The Catholic Leader - July 2

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The Catholic Leader, July 2, 2017
Education + religion
Favourite lollipop lady retires
FOR 20 years Faye Moulder battled all weather
conditions to ensure the safety of students and
parents as they crossed busy Galleon Way going
to and from St Augustine’s School, Currumbin
Waters.
But the dedicated crossing guard has decided it was time to
hang up her stop sign and take up retirement.
To celebrate her milestone, Ms Moulder was given a “flash
mob” send-off at an assembly after completing her last crossing
duty.
Year 6 students, each wearing a fluoro vest, formed a guard of
honour to cheer her out of the school hall.
Ms Moulder was presented with flowers and a silver angel pen-
dant as a tribute to her work as a “crossing angel”.
Although a Queensland Transport employee, she was very much
a part of the school community for more than 30 years.
Her children were former students at St Augustine’s and her
grandchildren attend the school.
Ms Moulder always had a smile on her face and knew the
names of those she helped each day to cross the busy road.
She loved to have a laugh and her stylish outfits were always
noticeable under her fluoro jacket.
Principal Warren Fields said Ms Moulder’s dedication and
friendly demeanour made a difference to the start and end of the
day for everyone in the school community.
“She will be missed but hopefully she will be now able to spend
more time with her family and as a valued volunteer at St Augus-
tine’s,” he said.
Assistant principal Lynne Rohanna said Ms Moulder was also
the eyes and ears of the community, noticing if there was an unfa-
miliar car in the area, a stray pet or a little person who had missed
the bus or was looking lost.
“She would watch over them and ensure they made it safely to
where they were meant to be,” Ms Rohanna said.
She said the St Augustine’s school community wished her a
long and happy retirement.
Crossing guard: Faye Moulder received a guard of honour from students after she hung up her stop sign at St Augustine’s School,
Currumbin Waters.
Community at Our Lady of Good
Counsel celebrates new facilities
PARENTS, friends and other guests
visited Gatton from far and wide for the
opening of much-needed facilities for Our
Lady of Good Counsel School.
Principal Nathan Haley said the
community as partners in education to
celebrate the blessing and opening of
the school’s new administration centre
Mercy House; three new classrooms; the
refurbishment of the Daniel Walsh build-
ing; and a combined space in the original
convent that would be used for general
learning and outside school hours care.
Mr Haley said the buildings had a great
deal of character from the outside, but
this was only bricks and mortar.
He said the real character was formed
on the inside, and this would continue
to grow and be shaped by all those who
were welcomed through the doors.
“We named the administration area
Mercy House as it is our hope that a
strong sense of belonging is formed
through our Mercy charism that makes
our school feel like home for all we
meet,” Mr Haley said.
He said the building project, completed
last year, was a significant one as it
stretched right across the school.
“Projects of this size come at a
large cost and we acknowledged and
thanked the Federal Government for the
significant contribution of more than
$2,370,000,” Mr Haley said.
“Without this funding, this project
would not have been possible.”
Mr Haley said the OLGC community
also should be proud as it contributed
more than $170,000.
He said the project had greatly
enhanced the school through providing
many contemporary learning and work
spaces.
“As educators, we now look forward
to taking up the challenge as we work
towards supporting and nurturing stu-
dents on their learning journey towards
promising futures,” he said.
“Like the Sisters of Mercy who
founded OLGC school, may we be
inspired by the same dedication, passion
and commitment as we continue to grow
this vibrant learning community.”
Expansion:
Students
Myles
Hawks,
Lucas
Jacobson,
Brayden
Duff, Jesse
Kollegger,
Charlotte
Barron, and
Andy Huynh
joined
Brisbane
Catholic
Education
deputy
executive
director Dr
Doug Ash-
leigh, princi-
pal Nathan
Haley and
Federal
Member for
Wright Scott
Buchholz at
the official
opening
of OLGC’s
new facili-
ties.
Wellbeing Week
gets everyone in
WHEN it comes to mental health and physical wellbeing at St
Benedict’s College, Mango Hill, everybody gets involved.
The theme for the college’s Wellbeing Week – “Getting
Involved” – highlighted to students and staff the importance of
keeping mentally and physically well.
Guidance counsellor Kim Rienecker said the theme was adopted
to encourage participation by students and staff in all the activi-
ties provided during the week so an awareness of mind, body and
spirit could be enhanced.
Ms Rienecker said by getting everyone involved they could
develop connectedness and a sense of belonging.
“Research suggests the more connected a student feels to school
or a staff member feels to their workplace, the greater their wellbe-
ing, attendance and performance will be,” she said.
The week kicked off with a staff morning prayer session fol-
lowed by a barbecue breakfast, while music from Radio SBC
lifted the energy and mood of students as it created an atmosphere
that achieved a sense of belonging and connectedness.
Student activities included pavement artwork; a pop-up library;
a Give and Take wall; a communal dance; a giant chess tourna-
ment; and a student-versus-teacher basketball match, which the
teachers won.
Kids Helpline, Headspace, Starfish Foundation, Beyondblue,
Intercept, Noffs Foundation and Clothes That Care were part of a
mental health service expo armed with information, advice, sup-
port and encouragement for the students.
Staff received Mental Health First Aid training at a twilight in-
service and enjoyed 15-minute head and neck massages.
Principal Claire McLaren said it was wonderful to see every-
body getting involved in what was a great week of activities that
connected not just students but staff and the rest of the extended
college community.
“When we feel well connected and relaxed then life goes a little
smoother and people are happier,” Ms McLaren said.
She said while there was a fun element to the week there also
was a serious side with students learning about outside agencies
specialising in adolescent support.
Student Jarvis Wickham said the week was all about good mu-
sic, good fun, good people and getting connected.
He said the activities that brought students and teachers together
were a highlight.
“These activities, like the basketball challenge, helped us con-
nect, bond and build better relationships with our teachers, and it
was so much fun too,” he said.
Jarvis said he found the mental health service expo interesting
with plenty of information on offer about mental health and physi-
cal wellbeing.
“As someone who is interested in personal training there was
lots to see, read and hear about, including on body image, which
I thought was very good because it’s something a lot of young
people have to deal with,” he said.