Chaplains Spot

How was your Christmas holiday break? Mine was relaxing – sleeping, walking, reading.

Welcome to new students and families. I trust that your time at Great Ryrie is fabulous.

This is my 18th year as Chaplain at GRPS, and I love working with people of all ages. A Chaplain’s role is to care for our school community, providing support in whatever ways are necessary, as noted below. 

If you would like your child to speak with me: There are many students at GRPS with whom I interact. We talk about family conflict, separation, death and loss, anxiety, the world, faith, peers, whatever we need.  If you would like your child to speak with me, there is a Consent Form on Compass, under School Documentation/Chaplaincy. You can complete this form and forward it via email or your child. There is also a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ file you may like to read. It would be helpful if you can make contact through Compass or my email below, to advise the background of the issue.

There are also other resources in that section that you might like to explore. If you have any questions about them, feel free to contact me. I aim to support the whole school community in various ways. Here are some of the aspects of how this care is provided:

EMOTIONAL: Many students come to talk about their emotions, their feelings, and we talk about strategies, and what we can or cannot control ….. and we play games.

SOCIAL: School can be a challenging place, with many different personalities interacting across the ages. Students often need to talk this through, sometimes with their friends in a restorative situation ….. and of course, games

SPIRITUAL: I am happy to discuss faith or world issues at any time, and pray for anyone. This is always an option that is available as part of my pastoral care ….. and games.

PRACTICAL: Second-hand uniform: Every week before school at our Toast Tuesday program, second-hand items are available for a gold coin donation. They are also available before and after the fortnightly Friday morning assemblies. 

Toast Tuesday: Our free Toast Tuesday program will recommence at 8.30 on Tuesday 13 February at the Sports & Performance Centre. Heathmont Bakers Delight support us with bread, and Woolies Eastland provide support towards spreads and juice. If you would like to help with spreads such as Vegemite, honey or jam at any time, please let me know.

Also, if you would like to receive regular bread or rolls on Tuesdays, please email me as below, and I will add your family to our list. There is a variety of types of bread and rolls, as well as sometimes breadsticks, Turkish bread and other items.

Toast Tuesday roster: 

The link to book in for Term 1 is volunteersignup.org/YYXJW. We would welcome any new volunteers. A current ‘Working With Children’ check is required. Thank you.

Meal Train roster:  

We will again offer a weekly emergency meal to families in our school community. Several parents cooked delicious and nutritious meals last year. If your family would appreciate a meal at any time of emergency, please let me know. If you would like to contribute a meal, please go to the following link. mealtrain.com/vlwooz

Contact:

If you need to contact me, you can email me, or phone or see me on my days as listed below. Please note that I am working 2 days a week from now on.

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Alan Silverwood: Chaplain - Pastoral care for our community. [Tuesday, Friday]

[alan.silverwood@education.vic.gov.au] 

Supporting our community in emotional, social, spiritual and practical wellbeing. 

Our Chaplaincy program is funded by the Federal Government’s ‘National Student Wellbeing Program’, the GRPS School Council and donations.