Term 2, Issue #5 2023

Firstly, we would like to extend a Happy Mother’s Day to all the mums and significant female role models in our community. It was great to see lots of mums, grandmas and important women come along to the breakfast last week…this was a wonderful expression of the Catherine McAuley Community and something we hope to do more of.

Over the past 12 months we have been engaging with Grieve Gillet and Anderson to complete a School Master Plan. We are pleased to share with you that this has been finished and approved by CESA. We are now embarking on the design journey of Stage One, which will be a two-story building containing 6 classrooms and 2 specialist rooms. We look forward to sharing the design with you in the coming months once finished. We are also exploring some different options to update our playgrounds, increasing the number of options for students seeking adventure!

As we enter the Winter months, we are experiencing an increase in sickness amongst our community. We think our Teachers and ESO staff are superheroes, but unfortunately, they are struggling to fight off whatever is going around!  You would also be aware that there is a shortage of teachers, which includes Relief Teachers. We thank you for your support as we manage this using various strategies and appreciate your understanding that in some service areas of the school we are short staffed at times.

SA Health strongly recommends that staff, students and children with symptoms stay home and reminds us that approximately 50% of COVID-19 cases will still be infectious at day 5. 

Journeying Together and Mission - invitation to be an instrument of HOPE and MERCY 

Welcome Back 

We trust you and your family have had a pleasant break from the norms and routine of school. Staff have returned re-energised and relaxed. On Monday 1st May, staff shared in a Reflection Day at Nunyarra Conference Centre. The theme for the day was ‘Hospitality.’ Hospitality is one of our six Mercy Education Values, and it is one of our core values that drives us in all we say and do here at Catherine McAuley.  

During the Reflection Day we welcomed Fr. Santosh to our community. Fr. Santosh joined us for a portion of the day and performed Mass for us as a whole staff. If you see Fr. Santosh around our school, please help him feel welcomed. Thank you. 

As we head into another busy term, we continue to appreciate and honour our community of supportive and positive relationships where respect and dignity are fostered and where everyone is welcomed. 

Thank you so much for your generosity. As a school, we raised $697.40 for Project Compassion. Project Compassion mobilises Australians to raise much-needed funds to help alleviate poverty, promote justice, and uphold dignity in the most vulnerable and marginalised communities in the world. The theme of Project Compassion 2023 is 'For All Future Generations'. This phrase is a powerful affirmation that the good we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. Catherine McAuley once said, “We must strive to do ordinary things extraordinarily well.” And we have certainly achieved that collectively. Hospitality at its best! 

As witnesses of Jesus, and as witnesses in our world, we aim to show the Mercy Sisters charism of Service, Compassion, Respect, Courage, Social Justice, and Hospitality, with a mission inspired by the Gospel teachings of Jesus to live, learn and love with a vision that we all lead with a merciful heart – the Mercy way. Catherine McAuley displayed the resurrection in all she said and did. She followed, diligently, in the footsteps of Jesus to help create a world God desires and very much wants for us. The focus here being, ‘How can we (you) contribute positively to others, and the world?’ 

Each week, throughout Term 2, our community will be invited to engage in our charism, mission, and vision by offering a different side of themselves in what is said and done. This week (week 2), our community was invited to ‘choose as much as possible to serve rather than to be served’ and ponder on what they can do for others. This will help our community thrive in a respectful and kind manner. 

‘Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will live, even though they die; and all those who live and believe in me will never die.’ (John 11: 25-26) 

This Term sees the start of our termly fundraiser ‘Can Drive and Empty Can Drive.’ Here we are supporting St Vinnies. Vinnies support some of the most vulnerable people in our community who are experiencing a range of issues such as poverty, homelessness, social isolation, or unemployment. Those forced to live rough can access Vinnies for a hot meal, blankets, donated books, and social connection. Many people served by this key service are not homeless but struggling to make ends meet. 

As part of our Outreach Program, we encourage our community to think with an empathetic and merciful heart and help us help Vinnies. Heart humility is living in gratitude. Humility is a blessing, as it allows us to reach beyond ourselves and appreciate the gifts others bring to the world, a natural source of gratitude. Thank you for being you and always willing to ‘dig deep’ to help others. 

On a weekly basis, a different class will be invited to donate canned / packet soup for CentaCare, a charity we have been supporting for decades. CentaCare are eternally grateful to our community for the on-going unconditional support, generosity, and hospitality offered. At times, members from CentaCare come in and talk with our students about the impact of our community’s support, generosity, and hospitality and upon observing as much, there always seems to be a sense of pride in the air, and a sense of accomplishment among all which invigorates us to want to do more. Thank you! 

May God bless you and be gracious to you all.  
Mrs Caldinez 
APRIM

The May edition of The Southern Cross is available by clicking here.

Term 1

Everyone’s back at school, excited for a new year especially the Year 6's. When year six started everyone was nervous but we all started to work together.  Year 6 comes with lots of responsibility but lots of fun things too. Starting term 1 we had our Year 6 camp possibly the most exciting thing ever, we all loved it. Everything was so fun it's hard to choose which one was the best, there was tube sliding, laser tag and even cooking, but the best part was being able to spend it with our favourite people our friends. After camp everyone had a little rest but as a Year 6 there is no rest, straight away, we got our jumpers they were the comfiest thing ever. During this term we did a lot of learning, and we all did many tests.

After a few weeks, we had to vote for our sport captains and student leaders. This activity went well, Mercy Leaders got elected and at assembly they all got their badges, and they were so excited. When the leaders went up to collect their badges there was a massive applause. The leaders were happy.

We were near the end of term 1 and everyone was already in holiday mode but we had one more big activity to do and that was Sports Day. When Sports Day started everyone got really competitive with the games hoping to win. The activities were really easy for many and for others it was really hard. At the end of day we were all very tired but in the end gold won both trophies.

The Year 6 community enjoyed term 1 and couldn’t wait for term 2.

By Aubree, Indy and Sarah

Camp 

Before camp I was really nervous, but I was okay because Mrs Vandenberg told me to stay calm and that I had nothing to worry about. 

From the beginning to the end, it was great the whole time. I remember going in the common room and getting explained the rules. Then we went to our first activity which was cooking! We made a fruit crumble. 

After that I was at the labyrinth, and we played multiple games it was fun. Then we got to see our dorms for the first time. It was great. I was so excited I knew after that moment I was going to like it there. 

My favourite Woodhouse activities were Laser Skirmish, Challenge Hill and the Tube Slide. 
Laser skirmish because it makes me feel like I’m in the real army and that I’m a soldier. Challenge Hill because it challenged me to do things that I was a bit afraid to do and Tube Slide, well I like to work out and my teachers know that I like to work out a lot so that’s why. 

• Something about the food, it was great not as good as my mum's cooking but good. 
• After camp I felt like this is one of the best things in my life because it was fun. 

-By Matthew 

National Simultaneous Storytime (NSS) is held every year during May. A picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author and illustrator, is read simultaneously in libraries, schools, pre-schools, family day cares, childcare centres, family homes, bookshops and many other places around the country.

This fun event aims to promote the value of reading and literacy children's book.

This term we have commenced a Defence Student Leadership Group. Defence students had to write a letter outlining why they would make great Defence Student Leaders and what personal qualities they would bring to the program.

Defence Student Leaders will be helping out in a variety of programs across the school, including Remembrance Assemblies, new student buddies and much more.

Congratulations to our selected Defence Student Leaders for 2023.