PINK STUMPS DAY

A heartfelt thanks goes out to the Magdalene community for their collaboration and passionate commitment to raise funds for the McGrath Foundation. COVID-19 has made it extremely difficult to raise funds and so it was wonderful that the community was able to raise over $3500 to go towards funding nurses for breast care patients. The Magdalene community’s commitment to alleviate human suffering highlights our collaboration and unique gift to raise others up when life conditions are challenging.

I particularly thank Mrs Taccone for her organisation of the day, all staff involved, and students who were involved in cricket, coin lines, the BBQ, accessorising in pink, getting involved and purchasing scrunchies and doughnuts. She won’t like me mentioning it, but I also thank my wife Joanne who made and donated over 200 pink scrunchies for students to purchase.

Furthermore, thank you to students, staff and all employees for the pride and dedication to the way in which they have approached the beginning of the school year. Attention to the little things such as dress, interactions with others and work efforts to achieve personal best exhibit how Magdalene can meaningfully and positively impact the quality-of-life experience. As a close friend of mind, often reminds me: “it’s the small things that matter and make all the difference.” So, students’ polite warm greetings to one another, the following of uniform and grooming guidelines, volunteering to help others, getting involved in community events and recognising that commitment to study including homework are great learning behaviours for living out the Magdalene Way.

Thank you also needs to go to our parents and carers. It’s fair to say that the ebb and flow of our daily activities can be challenging at times, and the variety of things that occur in our lives can be viewed as simultaneously exhausting yet remarkable. However, what comes from this is the true beauty and significant impact you have on raising young people of heart and character … and this matters!

May the spirit of Mary Magdalene continue to be embraced and lived out so that we can build and support a truly caring society in which we live.

MAGDALENE CATHOLIC COLLEGE PARENTS AND FRIENDS (P & F) ASSOCIATION

Thank you to the parents and carers who, on Tuesday night, attended our first P & F meeting & AGM for the year. I congratulate Mr David Cornett (President), Mr Pablo Medina (Treasurer) and Mrs Angela Young (Secretary) on their respective reappointments. Each has a real love for Magdalene and wants the very best for both our College and our students; I therefore thank them for their work and efforts in 2020 and look forward to what can be achieved in 2021. A range of issues were discussed on the night and we continue to encourage all families to attend future evenings and support the P & F wherever possible.

SWIMMING CARNIVAL

I am excited that the College Swimming Carnival for 2021 will still go ahead. Unfortunately, we have had to make significant changes to the way in which it will be run this year, but I’m glad that many students will still get to enjoy the day.

Thus, due to COVID-19 restrictions, and our desire to have a COVID-19 friendly and safe event, the decision has been made to limit the number of students who will attend. As such, Years 12, 11 and 7 will all attend as well as competitors in other year groups.

It will be a relatively normal school day for non-competitors in Years 8, 9 and 10 back at school. Work will be set on Google classroom for students to complete in various classrooms around the College.

PRAYER

This week we have two prayers.

Firstly, a prayer for all of our Magdalene students, staff and families.

Lord, thank you for the blessings of life that the Magdalene community desires to commit to each day.

May, through a compassionate lens, we fully live out our personal best, knowing that our contributions create a place of peace, calm, positivity and prosperity.

Thank you, Lord, for blessing our community with a family that embraces the ‘I can’ attitude which brings so much personal joy into our daily life experiences.

May we ask for continued blessings into our future and the lives of all students who come into our care.

Amen

Secondly, in light of Sunday being Valentine’s Day (a day initially in honour of Saint Valentine, the Christian martyr) I offer the following Saint Valentine’s Day Prayer ‘with a twist’ and a focus on our Lord: