Children Deserve Better this World Children's Day (20 Nov)
In his Monthly Intention for November Pope Francis asks us to pray for children who suffer. Children need the support of sympathetic adults and models of adult behaviour, not incarceration because of failed policies and unrealistic expectations writes Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ. You can read more on the free Parish Life blog for Australian Catholics magazine.
Teachers can help troubled students by supporting them at school. For some children and teenagers, school is the safest place to be. The NAPCAN website has a range of resources on preventing child abuse and neglect. Their video resources would make a great addition to a staff meeting. Children's rights Queensland also offers resources for educators on children's rights and the Children’s Week Council of Australia offers vodcasts with respected experts.
With Daniel for Daniel just passed, it's also a good time to review your school's program on child safety. The Keeping Kids Safe Resources have been created in memory of Daniel Morcombe who was abducted from a Queensland bus stop almost 20 years ago. The resources are written for a diverse range of students from prep to senior years and the suite contains over 20 videos and activities. Bravehearts also offers resources on preventing and treating child sexual abuse.
Latest national NAPLAN test results a ‘mixed bag’
Experts have described the latest data — breaking down the COVID cohort’s performance in this year’s standardised literacy and numeracy assessments — as a “mixed bag”, showing no overall decline in learning.
However, Grattan Institute Education Program Director Jordana Hunter said the decline in year 9 reading, particularly among boys, also demanded policy-makers’ attention.
Just 86.5 percent of year 9 boys met the national minimum standard set for reading, down 5 percent from 2008.
You can
read more from Cath News.
The Cardoner Network (TCN) - A Province-wide Young Adult Ministry from the Society of JesusProvincial Fr Quyen Vu SJ announced the establishment of a Province-wide Young Adult Ministry, The Cardoner Network, to engage in ministries of faith, service and community with young adults.
The intention is to fulfil both the Universal Apostolic Preference, ‘Journeying with Youth’ and the Province Apostolic Priority, ‘Form the Young in a Faith Seeking Justice’.
A new board has been appointed for TCN to develop and deliver this initiative, including Jesuits Julian Butler and Kieran Gill along with a number of lay people.
You can read more here.
News from the Archdiocese of Brisbane
Mary MacKillop College Year 12 student Dindi Lobo’s artwork, depicting her remarkable life story, will feature in Queensland’s major galleries after her recognition at major visual arts awards. Read more.
Matthew Siver has a state award for his school-based traineeship as the St Columban’s student eyes a career in healthcare. Read more.
Students from Mater Dei school have developed a clever way to monitor carbon dioxide levels, improving classroom ventilation. Read more.
ACU faith formation experts inspire education leaders in UK, Ireland to evangelise in schools
Growing numbers of Catholic educators in the United Kingdom and Ireland are leading evangelisation efforts in Catholic schools thanks to a unique faith formation program developed by Australian Catholic University (ACU).
The Spiritus program, developed by ACU’s La Salle Academy, aims to support and equip Catholic teachers with the practical skills to evangelise in Catholic school settings. Director of Teacher Faith Formation Programs at La Salle Academy, Peter Woods, said Spiritus offered a contemporary approach to evangelisation in Catholic schools based on two high-impact areas.
“First is peer-to-peer student ministry within schools, and the second is what we call staff witness and leadership,” Mr Woods said. “When these two high-impact areas work well within a Catholic school, the evangelising impact can be high.”
According to Mr Woods, evangelisation programs in the UK and Ireland are predominantly led by ecclesial movements, rather than by educators.
“The general sense in the UK is very similar to Australia, with decreasing numbers in Church attendance and the increasing lack of student formation and evangelisation when students arrive at a Catholic primary or secondary school,” Mr Woods said.
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