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By Mrs Liisa Hammond, Principal
John 14: 23-29
Within the Gospel this week, John re-tells us that Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as “… the Advocate”. Today, we define an advocate as someone who stands up for others or one who uses their voice for someone. The Holy Spirit gives voice to Jesus’ message, the message of peace and of courage - “… the Holy Spirit … will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.”
The concept of ‘voice’ is extremely important. To act as someone’s voice is an act of service; however, having agency over yourself and being empowered to be your own advocate is a privilege we wish for all our community members. At Assumption College, we strive to develop agency (or advocacy) within our students. This gives rise to our students developing the confidence to speak out, especially when they are afraid; it allows our students to tell their unique stories, creating empathy and understanding; it allows for the confrontation of ignorance by spreading awareness; it allows for the creation of connections, to honour ourselves and the formulation of shared meaning.
This week, we shall recognise the call for Reconciliation within our community. On Monday, 30 May 2022, we held our first Flag Raising Ceremony and Reconciliation Ceremony. As part of that Ceremony, I spoke of the need for us to support the Uluru Statement – a Statement from the Heart. This statement calls for the inclusion of a First Nation’s Voice within the Australian Constitution. A voice, an advocacy for true inclusivity, for true Reconciliation. Please click here to read the full statement.
The Holy Spirit was tasked with the role of Advocate for Jesus, for promoting and challenging the message of ‘peace and courage’ – imagine the unlimited possibilities that we can evoke through a world that listened to the voices of all and acted in peace and courage, and in truth and love.
Listening Forums
We have embarked on our Listening Forums. We have decided to take the opportunity to listen and discuss issues that parents/guardians would like to raise with me as principal and staff members. Our focus is looking toward the future of Assumption College and what we would like to see for our community. This is a fabulous opportunity for advocacy and for the building of trusting, respectful relationships that can only serve to build our community’s strength and unity.
I understand that this is a new practice at Assumption College; however, it is one that I am determined will provide a pathway and connection to ensuring that the issues that have been raised in the RADII survey (community survey) in late 2021, such as parents/guardians lacking the opportunity to have a voice in our community and concern over the effectiveness of communication, will be addressed.
These forums are not a ‘one off’ experience; we will be hosting them throughout the year – I thank you in advance for your attendance and for the respectful, rigorous conversations and statements that we will, no doubt, have.
Camps and Retreats
At Assumption College, we have entered camp and retreat season. We are blessed to be able to afford these opportunities to our students, given the interruptions and cancellations over the past two years due to the pandemic.
Camps and retreats can be a scary and uncomfortable thought for some of our young people. We know that these opportunities can push individuals out of their comfort zone; however, the opportunity for growth comes with this discomfort. With every learning and wellbeing opportunity we provide for your child, we are committed to supporting them to ensure they are able to confidently meet any challenge – excellent training and experience for their social-emotional growth and development.
The expectation is that all students will attend the camps and retreats offered to their year level. If a family commitment or concern impedes your young person’s attendance at their camp or retreat, please enter into a discussion with your child’s PAL so that we can support you and your young person.
May Our Mother Mary grant her blessings upon our College community.
2022 Term Dates
By Ms Natalie Smith, Acting Deputy Principal
Year 11 Leadership Camp
The 2023 Leadership journey officially began last Wednesday, when 51 Year 11 students headed down to the Gold Coast Recreation Centre at Tallebudgera for three days of personal challenge and group work. Students were asked to challenge themselves through various activities, as well as working within their allocated groups to complete set tasks. After arrival at the campsite, it was straight into the activities with two groups heading to the creek for kayaking, and one to the beach for team activities. Working in teams, the beach goers were challenged to move a tennis ball from one spot to another – around a distance of three metres, in the slowest time possible. A challenging feat which involved every member of the team having a hand in the design of the track and problem solving the difficulties faced along the way.
Mrs Hammond and Fr Bony were welcome guests the first night for dinner and for the leadership session and activities run by Lachie and Peter from UPP (Unleashing Personal Potential). Leadership was explored in detail with students considering what it meant to them. By participating in fun activities, involving knee slapping and foot tapping, students realised that leadership is about actions that lift others, rather than competition and winning.
The next two days saw all Year 11 students challenging themselves physically with kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding, overcoming their fear of heights by harnessing up and stepping off the 10m platform – The Cliffs. As well as this, they used their teamwork, trust, communication, and problem-solving skills to complete a successful rescue.
Thank you to all those students and staff who attended the Year 11 Leadership Camp last week. A big thank you to Mrs Julie Collins, the Year 11 PAL, for her organisation and leadership over the three days.
