GOALS & FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Do your sons and/or daughters have clear understandings about what it takes to succeed?

Recently I attended a conference on Contemporary Education and the notion of excellence in schools was raised. A presenter spoke at length about the importance of a students’ engagement in the classroom. This topic caught my attention because the speaker talked about, amongst other things, parental/carer engagement with their children. The presenter asked educators to estimate the percentage of parents/carers in their school who had recently (in the last month) spoken to their children about: a) their academic goals, and b) their career aspirations.

To be honest, I was a little perplexed by the question/s and had to think hard about an accurate response. I would like to hope that there are regular conversations happening about topics like these between parents/carers and their children. However, I’m also aware that the busyness of life can certainly impact on the quantity of time that families have available to discuss such issues (and let’s face it, some teenagers do tend to save their energy for conversations with their peers.) In the end, I estimated over 80% of our parents/carers have had those conversations. But how accurate am I?

At the start of each year students at Magdalene are given the opportunity to create their own academic goals. Often these goals are then tweaked and refined at the start of each term, yet I do wonder how willingly students share these goals with their families? So, for those who’ve already had these conversations what responses are you receiving and are these answers consistent with where you thought your children were at? I look forward to continuing to write about and discuss this matter in future newsletters.

OPEN DAY

Thank you to everyone involved in our recent Open Day. Here is a brief rundown of key numbers:

• We had in excess of 900 visitors on the night (even in spite of the need for bookings and stricter Covid-safe arrangements)
• Over 250 student volunteers gave up their time to assist, run tours and/or be involved in activities
• Over 70 staff were in attendance
• Well over 100 student-led tours occurred during the night
• Over 400 application packs were distributed
• Countless Sausage sizzles were handed out and well received by our guests (thank you to our wonderful P & F volunteers)
• Over 300 donuts were made by our Hospitality students. Not surprisingly, 0 were left at the end of the night.
• Almost 100 Science experiments were carried out during the event.

STAFF VERSUS STUDENTS’ OZTAG & SAUSAGE SIZZLE

On Wednesday 10 March the second of our staff versus student matches of the year occurred on our Main Oval. Thank you to all staff and numerous students either involved in the match and/or preparing the sausage sandwiches; hundreds were sold! In terms of the match, the students went out to an early 3 tries to nil lead but the staff fought back admirably to end up with a hard fought 5-5 draw. Other staff versus student matches – an initiative of our 2021 student leaders – will occur throughout the year.

On this occasion all funds went towards CARITAS and Project Compassion. Well done all!

NAPLAN ONLINE

Parents/Carers/Students of Year 7 and 9 please note:

Please note that NAPLAN Online will return this year. Students in both Year 7 and Year 9 will complete practice tests in Weeks 9/10. There is nothing to worry about or prepare for in terms of these practice tests, but they do help us test our online systems and students get a chance to see how to complete these tests on their laptops.

Each Year Group has been. and will continue to be spoken to, about key steps from here. See Ms Phillips’ further information in this newsletter.

PRAYER:

Lord, at this time of Lent we need our hearts to be continually renewed. This is Your work. We invite You to make our hearts Your home. May Your life in us attract others to You.

PSALM 121: Song of Ascents

I lift up my eyes to the mountains; where is my help to come from?

My help comes from Yahweh who made heaven and earth.

May He save your foot from stumbling; may He, your guardian, not fall asleep!

You see - He neither sleeps nor slumbers, the guardian of Israel.

Yahweh is your guardian, your shade, Yahweh, at your right hand.

By day the sun will not strike you, nor the moon by night.

Yahweh guards you from all harm, Yahweh guards your life,

Yahweh guards your comings and goings, henceforth and for ever.

This Psalm fits in very well with Bishop Ambrose’s 4^th Century call for atonement and renewal:

O Lord, who hast mercy upon all,

Take away from me my sins,

And mercifully kindle in me

The fire of thy Holy Spirit.

Take away from me the heart of stone, 

And give me a heart of flesh,

A heart to love and adore Thee, 

A heart to delight in Thee

And to follow and enjoy Thee.

For Christ’s sake, Amen

• Ambrose of Milan, 4th century bishop