20 June 2016

Newsletter Articles

Principal's Reflection

'When Bad Things Happen to Good People' is a book written by Rabbi Harold Kushner in response to the death of his young son. It was given to me to read many years ago by my younger brother Tim before he died at age 26. At the time, along with my family, I was really struggling with his very dire diagnosis. The reality of suffering and how a loving God can allow it is a fundamental question for all those who claim a belief in a God.

This week I learned that a good friend of mine received some bad news from a doctor which will mean a tough battle in the months ahead. When I heard that, I wanted to pray that God would cure my friend of the illness. I did the same when Tim got sick. The book by Rabbi Kushner, that my brother gave me, said that God does not 'send' illness, or natural disaster or even good fortune. This area of illness and misfortune is one that the expression of 'religion' can get itself into a lot of trouble. If we believe in an 'interventionist' God, we should pray for the things we want to happen. But if God is really like that, God is pretty insensitive, capricious and manipulative. It took me quite a few years in my life to work out that I didn't want to believe in a God like that. At the time my brother was dying, my family got messages of 'support' from people who suggested to us that 'God only gives the biggest crosses to those who can bear them' and that 'Tim's suffering is helping build a wonderful mansion in heaven for him when he dies'. Those comments really didn't help then and they don't now. I don't want to believe in a God who 'sends' trials to us. If God is love, it just doesn't make any sense.

My friend is ill and I want to pray. But I will pray that the doctors and nurses who are assisting her are well prepared. I will pray that my friend knows, clearly, how deeply she is loved by so many people. I will pray for her resilience and spirit. I will pray that myself and others will be generous in giving to organisations that are raising money to fight cancer. It no longer makes any sense to me in praying to change God's mind about something - whether that is to send rain or to stop flooding or to remove someone's illness. A God who operates like that is not one I want anything to do with. I pray that God will help change me so that I have the strength, courage and resilience necessary to change the world - at least a little bit at a time.

Confraternity Competition

Good Luck to our Confraternity Netball and Rugby League players who will be participating in those Carnivals next week in Rockhampton. Both the Netball and Rugby League carnivals are significant events with about 48 schools in each. Our young people have been training hard for months and will, no doubt, represent Shalom very well. We are very grateful to the many staff members who are giving their time to make this event possible.

Exam Block

Exams are well underway for the end of term. I hope that every student approaches these conscientiously and has prepared well. Reports will be issued early next term and can be accessed by logging into the Parent Lounge via the College Intranet. From here parents are able to follow their child's progress reasonably closely.

Athletics Carnival

Shalom Athletics Carnival is on Thursday afternoon and Friday of this week. Parents are encouraged and welcome to come along and watch. Please know that this event is a compulsory activity for our students - even if they don't like athletics a lot. There is something in the Carnival for everyone and I would strongly urge parents not to give their child an 'easy out' by calling in sick when they are not

Mr Dan McMahon
Principal

Curriculum Notes

Issue of Year 7 to 9 End of Semester One Reports to be Delayed

Unfortunately, the publication of Year 7 to 9 end of Semester One reports will be delayed until Friday 22 July 2016. We are currently working on an improved reporting format but have run into some minor technical problems in setting this up. However, please be assured that the new end of semester format will more fully exploit the data available to us through the Learning Management System (LMS) and include much more information for parents and students. The new format will be standardised across all year levels and will include for each student a full page of data per subject. A sample is included below for your information.

Year 10 students and Senior Subject Selection Information

Personal Futures Program

The Year 10 Personal Futures Education Program will commence on Monday 18 July 2016 (second week of Term 2). The Personal Futures Education Program includes:

• a series of presentations and workshops for parents and students
• the development of SET (Senior Education and Training) plans
• registration of students and their ILOs (Intended Learning Options) with the QCAA
• subject selection for the remainder of the Senior Phase of Learning (Years 11 and 12)
• individualised career education consultations as necessary

On Monday 18 July the students will receive advice about these activities, a letter to parents explaining the program and some important print and electronic resources. In coming weeks, a wealth of information will be included on the College intranet under the 'Year 10 Personal Futures Education Resources' tab and all parents are encouraged to access this.

The Senior Subject Selection Information Evening

The Senior Subject Selection Information Evening is scheduled for the evening of Tuesday 26 July 2016. The evening will commence at 7:00pm in the Performing Arts Theatre and will be very important for all parents of students and students, entering Year 11 in 2017.

