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Faith, Mission and Learning

From the Director

“St Andrew’s College is a Catholic school that proposes Jesus Christ as the model for human life.” When discussing this with my class we considered how we are intentional in our Catholic faith life, how we are inclusive of all souls and how getting to personally know Jesus is our life’s goal. The start to 2021 has been full of energy and celebration; of welcome and reconnection.

I love the word “ethos” as it encapsulates so much about the human person living in community. When I was living in Ireland the then President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, was speaking to a group of leaders of Jesuit Ministries and schools. She said that “the ethos of a group, of a community, of a school, a workplace, a family, a team…ethos is the way that we treat each other when no one is looking.” Our ethos here at St Andrew’s is called to the head, heart and hands of Christ – becoming “women and men for others” as we “do more and go beyond.” We live it, feel it and trust that we are that caring person “whilst no one is looking” for those in our classes, houses and wonderful College community here at SAC.

Opening Year Mass

Friday 5 February saw our Opening Year Mass. It as different this year in that we were only permitted to have Senior Student leaders present, and the College community participating remotely with mass being streamed. Fr Flor led us and encouraged us to be tue to the calling that God has in each and everyone of us. Fr Flor’s Homily is included at the end of this article for us to consider God’s calling for each of us to flourish, as we are made in His image and likeness. In his College Principal’s address, Mr Kennaugh emphasised these same dimensions for us to seek the best that we are and to put our talents to service. College Captains Maiah Lazaro and Angelo Marasigan addressed the College imploring us to make 2021 our best year yet, to work hard for ourselves and others.

These three leaders spoke of the innate goodness of each and the importance that agency of self to be the difference that we want to see comes alive. I was struck and inspired that our Chaplain, Principal and College Captains having not seen nor heard what each was going to say all emphasised the head, heart and hands of ourselves being in tune to God’s desires and love for each of us – to strive to form ourselves and give our best effort to our learning, to each other and to the world.

Draft New Parramatta Diocese RE Curriculum

All students in Year 7-10 are engaged in Religious Education classes that are learning cycles (10-week units) developed from the Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta (CEDP) Draft New Curriculum for students in Catholic schools. This new curriculum emphasises connecting our students to the ever ancient, ever new faith in Jesus Christ as the model for human life.

Students in Year 11 – 12 all select Studies of Religion 1 or 2 Unit, or are engaged in the Draft New Curriculum learning cycles. Term 1 sees students involved in learning cycles as listed below:

Cohort	Draft New Curriculum
Yr 7 & 8 (Stage 4) Term 1	“Why is Belonging & Identity important?”
Yr 7 & 8 (Stage 4) Term 2	“What is Truth?”
Yr 7 & 8 (Stage 4) Term 3	“Is it right to fight for peace?”
Yr 7 & 8 (Stage 4) Term 4	“How do we make sense of our world?”
Yr 9 & 10 (Stage 5) Term 1	“Is the universal call to holiness realistic?”
Yr 9 & 10 (Stage 5) Term 2	“Why should I pray?”
Yr 9 Term 3	“If I believed that Jesus is the Son of God, what impact could that have on my life?”
Yr 10 Term 3	“What is the relationship between sexuality, love and human flourishing?”
Yr 9 & 10 (Stage 5) Term 4	“What Can We Learn from Indigenous Spirituality for Contemporary Life in Australia?”
Year 11 - Term 1	“Is it Possible to be a Person of Faith in Postmodern Culture?”
Year 12 – Term 1	“What is the relationship between Indigenous Spirituality, our Common Home and Human Dignity?”

We look forward to providing both samples of student learning and importantly their insights on using Inquiry-based learning in Religious Education alongside our vey experienced and highly-qualified RE team.

Year 7 RE – The Voices of our students

At the end of their first month, below are some considered insights from Year 7 students about regarding their learning about the faith life here at St Andrew’s College.

SAC is an intentional Catholic faith community…	Student	Learning Group
… because it contributes to the community by giving and donating to people in need like charities. SAC in other ways is a faith community because we have special liturgies and listen to the Gospel.	Sharon Harry	7C3
… because our SAC community teaches our religious beliefs and the ways of God. For example having Masses, having a whole subject on Religion and our school is even named after a Saint! We have donations, say the Angelus, and have a framework called SPIRE.	Sean Casulla	7B3
… because it is a school with a strong focus on faith and learning, united in spirit and beliefs. Every student and staff member applies faith into everything they do and because of that we are one.	Kathryn Baginski	7C3
… because of the SPIRE frameworks' inevitable capabilities of stretching the minds of children who attend the school and encouraging the spiritual righteousness of God.	Daniel Zhang	7B3
… because we understand the importance of diversity and different people. Events like unity day help us see that.	Micaela Sibucao	7G16
… because one of the key subjects is religion. It also celebrates things by going to Church or a liturgy. A good example of this is when we had Ash Wednesday we went to a liturgy and got Ashes on our foreheads. SAC is an excellent Catholic faith community.	Philip Park	7G5
… because the school is inclusive, diverse and values each student and teacher for their participation, task orientation and approach to teaching and learning.	Monica Luong	7B7
… because of the diversity of cultures, use of symbolism and that we learn about belonging and identity and the SPIRE framework which helps us reach our goals in life.	Aarshia Saheba	7F1
… being a place where it is inclusive to all different cultures and communities, bringing diversity and the SPIRE framework, leading an example to everyone, making sure that they belong and are resilient towards all hard situations.	Elianah San Pedro	7C1

