Newsletter Edition 17, November 8 2021
Principal's Message
Dear Emmanuel College Families,
Soup Kitchen
A staff development day led by Sister of Mercy, Sr. Liz Dowling last term, prompted a proposal by Emmanuel staff to develop and operate a soup kitchen at the College one night per week. The proposal has gained momentum since then and there is sufficient support from individuals willing to contribute time and expertise to establish the soup kitchen and commence operating in February 2021. The Emmanuel kitchen is modelled on the St. Joseph’s Parish (now Star of the Sea Parish – see below) soup kitchen which operates on Monday evenings. Ours will operate from our Café’ space which is currently being refurbished and will provide an ideal, secure location to run the venture. A soup kitchen operating at Emmanuel College one night per week during term time will increase the opportunities Emmanuel senior students have to engage in community service and experience the genuine need that exists within our community.
The Emmanuel College soup kitchen will be a practical manifestation of the Emmanuel College imperative to share Faith, Hope, and Love and, having become a Mercy Education school in 2021, is consistent with the Mercy Education values adopted by Emmanuel. The Mercy Education values of service, hospitality, respect, compassion, justice and courage, in the context of the soup kitchen, may have the following impacts:
- Service: Giving of ourself to benefit our community and the individual members of our community without expecting anything in return, while receiving in ways unexpected. The giving and receiving of mercy!
- Hospitality: Welcomes and shares with others, including the stranger, those things we have a capacity to share, and in doing so, conveys to the receiver a message that they matter.
- Respect: Is displayed through accepting the visitor as they are when they come to the table and in doing so, we also meet our neighbour.
- Compassion: Is demonstrated through developing an understanding another’s needs and responding to them, with a warm, healthy meal being one of the most basic of human needs.
- Justice: Is harnessing our capacity to share what we have with those who have less without judging their circumstances, and in the process, growing our understanding of the issues that cause injustice.
- Courage: Is required to stand in solidarity with those whom we serve and which, in turn, builds our understanding of the inequities that exist in our local community and Australian society at large.
The Emmanuel College soup kitchen will provide opportunities to visibly and tangibly demonstrate what it means to be a Catholic school community. When seeking to distinguish Emmanuel College from other schools we often refer to the values the College upholds. It’s possible, however, for all schools to identify and distinguish themselves on the basis of a set of values. Similarly, many schools place an emphasis on community service and recognise the good that comes from contributing to the community for both the individual and the community. Catholic schools promote values and community service, but define service in terms of gospel values. In Mathew’s Gospel 25: 31-46, Jesus outlines some of the ways in which we may serve:
- Feed the hungry
- Give drink to the thirsty
- Welcome the stranger
- Clothe the naked
- Take care of the sick
- Visit the imprisoned
In time these actions became known as the Corporal Works of Mercy. Having identified the same needs in her community, Catherine McAuley adopted the Corporal Works of Mercy and found practical ways to respond to the needs of her time, and today, the ministries of the Sisters of Mercy around the world continue to reflect the Corporal Works of Mercy. We also take from the gospels Jesus’ imperative for justice which is the foundation for all our communication and teaching about social justice. As a Catholic school we are called to action:
- to provide practical assistance now; “the poor need help today, not tomorrow” (Catherine McAuley)
- to educate each generation of students to understand the causes and the impact of social injustice, and
- to contribute, in whatever way we can, to creating justice within and through the systems and institutions that govern our society.
The Emmanuel soup kitchen project is a way of providing practical assistance in our local community and in doing so, educating ourselves and our students about social (in)justices. It is a way of putting Catholic Social Teaching, Gospel and Mercy values into action on a regular basis. It is also a tangible way to demonstrate how Emmanuel College is different to other schools, not in a competitive sense, but as a reflection of how we belong within our local community and a reflection of how we contribute to the growth of our community.
