Filter Content
- Principal's Reflection
- Curriculum
- Administration
- Quiet Achiever
- Sport
- Chess Gold!
- Pathways
- Finance Office
- SCASA - Term 4 Sign On
- An Afternoon of Beautiful Music
- Chisholm House Fundraiser
- Middle School Academic Showcase Wrap Up
- Absentees
- Student Drivers
- From the Office - Pain Relief Dispensing
- From the Office - Provision of Medical Certificate
- Workplace Health & Safety
- Uniform Shop Hours
- Fitness Centre Opening Hours
- From the Library
- Term Dates for 2024
- Term Dates for 2025
- Tuckshop - Breakfast
- Tuckshop - Online Pre-Ordering
- Shalom Sunday Markets
- The Catholic Parish of Bundaberg
- Community Notice Board
Last Friday, we celebrated with many former Shalom students and staff, the 40th anniversary of the start of the College in 1984. Anniversaries are a chance to reflect. In speaking to those gathered on Friday evening, I spoke about the ‘highs and lows’ that are inevitably part of any authentic reflection. So much good has occurred since the comparatively humble opening of the College. But there have also been lows. One of those profound lows also occurred last week and I had to write to all sharing the tragic news of the death of Isla Marschke. At the 40th celebrations on Friday night, I thanked the former students and staff for the culture that they helped create at Shalom and assured them that the culture created in those early days of a faith in a loving God, a willingness to support each other and an outreach to those most at risk, is alive and well at Shalom. Not that we needed proof of it, but the expression of practical love and support for the Marschke family, was a tangible expression of that culture. From staff who gave their time to step in for colleagues who needed a bit of time last week, to the many who contributed to the ‘Go Fund Me’ page, for those who contributed to the overflowing fridge at the Marschke home and to all of those who fronted up to Christie, Ella, Rafe & Ava and wrapped them in love – that is the Shalom culture. At Assembly last Thursday, I decided to speak to the students about Isla and her death. I had not intended to do that in a setting like a College Assembly but inaccurate and hurtful information on-line was emerging quickly and required a response. I guess it is a natural and human reaction to want to blame someone or something when bad things happen but that is rarely helpful, or accurate. If anyone would like to listen to what I said to our students on Assembly last Thursday, click on the link –
Christie Jacobsen, Isla’s Mum and one of our most loved staff members, said it best on her FaceBook post, “Isla’s death is a terrible tragedy. She had a combination of factors that led to her to make the decisions she did. We do NOT blame anything, anyone or any service…We blame no one. We just now need to find a way forward. Thank you everyone for all you’ve done for us. There are no words. Beautiful Isla”
Link to ‘Go Fund Me’ page.
Awards Night commences tomorrow night at 6.30pm in our Sports Centre. Congratulations to all of those young people whose efforts in Academic, Cultural and Sporting endeavours will be celebrated. This is a proud occasion for them and their families. Could I remind all parents to resist the temptation to depart the event once your child receives their Award. Let’s respect and support every child at Shalom. We get the chance at Awards Night to welcome back to his home town and to Shalom, the new Director of Catholic Education, Mr Michael McCusker.
2025 Assistant Principal Curriculum – Ms Kate Aplin has been appointed to this position. Kate is currently a Curriculum leader at St Luke’s. Kate, along with husband Anthony (who is currently on staff) is a former Shalom student. It is certainly a bit of an Aplin family affair given that daughters Savannah and Talitha are already at Shalom and will be joined by the best of the bunch, Natalia in 2026. Kate will be a loss to St Luke’s where she is very highly regarded but a great asset for Shalom.
School Leaders 2025 - also on Assembly last Thursday, I was able to announce to the College community, the new student leaders of the College after voting from both students and staff:
School Captains: Joann Jitesh & Landa Appo (both MacKillop)
Vice Captains: Ava Marschke & George Stelmack (both Rice)
Mr Dan McMahon
Principal
mcmahond@shalomcollege.com
Year 12 External Assessments
I hope by now all Year 12 students who are sitting External Assessments (EA’s) have familiarised themselves with their timetable in preparation for the block commencing Monday 21 October.
A copy of the EA timetable, QCAA publications for external assessment preparation including Equipment lists and approved Calculator lists are all available on SIA in the Assessment Dashboard.
myQCE Student Portal Account & Results
Students will be able to access their final Year 12 results and their Senior Educational Profile (QCE and Senior Statement) in their myQCE Student Portal Account from 9.00am on Wednesday 11 December.