The application process to select the student leaders for 2023 has begun. The Year 11 students this week have received details of the various leadership roles and responsibilities that are available. We encourage students to seriously consider these leadership positions and put in their application. Applications will open this week and close in Week 9.
Year 7 Camp – Week 9
Parents of Year 7 should have received information from Mrs Patrice Riordan, Year 7 PAL, regarding the upcoming Year 7 Camp to be held on the Sunshine Coast, 17 – 19 June, (Week 9). Camps are a wonderful way for students to challenge themselves, physically and mentally, and to build resilience. Trying new activities like archery or climbing, overcoming fear of heights, having to trust their team mates to complete activities, mean that students have the opportunity to learn about themselves as well. I strongly encourage all students to attend the Year 7 Camp in Week 9. Please contact Mrs Riordan should you have any queries about the camp.
Week 6 reminds us that we are at the half-way point of Term 2. Students have completed 5 weeks of school with another 5 weeks to go. It is also at this time of term that we can see students engaging in silly low-level behaviours that can escalate into more serious incidents. I encourage all students to maintain their focus on their learning and their studies as we head into the final weeks of term. Please do not hesitate to contact your student’s Pastoral Care teacher or PAL should you have any concerns about your child’s wellbeing.
By Mr Michael Simpson, Assistant Principal Curriculum
Last week at Assembly, students were spoken to regarding their learning attitude. For each student’s semester report, the students will be marked on the following learning dispositions:
- Well organised and diligently completes tasks.
- Works co-operatively and collaboratively as an effective team member.
- Seeks, accepts, and uses feedback to improve learning.
- Shows initiative and motivation as an independent learner.
- Contributes positively to the learning environment.
- Behaviour is respectful to those in the learning environment.
- Displays a growth mindset toward learning.
They will be rated either Consistently, Usually, Sometimes, or Rarely for how often they display each behaviour. These skills are essential for their success in and out of the classroom and it is important students are striving to enact these on a consistent basis.
Respect in the classroom
As we move into the halfway mark of the term, it is timely to remind students about common classroom etiquette. Students need to ensure they are fully prepared for each class and ready to engage in the teaching and learning process in a respectful manner. The following dot points outline the general expectations for all students at ACW:
- Students should be at class on time.
- Students should line up in two straight lines outside the classroom and ensure they are wearing their uniforms correctly.
- Students should have all their materials for the class, including a charged iPad or laptop.
- Students should enter the classroom quietly and stand behind their desks until asked to sit.
- Students should engage in all set tasks and complete all work to the best of their ability.
- Students should not disrupt the learning process of their peers.
- Students should not wear headphones unless explicitly instructed by the teacher.
- Students should put all rubbish in the bin and pick up any paper from the floors at the end of the lesson.
- At the end of the lesson, students should stand behind their desks quietly and wait to be dismissed.
By Mrs Carol Sharp, Assistant Principal Religious Education
Year Level Masses
The following Masses are scheduled to occur this term. All Masses are held with the parish community at St. Mary’s Church on Tuesday mornings at 9:00 am. Students walk down from school at 8:45 am and return in time for period 2 classes. Parents and family are welcome to join us for Mass.
- Year 8 Mass – Tuesday, May 31 2022 (Week 7)
- Year 7 Mass – Tuesday, June 14 2022 (Week 9)
ACW Thrift Store
This term, the St. Vincent de Paul group has developed a new initiative. Inspired by our Faith and Social Justice Leader, Juliana Cruda, we are aiming to raise awareness of the impact of fast fashion on both the environment and people in developing countries. Our liturgical theme for the year is drawn from Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si and focuses on how we should respond to both ‘the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.’ Advocating against fast fashion definitely fits with this theme.
So, how are we going to achieve this? We are running a clothing drive throughout the term. We are calling for students to donate any clothes they no longer need/wear that are still in good condition. At the end of the term, we will set up a ‘Thrift Shop’ for students to come in and purchase the donated clothes rather than purchasing fast fashion. All proceeds will be donated to charity.
We will also educate students around the issues of fast fashion by placing small video clips, reflections, and activities in the morning notices throughout the term. Please feel free to access these resources and activities through the Sentral App. There will be a new one each week.
Laudato Si Week 2022
This week marks the seventh anniversary of the publication of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si. This year holds a special place for the Assumption College community as our liturgical theme, ‘… every person living on the planet…’ is drawn from this encyclical. Laudato Si challenges us to respond to the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor by considering the impact of our desire for material consumer items on the environment and on the poor people who are often exploited in the production of these items.
