Janene Sadler, a classroom teacher at Mother Teresa Early Learning Centre (ELC), Harrison, recently presented at the 2019 Early Learning STEM Australia (ELSA) Educator Forum, at the University of Canberra.

The forum was an opportunity for educators to share with each other their experiences and outline specific issues faced when implementing the program.

“ELSA is a play based, digital learning program for children in preschool to explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Janene. “It allows children to play, experiment and make sense of the world around them, which is a large part of STEM, and also being part of a child.”

Ms Sadler shared the innovative ways in which she has integrated technology into Early Learning to support and enhance the ELSA program at Mother Teresa ELC.

“I was able to showcase what we have been doing at Mother Teresa through photographs and discussions with other educators,” she said. “We have incorporated robotic technology such as KIBO Robotics Kits; Spheros; Bee-Bots; Makey Makey Invention Kits and Dash-n-Dot toy robots into the ELSA program.”

“We have found that the integration of the ELSA program and the use of technology has developed problem solving and creative skills in the children. The inclusion of these skills within our project work has further enhanced our investigations and explorations.”

Kindergarten, Year 1 and Year 2 students at St Francis Xavier Primary School, Lake Cargelligo, enjoyed a morning sharing their learning with their dads, uncles, grandfathers and other family members. 

The day was organised by the team from Catholic Care, Forbes and included a number of fun activities such as painting hand prints and a sausage sizzle. The event encouraged families to talk about learning and share their different school experiences.

“As a school community we were blown away by the number of special people who joined in,” said Kindergarten and Year 1 teacher, Mrs Amy Golding. “Thank you to all who took the time to visit. The smiles on the students faces said it all.”

This is the third year that Catholic Care has organised the event. Plans are already under way for next year, which will include a children versus adults soccer game.

Primary school students have come together at St Vincent’s, Aranda for the first ILLUMINATE gathering run by Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia (CSYMA). ILLUMINATE is part of the growing and evolving Faith formation pathway in youth ministry within our Archdiocesan Catholic schools and Parishes.

Archbishop Christopher Prowse affirmed the joy of youth and reminded the children of Pope Francis’ message, that they have a special job as the ‘Church of Now’ and are called to ILLUMINATE the world around them with the light of Christ.

Over 300 enthusiastic Year 5 and 6 students from eight Catholic primary schools celebrated their faith and explored their relationship with God. Archdiocesan Youth Ministers, Priests and Catholic Agencies provided students with a hands on and practical experience of Faith through a variety of activities, testimony and practical workshops.

“In an age where our young ones aren’t in our Parishes and many families are disengaged from the Church, ILLUMINATE reflected the power of what can be achieved when we work together to live out the joy of the Gospel,” said Nathan Galea, Project Officer for the New Evangelisation and coordinator of the event. “The CSYMA junior model provides a great framework for students to deepen in their faith and encounter Jesus through the very best of our Catholic Faith.”

Sarah Larkin, a Youth Minister at St Vincent’s Primary School and South Belconnen Parish said she enjoyed seeing how excited her students were to be at the event. “I couldn’t wait to see them afterwards and at school to touch base and reflect on their experience,” she said. “It was wonderful to see how encouraged they felt about their faith.”

Harry Cleverdon, a Year 12 student at Hennessy Catholic College, Young, is a confident singer and multi-talented musician who plays piano, guitar and harmonica. He released his debut EP ‘From My Side of the Stage’, featuring six original songs, in late October 2019.

17 year old singer-songwriter, Harry has released a new music video for his song ‘Hit Me When I’m Down’. The video addresses themes of social exclusion, online harassment and the wonder of discovering true friends.

“I’ve always loved music,” said Harry. “I am thrilled to release my debut EP and the video for ‘Hit Me When I’m Down’. I am really pleased with its positive message.”

Harry has been performing since the age of 6, winning a host of awards, scholarships and championships in Eisteddfods and music talent quests. He has performed all over Canberra and regional NSW at festivals including Floriade, Gundaroo Music Festival and the Tamworth Country Music Festival.

In November 2017, Harry won the Australian National Busking Championship and came runner up in 2018. He has had the privilege to open for musicians such as Troy Cassar Daley and Isaiah Firebrace. Harry regularly performs in the GIO Stadium Member’s Lounge for the Canberra Raiders Football Club prior to home games or for special events.

Harry hopes that music will continue to play a key role in his life in the future. “As a singer-songwriter, I plan to continue to create music that is authentic for me,” he said. “I hope, like anyone, to share my music with a broader audience, or one day be signed by a major label.”

Speaker, Joy Burch MLA, hosted a Catholic Student Leadership Forum at the ACT Legislative Assembly. Year 9 and 10 students from St Mary MacKillop College; St John Paul II College; Merici College; St Francis Xavier College, and Daramalan College were given an opportunity to connect with local MLAs and gain insight into how the Legislative Assembly is governed.

