Principal's Report
Remote Learning 2.0
I would like to acknowledge the smooth way that we this week prepared for and began our second round of remote learning. Thank you to everyone, families, staff and students for this.
We learnt much from our first period of this and I am certain that we will all do a better job this time around.
These are difficult times and it is important to keep in mind that the overriding priority is to keep all of us safe. Educators, like all other essential services workers, are asked to do the best they can to continue to provide that essential service. This is not easy, and we say "thank you" to all essential services workers, not just schools’ staff members.
Best wishes everyone, and remember: Communicate, communicate, communicate. Let us know your joys and concerns so that we can celebrate the successes and help with the difficulties.
Perspective and attitude.
“One day a farmer’s donkey fell into a well. The animal cried miserably for hours as the farmer tried to work out what to do. Finally, the farmer decided that the donkey was old and the well had to be filled in anyway; it just wasn’t worth the effort to retrieve the old donkey. The farmer invited his neighbours to come over and help him. Each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. When the donkey realised what was happening, it cried horribly, then, to everyone’s amazement it quietened down. When the farmer looked into the well, he was astonished to see the donkey shake each shovel of dirt off its back and take a step upwards. This sequence continued until the donkey began to appear. Before long, it stepped over the edge of the well and trotted off.”
Author unknown.
And the moral? Well, use each of your problems as stepping stones. We will never get out of our “deepest wells” by doing nothing. We need to shake off the negatives and “Make way for a positive day”. Additionally, acting in a positive way does not mean that we ignore life’s less pleasant situations but that we approach the unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way. What a wise donkey!
So, how do we teach our children to be wise and positive in the decisions and choices they will have to make?
St. Paul, when he wrote to his church at Philippi, suggested some great values: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, whatever is excellent or worthy of praise, think of these things.” Phil, 4: 8.
As Christians, we believe in a positive outcome in life by our faith in a loving God. Through prayer, Christians believe that we can make use of what Jesus called, “the Kingdom of God within you.” Luke 17:21.
When we are tempted to give in and say we cannot do something, St. Paul has this encouragement, “I can do all things in Him who strengthens me.” Phil. 4: 8.
Christians realise that optimistic, positive thinking needs to be tempered with realism, which is not the same as being negative. A favourite saying is to “Act as if everything depended on you, pray as if everything depended on God.” In other words, we should not use faith in God as a substitute for living in positive ways that will likely improve our chances of having positive outcomes; the two go hand in hand. St. Paul again: “There is no limit to the blessings which God can send you; He will make sure that you will always have all you need for yourselves in every possible circumstance and still have something to spare for all sorts of good work.” 2 Cor. 9:8.
No wonder Christians are such a positive lot! And if we aren’t, we should be!
Lord, we ask You to strengthen us in our role as parents and educators.
Help us to be positive, encouraging and appreciative of all the persons in our families and school.
Guide us to see things as they truly are. May our attitude and outlook be inspired by You to be faith-filled, hope-filled and courageous.
Amen.
Thank you Fr. Des
Last week Fr. Des Welladsen, Parish Priest St. Mary’s Parish Echuca announced that he would be retiring at the end of this year. Fr. Des has been a strong supporter of St. Joseph’s College in many ways. In normal times he celebrates numerous Masses for us during each school year, works closely with our Faith team, contributes to our Professional Development program and much more.
We thank him for this commitment and support and wish him well in his retirement. Hopefully, we will get on top of this COVID thing and be able to celebrate his contribution appropriately later this year.
God bless.
Michael Delaney.
Principal.