College Updates Term 3 Week 2 - 1 Aug 24

These dates may be subject to change at the discretion of the College. Any changes will be advised to parents and carers via Schoolzine.

Dear parents, carers, and students.

I would like to let you know that I have been appointed to the role of Principal at a school in another Diocese, and that my last official day at Lumen Christi Catholic College will be this Friday, August 2.

The decision to take up this opportunity was not an easy one. I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to get to know many of you over the past four years. This is a very special community, highlighted by our wonderful kids and our teaching and support staff. The kindness shown to my family and I by everyone when we arrived here not knowing a soul was greatly appreciated. We have grown very attached to the Bega Valley Shire and will certainly visit in the future.

Thank you all once again for your support and kindness over the past four years.

Take care and God Bless

Dave Crawford

Assistant Principal

Dear Lumen Families,

Dave Crawford

Dave Crawford, Assistant Principal Learning Enrichment will depart from Lumen next week as he takes up the exciting challenge of school leadership as Principal. Dave heads off to another diocese to continue his work in the great enterprise of Catholic education. We are sad to see Dave go as we reflect on his qualities as leader who has a passion for equity and justice.  Dave has a particular interest in Restorative Justice as a way to build community, and in Social Justice as a way to reach out to the poor. Contentiously, Dave also has a passion for the Newcastle Knights, and less contentiously, Cricket! In each of these interests he seeks to engage in conversation, and fun, the people around him.

He will be missed at the College, taking first a period of leave in preparation for the new role, which commences later in the year. We hope to see Dave around the region and in the parish for a little while longer. We at the College pray for God’s blessings on Dave, especially in his work as he takes on new challenges in a new community. On a personal note, I extend my thanks and best wishes to Dave, who arrived at Lumen as the pandemic continued over 2020/2021. We faced many challenges as a school community at that time, and Dave met challenge with enthusiasm, passion and compassion.

Congratulations on your appointment with best wishes and blessings Dave.

Antoinette Woods

Related to Daves appointment, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Antoinette Woods to the role of Assistant Principal Learning Enrichment in an acting capacity until the end of the year. Antoinette will be known to many families through her work as REC over many years.  Congratulations Antoinette on this appointment and we wish you many blessings in the role.

Shane Giles

Principal

St Mary Mackillop Pilgrimage

“We are but travellers here” 

“Never see a need without doing something about it”

These two quotes from St Mary Mackillop epitomise the contribution that Dave Crawford has made to Lumen Christi.  This weekend at the annual Pilgrimage at Eden, we reflect, not only on the life of Australia’s first saint, but also how we, like Dave, can emulate her service, patience and trust in God in our daily lives.  

Whether it was supporting parish events like the pilgrimage, serving bacon and eggs on Fridays with the BBQ crew raising money for charities, participating in Winter Sleep Outs or supporting concerned students and staff, Dave has strived to demonstrate servant leadership, putting others before himself.  He has patiently helped the College respond to the needs of the community, trusting that everything happens for a reason.  

Dave has often spoken about his role models from the Josephite tradition - we can see the ongoing influence of St Mary Mackillop who founded the Sisters of St Joseph in 1866.  Both Dave and St Mary Mackillop know the importance of community and this weekend’s celebration is a wonderful parish event.

Archbishop Christopher will be leading the pilgrimage from the Eden AFL grounds at 11am with Mass  in Our Lady Star of the Sea Church at midday, followed by a parish lunch.  

Thank you to all those in our community who are able to support this event by representing the College and to those who have put a significant amount of time and effort into organise this celebration.  And thank you to Dave for being a part of the Lumen Christi journey for the last four years.

Antoinette Woods

Acting Assistant Principal

CBCA Children's Book Week 2024: Reading is Magic! 

Daily Storytime, Book Swap, Games, a tree with hidden surprises and a Book Week Parade

The Magic Faraway Tree has popped up in the Lumen Library to remind us of the magic of books! 

All of Week 5 this term, primary students will be celebrating CBCA Children's Book Week. The theme for Book Week 2024 is "Reading is Magic". Book Week celebrates literacy and a love of reading, books and book characters. It is a week that students come together and enjoy sharing their favourite books and characters with their peers and wider college community. We also celebrate the CBCA award shortlist, and read the celebrated books in class. 

This year Book Week will culminate on Friday 23 August at 9:15am in the Lumen Christi Catholic College Hall with a Character Parade. Parents and Carers are welcome to come and watch the parade. Students from each class will introduce their character and the book that it comes from (which they do not have to bring), and parade their characters past the audience. Dame Washalot and Saucepan Man will be visiting to help award prizes for Most Creative, Best Effort, Most Magic and Most Bookish. We are looking forward to another fantastic Book Week and seeing all of the wonderful characters that students portray on the day. 

We love it when students choose an actual book character to dress up as, as this truly celebrates books and reading! As parents ourselves, we do know how hard it can be to let films and movies infiltrate our early concept of narrative and stories. Please help your child to connect the event as much as possible with books and reading, but do consider this a longer-term goal if you find yourself bringing a minion or Marvel character to school that day.

Book Week in the Library will run from Monday to Friday and will include daily story time at recess and games during lunch time.

A Book Swap will also be happening in the Lightwell (Library) from Monday to Thursday of Book Week during recess only. 

Over the next few weeks students are encouraged to bring in 3 books (or more!) to donate to the Book Swap, raising money for SJA. They will receive 1 ticket to exchange for 1 free book during the Book Swap. Students are also able to purchase books from the Book Swap for $1 each. Leading up to the Book Swap there will also be clues given for a Golden Ticket. The student wo receives the Golden Ticket can exchange it for a free book at the Book Swap. 

Please note: Only donations of Picture Books, Junior Fiction and Young Adult novels will be accepted.

Consent Labs: Student sessions and Parents/Carers' Webinar

We have contracted a not-for-profit organisation called Consent Labs to deliver presentations to the students about topics surrounding consent education. We as a school believe that these educational sessions are important in providing our students with the knowledge to empower themselves in understanding their rights, and to be fully informed with knowing what resources are available to them if necessary. 

Every young person deserves to be safe and respected in relationships.  

If you do not wish your child to attend these one-hour sessions, please sign the opt out form and return it to the College Office or via the Drop Box.  You are also welcome to discuss this with our Director of Pastoral Care, Emma Hibbert.

Student sessions:

Wednesday 7 August

Year 7  Consent Foundations

Year 8 Consent in the world of technology

Year 9 Consent with Drugs and Alcohol

Thursday 8 August 

Year 10 Recognising Sexual Harassment and Assault 

Year 11 Recognising Sexual Harassment and Assault

Parents/Carers' Webinar

Wednesday 7 August - 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Join Zoom Meeting by clicking on the link below

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88535121379

Meeting ID: 885 3512 1379

If you do not want your child to attend the Consent Lab sessionsm, please complete the below opt out form and return to the college by Monday 5 August 2024.

Tour Australian Catholic University during its open day on Saturday 14 September from 11am-2pm.

For further details please see the attached flyer.