Term 1 Week 7 College Newsletter
Acknowledgement of Country
From the Principal
Dear Parents and Carers
International Woman’s Day
Last Tuesday was International Women’s Day. This year we were unable to host the Soroptimist International Townsville Breakwater breakfast due to COVID restrictions. This year the theme was “Break the Bias” and calls us to build a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. The College recognised the day gifting cupcakes to all female staff and the whole College community standing together in solidarity, displaying the arm action representing this year’s theme of Break the Bias. It is my vision that the young men who graduate from this College will be change agents who choose to challenge stereotypes, to fight bias and have a broad perception of the world so to improve inequity and celebrate the achievements of women.
Liberating the Spirit
This week I was engaged in the planning of the Edmund Rice Education Beyond Borders – Global Connections – Strategic Plan for the next three years. Our College has been a lead school over the past four years in building a global citizenship of our students with other Edmund Rice Schools around the world. In fact, this week has been the first time in two years that all 285 Edmund Rice Schools have been opened and not closed due to the pandemic. Last year our College developed a classroom partnership with Shillong College in India. Our connection with schools internationally allows us, not only to reflect upon Edmund Rice Education and its ongoing place across the world, but also provides us, at Iggy Park, a focus on our context as a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition, and challenges us to reflect on the values upon which an Edmund Rice education is built.
The first Edmund Rice school, Mount Sion in Waterford City, located in the Southeast of Ireland, was founded in 1802 and was driven by the values of Blessed Edmund Rice to provide education and learning for the city’s poorest and most underprivileged children. Edmund believed that education was capable of liberating individuals to seek a more joyous and productive life. Today, Mount Sion is an amazing, flourishing, diverse and hugely creative school that continues to articulate the Edmund Rice message about equality, tolerance and oneness in the community. Across the world, in very different and diverse contexts, Edmund Rice schools, care centres and charity groups continue to provide formation opportunities, educational pathways, support and guidance to many students and families.
While many within our College community would be familiar with the historical story of Blessed Edmund Rice, what we seek to do as a school is to continue to honour the legacy and mission of his ongoing work. This year we have introduced a new course entitled “Catholic Studies” which focuses on our students undertaking service work and giving back to our local community. This includes cleaning the cemetery at Belgium Gardens, supporting St. Vincent DePaul Society and community work at St. Benedict’s School. This reminds us of these values. Our service outreach program is about developing young men who are selfless in their outlook and compassionate in their care for all people in our community. This sense of relationship, authenticity, compassion and community is at the heart of an Edmund Rice education.
As a community we must continue to instil in our students the ability to see injustice, the courage to challenge this appropriately, and the wisdom to do things differently and positively for their future. In fact, as Dr Wayne Tinsey, former Executive Director of Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) once stated;
“If we have educated our students well in curriculum, values and faith, it would be most surprising if they don’t challenge what they are currently experiencing, for there is much to confront”.
This notion of education liberating individuals is still relevant today.
Open Day
Next Monday, 14 March is our Open Day. Our Open Day is a wonderful day to showcase our College community, our facilities and the programs we offer to support our students on their educational journey from being a boy to a young man who makes a positive difference in our world. It is important for our planning to receive enrolment applications for 2023 and 2024 as soon as possible. Please encourage your friends to attend the Open Day and apply for enrolment at the College, as your recommendations mean a lot to us and is often the result of this that applications happen. The College’s sustainability depends on enrolments and Year 7, 2023 have limited vacancies.
Rowing Information Evening
Thank you to all the parents and caregivers who attended the Rowing Information Evening last night at St. Patrick’s College. This year we had approximately 25 students who have participated in the Learn to Row program. We expect we will have at least 45 students representing Ignatius Park College in rowing this year and a total of 80 rowers when combined with St Margaret Mary’s College and St Patrick’s College. Congratulations to both Noah Lau and Riley Masters who were elected Rowing Captains and Thomas Bartels who was Junior Rowing Mentor for Iggy Park. Further information can be found in the rowing information booklet - please click here.
