Officer Campus – 18 October 2018

Once again the start of the term has seen our students engaged in a range of opportunities that extend their learning, showcase their talents, and enable our students to thrive.  Below is a snippet of Officer happenings and achievements over the last couple of weeks. 

Cabaret Night  

On Tuesday students from across all year levels at the College showcased their music, drama and dance skills.  Students from the Officer campus are to be congratulated on their polished performances that showed great talent, commitment and rehearsal.  Well done to all. 

Hero HQ Restart a Heart Session

On 16 October Restart a Heart day was promoted across the state.  Hero HQ who provide first aid training for our staff each year, ran a session with one hundred Year 8 students.  Students were taught the basics of CPR.  As a college we value the opportunity to educate our young people in basic first aid skills.  Learning basic first aid, including CPR, increases the confidence to care.    

LRC speaker  

On Monday Officer was fortunate enough to have acclaimed artist and illustrator Michael Camilleri visit our college and run Tonal Drawing workshops with 60 Year 8 and 9 students.

Michael brought with him an infectious energy in his approach to looking at light and the way tone is used in drawing to create depth and form.

Students began the workshop by drawing classic forms such as spheres and cylinders and then developed these forms into portraits.

Australians at War excursion 

On 11 October three classes form Officer Campus studying Australians at War visited the Shrine of Remembrance. They had the opportunity to gain a better understanding of what war would be like by dressing up in the uniform soldiers and nurses would have worn, passing around replica artifacts and having the opportunity to reflect on the sacrifice made by placing a poppy on the wall of the forecourt.

Lorinda Mutsaers 

Lorinda Mutsaers, Year 9 Learning Culture Leader and Learning Resource Leader, was selected to present at the Criterion Connecting Innovative School Learning Spaces & Pedagogy conference. Lorinda’s presentation titled Involving staff in the journey: How to ensure all teachers are able to make the transition focused on sharing her work and learnings around: 

• Taking all staff on the journey to adapt to new teaching methods and spaces
• Encouraging staff collaboration and teamwork
• Developing a plan and shared goals

Lorinda is to be congratulated on her work and leadership in this area.  

Strengths Challenge

Staff are currently engaging in a strengths challenge at St Francis Xavier College. Taking a strengths lens to how we interact with our students has been at the core of how we interact with our students over recent years.  It supports the aim of positive learning partnerships.  This article focuses on How to be a strengths based parent.

Religious Education Department

Plenary 2020: Our College will be taking part in the Plenary 2020 process is explained in the following article form from the Catholic Weekly, published on the Plenary Council website. http://plenarycouncil.catholic.org.au/

“Catholics might have heard about an event happening in two years’ time in the Catholic Church in Australia called the Plenary Council 2020. They might be under the impression it’s just another meeting of bishops to discuss various matters—something that will not greatly affect them or other ordinary Catholics.

Well, it’s not. It’s actually a meeting of the entire Church in Australia, meaning everyone—bishops, clergy, religious and lay faithful—with the intention of shaping the future course of the Catholic Church in this country. And while if won’t affect matters of doctrine, it will have legislative power to mould practices within the Australian Catholic Church. So, as a Catholic, the outcome of the meeting will most definitely affect you.

In theory, everyone will be allowed a voice. The word “Plenary” simply mans “entire” or “open”.

Through Plenary 2020, the Catholic Church in Australia will determine its structures and strategies for the future. And this of course will affect its mission of evangelisation—how it will spread the Good News of Jesus Christ in a culture increasingly adverse to Christian values.”

Between now and the end of the year, staff, students and parents will be invited to take part in Plenary sessions at the school. For staff and students this will occur through classes and meeting times. For parents, you are invited to register your interest in being part of the discussions, which are summarised and forwarded to the Plenary website. Please email Kevin Woodhouse (kwoodhouse@sfx.vic.edu.au) or Deacon Graeme Pender (gpender@sfx.vic.edu.au).

Prayer for our Year 12 students: Tomorrow night we celebrate the Graduation Mass at Marvel Stadium. Here is the blessing that Fr Jeff Kleynjans will pray for our Year 12’s.

Lord, may God grant you all the insight to see realistically what is; but make you dreamers and give you vision of all the possibilities for what can be. May He guide you as you start the next journey of your lives. May God give you strength and courage when making decisions about university, work and relationships. May He give you the faith that if you use your gifts for good, and help others along the way, and follow in the footsteps of Jesus, you will be able to achieve your goals and dreams. May God grant you all a clear mind and confidence in your abilities, so that you may perform the best that you can, now and in the future. Amen.

Kevin Woodhouse