Leader of the Opposition Alistair Coe MLA, Bec Cody MLA and Mark Parton MLA shared public speaking tips with students. Mr Coe listened to student opinions on several political issues including bus routes in the ACT.

Young Staffers shared their personal experiences and career pathways into politics in a Q&A panel. Students were given a behind the scenes tour of the facilities including the chamber and cabinet rooms.

Under the guidance of Elizabeth Lee MLA, students were able to debate topics such as, ‘should mobile phones be banned in ACT schools?’ and ‘should children under 18 have access to social media?’ in the chamber of the Legislative Assembly.

“It was exciting to be able to walk through the MLA’s offices and speak with them,” said Merici student Isabelle Dunn. “I loved having the chance to debate on the floor of the chamber, just like an MLA would.”

Director of Catholic Education, Ross Fox, thanked Speaker Joy Burch MLA and the other MLA’s for their continued support of Catholic Education and congratulated the students on their participation. 

National Highly Accomplished Teacher (HAT) certification is a voluntary initiative that supports teachers to explore and reflect on their practice, developing a wealth of insights. The evidence based process can take up to two years to complete.

Congratulations to ACT Catholic school teachers, Priscilla Carragh, Kristy Everding (St Clare of Assisi Primary School, Conder); Kerri Kerr (St Joseph’s Primary School, O’Connor); Katherine Calley, Abbey Kennedy and Teressa Patterson (St Francis Xavier College, Florey) who have achieved HAT certification this year.

HATs are highly effective and skilled classroom practitioners. They routinely work independently and collaboratively to improve personal practice and the practice of colleagues. Certified teachers have in-depth knowledge of the curriculum and highly developed communication and leadership skills. They are able to maximise learning opportunities for students.

Director of Catholic Education, Ross Fox, acknowledged the achievements of the newly accredited group. “I admire the commitment of these teachers, who exemplify the passion and dedication to excellence that has become synonymous with Catholic education. Congratulations to all.”

Students from Sts Peter and Paul Primary School, Garran have ‘travelled’ to a Japanese classroom in Osaka via Skype, to participate in a language and cultural exchange.

The students introduced themselves to the class in Japanese and shared information about their ages, families, travel experiences to Japan and their favourite Japanese things.

Initially, the Japanese class did not know that our students were Australian. They took turns guessing what country they lived in. There were a few failed attempts such as Russia, Canada and New Zealand before they settled on Australia. 

The Japanese students asked Sts Peter and Paul students questions about the Australian national flag, animals and climate. They also shared information about their own culture.

The group enjoyed speaking in both languages and experiencing the two cultures. Making a connection like this between two classrooms in two countries was a unique opportunity.

“Learning a foreign language can be difficult without contact with native speakers,” said Japanese teacher, Amanda de Jongh. “This was a fantastic opportunity for students to hear and speak Japanese and be understood.”

Many of the children received a round of applause from their new Japanese friends which was both encouraging and affirming. 

The group is looking forward to their next Skype session!

Little Explorers playgroup is a new venture at St Mary’s Primary School, Moruya. The playgroup provides an opportunity for parents and carers to connect and for children to engage in play-based learning activities.

Nature is at the heart of the program, helping young children to develop care and concern for the natural world. Many of the activities are literacy and numeracy-based, preparing children for Kindergarten.

The playgroup was initiated by St Mary’s Principal, Noeleen O’Neill who implemented a similar program at her previous school, St Joseph’s Primary School, Bombala. “We experienced great success with our playgroup at Bombala and I saw scope for a similar program at St Mary’s,” said Noeleen. “It has been a wonderful addition to our school so far.”

The Little Explorers program is run each week by Kindergarten teacher, Alicia Hampson and Year 3 teacher, Genevieve Schofield. Both are teachers who hold a passion for nature-based learning.

“Nature play is a platform for child led play,’ said Genevieve. “We include nature-based provocations to spark the children’s curiosity about the world around them. It is a lovely morning of learning through play.”

Little Explorers has only been running since the beginning of Term 3 but is already well attended by families with older children enrolled at the school, as well as many new faces.

“The reception from parents and carers has been very positive,” said Alicia. “We have a lot of fun planning the activities and provocations each week. The possibilities are endless and the connection with our community is wonderful.”

“We are really looking forward to getting outside more during the warmer months and enjoying lots of water play,” said Genevieve. 

Little Explorers playgroup runs every Wednesday from 9.30am - 11.30am. Children aged 0-5 years are welcome to attend, accompanied by their parents or carers.

Seventeen German students and staff from Lumen Christi Catholic College, Pambula Beach have spent a month in Germany immersing themselves in the local culture. Students visited Münster; Berlin; Bamberg; Nuremberg and Heidelberg where they enjoyed the local cuisine, scenery and architecture.

