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- Reflection
- Principal's Message
- Upcoming Event - Athletics Carnival
- Student Achievements
- It Takes a Spark! STEM Conference Tasmania 2022
- Camp Quality Visit - Thursday, 22nd September 2022
- Creative writing Competition 2022 - Grade 6 Writing Extension Group continued
- Disco Reminder
- Community Events/Activites
- Parish Bulletin
Re-Joice!
The Lost Sheep (Luke 15:1-32)
A reflection on the Gospel from the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
Written by Mr Casimir Douglas
“And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me for I have found my sheep that was lost!” (Luke 15:7)
On the weekend of Sunday 11th September (23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time), at Mass for the cycle of readings for Year C from the Gospel of Luke, we hear the entirety of Chapter 15 which is composed of three different parables. However, whilst Luke’s Jesus tells three different parables in this discourse, they are all centred on the same message: God’s boundless love, forgiveness and grace. But there are nuances in each story that make an examination of each of the ‘Three Parables’, as they are known as a collective, worthy of separate and discrete treatment and exploration. Therefore, over the course of the next three weeks in the Newsletter, I will explore the Three Parables one at a time. Our first of three weeks covers the Parable of the Lost Sheep.
‘Rejoice’ is the word that most encompasses the emotion and reaction of each of the three characters used as metaphors for God in these parables when what was lost has returned to them; they ‘rejoice’! The etymology of the word provides a specific insight into the intention of Luke’s writings in Chapter 15. The word rejoice in contemporary English language typically means for a person to experience joy or take pleasure in an event or occurrence. But the word is derived from the Old French, re-joiss, meaning ‘back from’, ‘back to the original place’, ‘again, anew, once more’.
That these characters ‘re-joice’ in the passage is more than expressing simple pleasure, but experiencing joy in the re-joining, the re-union, and the re-turning of what was lost to its original place, to where it belonged, from whence it came. It implies that the natural state of things is connection, unity and wholeness. That in order for it to be separated in the first place must have required some unknitting, undoing or unjoining. So that when that piece is returned and integrated (Latin: integrare, ‘to make whole’), the original and intended natural state is restored.
This imagery in Luke’s Gospel is intentional, and speaks to the heart of Christ’s teachings: to live in loving relationship with God and with each other. Jesus tells these parables in response to an accusation; that he eats with sinners. Judaism in First Century Palestine was characterised by ritual purity, and those who had sinned and not made the correct sacrifice and homage at the temple, were considered unclean and therefore made outcasts in society. For Jesus to even associate with these people made him unclean by proximity.
Jesus’ response in the Parable of the Lost Sheep challenges his accusers by saying that whilst those he dines with may be lost, they too are part of the whole. They are not to be discarded and left at the margins, but re-joined, re-unified, and re-turned to loving relationship with God and with each other. But Luke’s Jesus takes it a step further. In the passage above (Luke 15:7), the shepherd rejoices, but also calls and invites his friends and family together to celebrate. The implication is clear, the work of restoring the lost into loving relationship with God and with each other is not the work of any one individual, but the work of the entire community.
Friday 9th September, 2022
Dear Parents and Carers,
SALUTATION
Grace to you and peace.
GOSPEL VALUE AWARDS: INTEGRITY
This week, at the end of second break each day, the speakers at our school have blared out the song Geronimo by Sheppard. Our focus Gospel Value for the month of September is INTEGRITY. Our Gospel Values: Head, Heart & Hands Framework emphasises for students that they know they need to be honest, be brave, and be safe to genuinely live a life of integrity. The song Geronimo is about taking a leap of faith in love, life, and learning. It is about making the brave choice to step out of your comfort zone and allow yourself to shine!
At our School Assembly in Josephite Hall this Friday (9th September) afternoon, I had the opportunity to play and sing this sing with the students. The video can be found below!
The following students received a Gospel Value Award during the School Assembly as nominated by their class teacher for exemplifying the Gospel value of Integrity this week:
Isla Elliott | Prep More |
Jessica Blazley | Prep Thomas |
Hamish Chugg | Grade 1/2 More |
Sam Bye | Grade 1/2 Saint |
Harvey Richards | Grade 1/2 Thomas |
Ivy Angelina-Taylor | Grade 3/4 More |
Paige Wylie | Grade 3/4 Saint |
Axel Gebka | Grade 3/4 Thomas |
William Raitt | Grade 5/6 More |
Sophie Shelton | Grade 5/6 Saint |
Emily Stacey | Grade 5/6 Thomas |
These students will also attend the Principal’s Morning Tea this coming Tuesday (13th September) morning during the first break at 10:50am with myself and Fr Chathura Silva or Fr Jesse Banez.
