College Chronicle March 13th, 2008

Dear Parents,

LENT and the PASSION

Lent draws to a close and we have entered into the most serious part of our recollection of Our Lord’s Passion. Let us never forget that Our Lord is our model in all things and in particular we ought to recall that He is our model in obedience and sacrifice.

Our Lord offered His life as a holocaust of love for us because He was obedient to the will of His Eternal Father.

Our Lord teaches us that we too must be prepared to make sacrifices ourself. He sacrificed Himself for us. We ought to sacrifice ourselves for Him. Furthermore, with our fallen nature it is by a habit of sacrifice that the will of a child is fortified.

Pope Pius XII explains this in an allocution he gave on the 22nd November, 1948:

“To the moral instability, to which youth is drawn in a thousand ways, by books, pictures and films, it is the duty of Catholic education to oppose the man who knows how to master himself, to preserve and defend his human and Christian dignity.

“Catholic moralism has a big heart; it welcomes and embraces all that is found in the ambit of that dignity. However, the boundaries which it is not lawful to overstep are clearly marked out. To maintain these limits inviolable always and in every circumstance, is the merit and glory of strong souls, but grace is necessary and humble prayer to obtain it- grace and prayer without which victory is impossible – and it is necessary right from the first years a youth be trained to renunciation, sacrifice, and the mastery of self.”

So, here, the Pope is reminding us of the necessity of developing in youth a habit of humble and confident prayer along with a habit of sacrifice, a renouncing of self and a mastery of self.

On the 18th April, 1952 the same Pope said:

“Youth must be proud of their faith, and ready to accept the fact that it will cost them something. From earliest childhood, the young must accustom themselves to make sacrifices for their faith, to walk before God with an upright conscience, and to reverence whatever He orders. Then youth will grow naturally, as it were, in the love of God.”

Christ said of Himself that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. The Imitation of Christ adds: “without the Way there is no going; without the Truth there is no knowing; without the Life there is no living.”

We all need to recall that to do without the comforts of modern life, this artificial “padding” which, eliminates physical effort, enfeebles the will – at least from time to time – is an essential part of following Our Lord.

Let us embrace these last days of Lent with courage and generosity.

Fr Michael Delsorte

What's On

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.

We ask everyone this week to put in a big effort as it is the last week.
Last year we collected $2252.00.
As you can see we are a long way short of that this year.
PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY!

THANKYOU
Michael & Doreen O. would like to thank the St Gerard’s League and all those others who have provided our family with meals and support during these last weeks after the birth of Charlotte. We are more grateful than words can express. A Mass is being offered for your intentions.

General news

SCHOOL FEES
Tomorrow, Friday the 14th March is the due date for payment of your Term 1 Fees.

It is imperative that if you cannot pay these fees in full by Friday that you contact me and we can work out a payment plan. Please don’t assume that any concessions you may have received last year to automatically apply this year as your circumstances may have changed. Accordingly, if you wish to apply for a concession for the 2008 school year, please call into the office and collect a new form.

I would like to thank the families who have already paid their fees and those who have already come to see me regarding payment.

Many families are making regular payments from their bank account to the College’s bank account. If you wish to do this, please ensure you put your surname (and initials) in the ‘Customer Reference’ line. Our bank details are:

National Australia Bank – Pakenham,
BSB: 083 827
Account No: 48691 5322.

Kind regards, Kelly

CHOIR
No practice will be held next week. All School Choirs will recommence practice at the beginning of 2nd term.

GRADE 3 BOYS SCIENCE EXHIBITION
Parents are invited to attend this exhibition next Wednesday. This will be set up in the classroom. A note will come home with the boys to advise parents of the time.

LOST
Size 80cm school jumper. Missing since Thurs 28th Feb 08 from Mr James office. Has ‘M. Pepping’ on the tag. This jumper is brand new and has been worn only once. Its return is essential PLEASE! If found, please return to office. Thankyou!

LOST PROPERTY
The lost property box is located in the Secondary Library.

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.

WANTED
Any historical information about our College for our new column “STAC SNIPPETS”. Please forward facts to Mr. Paar or the College office.

DINNER AUCTION MEETING
A reminder to committee members that we have a meeting tomorrow night (Fri 14th Mar). This will be held at the College and will commence at 7.30pm

PARENT/TEACHER INTERVIEWS
Secondary: 22nd April 2008
Primary: 15th April 2008

Early next term interview letters will be sent home with your children.

STAC SNIPPETS

The first Principal of STAC was
Rev. Fr. Todd Angele from
1997 - 2001.

Melbourne Aquarium Outing - Grade 3 Boys
After weeks of preparation and anticipation, Tuesday 11th March finally dawned for the boys of Grade 3. They all arrived punctually at Tynong train station, eager not to miss the train to the city, and were dressed smartly in their St. Thomas Aquinas school uniform for their class excursion to the Melbourne Aquarium.

Jauntily the boys chatted on the train about what they had already learned about the 'creatures of the deep' and about their expectations of what lay in store for them at the city aquarium. Indeed their excitement was palpable, as many commuters on board smiled quietly to themselves as they overheard the children's conversations.