Please check your student has registered for their myQCE Student Portal Account using a personal email address NOT their Shalom College email. They should do a final check that their personal details are correct and make any changes. If your home address has changed, please contact Mrs Norris to have this updated.
QTAC ATAR Results
ATAR eligible students will be able to access their ATAR Score and QTAC offers from 9.00am Friday 13 December. Please remind your students that they need to make sure they can log into both their ATAR Portal and their QTAC account.
Due to privacy laws, we are unable to assist with access to these accounts. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure they can log into their myQCE Portal, ATAR Portal and QTAC account after they have left the College.
Academic Assembly
At this stage we plan to hold our Academic Assembly on Thursday 30 January 2025. Together we will celebrate the success of our Class of 2024, award the 2024 Dux, and acknowledge students who finished top of subject.
Mrs Gail Norris
Assistant Principal - Curriculum
gail_norris@shalomcollege.com
Year 12 External Exams
External Exams for Yr 12 General Subjects will occur over the period from Monday 21 October – Friday 8 November.
Attached is some important information about this time including:
- External Assessment Timetable
- Directions for Students
- External Exam Equipment List
- Student Expectations During Exam Block
Could parents and students please familiarise themselves with these important documents in preparation for the External Exam period?
Please note that normal classes continue during Week 1-3 of Term 4 (30 Sep – 18 Oct), however students need only attend school for the exams they are sitting during the External Exam Block. Students who are required to complete outstanding work may also be required to attend school during the External Exam block as organised by the relevant classroom teacher.
Good luck with your study and your exams!
SIA – LOG ON NOW! GET THE PHONE APP!
‘Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.’ -Warren Buffet
A parent’s role in the education of their child is vital. Student outcomes will be maximised when parents and teachers are both involved in their child’s education and have positive interactions. Sia is a fantastic way for parents to be fully informed about student progress, assessment due dates, news items, upcoming events, assessment results etc.
Sia, and the Shalom phone app, have been available to parents since the beginning of 2022. Currently, our parent login rate is slightly lower than the end of last year. We would like all our parents to be successfully logged into Sia as soon as possible. Attached in the link below is a Parent “Everything You Need To Know About Sia’ Guide which includes how to log in for the first time. The phone app is super-convenient – a must-have for parents!
Our IT team will have sent the login details for Sia to all new parents to the school at the beginning of the year. If you have misplaced these details, or are having technical difficulties, please contact our Shalom IT department via email at shalomit@shalomcollege.com or phone 41558131 during office hours 8am - 3.30pm Monday to Friday, Tuesdays are 8.30am - 3.30 pm.
Mr Brendan Maher
Assistant Principal - Administration
maherb@shalomcollege.com
This term we would like to acknowledge Tenne B as our Quiet Achiever. Tenne, since joining our house has demonstrated Catherine’s call for MERCY with staff and students in all she does. Her smile lights a room, her enthusiasm should be bottled, her humility is precious, her participation infectious, her ability astounding, her friendship cherished and her polite demeanor a joy. Tenne is such an all-rounder, and this SHINES through in her sporting prowess but unless you have asked for a snapshot of all the teams (link here) she has been selected for you would never hear it from Tenne and when congratulated she accepts it with grace and continue on with her normal day. Tenne you are a true quiet achiever and a wonderful part of our house McAULEY.
If you would like to submit any sporting achievements about your child/children along with a photo, please email your submissions to GillsS@shalomcollege.com
Please note photo submissions must only include photos of students from Shalom.
You can also keep up to date with anything sport related via our Facebook page - Shalom College Sport.
Gymnastics
During the recent school holidays, Shalom student Ari B competed at the Queensland State Championships held at Sleeman Sports Centre in Brisbane.
Ari competed in the men's artistic gymnastics level 4 open category.
Ari ended up placing 4th in the State for Rings, and 6th in the state for Floor. Overall scores for the competition found Ari was placed 8th in the state overall as a level 4 gymnast which is a fantastic achievement!
Ari competed on all apparatus including Rings, High Bars, Pommel Horse, Parrel Bars, Vault & Floor during the competition.
