Identity and Outreach
Andrea O'Grady
The Identity and Outreach team have been working to provide various opportunities for our community to grow in faith, hope and love. We welcome Ms Therese Coyle as Head of Religion as she continues to support our teachers with a current and interesting Religion program. QCAA has updated the Religion and Ethics curriculum, and Therese and her staff are working to create the course ready for implementation in 2024. She is also networking with the other religious leaders within the Cairns community, providing our students with a depth of knowledge in world religions.
Campus Minister, Helena Tutoe has commenced the Missio Dei youth group held on Thursday afternoons, focusing on serving others. Helena is working with Fr Nathan McKay to create a formation program for students to undertake the role of Extraordinary Ministers of Communion.
It will be wonderful to witness our students celebrating communion as they distribute the host at the College Masses. Another formation experience occurring term is the “Fiat” retreat – an invitational retreat at Seville Mercy Conference centre for students to enhance their prayer life.
The First Nations Education Officers, Ms Trenae Jai and Ms Natalia Oberleuter, are building connections with the students and families; creating opportunities to connect and grow culture within St Mary’s. Reconciliation week will be celebrated in Week 6 with activities and assembly. This promises to be exciting as a number of students have been learning dances on a Wednesday afternoon in preparation. The Kuiyam room is a space that is open for students and homework help is available during the week.
Our 2023 NAIDOC Shirt is here!
Congratulationsto Year 12 student Jezzal Jawai on your design. Students and parents can order a shirt by clicking here. All payments are to be made via the Uniform Shop. Their opening hours are 8:00am-8:45am, Tuesdays to Fridays. All orders and payments are to be made by Tuesday, 16th May.
Our outreach for Project Compassion during the Lenten season raised $4840. This term our fundraising focus is to raise funds to support the Queensland Cancer Council. The College will be supporting the Biggest Morning Tea and Relay for Life. Term 3 will look to support Catholic Mission, and Term 4 has the Christmas Hampers for St Vincent de Paul. Throughout the year the College provides meals and volunteers from year 11 and 12 to Rosies -Friend on the Street.
The College community has undertaken the Enhancing Catholic Schools Identity (ECSI) survey and I thank those staff, students and families who participated. The results are processed and returned in a report in Term 4, providing guidance on how we can best develop our College’s Catholic identity respecting the dignity of all. As a Catholic College our mission is guiding students through the opportunities and challenges of contemporary culture with a spirit of discernment, engagement and care. Together we can make a difference.
Kind regards
Andrea O'Grady
Assistant Principal Identity and Outreach