Berwick Campus – 15 November 2018

Uniform Shop Hours

The opening hours for the Uniform Shop over the summer school holidays can be found here.

Year 9 Examinations

Well wishes to all Year 9 students who are underwent examinations in English, Mathematics and Science last week. Each examination was undertaken on a separate day in the Hall between 9.30am –11.00am.

The swell of student numbers attending after school revision workshops in the weeks leading up to these assessments are an encouraging indication of both staff and student commitment to achieving academic success.

We wish all Year 9 students the very best as they prepare to go to Beaconsfield to undertake their commencement program. This program has been extended to three weeks in duration to not only help students acclimatise to their new surroundings but to also make a significant start to their Year 10 academic journey.

Positive Education Day

Last week all students at the Berwick Campus participated in Positive Education Day. The theme for the day was ‘Colour your threads’ where students were asked to wear a splash of color to their uniform for the day. Both awareness and funds were raised on the day to assist disadvantaged schools in setting up positive education programs in their own settings. St Francis Xavier College is lucky to have our own Deputy Principal – Wellbeing, Ms. Joanne Alford, who has guided the overall direction of student and staff wellbeing at the college to enhance student achievement.

HOL Pizza Night

It was a pleasure to see the Hands on Learning Program celebrate its achievements with both students and parents last week. Recently, students have been working hard on projects such as upgrading school garden beds, resurfacing the cricket pitch on the oval, paving around the HOL area and building a giant cubby house to be auctioned off for charity. Thanks to Allan Grigg and John Hoogerbrugge for the exemplary way they guide our students who participate in this program.

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day was acknowledged at the Berwick Campus last Friday morning with a respectful service where a lay wreath was laid at our special lone pine memorial site by our Campus Captains, Andjelina Gnjidic and Adam Marshall. In addition to this, a representative from each Care Group laid a special pine cone which bears the name of a fallen soldier.

Student News – Cheerleading

Congratulations to the Berwick Cheerleading team who entered the Uptopia – Cheerleading and Dance Competition, held at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre (MSAC) over the weekend. The team’s performance was fantastic and this was also realised by the judges who scored them as second place overall.

In fact, the team came so close to winning but fell just short by 0.3 of a point. This is an outstanding effort overall! Well done to Mr Jonathan Wadas for his coaching and Ms Kate Rolff for her assistance.

Religious Education News

Plenary 2020

We have begun the process of our Plenary sessions this week.

On Tuesday, our 2019 leaders from across the three campuses gathered to discuss aspects of school life. As well as the Plenary, students shared their understanding of our school motto I am the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Students found talking about the concept of the way a good starting point to unpack what the truth and the life looks like in our school community. The ideas of the students will be collated and presented to school leadership. Our students also prepared for the meeting with Bishop Patrick O’Regan, which is occurring on 22 November when College, Liturgy and Justice Captains will spend the day in dialogue with him.

Our leaders also had input into the school fund raising policy, brainstormed ideas to help boost our response to our main campaigns for Caritas, Trinity Families, Vinnies and the Ruben Centre. The student leaders will launch the new policy in 2019. Finally, students reflected on the role of the people after whom our Houses are named, how they inspire the students, how they are viewed in the day to day of House life. We will now begin a process of reflection about how to support the images and stories of the people whom our community has looked to for inspiration in our House system.

Signs of Christmas are now appearing in our community. As the Church year comes to a close with the Feast of Christ the King on Sunday 25 November, we look to our God with gratitude for the stories of God’s love that have unfolded this year. We have been blessed with students who have embraced the theme to Be the light of the World with enthusiasm and action. The 2019 leaders in their session this week have proposed the 2019 theme to our school leadership, so we look forward to exploring new ways to express and act in our faith community, beginning with Advent in the four weeks that lead to Christmas. The four candles of Advent lit in the four Sundays leading to Christmas – hope, peace, love and joy, are often overlooked by our wider society keen to focus just on 25 December. Advent begins our Church year in a way that prepares for Jesus’ presence today and in the future, and places life-giving actions on the agenda in the lead up to the Christmas season.

Plenary sessions will continue over the last weeks of the term. With Year 11 and 12 students, it will occur on Friday 16 November. For Berwick and Officer staff it will be on Thursday 22 November. For the Berwick and Officer Campus students it will be on 28 November, and for parents, you are invited to join us on Wednesday  5 December at 7.00pm. Please email kwoodhouse@sfx.vic.edu.au to register interest in this evening of dialogue.

Prayer for the Feast of Christ the King from the Brisbane diocese

Actions of the Kingdom inspired by Matthew 25:

I am hungry and you give me food

I am thirsty and you give me something to drink

I am a stranger and you welcome me

I am naked and you give me clothing

I am sick and you take care of me

I am in prison and you visit me

Lord Jesus Christ,

You are a King who cares deeply for his people.

May we search out those in need,

so that Love and Justice will reign

as the Kingdom of God is brought forth within us.

We ask our prayer in your name and in the power of the Holy Spirit,

Amen.