Welcome Back to Term Two

We look forward to a very exciting term with, apart from ongoing learning and teaching happening across the College, many varied events planned. These opportunities include such things as a new MISA season, various curriculum excursions (across multiple years and/or classes), LIVE events, our Athletics Carnival, the MISA Dance festival, Public Speaking and Debating Competitions, Diocesan sporting events and gala days and in Week 9 – Magdalene Shines (in our new Hall!)

Given the prevalence of COVID-19 cases, we continue to ask for your support in following CEO and NSW Health directives and being as sensible as possible. The College continues to strongly recommend vaccines and, for those who are eligible, being up to date with booster shots. Please see my recent Compass announcement which outlined recent NSW Government changes to self-isolation rules for household contacts. Effectively, staff and students who are close/household contacts and have no symptoms may continue to attend school in line with the following requirements:

• They must notify the school that they are intending to return under this provision.
• They should conduct a daily rapid antigen test (RAT) and return a negative result each morning before attending school for 5 school days (results do NOT need to be provided to the school).
• Impacted staff and/or students must wear a mask indoors except when eating or exercising.

We thank you for your support and continue to maintain our approach that students or staff exhibiting visible flu or cold-like symptoms must not be at school.

ANZAC DAY

You can read our Vice Captain’s Report later in this newsletter, but I am very thankful to the numerous Magdalene students who participated in the Camden ANZAC Day March on Monday. By all reports, students looked very presentable and took the day seriously, and with real reverence, as befits this important National Day of Remembrance. Thank you to Mr Bubb for organising the students on this day.

On Tuesday we commemorated the day with our own College ANZAC Ceremony. The College had its own Catafalque Party and even a bugler participating in the College Assembly. Speeches and prayers were said, a wreath laid, the National Anthem sung, the Last Post played, the Ode recited and there was a Minute’s silence. Thanks to Mrs Phillips for her organisation of this ceremony.  I also note how meaningful it was to see various Magdalene staff and students being remembered on the ANZAC Day Honour Roll. Lest We Forget!

PINK STUMPS DAY

Photographs of today’s event will be shared in our next newsletter. In the meantime, I commend our students and staff for participating wholeheartedly in this important fundraiser; a fundraiser which included novelty games, a BBQ, the sale of “Pink Stumps” merchandise and a staff versus student cricket match.

I include the following information from the official Pink Stumps Day website: 

“The McGrath Foundation raises money to fund McGrath Breast Care Nurses who provide invaluable support and care to women and men experiencing breast cancer. From diagnosis right throughout treatment, McGrath Breast Care Nurses are available to help individuals and their families for free and with no referral.

No cancer treatment is without its challenges, but this is where a McGrath Breast Care Nurse can help. They listen, guide and support people with breast cancer and their families every day through meaningful conversations, advice and quality care.

A McGrath Breast Care Nurse builds an important relationship with each person they support. They become a trusted, consistent and knowledgeable point-of-contact. As professional and qualified nurses, they care for people with both early and metastatic breast cancer, across both public and private health services. They are available for free and without a referral. It’s as simple as checking our website and finding your nearest nurse.” 

As you can see, it is an incredibly meaningful charity and one which I believe is worthy of our support. More information can be found on https://www.pinkstumpsday.com.au/ and we will share our fundraising efforts in the next newsletter.

ALIVE and TWILIGHT event

Tonight, the first LIVE Twilight Retreat (Youth Ministry Event) in nearly a year at Magdalene will be occurring.

Over 120 students from Years 7 to 12 have already registered for the event and we fully expect it will be a most worthwhile evening.

Details will be shared in the next newsletter. In the interim, I thank students for their broad support and especially Mr Collins for his organisation.

PRAYER

In light of ANZAC DAY occurring earlier in the week we submit the following prayers:

A prayer for peace: 

Almighty God may your grace enable us, in honour of ANZAC Day, to dedicate ourselves to the cause of justice, freedom and peace; and give us the wisdom and strength to build a better world. Let us pray to the Lord. 

A prayer for our Defence Force Personnel: 

Eternal God, the only source of peace, we pray for all our defence and auxiliary personnel, those who have laid down their lives for us in the cause of freedom, especially members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps with their family and friends, that they may always know God’s closeness to them, and live forever with the peace that only Christ can give. Let us pray to the Lord.

A prayer for those who suffer because of war: 

Father of Mercies, we pray for all those who suffer through the wars of nations. Comfort their hearts, uphold their faith, and grant them peace. We especially pray that common sense and the cause of humanity will dictate what ultimately happens in Ukraine. We pray that the greater good will be at the forefront of the discernment of World Leaders. Let us pray to the Lord. 

A prayer for refugees and those in need:

Dear Lord, we pray all people who have been driven from their homelands because of war and terror, may they find safety and lasting refuge. Let us pray to the Lord. 

[Adapted from: https://www.banyonundahcatholic.org.au/]