Sharing Sacred Spaces

One of the special elements we have introduced over the past few years is year level chapels at particular retreats and camps. For the Year 9 students, this opportunity is at Collins Street Baptist Church in the city, a building that was created in the 1860s and has been a place of worship ever since. Many of our students had not been inside a church like this before and so it was a wonderful chance to see the inside of a building that many would walk past but few would see inside.

Together we reflected on the week, bringing the many different experiences together. We prayed for our city, and the people who call it home. At the end, students had the chance to light a candle, for themselves, someone they love or for a situation they are thinking about. It was entirely optional, but it was beautiful at the end to see so many candles flickering away, representing so much.

We are very grateful to the Collins Street Baptist Church, as well as the incredible Mrs Schreuder, who with her team, pulled off another wonderful City Experience for our students.

Celebrating Progress

Our Reconciliation Action Plan is taking place, and the committee is excited that we are ready for the first stage of our approval process. We are now inviting any other parents who would like to be on the committee to join us. There are normally around one or two meetings after school per term (3:30 pm – 4:30 pm) and this next phase is for us to continue to meet to ensure the implementation of the plan. 

Please contact me at m.riviere-pendle@caseygrammar.vic.edu.au if you are interested or have any questions. You do not need to be an ‘expert’, simply interested in promoting reconciliation and understanding more.

Once we have the plan approved it will be made available to the wider school community. We are also in the process of implementing different parts of the plan which you will see over time. 

We have recently received a beautiful Acknowledgement of Country from Marara Designs (https://mararadesigns.com.au/) that you can see at Reception, and soon you will see another in the PAC. They have been created by Shelby-Rae, a Wiradjuri woman in New South Wales and we are delighted to support her small business.

Upcoming Opportunity

With Reconciliation Week coming up in Week 7, we have the return of our First Nations Film afternoon. This term we will be showing ‘Occupation: Native’ on Monday 27 May from 3:45 pm – 5:15 pm. It is a fantastic way to watch an hour of Australian history from an Aboriginal perspective — something we rarely have the opportunity to do.

It is engaging, funny, serious and enlightening. We will watch the film and then have a half hour of discussion afterwards. It is a great opportunity to watch something that you may not otherwise see, and have conversations on big issues that you may not normally have the chance to discuss. Further information will be in the upcoming Reconciliation Week letter.

Every blessing to each of you in this week ahead.

Monique Riviere-Pendle

Chaplain