Issue 4, 19 March 2024

Saint Joseph’s Feast Day is celebrated on 19th March. This is always an important day for our College. Fr Julian Tenison Woods and Mary MacKillop were so inspired by Saint Joseph they named a religious order after him. Subsequently, all of the schools that were founded by Mary MacKillop and the Sisters of Saint Joseph were then called ‘St Joseph’s’. Indeed, our school was known as St Joseph’s School up until 1971 when we adopted the name ‘Caritas College’ to mark our centenary celebrations.

Students will celebrate class liturgies to commemorate this special day. May we not forget that the beginnings of our College started with the Sisters of Saint Joseph. May we continue to embrace and draw great inspiration from Saint Joseph’s story. 

Last Wednesday we held our Annual General Meeting for the College Board. The Board has a responsibility for governance and setting direction for the College and seeks to serve the best interests of the students, staff and families. I am appreciative of the willingness of our Board members to contribute to our school community and look forward to working in partnership with them throughout 2024 to build on our College’s success and achievements. 

Ex-Officio Members 
Fr Jim Monaghan (President)
Damian Smith (Principal)

Nominated Members 
Lexie Morris (Staff Representative) 

Elected Members 
Aaron Clifton
Alanna Grover 
Emma Davies
Adele Broadbridge
Suzy Graham 
Kristen Scharenberg

On Friday 8th March all teaching staff participated in professional development sessions. The primary focus of our training was to enhance our familiarity with individual student data and to integrate multiple data sources to gain a deeper understanding, analyse effectively, and utilise data across all year levels. This comprehensive learning process enables us to embody our vision for education, ensuring that our College functions as a cohesive community of learners. 

The College Board recently approved a new Mobile Phone & Personal Devices Policy. This document has been developed following consultation with students, staff and parents/caregivers over the past 12 months. 

I encourage all parents/caregivers to read and familiarise yourself with the policy. You can access it here. Please read closely the table in the section under Acceptable Practices which outlines the use of mobile phones and personal devices at school across R-6, 7-9 and 10-12. Flowing on from the Acceptable Practices in the document is another table that steps out the procedure for any breaches of acceptable practices. 

The policy, for the most part, is very similar to what we are already used to. It aims to minimise, as much as possible, any issues involving mobile phones and other personal devices and create a safe and supportive learning environment at school. Some aspects of the policy and procedure will be new and different for students, staff and families. It may take some time to get used to these new expectations. The policy will be implemented in full at the beginning of Term 2, so I encourage all parents/caregivers to discuss this with your children.  

NAPLAN testing started last week for students in years 3, 5, 7 & 9 and will continue until the end of Week 8. These tests provide useful data for individual achievement in comparison with national results and are a means of identifying particular needs at each year level. We recognise that these assessments can sometimes cause a level of concern for some students (and also parents/caregivers!). I have been very pleased to see our students demonstrate self-regulation, love of learning and perseverance in the way they have engaged in the NAPLAN testing. If you have any questions about NAPLAN please don’t hesitate to contact the College.

While technology is undoubtedly part of our everyday lives, it’s fair to say that we continue to adapt to the challenges presented by increased digital communication. As such, we need to acknowledge the importance of respecting our teachers' right to disconnect. Our staff work very hard to provide the best possible learning experiences for all of our students, both inside and outside the classroom. However, it's essential to recognise that they also need time to rest, recharge, and focus on their personal wellbeing. While we encourage open dialogue between parents and teachers, respecting our teachers' right to 'switch off' not only ensures their wellbeing but also promotes a healthy work-life balance, which ultimately benefits the entire school community

We are finalising enrolments for Term 3 this year. Your child may be eligible for a mid-year enrolment if they turn 5 on or before the 31 of October. We ask that an Enrolment Application form be completed as soon as possible, as placements are limited.  This form can be requested from our website request an enrolment pack or collected from the front office at any time.  Please note that there are no fees for 2024 mid-year Reception enrolment intakes.