Professional Renewal Leave
Next term I will be taking Professional Renewal Leave to undertake study. In my absence, Mr John Doolan fill the position of Acting Principal and Mrs Johanna Smith, Acting Deputy Principal. I know both Mr Doolan and Mrs Smith will provide outstanding leadership in my absence.
Staffing
It is with disappointment that I announce Mrs Kim Steele, our Publications Officer will finish at the College next week. She has been successful in gaining a position at JCU in the Division of Tropical Health and Medicine in Student Placements. Mrs Steele has been with us almost four years and has developed the quality of our College publications, provided the newsletters you receive and has been initiative in our use of our social media and marketing. We wish her all the best on her journey beyond Iggy Park.
Louka Demopoulos (2018 graduate) has been employed as a Teacher Aide – Inclusive Education for this year. Louka is currently studying his Education Degree at JCU and will be focusing support with our EALD students. We welcome Louka to the College.
Congratulations to Ms Marie Oakley-Cogan who announced the birth of her son, Ryan John who was born last weekend. We wish Ms Oakley-Cogan and her partner, Tom, all the best on the arrival of their new precious gift.
Living the Lenten Journey
As we continue the Season of Lent and our journey to Easter, it is important we reflect on our own journey. Lent provides each of us with an opportunity to take stock of our lives and recalibrate our approach. Often Lent is associated with giving up things. But, just as importantly, it is also about what we take on. Our God of unconditional love keeps no record of offences, so it is not a case of gaining ‘brownie points.’ We fail to understand the message if that is our thinking.
Franciscan spirituality provides a good way to explain what I mean. The Franciscan’s are technically known as the Order of the Friars Minor, hence you see the letters OFM after a Franciscan priests name. The concept of ‘minority’ is fundamental to their spirituality. Put simply, minority is letting go of those things that block, interfere or hold one back from fully embracing the invitation of God’s unconditional love. Likewise, the flip side is taking on those thoughts, actions and prayers that bring one closer to God.
It is truly a beautiful spirituality that helps us understand the Season of Lent in a new way.
St. Patrick’s Day
Next Thursday, 17 March is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. He is one of the few saints who is celebrated so widely around the world. St Patrick is not only known for bringing Christianity into Ireland but had enormous faith and the believe that we are invincible with the presence of God within us and around us.
Students are encouraged next Thursday to wear the colour green to school.
Loving God,
you sent Saint Patrick to preach your glory to the people of Ireland.
By the help of his prayers,
may all Christians proclaim your love to all people?
Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Live Jesus in our Hearts. Forever
Shaun Clarke | Principal
Dangers of Excessive Screen Time
The Dangers of Excessive Screen Time
As parents, we often worry about the amount of time that our young people spend on their phones. This concern is reinforced by recent research. One research paper does provide the latest findings that students who engage in excessive time on their screens risk damaging impacts on their brain development - click here.
The research that pulled together research from a range of international studies concluded that issues with excessive screen time, included effects on sleep and behaviour. None of this would be a surprise to most adults, but it does present with some clear evidence of the need to monitor and if necessary, restrict our young people and their use of screen time, both on phones and computer devices.
College Policy on Phones at School
A number of state governments have over the last two years, given their state schools the authority to ban phones at school. This policy has been in place at IPC for many years. Further research - click here - provides evidence of the benefits of this ban in increasing student attentiveness and reducing bullying opportunities. The Pastoral Team spends a considerable amount of time to ensure students comply with this policy and our belief would be that it does have positive effects, even as we struggle to enforce it.
As always, our efforts are part of a team effort with parents. I would encourage you to approach your son’s Pastoral Leader, if you are concerned about his screen use, either on his phone or other devices. Further information around Screen time and cyber safety can be seen on the IPC SchoolTV site. https://ipc.qld.schooltv.me/channel-newsletter/315
Identity and Mission
This week the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which we celebrated with a whole school (yay!) Liturgy last week. Fun fact: this week is the First Week in two years that ALL Edmund Rice schools around the world are at school all at the same time. Let’s hope this continues and no other countries are affected by lockdowns. Last week also marks the beginning of the annual Caritas Australia Project Compassion Appeal. Donations to Project Compassion allows Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid and Development, to work with local communities around the world to end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.
