February 28th, 2008 College Chronicle

Dear Parents,

THE TRADITIONAL PEDAGOGY OF THE CHURCH:

Letter of Cardinal Merry del Val –to Canon Lahargou, November 6, 1913.

The Holy Father rejoices with you in that your main preoccupation is the religious formation of the young, a formation based on a profound knowledge of the faith, and supported by an active and well-guided sense of devotion; indeed there is no education superior to that which raises the child above himself and carries him closer to God.

In spite of the obstacles raised by official programs, the “Association of the Institutes of Christian Education” has the magnificent record of constant attempts to preserve the methods approved by the traditional pedagogy of the Church. The Church has always been the refuge and protector of learning and, it can be said with certainty, that the classical culture that is still flourishing in the world is due to the present Christian teaching.
This same teaching is also praiseworthy in that it arms children against the seduction of false systems so deleterious to the understanding of a sound philosophy.

Cardinal Merry del Val, Secretary of State of Saint Pius X, reaffirms that the main focus of Catholic education is, and has to be, a religious formation: of the intellect - a profound knowledge of the faith - a superficial one is not only inadequate but may also be simply dangerous: of the will: a well-guided sense of devotion – true prayer nourished by sacrifice.
The Cardinal adds that the Church is the refuge and protector of education. The Church has been educating her children for decades. The Church values education and she encourages it.

A truly Catholic education will arm our children against the seductions of this world in which we have to live.

It is for all of us to strive that the education at St Thomas Aquinas College meets the demands and ideals of true Catholic education. This alone will be of assistance to the children, lifting them above themselves and ever closer to God.

Fr Delsorte
PRINCIPAL

What's On

Special Announcements

Boys Swimming Carnival
Please note the Boys Swimming Carnival has been transferred to Monday 3rd March. Boys are asked to bring sunscreen as a warm day is forecast. Parents attending are reminded that the Learners Pool will not be open for use. VCE Girls do not need to come to school on Monday.

St Gerard League
Food Friday is next Friday 7th March. Please be generous as the cupboard is empty. Thank you and God Bless, Jill Robinson.

Feast of St Thomas Aquinas
FRIDAY 7TH MARCH
SCHOOL MASS - SOLEMN HIGH MASS … Fr Black
8.30am - CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH
Parents are asked to have their children at the church by 8.25am and then to bring them to school at the conclusion of Mass.

"To all my dear Spiritual Benefactors,

Thank you so much for all your prayers and wishes on my taking of the habit.
Be assured of my daily prayers for you and in thanks a Mass will be offered
for your personal intentions.
Also feel free to send me your own intentions so we can pray
for them here at our convent.

12B York Street
Wanganui, New Zealand.

Love and prayers in the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts of Jesus and Mary,
Sister Mary Philomena."

THANKYOU

My family & I would like to thank everyone within the parish for their
support & prayers during
Elizabeth’s long illness and since her death on the 16th January.
Being part of such a caring community has made the loss of Elizabeth
more bearable for all of the family.
Michael U.& family

ANNUAL COLLEGE GENERAL MEETING

MONDAY 3rd MARCH 2008
7.30pm

TYNONG TOWN HALL

Fr Delsorte expects that all families will be represented
at this important General Meeting for the College.
All teachers will be in attendance so this gives you an opportunity to meet your children’s teachers.

A light supper will be provided at the conclusion of the meeting.

General news

SECONDARY RELIGION
Wednesday February 20 last, all students from Yr 7 - 10 were tested on the subject matter covered this far and unfortunately, the results were not satisfactory. In order to keep parents informed of the expectations of their children in Religion and their current standard, I have requested that these tests be returned to me, signed by one of the parents. Those students who did not achieve 70% or more have been given the test to complete again as homework. It is expected that these be handed in, also signed. Trusting to have informed you sufficiently, Fr Arthur.

LEM PHONICS
A tentative date has been set for the Introductory LEM Phonics course. Anyone who is interested in doing the course please contact Mrs Therese Drysdale.

MISSION MONEY
Well done to those students who have been bringing Mission Money. This year Fr Delsorte will be sending your contribution to Rotuma Island which is 600km north of Suva.
Class Amounts to 28/02/08

This is a total to date of $403.80

Come on students, please raid those money boxes or ask if you can do extra jobs at home to earn money for the missions! This is a wonderful opportunity to do that little bit extra for Lent.

UNIFORM LOAN
In August we have 6 girls coming from Germany. They will be visiting for 3 months. In that time they will need the use of a school uniform. In order to save on costs are there any parents who have any component of the girls uniform who are willing to loan these during that time? Please contact Pauline Phillips if you can help.

CHOIR
Senior girls choir practice will be held every Wednesday afternoon from 3:15pm - 4:00pm.

TYNONG NETBALL CLUB
We already have enough girls to have one 15&U team and one 12&U team, however if there are any mothers wishing to have their younger girls play there are 4 positions vacant in a potential 9&U team. New teams may be formed but only if there is enough interest.
There will be a meeting for all mothers and daughters where Registration forms can be completed and VNA registration fees paid on Tuesday 11th March, at 3.15pm over at the Secondary Girls building.
For any more information regarding netball please contact Chris Green.

