Harmony Week 2024

Next week the College will be observing Harmony Week. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to showcase pride in their various cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Intercultural understanding is a key capability in NSW syllabuses learning across the curriculum content. It encourages a pluralist, just and inclusive society. Teachers of the College understand the complexities of culture, and its relationship with individual identities, views and perspectives. 

The College aims to help students critically engage in intercultural understanding so as to continue the growing bonds of friendship at the College. The theme for this year’s Harmony Week is “Everyone belongs at the table”, which has been taken from the global theme of 2024, but has a slight twist in that it embraces our unique Marist spirituality as we consider the role of Marcellin in ensuring that his brothers had a place to commune together by building them a table. 

There will be a slight change to Friday, March 22 ensuring that students will have access to a student concert and a picnic with activities that students can choose to participate in. Additionally, there will be other small ways to commemorate the week through donating to Project Compassion and participating in Pastoral Lessons that foster safety and understanding. Students are invited to bring a shirt or an outfit that represents their ethnic heritage to wear during the picnic but are required to return to full school uniform to depart from the College. The College would appreciate the support of parents and families by speaking with their children at home about the importance of respect for all the people in our community.

Year 8 Elevate Education Study Skills

Year 8 engaged with Elevate Education during their Pastoral lesson this morning. These presentations were conducted in Pastoral Classes by Elevate Education presenters and covered topics such as: 

• Dynamic Reading

• Formatting your notes, and 

• Mind Mapping

Thanks to Ms Armour and the Year 8 pastoral team for organising and supervising these presentations.

Healthy Eating and Good Sleep

The SEEEDSS program provides students with a checklist for maintaining a balanced approach to wellbeing and learning. Two key points that can be addressed almost immediately is that of ensuring that students are eating a healthy, balanced diet and getting adequate rest.

A range of various health agencies and specialist organisations such as raisingchildren.net.au recommend 8 - 10 hours of sleep per night for people aged between 12 and 18.  The Australian Healthy Eating Guidelines Summary is one resource that outlines recommended dietary patterns for all ages. Please contact your son or daughter’s Year Coordinator or Pastoral Advisor if you have any questions or concerns regarding these particular issues, or any others relating to their learning or wellbeing.

Thanks for your ongoing support.

Mrs Theresa Moore Miss Rebecca Toogood

Acting Pastoral Care & Wellbeing Coordinator