Ari was also previously selected to compete in the Central Queensland Regional Challenge Team. This was also held over the same weekend at Sleeman Sports Centre. The boy's team ended up finishing in 4th place overall which was a great achievement.
Competition season is nearly over with one more event to be held locally at Gymfinity in November which Ari will be competing.
Mr Simon Gills
Sports Coordinator
GillsS@shalomcollege.com
“A vision without a strategy remains an illusion” — Lee Bolman
On 8 October, 20 chess gurus represented Shalom at the Term 4 Inter-School Chess Competition at Avoca SS. Term 4 is the ‘money round’ with cash prizes given to those with good results. For the first time in several years, Shalom achieved the gold medal in the teams. Furthermore, Shalom players won individual gold and silver medals for best and second-best results on the day - an incredible achievement. If this was not impressive enough, 12 Shalom players received cash prizes for their performance. In my time involved with Shalom chess, these have been our most impressive results.
Gold was achieved by our Shalom Black team of Waylen H, Seth G, Luke R and Max C. Shalom was trailing on points coming into the last round, snatching the victory with some determined play. Shalom has not won the Term 4 tournament since 2016 – the drought has been broken!
Individually, Waylen H was unbeaten on the day (for the second tournament in a row) and was awarded an individual gold medal as well as a significant cash prize – an outstanding effort. Tyler K displayed what an improved player he is by winning all but one of his matches to claim the individual silver medal and a cash prize – a very impressive day!
Furthermore, cash prizes for good performances were given to Ryan G, Will M, Luke R, Max C, Seth G, Harry L, Alex C, Zach G, Mason C and Jacob B. These results are testament to depth and enthusiasm we are fortunate to have at Shalom.
If you are interested in playing or learning chess, then you are more than welcome to join us at chess club on Tuesdays at 11.25am-12.00pm in Beerarlem. The more the merrier! You can find more information about Shalom Chess on our Chess Group Page (https://schoolbox.shalomcollege.com/homepage/6024).
Chess Coordinators
Mr Brendan Maher & Mr Steven Love
maherb@shalomcollege.com
steven_love@shalomcollege.com
Pathways Information
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
- See the range of part-time, full-time and apprenticeship roles on offer on the Pathways Sia Page
UNIVERSITY
- All Points to Teaching (AAPT) 285 fully funded scholarships to complete certain Bachelor of Education degrees at ACU
EVENTS & WORKSHOPS
- White Card for Schools Online Course
SCHOLARSHIPS
- JCU’s QCoal Foundation scholarship offering $30,000 across 3 years
APPRENTICESHIPS/TRADES
- Apprenticeships vs traineeships – what’s the difference?
- East Coast Apprenticeship vacancies
ACCOMMODATION
- Iglu Regional Scholarship Applications Now Open
Discover exciting career insights in this week’s Pathways Newsletter
The Pathways Team
Mrs Liza O’Donnell, Mrs Kim Toll, Mrs Kathryn Laing, Ms Jacinta Cook & Mrs Cristel Simmonds
Liza_ODonnell@shalomcollege.com
kim_toll@shalomcollege.com
kathryn_laing@shalomcollege.com
jacinta_cook@shalomcollege.com
cristel_simmonds@shalomcollege.com
A reminder to all families that 2024 college fees were due for families with a Year 12 student only by the end of Term 3 2024, whilst those with Year 7 to Year 11 students are due at the end of Term 4 Week 4 (25 October 2024). Thank you to those families who have paid their account for the year. Should families, yet to finalize their payments, have any questions, please feel welcome to email the Finance Office at finance@shalomcollege.com. Account balances and an updated fee statement are available through Parent Lounge.
Mrs Lisa Castro
Finance Officer
castrol@shalomcollege.com
Shalom College After School Activities (SCASA)
Shalom College is offering students the opportunity to participate in organised afterschool activities conducted by coaches and teachers. SCASA also includes a light afternoon tea from 3.15 pm for the students and all activities will conclude at 4.45 pm.
Days
Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays are the 3 available afternoons for SCASA.
Dates
SCASA commences in Week 2 of Term and continues for 8 continuous weeks
Times
3.00 pm - School lessons completed.
3.15 pm - Roll Call and afternoon tea (supplied) at College tuckshop and set up time for coaches.
3.30 pm - Activities/Coaching starts (various venues within school grounds).
