PATHWAYS TO RECONCILIATION

On May 26,1997, the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families, called the Bringing Them Home Report was presented. It included the sad and painful stories of the removal of thousands of Indigenous children from their families. The Report recommended that a Sorry Day should be held. A year later, 26 May 1998, over half a million people responded by signing Sorry Books and joining in ceremonies for the inaugural National Sorry Day. In response to this, members of the stolen generations came up with the idea of ‘A Journey of Healing’, a community initiative of Indigenous and non-Indigenous working together to help all who suffer as a result of the removal policies. Immediately following National Sorry Day, or Journey of Healing as it is now called, is National Reconciliation Week. The theme for National Reconciliation Week this year is: ‘Pathways to Reconciliation: Together We’re Doing It!’

We celebrated a Journey of Healing at Holy Cross College on Wednesday with a special liturgy which commenced with the following prayer :

God of justice and forgiveness, Guide us as we continue on our pathways to Reconciliation. Grant us the courage to speak out against the injustices that our Indigenous brothers and sisters continue to suffer. Help us to see with new eyes, to listen to the stories of our Indigenous brothers and sisters and to feel with a heart of compassion. Help us to build right relations with each other based on truth and justice. We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord, Amen.

EUCHARIST RETREAT

Year 4 students participated in a Eucharist Retreat on Wednesday.  They gathered with students from St Helena’s Catholic Primary School and the Parish Catechist Programme as part of the preparation for receiving the Sacrament of the Eucharist.  The young people will receive Holy Communion for the first time during Parish Masses in June.  Please keep them in your prayers.

CANONISATION OF BLESSED OSCAR ROMERO

We were very excited to hear that Pope Francis will canonize Blessed Oscar Romero on 14 October 2018.  Canonization is the process through which  person is named a saint.  This will be a special time for our College community as Archbishop Romero is our College patron.

RUNNING IN THE RAIN

Today’s wet weather didn’t deter our cross-country squad who participated in the annual ACC Carnival at Perry Lakes Reserve. Well done to all of the cross-country squad for their great effort in wet and cold conditions. Thanks to Mr Parsons and Mr Falcone for coaching the team and to other staff who assisted.  Thanks also to parents who came along to support the students.

Extra Long Weekend

There will be no classes on Friday 1 June and Tuesday 5 June.  Students return to school on Wednesday 6 June.

Honouring our Mothers

On Sunday, 13 May 2018 we honour our Mothers and any significant women in our lives.

On the morning of Wednesday, 9 May 2018 the College came together in the Parish Church to celebrate our Mothers, Grandmothers, Aunties and the many women who care for us and shape our lives. Mr Shelton, Director of Faith, began by highlighting the place of Mary, the Mother of our Church, our Mother, and the inspiration we can draw from her life as Mothers, sons and daughters.

In the Gospel reading of Luke 1:39-56, we heard of the happiness of two expectant Mothers as they meet, and the way Elizabeth’s baby “leaps for joy” in the presence of Mary who is bearing Jesus in her womb. What a joy it is to share in the events associated with having a baby. What a joy it is to bring new life into the world.

Mr Gooch prepared a wonderful video of students giving homage to their Mothers, with students describing the things they most valued about their Mothers. Particularly moving and inspiring was the refection on motherhood by the Pindolia family. We are grateful to Mrs Manisha Pindolia, Ashni and Dhirian, and Nana K for their courage in sharing their story of the love and respect they have for each other. There was a great buzz in the air when all students and their Mothers had the opportunity to share their own personal reflections on motherhood.

The angelic voice of Ms Emilie Reynolds accompanied on the piano by Ms Laura Goodwin created a reverent ambience for reflection.

Mothers and families were invited to make their way to the College Café to share in a light breakfast with their children. Each Mother received the gift of a chocolate heart as a symbol of love and respect and the high esteem in which they are held.

Thank you to Mrs Lewis and Mrs Vagg for providing a wonderful breakfast.

