Throughout this challenging time of the global pandemic, Catholic Education in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, has maintained its commitment to providing quality learning for all our students.

Our Catholic schools have quickly adapted to the new environment providing remote learning to students at home and also in the classroom for children of essential service workers, or those that need that just need to be there. Our dedicated teachers are committed to seeing their students through this difficult time with a sense of fun and creativity. Their focus has been on providing a learning experience that builds community at a time of physical social distancing’.

Rebecca Casey, a Year 5 and 6 teacher, from Holy Trinity Primary School, Curtin, makes sure students working remotely from their homes feel connected to their school and those classmates who still need to be at school.

Rebecca created a fun vlog of her day to share with her students who were working remotely. The video follows her as she makes her way to work and walks through school to her class. Teachers, office staff and other students wave and send messages to the children in her class.

This simple idea has had a very positive impact on some of her families. Parent, Vanessa Prail, whose daughter Emma is in Rebecca’s class, said that they were grateful for the connection after their first week of isolation.

“It was nice to see the smiles and laughter as our family watched the video,” said Vanessa. “Our teachers have been working to stay connected with our kids, sending not only school tasks, but also personal emails to check in with them. We are so grateful for this connection which has been important in keeping the kids happy and motivated.”

“Emma was so amazed to see that there were not many people at school and told me how grateful she was that the teachers were still there working so hard for them.”

Sometimes it is the little things that go a long way in helping children deal with challenges and uncertainty.

Helen Comerford, Learning Enrichment Coordinator at Lumen Christi Catholic College, Pambula Beach, has been named as one of six finalists in the Cambridge University Press 2020 search for the world’s most dedicated teacher.

More than 6000 primary and secondary teachers across 97 countries were nominated. Six finalists were then selected out of a shortlist of 50. Helen was nominated by a colleague for her advocacy for students with disabilities and creating inclusive learning environments.

“I was extremely honoured and humbled to have been nominated and to make it through to that stage,” said Helen. “It rejuvenated me and I felt recognised for all the hard work that my team and I put in. I am also happy that it might draw some attention to inclusive education and advocacy for students with disability.”

Helen is currently studying a Masters of Education in Inclusive Practice at the Australian Catholic University, where she has applied her research in her role at Lumen Christi. Recently, Helen facilitated a course for students to improve their skills for social and academic success.

“I love it when you see the students have those small successes in their daily lives.” said Helen, “When those big inclusive moments happen, where you see a student with disability being included in a school production or assembly and it’s so special for them, it’s what we are striving for.”

Congratulations Helen!

Across the Archdiocese, Catholic school communities have been going to new lengths to remain connected through remote learning. Easter celebrations were carried out a little differently this year, but nevertheless, spirits remained high.

At Good Shepherd Primary School, Amaroo, the annual Easter Bonnet Parade was an opportunity for students and staff to come together face-to-face while maintaining social distance. A convoy of parents with students sporting homemade Easter hats, drove through the school car park which was lined with their teachers holding signs with messages of hope and good wishes.

Principal, David Austin, said that many students were missing their classrooms, friends and ‘the life that they knew’ before COVID-19.

“The biggest part of life at Good Shepherd is the strong sense of community. The Easter Bonnet Parade was a great opportunity for students to feel connected despite the challenges of remote learning.”

The St Thomas the Apostle Primary School, Kambah community, shared 100 messages of hope, tied with ribbons in school colours, around the local neighbourhood. These were to remind everyone that we are all here for each other. They asked that the notes be kept where they were placed and encouraged those who saw them to pass on the messages of hope and happiness to others.

Ss Peter and Paul Primary School, Goulburn, celebrated Easter online, with a virtual Easter hat parade that was shared with the school community. Kindergarten, Year 1 and 2 students were tasked with making their hats from recycled materials. Parents then sent in videos of the children parading their colourful and fluffy creations at home. The footage was compiled into a video by teacher and IT Coordinator, Cassie Harris. Staff also feature throughout the video hopping around the school and taking part in the action.

“It really brought a smile to the children’s faces,” said Cassie. “It was the highlight of the year so far.”

