At our Assembly last Thursday, we celebrated Harmony Day. It was a very visual reminder to us at Shalom of how many students and families have close roots to countries beyond our shores or who are one of the traditional custodians of our nation. We are so much better for that. Sadly, all too often, we see of and hear about instances where Indigenous Australians or those of migrant backgrounds continue to confront racist remarks and attitudes. This is simply unacceptable. Last week, even if you don’t follow Rugby League, I’m sure that everyone heard of the abuse thrown at League star and proud indigenous man, Latrell Mitchell. Allegedly, he was abused by an adolescent spectator. This is reminiscent of a similar incident with AFL star, Adam Goodes when he was abused by a 13 year old girl. Both incidents were awful and highly publicised. No one wants to see that in sport or anywhere else. Those two adolescents, I fear, did not come to the point of making those comments, out loud, by themselves. I suspect that they heard similar comments from adults in their lives. In last week’s Newsletter, I shared Tanya O’Shea’s thoughts on issues for girls and body image. Girls pick up negative images about their own bodies, not just from social media, but from adults and parents who comment on their own bodies. Our children will pick up from their parents values of tolerance and acceptance or the opposite. They will learn what we demonstrate.

The link below will take you to a short clip from Stan Grant that I also shared with the students on Assembly. It reminds us all that we can be better. https://youtu.be/PfjB6bodrVs 

I will be away from Shalom for the last week of Term One and the first two weeks of Term Two. I am taking a few weeks Sabbatical Leave most of which will be spent on a short study course in Jerusalem. Visiting the Holy Land has long been on my ‘bucket list’ and I am looking forward to doing my best to walk in the footsteps of Jesus! My colleague and I will have our final week in and around the town of Assisi in Italy and home to St Francis.

Date Claimers:

• Thursday 4 May at 7pm – Australian Boxing Champion, Jeff Horn in our theatre introducing 'Bullyproof Australia' to Shalom.

• Friday 5 May at 7am – Empowering Women Breakfast at ATW with Australian Netballs’ Gretel Bueta (nee Tippett) and Australian Womens’ RL Ali Briggenshaw.

Vaping continues to be a problem for young people across Australia. Very pleased to read over the weekend that Governments might be, at last, getting serious about restricting the use of vapes. Queensland Catholic Parents association are sponsoring a free webinar for parents this Thursday 23 March at 7pm. Click the link below for further details.

Vaping Webinar

Harmony Day @ Shalom – Click on link below to watch our Assembly from last week. https://youtu.be/Eo8vy_hLgNY

Mr Dan McMahon
Principal
mcmahond@shalomcollege.com