The Senior Subject Selection Guide

The Senior Subject Selection Guide - 2017 will be published electronically and all students will be instructed to download this to their devices and share it with parents. Parents will also be able to download the Guide via the College intranet under the 'Year 10 Personal Futures Education Resources' tab; a wealth of additional information may also be accessed from this location. Parents who do not have access to the internet and/or who would like a printed copy of the guide may request same from the College office. The guide will be published on Monday 18 July.

Subject selections for Year 11 2017

All senior subject selections are made online. Students will be provided with the necessary login details and selections for Year 11 2017 will be made and updated at any time once the service is launched next term. Subject selections will be finalized by Friday 2 September following the completion of Senior Education and Training (SET) Plan interviews. All Year 10 students will participate in a SET Plan interview that parents are welcome to attend, during the school day. SET Plan interviews will commence on Monday 8 August; students will be advised of interview times early next term.

Accessing Learner Accounts

All Year 11 and 12 students have been advised of how to access their Learner Accounts. It is important that all senior students, especially Year 12s at this time, access their learner accounts. Learner Accounts are accessed through the QCAA's Student Connect portal https://studentconnect.qcaa.qld.edu.au/ . A link to this portal is also available on the dashboard of the College intranet. There are instructions for logging into their Learner Account on the landing page of the portal, but students will need to know their LUI number which Year 11 and 12 students can find on their Shalom Student ID Card. Their initial password is the first four digits of their birthday, eg the password for a student whose birthday is on 6 January would be 0601. After the initial login students will be prompted to create a new password. Year 10 students will be given a special card as part of the Personal Futures Program that will include their LUI and Learner Account login details.

Year 12 students will be particularly interested in accessing Student Connect and their Learner Account as this will give them early access to their QCS Test results in November and OP in December.

If students have any difficulty with logging in via the Student Connect portal, they are welcome to contact the Shalom IT HelpDesk or me for assistance. All students can also obtain their LUI number from their teachers, House Coordinator or the College office.

Mr Christian Taylor
Assistant to the Principal – Curriculum
taylorc@shalomcollege.com

Term 3 Timetables

The College timetable for Term 3 is currently being prepared.

Students will be able to retrieve Term 3 timetables early in the first week of the holidays, using Student Café.

Any queries should be directed to the Senior School Coordinator, Mr Brendan Maher or Middle School Coordinator, Mrs Megan Munckton after the holidays.

Ms Katherine Nelson
Assistant to the Principal - Teaching & Learning

Mission

They Come by Boat

This week a myriad of students, from a variety of classes, came to meet Mohammad Azad and Sister Pat Wood, speak about Asylum Seekers and Refugees. Mohammad has been a permanent Australian citizen for five years and lives in Rockhampton, but shared the personal experience he endured to be able to call Australia home.

Mohammad explained how life, as he knew it, changed dramatically after the Twin Tower Attack in 2001. He explained how he and his family feared the terrorists themselves and wished to flee the country whilst western countries were shutting out all Muslims, believing they were all involved in terrorism.

He was born in Iran (where proof of identity wasn't always formal practice) and lived in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Mohammad can speak eight languages and was employed by the American Government as a translator in the war against terror. The Taliban tried to kidnap him and take his life on a number of occasions, so he had to flee his country to find a safe place to reside. He turned to the United Nations to help him seek asylum. His case was approved as it was easy for him to prove that his life hung in the balance, but he was told he was on a waiting list of 14 years. Desperate, he started the complicated, expensive and dangerous journey he ventured on to reach the safe shores of Christmas Island. He spent four months on Christmas Island (the stay is now up to four years) before he was finally released. It then took him almost four years to have his family reunited with him in Australia.

Mohammad's story helped staff and students experience a sense of empathy and understanding for asylum seekers. We grew to appreciate how being born into a country that issues a birth certificate and our freedom to seek a simple passport can open so many doors and is something not to be taken for granted. In this presentation, Sister Pat also shared her rich experience with refugees and her wealth of knowledge around Christmas Island.

It was wonderful to have Sister Pat, Mohammad and his gorgeous family here to share the morning with our Shalom community.

