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By Mrs Liisa Hammond, Principal
Luke 12:13-21
Luke’s Gospel this week reveals one of the most humbling lessons for us, especially in our modern context. Jesus, once again, was confronted by a member of the ‘rent-a-crowd’ group who followed Jesus around, trying to make him slip up and get into trouble. The man demanded that Jesus tell the man’s brother to give him his inheritance. Jesus responded with a parable that is the story of a rich man who hoards his riches, never once thinking of it as a tool to assist others. This is a rich man who makes it his life’s work to have more: more money, more crops, more everything. Jesus tells us this angers God because the rich man only focuses on material riches, not his soul’s richness.
Immediately, my mind turns to great role models within our lives, the recently departed Archibald (Archie) Roach, whose family has given permission for his name and image to be used so that his legacy will continue to inspire those who come after him. Archie Roach was a song man and a truth-teller. The Gunditjmara (Kirrae Whurrong/Djab Wurrung), Bundjalung Senior Elder’s most known song is, They Took the Children Away, a deeply personal story of loss. The story epitomises the social activism and agency for which Archie Roach is renowned. This song has become a point of healing and truth-telling about the generations of stolen children who the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have survived. For this, Archie Roach was awarded two ARIA awards and a Human Rights Achievement Award. Rather than striving to have more, Archibald Roach used his voice’s gift to promote agency for the voiceless. He was more.
Within our College, we do not have to look too far to find another role model. Archbishop Oscar Romero is the inspiration for Assumption College’s Romero House. His biography can be found in our College diary. As the Archbishop of San Salvador, Romero’s political views were considered to be moderate, and therefore the Ruling Class were pleased with his appointment. Interestingly, however, the extreme poverty and marginalisation experienced by the people of El Salvador motivated Romero to action. The injustices and violence that Romero witnessed saw him become a fierce advocate for human rights. He used his voice for the voiceless. He fearlessly denounced injustices, even when it meant his own death. On October 14, 2018, Romero became a saint because he lived his enduring message of … aspire not to have more but to be more. A message that he lived and, devastatingly, died by.
We can draw upon countless women and men as examples of those who enliven the message of Luke’s Gospel. These people inspire us to seek ways to enrich our souls by being agents of change, by ensuring that instead of striving to have more, we are committed to being more.
Moving into 2023 …
Term 3 is an exciting time in secondary colleges, for this is the time of year that we start to project into the new year. We recently held our Year 10 Senior Subject Fair and Information Session – one of the most well-attended events this year, rivalled only by our first Transition Afternoon and Parent/Guardian Information Session for our 2023, Year 7 cohort. Both sessions are fabulous events because they both hold so many hopes, dreams and goals for the future.
It was such a privilege to witness the 2023 Year 7 cohort so quickly move from individual groups based on their primary schools to a united Year 7 Assumption College team. The parents and guardians who attended the afternoon tea and information session seemed more nervous than the students – which almost always seems to be the case. In my conversation with the parents/guardians, I emphasised that the connection that parents/guardians have with their children’s primary school is often strong and positive; however, in secondary schooling, we lose that connection. Perhaps it is that the young people are developing their sense of independence or that their communication skills move into a dialect closely resembling the language patterns of our caveman ancestors. Or perhaps it is because as the young people progress, the work becomes more foreign and suddenly, for the adults around them, their own time at school seems like it was about the same time as when our caveman ancestors roamed the Earth. Whatever the reason, Assumption College recognises the importance of actively fostering that connection. Pope Francis states that parents and guardians are the first educators of their children. As a Catholic College, we are responsible for respecting the sacred position that holds and fostering a deeper connection with our community.
For our 2022 Year 10s, they were afforded the opportunity to consider several pathways to ensure their individual success. The speakers on the night all urged these young adults to consider what they were passionate about, what their interests were, and which subjects and courses would allow them to achieve their short and long-term goals. It can be so over-whelming, and yet this cohort of students demonstrated that they were ready for the challenge. It was a privilege to have several conversations that were based on goals that would lead to university, to TAFE, to work and to a combination of all of these.
