From the APRE Desk
….experiencing FAITH in the Mercy Tradition
Welcome back to Term 3! I hope you had the opportunity to rest and recuperate over the break and are ready for another busy and fulfilling term.
Last week, the Yr 4/5/6 students and staff took part in the NAIDOC Week Liturgy at St Saviour’s College. We were welcomed with the smoking ceremony, a welcome to country, a traditional dance from Dauan Island, and a talk from Paul Carmody, lecturer in First Nations studies at Uni SQ. We all learnt so much about the strong connections to Country and how connected our First Australians are. It was such a valuable learning opportunity. Thank you to the staff of SSC for giving us the opportunity.
Next week, we begin a week-long celebration of Catholic Education in Queensland for 2024. Celebrated annually in week 3 of term 3, Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for all 312 Catholic schools in Queensland to celebrate and promote their distinctive mission and ethos.
Catholic education strives to make a difference in the lives of those in our schools and in the wider community by challenging young people to live out the message of Jesus and to reach their full potential as compassionate, contributing, life-giving members of society.
The theme this year is Communities of Faith, Hope & Love, and as part of our school celebrations, we are coming together to celebrate Mass on Wednesday 24th July 9am at St Patrick’s Cathedral. Our theme is “Celebrating diversity through love” where we will acknowledge our culturally diverse community and that we are all one community loved by God. You are all welcome to join us.
On Friday 26th July, all staff in Toowoomba Catholic Schools will come together for a professional day of learning at St Mary’s College. This Bishop’s Inservice day is an opportunity to hear from Bishop Ken, our guest speaker and to celebrate Mass together (approx. 1000 people). It’s always a very worthwhile day as we all come together to celebrate the “why we work in Catholic schools”.
It is during this week that, as a whole staff, we take the time to reflect on our role within Catholic Education. A child recently said to me, “You’ve got a good life, hey? As a teacher you get to work and hang out with kids each day. That’s cool. And you also get to do the work of Jesus... That’s a good life.” My reply, “Yes, it certainly is” and I’m very blessed to be working and living my faith each day. I am where I’m meant to be and that’s worth celebrating.
SSPS Pastoral Care – If you know someone who is in need in our community, please let us know how we can provide practical helping hand to them. It could be as simple as a accessing warm uniforms, a phone call, arranging transport or providing networks of support. Thank you for assisting us to be able to reach out to those families. Give the office a call on 46 371 700 or email me on ann-maree.ward@twb.catholic.edu.au
Date claimers:
Week 2 Friday 19th July – Wear your Pyjamas to school for the day to fundraise for the Pyjama Foundation. Gold coin donation please.
Week 3 Wednesday 24th July – 9am Whole school Mass; Friday 26th July – Student free day,
Enjoy a great week and thanks for reading.
Ann-Maree