If you would like to learn more about this encyclical and what it means in both a global and Australian context, please click here to read the Australian Bishops Social Justice Statement 2021 – 2022 or click here to access the official website detailing the action platform for the implementation of Laudato Si.
Prayer
By Miss Denise Ryan, College Chaplain
The Breakfast Club
Just a reminder that the Breakfast Club is now in full swing with plenty of old faces and new ones making the most of what is on offer to the students. For those who are unaware, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, from 7:30 am to 8:40 am, there is a table in front of our Home Economics classroom where students can enjoy the following:
Toast - Vegemite, jam, honey etc.
Cereal
Juice (in summer)
and last, but not least, MILO! (Options for hot or cold depending on seasons and weather).
By Mr Thomas Duggan, Sports Coordinator
Darling Downs Soccer
Congratulations to our Year 7 student, Jacob Fox, who was selected to represent the Darling Downs for 12 years Soccer. This is an amazing achievement by Jacob and we wish him all the best for the State Championships.
Darling Downs Cross Country
Congratulations to Calum Oloman who competed at the Darling Downs Trials for Cross Country on Tuesday, 24 May 2022. Calum placed 3rd overall in the 14-year boys division which is an outstanding achievement. We wish Calum the very best for the State Championship event.
On Thursday, 19 May 2022, our Broncos Rugby League and Netball teams travelled to Goondiwindi to compete at the first of the Gala Days. All our teams represented the College with pride, dignity and commendable fairplay. It was a perfect day in Goondiwindi for sport and thankfully our players made it through injury free, as well as having lots of fun. Each of our teams were successful and were able to post some wins on the board which puts each of our teams in a position to compete in the finals on Wednesday, 1 June 2022 in Warwick. We wish our teams the best of luck for this Final Gala Day.
On Monday, 23 May 2022, our junior basketball teams travelled to Stanthorpe to compete against Stanthorpe State High School for our second fixtures in the Inter- School Basketball competition. Both of our teams had convincing wins over their opposition and showed signs of significant improvement from the first round of matches. Congratulations to these teams. We look forward to hosting the next round of fixtures here at the College on Monday, 30 May 2022 where all three of our teams will play. Parents and spectators are welcome to come along to support our teams.
By Mrs Jenny Gillespie, College Counsellor
Adolescent Employment
Adolescence, as a period of transition from the carefree world of childhood into the adult world of responsibility, includes several major developmental tasks. Primarily, these are identity development and the drive for autonomy and achievement. During this time, adolescents also strive for increased social, emotional, and financial independence from their parents and looking for employment during this developmental stage can help accomplish these goals.
Research shows that working during high school can have both positive and negative effects. The benefits include sense of purpose, acquisition of time management skills, and development of a work ethic and work etiquette, financial choice making, and the development of social and financial skills required for independence.
Negative effects can include less time for homework and assignments, less time with family, and higher levels of fatigue and conflict with parents over spending decisions. However, negative effects of employment for teens are clearly linked to the number of hours spent working. That is, the more hours teens work, the more prone they are to experience negative effects. In this sense, part-time jobs are great for teens, but they must be careful not to overdo it. Creating a weekly schedule with your teen will help and can highlight how much time they spend working, undertaking school related activities (homework, assignments, and study) as well as downtime/leisure activities. Remember that work may be most beneficial if the number of hours worked per week is 15 or less (source: Ohio State University 2011).
For additional resources, support or discussion, please contact Mrs Jenny Gillespie (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday), or Mrs Mel Pridden (Thursday and Friday) in the School Counselling Office.
By Mrs Mary-Anne Driver, Library Aide
Our students currently have access to year level mathematics textbooks on their devices – however, we do have hard copies available so if you/your child would like a hard copy, please come to the library and collect. We know some students like to have a physical book in front of them.
We have been busy in the library producing dashboards on our Access-it webpage to help students with their assignments. Go to https://au.accessit.online/ASS01/ and click on the ‘dashboard’ tab. There are pages for current history, HPE and business assignments. We are on hand every break to assist students with finding resources for their assignments.
Chess Tournament 2022
On Friday, 20 May 2022 Assumption College hosted 70 students as they competed in the annual Warwick Regional Interschool chess tournament.
Administered by Gardiner Chess from the Gold Coast, this professionally run tournament is an exceptional opportunity for our students to engage in chess, meet students from other schools and have fun while challenging themselves.
All ACW students should be congratulated on their involvement on the day, with congratulations going to Calum Oloman from grade 9 who won 6 out of his 8 games on the day!
