Cultural Liaison/Pastoral 

Senior IT Sessions

Last IT Session for Seniors 2022

Technology use has become the most critical approach to maintaining social connectedness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Older adults (aged >65 years) are perceived as the most physiologically susceptible population to developing COVID-19 and are at risk of secondary mental health challenges related to the social isolation that has been imposed by virus containment strategies. To mitigate concerns, I thought to bring back the IT Session for Seniors, and aim to conduct and facilitate our local Griffith seniors to engage in the use of technology for web-based socialisation.

The results were outstanding, as we had 20 – 24 seniors turn up to the Griffith city library, throughout term’s 2 to term 4 to use these free IT services run by Mrs Lole and the Marian Catholic College students who actively participated/volunteered from the community action team and the year 9 students, Kelly Centofanti’s (year 9 coordinator) year group. The IT sessions were hosted by the Griffith City Library, Sharmaine Delgado, and her lovely staff members who just appreciated our time and patience.

These are just some of the testimonies shared by the seniors;

“Thank you Arnika, Mia, Sanita and the Marian Catholic College students who turned up last Thursday at the Griffith library to help people like me solve a few smart phone dilemmas that baffle the older people who learn about mobile phones so much later in life. Thank you, Thank you for your time & tolerance & patience. It has been very much appreciated by me. 

Best wishes and kindest regards, Jann Monsoon.

“"I just wanted to say a 'proper' thank you for all your wonderful help to date with my electronic endeavours!

 “You have been simply marvellous and just what I need. You are always so patient and endlessly helpful even when I must look back at you sometimes with a blank look”. “Anyhow, you have shown me the way along this big learning curve and it's all very exciting and I just want you to know that I'm very grateful- especially as I really feel you go the extra mile. I hope you have a marvellous and very well-earned holiday soon!

“You have shown me the way along this big learning curve and it's all very exciting and I just want you to know that I'm very grateful- especially as I really feel you go the extra mile. I hope you have a marvellous and very well-earned holiday!

The IT Session was such a success, the seniors were impressed, that it will continue in 2023.

Sanita Lole.

Marian Catholic College Recycling Efficiency

Here at Marian we not only raise funds from our school recycling to support Carevan Griffith, we are also helping the environment, encourage the community to recycle, and help the transition to a circular economy.

Our school community groups such as Year 7 and their Year 7 Coordinator, Mr Morris have been proactively engaged in collecting our recycling cages around the school and emptying the eligible containers/bottles into the bins, which Maintenance has given to the recycling team. Then Mrs Lole who coordinates the ‘Schools Recycling’ contacts Janice (Carevan Coordinator) / Peta Dummet (Griffith Community Centre Manager) who picks up our recycling and takes it down to our local Pay and Earn depots by return to their local machine or collection point to donate in the refunds.

These are then returned to a collection point, and the resulting funds are channelled back into important community programs such as Carevan, that make their communities a better place to live by funding important programs, and a wide range of other vital community initiatives.

Image below; is our Community Volunteer, Filomena & Peta Dummet

There are so many good reasons to champion the cause of recycling in our schools. Here are three of the most important ones:

1) EDUCATIONAL VALUE – Explaining why we need to recycle gives us opportunities to teach students about related issues such as:

• Over-use of harmful chemicals
• Preserving biodiversity and wildlife habitat
• Deforestation
• Global water pollution
• Employment and economic development
• Global warming

2) SCHOOL IS THE BEST PLACE TO START – It’s so much easier to pick up good habits when you’re young. Better still, pupils who become enthusiastic about recycling will take their values home with them. They’ll also take them with them when they join the workforce.

3) IMPACT – There are 3.5 million kids attending 4,221 schools in Australia alone.

Schools and pupils discard thousands of tons of recyclable resources each year – paper, cans, bottles, electronics, batteries, food and more besides. If all schools became careful recyclers the impact on our environment would be huge.

85% of our waste is recyclable. Yet much of this waste still goes to landfill, contributing to all the problems mentioned in the previous point.

End of Year Study Club

MCC Study Club is an after-school program for students from year 7 to year 12, and is located in the learning support centre in the heart of the school library. We operate from 3:15 PM to 4:30 PM every Tuesday’s from week 3 every term. 

We provide a safe, fun and friendly environment where students can come to focus on their academic studies in an open and supportive environment. They can use the time to complete homework, conduct research, prepare for assessments or seek assistance with any concepts that require additional explanation. There is a teacher and some senior students in attendance who can provide guidance to those participants who would like to improve their organisational and time management skills, understanding of course content or to discuss academic topics of interest to them. Students can come to the Afterschool Study Club as it suits their schedule and individual needs and can stay for the entire time or a portion thereof.

Tuesday, 15th of November was our last day of Study Club for 2022. As the year slows down of exams, tests, assessments and homework, the students have been committed and proactive towards their studies.

On behalf of MCC, I would like to thank all the students for their attendance this year and for the staff who would volunteer their time to stay back and assist the students with their studies.

Rememberence Day

Marian Catholic College was invited to attend Griffith's Remembrance Day Service, on Friday 11th November to lay a wreath. The two students from year 10 who represented Marian, were selected by Mr Jacob Dalnevo. We were located at the Cenotaph in the Memorial Park at 10.30 for the Service, and the students were also accompanied by Murrumbidgee Regional High School.

Sanita Lole

Pastoral and Cultural Liaison Officer