FEAST DAY ACTIVITIES FINALLY GOES AHEAD

It is wonderful to finally have some fine weather and to be able to hold the activities today (usually assigned to Magdalene feast day).

I have included some photos here of the afternoon.

I commend our students and staff on the impressive way in which they entered the spirit and fun of the day.

OFFICIAL OPENING

The official opening for our Multi-purpose classrooms and Hall will occur on Thursday, September 1.

We look forward to the morning and welcoming our official guests including our Director, Mr Peter Hill and Bishop Mascord.

STAFFING

Another update on staffing will be provided to the community by Compass in the coming days.

In the meanwhile, I thank the following staff who have already stepped up to important roles whilst Mrs Forner is on leave:

+ Mr Matt Bubb - Acting Pastoral Care Cordinator

+ Mrs Katerina Cordina – Acting Year 12 Coordinator

+ Ms Rachel Gavin – Acting Year 12 Assistant Coordinator

LITERACY MATTERS (from our Literacy Instructional Coach)

With exams approaching now is the time to monitor the way we make notes for revision.

Important to deepening our comprehension of information we read involves the way notes are taken to summarise and organise information.

Walter Pauk of Cornell University identified six important features for taking notes for greater transference. They are the "5Rs & S".

1. Record notes;

2. Reduce the ideas by reviewing notes within 24 hours and phase these ideas into questions;

3. Recite the information aloud by answering these questions;

4. Reflect by asking oneself how well the information is understood;

5. Review during study lessons; and

6. Summarise the main ideas.

Note-taking offers accelerated recall of information, building greater confidence in knowledge and assisting to alleviate exam anxiety due to unpreparedness and disorganisation.

Now might be a great time to enter into a conversation about “how are your notes going? And “what do they look like?”

PRAYER

Despite the many challenges which life can throw at us, it is also important that we pause and give thanks for that which we do have. I include here a prayer for gratitude from Kelli Mahoney:

Show My Gratitude

Thank you, Lord, for the blessings you have bestowed on my life. You have provided me with more than I could ever have imagined. You have surrounded me with people who always look out for me. You have given me family and friends who bless me every day with kind words and actions. They lift me up in ways that keep my eyes focused on you and make my spirit soar.

Also, thank you, Lord, for keeping me safe. You protect me from those things that seem to haunt others. You help me make better choices and provide me with advisors to help me with life's difficult decisions. You speak to me in so many ways so that I always know you are here.

And Lord, I am so grateful for keeping those around me safe and loved. I hope that you provide me with the ability and sense to show them every day how much they matter. I hope that you give me the ability to give to them the same kindness they have provided to me.

I am extremely grateful for all of your blessings in my life, Lord. I pray that you remind of just how blessed I am and that you never allow me to forget to show my gratitude in prayer and returned acts of kindness.

• Amen