Catholic Life and Reflection
What Students are Learning About
Thank you to the Year 6 students who helped organise the fundraiser. They raised $360 for those less fortunate.
Year 6 have also been learning about why Jesus is portrayed most often as having blue eyes and blonde hair. To begin with they had 23 different paintings of Jesus that covered da Vinci to Salvador Dahli They were asked to write what they saw. From this they identified that there was very limited cultural diversity in these images and that it was most likely not accurate.
Finally, we looked at the following image that “forensic anthropologist Richard Neave created in 2001. It is a model of a Galilean man for a BBC documentary, Son of God, working on the basis of an actual skull found in the region. He did not claim it was Jesus's face. It was simply meant to prompt people to consider Jesus as being a man of his time and place, since we are never told he looked distinctive.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-35120965 You can read more about it here.
The Gallery of St John the Apostle
Mr Polkinghorne, our new groundskeeper, has made a beautiful hall table. Over the last few years I have asked Year 6 students to create their own image of St John for our art gallery. Now there is a bible and a challis on display that represent St John. In the future I will source a quill and possibly an eagle. The symbols of St John are on every school uniform. Maybe you could ask your child if they know what they mean!
As part of Mr Garton’s farewell the Year 6 students were asked to reflect on a word that represented him. Kindness, patience, love were all on the list. Then I showed the students how to find Catholic scripture about each of those attributes. Their choices showed a deep connection to their relationship with Matt and their understanding of scripture.
My favourite choice was
Matthew 11:28-30
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
28 “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
The comment from the student was “When I came to this school my burden was real heavy but Mr Garton changed that.”
I hope you find the people in your life that ease your burden.
God bless,
Stephanie Stewart
Religious Education Coordinator
St Vincent de Paul Christmas 2024
As always we are asked to donate non-perishable food items to our local chapter of St Vincent de Paul. Please send the items to your child's classroom. These donations have a signficant impact on those familes that struggle during this time of the year. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
Non-perishable food donation suggestions
- Jar of Jam/peanut butter/honey
- Jar of coffee/packet of teabags
- Large packet of chips
- Packet of shortbread biscuits
- Jar of pasta sauce or similar
- Packet of Pasta or Rice
- Packet of Savoury Biscuits
- Box of Christmas Bon Bons
- Packet of Lollies
- Cans of Spaghetti or baked beans
- Small Christmas pudding
- Carton of custard (long life)
- Nuts (jar or packet)
- Tin of Milo
- Bottle of Cordial or Fruit Juice
- Tomato or BBQ sauce
- Chocolates (bar, bag or jar)
- Can of Fruit
- Box of Breakfast Cereal
- Packet of sweet biscuits
God bless,
Stephanie Stewart
Notices from the Parish
2025 Sacramental Program Registration - Please note that registration closes on 13 December 2024.
Register your interest for your child/children for the 2025 Sacramental Program.
Use the QR Code below to register.
Registration Night details will be advised soon
For students in Year 3 for the Sacraments of Penance and Eucharist and Year 6 for the Sacrament of Confirmation at St John the Apostle Primary School.