The theme of Project Compassion 2022 is ‘For All Future Generations’ and reminds us that the good that we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. It invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long-term solutions to global issues. We encourage you to put your compassion into action this Lent through your prayer, fasting and almsgiving by supporting Project Compassion. Each family will receive a Project Compassion box and/or a set of envelopes for their donations or you can donate online via the Caritas Australia website at: lent.caritas.org.au
Our challenge to ‘ensure the sustainability of future generations’ takes us beyond ourselves. This Lent, we are encouraged to make simple lifestyle changes and act for social and environmental justice, so that we may ‘Be More’ in our own lives and in the lives of others.
Project Compassion demonstrates how love for our neighbours can transform lives. We at Ignatius Park College can support and empower the most vulnerable people to grow stronger and share their strengths with their communities. Students will be doing some activities in RE class and will have the opportunity to engage in other events to, to contribute to this cause, highlighted in the table below.
The Darkness and the Light
Jesus and his three best friends climbed the mountain to pray, but Jesus did all the praying. The others napped, exhausted by the climb or bored by the task of praying. And because they slept, they very nearly missed the radiance of the Transfiguration. When they awoke, the glory still lingered around Jesus, not to mention his two unmistakable guests.
But they hardly saw the radiance before being overshadowed by a cloud. Where would you expect God to be found: in the brilliance or the shadow? Actually, God is revealed in both. God’s glory is seen in the light, but God’s voice is heard in the darkness. How often has this been true in our experience as well? We celebrate God’s nearness and blessing in the happy times, at the birth of a child or the marvel of a new snowball. But we can hear God’s voice ring out on a bleak city backstreet, and in the season of illness. When we insist on seeing God only in the good times, we find ourselves apparently abandoned when we need God’s comforting presence the most. God is with us, in the light and in the darkness.
Where do you find it easy to experience God’s presence in your world? How might God be present in the “absence,” while you’ve been looking elsewhere?
Seek God in the light: at sunrise and sunset, in candle’s glow, in the radiance of the faces you love. Listen for God’s word in darkness: in sickness and worry, when the path before you seems obscure or lonely.
Have a great week.
Mark Holmes | Director - Identity and Mission
Wednesday Morning Mass - Rice House
Pathways Hub
Industry Placement
This week 150 Year 11 and 12 students are participating in our Industry Placement program. This program is invaluable for enhancing our students’ employability skills and provides the opportunity for them to have a ‘real life’ work experience. We truly hope the students gained valuable life skills and now better appreciate the world of work. The heatwave conditions have tested the boys resilience and now they have a greater understanding of coping outdoors in the tropics.
Could parents of these students please peruse their son’s logbook and remind them of the importance of having pages 13 and 14 completed by their employers. Four fully completed logbooks could earn the boys 2 QCE points. Please check with the boys tonight to ensure they have that sorted by tomorrow and that they return their Logbooks to the Pathways office by Wednesday next week (Week 8).
If the students wish to change placements for Term 2, they must have the purple Change of Placement form completed and lodged with the Pathways office by Friday 18 March 2022 (Week 8).
P2 Mask Certification
It has come to our attention that in some sectors of the construction industry, there is now a requirement for workers, including tradesmen, apprentices, and work experience students, to have a P2 Mask Certification.
This is Respiratory Protective Equipment (RPE) is designed to protect the wearer from airborne contaminants, such as fumes, asbestos, hazardous chemicals and dust (eg. Silicon and concrete dust). Some of our trade related industry placement employers are unable to take our students due to them not having this certification.
We have made the decision to offer this certification at the College for our VET students and strongly suggest students take advantage of the opportunity. Please note, the certification lasts for 12 months, so we will offer the course annually. An external trainer will conduct the certification, which takes approximately 15 minutes at a cost of $55 (including a take-home mask) and will be completed during school hours.
This course would be useful for students in eg Carpentry and Cabinetmakers which comes into regular contact with silica dust. Please come to the Pathway Hub to register your interest.
