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- Principal's Message
- Reconciliation 2022
- National Simultaneous Storytime 2022
- Welcome Mass & Faith Sharing session one reminder
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- That's a wrap! Futsal 2022
- Band Soiree coming up- Thursday 2nd June
- Strings Soiree coming up - Thursday 16th June
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God is Grace: Rocket Ship Jesus (Psalm 23:1)
The Ascension of Jesus (Luke 24:46-53)
A reflection on the Gospel from the Seventh Sunday of Easter (Year C)
Written by Mr Casimir Douglas
“Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Spirit will not come to you; but if I go, I will send the Spirit to you” (John 16:7)
The passage from the Gospel of Luke for this Sunday’s Mass, detailed the Ascension of Christ. When read literally the text conjures up images in the mind of Jesus taking off into the sky, into the heavens, and into God’s embrace, like one of Elon Musk’s rocket ships. The tendency, therefore, when reflecting on, and thinking about, this passage is to focus on ‘what is up there’. But conversely, the intention of the Gospel writer is more about ‘what is in here’, that is, in ourselves. This passage is less about Jesus and more about his followers.
The Gospel of Luke also authored the book in the New Testament that immediately follows the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles. It is accepted in tradition that the time period between the Ascension of Jesus and the events of Pentecost is nine days. These nine days are known as the Novena. Pentecost, with the coming of Spirit as promised by Christ in the passage from the Gospel of John above, is considered the genesis of the Church. So therefore, what did the Disciples do for those nine days following the departure of their beloved teacher and Lord?
The Gospel of Luke describes the Disciples as focusing on worship in the Temple, and the Acts of the Apostles describes them as ‘constantly devoting themselves to prayer’. These are not the actions of those looking up and wondering ‘what is up there’ and seeking the presence of Christ beyond themselves. These are actions of those who are examining ‘what is in here’, and committing to the introspection, reflection, and contemplation required to seek the presence of Christ within.
So often we allow the prevailing circumstances beyond us to define who we are, our self-worth, our value to community, and limit our potential positive impact on others and the world. But life is not something that happens to us. We look up at the stars and marvel at our insignificance, and ask where God is in the midst of our struggles. But God comes to us disguised as our lives. This is the purpose of the incarnation, this is the meaning of Christ’s paschal sacrifice, this is the message of the Cross - that God shares in our suffering and struggles.
We need not wait for a distant and passive force to intervene and improve our circumstances, but like the Disciples during the Novena, to look for God’s eternal blessing of Grace within, and allow that to transform our lives, transform each other and transform our world. The fire of Christian transformation wasn’t launched like a rocket into the skies never to be seen again, it lives and burns forever in our hearts.
Friday 27th May, 2022
John Singleton Copley, Italy, 1775
Dear Parents and Carers,
SALUTATION
Grace to you and peace.
PRINCIPAL'S MORNING TEA
At our Friday afternoon Assembly last week, there were a number of students who received a Gospel Value Award for demonstrating the value of EMPATHY. These students, and others who had not been able to attend the morning tea on their scheduled turn previously attended a special Principal’s Morning Tea outside Josephite Hall in the Kitchen Garden Area this Tuesday (24th May).
Myself and the eighteen students were treated to a smorgasbord of fruit, muffins, and savoury toast (a Tasmanian staple!) and we each shared what we are grateful for in our lives, this included their family, their friends, their pets, their sporting teams, and their school and teachers. They also shared about their hobbies, interests and dreams which included basketball, soccer, dancing, netball, and getting a Playstation 5!
SCHOOLS FUTSAL TOURNAMENT
This Tuesday 24th May & Wednesday 25th May, nearly forty of our students from Grades 3-6 participated in the Schools Futsal Tournament at Elphin Sports Centre. All students played hard, had fun, performed well, and represented the school with pride. Whether they won their tournament or not, I wish to congratulate all students on their effort, team work, and dazzling futsal skills. Of note was the performance of the Grade 3 Boys team and the Grade 5 Girls team who played their way through the tournament to win their Grand Finals! And a special mention to Quinn Russell and Alexis Harmey who scored the winning goal in their respective finals! I must express my sincere gratitude for the parents in our community who volunteered to coach, supervise and support these teams during the event. And also a huge debt of thanks is owed to Mr Nicholas Stacey for his organisation and coordination of the St Thomas More's teams in the event. These fine results, coupled with Brighton's top half finish in the English Premier League has seen Mr Stacey with an extra pep in his step this week!
ONE LOVE!
At our Monday morning Prayer Assembly this week we continued our exploration of the Gospel value of EMPATHY. We have repeated with our students this month that to demonstrate empathy means to be gentle, to listen and to learn. Each of those actions are conducted in relationship with, and connection to, another; to be gentle with another, to listen to another, to learn from another. We are connected not just when feelings and emotions are shared and understood, but we connected as human beings. We are all part of one big human family, one community, one heart, and one love. We joined together in action, verse and voice as one heart to the immortal words of the Jamaican singer, musician, songwriter, poet, and prophet, Bob Marley, in his song, One Love.
