Mission & Social Justice
Year 10 Immersion Program
Mission & Identity
The students have returned to the College energised by their recent holiday and ready to face another term. School communities thrive on these cycles as the end of Term 3 was such a special (and busy) time for our community as we celebrated and farewelled our Year 12 students and many of our families. This week at our College Assembly we prayed that Our Lady Help of Christians would guide and support Year 12 as they face the final hurdle of their HSC.
SOCIAL JUSTICE STATEMENT
Every few years the Australian Catholic Bishops release a Social Justice Statement on a topic relevant to our times. The 2016-2017 Statement is titled ‘A Place at the Table: Social Justice in an Ageing Society.’ This is quite a beautiful document that explores a new vision of ageing that highlights the dignity, value and capabilities of older people. During the next four weeks, I will unpack some sections of this Statement.
The Statement in its entirety can be located at:
http://www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/files/SJSandresources/2016-SJSSocial_Justice_Statement.pdf
YEAR 10 IMMERSION PROGRAM FOR 2016
Interviews for the Year 10 Immersions took place at the end of last term. Congratulations to the following 2016 Immersion Teams:
St Joseph’s Primary School Walgett: Led by Mr David Reay and Mr Tom Pembroke
Sam Massey, Marcus Rossetto, Joshua Staggs and Daniel Hall
St Mary’s Primary School Bowraville: Led by Mr David Blake and Mrs Donna Dempsey
Phillip Cullen, Jack Moran, Nikita Papastamatis, Harrison Pfeiffer, James Spencer, Hunter Clarke and Patrick O’Brien
St Edmund’s Wahroonga: Led by Ms Sarah-Jane Grove
Cody Fisher-Peel, Matthew Murphy, Macsen Rodrigues and Spencer Fleming
Ms D Dempsey - Assistant Principal Mission & Identity
Social Justice
Welcome back to our St Pius X College boys as well as their families. This term will have many social justice activities and opportunities for students to become involved, and the Edmund Rice Society is always looking for new members wanting to become social justice advocates within our community.
Some of the social justice activities that will be available this term include the Year 10 EREA Peace and Justice Symposium, the three immersions to St Mary’s Walgett, St Joseph’s Bowraville and St Edmunds Wahroonga, Matthew Talbot toiletries collection, Vinnies Christmas Hamper Appeal, Edmund Rice Camps Appeal and the Founders Day Festival.
Monday 10th October is National Mental Health Day and Tuesday 11th October is the inaugural #headspaceday. Headspace is the national youth mental health foundation dedicated to improving the wellbeing of young Australians.
Working in association with this foundation is a large variety of people and services at our College who are always ready and willing to assist any of our students who feel the need and have the courage to ask for help. Our two Counsellors, Mr Russo and Ms Gill, are available for any and all, as are the Mission and Identity Team, Mindmatters team, Year Coordinators, Homeroom Teachers and all teaching staff at St Pius X College. If any boy feels the need or want to talk please either come and see any of the staff members listed above or find a teacher you personally trust and have a chat about what is troubling you.
Wishing all of you a great Term 4 and remembering the words of Blessed Edmund Rice, “Live Jesus In Our Hearts Forever”.
Mr D Blake - Social Justice Coordinator