Community & Cultural News

What's happening?

We would love for you to visit our prayer spaces with a Lenten focus if you are attending parent teacher meetings onsite.  Each learning area has created a space for students to reflect on the Lenten journey - from Holy Thursday to the Resurrection of Christ.

Our St John's community encompasses many nationalities and faiths.  As such, we have entered a partnership with 'Together for Humanity' - a national initiative funded by Intercultural Understanding Partnerships (ICUP).  John Paul College and St John's share a Cultural Reference Group which supports families from diverse backgrounds.  Together we have created the following goals;

1.  To increase staff awareness of student's culture, language and faith
2. To build staff and student cultural competence, confidence & sensitivity
3. To create a student mentoring program between schools to build authentic connection, belonging and to support transition
4. To celebrate our joint cultural diversity and build inclusivity between the two schools

Our middle & senior school students, together with our staff will be completing a survey around cultural awareness over the coming weeks.  This will form part of our data collection to measure the success of the goals that have been established. 

Throughout the year there will be special events that the whole community will be invited to - morning teas, cultural or multifaith celebrations to name a few.  Teachers will also be attending workshops to understand ways to further engage students and families from diverse backgrounds.  If you have any suggestions, would like to find out more or simply like to chat, please call Marisa Patton 9789 9794 or email mpatton@sjfrankstoneast.catholic.edu.au  

Did you know?

Ubuntu is a word of ancient African origin meaning, ‘I am what I am because of who we all are’. The South African Archbishop, Desmond Tutu, explained that ubuntu speaks about the fact that you can’t be human all alone. We are all connected. When we know this then who we are and what we do matters. When we live by this truth, we are known for being kind and caring towards everyone. This is the spirit of Ubuntu. https://togetherforhumanity.org.au/ubuntu-heart/

As part of our school mass on Friday 3rd March @ 11:45am, we will be singing Ubuntu by Andrew Chinn, one of our favourite performers.  We hope to see you there.