In my latest editorial for People and Places magazine, I explore this concept of growing up, and I present it here to you for your consideration:
When I grow up!
Education is a unique enterprise, given that we are operating in the present whilst simultaneously teaching about the past to prepare our students for the future. As educators, we are constantly reviewing the future, a great example of a paradox, to ensure that our young people are confident in pursuing whatever pathway they choose.
Recently, we welcomed Year 6 students from across Warwick and beyond to our College for our first Transition Day. This is to prepare our new students for their entry into secondary schooling. Our Senior Class of 2028 will graduate in a time that will see the world transformed in both large and small ways. With predicted advancements in technologies, global trends, and economic changes, Assumption College students have the capacity to be able to thrive in all contexts, no matter the developments and disruptions they may face.
Assumption College provides a liberating curriculum that promotes the motivation and inspiration to explore multiple and individualised pathways; however, that is simply one element of holistic education. Our empowering co-curricular and pastoral programs are specifically designed to support, challenge, and extend our students. We recognise that the teaching and learning of 21st-century skills and nurturing values do not just happen in the classrooms. From sporting to cultural to socially-just enterprises, these opportunities are designed to develop our young people’s capacity to adapt and grow in our ever-changing world.
The World Economic Forum predicts that almost 2/3 of our current students will eventually have careers in industries that do not exist yet. What an exciting opportunity it is to future-proof and future-inspire a generation of learners who will go on to generate their own futuristic revolutions. When our Senior Class students of 2028 graduate, their future will be more wonderous than we can even imagine.
May Our Mother Mary grant her blessings upon our College community.
2022 Term Dates
By Mrs Anna Hardy, Deputy Principal
In the last newsletter, I wrote about the College rules and the expectations. This week, I would like to reiterate a core element of our College rules – respect. Over the last two weeks, the Pastoral team have had numerous conversations with students about respect - respecting College property, respecting the College staff members, respecting each other and respecting themselves. We are always highlighting the importance of respecting their own values and ensuring their behaviour does not contradict these behaviours.
Disrespect shows in small behavioural ways that are often ignored or go unnoticed by each of us. These behaviours include graffiti, being dishonest, not following teacher instructions, teasing, using put-downs and verbal and cyber-bullying and harassment. We must break this cycle by teaching our students to be respectful and caring towards all people within our community. Being disrespectful goes against our personal values but also our College values and rules. Therefore, students can expect consequences for disrespecting staff members, College property and each other.
Our College culture is inclusive of all our members, and each and every person is valued for their individual contributions. Teacher and student relationships are at the heart of our daily activities. Having the right and respectful relationships is part of our daily work and our families within our community. Respecting others is vital to getting along with friends, family, teachers and others in our lives. Everyone needs to work on skills to have positive relationships with others. When we practise these skills, we will feel connected to others, supported and safe.
It's sometimes difficult for us to understand and manage emotions or to know how to deal with other people's emotions. Learning these skills is a great foundation for building respectful relationships. Developing skills for coping with challenges and solving problems will help us all handle stressful situations and feel comfortable about seeking help when needed.
Start the conversation about respect early.
Start by responding to your child calmly when they are disrespectful to others. The following three-step communication approach can be used from early childhood through to teen years.
Stop: Respond calmly rather than react, asking him to stop the teasing. It’s handy to have a phrase you can rely on when under pressure. For instance, “Stop, please. That’s a personal put-down. We don’t use put-downs in this family".
Empathise: Invite your child to see the behaviour through the eyes of the other person. ‘How do you think your sister/friend feels right now?’
Educate: Provide options such as ignoring their sibling or friend if they are annoying each other or providing an appropriate social script they can use to communicate thoughts such as, “I find it annoying when you don’t share the computer.”
The acronym SEE (stop, empathise, educate) will help you remember these steps.
Camps:
Year 8 Camp: Year 8 students will attend Camp Kokoda from the 12th to the 15th September. More details will be sent home in the coming weeks.
