This week, our VCE VM students led our activities joining the nation in celebrating R U OK? Day. This special day is dedicated to encouraging everyone to check in with friends, family and colleagues to ask, “Are you OK?” The focus of this event is to promote mental wellbeing and the importance of staying connected. By fostering open and supportive conversations, we can help those who may be struggling with life’s challenges. With a touch of yellow and some footy colours thrown in and the lunchtime activities there was a positive energy brought to this important theme. This is a significant project for our VCE VM class and we thank them for their annual leadership of this work.

Oak Centre Update

With all the furniture now installed we have commenced moving our Science equipment into our new labs. We are still on track to commence classes in the Oak Centre from Week 1 Term 4. We remind families and students who may be coming into the College over the holidays for practice exams that access to the College may be required via Church Street at different times of the demolition process whilst we remove Labs 4/5 and the steel ramp and stairs.

The Right to Disconnect

In late August the “Right to Disconnect” was introduced as part of the Fair Work Act. This initiative ensures that staff can enjoy a healthy work-life balance by setting boundaries on after-hours communication. We recognise that the breadth of digital communication options can create availability creep, where employees become more accessible in locations and at times of the day, at weekends and during periods of leave when they should be able to disconnect from work. Under the new legislation, staff are not expected to respond to emails, messages, or calls outside of designated work hours. Staff members may be required to connect and/or respond outside their designated working hours in reasonable circumstances which may include:

  • public emergencies
  • critical incidents
  • imperative time-sensitive operational updates
  • where potential harm to others may otherwise result; or
  • where it may be necessary to comply with legal obligations.

Clonard staff value communication with students and families and will ensure this continues whilst working within this new environment.

Trustees Meeting and Visit

Next week we will host the Kildare Ministries Trustees.

When Kildare Ministries was formed in 2014 it received the authority to act as a Church body (Public Juridic Person). Its structure involves lay people at all levels of governance of its educational and community works.  The collaboration and participation by lay colleagues reflects the response to the call of Vatican II for religious orders to sharing of mission and to recognise the call of all the baptised to contribute to the leadership of the Church.

The Trustees of Kildare Ministries, appointed by the Members Council, are responsible for protecting and assuring fidelity to mission and preserving property for the purpose of the ministries. A profile on our Trustees can be found at Trustees – Kildare Ministries

The Trustees of Kildare Ministries periodically publish statements which respond to matters of injustice in Australia. The statements arise from the Kildare Ministries Vision, Mission and Values. The intention of the statements is to provide clarity on their position and act as supports or guides as needed by the wider Kildare Ministries community. Thes can be read on the Kildare Ministries website at Kildare Ministries Trustee Statements – Kildare Ministries

This is their first meeting at the College and we look forward to sharing with them our joys and challenges, taking them on a tour of the College, they will also meet and share lunch with a number of our student leaders.

Image from Trustees – Kildare Ministries

We know our Year 12 students are approaching a significant time as they come to the final weeks of their courses and start to prepare for exams. The practice exams in the holidays are an excellent opportunity to test their current application of knowledge in an exam setting and receive valuable feedback from their teachers before the VCE exams later next term. We strongly encourage students to make the most of this opportunity.

As we enter our final week of Term, I wish every family a safe and peace filled change in routine over the two week break. A reminder that our general office will be open during the first week of the holidays.

Blessings

Luci