Shining Lights Week 7, Term 4
.... Advent - a time of waiting
As we enter the season of Advent, the four weeks before Christmas, we can feel a sense of anticipation - school holidays, Christmas shopping, a new year on the horizon. It’s difficult in contemporary society to see this as a time of reflection because there’s still so much to do before we can relax. Advent Calendars are helpful to promote a sense of patience…if the chocolates last more than one day!
Each Sunday of Advent a candle is lit to focus our attention on Hope, Peace, Love and Joy, values we associate with Christmas. By actively seeking these, we can avoid losing sight of them in the hustle and bustle of Christmas.
The Stand Tall event a few weeks ago was a great reminder to staff and students to value these qualities and be grateful for what we have. Michael Crossland, in particular, was inspirational - the only survivor of an experimental drug for his rare childhood cancer; he became a professional baseball player until being told his health would prevent him from continuing. Today, he runs an orphanage in Haiti, finding hope, peace, love and joy for himself in giving and sharing these values with vulnerable people.
If you'd like to share these values this Christmas, please consider supporting one of the following initiatives:
- Caritas' Global Gifts
- TEAR's Useful Gifts
- Salvation Army's Wishing Tree
- OXFAM's Christmas Gifts
- The Smith Family's Charity Gifts
.... Reflection on the Important Partnership between Parents, Students and School
As we concluded this year’s final round of Parent – Student – Teacher interviews last Thursday with our new Year 12 cohort, it caused me to stop and think about how the last few years have impacted on this critically important relationship. Learning is such a team effort, and the restrictions of the last few years due to COVID rules and regulations really hindered – even halted – the functioning of this team.
One of my favourite sayings is ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. When we think of the village our young people grow up in it traditionally involves family, school and the local community. Today, however, much of our young people’s village is virtual – a world of friends, followers and influencers they have never personally met. This can be a concern; do these people share the values, ideas and morals that we want young people to listen to? It is also a real opportunity for the rest of the village to help our young people learn to discern and make good choices about what is right and just.
Whatever your take on this virtual part of the village our children are growing up in, one thing is crucial - that traditional partnership between families, schools and the local community remains as strong as ever. As we continue into the post-COVID world, I encourage everyone to find any opportunity to build this connection. Teachers will tell you their favourite interviews are often started with a parent saying ‘I just thought I’d come along to meet my child’s teachers’. Similarly, I encourage staff to make contact with a parent just to pass on some positive news or success about their child.
Working together, we can achieve great things.
.... Orientation
The Kindergarten orientation was a great way for us to meet our new students and families for 2023. Our Year Four students were also introduced to their buddies during the last session and did a fantastic job introducing the 2023 Kindergarten students to Lumen Christi Catholic College. These relationships formed between our students are very special and important, they help our kindergarten students to feel connected and known while at school and it is another student that they can go to and ask for help if they need it. The relationships are equally important for our Year Four students as it enables them to show leadership as they step up into year five next year.
Our Year Six students have their Orientation Day on Wednesday, 30 November and will have their first taste of secondary school. This is an important day where they can experience some of the opportunities and friendships that moving into Secondary school will offer, we look forward to hearing about their experiences.
.... Connections between home and school
Connections are important to children and adults alike. One way to foster connections between home and school is by being involved in your child's education when possible. We are lucky that we have been able to invite parents back into school throughout this year so that you can see what your children learn at school and the projects and learning that takes place.
In the last few weeks of school there are more opportunities fo you to get involved, with the Year Six graduation assembly on Wednesday, 7 December and the Christmas Concert on Tuesday, 13 December in the Hall (followed by a beach picnic at Pambula Beach). We also have the Semester Two Awards Ceremony on Wedensday, 14 December followed by the last day of school.
Your children also have an exciting end to the school year with the Primary Disco on Thursday, 1 December to farewell the Year Six students, a Primary Swimming Fun Day at the Sapphire Aquatic Centre on Monday 12 December. We are so lucky to be able to hold these events again and develop the LCCC school culture through coming together as a community.
As always, check Skoolzine for further information and details about these events.