The Emmanuel College soup kitchen will commence in the week of 21 February, 2022. If you would like to support us to get the project under way, a donation to help fund the project would be most welcome. To make a donation, or if you would like more information, please email me: principal@emmanuel.vic.edu.au
Star of the Sea Parish
In recent weeks a number of local Catholic parishes have combined to form the Star of the Sea Parish. After consulting the priests and parishioners of the parishes involved, as well as the Council of Priests of the Diocese of Ballarat, Bishop Paul Bird dissolved the parishes of Port Fairy (est.1849), Warrnambool (est.1853), Koroit (est.1886), Dennington (est. 1965) and Warrnambool West (est. 1970) and formed Star of the Sea Parish, South West Coast. The newly established parish comprises the territory that previously belonged to the parishes of Dennington, Koroit, Port Fairy, Warrnambool and Warrnambool West. A number of parishes within the Ballarat Diocese have previously taken steps to form one large parish for a variety of reasons like diminishing numbers of clergy, declining rural populations and a fall in the numbers attending church services together with a drop off in the volunteers. The Star of the Sea Parish looks forward to an ongoing and fruitful collaboration among parishioners. When a number of parishes come together the pastoral care can be entrusted to several priests jointly, but with one of the priests undertaking the role of moderator. Fr. John Fitzgerald will be the moderator of the Star of the Sea Parish. Making the recent announcement, Fr, John prayed: “May the Holy Spirit continue to guide us and our parishioners & may Our Lady, Star of the Sea, watch over us always.”
Remembrance
November is the month of remembrance, a time to recall those who have died and seek to carry their memories into the future. The month begins with All Saints day on November 1 followed by All Souls day on November 2 and then Remembrance Day on November 11. On Thursday, classes will share in a short remembrance service during homeroom to remember those from our families and our communities who have died. Together we will pray:
Remember Lord, those who have died and have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, especially those for whom we pray. May these, and all who sleep in Christ, find in your presence light, happiness and peace.
St. Joseph: Pray for us. May the spirit of Catherine McAuley and Edmund Rice guide us in all that we do. Amen.
Kind regards,
Peter Morgan,
Principal
A Message from Mrs Claire Wrigley
Bus Travel
We remind parents and students that only students who are registered to travel on specific country buses can use this service; the service is not to be used for sports training/work/social purposes. Parent/Carers are to make their own arrangements in this regard. We appreciate your cooperation with this matter.
New P.E. Shorts
After consultation with students through our student voice committee we have a new addition to the range of shorts available for students to purchase. These shorts are designed with an insert of bike shorts underneath allowing for free movement whilst participating in sport. All students are expected to wear school logo shorts for PE and practical elective classes and those not wearing the correct shorts wil be required to purchase school shorts.
Claire Wrigley,
Assistant Principal - Students
Emmanuel Re-imagined
Senior School Structure
Much planning has been happening for the new senior school structure beginning in 2022. The new house vertical structure will see Year 10-12 students from the same house in mentor groups. Below you will find three documents that will help guide your understanding of the Senior School from 2022 onwards. The first document highlights some key terms that we are striving to achieve and the programs and tools that work to support them. The second is an infographic on the structure of the House mentor system. The third is a Frequently Asked Questions document that addresses many of the questions we have been asked about to date in regards to the Senior School. We hope these documents will assist in giving some further clarity around the Senior School structure and give all those in our school community an understanding of this new structure.
Library News
Sustainable School Shop
You can buy and sell second hand texts books, uniforms and calculators on the Sustainable School Shop web site. https://www.sustainableschoolshop.com.au/
To support you in purchasing books (and uniforms) second hand, the College has paid a subscription to the Sustainable School Shop. You can register and search for sale ads, you can contact the seller directly, buyers will contact you. Very shortly, the Emmanuel College booklists will be added to the Sustainable School Shop site so that you can be assured that you are buying and selling items that can be used at Emmanuel College.
In buying items for use at Emmanuel College, you might also like to contact students you know who are the year level above to see if they are selling their books/items. Some families also look on the local Warrnambool Buy Swap and Sell site or Gumtree. When purchasing items, you do need to make sure that they are the current edition (as listed on the Emmanuel booklist) as many books change to a newer edition.
