Term 3 Week 6 College Newsletter
Acknowledgement of Country
From the Principal
Dear Parents/Caregivers,
Rite of Passage
Prior to the commencement of the Industrial Revolution, 300 years ago, all cultures offered some form of a carefully managed rite of passage, where children were actively and intentionally guided through their transition from childhood to adulthood. This occurred in many cultures such as the Australian Aboriginal tribes, South Pacific Islander and African tribes, the Ancient Greeks and the Jewish people etc. who have incorporated some form or rite of passage within their cultures, societies, and religions.
Unfortunately, today there are very few people groups anywhere in the world that still practice such rite of passage experiences, and families, and our societies, are suffering because of it. For many tribal cultures, the rite of passage for boys was part of their initiation into manhood. In our society today rites of passage for boys are at 16, being able to get their driver’s license and 18 when they can vote and drink alcohol. However, any rite of passage should be ceremony that acknowledges, supports and celebrate young people becoming adults. These ritual events should be designed to help young people transition in a healthy way into the world of adults.
As a College, we understand that for boys, rites of passage are important to guide them on their journey to adulthood and with each ritual comes a greater responsibility and commitment to fully growing as a human being. Within Iggy Park we provide various ritual experiences for our students from Year 7 to Year 12 to assist our students to mature and grow as they transit from child to adult in a safe and healthy way, while maintaining strong family relationships and passing on critical wisdom and knowledge. We believe our Rite of Passage program sets them up for genuine long-term success and healthy relationships and addresses some of the major issues we are seeing today including the crisis of toxic masculinity, the need for gender equity and female empowerment.
This week all our Year 12 students participated in their House Camps. This was the first part of their final Rite of Passage as they prepare for completing their schooling in the next three months. The camps provided an opportunity for students to engage in various activities within their house that included hiking, fishing and camping. The camp provided them the opportunity not only to bond as a cohort, who have spent six years together, but to share their memories and their vision for the future and how they will continue to support each other.
Likewise, this Friday our Year 7’s will have a father (significant person) and son camp at Camp Gedling. We have over 88 students attending and will be an important rite of passage for our new students. The camp provides an opportunity for fathers (significant person) and sons to be together, side-by-side, and share stories and expectations of being a young man. The program is hoped to prepare and equip both father and son (significant person) for what it means to be a young person entering manhood today. It is a wonderful opportunity for a father (significant person) to have quality time together to talk about being a teenager. Thank you to all fathers (significant persons) who are attending tomorrow night.
Steve Biddulph is one of the world’s best-known parenting educators and psychologists, on rites of passage for boy’s stated:
“Traditionally, 2 things were done to help young men into adulthood.
First, they were ‘taken on’ and mentored into adulthood by one or more men who cared about them and taught them important skills for living.
And second, at certain stages of this mentoring process, the young men were taken away by the community of older men and “initiated”.
This meant being put through some serious growing up processes, including testing, sacred teaching, & new responsibilities.”.
Book Week
Next week is National Book Week. The theme for 2022 is “Dreaming with eyes open” and celebrates our ability to dream and imagine when we read literature. The College will be engaging in a few activities next week that include our senior students reading books at Holy Spirit Catholic School and student’s dressing up in costume next Wednesday as a character from a book. We ask all students to get into the spirit of book week next Wednesday and dress up!
Living our Touchstones
Our Touchstone “Justice and Solidarity” calls us to build a world that is committed to justice and peace and a spirituality of action that calls us to reach out to others in need and build a better world. Over the past week I have been proud of the way many of our students have participated in activities that have raised money for various charitable groups. Their action to not only raise money but to also raise awareness of the plight of others in the world. This has included the Townsville to Cairns Bike Run that raised over $330,000 for childhood cancer and the Relay for Life, raising funds for cancer research. Recently, we received the following email from the Chairperson of the Townsville Relay for Life Committee for 2022.
“I wanted to pass on my congratulations to your school for the manner in which your students participated in the event over the weekend. I received glowing feedback from numerous participants and witnessed many moments which would make your college proud. These included active participation in activities, encouragement to other relay participants and a huddle at the end of the candlelight ceremony. The future is bright with the values you are instilling in your students!”
This Friday the College has two important events. Our senior rugby league players will be competing in the Aaron Payne Cup Grand Final as a curtain raiser to the Cowboys v’s Warriors game at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium. The game commences at 3.40pm. We wish the players all the best in this final. Also, on Friday evening is “Iggy under the Stars”. The evening will provide an opportunity for our students to share their creative talents in the area of music, visual art, drama and film and television. Tickets are available here and the evening commences at 6.00pm in the hall.
