Catholic Identity 

Living Well, Learning Well - Showing Respect to Others

Our Catholic schools are focusing on learning and well-being using the Living Well, Learning Well Framework. The three key components of this framework involve:

It is the aim for all students and staff to allow every person in our learning spaces at schools to receive these three ideals in everything they do. Students are also consistently being modelling how to show these ideals and students are encouraged to positively apply these in the class work and play times at school. It is also important for our students to receive the same modelling of these ideals in the home environment and the wider community. 

A recent incident in the school playground involving students not including all students to be able to play a team game on the oval has highlighted the need for our teachers and especially parents to have a discussion about sexism with our children. At St Mary of the Angels we believe that every child, regardless of gender, should be allowed to play any game they choose to in the playground. Our children should feel safe and respected when learning new skills to use in games and should be encouraged to participate in a discrimination free space. 

Our society has certainly changed and evolved in the way we accept discrimination and sexism and it is critical that students as young as primary school age are being taught the correct ways of accepting and respecting all people. Please take the time to speak with your children about being inclusive of children of different genders and of students who have different skill levels and ages. Our teachers will continue to address these issues as they arise, however, it is the united support between school and home that helps to support and develop every child throughout their life.

Write a Prayer Competition 

The Armidale Catholic Schools are currently running a prayer writing competition. They invite any student or class of students to  write a prayer that everybody in all our Catholic Schools and CSO can use to celebrate our fabulous places of learning and worship. The winner of the poetry writing competition will win a $100 voucher and also another $100 voucher for their school.

Details for Armidale Catholic Schools “Write a Prayer” Competition.

Open to all students in the Armidale Diocese Catholic Schools.

All entries can be sent to Miss Martin by Friday 9th September 2022. 

Winner announced Friday 21 October 2022.

Prizes: $100 store voucher to student-writer of winning prayer. 

            $100 store voucher to winning student’s school.

Armidale Catholic Schools reserves the right to edit the winning entry before publication.

Some Hints

How many words? Maximum 70.

The prayer must be addressed to God. Of course God has different titles by which God can be addressed.

The “kind” of prayer is up to you. You may wish to  praise God, thank God or ask God’s help. Or you  may wish to  do more than one of those. 

The prayer must make some reference to or hint at the prayer being said by people from our part of the world.

The prayer must be suitable to be said by students, families and staff-members.

Upcoming School Masses for Term 3 

School Masses for Term 3 are held on:

- Monday 15th August - The Feast of the Assumption of Mary

- Wednesday 24th August - No School Mass due to Book Week Activities

- Wednesday 7th September

- Wednesday 21st September

Twilight Spirituality & Prayer Reflection Retreat

All parents and friends are invited to join our staff at our next Twilight Spirituality and Prayer Reflection Retreat. This is organised by the CSO Spirituality Team and is a wonderful opportunity to take the time to stop and reset and centre ourselves to the presence of God in our busy lives. 

The retreat will be held on Wednesday 24th August 2022 at the Parochial School Hall from 3:30pm-5pm. We would love for you to come along.