Grant Rossiter | Dean of Pathways
Industry Placement
Antibullying Week
Every year, our Senior students take a strong stand against bullying. The Year 12 students this year have worked hard to create an antibullying campaign to ensure students have an understanding that bullying lurks in the darkness, and the College community will continue to shine a bright light on this issue. The theme this year is "Men of the Park Don't Stand In The Dark."
This week marks the official launch of the antibullying message. Throughout this week, the Senior students spoke in different forums to their fellow students about bullying - learning what can be done if they experience bullying or witness it.
View the video our talented students put together below.
John Deer | Dean of Student Wellbeing
Counsellors' Corner
Our Year 11 and Year 12 Peer Mentors play a major role here within the IPC community when it comes to supporting our young men. Not just in anti-bullying week but every day, our Peer Mentors show leadership and guidance and are one of the spokes in our Wheel of Well-being here at the College. Our students are encouraged to speak with these young men if they are concerned about various issues which can include bullying. If your son is worried about bullying here at the school, there is always support here– you (or he) can contact your son’s Homeroom Teacher, Pastoral Leader, Student Counsellors or make a notification on the Men of Integrity via the website.
Our 2022 Year 11 Peer Mentors are:
Baillie: Jude Foyle and Daniel Mosch
Carew: Connor Browning and Parker Duncanson
Nolan: Marcus Cervellin and Hayden Moore
Reid: Jordan Allan and Isaac Seri
Rice: Liam Sutton and Ryan Sutton
Treacy: Aidan Knowles and William Sheppard
Putney: Nathaniel Barton and Nick Rowan
Our Year 12 Peer Mentors are:
Baillie: Reece Foley and Zac Bennett
Carew: Zak Merida-Johnston and Flynn Mintern
Nolan: Kym Nuth and Emil Jomon
Reid: Daniel Gregory and Dylan Talbot
Rice: Lachlan Hardy and Harry Coleman
Treacy: Lachlan Tapp and Austin Keane
Putney: Miles Brown and Tenzin Daly
Dannielle Charge | Student Counsellor
Film and Television
This term in Year 10 Film and Television, the students have been working on a photography portfolio. The students are taking photos with the theme ‘Australiana’ in mind and have been experimenting with photo editing programs such as Lightroom and Photoshop. The photos produced so far are pretty impressive.
Please see some examples of their work below.
Jaclyn Bartholomew | Teacher
Mulkadee
Registrations are now open for Mulkadee Youth Arts Festival 2022. Venture "Into the Unknown" to be a part of this amazing variety showcase in Term 3 from Monday 18 to Friday 22 July, 2022.
Mulkadee are excited to announce they have many returning industry experts to lead the students in this year, including:
- Band: Wyana O’Keefe
- Guitar: Andrew Veivers
- Strings: Stephen Frewen-Lord
- Drama: TheatreiNQ
- Dance: DanceNorth
- Choir: Rachel Cairns
In addition to Mulkadee week, students from each discipline are also invited to attend 2 additional workshops as well as have the opportunity to participate in the filming of an audio-visual component. This filmed component allows students from regional areas or senior students the opportunity to participate in the show, if they are unable to attend the full week of Mulkadee.
For further information and the application process, check Daily Notices or email Mrs Tillack. Registration closes on Friday 1 April 2022.
Kylie Tillack | Faculty Leader - The Arts
Basketball
Our Junior Basketball team played against Cathedral yesterday, with the final score being 33-43 a win to Cathedral, but a valiant effort against a very strong team. Great game, men!
Gary Hughes | Teacher
Music
The students have been practising in preparation for their performance at Open Day on Monday. On Monday, we will open our doors to the ensemble room to see our bands in action, the music classroom to see our music technology, have a busking stage and also solo piano performances by the Chapel. We look forward to seeing you there!
Tess Higgins | Coordinator of Instrumental and Ensemble Music
Volunteers Needed
At Ignatius Park College, there are a number of opportunities to volunteer to be more involved with your son's education or to give back to the College.
Our Tuckshop is in urgent need of volunteers.
Please complete the form below to nominate your interest in volunteering at the College. We truly appreciate any time you may be able to spare.
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
Community
