What happens on a Staff Development Day?
Have you ever wondered what the staff do on Staff Development Days? Schools provide opportunities for staff and school leaders to continually improve their knowledge, skills and professional capability to deliver key curriculum priorities and school strategic directions. One of the school improvement goals in 2022 focuses on the learning and teaching of Mathematics. During our Staff Development Day on Monday, the staff engaged in professional learning which focused on defining effective feedback within the classroom, working on strategies to implement feedback, peer and self-assessment and goal setting to improve student growth in Mathematics. Thank you to Mr Green and Mrs Burrows for facilitating the day and to the staff for their participation and engagement in this very important professional learning. Thank you also to our families for supporting our Staff Development Days.

Emeritus Bishop Peter Ingham AM DD

Congratulations, Emeritus Bishop Peter Ingham, on being named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for significant service to the Catholic Church in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
As Marilyn Rodrigues writes in the Catholic Weekly:
Bishop Peter said he was "so surprised" to receive the honour and wanted to dedicate it to the people of the Diocese of Wollongong.
"I usually think of myself as a very ordinary horse in this human race, I didn't see that I did anything spectacular, but I've basically just tried to be there for people," he said, adding that a lot of his work as a bishop was "loitering with intent".
"The loitering is the hanging around after Masses and school functions, Confirmations and whatever. And the intent is the witness to the Gospel; getting to know people and mixing with them, and treating them as equals so that when they did have something they wanted to talk to you about, they didn't have an inhibition about approaching you.
"Basically, what I've tried to do is to put 'fresh heart' into people and to encourage them to persevere in their faith in Jesus Christ and the consequent goodness then that flows from that to make a positive social contribution to the common good of everybody.
"If we have positive values to live by, we strengthen the moral fabric of our nation. Particularly among our Catholic people, if they really try to live our faith, they're a great force for good in the community."
"There's an old French proverb that says' Gratitude is the memory of the heart,' and in a sense, I'm grateful for the goodness of so many people across the Illawarra, the Shoalhaven, the Macarthur, in the parishes, schools, CatholicCare, our Bishop Brian Mascord and clergy, religious congregations and the wonderful volunteers and co-workers. We are so proud of you, Bishop Peter!

Farewell Sister Grace Cini
Last Wednesday, 8 June we farewelled Sr Grace Cini FCJ who is leaving the Illawarra to retire in Adelaide, South Australia. We give great thanks to Sr Grace for her ministry where she devoted over 50 years of her religious life to teaching thousands of students at St Francis of Assisi. In her address to the staff and students, Sister Grace asked for one thing. “Keep her in our prayers!” We certainly will. Best wishes Sr Grace, we will miss you!