Year 9 Camp: Due to the ongoing health situation, Year 9 students will travel within Queensland this year. A camp has been organised from 4th to 6th October at North Stradbroke Island. Again, more details will be sent home in the coming weeks.
Year 10 Camp: Year 10 students will travel to Central Queensland and attend a camp near Yeppoon/Great Keppel Island. A letter will come home this week with finer details. The camp will occur from the 4th October to 7th October.
Student Leadership 2023:
Last Friday, Year 11 students who had nominated for Student Leadership positions in 2023 delivered their speeches to all the students. Students and staff then voted, and we are now in the process of calculating these votes.
By Mr Michael Simpson, Assistant Principal Curriculum
Year 11 2023
The subject information night was a huge success, and I extend a thank you to the parents who attended and the teachers who created fabulous displays to inform students about their subject. Year 10’s will be selecting their preferences during careers classes; however, there must be conversations at home regarding their choices. The new QCE system requires much thought when changing subjects during Year 11, so there should be a high degree of thought put into a student’s senior schooling plan. The PowerPoint presentation from the subject selection evening is available on the school website.
Years 9 and 10 2023
The Curriculum Handbook for Year 9 and Year 10, 2023 will be distributed this week and will outline all the relevant information regarding Assumption College’s suite of subjects for next year.
Years 8 and 9 students will have a presentation at school regarding the Elective subjects available for them to study in 2023 and how to make their preferences using the web program. In addition, Year 9 students have been working hard in Careers class to start thinking about their future pathways. Students will then make their selections at school and print a form to be signed by parents. The school will then create a 2023 timetable based on the student selections and this will dictate what is offered next year. Once the timetable has been established, students may need to reselect due to restrictions on class sizes and staff availability.
External Examination Preparation Program
A letter has been distributed to all Year 12 students regarding the Diocesan External Examination Preparation Program (EEPP).
Students are welcome to attend any session that they believe will provide value to them. Just be aware that the sessions are intensive; students will work individually and cooperatively with others, and they will be expected to engage with exam-style questions. They will work hard.
There will be a small charge to help offset the costs of the program. This is based on a sliding scale. If your young person attends one session the charge will be $50, if they attend four, $120.
Students will be expected to source their own accommodation in Toowoomba while undertaking the program. The subjects offered are English, Modern History, Legal Studies, Study of Religion, General Maths, Maths Methods, Specialist Maths, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology.
Please refer to the letter regarding how to register. If you have any issues or concerns please contact the College.
By Mrs Carol Sharp, Assistant Principal Religious Education
Community Classroom – Date claimer
This term, in an effort to increase connections between the school and the wider community, I will be holding a ‘Community Classroom.’ On Wednesday, 24 August 2022 at 3:30pm members of the community are welcome to join us for a Religious Education lesson, designed and run, in accordance with our RE curriculum. Afternoon tea will be served and there will be a chance for a Q and A session. If you have ever been curious about what happens in RE, come along and join us.
Please see invitation below.
Visitation to Aged Care
Our visitation to the Churches of Christ Aged Care facility is ongoing. So far, the program has been very successful with our students consistently demonstrating their care and concern for the vulnerable in our community. Here are some reflections from our students about their involvement in the program.
“I loved the experience I had with the aged care home and I would love to do it again. I liked to talk to the residents and just see how they were going and to keep them company.” (Peter Dunn Year 7)
“On the day I attended the aged care home I got to play games of indoor bowls and did some dancing with the residents. I made coffee and tea for the residents during afternoon tea. I got to talking to John about what he did when he was my age. We talked about how he owns a farm out of Warwick and how there were horses and cattle. He was nice and kind. My experience there was amazing, I loved every minute of it. I was so glad I decided to do it and would love to do it again.” (Thalia O’Neill Year 8)
Year 8 Retreat
We are pleased to advise you that our Year 8 cohort will be participating in a retreat day on Thursday, 11 August 2022. We have been fortunate to secure Br Damien Price as the facilitator of a retreat, and we have decided that the Year 8 cohort will gain the most benefits from this opportunity.