This Sunday is the Head of the River regatta at the Riverway Rowing Club. This is the final regatta for the rowers before the state titles in September. It would be wonderful if our College community could support our rowers, who have put countless hours into training on the water both before and after school. Thank you to the Friends of Rowing committee for their tireless effort in supporting the rowers throughout the season.
Feast of the Assumption
Last Monday was the Feast of the Assumption. This is an important day for the Christian Brothers. Blessed Edmund Rice devoted his prayers towards Mary and prayed before a picture of the Assumption. The congregation was proclaimed on this feast day and Br Ambrose Treacy and three other brothers left Ireland for Australia on this day. While the when and the how of Mary’s assumption is utterly a mystery, there is no doubt that the reason for her assumption is ultimately a matter of love, God’s gracious love in response to Mary’s faithfulness. In Mary we see an ordinary woman who becomes extraordinary by virtue of her faith in what God makes possible in her life.
Father in heaven,
all creation rightly gives you praise,
for all life and all holiness come from you.
In the plan of your wisdom
she who bore the Christ in her womb
was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven.
May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness
and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Live Jesus in our Hearts Forever.
Shaun Clarke | College Principal
Identity and Mission
This week saw the Feast of the Assumption. This is an important day for the Christian Brothers. Blessed Edmund Rice devoted his prayers towards Mary and prayed before a picture of the Assumption. The congregation was proclaimed on this feast day and Br Ambrose Treacy and three other brothers left Ireland for Australia on this day. While the when and the how of Mary’s assumption is utterly a mystery, there is no doubt that the reason for her assumption is ultimately a matter of love, God’s gracious love in response to Mary’s faithfulness. In Mary we see an ordinary woman who becomes extraordinary by virtue of her faith in what God makes possible in her life. Please devote your prayers this week to Mary.
Setting the World on Fire
Was Jesus a troublemaker? You betcha. Today Christianity is invoked as the flagship of the armada of Family Values, Patriotism, and other political bulwarks. History might sound a cough of protest. The Jesus people were originally deemed a threat to social mores. Romans saw Christianity as subversive of civic responsibility. Christians caused a tremor in established hierarchies, divisions, and alliances in the culture. Christian leaders worked hard to dispel such charges, even including Hellenistic household codes in Paul’s letters to assure people that “wives would be dutiful to their husbands,” as children would be to parents, and slaves to owners.
Yet Jesus says plainly that his message causes division and dissension. His gospel leads to shattered families, as each member chooses for or against his way. Marriages will end. Different generations may find a chasm of meaning yawn between them. The Christian community redefines home, family, and social responsibility for those who believe. Those who take Jesus seriously, and those who don’t, still find Jesus to be trouble.
Do you think church and government should be allied? How might that partnership affect the church’s mission?
Reflect on the source of your passions: family, work, creative endeavours, or other pursuits. Find ways to make your passions work together for God’s purposes.
Father in heaven,
all creation rightly gives you praise,
for all life and all holiness come from you.
In the plan of your wisdom
she who bore the Christ in her womb
was raised body and soul in glory to be with him in heaven.
May we follow her example in reflecting your holiness
and join in her hymn of endless love and praise.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Mark Holmes | Director - Identity and Mission
Pathways Hub
The pathway hub would like to welcome our newest team member Kelsie Campbell who has taken over the roll from Grant Rossiter. Kelsie has worked as a Physical Education and Food Technology teacher at IPC since January 2021. She is originally from New Zealand and worked as a Personal Trainer prior to becoming a teacher.
School-based Apprenticeship
We are happy to announce that Finn Lyons (year 12 Treacy) secured himself a school-based carpenter apprenticeship with Young Build and Iowani Cavuilati (year 11 Putney) secured himself a school-based Plastic Fabricator apprenticeship with Gough Plastics. Students certainly benefit from working hard on both placement and holidays, gaining skills and possibly future work. Employers benefit from having greater exposure to potential apprentices and being able to lock-in a good worker when they find one.
Industry Placement
Next week we will have approximately 150 Year 11 and 12 students venturing out into the community for industry placement. We encourage the students to try different trades in grade 11 but focus on their future career in the final placements in order to secure an apprenticeship.
We have numerous senior students trialing for school-based apprenticeships or post-schooling apprenticeships next week. We hope that both parties find the experience beneficial, and some positive outcomes are achieved. Please remind your sons to return their logbooks no later than Thursday 1st of September. If this is not done, they will receive a detention.
