Catholic Identity & Mission News
Reflections
I am always proud of our students at St. Peter’s College, but in these past two weeks, there have been initiatives from our students that have beautifully reflected our annual theme to ‘Therefore prepare your mind[s] for action’ and they have really lifted my spirits at the end of a long and challenging Term. The Catholic identity of our College, and our commitment to Catholic Social Teaching are (I hope) always evident, but as this long term draws to a close, students’ actions around RUOK Day and Active Week have shown a consideration for meeting the needs of others in their school community in ways that show solidarity, a preference for those doing it tough and a care for the dignity of all.
Under the guidance of our counsellors Mrs Nadia Picinali and Ms Gwen Solomou, our CRA Campus Year 10 Youth Ministry students baked special cookies for RUOK day, while over at CLN Campus, VCAL students arranged a week’s worth of activities to celebrate Active Week and promote health, wellbeing, and inclusion. Our new 2023 student executive were announced and they have great plans for enhancing the daily life of the College moving forward. So too does Chelsea Lee Griffiths a Year 12 VCAL student on our Cranbourne Campus, who in Term 2 as part of her VCAL program, delivered a powerful presentation about the issue of Food Security. I’ll let her explain:
"In Year 12 VCAL, we’ve learned about the UN Sustainable Development Goals and how we can help achieve these goals. The goal I have been focusing on is Goal 2: Zero Hunger - Achieve food security and improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.
This goal is about those who experience and suffer from food insecurity and our VCAL course invites us to consider how we can help them. Food insecurity is when one doesn't have enough food to eat and or can't afford healthy quality food. My project proposal is that we run a food bank at school where members of our school community can pick up frozen cooked meals for a family of 4-6.
There has been much discussion as to how we can best do this as we are especially mindful of respecting the dignity and privacy of our families but we are hopeful that we will partner with our parishes to deliver this program. We are hoping that it will help families out and put less stress on those who may have trouble having access to healthy affordable meals".
- Chelsea Lee Griffiths – Glowrey A
Chelsea has invested so much into this project and we’re very confident that we can get it off the ground and make it a success. She and the VCAL team have completed some fundraising and are planning their big cook up so that this initiative can be launched in Term 4 so watch this space for more information!
As our Term closes, I am reminded of its beginning and the loss of our friend, colleague and teacher, Jim Constantinou. We continue to remember and pray for Jim and his family and that all in our community will enjoy our well-earned holidays. As we head into the break, I leave you with this prayer:
Lord, as we have reached the end of term, we have the opportunity to reflect on the many blessings you have given us during this time. We have faced challenges this term and still mourn the loss of our teacher and friend, Jim Constantinou. We pray that he rests in peace with you in your heavenly home. Thank you for our school, our teachers, our friends and classmates. We ask that you keep us safe over the holidays, and that we return to school rested and enthusiastic for another term of learning. We ask for your guidance to always see your presence in our lives and ask that you continue to bless all in our school community as we strive to be the best versions of ourselves. We make our prayer through Christ who inspires us every day, Amen.
Fiona McKenna
Deputy Principal - Catholic Identity & Mission