This year, in lieu of Anzac dawn services, cancelled because of the COVID-19 virus, Catholic school students and their families gathered at the end of their driveways holding candlelight vigils in commemoration of our fallen soldiers.

At St Joseph’s Primary School, Boorowa, Principal Brendan Maynard, held his own dawn vigil at the front of the school.

“Seeing the lights along the main street of Boorowa was incredibly moving,” said Brendan. “Hearing the sound of the Last Post from the town Cenotaph and the ABC presentation playing on our phones, followed by the silent reflection, let us all be connected in that moment. It was different but it was so very special.”

Students and their families at Merici College, Braddon, sent in photographs of themselves gathered in their driveways. The images were shared on social media, collectively uniting the school community.

At Hennessy Catholic College, Young, students and staff came together online in prayer and remembrance for a virtual ANZAC Day service. The presentation was created by classroom teacher, Damien Foley and highlighted the significance of ANZAC Day for the Hennessy school community.

Poppy Lucas and Tilly Bowman, Year 6 leaders at Trinity Catholic Primary School, Murrumburrah, laid a wreath at the Harden Cenotaph to acknowledge our fallen soldiers. Many families in the area decorated their homes and gathered in their driveways at dawn to remember.

Year Nine Project Based Learning students at Lumen Christi Catholic College, Pambula Beach, have commemorated the spirit of the ANZACs by developing a dedicated ANZAC Day website for the wider school community to use as a resource in preparation for remembrance at home.

“The Digital ANZAC resource contains a selection of poetry, music and artworks, as well as some fascinating war time fact sheets that demonstrate the students’ learning about World War One, World War Two and the ANZAC contribution to these campaigns,” said Lumen Christi teacher, Danielle Lynn.

Prior to COVID-19, students had been tasked with running the College ANZAC Day assembly, as well as taking part in local services. They were disappointed when these services were cancelled. Rather than finishing the project abruptly, students and staff looked for other ways to complete the task remotely.

Students were asked to research one aspect of war and develop a short fact sheet on their topic. The fact sheets were then compiled into a booklet and uploaded to the new website.

“Students focused on the ANZAC ideals of courage, endurance, mateship and sacrifice, and were challenged to consider how these values were lived out in war time, in the present and into the future,” said Danielle.

The project explored how ANZAC values are reflected in the social teachings of the College and also in the local community. Students identified the work of organisations in the recent bushfires and the commitment and courage of all essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, as examples of how ANZAC ideals are lived out today.

Students and staff at St Anthony’s Primary School, Wanniassa, have continued to connect and support one another despite social distancing. The school community came together in collaboration to create a fun, lighthearted video to uplift spirits.

Organised by Religious Education Coordinator, Beth Lehmensich, the video features snippets of staff, students and parents dancing and passing around a sign that reads ‘we’re all in this together’. These videos were compiled and shared with the school community.

“When we started to move to partial remote learning, I thought it might be a good idea to do something that could connect the kids at school with those at home,” said Beth. “We asked families at home to video themselves singing and dancing and then send them through to me to create one video.”

Throughout the video the sign is passed between shots to bridge the physical gap between children at school and those at home. The video was a fun way to relieve some of the tension and stress felt due to COVID-19.

Greg Walker, Principal of St Anthony’s, said that the video was well received by the school community and acknowledged students, staff and parents for their collaboration.

“A big thank you to our parents and carers who are working with their children at home,” he said. “The staff at St Anthony’s have done a great job preparing for remote learning and delivering the curriculum in new and engaging ways.”

Archdiocesan Catholic schools continue to show how innovative they can be in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mother’s Day has always been a special day for our school communities and many were determined to still celebrate.

St Joseph’s Primary School, O’Connor, St Anthony’s Primary School, Wanniassa and St John Vianney’s Primary School, Waramanga, celebrated their special loved ones with a socially distanced, drive-through breakfast. Staff prepared offerings of flowers, hot meals and coffee that were collected by the mums, with some on their way to work and others who returned home for a day of assisting with remote learning.

Cameron Tarrant, Principal of St Joseph’s, described the morning as wonderful. “The invitation was extended to all mothers, grandmothers and other special ladies,” he said. “They were told to forget the Maccas drive-through and celebrate ‘iso-style!’”

