Mischa Warwick, a student at St Michael’s Primary School, Kaleen was awarded the Children’s Commissioner’s Award at the ACT Children’s Week awards ceremony for her advocacy for sustainable living.

At just 11 years old, Mischa is passionate about protecting the environment and shows compassion for both people and animals. She regularly volunteers at Little Oak Sanctuary and Lucky Stars Sanctuary; she participated in the Vinnie’s Doorknock Appeal; and runs an Instablog, ‘The Green Tween’, to raise awareness of animal welfare and environmental issues.

Public Advocate, and Children and Young People Commissioner, Jodie Griffiths-Cook presented Mischa with her award and in her speech said that Mischa was someone who exemplifies ‘leading by example’.

“It is a privilege and honour to give Mischa my award,’ said Ms Griffiths-Cook. “She is someone who we can all learn from and someone who is already making a difference in the world.”

Patrick Ellis, Principal of St Michael’s Primary School, Kaleen, said that Mischa is an inspiration to others as she thinks outside the box and is not content to go along with the status quo. 

Mr Ellis described Mischa as an influencer, providing an example where she wrote to him explaining why the process of bringing baby chickens in for preschoolers to learn about life cycles was not good for the chickens themselves. Mischa presented a compelling argument that convinced Mr Ellis to stop bringing in chickens and change to tadpoles instead.

“Mischa is someone who ensures there is substance behind anything she brings forward. She is an exceptional young lady who is passionate about making a difference when it comes to animal welfare and the environment,” he said. “Her level of commitment is something I haven’t come across in a long time.”

Congratulations Mischa!

Year 11 Trinity Catholic College students, Jack Burke and Alex Parlett took part in a transformational experience on the Kokoda Youth Leadership Program. The program involved an arduous ten day trek across the original Kokoda Trail in Papua New Guinea.

Students experienced firsthand, the conditions under which Diggers fought by visiting significant battle sites. The trek allowed students to reflect on areas of sacrifice, courage, mateship and leadership.

To be selected, Jack and Alex worked through an application process, submitting a written piece and being interviewed for their positions. Both students were encouraged to take part after hearing about the experience from friends who had completed it in previous years.

The experience gave Jack and Alex a greater recognition of the sacrifices made on the Kokoda Campaign.

“This incredible experience is important to me as it has taught me life lessons of gratitude, challenge, determination and courage, as well as a newfound understanding of the Kokoda Campaign in WWII,” said Jack.

“For me, one of the most touching aspects of the trek was meeting a younger boy from a village who was living with cerebral palsy, who had no access to schooling, medical treatment or anything else. He always had a huge smile on his face and still wanted to play football with us,” said Alex.

The program enhanced the students’ commitment to community service and deepened their leadership skills. 

In September, members of the Catholic Education, Canberra and Goulburn community attended the ‘Education Executive Symposium’ held at the Rome campus of the Australian Catholic University. The symposium brought together leaders from across the globe to find solutions to contemporary Catholic education issues.

Members of the Catholic Education Commission who attended included Monsignor John Woods, Vicar for Education; Karen Motyka, Parent Representative and Chair of the Community Council at St Mary’s Primary School, Moruya; Gabrielle Sullivan, Parent Representative; and the Principal of St Patrick’s Parish School, Cooma, Frances Robertson. Senior leaders from Catholic Education Office included Tim Elliot, School and Family Services Leader and Margaret Cicolini, Finance, Infrastructure and Strategy Leader.

Education leaders heard key speakers from the Vatican and discussed the relevance of Catholic education within an increasingly secular world.

“The symposium was very worthwhile in formulating a considered response to contemporary challenges for Catholic Schools, now and into the future,” said Principal Robertson. “We listened to key figures from the Vatican and education experts from around the world. The key message was to act in the fullness of Christ’s love as the basis for seeking the common good and maintaining the dignity of the human experience.”

The symposium will inform and support the work of the Catholic Education Commission and the role of Catholic Education in fulfilling the mission of the Church.

40th anniversary celebrations at St John the Apostle Primary School, Florey, commenced with a mass led by Fr Gerrard McCormick, attended by the entire school community including past staff. 

Special guest Tara Cheyne, MLA, took time out of her busy schedule to be part of this milestone event. “What a lovely morning – the school spirit was everywhere!” she said.

The mass gave an opportunity for shared reflection on the school’s history. Principal Matthew Garton spoke of his memories. “After enrolling my son Eoin in Kindergarten 14 years ago, our time at the school and parish will always be one of the fondest and warmest memories in our family story and I know that we are not alone in this experience.”

“All of us here today will have stories to tell of their time at St John’s, of laughter, tears of joy, hard work, compassion, kindness and passion. Each person in the story of St John’s has contributed to its richness, its depth and enabled it to become, of itself, a powerful sharing of God’s love to so many,” he said.