The tour of the Aquarium was one filled with wondrous curiosity and excitement, as our guide Katrina brought the class through the many colourful displays on show. The highlight of the trip was perhaps the feeding display when two divers fed large sharks and the biggest stingrays in the world. Not a job for the faint hearted, but the boys reveled in the thrill of it all.
Mrs Von Hagt, Mr. James and Miss. Duffley accompanied the boys on this excursion, and all agreed that they represented the school well with their pleasant manners and good behaviour.

All in all, I believe that the day was a great benefit to the students and hopefully it will be a day that they will long remember. Miss Duffley.

My trip to the Aquarium by Ethan K.
When we were at the train station I knew it would be a good day.
When we got to Melbourne we stopped to have recess. Then the tour lady came and we went into the Aquarium. She took us into a room and asked us some questions.
She told us about the sea dragons.
Then she told us about the worlds biggest crab. It can grow up to 4 metres long.
Then we went underground. She took us through a tunnel. There was glass all around and there were sharks, fish, stingrays and turtles. The divers got into the water. Then the divers were feeding the sharks and stingrays and turtles.
Then we went upstairs and we saw an octopus. Then we saw some eels and catfish, some sea horses and lots more.
We left the aquarium and then we had lunch on the way back. We saw a rally car on the way to the train station.
On the train it was fun, we took lots of photos. When we got of the train we walked back to school.
My favourite animal was the stingray.

My trip to the Aquarium by Gerard M.
At the Aquarium we saw very interesting animals. We heard very interesting facts, like when starfish are hungry, they can cut off their legs and eat them! And when they are lonely they can cut themselves in half and play with themselves!
The biggest crab in the world can grow to 4 metres long. We saw a leopard shark, eels, gropers, stonefish, hump-heads, octopuses, sea jellies and other interesting animals including nurse sharks.
We also saw a feeding frenzy!
On the way back we saw St. Paul's Cathedral and Federation Square. We had a nice trip back talking to each other. Miss. Duffley took some pictures. I had a good time because I was learning new things. The End.

SPORTS NEWS!
SWIMMING: Congratulations to Bosco girls on their win in the secondary swimming carnival, and to the Kolbe boys for their win. A great day was had by both boys and girls, and a marked improvement was noticed in all students’ swimming ability. Well done to all.

CRICKET: On Wednesday the 12th of March, all the Year 9/10 girls and boys went to compete at the regional cricket tournaments in Drouin at Bellbird Park.
Miss Schaefer, Mr. Fox, Mr. Hardiman and Mr. Paar are pleased to announce that both the girls and boys A Teams have made it into the state finals at Melbourne in November.
A great effort was put in by the B Team boys and girls, with the girls securing second place for the day, and actually having to play against the A girls team to compete for the state final qualification.
A very exciting and physically demanding day for all those students involved. Once again all students proved to be very good ambassadors for St. Thomas Aquinas College.
Thank you to all the parents who came along and gave their support.
Miss Heidi Schaefer

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
The bandage was wound around the wound.
The farm was used to produce produce.
The soldier decided to desert his dessert in the desert.
Since there is no time like the present, he thought it was time to present the present.
When shot at, the dove dove into the bushes.
I had to subject the subject to a series of tests.

Saint of the Day

March 13th: St Euphrasia, Virgin.

EUPHRASIA was the daughter of pious and noble parents. After the death of her father his widow withdrew privately with her little daughter into Egypt, where she was possessed of a very large estate. In that country she fixed her abode near a holy monastery of one hundred and thirty nuns. The young Euphrasia, at seven years of age, begged that she might be permitted to serve God in this monastery. The pious mother on hearing this wept for joy, and not long after presented her child to the abbess, who, taking up an image of Christ, gave it to Euphrasia. The tender virgin kissed it, saying, "By vow I consecrate myself to Christ" Then the mother led her before an image of Our Redeemer, and lifting up her hands to heaven said, "Lord Jesus Christ, receive this child under your special protection. You alone Both she love and seek: to you doth she recommend herself" Then leaving her in the hands of the abbess, she went out of the monastery weeping. Some time after this the good mother fell sick, and soon slept in peace. Upon the news of her death the Emperor Theodosius sent for the noble virgin to come to court, having promised her in marriage to a favorite young senator. But the virgin wrote him refusing the alliance, repeating her vow of virginity, and requesting that her estates should be sold and divided among the poor, and all her slaves set at liberty. The Emperor punctually executed all she desired, a little before his death in 395. St. Euphrasia was a perfect pattern of humility, meekness, and charity. If she found herself assaulted by any temptation, she immediately sought the advice of the abbess, who often enjoined her on such occasions some humbling and painful penitential labor, as sometimes to carry great stones from one place to another; which employment she once, under an obstinate assault, continued thirty days together with wonderful simplicity, till the devil, being vanquished by her humble obedience and chastisement of her body, left her it peace. She was favored with miracles both before and after her death, which happened in the year 410, the thirtieth of her age.

THE OBITUARY NOTICE FOR THE LATE COMMON SENSE

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who had been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies: don't spend more than you can earn, and reliable strategies; adults, not children are in charge.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by his four stepbrothers. I know my rights, I want it now, Someone else is to blame, and I’m a victim.
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

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