The celebrations continued at Holy Trinity Primary School, Curtin. Kindergarten students were asked to share on camera their favourite thing about their mum. The footage was then compiled into a touching Mother’s Day tribute and shared with the school community.

At St Bernard’s Primary School, Batehaven, as part of their remote learning, students were asked to take special pictures of their mum and send them in. These images were placed along the pews and displayed in the St Bernard’s Church. Fr Martins and Seminarian Eden celebrated a special Mass with intentions for the mothers in the school community.

“The visual presence of the children’s artwork in the Church really created a sense of community, in a time of absence,” said Sharon Beashel, Religious Education Coordinator. “It was just lovely.”

In lieu of the annual St John Paul II College, Nicholls, community Mother’s Day Mass, loved ones were invited to join their children on ZOOM during their Pastoral Care lessons for a special Mother’s Day Liturgy.

To all the special women in our Archdiocesan school communities, thank you for all that you do.

This term, Year 3 students at Ss Peter and Paul’s Parish Primary School, Goulburn, have been studying the Old Testament and how these stories are used to better understand God’s Word.

As part of their remote learning, students were asked to read the story of Noah, identify the Bible reference and write a summary. They were then asked to use their dramatic skills to create a video of the story.

Charlton Hill decided to get creative with his Lego collection, using a stop motion app on his mother’s phone to retell the story of Noah. He thought it would be interesting to use stop motion and although it a long time to make, he felt that the end result was “a lot cooler.”

In total, the project took Charlton around 3 days to complete. He spent most of this time building Noah’s ark and the film set with his Lego. He built all the pieces needed for the project before filming each scene. He added music and sound effects before recording his commentary. It was only his second time creating a film using the stop motion app. 

“I probably used around 300 pieces of Lego,” said Charlton. “The stop motion project was very interesting because I haven’t done one in a very long time.”

“It was a lot of fun.”

When Catholic school students returned to school after two months of remote learning, many felt excitement and a sense of a return to ‘normal’.

Students and staff at Merici College, Braddon, shared their enthusiasm in a fun and creative way. Principal, Loretta Wholley and students, Olivia Willshire (Year 12), Georgia Willshire (Year 8), Ella Grace Morris (Year 10) and Madeleine Christie (Year 9) created several Tik Tok videos, dancing throughout the school.

‘Tik Tok’ is a social media platform that features 15 second videos of people lip-synching or dancing to music. The videos can be sped up, slowed down or edited with filters, often producing hilarious results.

Merici’s Tik Toks were shared across Social Media and have been well received by the wider community. This was a great way to lift spirits and bring joy to many.

“We were trying to bring a smile during tough times,” said Loretta. “We are truly excited to have our students return to school.”

When teachers arrived at back at St Vincent’s Primary School, Aranda for their first day of face-to-face teaching since beginning remote learning, they were greeted with a lovely surprise.

The parent community had gifted staff with a variety of teas to say thank you for their efforts during the period of remote learning.

Parents praised staff for their resilience and for never giving up, despite the challenges of the last few months.

“It is truly gratifying, knowing that we have had, and continue to have, the support of our families,” said Lina Vigliotta, Principal at St Vincent’s. “St Vincent’s is truly a place where lasting friendships are made.”

“We are now drinking copious cups of tea!”

Many Catholic Primary school students celebrated their return to school after two months of remote learning, participating in National Simultaneous Storytime. Students and staff gathered at 11am to dive into the world of Whitney and Britney Chicken Divas, written by Australian author, Lucinda Gifford.

Each year, the Australian Library and Information Association selects a picture book, written and illustrated by an Australian author, to be read simultaneously throughout the country. It is a colourful, fun and vibrant event that aims to promote the value of reading and literacy.

At St Patrick’s Parish School, Cooma, students and staff embodied the spirit of the event by dressing up in colourful costumes that featured feather boas, loud hats and giant sunglasses. Kindergarten students were surprised by baby chicks visiting their classroom. They got to learn some interesting facts about chickens and how to look after them.