4.30 pm - Activities/Coaching finished.
4.45 pm - Students help pack up and return equipment and picked up by parents at front of school.
SCASA Activities - see below
Monday
Option 1 - Drama Club with Brigette McMahon (Performing Arts Precinct)
Option 2 - Cross Country Club with Matt Grills (Oval)
Option 3 - Basketball with Keenan Mullaney (SC or Hangar)
Tuesday
Option 1 - Dance with Keeley O'Mara (Dance Room)
Option 2 - e-Sports with Gavin Hill (Computer labs)
Thursday
Option 1 - Next-Jenner-ation Running training with Rebecca Jenner (Oval)
Option 2 - Tennis with Brendan Maher (Tennis Courts)
Option 3 - e-Sports with Gavin Hill (Computer labs)
Option 4 - Volleyball with Jade Tatnell (SC or Hangar)
Option 5 - Can-do-Crew visiting Gracehaven Retirement home with Nicole Anderson (Bus to and from Gracehaven)
Cost
The SCASA Fee is $25.00 per term for each student.
This is to help cover the afternoon tea and instructors/coach costs.
This flat fee of $25.00 is for one, two or all three afternoons activities.
This is to encourage participation in SCASA activities.
After completing the SCASA sign on google form, at approximately week 3 of the term - you will receive an invitation on Parent Lounge regarding SCASA.
Please wait until week 3 of term then login to Parent Lounge to give permission for your child to attend SCASA and pay the $25.00 fee.
Once there, click on the ‘Tours and Excursions’ tab and you will find a link to SCASA Term 3 - Here you will be able to give permission for your child to attend and pay the fee.
Please also check your contact details and phone numbers are current, as we will be using this information to contact you if needed. It is very important that all information in Parent Lounge is current as teachers will use this information in case of an emergency and to support the welfare of your child.
Please make sure that you click SAVE before logging out. If you require assistance with Parent Lounge login, please contact the College Office.
Other school sporting teams will continue to have their own training sessions as usual under the direction of their coaches e.g. Strength and Conditioning training, Rugby League, Netball, Touch Football etc.
This SCASA program is designed to give extra opportunities for Shalom College students to become involved in supervised activities after school.
Please complete the student and parent details in the google form below
REMINDER - no confirming phone calls are made by the school to confirm you are in the program - as once you sign on and you receive an online response - your child has been registered and please turn up starting week 2 of term.
SPECIAL NOTE - Once an activity is full - I will omit it from the selections below - so it cannot be selected.
Mr Peter Robinson
Dean of Student Welfare
High Performance Program
After School Activities
Peter_Robinson@shalomcollege.com
An Afternoon of Beautiful Music
Chamber Strings Concert
Treat yourself to ‘An Afternoon of Beautiful Music’ from the Shalom College Chamber String Ensemble and College Choir as they give their final performance for 2024. The program includes a variety of music from inspiring classics to catchy contemporary works, it is sure to have something in it for everyone. At this concert, the groups will celebrate their senior cohort who have been valued members of the music community at Shalom since 2019.
The concert will take place at Holy Rosary Church this Sunday 20 October commencing at 2pm. Entry is by donation. All are welcome.
Middle School Academic Showcase Wrap Up
Our annual Middle School Academic Showcase was held in week 10 of Term 3. Thank you to all the parents, guardians and grandparents who were able to come along and support our students. It was a fabulous afternoon.
The showcase featured a diverse range of student work, across many of the Year 7, 8 and 9 subjects. It was wonderful to see so many students taking pride in their work and enjoying the afternoon.
This year we introduced a lucky door prize. Congratulations to the winners.
$50 Woolworths voucher | Tanya Wakeley |
$10 Tuckshop voucher | Damon B |
Reagan D | |
Jack D | |
Nelson M | |
Katie W |
Mrs Megan Munckton
Dean of Middle School
Megan_Munckton@shalomcollege.com
Preferred Student Absentee Option
Parents are able to inform the College of student absentees via Parent Lounge, using the below pathway:
Parent Lounge> Student Details> Attendance> "+Add Absence Notification"
The Shalom College App has now been updated so when parents select "Absentee" it will re-direct to Parent Lounge for the absentee notification to be added.
For Parents that do not already have the College App please click below:
ALL student absentees should be notified to the office by 9am each day. If no notification has been received, an absentee text message will be sent out to parents to advise of the student's absence.
