BAYVIEW Newsletter a
ISSUE 15 Monday 26 May 2014
www.bayview.vic.edu.au Principals Message We all know the importance of recognition and how good it makes us feel. National Reconciliation Week is the perfect opportunity to recognise all Australians, and the unique place of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within this country and our school community. In its broadest sense ‘reconciliation’ means coming together. In Australia it is the term used to refer to the bringing together of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, or Indigenous, and non-Indigenous Australians. Supporting reconciliation means working to overcome the reasons for division and inequality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
TABLE OF CONTENTS ♦
Principal's Message
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Aidan Cancian is honored with Pierre de Coubertin Award
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Mrs Quinlivan receives “positive” nomination
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Ben Cottier & Meg Ryan receive “Sons & Daughters” scholarship
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Senior Football result
IN OTHER NEWS This week’s header photo Our Year 11 students attended the annual Faith & Values retreat, preparing them for Year 12 and beyond! Story and pictures on Page 5 of this weeks Newsletter. Maddie Englezos on the magnificent Bridgewater Beach.
Yvonne Anson to attend the Key Issues Institute Bayview is absolutely thrilled to announce Yvonne Anson will be attending environmental training in Colorado thanks to a scholarship from the Alcoa Foundation. More in next weeks newsletter!
At Bayview this week we will join in the National Reconciliation Week celebrations that are being held in the Shire and around the country. This important week commemorates two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey—the anniversaries of the successful 1967 referendum and the Mabo decision. We have an opportunity to explore how we can all engage in the conversation and the actions of national reconciliation. However, it also prompts us to seek reconciliation in our fractured personal, professional and family relationships. The fact of the matter is that, the closer we get to people and the more time we spend with each other, the greater the possibility that we’ll hurt each other. Unfortunately, sometimes individuals hold on to the hurt and allow it to destroy their relationships (and sometimes themselves in the process). Alexander Pope once said “To err is human, to forgive divine.” We often think reconciliation and forgiveness are one and the same. This is not exactly the complete picture. Forgiveness leads to reconciliation. Forgiveness is at the core of reconciliation -you cannot call yourself reconciled without first forgiving and being forgiven. Forgiveness is a spiritual act; a decision to release the other person from your judgment, and a decision to release yourself from judgment. It is not saying that you’re not hurt anymore by the actions or that you agree with what happened to you. It is saying you recognize the human frailty that exists in all of us and you wish to move ahead reconciled with the other. Ideally the development of reconciliation fully restores the relationship to where it was before the offense. It may not resolve the issues that led to the fractured relationship; however, it is an agreement to seek better ways to be in partnership moving forward. The Restorative Practices approach that is the foundation of the Bayview discipline policy is focused on the restoration of relationships after hurtful actions. Throughout this week of National Reconciliation we should take the opportunity to seek ways to pardon ourselves for errors we have made, to absolve others and to reunite in a common goal of making this community a better place. “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
- Romans 12:18
Dr Michelle Kearney