At St John Vianney’s Primary School, Waramanga, National Simultaneous Storytime was celebrated with a visit from chickens, Whitney and Britney, aka, Smarties and Snickers, who were decked out in fabulous costumes. There was much laughter and excitement as students followed the story along with the rest of the country.

“The students were encouraged to join in the fun by bringing in a removable accessory to wear during the reading such as tiaras, glasses and funky hats,” said Peter Rodda, Principal of St John Vianney’s. “Even the staff joined in on the fun. It was great to see so many happy faces.”

Midgee, a Wiradjuri term meaning lightning bolt, is a club for students with an interest in First Nations cultures, languages and heritage. Each term, Trinity Catholic College, Goulburn, students participate in a Midgee Tucker Day where special guests are invited to speak about their experiences. In Term 2, members of the NSW Police Force were invited to attend.

Members of the local Hume District Police Force met with senior students. Our guests included Superintendent Chris Schilt, Commander of the Hume District Police Force; Inspector Matthew Hinton, Officer in Charge, Goulburn District; and Constable Chloe Brown, Goulburn Police Station. They spoke with students about the current unrest in the United States and around the world, and the ramifications in Australia.

The presentation provided a great opportunity for positive student interaction with the local Police. For most students, it was their first encounter with the NSW Police and many felt that it was a real ‘ice-breaker’. The event was a great success with students asking engaging questions. An Aboriginal student raised the question around the arrest of Aboriginal youth and students later commented that they had found Inspector Hinton’s response particularly insightful.

Inspector Hinton complimented the students on their awareness, confidence and empathy.

Several students enjoyed the presentation, so much so that they were considering joining the NSW Police when they complete their education.

Several Principals and Catholic Education leaders braved a freezing Canberra winter night, sleeping outside in support of Australia’s most vulnerable for the annual Vinnies CEO Sleepout.

Due to COVID-19, this year participants slept outside in a location of their choice. Armed with a piece of cardboard, many chose to sleep in their own backyards, or in their cars, for what was an eye-opening experience of the realities faced by so many homeless Australians.

Collectively, the Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn team has raised over $41,000, ranking first in the ACT and fifth in the country for their fundraising efforts. This equates to 130 individual support programs, 343 beds and 1372 meals, highlighting that one night of discomfort for a few can go a long way in supporting those most at need.

Reflecting on her CEO Sleepout experience, Claire Frazer, Principal Catholic Identity Officer, Catholic Education, said “It was a privilege to participate in the CEO Sleepout and raise funds for such a worthy cause. The night was cold and as the dawn approached it was damp from the dew. However, I was not frightened for my safety, I was not anxious about where I was going to sleep the next day. I was not hungry or in need of medical support. I did not feel the humiliation of people passing by and looking at me with disgust. I did not feel that my life was of no worth.” She continued “It was inspiring to watch and listen to the stories of those who have been supported by Vinnies. Whilst they spoke of the material support, it was clearly the emotional and spiritual support that truly made the difference.”

Principal of Good Shepherd Primary School, David Austin added, “They should change the name to ‘CEO Wakeout’ as it is extremely difficult to sleep on a piece of cardboard, on top of concrete in the height of a Canberra winter with temperatures dropping below freezing. I felt I could get warm enough with plenty of layers and burying myself in my sleeping bag, however the challenge for me was comfort. ‘Sleeping’ on the hard surface of my front porch and being aware of every noise in my surroundings, I reflected, often, that this is the reality for many in our community and how unacceptable it is, in our city and country, to have over 100 000 Australians facing homelessness each night. I am pleased I was able to raise awareness for many and raise over $7000 for this cause.”

It is not too late to show your support for the Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn team. Fundraising will continue until Friday, 31 July. Donations can be made via the Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn team page.

Thank you to all who have generously supported this important cause. Your donations will go a long way towards helping those in need.

60 Merici College, Braddon, senior students and staff rose to the challenge on Thursday, 18 June, sleeping ‘rough’ in support of this year’s Vinnies CEO Sleepout. As evening temperatures reached a low of -1 degrees, the group prepared themselves for a cold night to raise awareness and experience a small part of the reality of homelessness.