Parents and Carers of Year 11 & 12 Students
If your child has obtained their Provisional Licence and wishes to drive to and from school you are required to fill out a Permission to Drive Form and return it to Student Reception for approval by Mr Aaron Brown. Once approved the details will be placed on our School Register.
Thanks to those Parents who have already completed this form for their child.
From the Office - Pain Relief Dispensing
A reminder to Students and Parents that legislation dictates that families need to provide their own labelled box of Panadol and/or Nurofen for staff to dispense. If you would like our Admin Office to hold medication for your child/children, please submit the appropriately labelled medication box together with a signed copy of the Student Medication form to our Office.
From the Office - Provision of Medical Certificate
Medical Certificate Absentee Notification
When providing medical certificates for your child/children's non-attendance could you please ensure that these are scanned (jpeg or png) and attached in the email (absentees@shalomcollege.com) or alternatively dropped into the main administration office.
We are no longer able to accept a photo of the medical certificate via email.
If you advise any of your child/children's Teachers or Head of House (via email) of any non-attendance, could you please also advise the admin office via the preferred options. Either email as an attachment to absentees@shalomcollege.com or via the Parent Lounge (as per the process above - under Absentees).
There are four DEFIB locations throughout the College. Please take note of their locations should you need to know in the case of an emergency. We also have one DEFIB at Chaverim, our outdoor education centre, 76 South Bingera Road, South Bingera 4670.
Uniform Shop Hours
Monday to Thursday: 8.00am to 12.00pm
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday: 3.30pm to 5.30pm
Friday: Closed
The Shalom online uniform shop is now PERMANENTLY CLOSED, and will re-open under the Wearitto/Weareco brand in the near future. The Shalom community will be notified when the new online store is available.
A reminder that if you intend to use the College Fitness Centre, you must follow the steps below:
1. Collect a permission form, either from the Fitness Centre Office or Sports Centre Office.
2. Return the signed form to Miss Mitchell (Sports Centre Office)
3. Complete an induction. These will be completed before school by appointment with Mr Burnett or after school with Miss Mitchell.
Ms Melinda Pearson
Head of Department - Physical Education
melinda_pearson@shalomcollege.com
The next feature composition from The Shalom College Literary Competition: Literary Wonders, is the winner from the year 11-12 short story; Lexi B.
The Wind Will Be My Hands
He doesn't know what he expected, venturing into the woods within the witching hours in nothing except an old flannel and jeans, but he also didn’t know what he expected when she’d shown up at his door with sad eyes and a night dress. Now he's cold, confused, and frankly, a little pissed off.
If he knew, probably would’ve brought more with him than a coat of indignation and a perpetual squint. They’ve worn off now, leaving him all the more open to the seething frost and the realisation that he’s been bested by the world.
"I found it like this. I just-" Her tone is rushed, like she might run out of time. Raspy whispers that always seem to accompany talks in the night. Scared of getting caught by the moon, or something. "I don't know. I feel bad."
Orange, white and black were all tinged yellow, soaking up the light of her old torch as she swings it to make her point. It’s the only thing in this forest with any colour. Something inside him wants to reach out and run its fingers through fur.
That thought quelled when the wind numbing his own calms. He can hear it now; wet and cracked wheezes, clawing their way out.
The fox was just lying there, on the grass. If it wasn’t for the echoing gurgles pounding in his ears and the forced rise of an erratic ribbed chest, he might’ve mistaken it as sleeping.
"Damn. What happened to it?"
"I don't know. It looks fine enough." No bullets, no bites, no broken bones or bear traps. A better man would think it boring. "Maybe a snake got ‘im. Or some bad berries."
"Damn." He rubs his eyes. Thinks about pushing them so far back he could pretend to be gone.
"Yeah, damn."
When he could the frost sink down to his chest, he sighed, grabbing his own light and turning the fox’s head with an unlaced boot. Teeth exposed, tongue out, it didn’t even flinch. Sicker than he thought. He’s never kicked around an animal as proud as this without leaving with a few more holes in his leg. Then, he saw its eyes, and the feeling of tooth on bone made him wince.
They were very wide and very beautiful, and very distant.
He swallowed a bit of himself down and it scratched his dry throat the whole way. When he walked back to her side, a little closer, he did it again.
