JJAMM Leadership Conference

From the 15th to the 19th of February this year, our Social Justice Leader and Ministry Captain attended a leadership camp coordinated by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart.

After spending the first day at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney, our leaders travelled to the St Joseph's Spirituality and Education Centre in Kincumber on the NSW Central Coast.

Focusing on how to act justly in the spirit of Joseph, Julian Tenison Woods and Mary MacKillop, our leaders participated in various workshops focusing on effective communication, leading by example, and advocacy with Josephite schools from all over Australia and New Zealand.

Our student leaders approached the camp with overwhelming passion, compassion and enthusiasm and returned with exciting, new ideas. During this camp the students also had time to connect with various stories of resilience and overcoming adversity, all while making genuine and beautiful friendships with people from across national and international borders.

Bushfire Relief Fundraiser

As we have seen over the past few months, our country has been ravaged by horrific bushfires and floods. As part of our school’s dedication to social justice in the footsteps of Saint Mary of the Cross Mackillop and Julian Tenison Woods, we endeavoured to raise awareness of the effects of these bushfires via conversations whilst also collecting donations.

On Friday the 21st of February, our school community participated in a whole-school awareness campaign and fundraising appeal to support the communities who will suffer long-term effects as a result of these natural disasters.

With the message that ‘small change can make a big difference’, student leaders and the social justice team provided discussion prompts that encouraged students to discuss recent events in and outside of the school grounds. Students were encouraged to bring in as many silver and gold coins as possible on this day, which was used to create the message ‘MSJ Stands With You’ on our quadrangle space.

This initiative raised an incredible $1,599 dollars for the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s Bushfire Relief Appeal, where 100% of funds are used to provide both short and long-term support for victims of the tragic fire season.

We would like to thank all the members of our community who participated in this appeal and stood in solidarity with vulnerable Australians at this incredibly difficult time.

Project Compassion

The beginning of Lent also signifies the beginning of our fundraising efforts for Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion- an event over the period of Lent encouraging education of, and fundraising for, some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.

With this year’s campaign encouraging us all to ‘Go Further Together’, our appeal began with our student leaders cooking and selling pancakes on Shrove Tuesday. With pancake mix and toppings donated by students and staff, our school was able to raise an incredible $468.75 for Project Compassion in a single day.

As each week progresses during the campaign, students will focus on a different country which Caritas works closely with, identifying the particular needs of each nation. Each Learning Group has been given a Project Compassion donation box which they are encouraged to contribute to during the season of Lent.

If you wish to know more about the work Caritas Australia undertakes through their Project Compassion appeal, please visit the following link: https://lent.caritas.org.au/

Darcy Robinson

Faith and Identity Leader - Social Justice