The recent attempted assassination of Donald Trump was a terrible incident.  We all hope and expect that all political processes should be free of violence and intolerance.  I have no desire to make a political statement on any of that but I was appalled by a lot of the commentary that went with that awful event.  I heard so many, one of whom, to my horror and embarrassment, was a Catholic priest, who claimed that Mr Trump was saved only by the ‘mighty hand of God’.  I cannot fathom how so many people, who claim to be Christian, can revere an omnipotent God who can reach down from Heaven and change the trajectory of a bullet or move Mr Trump’s head.  Not omnipotent enough not to have Mr Trump lose a bit of

his ear nor omnipotent or loving enough to spare the life of the man in the crowd who died shielding his family. Apparently God loves Mr Trump more than the other gentleman.  What sort of God does that?  Who wants to believe in a God like that?  I believe in a God who loves.  I believe in a God who shares and knows our pains and our joys.  I believe in a God who offers to walk with each of us and encourages everyone of us to be more compassionate, more loving, more tolerant, every day.  That God wants us to do our part to create the Kingdom of God, now, and not wait calmly for Heaven.  That God does not reach down from Heaven and protect any of us, Mr Trump included, from harm or evil.  Authentic faith is not about hanging around waiting for miracles but getting deeply involved with people, particularly those most in need, and the world in which we live.  I hope everyone of your children who experience Religious Education at Shalom, in class and out of class, never subscribe to a belief in a God that will save some from a bullet but not others.  God must get so embarrassed, at times, by those who call themselves Christian.

School Fees 2025 – I am just wanting to make sure that there will be no surprises for parents when the school fees for 2025 are announced by the Diocesan Office in the next few weeks.  Last week’s Newsletter had a PDF attached that explained the ‘all inclusive fee’.  A better explanation of that might be ‘an all inclusive educational fee’.  This amount will include all fees and subject levies + whole Year level Camps + laptop + P&F Levy + one Vetis funded course + one Distance Ed subject for any subject we offer but can’t staff.  It won’t include the Building Levy which, from next year, will be $450 per child.  It won’t include overnight excursions or other optional trips.  Again, given the change in Federal funding, we are not expecting the total increase in fees to be significant for 2025 but the computations have changed.

Eisteddfod 2025 – Shalom has had, literally, hundreds of students involved in individual and group Eisteddfod items over the last few weeks.  Regardless of the outstanding results, Shalom is obviously a ‘powerhouse’ in the Performing Arts in Bundaberg.  Our students have been amazing and they are supported by a sensational group of dedicated staff who facilitate them performing as well as they do.  Congratulations to all involved.

Year 9 Parents – recently you received a letter from the College about laptops for your child for the next three years. Again, I am just reinforcing with parents the decision to take the school provided device or BYOD is pretty final.  It will be very difficult to change your mind down the track.  Parents who choose to not take the College device and BYOD, please note that I expect you will get a $400 refund per year on that choice as the laptop cost will, from next year, be included in the fees.

Mr Dan McMahon
Principal
mcmahond@shalomcollege.com