By Mr Simon Fleming - Principal

This week we celebrated 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia. The first Catholic School in Australia was founded in October 1820 by Irish Catholic Priest Fr John Therry and run by convict and lay person George Marley. The school which Catholic historians believe was in Hunter st, Parramatta, taught 31 students. By 1933, there were 10 Catholic Schools in the colony. Over 200 Years, Catholic schools have grown to become the 2^nd largest provider of schooling in Australia outside of Government Schools. This represents 777 000 students in 1755 schools across the country and employing over 100 000 teachers and staff. Nearly 40% of Catholic Schools are located outside of metropolitan cities in regional rural and remote communities.

Father Boney provided a homily at our school liturgy to mark the occasion. His central theme was the importance of teachers to the holistic education of students. He spoke of 3 virtues of teachers, their accessibility, their empathy and their receptiveness. These are the keys that will unlock the door for many students. If we can meet students with these ideals, we all go a long way to providing a real connection between our students and the College.

The following is an excerpt from the booklet released to celebrate the occasion.

The Australian Catholic Bishops released a pastoral letter for school leaders, staff, students, and families to mark the 200th anniversary of Catholic education in Australia. The letter, 200 Years young, details the development and expansion of Catholic schools over the past two centuries, and recognises the contribution of religious, clergy and lay people to the foundation of Catholic education. It also acknowledges the distinctive role Catholic schools play in educating and forming young people of faith and service in their communities. Chair of the Bishops Commission for Catholic Education Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP called on all those involved in Catholic education to acknowledge this significant milestone in the life of the Church. “From very humble beginnings with the opening of the first official Catholic school educating just 31 students located on Hunter Street in Parramatta, Catholic schools have grown to educate more than one in five Australian students, with many others attending Catholic preschools, colleges and universities,” said Archbishop Anthony. “We are fortunate to have Catholic schools in most towns and suburbs, and university campuses in most capital cities, serving students from diverse backgrounds and beliefs.

While they are no longer all from poorer families, as so many were in the first century-and-a-half of Catholic education, we continue to welcome and ensure our schools are accessible to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, refugees, those with disabilities and students who are financially disadvantaged. “Alongside families and parishes, Catholic schools are the Church’s principal meeting point with young people and are integral to the Church’s mission of transmitting the faith to the next generation and forming young people as future contributors to Australian society. “I commend this pastoral letter to you and congratulate all those involved in Catholic education on this historic milestone in the life of the Church in Australia,” Archbishop Anthony said. National Catholic education executive director Jacinta Collins welcomed the pastoral letter and the ongoing commitment of the Bishops to provide a faith-based education for Australian families. “We are in a unique position in Australia that we have the support of successive governments to the funding of Catholic and nongovernment schools. This support has enabled our schools to be accessible to families that seek a faith-based education for their children and ensures diversity in school choice,” Jacinta said. “But it also relies on the commitment of Church leadership to actively support and foster the mission of Catholic schools and the work of many other Church agencies such as Catholic hospitals, social services and charities that contribute enormously to the social fabric of Australian society.”

Kind Regards

Simon

 

If you wish to submit a Newsletter article, please email to acwarwick@twb.catholic.edu.au by Monday 7th June.  Please note that all articles are subject to Principal's approval. 

By Mrs Anna Hardy, Deputy Principal

Uniforms:  I have written in past newsletters about the change of uniforms for 2022.  As a result, we have numerous pieces of quality second-hand items that have come across our way.  If your girl would like another Winter skirt or child requires a jumper, we have numerous in the College office to give away.  Please contact the ladies at the front desk or myself if you wish to make use of one.  We are happy for them to find a home for 2021!

Leadership Applications for 2022:  Leadership applications have been distributed to interested students to apply for College Leaders and House Leaders. They are due back to Mr Bell and myself by the 14^th June.

Pastoral Thoughts:

Learner Agency

Information courtesy of James Anderson – www.jamesanderson.com

Learner Agency relates to a student’s ability to navigate their way through life and positively impact their circumstances.  It’s about ensuring they are the master, not the victim, of their circumstances, and it is about students being powerful, not powerless, in the face of adversity.

In many ways, Learner Agency is at the heart of what education is all about: – preparing students to succeed in a rapidly changing and complex world. 

From a Mindset perspective, when learners are confronted with challenges, they basically respond in one of two ways.

1. Fixed Mindset Response:

This is when students look inside themselves and ask, “Do I have the abilities to deal with this challenging situation?”. If the answer is, “No, I’m not that type of person. I’m not good at this kind of thing,” they will see their actions as futile. They’ll lack the will to act. As a result, the world will happen to them, and they will end up being the victim of their circumstances. In short, they’ll lack agency.

2. Growth Mindset Response:

Students recognise that they don’t currently have the abilities to deal with this challenging situation. They respond with, “I can take action to grow and change, to develop new abilities so I can overcome these challenges.” In this situation, learners are more motivated, and have the will to positively impact their circumstances. They want to act upon the world, rather than let the world act upon them. They are more likely to have agency.