Br Damien Price is a Christian Brother with a deep understanding of the Edmund Rice charism of Presence, Compassion and Liberation. He is a former school teacher, author, presenter and has established multiple social justice initiatives including Eddy’s Van which worked with the homeless and Edmund Rice camps to support struggling youth.
The theme we have chosen for this retreat is that of Connectedness. Students will explore how to build connections with their sense of self, with the peers in their cohort and with the school and wider community.
Catholic Education Week
Catholic Education Week celebrates the contribution that catholic education has made to the lives of our young people over the years. It is also a chance for us to reflect on what it means to be part of a catholic school community. In his address to all schools, Executive Director of Toowoomba Catholic Schools, Dr Patrick Coughlan, explained that catholic schools were places with unique reference points. In a time of change, he explained, it is these reference points that allow us to develop an ongoing response to the big questions in life around meaning and purpose. The anchor points of a catholic school are grounded in scripture and the living tradition of the Church. Dr Pat highlighted two key quotes from scripture that underpin who we are and the purpose we are trying to instil:
“I have come so that you may have life and have it to the full.’
John 10:10
“Act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8
So, what do we do here at Assumption College to allow our students to develop these values and this sense of purpose? By simply looking at our calendar for that week, a typical week here at school, it became apparent that we do quite a lot. Here are some of the activities that happened during CEW:
We are certainly giving our students every opportunity to live their lives to the full, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with God.
The Ponytail Project
Our wonderful Year 11 students have expressed an interest in participating in the Ponytail Project this year. This project is a major fundraiser for the Cancer Council and involves students volunteering to have their ponytails cut off so the hair can be used to make wigs for people undergoing treatment for cancer. We currently have six girls and two staff members who are keen to #rockthechop in support of this cause.
Of course, everyone else can support the cause as well. Simply follow this link to the donation page for our school team ‘ACW 2022 – Sandra’s Legacy.’ All funds raised will go towards essential cancer support services, prevention programs and lifesaving research. This means everything from transport to getting cancer patients to and from their medical appointments, to assisting childcare facilities to keeping kids safe from the sun.
Here are some reflections from students as to why they are participating in the Ponytail Project.
“I’m participating in the Ponytail Project to continue my mother’s legacy. I want to help those in need who are going through the same experience of losing their hair to cancer and undergoing treatment.” (Savannah Ganly Year 11)
“It is such a great cause to be a part of. By participating in it you will be giving those battling cancer confidence through the wigs they are wearing.” (Madeline Gleeson Year 11)
For more information on the Ponytail Project, please visit this site.
Prayer
At our recent subject information night for students entering Year 11 in 2023, we began with a prayer. This prayer was written to help our young people understand the importance of the journey they are about to embark on and that they do not walk this path alone. Please take a moment to pray for our Year 10 students.
Heavenly Father
We pray for our young people as they begin their journey into senior schooling.
May they be wise enough to know where their skills and interests lie, but not so wise that they don’t listen to the advice of their parents and teachers,
May they be confident enough that they set lofty goals, but not so confident that they forget to do the work to achieve those goals.
May they be brave enough to follow their own path, but not so brave that they forget to ask for help along the way.
Father, we ask that our young people make choices about their senior pathway that will liberate them by giving them options in the future, empower them to contribute to the common good and nurture their spirituality so that they may come to know you.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
By Mr Thomas Duggan, Sports Coordinator
On Thursday, 28 July 2022, Assumption College had several students attend the Border District Track and Field carnival which was hosted by Warwick State High School. This was a fantastic day for the school and our athletes as we had several athletes set new personal bests and many Assumption College students were awarded as Age Champions or Runners Up.
We also had two of our relay teams place first which is another great achievement. Congratulations to Jaz Cruda and Lily Kerlin who were awarded as Runners Up in their age divisions. Congratulations to Sam Wainwright and Denika Murray who were awarded Age Champions in their age division.
