Faith Mission & Learning
From our Priest - Fr Kevin
Sixth Sunday of Easter
This weekend we celebrate the Sixth Sunday of Easter. Jesus makes an extraordinary promise to his disciples, that he will never abandon anyone who loves him because God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, will make a home with anyone who loves Jesus and keeps his word. There are several elements to this presence. Firstly, the Holy Spirit, who is LOVE will teach us everything and remind us of all that Jesus said. Secondly, we will receive the gift of peace, a peace the world cannot give and thirdly, our hearts will not be troubled or afraid. This reality had never occurred before and so Jesus tells the disciples before it happens, so that when it does, they will believe.
As the Easter season draws to a close, the gifts and the power of the Holy Spirit is increasingly explored. The Holy Spirit is described as the Advocate, a person who assisted in the Law Courts in the time of Jesus. The Advocate made the person’s argument and helped them ‘win’. In terms of Faith, the Holy Spirit helps each of us to understand everything, to remind us of all that Jesus said and to recognise the different aspects of the truth and how that truth applies to the different parts of our lives. We can understand this, because the Father spoke a Word and that Word became the Son. The Father and the Son loved one another and that love became the Holy Spirit. Love completes and ties together all we know and do.
Remarkably, as we are faithful to God’s Word, then LOVE assists us to keep that Word and to be his disciples and witnesses by all that we say and do. As we are undertaking this, because of God’s presence in our lives, we are gifted with a peace, a peace that the world cannot understand or give. This gift of peace is not something naive or simplistic but something much more real and grounded. We are not troubled or afraid because we know God’s love and power in our lives and have confidence that as God dwells with us here, into eternity we dwell in God.
This mystery unfolds as we keep Jesus’ word and we are invited to see how our relationship with God changes everything because we love and are transformed by God dwelling with us.
- Fr. Kevin Redmond SM
From Director of Faith, Mission & Learning
Our College has been a hive of activity this Term. From our Staff Silent Retreat to our Mother’s Day Mass and Breakfast, to our Year 10 Faith in Action we have had students and staff engaged as “contemplatives in action” seeking a “faith doing justice”. As men and women for others, our faith, our shared humanity calls us to be the head, heart and hands of Christ on Earth. How do we do that? In our everyday ways with our everyday gifts.
I want to thank all students and staff who have “done more and are going beyond” to make these community and formational experiences so meaningful for us all as we become the wonders of God’s creation, finding our purpose and celebrating together as a Eucharisic people.
- Frank Clarke
Student activities & reports
Mother’s Day Mass & Breakfast
St Andrew’s College hosted our first Mother’s Day Mass and Breakfast on Thursday 5 May, which saw over 100 in attendance. Celebrating our Mothers, grandmothers, aunties, carers and all matriarchs was a lovely thing to do. We look forward to making this a big celebration on the Thursday before Mother’s Day each year. Thanks to Fr Kevin Redmond SM for preparing such a beautiful Mass celebrating our mothers, and especially to Melissa Welch and Vicki Van Der Verwe for preparing the delicious breakfast for us all to share.
Vinnies Van
On Monday the 16th May, students of year 12 Wasim, Joanna, Angela, Aditi and Jayden joined teachers Andrew Hoare, Gino Ison and Grace Flaihan as we went out to serve those less fortunate in the community by volunteering on the Vinnies Van. It was an extremely rewarding evening as we provided sandwiches, snack packs, blankets and clothing to members of the community in Mount Druitt and Parramatta. It was great to meet and engage with the people we met on the run and we had some wonderful conversations. St Andrew’s College teachers and yr 12 students will continue their efforts to volunteer for Vinnies Van, which will be running on the third Monday of each month.
Andrew Hoare
Leader of Faith, Mision & Learning
SAC YCS Update
YCS this term has been focusing on the social issue of Consent. The group has grown tremendously since its start last year in term 4. As a result, they have split into 3 groups focusing on different ways to raise awareness. We have groups doing posters, a live performance and TikToks.
YCS understands the sensitivity involved in the topic of consent. They have provided the group with resources and terminology to use in order to respect the sensitivity of the topic. Consent is a sensitive topic that has been viewed as taboo. However, YCS believes that awareness is fairness, and that every student deserves the right to understand how to give consent and accept consent. They have focused their action around consent education in friendships and relationships.
These actions will be presented to the school at the next senior assembly on the 27th of May.
Giancarlo Ison
Leader of Faith, Mission & Action
Our First Term in Year 2022
Students in Year 7.7 RE had a great first term at St Andrew’s College. Our Unit this term focused upon our “Identity and Belonging” at St Andrews - “This is my school!” Below are some features of their learning as they settled into SAC this term.
