in the Future” run by the National Catholic Education Commission.

Following an introduction from Sydney’s Archbishop Anthony Fisher, the first speaker Dr Professor Carol Campbell, a Scot currently at the University of Toronto, filled me with great confidence in terms of what we are doing here at Magdalene. Indeed, it is clear that the College’s plans for the future are in keeping with international movements and research in the areas of quality learning and teaching.

In speaking about the importance of Professional Learning for teachers, Campbell would be impressed by the Professional Learning Teams (PLTs) that exist among our staff. Admittedly, the nature of this COVID-19 impacted year has stalled some of the achievements in 2020, but there is considerable momentum among our teachers (and our teaching) moving into 2021 which will bring about tangible improvements in the outcomes of our students.

Campbell’s focus on the importance of quality pedagogy and evaluation has definitely been accentuated during the period of remote learning, and it has been identified by our own staff in recent months as an area for attention. Our College document, “Students at the Centre” articulates what we hold as critical to quality teaching and learning and therefore quite rightfully becomes the focus for the Professional Learning and the subject matter of our PLT and staff meetings. So, all in all, I walked away from Campbell’s presentation thinking we are on the right track.

The second speaker Professor John Haldane, another Scot, but this one currently employed by the Australian Catholic University, spoke more from a faith dimension but included some fascinating insights. In particular, Haldane spoke about the distinction between optimism and hope.

Some of what Haldane stated might be regarded as slightly controversial, but he wanted to emphasise that, as the life of many young people is often a troubled reality, that sometimes society accentuates this through a flawed understanding that life is meant to be perpetually positive. He pondered about the messages that our young people are given and that messages of being overly optimistic is not always as helpful as it might initially be thought.

Being honest and open and speaking about realities of life, (chaos, loss, challenge) alongside the hope that faith provides, can be incredibly powerful. Haldane spoke about the idea that teachers in Catholic Schools, because they are ‘engines for faith’ and in helping young people discern their own values, are absolutely vital. Thus, fittingly, on World Teachers’ Day, Haldane commented on teachers playing a critical role in nurturing young people and helping them create their own identities.

Appropriately, as the College moves into 2021, an area that we will be exploring as a staff is the break down between evangelisation and catechesis and how we can continue to play vital roles in the lives of young people in our care. Our youth are craving positive role models and lifegiving / hope-filled messages – but, as Haldane stresses, the challenge will be to get right the balance between overly optimistic messages when we live in such an uncertain world. A tough but important task.

PRAYER:

In thinking about the future of Catholic schooling, and mindful of the fact that Catholic schools have now been in Australia for over 200 years, the following prayer gives thanks to all involved in our schools:

God of all time - yesterday, today and tomorrow,

For nearly two hundred years, in this great Southern Land of the Holy Spirit, You have inspired in generations of believers the vision for Catholic schools.

We give thanks to You, the Source of wisdom and inspiration, for the passion of teachers who spark the curiosity of their students; for those who open their students’ hearts and minds to the mystery and wonder of the world and nature.

We thank You for the passion and creativity of students in their search for truth and beauty, in their search for what is right and good.

We thank You for school leaders who ensure our schools are places where Catholic faith and learning go hand in hand.

We thank You for the passion and service of administrative and support staff who ensure our schools are well organised, friendly and welcoming to all.

We thank You for the passion of our priests, the bearers of the Good News leading and educating us to prayer and the celebration of the sacraments.

We thank You for the passion, love and sacrifice of parents, carers and local communities as they work together to ensure a Catholic education for their children.

We pray that our Catholic schools, today and tomorrow, will continue their work in God’s mission, spreading the Joy of the Gospel so we may know and love the world as God’s creation, cherish justice, live life in response to God’s call, and serve to ensure the common good in society, now and into the future.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen