BAYVIEW Newsletter a ISSUE 5 Monday 30 May 2016 www.bayview.vic.edu.au
Message from the Principal
TABLE OF CONTENTS Principals Message Year 12’s discover life on University campus’ School leader recognised for outstanding community contribution Looking for host families for Japanese sister school students! Strong effort for Junior Footballers Strong showing for Senior Football team 2016 Glenelg District Interschool Athletics Students thrilled artwork to be exhibited Reflections from School Chaplain Header Photo: Zane Barker, Katie Zeunert and Cameron Friedrichs competed at the Interschool Athletics… See page 4 for full details.
School Accounts Term Instalments If you are paying in 3 term instalments, your second instalment is due on 31 May. The final instalment is due by 31 August. If you wish to discuss an alternative payment arrangement, please contact our Business Manager Michael Crowe michael.crowe@bayview.vic.edu.au, or our Accounts Officer Lindy Hernan lindy.hernan@bayview.vic.edu.au, or by phone on 5523 1042.
During Reconciliation Week Bayview College and the rest of the Portland community paused to reflect on the role of dialogue in fostering peaceful societies and countering racisim. Recent tensions and violence across the world only further highlight the need to promote freedom of religion and belief, acceptance of diversity, and encouragement of empathy, in order to ensure a peaceful climate in multi-cultural and multi-religious communities. Reconciliation Week focuses our attention on ensuring ongoing intercultural dialogue and education as key features to achieving a peaceful and inclusive society. In Australia, and at Bayview College, religious and cultural diversities are seen as valuable resources in the development of our society. Recognising the contribution of people from different cultures and backgrounds represents an opportunity to seize and grow from the richness in the tapestry of life. Civic leaders, teachers and faith leaders in our community are key in promoting tolerance, inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue. Constructive and persistent messages that support understanding and replace fear are prerequisites for building resilient, peaceful societies, based on mutual respect. Events held during weeks such as Reconciliation Week bring us closer to a shared understanding of the serious threat that intolerance and prejudice has on communities. It also brings us closer to finding responses to fostering a culture of acceptance, compassion and understanding through engaging local communities and empowering society. Human beings are intensely imitative or relational creatures. We become who we are by desiring to be like what we see modelled by others. If those we admire and strive to emulate employ violence to achieve their desires, we are more likely to do so as well. If they practice peace-loving, non-violent ways of living, we will be more inclined to conform our lives to that measure instead. One of the most striking and consistent features of Christian teaching is its emphasis on the imitation of Christ as the heart of Christian living and the touchstone of Christian truth. It is hugely significant that Jesus is portrayed as one who utterly rejected the sword, and who loved his enemies to the point of self-sacrifice. And it is this dimension that Christians seek to emulate. We are to be merciful (Matt 5:7), for God desires mercy not sacrifice (Matt 9:13; 12:7; Luke 10:37). We are to make peace, for God is a peacemaker (Matt 5:9; Rom 5:8; 16:20; Eph 2:14-22).
Best performing Secondary School in the South West Weekend Australian “yourschool” report
We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love…and then we return home. Australian Aboriginal Proverb Dr Michelle Kearney