Welcome to Term 4

As we start the final term of the school year, it is worth taking time to reflect on what is at the core of our Pastoral Care program. That is, the loving presence of God. Getting in touch with something bigger than ourselves is critical to deal with personal fears and emotions. A useful metaphor is to think of our anxieties and emotions as a drop of ink. If we put the ink in a shot glass of water, it will completely colour the contents. However, if we put the ink in a lake or an ocean, it will be a very different experience. God creates this space, which can hold any experience without being changed by it. When we start to hold vulnerable parts of ourselves in God’s space, we discover a loving presence and peace.

At the end of last term, with the concept of God as a loving presence in mind, Pastor Tim and I worked on linking the chapel / devotional threads with PERMA and the VIA Character Strengths for next year. For example:

Thread – Personal Power

• Devotion – Philippians 4:12-13 I can do all through Him who strengthens me.
• PERMA / Character Strengths – Wisdom, perspective and self-regulation.

These links will be used for reflection and discussion all year and will appear in the 2018 College Calendar and Student Handbooks.

Finally, best wishes to our Year 6 students and staff who depart for Canberra this weekend. We hope they enjoy a wonderful educational experience in our nation’s capital.

Mr Brendan Delaney, Director of Students