A massive congratulations to Denika Murray who also set two new records in Long Jump and the 100m. The 100m record was even more special as the previous record holder was our very own Ms Natalia Webb who was there to congratulate Denika. Overall Assumption College placed 3rd in the school rankings which was a great effort only made possible by all of our competing athletes.
Age champions and runners up
16 yrs Boys Relay Team
16 yrs Girls Relay Team
We would like to wish our 12 year old students the best of luck when they compete at the Southern Downs Athletics carnival on Monday, 8 August 2022.
We look forward to competing at the 100th Warwick All Schools Track and Field carnival which is to be held on Wednesday, 10 August 2022. Hopefully, Assumption College can move up a couple of rungs on the school rankings through more student participation at this great inter-school carnival.
By Mrs Mary-Anne Driver, Library Aide
The term is off to a great start in the library with plenty of activities happening.
Chess with Mr Rank is popular on Monday.
Tech Tuesday with Mrs Wooding is being held in the science lab so students can spread out. They are working through a sci-fi adventure called ’30 Days lost in Space’ which involves circuits and coding to repair their destroyed control panel.
We have some students stepping up our Dungeons and Dragons games and writing and running the adventure for their peers. This is strengthening leadership skills, problem-solving and co-operation skills among the group.
We have had history classes coming to the library so Mrs Wooding can refresh their skills including finding quality sources and referencing them according to APA standards.
Miss Quinn has prepared some dashboards on our Library website to assist students in years 8 and 9 history who are currently working on the Industrial Revolution and World War II. These dashboards include the assignment task, some links to background reading, books we have in the library and videos and other resources and information that will be helpful. Please encourage your student to check these dashboards as it is a great place to find more resources. We are always happy to help in the library at break times too! You can access the dashboard at home via https://au.accessit.online/ASS01
Noosa Film Academy
A big thankyou to Greg and Andrea Huglin from Noosa Films and their work with our students last Tuesday. The theme for the day was Choice and students were provided with a treasure chest of items to use as the stimulus for their ideas and the car keys were chosen. Our students then worked in smaller group of students to develop storyboards and then go through the filming, performing, script writing, producing and editing process. Greg than works on final edits overnight for the final product of the film and Andrea puts together a presentation of slides from the day, both of which have links available below.
Here is the link to the film: https://youtu.be/5xWuhCWwIG4
And production still slideshow: https://youtu.be/j9u4jA7U5P0
I was able to supervise the end of the day. I could watch as editing choices were being made and witness how each of the shot angles/set-ups worked to come together seamlessly at the end. It was interesting to see some of the tricks of the trade in the film and sound editing tools as we watched the many segments of film come together to create the final story sequence. As certificates were handed to each participant, the presenters personally thanked them individually acknowledging each students' gifts and skills that contributed to the group project.
TERRITORIAL – Years 7 and 8
Years 7 and 8 Pastoral Leaders have the letters for these year levels regarding the performance at the start of next term with information regarding the performance and its purpose on our calendar. The letter informs parents about the cost that will be added to fees and has a form attached to return if parents DO NOT want their students involved.
Artist Acknowledgement
Georgia was inspired by the work of Picasso and his masterpiece Guernica as she developed her Cubist painting. She has used the simple colour palette and the technique of collaged newsprint on the canvas within this work communicating ideas connected to the artworks' title.
Ryan Totman - New York Fashion Week 2022
Ryan Totman was recently invited to New York Times Square, Manhattan, New York to take part in the world famous New York Fashion Week for 2022.
Ryan was selected from many models across the world to attend this amazing event and be one of popular clothing label, Paris Chic, and NYFW's 2022 July Top Cover Model for their magazines, as well as Hollywood Star magazine.
Youth Council
Amity is one of the current Youth Council Members, alongside Leigham Portener and recently she attended the soft opening of Headspace in its new location.
It is expected that at the next Youth Leaders meeting in August, she will present information regarding this community event.
Congratulations, Amity, on your work.
Students are having a great time learning these new skills.