Following the mass, the school community enjoyed an open day and sausage sizzle, which gave everyone an opportunity to reconnect and share stories.

Pauline Greig, one of the school’s founding teachers and Religious Education Coordinator, said “It was truly a wonderful event, with the Principal and Stephanie Stewart (REC) presenting us with 40 years of history at the beautiful mass. We were truly blessed.”

In commemoration of the anniversary, the cross at the front of the school was redesigned with a beautiful mosaic by Stephanie Stewart. It was a special day for St John’s, where all came together to celebrate this important milestone.

The entire student body at St Mary’s Primary School, Moruya performed in a spectacular musical called BAM. 

In a departure from usual practice, the original musical was conceived and written by St Mary’s alumni, Elodie de Rover. Elodie, who was School Captain of St Mary’s in 2012, discovered her love for theatre on the very same stage.

The show followed the lives of three children who are tired of being told what to do by adults. When all the adults of the world suddenly disappear, the children decide to set up a committee and visit workplaces to carry out inspections with often hilarious and unexpected results. Is adulthood really all it is cracked up to be?

“St Mary’s was the first place I learnt about theatre and its power to move our hearts and minds,” said Elodie. “The production was truly inspired by St Mary’s and is a love letter to all of our most wild imaginings from when we were young.”

Elodie went on to become School Captain at Carroll College, Broulee, completing her schooling in 2018. She now lives in London, working as a nanny and a swim trek guide throughout Europe. She will return to Australia in 2020 to begin her studies at the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra.

The show was extremely well received by the local community and it was fantastic to see the hard work and dedication from everyone who was involved in the production.

Bravo St Mary’s!

Twenty-seven senior students from St Clare’s College, Griffith have visited Fiji as part of their 2019 Mission program. The group immersed themselves in Fijian culture over 10 days and gained perspective into traditional Fijian life.

They visited the Highland Village of Nausori and were warmly welcomed by the locals. The students assisted the community by laying the foundations of an extension to the community hall. 

St Clare’s students held a Kids’ Club for the village children each day after school. The children learned new skills in PE based games and participated in drama activities. During arts and craft time, they created paddle-pop stick planes and painted wooden cars that St Clare’s students had made back in Australia.

“As these activities are not part of the curriculum in Fijian schools, it was a joy to see how much the village children gained from these new experiences,” said Marie Manning, St Clare’s Mission and Ministry Coordinator.

During their farewell Kava ceremony, the Chief and village elders recognised the students’ hard work and efforts by naming the community hall after St Clare’s. The girls were adopted as daughters of the Highland families.

St Clare’s continued to participate in a range of other service projects including painting a community hall in Natolda village and preparing meals for women and children in low-cost housing. 

Mass was celebrated with the community of St Michael’s and the students enjoyed morning tea with parishioners. They learnt to make flower garlands; hiked the Sigatoka sand dunes; enjoyed the thermal springs at Sabeto Mud Pools; and kayaked through the mangroves near Natola Beach. The group even found time to shop in Nadi.

“Each experience offered us a new perspective of Fijian life,” said Ms Manning. “We celebrated new friendships, strengthened others, learnt much about ourselves personally and realised that working together as a team can really make a difference in impacting the lives of others.

‘Behold, I am making all things new.’ Revelation 21:5

A group of Archdiocesan teachers, students and youth ministers attended the IGNITE Youth Conference held over three days in Sydney. The conference focused on real-world evangelisation and faith formation, using contemporary culture to engage the hearts and minds of young people.

This year’s event saw over 800 young people from across Australia attend. The conference was filled with music, workshops and presentations from youth and other leaders from the Catholic Church. Keynote speakers included, Fr Rob Galea; Paul J Kim; Fr Daniel McCaughan and Justine Cumbo. Catholic rapper evangelist, Josh Angrisano, performed for the large crowd. 

Carroll College, Broulee student, Liarna found the conference fulfilling and she enjoyed being surrounded by enthusiastic, like-minded people who proudly embraced their faith. “My highlight from the event was listening to others’ experiences and encounters with God,” she said. “Their stories really helped me grow and deepen my understanding of my own faith.”

St Clare’s School Captain, Laura Van Der Linden, said that IGNITE fostered true evangelisation, exposing the beauty and excellence of the Church. “IGNITE promotes a real, authentic connection with the heart of the Father, the person of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit,” she said. “I’ve been to similar events before, but I encountered God’s goodness in a new way and discovered more about His will for my life after school.”

“IGNITE was a powerful celebration of youth in the Church,” said Catholic Identity Officer, Nathan Galea, “it was a real demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit alive and at work, particularly through youth, supported by groups and movements within the Catholic Church.”

“Our group from Canberra and Goulburn had a thoroughly enjoyable time,” said Nathan. “I highly recommend it for others who would like to participate in 2020.”

