Remembrance & Service
By Mr Stuart Ralph, Principal
Welcome to Week 4 of Term 4.
Vale Sister Margaret Chandler
Sister Margaret Chandler passed away peacefully on October 29th, and her funeral was held in Hobart on Wednesday 8 November. Sister Margaret was a much-loved Sister of St Joseph and was appointed Principal of Shaw College in 1976-1977. Sister Margaret Chandler has continued to remain connected to St Brendan-Shaw College for many years.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon her.
May Sister Margaret rest in peace. Amen.
Our College Values
I would like to thank all members of our community, parents, students and staff who have helped finalise our College Values. Our Values now underpin the Archbishop’s Charter for Catholic Schools and our Strategic priorities 2024-2028.
The Strategic Plan 2024-2028 is comprised of the following key priorities:
- Teaching and Learning
- Catholic Identity and Mission
- Student Wellbeing and Leadership
As a college community, our collective identity is shaped by our values. These six pillars guide our daily interactions and form our enduring legacy.
- Justice involves fostering sound discipline within each facet of our being, enabling us to live with others and extend the same regard to every individual.
- Hope is the virtue by which we desire and seek our ultimate good and happiness, which is eternal life in the kingdom of heaven.
- Truth emerges when the real relationship between the facts and their context becomes clear. This is why Scripture asserts that Jesus Christ is the Truth (John 14:6). ‘He is the Truth because all things ‘hold together’ in Him.’ (Colossians 1:17)
- Service is the concept of purposefully honouring others before yourself.
- Integrity centres around working towards team spirit, mutual loyalty, cooperativeness, shared responsibility and team resilience.
- Excellence allows us to strive for high standards. High standards encourage us to make improvements, solve problems and become better citizens in our community.
I would like to thank all members of our Community who have helped shape our College values, and our strategic priorities, two very important documents for the College. The strategic plan will be published as part of our annual report toward the end of the year.
Just Leadership Day
Vinnies, our St Vincent de Paul students, participated in the Just Leadership Day last Thursday, and St Brendan-Shaw College hosted students from St Patrick’s College Launceston, Marist Regional College and Star of the Sea Catholic College. The day provided an opportunity to explore Pope Francis' message on social justice, unpack what leadership is, while also providing students with the opportunity to share ideas and plan initiatives in their schools for 2024. The day was facilitated by Mrs Leanne Prichard from Catholic Education Tasmania.
Remembrance Day
On 11 November 1918, the guns of the Western Front fell silent after four years of continuous warfare. With their armies retreating and close to collapse, German leaders signed an Armistice, bringing to an end the First World War.
As a mark of respect to those who have died and suffered, Australians are encouraged to pause at 11:00am to observe one minute’s silence and remember those who died or suffered for Australia's cause in all wars and armed conflicts.
Red poppies are often worn on this day. The tradition has its origins in a poem written in 1915 by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a doctor in the Royal Canadian Medical Corps. Lieutenant Colonel McCrae noticed that, despite the devastation caused by the war to towns, farms and forests, thousands of small red poppies began growing everywhere in Spring. This inspired his poem, In Flanders Fields.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
The Ode, For the Fallen by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Youth Engagement in Education and Training
This week, all Year 10 students have completed Year 10 Pathway Planning surveys and will be issued with a Transition Statement at the completion of Year 10. This is a Government requirement to ensure all young people remain actively engaged in their education.
Reminder Notice of Withdrawal
A reminder that if you are looking to withdraw your child from the College, as per the enrolment agreement, written notice of at least 10 weeks (one term) is required. Where notice is not provided, full tuition fees may need to be paid.
