Each week the College staff have the opportunity to participate in Chapel prayer employing a Lectio Divina prayer ritual. This is led by Mr Tony Haintz, Assistant Principal Catholic School Culture, and is a wonderful experience for staff to connect with one another on a faith journey. The prayer model has a clear process and structure that is designed to help the participant hear and respond to the Word of the Lord. This model allows the individual to think and hear how the text impacts themselves and others. The ability to engage with the gospel methodically allows the participant to hear different phrases and words and to think, and to allow the Holy Spirit to stir one's conscious. This week's gospel from Luke was the story of hoarding possessions. Jesus speaks to the community of a man who hoards his possessions rather than giving his excess to his God or to the others who may need additional support. Life presents us with many opportunities to share our gifts and talents and to embrace and trust the providence of our God. As a prayer group, we challenged one another to recognise whether we hoarded our gifts, our excess material possessions and to think about how we may support those in our community who had less.
Thank you to the many families who attended the Teacher Advisor Meetings. Working in partnership with our students, you as carer, and our staff model to our young people that they as individuals matter and that their learning is valuable. Our students can achieve so much by the whole community working together to support, guide and challenge our young people to be their best. Conversations about pathways for study, work and traineeships need to begin early, so students can genuinely discern their future and make informed decisions. Thanks to our staff and the Careers Department, who worked tirelessly to make this event happen. Students had the opportunity in the TA period on Tuesday to input their subject selections with the assistance of their TA teacher. Those students who were not at school on Tuesday will be followed up for their entries when they return to the College. The College is in the process of organising subjects, staffing and the timetable; students and families will be informed of any changes or clashes.
On Friday morning last week, the College had an extended TA where students met in their Houses to celebrate learning achievements for Semester 1 by presenting the Academic and SEL Personal Development Awards. We congratulate all award recipients and applaud their efforts and achievements. To find a list of students that received an award and to read more about them click here.
Over the past three weeks, members of the College Leadership Team and our Human Resources Team have been interviewing staff for Leadership Positions for 2023 and beyond. The College has introduced a number of new roles to support our strategic vision being embedded and lived. We have been so impressed by the calibre of our staff and our leaders' willingness to embed the strategic plan in their daily lives and work practices. As the new College Principal, it has been a privilege to hear current and aspiring leaders articulate their vision for their pillar and their passion for improving student learning outcomes for every student. I have been humbled by hearing our staff respond to questions about the Mercy Charism and their engagement in the professional learning of our community. The spirit of Catherine McAuley is alive and tangible on our Mount Clear campus. Damascus College continues to position itself as a leader in education in the Ballarat Diocese.
We have now entered week four of term three, which is a critical time for our VCE/ VCAL students to immerse themselves in their studies fully. Now is the time to reduce part-time work hours and to give themselves the time to effectively and positively finish their final year of study as a secondary school students. As parents, this is the time we need to support our Year 12 students. I encourage you to talk, nurture and challenge your young person to be their best and for them to be able to say l gave Year 12 my best shot! There will be many arguments, tears and joy over the next couple of months, but we are here to support you as parents and carers.
Our thoughts and prayers are with our partners in Catholic Education in Ballarat – St. Patrick's College and Loreto College, who are grieving the loss of Rohan Cosgriff.
As a College, we also acknowledge and remember Tyler Basar's (Year 9) family on the passing of his grandmother, Rohan (Year 7) and Shae (Year 11) Goon and their family on the passing of their grandfather and Tim O’Sullivan (staff) and his family on the passing of his grandfather this week. We keep all families remain in our thoughts and prayers.
With every blessing
Steven