The trip began in Münster where students were billeted out to German host families. Students experienced the rigour and challenges of German schooling, the independence of travelling everywhere by bike and the beauty of the city’s medieval buildings and vibrant culture.

In Berlin, the group attended the Berlin Reunification Celebrations at the Brandenburg Gate. They visited Checkpoint Charlie; the Eastside Gallery; Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp; the Stasi Museum; the Spy Museum; the Rittersport Chocolate Factory; and the Pergamon Museum.

The group travelled by train to UNESCO World Heritage town Bamberg, where they completed a walking tour of the city and underground tunnels. The students enjoyed tasting Spaghettieis, a German ice cream dish made to look like a plate of spaghetti.

Another highlight of the trip was a stop in Heidelberg, where the group attended the local Oktoberfest. They dressed in traditional attire, danced and drank Apfelschorle (apple juice and sparkling mineral water). 

Sightseeing in Heidelberg included a solar boat trip on the Neckar river and a tour of Germany’s oldest university. A fascinating fact about the University of Heidelberg is that it has a prison built for unruly students from 1778 to 1914. 

On the final night of the trip, the group celebrated with a three course meal at Heidelberg Castle.

“Our students were inspired to continue their German language studies,” Co-ordinator Janine Watters said. “Many made life-long friends and returned home with a renewed appreciation of the beauty of our own little corner of the world.”

“This trip has been the most amazing experience of my entire life,” said Year 10 student Georgia Maratheftis. “I am so thankful to my teachers for giving me this incredible opportunity to meet new people and learn new skills.”

Archdiocesan Early Career teachers spent two days at the Galong Retreat Centre taking time to reflect, explore Faith and connect with others. The Porta Fidei Retreat is a Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia (CSYMA) initiative that is part of the Faith formation pathway for Early Career Teachers. The event was run by a team of teachers, religious and System leaders within the Archdiocese of Canberra & Goulburn, presenting opportunities for Faith exploration, collaboration and mentorship.

The National Catholic Education Commission identified that one key area of focus for teachers in Catholic schools is personal Faith formation.  As a System, we continue to identify and prioritise the need for staff to take time out of their busy schedule to connect with their Faith and experience a loving God who is active in our lives. This deep connection has a profound impact on our understanding of vocation and provides new insights into the classroom for teachers.

The themes of the retreat focused on Faith as an experience of God’s love; the Kerygma; renewal of Faith; and teaching as a vocation. Teachers participated in a variety of activities including group discussions; talks; presentations; journaling; music; prayer and sacraments. 

Many participants felt that the Porta Fidei Retreat gave them the opportunity to renew their relationship with God and reaffirmed their commitment to Catholic education. “The experience has given me some new ideas about how I can renew my Faith journey,” said one teacher. “It has reinforced the importance of being a welcoming, caring and dedicated teacher for my students.”

“We are encouraged by our Archbishop’s challenge to provide the opportunity for our staff to take time out for the formation of our ‘heads, hearts and hands,’” said Bernadette Rayner, one of the team members who coordinated the retreat with Margaret Pollard, Senior Officer School and Family Services; Nathan Galea, Catholic Identity Project Officer; Luke Maher Religious Education Coordinator at St Vincent’s Primary School, Aranda; and Beth Doherty, Teacher at St Clare's College. “I want to thank our Early Career teachers for the enthusiastic commitment that they have made in teaching and caring for the young people in our Archdiocese.”

St Mary’s Primary School and Hennessy Catholic College, Young, gathered for the Feast Day of the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, with a Mass celebrated by Fr James.

The Presentation Sisters were formed by the Venerable Nano Nagle in Ireland in 1775, to establish Catholic schools for the poor, in particular for girls, in a time when education was only accessible to the privileged. Both schools were founded by the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. 

Over 700 students and staff filled St Mary’s Church to honour their heritage and the influence of the Presentation Sisters on Catholic education in Young. 

Special guests Sr Philomena Sewell and Sr Susan Miller joined the children in song and prayer. The two school choirs combined with the Hennessy Band under the leadership of Mr Damien Foley. After Mass, the St Mary’s children held a mini fete, with all proceeds going to the Presentation Sisters Missions.

“It was a wonderful day for both schools,” said Sarah Sullivan, Religious Education Coordinator at St Mary’s. “The students enjoyed coming together as a community to celebrate the Presentation Sisters heritage.”

Hennessy Catholic College, Young, students Hannah and Kara Mooney have been accepted into the University of Canberra’s (UC) Fast Forward Program. They are two out of only 25 senior students from across the ACT and wider Canberra region selected to participate in the program. 

The UC Fast Forward Program is an exclusive club for Year 11 students that assists them in preparing for life at university. The program allows current Year 11’s to apply and receive a conditional offer for admission into a UC Course. Their continued involvement in the program throughout Year 12, means that Hannah and Kara will receive a guaranteed offer of admission to UC.

