Parents are Angels

I am confident that the title of my article will evoke a range of emotions for you as individuals regardless of your age, gender, or life experiences. Luther is credited with stating, “When God wants to speak with us, he does not avail himself of an angel but of parents.” pbs.org. Luther’s parents had great hopes for his future as a lawyer and were not particularly thrilled that he had turned his back on this line of work, and as the saying goes, ‘the rest is history.’ We know little about Margarette, Luther’s mother, however what we do know is she was strict. Closer to home we celebrate our mothers and mother figures in our lives this Sunday. It is an opportunity to consider their place in our lives and recall the memories that make up the tapestry of our relationship with them. I wish all mothers a wonderful day and encourage all of our young people to think creatively of how they might celebrate this day.

Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal

I thank Mrs Karen Clark for attending our College assembly this week to speak on behalf of the Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal. Mrs Clark gave a clear message to all present, that we each have an important role to play in supporting those less fortunate in our community. Traditionally we have taken part in the Door Knock Appeal, however, specifically this year and for the month of May we will be supporting the Salvation Army by requesting families kindly donate non-perishable food, household and personal items as well as offering families the opportunity to donate financially.

Year 6 Reading Groups

 I was delighted to be able to witness the students in small groups read and analyse various stories last Friday afternoon. Based on the genre of suspense, a variety of stories dealt with this theme in a slightly different way. What really caught my attention was the capacity of the students to articulate what they were thinking about as they began reading. Utilising the thinking routine, Claim, Support, Question, students were challenged to propose what the story might be about. It struck me just how powerful words can be when crafted into a piece of creative writing. Moreover, the small size of each group led by a member of staff, allowed for a great deal of inquiry and learning to take place. I thank the many staff who were involved in this valuable learning experience.

Open Day

The College Open Day falls on Sunday 16th May and I encourage all Middle and Senior College students to volunteer their services. This may be as a tour guide, a faculty helper, or both. The day will commence at 12.30pm and conclude at 3.30pm. The following link will allow students to register as volunteer tour guides. I thank in advance all students who might be able to assist on the day to showcase the amazing school they help to create.

Mr Ben Ryan, Director of Students