From the Principal
The College's ANZAC Ceremony was held on Monday 29 April
- PRAYER: ANZAC Day
- Welcome Back to Term 2
- Students and their Learning
- Year 11 Parent/Teacher InterviewsYear 11 Parent/Teacher Interviews
- Thank You to the P&F - Staff BreakfastHoliday Tours and Events
- Holiday Tours and Events
- Your Building Levy in Action
- The Collegian 2018
- Twilight Concert at Oxford Falls
- Prayers and Sympathy
- Mother's Day Events at the College
- Upcoming Events
Prayer: ANZAC Day
The College was well represented last Thursday 25 April at both the Chatswood and Willoughby Memorial Services. At the opening Assembly for the term on Monday 29 April we commemorated ANZAC Day and I share with you below one of the prayers from that Assembly.
Further details and photos may be found in the Mission and Identity section of this edition of Woodchatta.
God of love and liberty, we thank you for the peace and security we enjoy.
It was won for us through the courage and devotion of those who gave their lives in time of war.
We pray that their labour and sacrifice may not be in vain, but that their spirit may live on in us
and in generations to come.
We ask this prayer in the name of Jesus and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Welcome Back to Term 2
I warmly welcome everyone back for Term 2. It is a very full program of study, sport, cultural activities and events and I look ahead with great excitement to the efforts of the students.
At the end of Term 1 the College held beautiful Easter Liturgies with a message of Christ’s love for us and for our own renewal from Lent to Easter to become a better person through God’s love and forgiveness.
On the Mission and Identity page of this newsletter there are photos and details. I congratulate and thank the students from Mercy College and St Pius X College who poignantly enacted the Stations of the Cross and the music was so powerful and reflective. I thank all involved.
I hope you and your family enjoyed an Easter filled with great happiness and joy.
Let us be Easter people of HOPE.
Students and their Learning
In recommencing the term, we have begun with a strong routine and the boys have been active in their learning and settled in well. The Years 5-11 Term 1 Interim Reports are a good guide to the performance of your son in Term 1 and parents are welcome to contact the teachers if they wish to clarify anything or follow up from the Interim Report. A full Academic Report for Year 12 will be issued in Week 3.
Year 11 Parent/Teacher Interviews
The Year 11 Parent/Teacher interviews will take place on Monday 13 May from 4.00 - 7.00pm in the College Gymnasium. An email was sent out to parents with the online booking instructions earlier this week and bookings will open this Friday 3 May at 9.00am. Students must attend in full College uniform.
Thank You to the P&F
BBQ Breakfast for the College Staff
On the Staff Day on Friday 12 April the P&F hosted a delicious breakfast for the staff of bacon and eggs, fruit and cereals and the like as well as a coffee cart. On behalf of the staff I offer our sincere appreciation to the P&F for this beautiful breakfast but more so for their appreciation to our staff. The relationship enjoyed in this community is without doubt one of its greatest strengths and I can only once again say to parents - THANK YOU!
Holiday Tours and Events
During the holidays there were many happenings and I thank the many staff who were involved in providing such opportunities for our students.
The Open Football team toured Queensland and competed in the EREA Cup. They made it through undefeated to the Grand Final but were narrowly defeated by Gregory Terrace from Brisbane. On their return they played in the St Andrew's Cup and remained undefeated, winning the St Andrew’s Plate. Congratulations to this great team. More details can be found on the Senior Sports page. Special thanks to Mr Steve Quilty, Mr Simon Yue, Mr Chris Semaan and Ms Janelle Dempsey for providing these opportunities for the students.
The U/15 Rugby side toured NZ and played three very challenging matches against Edmund Rice schools. They played tough Rugby and performed extremely well against strong opposition. Well done to these boys and again the reports are in the Sports section. Thanks to Mr Lynch, Mr Sean Brannan, Mr McBrearty and Mr Donovan.
The Junior Rugby team travelled to Armidale and went undefeated into the Grand Final where they narrowly lost by two points. These boys are a determined and talented group and a great season is ahead for them. A brief report can be found on the Junior School page. Thanks to Mr Virgona and Mr Ure for accompanying the boys on this valuable extra-curricular tour.
The Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey saw eight students and two staff take the challenging four day hike to the world heritage listed Kanangra-Boyd National Park and I thank Mr de Silva and Mr Donnelly for organising and leading this major element of the College's Outdoor Education Program.
During the break we also had 28 boys providing Service work at Belmore Centacare. This was a major activity, assisting in this workshop run by Catholic Care, and I thank Mr Mulheron for leading this initiative. More details and photos are on the Mission and Identity page.
Your Building Levy in Action
During the holidays, an enormous amount of work was done again in continuing our upgrade of the Chatswood Campus. You will notice the significant painting done at the front of the school and throughout the school yard and surrounds. There are new windows and doors to the Southern side of B block. Further upgrades in the Woodwork room. The staffroom furniture has been upgraded as well as some refurbishment of the staff toilets and doors in the Administration building. Other general maintenance tasks were completed in classrooms and around with gutters, drains etc.
At Oxford Falls also there is more painting being done as well as new seating erected on the Eastern side of Chaplin Oval which was at the initiative of the P&F.
The Maintenance Team at work at Oxford Falls
So much has been done in this short break and I thank the Maintenance Team and Mr Reay, the College Resources & Facilities Coordinator.
The Collegian 2018
Congratulations to Mr Cunneen on the publication of the 2018 Collegian. This is a fabulous chronicle of the events of 2018 and it will be distributed on Thursday 2 May to the eldest son of each family.
Twilight Concert at Oxford Falls
Please join us on Thursday 9 May for our first Twilight Concert for 2019 which will be held at the Christian Brothers’ Centre, Oxford Falls. Full details can be found on the Performing Arts page.
Prayers and Sympathy
The College offers its prayers and sympathies to Our Lady of Dolours Primary School on the passing during the holidays of their much loved and long serving Maintenance Man, Mr Steve MacDonald.
We also pray for Mrs Anna Coombs from the College Canteen whose mother passed away during the holidays as well.
May perpetual light shine upon them, may they rest in peace.
Edmund Rice Foundation Australia
I attach below a link to the recent Impact Report from the Edmund Rice Foundation. Your donations and the College's fundraising for PNG and Callan Services are managed through the Foundation. This term the voluntary donation of $50 on the school fees is for this worthy cause. Please support this. All donations are tax deductible.
Mother's Day Events at the College
ADVANCE NOTICE: Mothers, please mark your diary!
On Friday morning 10 May all Mothers, Grandmothers and Carers are invited with their sons to an early morning liturgy in the School Gymnasium followed by a morning tea. Refreshments will be available from 7.30am and the liturgy commences at 8.00am. For catering purposes, please RSVP via https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=132872& Full details are on the P&F page of this newsletter.
At 10.30am on this day there will also be a Mother’s Day Mass in Our Lady of Dolours (OLD) church for all Junior School Mothers and Grandmothers. Please RSVP for catering purposes via https://www.trybooking.com/499576 Full details can be found on the Junior School page.
Upcoming Events
Please refer to the 'Upcoming Events' page of this Newsletter for the 2019 College Calendar and Term Dates. Information on how to download the College App is also included so you can stay up-to-date.
Mr John Couani - Principal