Catholic Life and Reflection
Catholic Life and Reflection
What Students are Learning About
As the school year begins, we reflect on our rules, routines and expectations. One of those is how to pray. We model to all students every morning how to make the sign of the cross. This is an important part of praying as a community. It is a signal to others and ourselves that we need to focus on the words we are saying and that, for a brief moment, our thoughts are only for God.
Each class teacher spends time setting the prayer expectations in their own classrooms too. This year all staff have been provided with some new items for their prayer tables. The plushie Jesus for K-2 has been a big hit! A huge thank you to Mr Garton who washes and irons a set of cloths for each class.
What Staff are Learning About
On Monday all inclusion, office, and teaching staff gathered to reflect on our 2024 theme.
“Filled with the Spirit.” Acts 2:1-4
We spent time learning about what people need in their lives and used Maslow’s research as a way of talking about belonging. What does it mean to belong? How people's experiences of belonging differ? What is the difference between belonging and fitting in?
Belonging is action. We can’t belong in a passive way. To belong to a community, such as St John the Apostle, means we have to use our gifts to serve others. Therefore, our scripture focus this year is the Pentecost story. The Holy Spirit gifted the apostles and they didn’t stay in the room! They went out, shared the love of Jesus and built a community.
We are called to serve others using the gifts we have received from the Holy Spirit.
Catholic Life and Reflection
Oh how I loved the holidays! We spent a few weeks at Tuross with my sister and brother in law. Amazing how quickly you get into a routine of not doing very much, lurching from one fabulous meal to the next! We played board games, walked the dogs, went to the beach and pottered around.
Suddenly, we are back at school and Week One is done! What a joy it always is to see students after the summer break. They are full of stories and always so happy to see you! What a joy to see so many new Kindergarten students as well. In their uniforms that always seem so big and bags that make them look like little turtles! It has been glorious to return to this community again.
I hope you had the chance to spend some time with your children over the summer and to rest. I look forward to catching up with you or meeting you if we have not yet had the chance. As the year speeds up remember that even Jesus took some time to rest when he needed it.
Mark 6:31
31 He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
God bless and go gently.
Stephanie Stewart
Religious Education Coordinator