This gives students the understanding that although their current circumstances may be challenging, they can develop their abilities to positively influence their world. They can become powerful, not powerless, in the face of challenge and adversity. We increase their agency.

A Growth Mindset, therefore, is a critical component of Learner Agency. It gives learners the will to act and attempt to influence their world. Without a Growth Mindset, learners become the victims of their circumstances, unable to see the possibility of change when confronted with a challenge.  This means learners understand they are capable of developing abilities that will allow them to positively influence their world – a Growth Mindset.

The two other elements of the Learner Agency puzzle are the environment to act and the power to act. The power to act relates to becoming an Agile Learner and the concept of “Learnership”. The environment to act relates to our school and classroom environment.

By Mr Michael Simpson - Assistant Principal - Curriculum 

Year 12 Essential English and Essential Math

A student’s exit result in an Applied subject is based on their achievement in four internal assessments in Unit 3 and 4. For Essential English and Essential Mathematics, schools develop three of these assessments. The fourth is a common internal assessment (CIA) developed by the QCAA and marked by schools.

Further information can be found at the following website:

Common internal assessment | Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (qcaa.qld.edu.au)

It is essential that students make themselves available for this assessment. The College is aware of students who are completing school-based apprenticeships and are absent on particular days. If the assessment falls on a workday, students are expected to make arrangement so they can attend school.

The days for the assessment are:

Term 2, 2021
Subject	Date
Essential English	Monday 31st May – Periods 1 and 2
Essential Mathematics	Monday 31st May – Periods 5 and 6

 

Academic Detentions

Assessment is one of the most important parts of a students' learning journey. It is an opportunity to obtain feedback on their learning and create opportunities to improve. Therefore, the College has high expectations regarding assessment. Any students who fails to meet the requirements of the College’s Assessment Policy, may be subjected to an after school academic detention. These will occur on Tuesday afternoons, from 3.00pm to 4.00pm. If your child falls into this category, then you will be notified by the classroom teacher, and a letter sent home outlining the procedure. The College would like to thank parents for their continued support of high expectations for academic success.

The ACW Assessment Policy 2021 can be found at:

https://www.acwarwick.catholic.edu.au/college-reports-policies

IXL Data Update

By Mrs Carol Sharp, APRE

Masses and Liturgies

Year Level Masses

We recently held our Yr 12 and Yr 8 masses. This means that our only remaining year-level mass for this semester is our Year 7 Mass on Thursday June 10 at 9am. Students will walk from school to the Church to attend and parents are more than welcome to join us at the Church for the celebration of the holy sacrament.

200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia

Thank you to the staff, students and community members involved in celebrating this important milestone last Monday, May 24^th. I especially wanted to thank Fr Bony for his wise words exploring the importance of the gifts of a catholic education including teachers who respond to students in a way that builds dignity and students that become active members of the community, working to change the world for the better.

A big thank you also to Mr Patrick Donnelly and members of our student representative council, Sophie Hart and Amy Ryan, for travelling to Toowoomba and representing Assumption College at the Diocesan Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

 

Founders’ Day

On the last day of Term 2, we will be celebrating our first ever Founders’ Day. This is a new initiative that we are trying out. The main purpose of Founders’ Day is to celebrate and connect with our history as a College. We do this by focusing (as the name suggests) on the charism of our Founders and the values that they represent. The day also helps us to develop positive relationships and encourage greater student attendance and participation on the last day of term.

The day will involve a reflection on the life and values of Catherine McAuley and Edmund Rice and how they reflect the Marian tradition of Assumption College. There will also be a liturgical celebration, a talent quest competition for the students as well as novelty games and activities in the afternoon. The school will also supply a BBQ lunch on the day. Currently our staff and school leaders, along with some other volunteers, are busily organising the day. We would like to ask for your support by encouraging attendance on the final day of school. It’s days like this that allow students to form meaningful connections with their school community and that can only have positive impacts on both their wellbeing and their learning.

Prayer

The celebration for 200 Years of Catholic Education in Australia took place on May 24^th because this is the Solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians, the Patroness of Australia. This holds special significance for our Assumption College community due to the Marian charism of our school. Our prayer this week is one written by St. John Bosco to honour Our Lady.

Prayer To Our Lady, Help Of Christians

Most Holy Virgin Mary, Help of Christian,
how sweet it is to come to your feet
imploring your perpetual help.
If earthly mothers cease not to remember their children,
how can you, the most loving of all mothers forget me?
Grant then to me, I implore you,
your perpetual help in all my necessities,
in every sorrow, and especially in all my temptations.
I ask for your unceasing help for all who are now suffering.
Help the weak, cure the sick, convert sinners.
Grant through your intercessions many vocations to the religious life.
Obtain for us, O Mary, Help of Christians,
that having invoked you on earth we may love and eternally thank you in heaven.

