Catholic Life and Reflection
What Students Are Learning About
As part of their unit on Prayer, Year 4 went to Floriade on Monday. As well as enjoying the glorious weather, entertainment, and stunning flowers they took some time to create artworks. They had copies of quotes from the book Grandad’s Prayers or the Earth and used those to inspire their art. Praying while surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation is a special experience.
What Staff Are Learning About
On Friday last week I was lucky enough to take part in the early career faith formation day. We began the day with a Christian mediation, this was a beautiful way to begin the day and have a moment to stop our busy minds and be in the presence of God. We then were taken through the most spiritually uplifting day and got to encounter God many times and speak about our journey and our vocation to God. Our vocation to God is to spread his message and as a teacher I have the greatest power to do so. We got to attended mass at the beautiful cathedral in Manuka and listened to a gospel all about loving one another and opening our hearts up to live like Jesus did.
As a teacher we have a blessing to instill God's values into the lives of our students, I have the greatest blessing of being a kindergarten teacher and for some, I am the first one to teach them about our catholic faith. We heard from the Archbishop who put it so simply and beautifully, not everyone is on the same spiritual journey and that it is okay, God has open arms for everyone, and we all get the chance to experience his love no matter how much or how little faith we have. When we have knowledge, we have power and power is knowledge. My faith has been a rocky journey but I am proud to have found my place and being at Saint Johns has helped me to express it in many ways. Through the love I feel when I walk in the door every day, through my students being kind to one another, caring for one another and helping each other, through my colleagues lifting me and being there for me in times of need and through the parents trusting me with their little ones everyday.
At Saint Johns, our community and the love we see everyday is based off the faith and values given to us by God and this is why I chose our school. The faith formation day made me realise how lucky I truly am to have these values and be an advocate for God. I am grateful I always have someone up there looking out for me. We are so blessed to be brought together by God, his values are the reason our students are so beautiful, welcoming and kind. How lucky are we to be loved by such a special being.
Miss Kennelly
Kinder Maroon Teacher
Catholic Life and Reflection
It was such a beautiful day for the Year 4 Floriade excursion. Several students in my class had asked me to come and at the last minute. I was able to slip away and surprise them.
When I got there the teachers were quietly sitting by, and the students were chatting and laughing whilst they ate their recess in the cool shade. When they were asked to line up there was no rubbish left behind and happily made two lines. They greeted people as they walked past and made way for parents with prams. They proudly wore their uniform and made sure some of our less confident students were taken care of.
Our school, even when we are in public, has a sense of community and togetherness. That was clear today. They were on earth the hearth God, just by doing what they always do.
God bless,
Stephanie Stewart