PIANO LESSONS
Anthony Garner and Mrs Garner have some vacancies available. Please phone 5625 1505.

FIREWOOD
Good quality dry hardwood, home delivered. $100 per cubic metre (m³). Order a 12 m³ truck load and only pay for 10 m³ (2 m³ absolutely free!)
Stock up for winter at this special discount rate. (Note: Tipper tray loaded to full capacity holds exactly 12 m³). Please phone 5966 6121.

CASH FOR CARTRIDGES
Please don’t throw them in the bin, bring them into school.
Inkjet, laser, fax and photocopier cartridges are all worth money. Please leave at the College office.

The Association of the Little Flower for Young Women

A warm invitation is extended to Senior Girls (Years 9 - 12)
to attend a ‘Pancake Luncheon’.

Date: Saturday 1 March 2008

Time: 11.00am - 2.00pm

Venue: St. Thomas Aquinas College

RSVP: Wednesday 27 February 2008
Mrs. Powell or Mrs. Von Hagt

This luncheon is provided with compliments from the leaders of
The Association of the Little Flower for Young Women.
We look forward to your company.

This activity will be fully supervised.
It would be sincerely appreciated if parents would pick up their girls promptly at 2.00pm, to facilitate a timely exit from the College.
Thank you for your support.
Mrs. Powell.

Saturday Winter Netball Competition 2008

Drouin and District Netball Association would like to invite anyone interested in playing netball to join our netball community this season.

Schools are also encouraged to enter their own teams, so speak to your sports teacher and get your friends together to form a team !!!

DDNA offers a family environment in one convenient location. Opportunities are also available for anyone interested in umpiring or coaching to attend clinics.
Games are held at the same time each Saturday morning at the Drouin Recreation Reserve in Sinclair St, Drouin.

9 & Under modified rules - 8.30am VNA registration $28
A skills session will be conducted before the games begin at 9.00am
12 & Under - 10.00am VNA registration $38
15 & Under - 11.00am VNA registration $38
17 & Under - 12.30pm VNA registration $38
Open – 1.30pm           VNA registration $53

A team fee of $150 will be required prior to your team taking the court.

The 17 & Under and Open grades competition is combined with the Warragul and District Netball Association and the games will be alternated between the Drouin and Warragul courts.

Registration Day is on Saturday March 15th from 10.00am until 12.00noon.
So come along because we would love to see you there!

For further information contact:
President - Chris Green (56299088) or
Secretary - Sonia Lombardo (56255165)

Ritchies Community Benefit Promotion
We encourage you to participate in this rewarding programme for the school.
Please remember to present your key ring when shopping at any Ritchies Supermarket.

2007 Money Received!
Jan $16.16
Feb $14.64
Mar $16.60
Apr $19.28
May $17.72
June $28.02
July $38.56
Aug $23.38
Sept $40.81
Oct $27.20
Nov $28.56
Dec $25.36
Total $296.29

Interesting Facts

The correct terminology for a turtles shell is a carapace.

The Red Bellied Black Snake can give birth to up to 40 live snakes at one time.

If rain lands on the Thorny Devils back, it runs down the creature finding its way to its mouth where it is consumed.

The last Tasmanian tiger died in a Hobart zoo on 7th Sept 1936.

Saint of the Day

February 28th: St Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows

St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows (Francis Possenti). Born at Assisi March 1, 1838. Baptized in the same font as St. Francis and St. Clare. He became a Passionist when eighteen years of age. He was noted for his tender devotion to the Sorrows of Mary. He was sanctified by his keeping of the Passionist Rule during his six years as a Passionist Religious cleric. He died at the age of 24, before being ordained, of tuberculosis at Isola Gran Sasso on February 27, 1862. He was beatified by St. Pius X May 31, 1908. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XV, along with St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, May 13, 1920, the year of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the Congregation of the Passion. He was declared the patron of youth by Pope Pius XI.

Gabriel was full of life, chased after happiness, had lots of problems but never got lost. He met challenges head on and never gave up. He fell in love with everything that was good, but for a short period he did not succeed in putting everything in the proper perspective and wasn't able to get his life in order. He raced along the razor's edge and ran the risk of overlooking God's will for him. He just barely managed to pinpoint the right choice before it was too late.

He was not a convert who, realized at a certain point that he had done everything wrong, then changed the course of his life. Rather he was a searcher, who at a certain point found what he had been looking for and gave himself to it completely with total commitment. His soul soared like an eagle. He makes you realize that it is always possible to succeed; all you have to do is to have a sense of the good that is at work in all of us and then decide to put it into practice. He reminds you that holiness means soaring to the heights -- but starting off from situations just like ours. Just like his.

The shrine of St. Gabriel, in Italy is the third largest shrine in Italy. Tens of thousands of people, especially youth, visit there throughout the year.

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