By St. John Bosco

 

by Miss Denise Ryan - Chaplain

With the cooler mornings slowly creeping up on us, the breakfast table has well and truly become more popular and hot milos becoming a very hot topic right now. Just a reminder that this service is free and is set up three days a week for students from 7:45am to 8:45am, Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings.

On Mondays at first break we have fun games with Miss Ryan and this term we are having a paper plane competition with a twist.  Monday 31^st May is Part 1 of our first ever ACW paper plane competition. Part 1 is the model plane display, where the competitors make the best paper plane and show it off. The judging criteria includes originality of the plane and the backstory to the plane and design.  We have a student judge, a teacher judge, and a surprise guest judge, and more events to come. 

Friendships can be hard, even as adults, let alone navigating relationships when you are a teenager. However there are many ways in which we can encourage and help children along this rocky path. Another handy resource to have in the back of your mind is https://parenttv.com/. This is a great interactive website that touches on many different circumstances you may be faced with as a parent.

So how do we encourage our children to make positive friendships and to understand the dynamics of groups? Here’s a few tips:

• Teach children the value of individual friendships, rather than focusing on the group. The ‘group mentality’ reinforces unhealthy thinking patterns like stereotyping and discrimination. Children should be encouraged to focus on what works in their individual friendships.
• Encourage them to keep their own personal values and interests in mind when choosing who they associate with, and to ask themselves whether they are compromising those values just to fit in.
• Remind them that friendships are often fluid; they change with time and circumstances. Sharing some of your own experiences can be very helpful.
• Encourage diversification and openness in their friendship groups. Not only can they learn from differences, but it will also discourage stereotyping and conformity within the group.
• Reinforce your child’s sense of belonging to the family unit, friendship groups outside of school and in the community, by encouraging open communication and consistency with routines. This will help protect their self-esteem from any adverse interactions with groups at school.

Finally, I will end with a nice reflection on friendships and understanding. Have great week!

Dear Father,

I treasure my wonderful friends so much. Thank you for their presence in my life. I ask that you would watch over them and lead them into hope and blessing. I trust that you will protect and hold them when life is hard. Lord, help me to be a good friend to them.

Amen.

By Mrs Alison Porter, Program Leader Student Pathways

Open Boys Rugby League Vs Centenary Heights State High School

The Assumption College rugby league team were thrilled to be back playing football this week after continued cancellation in their Darling Downs competition. The boys started the first half well pressuring Centenary Heights to produce multiple mistakes. The forwards in the middle worked as a well-equipped unit gaining plenty of metres allowing the backline to showcase their individual skills. Assumption managed to add 54 points to the scoreboard. The display highlighted the boys dedication to training and eagerness to play football.

Research Australia Development and Innovation Institute (RADII) 

Student Travel Rebates

Last week students competed to turn one A4 sheet of paper into the longest chain held together only with glue. It was a team effort to try and get the longest chain within the time allocated.

Our STEAM challenges continued this week with students building rockets to take them to infinity and beyond! Congratulations to Hamish Ballinger whose rocket design flew half-way across the yard to take out first place. Second place was Calum Oloman. Students had a choice of a bendy straw or a wider straw and were given a single sheet of A4 paper and unlimited sticky tape to design their rocket which could only be propelled by a single breath.  We had many interesting designs.

The designing of paper planes for the paper plane competition is well under way as well, thanks to Miss Ryan who visits the library every Monday at breaks.

Some more strategic games are coming out at lunch breaks at the moment.

Stratego – you have to position and move your army to capture your opponents flag.

Code names – a co-operative word game to protect your secret agents.

Newton – like Connect 4, but with balls and tubes it requires way more strategy as you can move colours from the bottom to the top to change the order.

As it was Careers Week last week we have welcomed into the library some displays relating to careers.  Mrs Porter has done a competition for the students asking to identify staff by clues regarding their earlier careers.  It makes for great reading and there are a few old, old photos for us all to enjoy.

Chess Tournament

The 5^th Warwick Regional Interschool Chess Tournament organised & hosted by Assumption College Warwick was held last Friday and was a great success!

We hosted 98 students from schools across the region including Border Christian College (Goondiwindi), Inglewood Primary, Millmerran Primary, St Joseph’s Stanthorpe, Glen Aplin State School, Allora State School, St Marys Warwick, East State School and Assumption College Warwick.

It was a full day of competition with each student playing 8 rounds of chess to decide on the final winners.  It was wonderful to see our Assumption students who had fun, played hard and were great sports throughout the whole day.

The winners were:

Junior Division:

1^st – Josh Cranney, Border Rivers Christian College

2^nd – Thomas Telfer, St Joseph’s Stanthorpe

3^rd – Benjamin Boddington, Border Rivers Christian College

Senior Division:

1^st – Matthew Higgins, Assumption College Warwick

2^nd – Jarod Rowan, Allora State School

3^rd – Liam Telfer, St Joseph’s Stanthorpe