Dear McAuley Families

As we race towards the end of the year it’s important to remember the positives in our lives.  We can easily lose touch with what’s important and forget our many blessings.  Resilient people work to bounce back from hardships and this is a vital skill we need to pass on to our children.  With the huge rise in anxiety in society it is vital that schools and families work to build our boys and girls as resilient people.

Claudia and I proudly watched our Fearghus graduate with his Year 12 Cohort from Marist College Canberra yesterday.  The day was made more special by me being asked to speak on behalf of the parent group to many of the boys I had enrolled into the Junior School.  This group of Year 12’s have endured much loss and disappointment this year, as have all final year students (our McAuley Year 10’s included).  They began their final year of school with bushfires and smoke and were soon sent away from school due to the COVID lockdown.  They encountered a type of educational change only dreamed of in the past at an incredible pace of change.  They missed out on camps, retreats, overseas tours, formals and assemblies, yet as they gathered and sang the College song together for the last time rejoiced in their special bond of friendship and care for one another.

 Andrew Fuller has some excellent free resources on his website (www.andrewfuller.com.au) including some family tips about building resilience in our kids.  He suggests making these things habits in our family life:

• Promote belonging to our family, build friendships with different people
• Have some “mooch” time where you have nothing planned
• Rediscover family rituals like Sunday roast
• Love our kids for their differences
• Be a parent – say “NO”
• Be consistent – stick to the rules
• Teach self-esteem – give descriptive praise “I like the way you…”
• Know how to argue – resolve conflicts fairly
• Be “reliably unpredictable” – don’t always do what our kids expect!

These are simple but such effective ways that perhaps we have lost track of over time.  Just this morning I watched a young mum plead with her child to hop in their car seat, begging and apologizing for having to do what “mummy says…” we need to back ourselves and our skills and work together to create our fine young people.

Please be sure to join our Community Farewell for Mr Hughes and Mrs Henderson who leave us at the end of the year.  Casual drinks and nibbles will be offered at the Oriental Hotel on (this coming) Friday 4 December from 5.00-7.00pm.  Please let the office staff know if you plan to attend.  I also remind you that COVID regulations will be in place and those who are feeling unwell should not attend.

Thanks to our McAuley staff who presented an interesting and fun day for Year 7 2021 Orientation Day last Tuesday.  We welcomed a number of keen prospective students for next year who enjoyed learning about and experiencing the supportive and caring McAuley culture which is so valued by many.

Prayers continue for Stephen Olsen (Year ¾) who is making excellent progress after heart surgery last week.  The Olsen family are enormously grateful for the prayers and support offered for Stephen.

Mary our Mother… Look After Us.

Eamonn Moore

Principal