A Word from the Acting Principal

Last Sunday, the seventh Sunday after Easter, we celebrated Pentecost, at the Holy Spirit Church in Sandy Bay which also marked the 90th Anniversary of the Church. The College was represented by students and staff as we are in a unique position being the only Catholic school within this parish.  

Pentecost marks the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ and is often referred to as the birthday of the Christian Church. It was therefore fitting that we celebrated this significant birthday of the Sandy Bay-Taroona Parish Church as Pentecost signifies the beginning of the spreading of the Gospel message.

This celebration also saw the unveiling of the new Parish logo which is centered on the spirituality of the Cross, which beckons every baptised Christian to follow Christ's words:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”  

This radical call to discipleship is blessed with the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, which points to the traditional pneumatological emblem of the dove.  The cross and the dove are white to remind us of the perennial power of the Lord’s Resurrection and the promise that the word of God gives us: 

“The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you” (Romans 8:11).

The background flames signify the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord.  They evoke the manifold gifts that theSpirit bestowed on the first disciples at Pentecost and the continued showering of those gifts at each New Pentecost every year.

The words “Come Holy Spirit” stand as the echoing invocation of prayer that Sandy Bay - Taroona Parish offers through the celebration of the Eucharist and Sacraments.  The rays going out to the dark backdrop designate the call to missionary discipleship based on the great commission of the Lord: 

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:19-20).  

The missionary disciples of Sandy Bay - Taroona Parish have received the mandate at their baptism to carry the light of Christ into the world, dispelling its darkness of sin and earth.  Blue rays that herald white ones indicate the maternal accompaniment of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who, having borne the eternal Word of God, is the first disciple and has produced a hundredfold harvey (Matthew 13:23).

Rev Fr Shammi Perera VG PP

INSIGHT Project

Jordan O’Sullivan and his team continued to provide professional learning and guidance to our Primary and Secondary schools to model INSIGHT in action with daily reviews and explicit instruction within our classroom context. Interstate coaches have modeled explicit practices with opportunities for staff to watch, practice and be coached. Lorraine Hammond visited the College this week and also continued our professional development of staff in the area of evidence-based literacy strategies. 

Autumn Concert

As you read this newsletter, we are in final preparations for our annual Autumn Concert. The excitement around the College is palpable as our Year 9/10 Elective Music Students, Instrumental Music Students, the Middle Years Voices, the Senior Singers, Ceilidh Band, and the College Orchestra get ready to perform. Our students would love a large audience, so it's not too late to come along and enjoy a wonderful evening of high quality music from a range of ensembles and musical genres. The Concert commences at 7.00pm in the Cahill Centre and runs to 8.30pm.

Year 7 Camp

We wish our Year 7 students well as they commence their time at The Lea Scout Centre next week.  This is a time for the Year 7 students to make connections with others, reach outside their comfort zone and to get to know their teachers a little better.  A special thank you is extended to Ms Avirl Alderdice who has put many hours in planning the event to ensure a successful experience for all.

Southern Catholic College Careers Expo 

Our Yr 9/10 students took part in this Careers Expo today which was held at MAC 02. Parents and carers are invited to accompany your daughter on this journey of exploration into the vast landscape of career opportunities with a family session from 3.15pm to 5.00pm this evening.  The Expo gives parents and crers the opportunity to engage with industry professionals, gain valuable insights, and gather essential information to guide their daughter's educational and career decisions. 

God’s blessings for the week ahead.