Shining Lights 16/3/2023, Week 7, Term 1

Caring for our Common Home

Former Lumen Christi students, Jacob Shields and Jordan Mundey premiered their documentary "Crunch Time" at The Picture Showman Cinema on Monday evening to a packed house.  The key message was that each and everyone of us has the power to bring about change and that by fighting for the biodiversity threatened by development at Tura Beach, the impact we can have in our small backyard can grow into big things - especially considering similar "zombie developments" are happening along the NSW coast.  

During the Q&A session, Nathan Lygon, a cultural man with connections to Yuin, Dharrawal and Walgalu country, spoke passionately about the importance of our connection with the natural world, saying that the benefits to the flora and fauna from protecting our biodiversity are just as valid as any benefits to our human society.  

This recognition of integral ecology is the focus of Pope Francis' 2015 letter,  "Laudato Si: Care for our Common Home".  This week, as Pope Francis celebrates his 10th year, we can be inspired by the influence of this Argentinian scientist who became a priest, looking for opportunities to make a difference - which led to him being the head of the Catholic Church.  

Our Lumen Christi community can be similarly inspired by Jacob, Jordan and photographer, current student Sam Hsiao who are shining their lights and spreading hope: we have the answers, if we just choose to think of the natural world and future generations. 

To watch the 20 minute documentary, click here and for more information, check out the “Save Tura Beach Biodiversity” Facebook page.

Vocational Education & Training - VET

Vocational Education and Training or VET offers a faster job-focused pathway to a career. VET course provides students with first-hand experience in the workplace. This gives them the right skills and allows them quicker entry into paid work.

At Lumen Christi Catholic College, VET courses can be studied from Year 10, with early commencement course offered in Construction and Hospitality. In 2023 we have introduced VET Business Services in Stage 6 and are looking at other course we can offer in coming years.

The VET landscape in schools is changing. Currently, students can only include one VET course in the calculation of their ATAR. However, for our current Year 10 students and future cohorts, they will be able to undertake multiple VET courses that can count towards the ATAR.

If you have any questions about VET, please contact one of our VET Coordinators – Mr Russell Lyons or Mrs Ingrid Thompson russell.lyons@cg.catholic.edu.au or ingrid.thompson@cg.catholic.edu.au

Primary Buddy Program!

Every year our Year 5 students are buddied up with our new Kindergarten students. The aims of the “Buddy” Program is to promote social and emotional development, encourage mentorship, foster a sense of community and improving academic outcomes.  

The Buddy Program promotes social and emotional development by pairing younger and older students together. This pairing allows opportunities for younger children to develop social skills, such as communication and cooperation and emotional skills such as empathy and understanding. This can clearly be seen as our kindergarten students who are always keen to catch up with their Year 5 buddies and tell them what is going on.

The Buddy Program also encourages mentorship where older students act as role models for their younger peers and demonstrate positive behaviours and attitudes. Our Year 5 students have worked hard with their buddies to support and encourage them and have been excellent, caring role models.  

Another important aspect of the Buddy Program is promoting a sense of community. By pairing students from different grades as sense of inclusivity and connectedness among students across the school occurs. Our current Year 5 students have been wonderful at greeting their buddies in the mornings and assisting with their transition into school for the day.  

A final bonus of the Buddy Programis the improvement in academic outcomes. Buddies can work together on academic tasks which can help the younger students develop important skills such as problem solving and reinforce concepts for older students.  

This year, we have continued the Buddy Program with the Year 6 and Year 1 students. Some examples of the activities they have been involved in include buddied reading, borrowing from the Library and a Science Investigation about our thumbs. Our buddies are also present within our Peer Support program as they are grouped together for this program too.