Throughout the six weeks of Lent, students across the College will learn about the work of Project Compassion and how it helps provide individuals and communities across the world. 
This week we introduce Memory, the eldest child in a low-income farming family in Malawi. Memory faced many barriers to her education and was required to support her family with domestic chores such as farming, carrying water, cooking and cleaning, as well as assisting her parents with her four siblings.

After being identified by local leaders in her village as a capable candidate for a vocational skills course, Memory was referred to a technical college near the city of Blantyre with support from CADECOM, Caritas Australia’s local partner in Malawi. Through the A+ program, CADECOM supported Memory with the provision of logistical support like tuition and boarding fees with funding from Caritas Australia.

Memory decided to pursue vocational training in carpentry to prove to her community that women can work in male-dominated industries.

Large numbers of children across developing countries need to walk to obtain fresh water for their families. This can impact on their ability to access an education as they consider the needs of their family. Our Year 11 students, as part of their Stage 2 Spiritualities, Religion and Meaning course, have been exploring the concept of social justice. On Tuesday, students will participate in a 5km walk in the area around the College carrying buckets of water to understand the great lengths that some children have to go to access fresh water.  You can donate online through the QR code or alternatively here

The 2024 Sacramental Preparation Program will begin in Term 2, with Year 4 students preparing to receive their first Holy Communion. Letters to students in Years 3, 4 and 7 would have received an email from Fr Jim Monaghan this week advising of a change of date for the information session, originally being held on Thursday 14 March. Please note that this will now be held this Thursday 21 March, at 7:00pm, at All Saints Catholic Church.  

If you did not receive a letter about the program, please contact the All Saints Catholic Church on 8642 2847.

Tuesday saw our Year 5-12 SRC representatives attended a memorial liturgy at the Stirling North Cemetery for Sr Mary Laurencia Honner. There was something special about being present there this year, 146 years to the day, that Sr Laurencia was buried in the cemetery with Mary MacKillop present. To be standing on the same holy ground as our first Australian Saint, commemorating the life of a young Sister and teacher taken too, is awe-inspiring.
In 1874, a young Mary entered the Sisters of St Joseph and was given the name Laurencia. In 1877, she was professed a Sister of St Joseph and at 18, in 1878, Mary MacKillop asked her to live and teach here in Port Augusta. On March 3, there had been devotions in the Church, and as Sr Laurencia and Sr Immaculata were clearing the church and preparing it for school the following day, a kerosene lamp caught fire, burning both the sisters. 8 days later, on 11 March 1878, Sr Mary Laurencia passed away, aged 19 years. 

The beautiful stained-glass window which adorns our College Reception area, was donated by Sarah and Richard Honner, Sr Mary Laurencia’s parents. This window comes from the old convent chapel on Flinders Terrace.

We continue to give thanks for the Sisters of St Joseph who have responded with enthusiasm and love to the call to serve in the remote and rural areas of South Australia. May we here at Caritas College, continue to walk in their footsteps and to find courage when times are difficult and consolation from the love of those around us.

We are now in the fifth week of the season of Lent, the time of preparation for the season of Easter. As Catholics, we remain in Lent and Holy Week until Easter Sunday, celebrated on 31 March. The themes during this time are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. On Easter Sunday, we move into the joyful season of Easter which is 50 days of celebrating. In honouring the significance and this wonderful tradition, the giving of Easter eggs is encouraged to happen only after the Resurrection of Christ on Easter Sunday. 

If you are looking for a way to enjoy your Easter treats that support ethical and sustainable practices, consider purchasing slavery-free certified chocolate Easter eggs. This sends a message to chocolate companies that consumers care about social justice and responsibility, connected to our Catholic Social Teaching of Dignity of the Human Person.

Throughout Holy Week in Week 9, students across the College will gather in year levels to commemorate the Stations of the Cross. Since the earliest centuries of the Church, Christians have made pilgrimages to Jerusalem to walk in the footsteps of Jesus during his suffering, death and resurrection. During the fifteenth century, Christian began the practice of prayerfully meditating on the Passion of Christ by reproducing the pilgrimage in what we now know as the Stations of the Cross. By walking with Jesus, we join our personal suffering with his, knowing that he will lead us to new life through his Resurrection.