Red Shield Appeal

Traditionally, Shalom Students have collected donations for the Salvation Army via the annual 'Door Knock Appeal' however this year we have been asked to carry out a collection of our own Shalom community. So on Wednesday 22 June Year 7 to Year 10 Students are invited to dress in red (or maroon if you support QLD), costing a gold coin donation to this worthy cause. Senior students will be in exam block, but there will be an opportunity made for students to make a donation before or after their exams.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Mrs Kim O'Shea-Hard
Assistant to the Principal - Mission

P & F Committee

Meeting Notes

At our monthly meeting on Tuesday 7 June the committee donated funds for:

• Purchase of a new upright piano for the Music department
• Reupholster the seats near the canteen
• Repair and maintain the small digital sign at the carpark exit

In the Principal's Report Dan McMahon described that the NSIT Review was a very positive and affirming process for the college. More details from this review will be shared with the College community in the future. He advised that there will be a School Renewal and Improvement Audit undertaken at the college in August.

Dan was also pleased to announce that the new Band Room adjoining the Performing Arts Precinct is almost complete and will be able to be utilised early Term 3.

The Rowing Committee were pleased to report on how successful the Shalom College team was at the Head of River at Bucca, placing second overall. The rowing committee has a State of Origin fundraiser coming up for Game 2.

For further information, see the full meeting minutes on the P & F web page on the College website. Please forward any comments to the Secretary via email at pandf@shalomcollege.com . If you have an agenda item please address it to the P & F Secretary either at the school office or by email pandf@shalomcollege.com .

Next Meeting

To all P & F Members, you are reminded that our monthly meeting is held in the staff common room and all parents are welcome. Please note the next P & F meeting will be held on Tuesday 2 August at 5:30pm in the Staff Room.

Past Student News

A very proud mum and dad, Louise and Adrian Stallard have shared this photo, taken with son Jace (Senior Rice 2015) at his passing out parade from the Royal Australian Navy HMAS Creswell.

2015 College Magazine Distribution

The 2015 College Magazine is now available. Student copies were distributed last Tuesday.

2015 Year 12 students are invited to call into the College Office to collect their copy however those who have siblings currently attending the College will have received their copy. Any uncollected books will be posted at the end of term.

Quiet Achiever

How often when you pick up the delivered copy of the newspaper, do you think about the people involved with its publication? We can call them Quiet Achievers.

Recently the College magazine for 2015 has been distributed. The magazine also has its Quiet Achievers, namely Christian Taylor, Kylie Collins and Kathy Laing. Thanks to our Quiet Achievers and congratulations on a first class production.

Br Rochford

History Competitions

Students have a range of history competitions to participate in during Term 3. All year levels are welcome to enter. Please email Mrs Bolam for further information or talk to your Humanities teacher. Details are available on the link below.

Mrs Debbie Bolam
bolamd@shalomcollege.com

Japanese

Year 9 Japanese

Congratulations to the students who depending on their year level, completed a great Term or Semester of Japanese.

The Year 9 Japanese class for this semester were some of the strongest language students I have seen in recent years. To finalise the semester, we enjoyed an excursion to the Noodle and Donburi Japanese Bento at Hinkler Central.

The Year 7 Students finished off the term doing some Japanese crafts and the Year 8 Students enjoyed getting dressed in kimonos and trying a taste of Obento boxes.

To culminate the terms unit 'Iron Chef' in Year 10 Japanese, we enjoyed a cooking class making Gyoza and a trip to Hinkler Central to enjoy some Japanese Udon, Sushi and Karaage.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the students for their hard work and dedication learning Japanese this semester. Once again if you have any questions regarding assessment or classes please don't hesitate to email.

Mrs Simone Wilson
Japanese Coordinator
Simone_Wilson@shalomcollege.com

VET News

We have many students attending work experience placements and programs over the holidays in a range of fields including; Information Technology, Electrotechnology, Engineering, Construction, Fitness, Health, Animal and Beauty. I wish them all the best of luck and hope this will be a positive experience that helps them make decisions for the future.

Hairdressing Apprenticeship Opportunity

Shalom has been lucky enough to be offered a school based hairdressing apprenticeship opportunity and while I normally do not add these to our newsletter I was hoping to reach our Senior Students who are currently on exam block. The Salon is hoping to interview four applicants as soon as possible. Please email resumes to me Liza_ODonnell@shalomcollege.com by Wednesday 22 June. The Salon hopes to have a decision made by Friday 24 June.

I can be contacted by email or direct phone number 4155 8136.

Mrs Liza O'Donnell
VET Coordinator
Liza_ODonnell@shalomcollege.com

Edmund Rice Money Board

Congratulations to the winners of the Edmund Rice Money Boards.