Principal, Loretta Wholley, who was participating for her fourth consecutive year, said that the night was a bonding experience that helped promote empathy for the cause. “With over $11,200 raised this year, I am so appreciative to all the Merici families and the wider community who have supported the College. The support has been outstanding and will help to make sure other people are being looked after.”

The night began with students and staff setting up their sleeping areas in the new school quad, ensuring they would be as warm as possible. Many girls took an architectural approach, innovatively designing diverse types of shelter from cardboard. Together the group shared a meal of soup and bread, reflecting on the harsh realities of not having guaranteed food every day.

Therese Canty, a Vinnies Youth Liaison Officer in the ACT, visited the group to share with them the role that Vinnies plays in assisting the homeless in Canberra. Two volunteers from the Vinnies Night Patrol spoke to the girls about the many ways that the community can support homeless people.

Year 10 student, Amy Redmond, said that the event made her realise how grateful she is for her warm bed and the roof over her head. “It made me realise the harsh conditions people face on a daily basis and how grateful we should be.”

Year 12 student, Jacinta Wright, said that raising awareness about homelessness and the work of Vinnies was a top priority for her in her role as the College’s Social Justice Captain. “The Sleepout is a hands-on way to emphasise the issue and promote awareness in our students and the community. The Sleepout really opened our eyes to their situations and we were able to personally experience their struggles by physically putting ourselves in their shoes.”

“Thank you to all students and staff for supporting this worthwhile initiative,” said Jacinta. “We would also like to express heartfelt gratitude to the St Vincent de Paul Society for the invaluable contribution they make to our community.”

During their time spent learning remotely, Year 5 and 6 students at St Patrick’s Primary School, Bega, were encouraged to reflect on their experiences of COVID-19 through poetry. Here are some of their responses:

Let Me Outside
Kai Schrader

The world looks so different to me now.
As time goes by, I say wow.
I want to go outside to play,
But there’s coronavirus
So not today.

I stay inside and have a snack,
Then have a look at my old superman backpack.

I turn around and see a bookshelf,
It has a story about a young elf.
I sit down to have a read.
Please let me outside, I plead!

Changes since Corona
Kirra Seenan

What I am noticing…

In the car
I look out the window 
And I see
Bike riders
Pedalling SUPER fast
Their bright reflectors shining
I see people going on runs

s l o w 

             and

                      Fast

Listening to upbeat music
Flowing through their earphones. 

Some people are walking 
Chatting to their family member
LOTS of people
Are walking their dogs, 
Who are VERY eager
To be outside
Smelling all the new smells
I look out the window

In the car.

The World Looks Different to Me Now
Maddison Woods

OUTSIDE
Fewer people are going down the street
To buy comfortable winter clothes and
Eat delicious meals.
Amazing shops are now closed.

More people are going out
On relaxing bike rides
In the bush and
Peaceful walks,
Around the calm, empty town.

The beautiful world is less polluted than before
Which makes people happy and calm.

That is what looks different to me.

The World Looks Different to Me Now
Alexia Spitzer

Life’s pretty boring 
NOTHING’S
Happening!

NO after school sport

NO going to friend’s houses 

NO barbeques

You don’t get to see anybody
Face-to-Face

I miss my friends
I miss my family 
I miss my teachers

I can’t wait until life goes back to normal

The World Looks Different to Me Now
Kendrick Twyford

Fun games to play,
With your friends
And many games to choose from! 

With different types of strategies to use.
And different types of
Categories to choose.
Like 
Adventure,
ActiON,
and BUILDING (minecraft),

You can win a lot of money
In competitions!
Being REALLY good at video games.

I
LOVE
VIDEO GAMES

The World Looks Different to Me Now
Ruby Hoskins

No more visit to my friends 
Heaps of facetimes instead
I won’t see them at school
No more sitting together 

Sharing our chips
And 
Laughing about funny things
That happened
At school 
Or home  

I won’t see my family much anymore 
No more family lunches 
Or
Dinners
Anymore.
We had to celebrate Easter when we’re not 

TOGETHER 

I miss seeing my friends and family’s lovely faces