Religious Education at SAC is…	Student	Learning Group
… 5 times better than primary. We have focused on religion in more inventive and hard-working ways than in Primary. We learn, we focus and we achieve a greater knowledge and understanding.	George Hatziandreou	7B3
… amazing because for one of our things to do was a checklist but we could do it in any order making it easier for the kids as they choose what they want to do in the group of objectives to do and achieve. Allowing the kid to choose what they want to do makes it easier as they would like what they are working on.	Aaron Gounder	7G5
… a very free and collaborative experience and encompasses an efficient learning method. We get to incorporate ourselves into our work making each activity as unique as we are. Because of this I thoroughly enjoy and look forward to each RE lesson.	Samantha Xavier	7C3
… *really good, we learn off of the SPIRE Framework* and it really *encourages us* as students as it is easy to follow. The stuff we do in class really helps us *develop* as people especially when using *SPIRE* to guide us.	Evie Brignell	7F1
… is one of my favourite subjects even though I am not familiar with much about the Catholic faith. It's all because of my teacher who makes it really fun and challenging.	Akshiya Vaikunthavel	7G5

The Ash Wednesday Liturgy was…	Student	Learning Group
… a lot different compared to other ones I’ve been to as the COVID pandemic has changed a lot. Although being short it provided a lot of time to reflect and truly ask for God's forgiveness and to also thank Him for the many blessings we have received.	Rhianna Bartlett	7G16

Sean Casulla - Year 7

Featured Work – Myron Nicolas (7C3) and Sharon Harry (7C3)

Students in Year 7 engaged with the SPIRE Framework and were set a variety of ways to present the understanding of their work. We would like to feature Sharon and Myron’s work here as infographics showing how Year 7 students and parents can further understand the SPIRE Framework. Well done to Myron and Sharon - thank you for sharing your great work.

Year 7 – Fishing Like St Andrew – At the Sea of Gallilee

Like all year 7 classes, Miss Mamuk’s 7RE4 class went fishing at "the Sea of Galilee". Each member of their group used the fishing rod provided to catch one fish in the sea. Once each member caught their fish, they gathered all their fish together and as a group created a Flipgrid video of how these qualities “caught” are seen within the St Andrews Community…just another way our inquiry learning is engaging our students in Religious Education classes at St Andrew’s!

As key leaders and animators of the Faith, Mission and Learning here at St Andrew’s College, we welcome correspondence from parents at anytime.

With Faith in Christ,

Mr Frank Clarke Ms Josilin Kalifa

Director – Faith, Mission & Learning Leader - Faith, Mission & Learning

fclarke@parra.catholic.edu.au jkalifa@parra.catholic.edu.au

Homily from Fr Flor – Opening Year Mass on 5 February 2021

Heb 13,1-8 Ps 26/27 Mt 25: 34-40

If education, formation, school is geared towards our growth as becoming the best we can be, then I would say, the best we can become is to be truthful of who we are, the truth that we have innate goodness, we are good persons. And that inner goodness within enables us to do acts of charity. Listening to the Gospel reading, the most rewarding, most appreciated were the people who do good to others, like feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming strangers, helping the sick and visiting those in prison, giving clothes to the poor. These are expressions of inner goodness with God’s grace.

If we honestly and deeply do some kind of self retrospection or examination we be aware of our desire and aim towards becoming compassionate, charitable people. So, while discovering and developing our potentialities and talents in different disciplines or subjects, we envision that by our studies we can be better persons in terms of our relationship with God, people and the world. In the same way, if we seek happiness and meaning in our school community, we know that this is to be realised by developing our potentialities, striving to do what is right and good and being in good terms with people in our school community. And within us what is more affirming, what makes us feel our worth as human person is when we are able to manifest our inner goodness by doing good to oneself and others. By experience we know our wrongdoings humiliate us and undermine our self esteem. But we feel confident, good and happy if we are able to express our goodness to others. That’s fun! And so what we hope for this year is for each one of us to learn and grow in all aspects of our personhood and we continue to take every opportunity to do acts of charity in our school community and at home.

To our student leaders, yours is an opportunity to do Christ-like service/ Christian service motivated by the example of Jesus Christ. It is a leadership not based on control and but by example of love and charitable acts. It is a leadership which helps to enhance and inspire students to be free and strive to do what is right and good, so to build a community of compassionate people.

And to all students, we envision and we hope a fruitful year of learning. We cooperate, we strive to do our best, we continue to develop our skills, talents and virtues, we take every opportunity to do good to others. It is “fun”, you be happy coming to school if you are always in good terms with fellow students, teachers and the school community. The letter to the Hebrews we heard reminds us of Jesus’ command of loving one another as basic in human relationship and passing on every good news by word and example by leaders. It also reminds us that Jesus is our model in our growth as human persons and as leaders. We are called to be like Christ, one who is compassionate ever ready to lend a hand to help. He is so compassionate and that made him popular. We are called to become like him.

Know that what we decide and do at present is a memory in our future. It is making memories of us. You can owe to yourself and God to have good memories in the future by striving to be good at present.

May the Holy Spirit inspire, enlighten and help us in our year of learning and in our growth as compassionate persons.

Fr Flor