She was biting her lips, and had been for quite some time if the deepening indents were anything to go by.
Seems they both had their masochistic side.
Pain makes up the air in the forest for a while, everything trying to wait everything else out. He’s watched animals die before - sure she has too. There’s a distinct taste in your mouth when they go, dirt and contrition. Your breathing gets heavier and you can feel the static behind your eyes, like it was a sin. Never a fox though. He’s only ever heard their cackles from behind crosshairs and curses. A better man wouldn’t feel so ill at the sight. But something’s wrong, and he knows they’re not out here to watch this thing die.
It’s the eyes he tells himself. He’s seen them before and his heart aches. For the fox. For her. Finally, for him.
Eventually, the hot iron of morality cleanses his rotten pallet and melts the frost holding his feet to the ground. He’d rather wash his hands then his tongue, after all.
28 The Wind Will Be My Hands Also, he's tired. And cold.
"Well," She breaths a sigh out of her nose in relief, like she was anticipating his judgement as much as he was. “Are you gonna do it, or am I?” That breath goes right back in and he bites himself.
God, he might be worse than her, he thinks, when her eyes go wide and a knife is drawn, dripping with mist and anticipation.
“I will.” Her palms are already pink with the cinching cold and he doesn’t know if he could forgive himself if he let the girl who ‘feels bad’ hack through a neck and get warmed to the core with another’s life.
“No. I will.” So he follows after, knees wet, crawling.
“Gimme that. Why’d you even have this?” Her bony hands were holding it like it was home.
His question is ignored, as expected, but the hum of her breath in tune with the fox’s hisses makes him forget all about it when he pushes her shoulder with gentle callousness.
It’s so much softer than he thought – the fox, that is. Even as his rigid knuckles annul the rest of his energy to raise the knife to its rippling neck, he can’t help but imagine if there’s any meaning. If it’ll leave a stain or a dent in the middle of this godforsaken forest. If it’ll matter at all if they keep it a secret and let the memory fade into the blackness of the night. If any of it matters, a knife, a throat, his hands, her torch. Something will get stained, he knows that, for sure.
He looks into its paling eyes again. They’re surrounded by a film that twinges his bones when he turns the knife and pours himself into them.
Thick and hot, blood cascades down his arm, wetting fur and flannel and for a second it feels so nice that he lets himself sink alongside the blade.
The girl traces the goosebumps on her arm as she stares at the siphoning blood, dripping onto his jeans and pooling at his knees. Most of it seeps into the very earth that dirties her palm.
The fox is a perfect image of barbaric serenity. Head half off, a display of creating only faux-repulse and the alive, real kind of fear. One you can’t look away from, even though the unforgiving wind cools the transitory saviour that settles between the grooves of bloodied fingertips.
"Right then."
It's a useless call for action. Nobody moves until the weight of silence gets too heavy to breath in.
"Can I have the tail?"
He's so taken aback he laughs. She used to cry when he bragged about his catches, bringing home limbs and teeth, memorabilia, proof. He supposes he hasn’t seen her for a while. Supposes he hasn’t done this in a while either. A better man would sling it over his shoulder and warm himself with a grin.
“Nah.” His voice is airier than usual. The moon’s light gets so strong they barely need the torch anymore. “We have t’deal with the body. Can’t leave it here, it’ll get eaten up.” Maybe that’s a bit selfish, he thinks, keeping it all to themselves. He can’t bring himself to care.
"Alright."
Leaves slide wetly against each other when she sways into dark with a torch and a knife like a spectral tree.
""Get some wood! We're gonna burn it!"
Leering at the fox now, he feels every remaining drip of blood fizzle out in his aching soul, a hollowness left by something he can’t even remember anymore. Maybe it was always there.
His daddy used to preach to him how good Christians never burn, but he never understood that. A sedated chuckle creeps out when he remembers the time, he stuck his hand over a fire as a boy, to see if it would turn to dust. To return.
An armful of sticks being dumped unceremoniously into his lap cuts his ruminations short, the culprit already busy carving into one crudely shaped like an elongated cross.
He’s still rubbing sticks together when she stabs it in the ground.
"Fox?" It makes him smile.
Obviously, her carving skills weren’t practiced.
His eyes wander over the cross a little longer, leaving it be when it began to tilt.
"Naw, Fox is fine."
