Principal's Report
Our Prayers
We pray for all those impacted by the act of terror, which took the lives of 50 followers of the Muslim Faith in Christchurch New Zealand last Friday. We pray for the victims and their families and friends. We reject in the strongest terms the false thinking and beliefs about racism and violence that led to the taking of these innocent lives. This week we celebrate Harmony Day which brings into stark contrast our own our core belief that all are made in the image of God and therefore entitled to be treated with dignity and respect. The theme of Harmony Day is that “Everyone belongs” this is the foundation of our community. On Harmony Day this year we will pray for peace in the hearts of all men and women around the world , we will pray for peace in our community and for peace and healing in the community of Christchurch.
Let us remember that we live in the Holy presence of God.
We pray for all of those effected by the events in New Zealand last Friday.
For those who have lost life and those working to save life
For those who are worried for people they love
For those who will see their loved ones no longer
God of compassion, hear our prayer.
For those in need of the peace that passes all understanding
For all who turn to you in the midst of turmoil
For those who cry out to you in fear and in love
God of peace, hear our prayer.
For those in confusion and those in despair
For those whose tears are yet to dry
For those in need of your unending love
God of mercy, hear our prayer.
For community leaders and faith leaders as they work to heal broken communities.
Soften the hearts of those who are motivated by hate and bring peace to your people.
God of all, hear our prayer.
St John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us.
Venerable Nano Nagle, pray for us.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.
The Lasallian Mission in Papua New Guinea
Following on from my visit to Lasallian Schools in Port Moresby a week ago, Mr Merv McCormak the Executive Director of the Lasallian Mission Council, has requested assistance from any members of our community who may work in the International Transport Industry in regard to the storage and transport of goods to schools in PNG. I have included Mr McCormack request and encourage any member of our community who can assist to contact Ms Joanne Nehme as per the details below.
To Members of the Lasallian Family,
Calling for your assistance, please! Did you know that some Australian Lasallian schools (and some, non- Lasallian schools, too), generously donate to our PNG Containers’ Project? We have been sending used tables, chairs, desks, filing cabinets, computers, sports gear and clothing, stationery, text books, and so on, all of which are superfluous to Australian schools’ requirements, to support Lasallian staff and students in our needy schools in PNG. The Project has made a wonderful contribution to the range of goods available for our PNG cousins, and when the containers are emptied, we convert them into teacher housing in Port Moresby. (Yes, housing in Port Moresby is crazily expensive).
All good so far, sounds great, but purchasing a 40‘ container, paying for storage of donated goods awaiting shipping to PNG, plus the associated freight forwarding and Customs’ charges, is an expensive exercise. Maybe you are in the shipping, trucking or customs’ agency businesses yourself, or you have contacts who are? Maybe you have spare space in a factory or a warehouse, which we might be able to use occasionally. Maybe you have goods like the ones described above which are no longer needed?
If the answer is ‘yes’ to any of these questions, I invite you to contact Joanne Nehme, the Lasallian Volunteers’ Coordinator for Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea, at joannenehme@delasalle.org.au or on 02- 9795 6400. Jo will be very happy to discuss these matters with you.
Kind Regards,
Merv McCormack
CEO Lasallian Mission Council
Staffing
Farewell Ms Shelia Mallia
Much loved staff member Ms Shelia Mallia has chosen to retire from St John’s Regional College after over 20 years of wonderful service to this community. Ms Mallia has taught English and Religious Education to all year levels and in 2018 was awarded the inaugural Sr Margaret Bellesini Staff Award in recognition of Ms Mallia’s witness to the Core Values of the De La Salle Brothers and Presentation Sisters. In addition, she held a number of Positons of Leadership including Assistant Head of English, Middle Years Curriculum Co-ordinator and Head of English and was a professional colleague and generous friend to many staff over her time at St John’s. Ms Mallia is currently on long service leave and will return later in the year to farewell staff. We wish her well in her retirement.
Marketing & Communications Officer
Ms Katrina Blick has resigned from the College after 4 years’ service as our Marketing Officer and I thank her for her work at St Johns and wish her well in her new role in Marketing at a music kindergarten. Ms Sarah Ramantanis has been appointed to the position of Marketing and Communications Officer at St John’s and joins us after graduating from La Trobe University.
Masterplan Stage 1B – Sports Precinct Redevelopment
During the past week, the Planning, Building and Finance Committee of the Archdiocese of Melbourne approved a loan of $3.3m to develop a new Sporting Precinct at St Johns Regional College. The tender process will begin shortly with construction anticipated to commence in early term 2 and will be completed by the end of 2019. This will see three new multi-use basketball/netball courts with all-weather roofing, an athletics track, softball pitch, cricket pitch and new drainage to the football oval adding first class sporting facilities for the use of our students and staff.
Arts Week
The celebration of the Arts at St Johns will take place this week through a variety of activities including art workshops, origami and drawing competitions, dance and music performances from our VET students, art murals and a movie night on Friday. I thank Arts and Engagement leader Ms Tania Robinson, our Creativity Captains Neve Biggin and Ace Mehegan and all the staff who have lead activities in the visual or performing arts throughout the week.
2019/2020/2021 Enrolments:
Open Morning - Thursday March 21
Our second open morning of the term will take place on Thursday 21st of March. Parents will have the opportunity to hear from senior staff and take a tour of the student facilities with our middle school leaders. Each term we will conduct 2 open mornings with a focus on 2020 & 2021 enrolment information and parents can book a place by contacting our College reception on 9791 3366 or via the try bookings link on our school website. All enquiries are to be directed to our school Registrar Ms Symone Goodwin.
Mushroom Records Recording Stars
Last year over 20 students from St John’s participated in the Mushroom Records Holiday program facilitated by the Department of Education. Five of our students, Eric Babiak, Lennon Hughes, Dilania Benevides, Shanaya Pacheo and Samantha Mallari who formed the group Waves were also asked to record the song they wrote “ Be Mad “ in the Mushroom Records recording studio in December of last year. Our fabulous five also performed their song at the Grounded Festival in Dandenong alongside Hip/Hop star Krown who mentored our students in the holiday program. The final recorded track and video can be viewed through the link below and on our Facebook page.
Bunyip State Forest Bush fires
In the recent State Forest Bushfires, an enormous number of volunteers worked together to keep safe our local communities. Our own VET Hospitality trainer and chef Ms Kala Thomas estimated that over of 600-1200 firefighters, police and emergency service volunteers required meals at the Nar Nar Goon recreation reserve during her two days of volunteer work. It is a pleasing and admirable aspect of our society that whenever hardship or tragedy strikes there will always be a hand outstretched ready to help those that need it.