TOURNAMENT OF MINDS
This past Saturday (3rd September), two groups of students from our school travelled to Hobart to participate in the Tournament of Minds (TOM) competition. TOM is a program for all primary and secondary students providing the opportunity to solve authentic, open-ended challenges that foster creative, divergent thinking whilst developing collaborative enterprise, excellence and teamwork. And our teams committed hours, days, and weeks of time into preparing their presentation for the event, and bracing themselves for the challenges the day would bring.
Whilst a much more detailed communication of the events of the day and the exploits of our students is communicated in this Newsletter, I was thrilled to hear the news that Saturday afternoon that the team supported, guided, coached, and led by Mrs Angela Edwards were announced as the State Winners and have secured a spot in the International Final in Canberra, ACT in October. Also, the STEM team supported, guided, coached, and led by Mrs Cassie O'Neill finished second out of the ten teams in their category, and are to be commended on an outstanding effort.
Both teams are to be commended on an outstanding effort, and are to be celebrated for representing themselves, their peers, their families and their school with pride, endeavour, and excellence!
NATIONAL CATHOLIC EDUCATION CONFERENCE
This week, from Monday 5th - Wednesday 7th September, I attended the National Catholic Education Conference (NCEC). The event was held at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre (MCEC) next to the Yarra River at South Wharf.
The NCEC 2022 Conference aims to bring together school and system leaders, educators, clergy and religious, students, educational professionals, researchers, families, and other groups interested in Catholic education to promote examples of best practice and plan future directions to continue the flourishing of vibrant and authentically Catholic learning communities across Australia.
During the conference I attended sessions, workshops, lectures and speeches that covered and explored educational leadership, theology, leading teams, the voice of our youth, and innovative learning pedagogies, technologies, and approaches to social and emotional wellbeing. And one keynote session even involved the His Grace, Archbishop Anthony Fisher O.P, making souffle live on stage! The guests, attendees and speakers came from all across the face of the earth: Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
I wish to sincerely express my gratitiude to Mrs Niccola Pearce for her resilience, patience, calm and confidence in leading the school and supporting the school during my absence for a variety of events in the past few weeks. Mrs Pearce, please know that the quality of character and the excellence of your leadership does not go unnoticed or unappreciated by myself or the school community.
SCHOOL DISCO!
Ladies and gentlemen, it is that time of the year again to feel the music, dust off those old dance moves, and put on your dance shoes and get ready to rumble for the annual School Disco! This Friday evening (9th September) we will be treated to the tunes and grooves of Launceston's greatest and most famous school event disc jockey, DJ Dan!
The evening will be fun and filled with energy, enthusiasm and a whole lot of glow! I wish to thank in advance the Parents & Friends Association for their contribution to the organisation and support of the event, and their fundraising during it, and also for the staff for their engagement and excitement in joining and supervising our students in this night of frivolity!
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
Upcoming Event - Athletics Carnival
Below is our timetable for our upcoming Athletics Carnival, held on Wednesday, 21 September 2022, at St Leonards Sports Centre.
Grade 3 to 6 will leave school at 8.50am to allow the carnival to commence at 9.20am. Prep to Grade 2 will arrive at the track at 11:30am to start their events. Children can be taken to the track or collected from the track directly, but please advise your teacher. All details can be found on the Compass app under Events.
Congratulations to Frankie Lunson and Ryder Murfet for reaching 25 stickers in their Student Acknowledgement booklet.
It Takes a Spark! STEM Conference Tasmania 2022
On Friday the 2nd of September a group of STM students went to Devonport to attend a STEM conference! There were students from all around Tasmania to explore and dive into the roots of STEM. This included learning about self-made turbines, learning how to programme bots to go around a map and constructing an earthquake proof building.
Our group thought that the STEM workshop was a great idea! It taught us so much more about STEM and made us want to explore more about the different activities around STEM. It was an adventurous journey through science, technology, as well as engineering and different maths. It helped us to create things, make new friends, and to be exposed to new exciting things that we can use for our future learning. We all had an awesome time.
William and Satya
Creative writing Competition 2022 - Grade 6 Writing Extension Group continued
Here are some more creative writing pieces from our Grade 6 Writing Extension Group.
We are currently waiting for the judges to decide on a winner for the state, and this is due to be announced on the 1st of October. We will keep you posted!