Thursday - R. Haley No. 45
Friday - A. Underwood No. 31
Saturday - Parfitt family No. 39, A. Roelofs No. 52, T. Cameron No. 14

All winners have been contacted. Thank you to everyone who supported Edmund Rice!

Careers Information Calendar 2016

Please click on the link below to view the Careers Information Calendar. This is a summary of key dates for career information for this school year. More information can be found by going to those institutions websites, or contacting me on my details below.

Mr Troy Braund
Careers Advisor
troy_braund@shalomcollege.com or phone 4155 8111

Shalom Rowing State of Origin Fundraiser

Shalom Rowing is again hosting a State of Origin night at Shalom College staff room on this Wednesday 22 June at 6:30pm.

Tickets will be available from the Shalom Finance Office from Monday 13 June for $10 each. This is sure to be a great event and your support will be greatly appreciated.

Sports News

Shalom Track and Field Carnival

The Shalom Track and Field Carnival will be held this Thursday 23 June (half day) and Friday 24 June (full day). For details on event times please click on the link below to view the program (please be aware that times are not exact and may vary slightly on the day).

Correction to date

Winter Sport Finals day is Friday 2 September 2016. Please change your College calendar to reflect this.

Your Sporting Fanatic
Mr Simon Gills
Sports Coordinator
GillsS@shalomcollege.com

Arts in Performance

The Addams Family Musical

The 2016 Shalom College Musical, The Addams Family, was a tremendous success with three sell out performances held on June 9, 10 and 11 as well as a full dress rehearsal that was viewed by Shalom College Year 7 students and a selection of students from the Catholic Primary Schools.

Students and staff involved in the production included 37 performers, 20 orchestra members and 23 backstage and technical crew. There were also approximately 18 staff members who directed, vocal coached, choreographed, conducted and/or played in the orchestra, lighting, sound, backstage, costumes, publicity, program and ticket design in addition to the staff and students of Edmund Rice group who looked after the Front of House.

The students who acted and/or sang their way through the musical worked solidly from Day One, Term One each Thursday afternoon, every alternate Sunday as well as every lunch break. This musical has been nominated as the best that the College has produced and staff and students have been praised for their professionalism and polished performance. It featured an amazing group of talented students and staff from the Music, Dance and Drama departments as well as upgraded sound and lighting facilities in the theatre. A heartfelt thanks also goes to Mr Paul Beutel (parent) for his photography and creating a wonderful collage of images that the students and staff will treasure.

The production team would like to sincerely thank everyone who was involved in the 2016 College Musical, including Mr Dan McMahon who supported the staff and students during the long rehearsal period.

Mrs Robyn Edgar
Arts in Performance Coordinator
edgarr@shalomcollege.com

Past College Magazines

If any families would like extra copies of the 2013 or 2014 College Magazine, please contact Mrs Kathy Laing on 4155 8107 or alternately call into the College Office. These are available free of charge.

Tuckshop Roster

Shalom Sunday Markets

Tuckshop Markets Roster

Markets BBQ Roster

Community News

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services

School Safety Message - School Holiday Fire Safety Campaign

With school holidays just around the corner, now is the time to learn the ropes and become a junior fire-fighter. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) is urging parents across the state to ensure their children are aware of fire safety and risks. Keeping fire safety in mind by involving kids in fire escape plans and smoke alarm checks can be an easy way to ensure they are fire savvy. There are many fun activities you can do together, including playing the Triple Zero game, to communicate safety messages all children should learn. Be sure to check out Blazer's Kids Corner for more information, and to get your very own junior fire-fighter certificate www.fire.qld.gov.au/kids/ .

Queensland Youth Orchestras

2016 marks the 50th Anniversaries of Queensland Youth Orchestras and Bundaberg Orpheus Singers. QYO2, Orpheus and Bundaberg Youth Orchestras are combining in concert to celebrate on Saturday 25 June 2016 at Shalom Performing Arts Centre from 7:00pm. Entry is by gold coin donation. Supper will be provided.

Cane 2 Coral

The Friendlies Cane2Coral is being held on Sunday 7 August and this year we have prizes for TEAMS!

In 2016 for every team of 10 or more entrants, FC2C will donate 10% of your team's registration fees to your nominated charity or not-for-profit sports club. Plus, there are team prizes that can be won.

Click on the links below for more information.

Echo Youth Group