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Arriving at Secondary School |
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Arriving at secondary school has been a somewhat bumpy ride. As Year 7’s we have persevered through a number of challenges and are now nearing the end of our first term with smiles. We have given our very best, facing obstacles with our heads held high. We have grasped the enlightening opportunities to highlight our individual talents that are harmonious in bringing our faith community as one. Turning the page and initiating another chapter of our lives is a staggering leap from primary. Nonetheless, as responsible and maturing students, we have adjusted to the new environment at a quick pace. As the year moves along, we will continue to look ahead with excitement, for what our future holds. As we walk along the stepping stones of success, we will follow St Andrew - being the Holy Children of God - by doing more and going beyond. |
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Hazel (7F6), Aishriya (7c7), Nina (7F4) & Teghbir (7c7) |
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“So Many things to do” |
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Here at St Andrews College, we all feel welcome and cared for when we do extracurricular activities, go to out of school events and celebrate our faith at assemblies and Mass. The extracurricular activities show others our identity and who we are. The activities help us feel belonging at St. Andrews. This year, so far, we as a school community have joined many sport related/ extracurricular activities like volleyball, basketball and cross country. As a community we have also been doing other activities related to faith and religion like Liturgies, Fundraisers, Prayers and Masses. As our Catholic identity is a big part of our identity, we celebrate the Good News as a College community. At St Andrews, we value the great education and will strive for everyone to foster an education in wellbeing, intellectual knowledge and religious values/traditions. Other than the religious and sporting events, at St Andrews we also do fundraisers, mufti days and raffles. One mufti day was held to support people who were affected by the floods. |
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Shaun.R.C (7G4), Julienne (7G4), Meghan (7G4) |
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Peer Support |
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Peer Support is one of the many ways that St Andrews College helps its new students adjust to the school and build relationships with their peers. Peer Support takes place from Orientation Day of the Year 7’s to the end of Term 1. Once a week, in Peer Support, the Year 7’s work with the Year 10’s who assist them in coping with the change associated with moving to high school. During Peer Support, students engage in fun activities and work with other groups. The vast majority of the grade enjoys this period, as it is a safe and relaxing time for all students. Peer Support is a part of the school's Catholic mission to be an inclusive school community. Richard says “Peer Support is a great way to get involved in the school community whilst having fun.” Shaun says “ Peer support was great as it helped me endure the first term of high school.” Ysabella says “The year 10’s helped me a lot learning the ropes around St Andrews College.” |
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Richard 7C7, Angela G15, Bhavrit G15, Thomson 7G4, Olivia 7F4 |
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Different Ways of Learning |
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Over this unit, the St Andrew’s College community has been crucially influenced by the variety of styles in teaching. This has benefited through the community’s approach to learning in a positive way. The College teachers used many distinct ways to engage and teach students. Some examples include: - Making work entertaining by allowing students to use their interactive screens. - Creating a positive environment or atmosphere for the students to thrive in. - And, giving students opportunities which will increase their self confidence and allow them to easily flourish at the college. We are very grateful for the learning that we have enjoyed. |
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Banee 7B2, Lucas 7C7 |
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Year 7 Camp |
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We all know that camp is a really enjoyable event, our school St Andrews College strived to make a camp experience happen for the new found Year 7s and it was awesome. Everyone got to do a ton of fun activities such as kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, using a giant flying fox with our peers. While doing these activities, everyone got to bond with each other and people they didn’t know. Even though it wasn’t an overnight experience, we came and went back over a 2-day time period. At the camp, we had opportunities to be independent leading us into our future. This relates to God as he always wants us to succeed and take the best path in life. |
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Lucas 7B2, Alyssa 7C7, Udhay 7F6, Tapan 7C7 |
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An Intentional Faith Community |
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At St. Andrews College we care a lot about keeping and maintaining a relationship with God. We use the SPIRE framework as a guide of how we should live our everyday lives. SPIRE stands for Spiritual, Physical, Intellectual, Relational and Emotional. St Andrews College is an intentional faith community because it strives to help all students and teachers develop a relationship with God. In classes such as RE the teachers teach the students how to be good Christian people. Some examples of being an intentional faith community are the liturgies that St Andrews College participates in. We celebrate together as a College community, for example our Ash Wednesday Liturgy, Shrove Tuesday, and we will have many more during the year, such as Stations of the Cross today.  |
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Ysabella 7C7, John-Paul 7G4, Elijah 7B6, Mary 7F6 |
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Religious Education Unit |
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At St Andrews, for our Religious Education unit, we have been learning about our Identity & Belonging the teachings of Jesus and how to be like him. This includes learning about Lent and Easter and how it is important in the Christian community. The things that we have been taught can be applied to our life by helping others in our community, which is part of Lent where we pray, fast and we give to others who need things more than us. We have taken what we have learned and transferred it into our faith life and our life to help the poor and needy. Another thing we have learned about is how to tell the difference between a flourishing learner and a non-flourishing learner and how we can be flourishing learners. |
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Krish, 7G4, Aaron, 7C5, Shaun, 7C5 |