By Mrs Alison Porter, Career Development Practitioner
National Careers Week
Last week was National Careers Week. Congratulations to PC Group Donovan 4 for winning the Careers Quiz and becoming the 2022 Careers Champions. Well done also to PC Group Romero 5 for a closely followed second place in the careers quiz results. In honour of Careers Week, I would like to share some online resources that students and parents can use to discuss and investigate pathway and careers options. These are as below:
Assumption College Careers www.acwcareers.com
Job Outlook www.joboutlook.gov.au
My Skills www.myskills.gov.au
National Careers Institute www.nci.dese.gov.au
Your Career www.yourcareer.gov.au
Good Careers Guide www.goodcareersguide.com.au
Job Jumpstart www.jobjumpstart.gov.au
My Future www.myfuture.edu.au
Apprenticeships Queensland www.apprenticeshipsqld.gov.au
Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre www.qtac.edu.au
UCAT Test for Year 12 Students
The UCAT ANZ was established to help universities achieve greater fairness in selection. Around 14,000 candidates sit the test each year as part of their application to courses in medicine, dentistry and clinical sciences. The University Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) is a computer-based admissions test, used by the UCAT ANZ Consortium of universities in Australia and New Zealand to help select applicants for their medical, dental and clinical science degree programmes. Any Year 12 students considering application for any medical, dental and clinical science courses in 2023 should have checked if they require the UCAT and made application to sit it. More information can be found at https://www.ucat.edu.au.
Years 9 and 10 Careers
This term in Careers classes our Year 9 students are busy developing their job application portfolios, including resumes and cover letters. The aim of this is for students to develop a better understanding of job application processes and requirements and some knowledge of their ‘career self’.
Our Year 10 students are learning about various career pathways including that of university and vocational education and training. We are aiming to develop students' understanding of the Queensland Certificate of Education and the ATAR. We will also be examining vocational opportunities and school subjects to prepare students for senior subject selection in Term 3. At the end of this term, our careers department will also be sharing information with students and parents around the Year 10 work experience block scheduled for the last week of Term 3. Year 10 parents can expect information sent home with their students and email communication around the details of the arrangements of work experience.
Careers Newsletter
A reminder to check out our College Careers newsletter for much more information and careers opportunities.
Southern Downs Youth Council Induction
On Thursday, Mayor Vic Pennisi inducted Leigham Portener, Amity Willett and other school representatives into the Southern Downs Youth Council. The Council’s role is to represent the voice of the young people in the Southern Downs. We would like to wish all the best to Leigham and Amity as they take on this responsibility for 2022.
Ancient China Immersion at Assumption College
Year 7A and 7B were engrossed in Chinese writing on Friday. The two classes were combined and worked together to create pictographs (Chinese symbols). The students were very dedicated to the task and produced some amazing pieces of work.
A huge thank you to Ms Meibusch for providing the resources for this activity.
Year 10 Advanced Mathematics
Students put their Math sets to work this week; proving that the chord theorems and circle theorems actually work in real life. Students also learned the importance of accurate measurements and equipment use, when you are doing proofs.
Assumption College 50 Year Reunion
Last Saturday, 21 May 2022, we welcomed some of our past students back to the College for the 50 year Assumption College Reunion. It was great to catch up and reminisce on many memories of years gone by. We wish to extend our appreciation to all who attended.
Cornhole at WIRAC
My name is Alex and I am currently volunteering at WIRAC promoting their newest cornhole program. If you are unclear what cornhole is, please take a look at the links below. It is a professional sport in the USA and Canada, with a huge following in Europe and is gaining traction here in Australia. We have started out this term at WIRAC with some social sessions and have decided to create some leagues starting Term 3. These leagues will be for primary students, secondary students and adults. We will also be looking at an 'all abilities' league for people with disabilities in the not too distant future. We will be holding these league sessions on Thursday afternoons. Primary students from 3:30 pm and high school students and adults from 4:30 pm / 5:00 pm. At this stage each league will be limited to 32 players. Should interest be greater than this, we will consider conducting a second day at some point during the week. The leagues will run round robin style over a 9 week period with the 10th week held for a quarter/semi/final.
I would like to extend to all schools the opportunity for both students, staff and families to be involved. I have attached a flyer with some details for you to include in your school community communications. Families of students and staff members can email me for more information and to request registration forms which can be emailed out. Term fees are to be paid at WIRAC before the end of Term 2. There are currently no school-aged leagues in Australia and I would like to put Warwick on the map for having the first. There is also an opportunity to start your own school-based league to be run on your own campuses. Custom boards and bags can be arranged. Please email me to find out more.
Recovery Hub - Flood Assistance
Please find below, the link to the USQ Arts Workshop during the school holidays.