Nothing is said or done about the way they sit too close and the flames burn their cheeks and their eyes once they’ve dragged the body over, or how the wind blaring against their backs creep into their skin, a blanket of blades that’s comforting in its familiarity.
The flame dances seductively and kisses his lips when he blows, reminding him to get a cigarette when he’s home again. Whenever that might be.
In his head, there are a million voices that scrape searing lines down his throat in their failed attempts to escape. He doesn’t know what they’re saying. He doesn’t know much of anything anymore. No matter how many animals he bleeds or how many fires he starts, there’s always something missing, something that he’s spent his whole life trying to find. Sometimes, he thinks he might’ve been born broken. Sometimes, he welcomes the gnawing like an old friend. He doesn’t know what he’d do if he found it. Doesn’t know what his purpose would be.
He suddenly gets the urge to reach for the flames.
Distractions come easy when the aches always there, so he watches the bugs, black and small, settle themselves on the girl’s white dress. In the harsh shadows of the moon it looks like cracked marble. She doesn’t feel them, of course not, but he doesn’t think she’d shake them off even if she did. The stoicism of it all reminds him of youth’s fallacy. And how good she is at ignoring him.
“Why’re you out here anyway?”
There’s a little pause as she flutters her eyelids, ridding herself of the fog glazing over them.
“Searchin’.”
He thinks he understands her, and the wave of choleric melancholy that washes over him makes him want to scream.
"Searching? For what? It's pitch black and cold as hell. And you're practically wearin’ nothin’.”
Hands run over exposed knees before they get tucked backed into her chest the same way she tucks her bottom lip back under her teeth. She’s not shaking anymore. Her shrug holds all the certainty in the world.
It’s enough to shake him from the inside out and finally feel the top layer of his skin turning raw under the heat.
“Alright. That’s it.” His legs are brittle and barky when he pushes himself up. A few moments of vertigo and he yearns for a cigarette, even more so when he sees her hugging her torch. “I’ll walk you home.”
. . .
Leaving the world behind is hard, especially when it’s still burning, and everything is so loud despite nothing being said. The grinding of the dirt under their heels is enough to keep his ringing head at bay until she does.
“In France they have this term: L'appel du vide. It means –” her voice is thick with whimsy and she spreads her fingers like its magic. “ – ‘the call of the void.’”
A better man would think it stupid. To his mind, as ripped and torn as the flesh his hands have intimately known, it sounds familiar. Heat and ash. Red and black. Malice and metal.
"Maybe that's why Fox was out there. He heard the call."
She smiles when she speaks, weariness clinging to her cheeks.
There now, he stares at the door behind her. Worried that his eyes might say what his mouth cannot.
“You’re a good man. Thank you.”
He gives her a modest nod, one she wouldn’t see if she wasn’t looking so damn hard. It’ll have to do. It’s the only thing he can do when he’s scared that if he spoke nothing’d come out but smoke and charcoal.
The taste follows him home, hands intertwined.
Waiting for him is a cigarette that smells like everything wrong with the world. A better man wouldn’t indulge. But maybe a good man needs to.
When he closes his eyes, there’s fur between his fingers, and blood on his tongue.
He lights another, and the burn is so so cold. Just how he likes it.
Denise_Harvey@shalomcollege.com
Term Dates for 2024
Term 1: Monday 22 January – Thursday 28 March (10 weeks)
Term 2: Monday 15 April – Friday 21 June (10 weeks)
Term 3: Monday 8 July – Friday 13 September (10 weeks)
Term 4: Monday 30 September – Thursday 5 December (10 weeks)
Term 1: Tuesday 28 January – Friday 4 April (10 weeks)
Term 2: Tuesday 22 April – Friday 27 June (10 weeks)
Term 3: Monday 14 July – Friday 19 September (10 weeks)
Year 12 Formal: Saturday 6 September
Term 4: Tuesday 7 October – Thursday 4 December (9 weeks)
Breakfast is available every morning for purchase from 8.00am - 8.30am.
Items available are:
Croissant Ham & Cheese $3.00
Big Breakfast $6.00
Toasted Sandwich $4.00
Bacon & Egg Muffins $3.50
Bacon, Egg & Cheese Wraps $4
Breakfast Bars $1.50
Fresh Salad Tub $4.50
Yoghurt Pots $3.00
Hashbrowns 2 for $1.00
Up & Go drinks and flavoured milk are available everyday.
