News

Welcome Back

Welcome back to Term 3 of the Tenison Woods College community. We especially welcome new reception students who have this week commenced their school journey with us. We also welcome the other new families whose students are starting their schooling with us in other year levels throughout the school.

I trust that the spirit of community and commitment to building strong relationships, which are complemented by our innovative culture and dedication to fostering individual pathways, will support you as you strive to bring out the best in your child.  I hope that you will also see, as I have indicated previously, that being a part of Tenison Woods College community is not hard, it just requires a little extra effort from everyone to put their hand up to help out; being our theme for this year, and to realise our potential as individuals and as a community of people.

The Feast of St Mary Magdalene - Apostle to the Apostles

At our Sunday Masses last weekend we celebrated the Feast of St Mary Magdalene and not the usual Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Father Dean explained this well in the Parish Bulletin:

“I quote from Archbishop Arthur Roche, Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.  “By the express wish of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Congregation for Divine Worship published a new decree in which the celebration of Saint Mary Magdalene was elevated and inscribed in the General Roman Calendar with the rank of feast.  …This decision … seeks to reflect more deeply upon the dignity of women, on the new evangelization and on the greatness of the mystery of God’s Mercy.”

The decree goes on to clarify an unfortunate historical misunderstanding about Mary Magdalene or Mary of Magdala. Since the time of Gregory the Great she was identified as the same sinful women who anointed the feet of Jesus in the house of Simon the Pharisee. There is no evidence for this.  “What is certain is that Mary Magdalene was part of the group of Jesus’ disciples, she accompanied him to the foot of the Cross and, in the garden where she met him at the tomb, was the first witness of Divine Mercy.” 

Mary then was the first to see the empty tomb and experience the Risen Lord and then she was the first to witness the resurrection and share the Good News to the Apostles. In this sense we can clearly acknowledge Mary as the Apostle to the Apostles.

“For this reason it is right that the liturgical celebration of this woman should have the same rank of Feast as given to the celebration of the Apostles in the General Roman Calendar and that the special mission of this woman should be underlined, she who is an example and model for all women in the Church.” 

And so this weekend we celebrate the Feast of St Mary Magdalene in preference to the normal Sunday Celebration.

I was personally delighted to see this change by the Catholic Church and it indicates to me that the Catholic Church is an evolving, growing community of faith-filled people, expressing the truths of our faith with renewed understanding and insights.

Timor-Leste Immersion Program – Welcome Home

The Tenison Woods College 2018 Immersion Program to Timor Leste returned Wednesday 11 July inspired by their experience. This unique opportunity, under the auspices of Catholic Mission and its Getting Involved Globally (GIG) program, offered our students an immersion experience and the chance to see the world through the eyes of mission and justice. I am looking forward to hearing further of their experiences and seeing how these experiences will have an impact on our wider College community. At a time when our Catholic Church is inviting us to see, feel and respond to the need in our global community, I am delighted to see that these students, staff and parents committed themselves deliberately and passionately to evolve the story further for our times and our context.  Special thanks to Bernadette Fisher and Chris Lloyd for their critical role in this initiative.

Staffing News

In Term 3, we welcome back Phil Ciabattoni, Sarah McDowell, Marie Hoare, Jill Rogers and Jane Van Eeten who are returning following periods of leave in Semester 1.

I also take this opportunity to thank all staff who have covered people on leave, particularly Francesca Dickson, who has completed the role of Junior School Head with dedication, perseverance and deliberate care for our students, families and staff.

We also welcome Julie Hopgood to the staff in her role as year 3 teacher, working Fridays with Susie Boksem. We look forward to Julie’s talents and commitment complementing the year 3 team and Junior School.

Out of School Hours Care – five years of deliberate care, deliberate learning.

I have been delighted by the response to our OSHC service that has now been servicing our community for five years. The attendance at our holiday program was further validation of the carefully prepared program and the commitment to a fun, safe, nurturing and supportive environment, which is reflective of our community’s family values.

At this time, I offer appreciation to the range of staff who offered their service to the OSHC program under Sarah Seebohm’s leadership during the student vacation; service which was greatly appreciated by the families of our community.

For further information and bookings contact Aleisha or Sarah on 8724 4633 or via email.  You can also visit the OSHC page on our TWC website where you’ll find more details about the OSHC Program.

ELCC – Holiday Program

The Early Learning and Community Centre also operated during the student vacation with its stimulating and individualised holiday learning program under Domenica Dunn’s discerning and passionate leadership.

Reception enrolments 2019

I advise parents and caregivers that interviews are well under way for all 2019 Reception Enrolments. We invite parents or caregivers and students to schedule an interview time with Mrs Jill Rogers, Head of Junior School, to formalize their child’s enrolment for 2019. If you have a child who is due to start school in 2019 and have not received a letter, please contact Tracey Davey on 8725 5455 who will help you organize this.

Tenison Woods College Reunion – A great deal to celebrate!

Friends of Tenison Woods College; past scholars since the inception of Marist Agricultural College or the Convent of Mercy, parents of former scholars, past staff members, past volunteers, in fact anyone who is proud to be or have been associated with Catholic education in the Mount Gambier; are invited to our reunion Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th October 2018.  During this evening we will also present our 2018 Shining Lights at the Commodore on the Park, and celebrate the contributions of the following Shining Light Recipients:

• Alan Balshaw
• Anthony Casadio (Dec)
• Sally Duigan
• Jeanette Elliott
• Jenna McCormick

Tickets on sale now. Please click here to purchase. Lock this date in your diary, let your old school friends know and get along – you won’t be disappointed!

Carparking Care

I ask all community members to please park only in the designated car park spaces around the school and refrain from parking elsewhere on school grounds. This includes, but is not specific to, disabled car parks and the grassed areas adjacent to the gym, classrooms and shedding.

As has always been the case, where there may be a specific medical concern due to injury and special needs, please let us know so that we can implement a suitable support plan for your family.

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne

Thursday 26 July the Church celebrates the memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, the parents of Mary and grandparents of Jesus. It is a day that helps us remember the gifts of our own parents and grandparents; a celebration of the thread of history and the treasure of tradition that lays within our families.

The Memorial Day also helps us reflect on the tradition and treasures in our own story at Tenison Woods College; a community built on the passion and vision of generations that have passed before us. Common to all generations is the inspiration of our founders Marcellin Champagnat, Catherine McAuley, Father Tenison Woods and Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop and a commitment to enable others to shine.

God Bless,

David Mezinec | Principal

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