Throughout the next 12 months, the girls will participate in career workshops, seminars, activities with industry partners and UC recruitment events. They will also receive a $2,000 study grant once they begin university. The girls will be employed as student ambassadors and will be offered internship opportunities with UC industry partners.

Kara and Hannah are an integral part of the Hennessy community. Earlier this year, they travelled to Cambodia with the College to build homes in the Siem Reap province. Both girls were elected by their peers to be part of the Senior Leadership Team at the College in 2020. They had to demonstrate high levels of personal commitment to leadership, academic achievement, volunteer work and extracurricular involvement in their application. 

“I am very grateful for this opportunity,” said Hannah. “It just shows what hard work and determination can do. I hope to meet new people and learn about the uni lifestyle.”

“The possibility of getting into this program, at first, was a dream of mine,” said Kara. “Now that I’m in the program it shows me I have the motivation and willpower to do anything. I hope the program will fulfill all of my expectations and have a small taste of uni life.”

Hennessy Catholic College Careers Adviser, Leanne McGrath congratulated the girls on their achievement. “This is such a fantastic opportunity for Hannah and Kara. What a wonderful start to their final year of school.”

St Francis Xavier College, Florey (SFX), commemorated the Feast Day of their Patron Saint at their annual SFX Day celebrations. Students and staff came together as a community, participating in a number of activities to raise funds for the Good Samaritan Sisters in the Pacific Island of Kiribati, one of SFX’s charities.

The day commenced with a whole of school Mass and celebration of St Francis Xavier’s commitment to truth and courage. The school community celebrated the Eucharist with their school Chaplain, Fr Loi, together with Fr Paul from St Joseph’s Parish, O’Connor; Fr Gerard and Fr Michael from St John’s Parish, Kippax; and Fr Emil Milat from St Patrick’s Parish, Braddon.

After Mass, students enjoyed food stalls and games before an extremely lively game of trivia. The highlight of the day for many students was the ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition. Students from all Year groups performed, contributing to an incredible display of talent and SFX pride. 

“This was my first SFX Day and the event didn’t disappoint,” said Principal, Paul Carroll. “It was a fabulous community celebration which honoured the life of St Francis Xavier and the values he has given the College - truth and courage.”  

Holy Trinity Primary School, Curtin, Years 5 and 6 students showcased their learning on global sustainability through their ‘Sharing the Planet’ exhibition.

Through dance, drama and music, students highlighted a range of issues including clean water and sanitation; sustainable cities; ocean conservation and climate action. The exhibition represented the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are an urgent call for action by all countries in a global partnership.

The exhibition included interactive displays highlighting classroom learning about the SDGs. The numerous creative displays were toured by younger students who were encouraged to ask questions and learn more about sustainability.

“The event represented a culmination of the students’ learning in global sustainability. Through the experience, they have extended their understanding on what it means to be a global citizen in our world today,” said Year 5 and 6 Classroom Teacher, Rebecca Casey.

“Part of listening, learning and living in respectful relationships with one another involves seeking to understand Indigenous spirituality, which is fundamental to many Indigenous people’s identity and worldview.” (Australians Together) 

The Sacred Heart Primary School, Pearce community has unveiled the first stage of its Aboriginal Garden. The native learning space has been created to help students develop a greater understanding of Aboriginal spirituality and identity.

Students will use the space to participate in different forms of prayer, from traditional Aboriginal forms of meditative deep listening prayer, such as Dadirri, to modern forms of Christian Meditation.

Stage One of the design involved the creation of the garden’s spiritual element. The three totem poles at the centre of the garden represent the Aboriginal peoples’ connection to the native plants, animals and land within Ngunnawal Country. At the entrance to the garden is a large timber sign inscribed with ‘Yumalundi nin Ngoonawal dhawura’ (Welcome to Ngunnawal Country).

“The garden space is also reflective of our Catholic Faith in that the three totem poles are also symbolic of the Holy Trinity,” said Sacred Heart Religious Education Coordinator, Aaron Fox. “For our Sacred Heart community it reminds us of our school motto, ‘Nurturing Hearts, Minds and Spirits.’”

The school enlisted the help of Ngunnawal language experts from Thunderstone Aboriginal Culture Services to provide translations for the garden sign. The Wanniassa Men’s Shed donated timber and their time to create the sign. A grandparent engraved and erected the sign.

Stage Two of the project will include a garden of native plants that the local Aboriginal people used for nourishment. The design and plant selection of this phase will be integrated into a student led inquiry task to enable them to take ownership of the cultural space.

“It is the hope of the Sacred Heart community that through the use of this Aboriginal spiritual garden space, our students are provided with a genuine appreciation for how the local Ngunnawal and broader Aboriginal people are connected both spiritually and physically to the land,” Mr Fox said.