If you need any further information about the Sustainable School Shop you can contact:
Telephone: 0438 743 444
8.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday
Margaret Sinnott,
Library Coordinator and Teacher Librarian
High Performance Program 2022
For those of you interesting in applying for the High Performance Training Program for 2022 please find all of the information you need below. The application form is below, it is due Friday the 19th of November. Please see this link to a PowerPoint presentation with information regarding the details of the program.
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1IpN_eU9U6Za72PhL0dO_55ehCFZ1qssMpWCZtgowcvs/edit?usp=sharing
If you are interested in applying please complete the link below which will take you to a google form. You must complete this google form by Friday the 19th of November.
https://forms.gle/VBmBDiQM24dLYd539
Watch this video to find out more or if you have any further questions please catch me in the yard or you can email me.
Michael Clements
Health, Physical Education and Sporting Academies Coordinator
All Souls Day
All Souls Day is a day set aside for us to commemorate those who have passed away. Whilst many cultures celebrate the celebration of those who have passed in different ways, here at Emmanuel we have a tradition of gathering in prayer at the Remembrance Garden, where current students and staff have taken the time to reflect on the lives of those from our own College community who have passed away and those we have not known. As we pray, we keep in our thoughts and prayers the following members of the Emmanuel Community.
- Sr Rose Glennen, first Emmanuel principal, 22 December 2020
- Sr Luke Kenna – Mercy Sister and past student
We take this opportunity to come together in prayer.
Merciful Father,
On All Souls Day, we are called to remember those who have died,
Particularly those who have died in the past year,
And pray for their joyful reunion with you, their loving creator.
As your son taught us to call the stranger
neighbour, our fallen are many—
For those within the Emmanuel Community,
Their family members and friends,
For those whose names we will never know,
Voices we have never heard,
In lands we may never visit,
Yet, we come together as one in prayer.
For victims of war, caught in the crossfires of
conflicts we could not quell,
for soldiers and civilians,
adults and children, we pray …
Grant eternal rest, O Lord.
For those migrants who have died seeking a
haven where they hoped to find safety
and opportunity for themselves and for their families, we pray …
Grant eternal rest, O Lord.
For those who have died due to poverty, we pray...
Grant eternal rest, O Lord.
For those who suffered from illnesses that had no cure, we pray …
Grant eternal rest, O Lord.
For victims of emergencies and calamities everywhere, we pray …
Grant eternal rest, O Lord.
Lord,
You raised your son from the dead
that all may share in his joyful resurrection.
We pray for all those who have died.
May they be rewarded with eternal life with you in heaven.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
May the spirit of Catherine McAuley and Edmund Rice guide us in all that we do.
Amen.
VCAL Writing
Attached are some pieces of writing form the Year 11 VCAL class of Mrs Jenny Konigson about an issue that is important to them. As part of assessment the students needed to write a piece for a specific audience. We hope you find their work interesting.
Recycling bread tags
What else can I recycle?
The Warrnambool City Council is committed to reaching zero waste to landfill by 2040 and fully supports the bread tag initiative. Council offers a drop off location, colour sorting and the delivery of the tags to Aussie Bread Tags. The tags are recycled in Robe, South Australia where funds are raised to purchase wheelchairs for disadvantaged people in South Africa.
https://ozbreadtagsforwheelchairs.org.au/
The Warrnambool City Council is still accepting batteries, mobile phones, oral care products (toothpaste, manual toothbrushes and dental floss containers) as well as writing instruments (pens, felt tip, highlighters, markers, correction fluid pots, correction tape and pencils).
Jacqui Floyd,
Environment and Sustainability Coordinator
The Bandari Project
Emmanuel College English Teacher Catherine Ryan invites you to find out more about her not for profit charity - The Bandari Project, currently running the Teacher 4 Teacher sponsorship program.
https://thebandariproject.com/teacher-4-teacher-sponsorship/
Catherine Ryan,
Teaching Staff
Upcoming Events
Monday November 8
Week B
VCAA Unit 3/4 exams continue
Wednesday November 10
Year 11 Exams commence
Thursday November 11
Rememberance Day
Monday November 15
Week A
VCAL Early start
Thursday November 18
Class of 2021 Graduation Ceremony 3pm