Students who train before school need to consider utilising the breakfast menu to replenish energy lost during their early morning training sessions, however, students must be dressed appropriately before entering the tuckshop and must not be late for class.
Tuckshop - Online Pre-Ordering
The Term 4 2024 Tuckshop Menu can be found by following the link below. The menu is also located permanently on the side menu of the Newsletter (desktop only). Any changes to the menu will be updated.
Vegetarian and Gluten Free options are available to order on the flexischools app or by coming into the canteen to place an order between 8.00-8.30am for the day.
The Shalom Markets are open every Sunday 6am-midday. Come along to purchase your fresh fruit and vegetables, local food products and handmade items.
Volunteers Required - Markets Tuckshop
We are seeking your help!! We are always in need of new volunteers for the Markets Tuckshop and BBQ. If your child/children would like to gain some work experience, why not get them to volunteer in the canteen. If you have a few hours you could spare to assist in our canteen, please click on the link below to register your assistance or contact Leanne via email at barkerl@shalomcollege.com.
If we get enough volunteers, it may work out that you only need to volunteer once per term.
Register to Volunteer HERE
Markets Tuckshop Roster
Sunday 20 October |
6:00am – 9:30am |
Volunteers required |
|
9:00am – 12:30pm |
Maria McMahon |
Sunday 27 October |
6:00am – 9:30am |
Volunteers required |
|
9:00am – 12:30pm |
Volunteers required |
Sunday 3 November |
6:00am – 9:30am |
Samantha Kirkland |
|
9:00am – 12:30pm |
Volunteers required |
Sunday 10 November | 6:00am – 9:30am |
Volunteers required |
9:00am – 12:30pm |
Brendan & Astrid Clancy |
Markets BBQ Roster
Sunday 20 October |
Shalom Rugby League |
Sunday 27 October |
Rotary Central |
Sunday 3 November |
Shalom Rugby League |
Sunday 10 November |
Shalom Rugby League |
The Catholic Parish of Bundaberg
Office Hours: 9:00 - 1:00 Monday to Friday
Parish Office: Rossolini Place Level 1, 66 Woongarra St
Phone: 07 4151 6666 PO Box 79 Bundaberg QLD 4670
Email: sbundaberg@rok.catholic.net.au
AFTER HOURS: Anointing of the sick for medical emergencies
phone 4151 6666 and follow the prompt
UNDER THE PATRONAGE OF MARY MOTHER OF CHURCH
"The annual parish "Good News" magazine is now available in all churches for a Gold Coin Donation. As you read our in-house publication of the Good News magazine this year, discover the ways in which our parish vision statement is being made clear.
Stewardship Renewal
As a Stewardship Parish, the Bundaberg Catholic Parish is involved in more than ninety outreaches to all in our community.
Parishioners discern their gifts and talents and then offer these for the pastoral care, support, and service of others.
The outreaches vary from visiting the sick and housebound to grounds and property maintenance; from proclaiming the scripture at Church liturgies to support of relatives and friends of recently deceased; from church cleaning to providing hospitality.
Our schools and College are the educational and faith formation arm of our parish as are St Vincent de Paul, Oz Care, and Catholic Care our charitable and social arm while the Mater hospital is our health arm. Together we strive to make a difference in our community in whatever way our gifts can lead us.
During the next few weeks, we will be renewing our commitment to serve, to be good stewards of the gifts we have been given.
We ask you to join us as together we live out our Christian commitment and our Parish Vision – “to go out, empowered by the Holy Spirit, to share God’s Love respectfully, with all people”.
For further information please email: Stewardship.Bundaberg@rok.catholic.net.au
Shalom College Families Business and Trade Directory
To help assist the Shalom College community in supporting local businesses that are run by Shalom families, we have created our Shalom College Families Business and Trade Directory. If you would like to be listed in this directory, please send a copy of your business card to Mr Peter Robinson who will be establishing and developing this directory to Peter_Robinson@shalomcollege.com
Student Travel Rebates
Would you like to know more about the Non State Schools Transport Assistance Scheme and eligibility requirements? Click on the link to view the short introductory video here: https://youtu.be/ogWpq7tVaio
Student travel rebate applications open 1-31 October for Semester 2. Please click here to check if you are eligible.