Overcoming Life’s Challenges:

Dear parents and friends,

I’ve decided to dedicate this newsletter to the importance of having a positive mindset. I’m sure like me, you've just about had enough of this pandemic. As humans we generally hate challenge in our lives. We like to be comfortable and hate looking silly if we fail or struggle. Unfortunately, life is a journey and often along the journey we hit many bumps in the road. Hopefully with the benefit of experience and the wisdom that has been gathered over time, as adults we are able to accept challenges we face, develop a positive mindset, overcome them and experience success. That’s not to say we won’t have our fair share of frustrations along the way.

It is important to pass a positive mindset on to our children. When faced with difficulties, young people, who are still learning to navigate their place in this world, often express frustration; ‘Why me?’ ‘Why is God allowing this to happen?’ It is our job as parents, carers and teachers to reassure kids that sometimes the world, or the universe, or God, throws great challenges at us. Sometimes they seem too great and they threaten to break us.

The weak mindset is to see these as unfair, to complain or to fall into victim behaviours. A positive mindset is to acknowledge the greatness of the struggle, to take the hit, to seek help if needed, but to strive to overcome in the end.

“The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand at times of challenge and controversy.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

A positive mindset views challenges as opportunities. A chance to adapt, grow, demonstrate our resilience. A chance to become stronger.

This is probably best explained to kids by asking them to reflect on ‘out of comfort zones experiences’ for example experiencing the discomfort when camping and realising how wonderful it is to be back in their own bed. The panic of being lost and the joy in being reunited with your family. The discomfort of being cold and wet and the appreciation of being able to have a hot shower.

It is true that you do not recognise the good times until you had difficult ones. Hopefully we all learn to more fully appreciate the many great things we have taken for granted as part of life before lockdown. The freedom to gather with friends and family, being able to work out in a gym, enjoy a picnic, watch a movie at the cinema and learn at school. All of the things we have taken for granted in the past will feel much sweeter when this ends.  And it will.

May God continue to bless you.

Mr Simon Abernethy
College Principal

St Francis Catholic College is proudly built on the values of our touchstones. We build and cultivate an inclusive community, stand up for justice and in solidarity with others seeking justice. We are firmly committed to our Gospel values and understand the liberating experience of education. These are the values that create societies and communities that are healthy and positive. WIth this in mind I’d like to promote an opportunity for our students to get involved and actively live out these touchstone values. 

In recent years the Sydney Jewish Museum has not only continued to tell the stories of Holocaust survivors, those of survival and hope, they have engaged deeply in the promotion of human rights and social justice. They do so in the fervent hope that an event like the holocaust will never happen again. 

Our students from years 9 to 11 have the opportunity to apply to be a part of the Sydney Jewish Museums Youth Committee. It is an amazing opportunity to work with students from all parts of NSW, to promote justice, solidarity, human rights, the value of democracy and inclusion. Members of this committee have the opportunity to use their voice to make a better world. Committee members will be asked to contribute to or review museum projects, work with holocaust survivors, handle artefacts and be involved in behind the scenes museum events. If you have a passion for justice and you want to make a difference, while meeting new people and learning, this is an amazing opportunity.

Anyone who is interested can find detailed information in the SJM Youth Committee link. Alternatively you can contact Ms Holmes holmesp03@dow.catholic.edu.au or Dr Breann Fallon at the museum bfallon@sjm.com.au . Be quick, applications close on the 3rd of September.

Ms Peta Holmes
Leader of HSIE

The Coffs Coast’s Screenwave International Film Festival is looking for the next wave of young filmmakers living anywhere in Australia!

Enter a short film into the Nextwave Youth Film Competition for your chance to win awesome awards and prizes, including Best School, and have your film premiere at SWIFF 2022 on the Coffs Coast! 

If you like being creative, and want to have a go at filmmaking, SWIFF wants to see what you can do!

The rules are simple:

• Make a film under five minutes
• Include a pineapple
• Enter before October 12^th to win!

For full terms and conditions, visit www.nextwavefilm.com.au