Green Cards
On Monday the 29th of August any student in year 11 and 12 doing a certificate course will receive a green card. This card must be signed by their teacher/s to confirm that their work has been satisfactorily completed. If this green card has not been returned to the Pathway Hub by Tuesday, the 6th of September with their teacher/s signature then the student must come to school during Exam week to complete their studies. An email will also be sent to parents advising of this.
Work Experience
Any year 10 or senior student wishing to organise a week of work experience during the September Holidays needs to have finalised all the necessary paperwork by Friday 2nd September. At this stage, 4 students will be doing work experience during these holidays to ascertain if a certain occupation is a good fit for them.
Set Plan Interviews
Year 10 set plan interviews will take place tomorrow (Friday the 19th of August). Please contact the school on 4796 0222 if you have not made an appointment for your son.
Kelsie Campbell | Acting Program Leader - Pathways
Iggy Under The Stars
A night of creative celebration
Edmund Rice Hall at Ignatius Park College will come alive on Friday 19th August to celebrate our talented, creative art students in a one night only performance and exhibition. This year Iggy Under the Stars will showcase our amazing bands, upcoming film makers, talented musicians and drama enthusiasts. Not forgetting the creative Visual Art and Film Television and New Media students who will be exhibiting their work in the Star Gallery Exhibition.
Do not miss this wonderful event where you will be entertained by the stars of the future. Event commences at 6pm with nibbles by Year 11 Hospitality students. Drinks available for purchase from the bar.
All tickets $10 each on sale now here!
See you at Iggy Under the Stars.
Thank you for your continued support of our students in their creative endeavours.
Kylie Tillack | Faculty Leader The Arts
Book Week
IPC will once again be celebrating BOOK WEEK. A number of activities have been organised for Week 7 this term, with all staff and students encouraged to get involved. This year’s theme is : Dreaming with eyes open …..
Dress up day is scheduled for Wednesday (week 7) and entries into the “Get caught Reading” photo Competition are due in by Friday 26th August. Some great prizes for students to win!
Year 12 students are also invited to visit Holy Spirit and read to the younger students during Book Week – watch this space for more details to come.
Pudy Timbs | Learning Resouce Coordinator
Debating
Congratulations are in order for our Year 8 debating team consisting of Jake Piccolo, Louie Ferres, Blake DeSatge, Antse Mpusetsang, and Nate Antoniazzi, who won their Round 2 debate recently against St Margaret Mary’s College. They successfully argued the negative side of the topic that, ‘Standardized testing should be banned’. The adjudicator praised their strong rebuttals, cohesive team stance and logical arguments. They now move through to the semi finals to be held here at the College soon.
Marita Martinez | Debating Coordinator
AFL News
Last week saw the College’s senior AFL team play in round two of the AFLQ Streetsmarts Cup. After seeing off the local competition in round one now they would be up against the winners of the FNQ and Central Queensland regions. The first game of the day was against St Augustine’s College from Cairns to play off in the final while Moranbah State High School played off against St Brendan’s. Augustine’s playing with the wind got away to an early lead in the first quarter scoring two goals and several behinds. The IPC boys did well to contain this advantage and disrupted many plays the opposition were putting together and contesting marks, making it particularly challenging for them. In the second quarter, with the wind behind us, the boys started striking back. Christian Payne’s pinpoint kicking clawed back the score within a few behinds of Augustine’s. In the third quarter unfortunately, Augustine’s found their rhythm and proved to be unstoppable, every play IPC had Augustine’s countered it and shut us down. The fourth quarter ran a similar course to the 3rd and Augustine’s closed out the game winning through to the playoffs against St Brendan’s.
The loss against Augustine’s put us in a third-place playoff against Moranbah SHS. The boys started off well and kicking several early goals taking the lead. The game started to slow, and Moranbah started to claw some of the lead back, but Iggy closed the game out as winners with a two-goal margin. Congratulations to St Augustine’s who won overall demolishing St Brendan’s 103 to 12, they will fly the flag for North Queensland at the cup finals in Maroochydore in October.
Paul Marano | Team Manager
Community News
School Fees
Please be informed that timely payment of the School Fees is mandatory. If you have defaulted a timely payment, or have outstanding fees, please pay in full as soon as possible. Please contact the College Finance Team at finance@ipc.qld.edu.au or call (07) 4796 0222 if you need any further information.
Edstart
Ignatius Park has partnered with Edstart to assist parents to manage their School Fee payments. You can pay weekly, fortnightly or monthly by choosing a plan that suits your budget. This is an application-based process. There are no credit applications and no transaction fees or interest charges when using Edstart Pay+ for your IPC fees.
Visit edstart.com.au/ipc for more information on Edstart payment options.
Vilton Crasto | Business Manager