Shining Lights Week 3, Term 2, 11/05/2023

Happy Mothers’ Day

Wishing an extra special Sunday to all mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, aunts and mother-like figures: women who nurture, inspire and comfort us. 

Initially proposed in 1870, after the American Civil War, as a day to unite women and promote peace, Mothers’ Day was first officially celebrated in the US in 1914 and in Australia in 1924.

"There were so many mothers who were no longer mothers, so many wives who were now widowed because of WW1, and there were also so many women who never had the prospect of becoming mothers or wives because a whole generation had been wiped out in the trenches of the Western Front." Richard Waterhouse, emeritus professor of Australian history at Sydney University.

It was wonderful to see this same spirit of compassion and generosity on display at our SJA Mothers’ Day stall, which raised $306.50 for the St Vinnie’s Winter Appeal.   

Evie and Lacey, primary members of Lumen’s SJA group, made special keychains to sell alongside earrings and craft items made by TAS assistant, Tony Mercieca.

May is also the month that the Church celebrates Mary, Mother of God.  This is a time in the Church of celebrating the beauty of nature (Spring, in the northern hemisphere), renewing our trust in God, and asking for Mary’s intercession in difficult times, like a child seeking comfort from their mother. 

LCCC School-wide Pedagogy

One of the key foundations of learning at our school is our School-wide Pedagogy Framework (SWP). The SWP articulates the key aims of the holistic education offered by of our learning community.

• Growth – creating an environment where all learners are encouraged to adopt a growth mindset and take risks in their learning. Mistakes are encouraged to be a source of learning and creating new ideas and ways of doing things.
• Environment – through curriculum areas such as Geography, PBL, IHUM, the Sciences and a host of other subjects and opportunities such as SJAs and Laudato Si, learners are encouraged to become informed and active citizens.
• Relevance – by integrating technologies and new ways of thinking, learners can take new knowledge and develop deeper understanding and apply this in various real-world situations.
• Inclusion – our community strives to create a learning environment where individuality in thinking is celebrated and learners from all walks of life are welcomed.
• Relationships – developing a strong network of trust and respect between all members of our community is essential in providing the best support for all learners in developing their academic, social, emotional and spiritual identities.

No Handball Tuesdays!

Handball is a very popular pastime for our Primary students, before school, during recess, lunch and after school. In some cases it is played like the fate of the world depends on the outcome of the game, the need to win at all expenses.  

While originally handball had an agreed set of rules, all sorts of rules get added, manipulated and changed. Did you know some of the rules students invent for handball? Heard of fly by, ghosting or indecent? If you have done a Primary yard duty you certainly would have!  

As a Primary Staff, we see the need to give students a break from the intensity of the handball competition and the time, space and opportunity to engage in other activities and form other friendships. Our Primary team has decided to trial “No Handball Tuesday’s”. We understand that some students may be disappointed with this decision, but we believe that the benefits gained will outweigh their concerns and in the long term and will contribute to an increased sense of wellbeing and connection with others. 

Having a handball free day, is a day for students to reset and take time away from the intensity of the handball competition. It provides a space for them to use the area handball takes up in a different way. It also gives them an opportunity to think about what else they can do at school besides handball. While handball can be a great way to build community, it can also create divisions between players and non-players.  

It was great on Tuesday this week to see students arriving with footballs to kick on the oval, there were different students making use of the playground, there were games of survival tag, lots of imaginative play and new friendships formed. We hope that the pause on Tuesdays will continue to encourage students to think creativity as they work out other activities to engage in and build a more inclusive sense of community.