May 11 2016
Term 2 has had a wonderful beginning with news of our successful authorisation as an IB World School for the Primary Years Programme. Congratulations to the staff, students and parents of Del Monte on the collaboration and enthusiasm throughout this journey.
As part of our ‘800’ journey, the ‘staff’ designed and created by Santa Sabina’s Scott Henderson is travelling to each Dominican School. Mrs Dominique Marturia and students took the staff to Siena College, Melbourne last week. The staff signifies the nature of Dominic’s ministry as one of constant journeying to preach the gospel.
This Wednesday, Mr Robertson’s Year 10 HSIE class invited the wider world of parents and Design/Planning experts into their classroom to see first hand, what best practice teaching and learning looks like. Students presented the culmination of their extensive ‘real world’ project based inquiry on Livability. Their design brief was to redesign and review the Bays precinct of inner west Sydney ensuring the creation of livable sites, sensitive to heritage, social equality and environmental sustainability.
You can’t get more ‘real world’ than that, especially considering the topical nature of Sydney’s soaring house prices and the ever present question of climate change. The students demonstrated creativity and critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration at a highly accomplished level. These are the capabilities that we need to be championing if students are to be successful beyond School. This will be their world of work.
Finally, it was wonderful to see so many of you at our Mothers’ Day celebrations today. As well as our Masses for both Del Monte and Santa Sabina, this year’s “High Tea” was in the ‘big school’ hall. I thank our very generous P&F for their preparation of this year’s event; it was a highly enjoyable day.
I wish all mothers, grandmothers, aunts and carers a very happy Mothers’ Day for Sunday.
We pray for new mothers, coming to terms with new responsibility; For expectant mothers, wondering and waiting; For those whose path to motherhood has been difficult.
We pray for those who are unable to feed their children due to poverty; For those who care for the children of others; For those whose children have left home.
We pray for those grieving the loss of their mother; For those caring for elderly mothers; For those who care for others every day.
We ask God to bless all mothers in a special way; In their work, their play, their rest, their daily care; That their love be deep, tender and strong; and their life be abundant, full and richly blessed in friendship.
Amen.
Dr Maree Herrett