We wish our Mothers and all significant women in our lives a very happy Mothers’ Day and pray:

Heavenly Father, hold my mother close to your Heart

As we hold her close to mine. Let her know today and every day

How much we love her. Lord, comfort her mind and reassure her

that her motherly care was everything we needed and wanted

And that we love her dearly.

Amen.

The magic of Mothers

How Explaining Something To Mum Helps Children Learn

Does asking children explain something to their others make a difference to how well they learned it and whether they could apply their learning to a new situation? Children were divided into three groups: those in the first group were asked to explain the problem and its solution to their Mothers, who were instructed to listen and not prompt or correct; those in the second group were asked to explain the solution to themselves, (speaking into a tape recorder); and those in the third were asked to repeat the correct answer without explaining it.

What did the researchers find? Children who explained the problem to their mothers performed better than the other two groups when they were asked to solve another problem similar to the initial problems. And mum-explainers were significantly better able to transfer what they had learned to new and more challenging problems. By the way, children in the second group did better than those who weren't asked to explain to anyone.

What does this prove? Explaining their thinking helps even very young child think through and absorb their learning. Explaining to another person enhances this effect, as long as the other person is listening, and we know that mums are good listeners.

Explaining to their mums may prompt children to be more explicit and to generate more generalisable rules. The presence of a listener may provide a natural context for helping children to stay motivated and to integrate knowledge across multiple dimensions of a problem.

The general lesson for children might be that if they are having difficulty in understanding something, they should try explaining it to their mum (or dad or sibling or grandparent).

Explaining to someone who is truly interested in listening to you is the key.

Ask your child to explain the lessons they are learning in school each day. Your listening may be the best way for them to understand and retain their new knowledge.

Acknowledgement: "Learning from Explaining: Does It Matter if Mum Is Listening?" by Bethany Rittle-Johnson, Megan Saylor, and Kathryn Swygert in Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 2007 .

 Peter Collins

Acting Principal

Learning from dogs

When I was young, my family always had dogs. Some were working dogs, as my father had a sheep trucking business, and others were pets, mongrels and pure breeds alike. I loved them - when I was young. Now, I am not really a dog person and I am always astounded how so many people have dogs and love them so much.

We often say that dog-owners look like their dog. Whether this is true or not, I think we influence the character of our dogs and, in turn, they can influence us.

We can learn some important lessons from our dogs. Watch them in the morning. The first thing they do is have a good stretch. Then they walk, and breathe deeply. They sniff the air. They pick up on a scent.

A good walk makes dogs happy. Rolling in the grass makes them happy. Rolling over in the grass after a good walk and having a drink of water-that's the ultimate happiness.

Shakespeare said there were “tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, sermons in stones".

We are animals too. So ease yourself into your day the way dogs do. Take the time to enjoy getting the day started, the walk to school, seeing the world coming awake around you, inhaling the scents and sounds of the new day.

Work like a dog. Not straining and forcing yourself to do things you hate but by learning to enjoy your work and looking forward to each new day. Once you have decided on your goals, practise every day and make the most of simple things to help you.

For instance, like dogs use the support of your pack - your family and your friends Listen to what they can teach you. Dogs listen a lot. "Many dogs can understand almost every word humans say, while humans seldom learn to recognise more than half a dozen barks, if that". (101 Dalmatians by Dodie Smith)

Take the help of your pack. And help them in return.

Relax. Look at dogs when they are most involved in an activity. They are also at their most relaxed, their muscles loose, their movements fluid. Humans tense up. Dogs relax.

"He could tell by the way animals walked that they were keeping time to some kind of music. Maybe it was the song in their own heart that they walked to. (Waterless Mountain by Laura Adams Armer)

If you don't accomplish your goal - or if you do - just keep going. Dogs, whether they win or lose, still celebrate. "Wise dogs smile you know “(The Wizard's Tears by Maxine Kumin and Anne Sexton) And enjoy a roll in the grass.

So, when you get out of bed tomorrow morning, have a good stretch, go for a walk, breathe deeply and sniff the air. It’s going to be a wonderful day!

Acknowledgement: Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer; Martha Beck.

Peter Collins
Acting Principal