Acting Principal's Message

We have had another wonderful fortnight with much to celebrate.

Season of Lent

Wednesday, 2nd March marked the beginning of Lent, the 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. Lent is a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms, and we practice self-control through fasting. We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully.

As a College community, we celebrated Ash Wednesday in our PC groups with a live-streamed Liturgy and receiving of ashes.

Thank you to Mr Timo Gobius Leader of Evangelisation, and Mr Michael Walsh, Acting Assistant Principal - Mission, for coordinating the Ash Wednesday Liturgy. I congratulate Youth Ministry Officers, Emily Burg and Ella Smith and senior students for their participation in the Liturgy.

I refer you to Mr Walsh's full report in the following newsletter article.

Out of Uniform Day for Flood Victims

You would be aware of the devastation due to the floods in the north of our Diocese. Our Diocese stretches from the Tweed Heads border in the north to Laurieton in the south and west to The Great Divide. So many parishes in our Diocese have been affected. A couple of years ago our Bishop, Greg Homeming OCD, established a Disaster Fund for situations like this. We were recipients of these funds after our own devastating floods in 2021. There will be collection buckets located in our churches and chapels for donations to this Disaster Fund. These funds will then be distributed to those in need over the coming weeks and months. 

We participated in an out-of-uniform day today and all funds will be donated to the Diocese of Lismore Flood Appeal. This is the initial way we felt we could assist.

Families can donate directly to the Diocese of Lismore 2022 Flood Appeal by transferring funds to the account below: 

BSB: 037-889 

A/c No: 1061 5829 

Name: DOL Flood Appeal

(NB. Donations to the Diocese of Lismore Flood Appeal are NOT tax deductible)

Junior PC Leaders Assembly

Congratulations to the 79 Junior PC Leaders who have been elected to represent their PCs. At our College Assembly on Wednesday, they were presented with their badges and made their leadership pledge to the College Community. Sincere thanks to Ms Cheryl Hyde for organising the Leadership process, and parents and families who were able to attend the ceremony. This was our first whole school gathering for many months and it was great to be able to share it with our parents.

I refer you to Mrs Jennifer Furney, Assistant Principal - Pastoral Care's newsletter article, for the full list of names of our new PC Leaders.

Spencil Art Prize

It is always wonderful to receive news that a student has been recognised in the community for their gifts and talents. I would like to congratulate Sheyleace Stevens who on Friday, 4th March was one of the winners of The Spencil Art Prize, a kids' art competition that is conducted every year. 

This year, almost 1500 works of art were submitted by students all over Australia and New Zealand. Sheyleace took out first prize in the 9-13 years category, a wonderful effort! The College will also receive a $500 gift pack from Spencil.

Here is Sheyleace’s beautiful entry, titled ’Waterways’

International Women’s Day

On Tuesday, 8th March, the Hastings Business Women’s Network held an International Women’s Day breakfast and welcomed keynote speaker, Elizabeth Broderick, Independent Expert (UN Special Rapporteur), UN Human Rights Council.

Elizabeth is a global leader, social innovator and advocate who works to break down structural and social barriers and promote gender equality.  She was Australia's longest serving Sex Discrimination Commissioner (2007 - 2015) and sat on the United Nations Working Group on Discrimination against Women and Girls.

Amelia Stubbs and Olivia Montgomery, our College Captain and Vice-Captain attended the breakfast with Mrs Kellie Croft (Year 12 Leader of Student Wellbeing) on behalf of the College. Olivia was inspired by the 3 women, particularly Emillie LaPointe, Managing Director, Pointe Engineering, who created her own Business and navigated through the challenges in a male-dominated industry. Olivia was also inspired by Elizabeth Broderick’s advice about taking care of yourself and doing what you can when you can.

Staff gathered in the College Library for light refreshments to hear Elizabeth speak via Zoom about the powerful theme of discrimination against women and girls.  Elizabeth founded the ‘Champions of Change’ equality strategy and conducts cultural reviews into Australia’s leading institutions.

Staff Spirituality & Development Days - Pupil Free Days

Staff will be participating in two Professional Learning Days. Students will not be required to attend school on those days.

On Friday, 8th April, the last day of Term 1, SJRC staff will be participating in our annual Spirituality Day. The aim of the day is to engage and support staff in their faith development. The program has been developed by the Bishop of Lismore and the Catholic Schools Office and will be presented by the Leadership Team of the College.

On Tuesday, 26th April, the first day of Term 2, staff will be undertaking professional learning focusing on three key areas: NESA requirements around registration and accreditation, differentiation, and continued development of literacy and numeracy programs within the College. 

Term 2 will commence for students on Wednesday, 27th April.

Mrs Tanya Daley
Acting Principal