"Mater Dei Matters"

Principal's Message

We have reached the bitter-sweet time of the year when we begin our farewells to Year 12. Formal classes have finished, line days underway to provide concentrated time blocks for study and the Leadership Team has been meeting with Year 12 House Groups for the final luncheons together. Next Friday, we will publish a special farewell to Year 12 to share the Final Assembly and Year 12 Graduation Mass and Awards evening on Thursday 17 September. While we wish them every blessing as they leave Mater Dei, it is always difficult to say good bye to the graduating class.

 

As our current Year 12 cohort is reaching the end of their HSC year, Year 11 is about to embark on this journey. In preparation for their role as student leaders, the Year 11 Leadership Day was held today and I would like to share my thoughts about Leadership. Leadership is hard to define, but effective leadership is easy to see!

 

Leading is not the same as Managing. Events and activities are managed but people are led. Therefore, leadership is about relationships, about empowering others, about developing the team and being able to say together “We did it!”

 

As part of my time with Year 11 today, I shared the following thoughts about Servant Leadership, which underpins our Catholic culture:

 

A servant-leader focuses primarily on the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. While traditional leadership generally involves the one at the “top of the pyramid”, harnessing and using all the power themselves, servant leadership is different. The servant-leader shares power, puts the needs of others first and helps people develop and perform as highly as possible. Servant leadership is actually an ancient approach advocated by leaders of the world’s great religions like Jesus, Gandhi, Buddha, and the Dalai Lama.  They all offer us a common message, that we are called to serve others and that service is a path that connects us to Spirit and empowers us.

 

When people are open to God, they receive guidance, hope, power, and love to accomplish our divine servant leader mission.  They can have a sense of joy and peace regardless of outcomes because they experience grace so that success does not matter all that much.  But success often does result. 

 

I reminded Year 11 students of the expectation that they serve as an example of the Vision of the College. Our Vision aspires for the College to be a nurturing community which:

 

  • is founded in Catholic faith, justice and   love,
  • is inclusive,

 

 

  • is learner centred and,
  • seeks excellence and wisdom.

 

I also reaffirmed the expectation that they serve as an example of the Mission of the College. That Mission is to:

 

  • care for each individual, affirming their     dignity and uniqueness
  • foster right relationships with God,           creation, self and others
  • provide particular attention to those most in need; and,

 

 

  • build a welcoming, safe and supportive school environment.

 

We shared some time considering how a servant leader responds to challenges so that individuals and groups are empowered and built up and relationships strengthened.

 

After sharing some thoughts about Leadership I asked students to determine which of the following quotes would be reflect their understanding of what it means to be a student leader at Mater Dei Catholic College in 2016:

 

·         The easy part of leadership is to use one’s gifts for the betterment of oneself. The hard part of leadership is to use one’s gifts for the betterment of others.

 

·         The easy part of leadership is to be popular. The hard part of leadership is to be unpopular.

 

  • The easy part of leadership is to wear the badge. The hard part of leadership is to deserve the badge.

 

 

  • The easy part of leadership is to do what is popular. The hard part of leadership is to do what is right.
  • The easy part of leadership is to deal with policy. The hard part of leadership is to deal with people.
  • The easy part of leadership is to enjoy its success. The hard part of leadership is to endure its failure.
  • The easy part of leadership is to follow consensus. The hard part of leadership is to follow conviction.
  • The easy part of leadership is conservation. The hard part of leadership is innovation.

 

 

  • The easy part of leadership is to cope with the friends. The hard part of leadership is to cope with the enemies.
  • The easy part of leadership is to judge others. The hard part of leadership is to judge yourself.

 

The statement that most resonated with the Year Group was:

 

 

  • The easy part of leadership is to wear the badge. The hard part of leadership is to deserve the badge.

 

Please keep our Year 11 students in your prayers as the appointment of the Student Leaders for 2016 is finalised next week.

 

Staff News

 

Mr Carl Heise had intended to leave Mater Dei at the end of this year as he and his family are relocating to Sydney but he has now brought forward his departure date to 18 September, which is the last day of this term. I would like to thank Mr Heise for his contribution to our College and wish him every blessing for the future. Miss Amy Toole will be teaching Mr Heise’s classes as the new term commences.

 

We have a number of staff on Leave next term for short periods of time. As well, Ms Michelle Lumsden will be away for the full term and will be replaced by Ms Courtney Langtry. Mr Peter Simpson will be also be on Long Service Leave for much of the term and will be replaced by Ms Sally Cox. Miss Bianca Fonte has been appointed as Acting Kennedy House Leader in his absence.

 

Fr Bernie Retirement

 

Fr Bernie has announced his retirement from January 2016. We will have the opportunity to farewell him and thank him for his contribution to Mater Dei later in Term 4.

 

Term 4 will commence on Tuesday, 6 October. There is no Staff Professional Development Day to commence the term. Students are to wear their Summer Uniform. Special attention is to be paid to meeting the requirements of the Uniform and Appearance Policy, which is available on the College Website for parent/carer reference if required. I wish all our Mater Dei families a relaxing holiday break and look forward to welcoming our students back to finish the year well in Term 4.

 

We received the sad news that Mrs Loretta Laird, mother of Chelsea in Year 11 and Jacinta in Year 9, passed away last week after a period of illness. Her funeral was held today in Katoomba. Please prayer for the repose of Loretta’s soul and for Chelsea and Jacinta and their grandfather Mr Ron Holmes. Eternal rest grant to her, O Lord. May perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. Amen.

Mrs Val Thomas

Principal