Shining Lights Week 2, Term 2 - 4/5/2023

Celebrating the Hope Joy and Wonder of Catholic Schools

The month of May is an exciting time for Catholic schools as we open our doors to parents and visitors and open our schools to new enrolments for the next year.

We are so proud to be a part of the great system of schools in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn. We are part of a family of 56 schools who are dedicated to the ideals of inclusion in an educational model that promotes partnerships between individuals, communities and governments based on the principles of equity, needs, access, social justice and religious freedom.

Indeed, I spent time today in a Religious Education class in which the students considered the impact of the Papal encyclical, Fratelli Tutti. The students were thoughtful and passionate about the ways that we can build a more just and peaceful world that moves beyond the limits of providing equality, and to the great cause of equity, then liberation of the human family. It was truly inspiring.

As we look to the next year groups of Kinder and Year 7 particularly, we focus on what makes Catholic schools distinctive in Catholic Schools Week. For more information, see the video message from Director Ross Fox - Click here

As part of Catholic Schools week, I went on a tour of the local radio station and visited with students of local school communities at Mumbulla school, St Pat’s Bega, and next week at St Joseph’s Bombala.

Our students shared something of their experiences as students at Lumen and told of their pride in belonging to this wonderful learning community. If you want to know more, please come along to our Open Day on May 24. Students will give tours of the College throughout the day, and I will be speaking with parents at an information session at 11:45. I hope you can come along.

“to thine own self be true”

-  Polonius in Hamlet (long story)  

Sir…  

Come in. I’ve seen you look better.  

It’s all too much really. I need to be some place else. 

Have you seen my fish?  

Nice.  

What’s all too much?  

Are you supposed to fall apart in Year 12 and get all stressed out or what?  

It’s a part of life’s rich tapestry, and you seem to be doing it very well.  

Yeah, helpful. It’s rubbish probably. You’ll think it’s dumb. 

If it hurts, then it bears talking about. What’s going on?  

You got time?  

Go on.  

Study is stressy, but I get by, but it’s hard when others don’t take it seriously. Why push? 

Yes.  

It’s like not feeling you belong like the old days. It was simpler then. 

You’re too young to talk about the old days, but I get it.  What do you want out of study?  

I wanna go to Uni and all that, but everyone’s turning eighteen, getting cars and there’s just one party after another… mates who have left have money. 

And I take it by your eye roll and pregnant pause (and remember I taught you that in Year 10) that you don’t entire approve of what happens occasionally at said parties.  

Hmmm. Not occasionally. Let your imagination run wild. 

Are you close to answering your own question?  

But if I don’t go, I really and truly won’t belong. No friends and I’m over school. 

What do mum and dad think?  

It’s hard being the one who is going to be the first to go to uni in the family. I don’t wanna disappoint them. The golden child can’t have problems.  

Worth a try I reckon – most parents love you before anything else and with a bit of luck they’ll always back you. Even parents are people.  

Aren’t I old enough supposedly, to figure it all out for myself like you said? Resilience and positive thinking and all that.  

I’m ancient and I still have no idea. What aren’t you telling me?  

Probably something like you’re a party animal or nothin. And I worry for my friends. 

I have some long speeches on, “why am I the only one”/“everybody else is”/peer pressure/right and wrong/“to thine own self be true.”  

Not again! Please. I slept through most of them in Year 8.  

Yeah, good on you. Can I give you just one? You came to me remember. Make me feel useful. 

Go on then.  

What I see is a fantastic kid who has no idea of their own worth and potential and very likely no idea about how much they are loved. Special beyond comprehension. The stuff that you are worrying about speaks to your character plus and plus, not to an absence of anything. You have to do, or not do, what you think is right if you want to sleep at night. Put your head down and do your best, let the white noise go. Other people is nonsense. I’d be guessing that in twelve months’ time what’s worrying you won’t seem as big. Chances are you’ll be knocking around with more people with shared interests, maybe a bit more maturity, all that. Bet your parents are busting with pride over you, even if you think it comes out wrong sometimes. It’s the way of things. Patience and self-worth are difficult to teach and learn. I’m proud of you if that counts for something. All of your life there will be choices about the long game (which you know is right) and immediate gratification (which you know will be a problem tomorrow). 

Good speech. Used it before?  

More often than you’d think. I was tearing up anyway. Might even be something in it.  

Maybe.  

Remember to run it by mum and/or dad.  

Maybe.  

I’ll check in with you tomorrow. 

OK, thanks.