LOCKDOWN PRACTICE
This Thursday (26th May) at 10:40am, St Thomas More's Catholic School conducted our Lockdown Practice Drill. This procedure has been scheduled into the school calendar since the start of the school year. This measurement is in place to maximise student and staff safety in situations that would require a Lockdown to occur. This includes:
- Extreme weather conditions (storms & high winds etc)
- Dangerous animals on campus (snakes, swarm of wasps etc)
- Major emergency events (nearby chemical spills, traffic accidents or disturbances of the peace)
- Dangerous / threatening persons or situations
This practice drill has occurred annually and regularly for the past 10 years at the school, and ensures that the all members of the community present on site are aware of their required actions, so they are familiar with their responsbilities and the routines. It is my aim, responsibility and mission to ensure that each student is safe, happy, healthy and learning. Unless a child's safety, wellbeing and health is satisfied, then learning is an afterthought. Therefore, these Lockdown Practice Drills continue to be of significant importance.
CONDOLENCES
It would be remiss of me to not acknowledge the devestating news that emerged from Uvalde, Texas this week. As a community, we express our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the bereaved and suffering families, the Robb Elementary School community, and the community of Uvalde.
After the busyness of the school day on Wednesday, I returned home to read and see the impact of this event on the lives of those affected, and I wept as I prayed for them. We pray for the healing of their broken hearts, that the Spirit may guide them to peace, restoration and love.
FINAL GREETING
May the grace of Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
God bless,
Mr Casimir Douglas
Principal
St Thomas More’s Catholic School furthers our journey for Reconciliation. Continuing to make new connections, strengthen relationships and build on our knowledge for First Nations People of lutruwita Tasmania. As a school and in our personal lives we are striving to respectfully include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, knowledge and culture into all areas of learning in the classroom, on Country and in our communities.
We include palawa kani, the language of the Aboriginal People of lutruwita Tasmania where culturally appropriate and continue to gain knowledge and understanding that places in lutruwita Tasmania had already been named before invasion. Palawa kani is a living practice of cultural transmission, created from words and songs shared and passed down within the Nations occupying lutruwita Tasmania, within the safe space of family as well as phrases and words recorded from colonial diaries and documents. We are learning from the past wrongs that have caused Native wildlife to become extinct. We have engaged with Aboriginal People who have shared the importance of Cultural Burning practices and the advantages for having a healthy Country. We respectfully acknowledge the invasion that occurred in Lutruwita Tasmania, changing the dreams Aboriginal People had for their families, land and waterways. We are committed to truth sharing and growing minds that will help create equity for all.
Through generous cultural sharing, our school is able to engage in many areas of Aboriginal History and culture. The children created native wildlife as we shared information, stories and reflected on reconciliation and the journey needed to be taken for this to happen. The challenge is, how are you making a difference for Reconciliation and the First Nations People?
We are fortunate to have many available resources to help our journey. One readily available to the public, theorb.tas.gov.au, shares knowledge from many Tasmanian Aboriginal People.
Please feel free to stop into the Launceston Library, second floor, and enjoy the display!
National Simultaneous Storytime 2022
On Wednesday 25th May, staff and students of St Thomas More’s participated in the National Simultaneous Storytime. This initiative is run annually by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) to promote the value of reading and literacy and to highlight Australian authors, illustrators and publishers. Each year a picture book is chosen to be shared simultaneously in schools, libraries, childcare centres and homes all around the country. This year there were 2,186,347 participants registered across 31,865 locations. At STM we shared the story in our classrooms and in our Library.
Rebecca Thomas
Librarian
Congratulations to all the Grade 3-6 students who competed in the Northern Tasmania Schools Futsal Tournament held over Tuesday and Wednesday at Elphin Sports Stadium.
Whether it was the first times students had played or the fourth, they all did exceptionally well and had a great day! Congratulations to all teams, and good luck to those teams now headed to Hobart for the National tournament later in the year.
Please enjoy a few photos that have been sent in by family and friends of the events:
Band Soiree coming up- Thursday 2nd June
Our first Band Soiree is scheduled to be held on Thursday, 2nd of June, 5.30pm in the Josphite Hall. We look forward to seeing our band musicians display their musical prowess!
To ensure your child/rens names are included in the programme, please return the reply slip to the STM office, emailed recently from the St Patrick's College music program team. A copy is also attached below for reference.
Strings Soiree coming up - Thursday 16th June
Our first Strings Soiree is scheduled to be held on Thursday, 16th of June, 4.30pm in the Nano Nagle Gym at St Patrick's College. We also look forward to seeing our strings musicians display their musical prowess!
If you child is not able to attend the evening, please contact music@stpatricks.tas.edu.au directly. A copy is attached below for reference.
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