The Holy Spirit Primary School, Nicholls community participated in a Walk-and-Talk-a-Thon earlier this month. The event was the school’s major fundraiser for the year. Collectively they raised over $37,000, a fantastic effort!

The Walk-and-Talk-a-Thon encouraged students to develop their language skills and vocabulary for writing while building relationships. As students walked, they talked about a variety of different topics, making their way around the course weaving through the Nicholls and Ngunnawal area. Preschool to Year 2 students walked a total of four kilometers and Years 3-6 students completed eight.

As they reached each checkpoint they received a lanyard that contained a talking point. Each student was paired up with a buddy from a different year group to discuss the various topics. 

Over 100 parents volunteered to assist on the day preparing lanyards; walking with classes; stamping cards at checkpoints; cutting fruit; and cooking over 1800 sausages. 

The event highlighted the abundance of support and community spirit within the school. At the completion of the Walk-and-Talk-a-Thon, the Holy Spirit community came together for a sausage sizzle lunch.

“It really was a fabulous event that united our community and demonstrated the spirit of our school,” said Assistant Principal, Anna D’Amico. “Thank you to everyone for their help, support and participation. We truly are blessed to belong to the Holy Spirit community.”

Over two weeks in September, 17 Merici College students travelled across Europe on an Arts Tour, exploring London, Paris, Florence and Rome. Students experienced up close the wonders of European arts and history, which will support their learning in the classroom.

Arriving in London, students enjoyed tours of Shakespeare’s Globe and the National Theatre, and visited other iconic sites such as Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and the Tower of London. Students also engaged in energetic dance workshops and learnt routines from Wicked, Chicago and School of Rock.

They boarded a high-speed Eurostar train to Paris and were excited to explore the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. They immersed themselves in the beauty of the city, visiting art galleries to see famous works by Van Gogh and other artists, and attended a concert of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons in the stunning Gothic cathedral of Sainte-Chapelle.

Journeying through Florence and Rome, students appreciated historic architecture and Italian cuisine. They climbed the magnificent Duomo and were rewarded with breathtaking views over Florence. In Rome, they experienced firsthand what it might have been like in the times of Roman Emperors. On their last day, students visited the Vatican and were inspired by Michelangelo’s painted ceiling, The Last Judgement.

“Providing the opportunity for students to immerse themselves in the culture, art, food and life of the countries they study, helps to develop their international mindedness,” said Merici Principal, Loretta Wholley.

“This trip was unforgettable. What a privilege it was to experience the great art and history of these significant places,” said Year 12 student Eliza Cooke.

The European Arts Tour enhanced the students’ knowledge and experience of the arts. Travelling through the different cities also developed their independence and self-confidence.

100 years ago, Pope Benedict XV released the encyclical Maximum Illud, which called on Catholics to bring the Good News to all peoples. To commemorate this anniversary, Pope Francis declared that October would be Extraordinary Mission Month.

In October, over 600 students from schools across the Archdiocese came together to celebrate Extraordinary Mission Month with a mass in St Christopher’s Cathedral.

Archbishop Christopher Prowse shared Pope Francis’ desire for missionary disciples to be attentive to ‘Head, Heart and Hands’. He explained that while missionary life may begin in the heart, it also requires our minds in inviting others to be closer to God, as well our hands in helping others. His message truly connected with the young congregation.

The Mission Mass was a wonderful collaboration between Catholic Mission, Archdiocesan schools and the Youth Ministry. Youth Ministers from Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia (CSYMA) gave an inspiring performance.

Two Year 6 students, Will and Zoe, from St Joseph’s Primary School, O’Connor felt it was a great experience with so many schools involved. They enjoyed and benefited from the readings.

Vicky van der Sanden, Principal of Rosary Primary School, Watson, said “This was a wonderful opportunity for students to come together and be a part of something bigger, part of a System of schools whose efforts combined makes a real difference that they can see.”

Extraordinary Missionary Month was a time for reflection, prayer and support for the missionary efforts of individuals, communities and the Church.

Lumen Christi Catholic College, Pambula Beach

As formal classes drew to a close, Year 12 students at Lumen Christi Catholic College participated in a number of celebratory events to mark the end of thirteen years of schooling.

Parents, teachers and friends of Year 12 students attended the Year 12 Showcase to celebrate their achievements. The evening featured design and technology pieces, artworks and performances from music and drama students.

A Graduation Mass was celebrated in honour of the Class of 2019. At the Mass, each student played an active role in the liturgy. Emotions ran high during the Mass as students were commissioned into the next phase of their life by the College.

On their last day, students and their families gathered for breakfast and a final assembly where they were farewelled by the whole College. 

“I am extremely proud of the people they have become and are becoming,” said Lumen Christi Principal, Steve Centra. “I wish them all the best.”