| $6000+ raised for homelessness | | http://www.spcc.qld.edu.au/news/Pages/$6000--raised-for-homelessness.aspx | $6000+ raised for homelessness | <p>Orange was the colour of the week when 25 St Peter Claver College (SPCC) staff pledged to wear the same clothes for three days to raise money and awareness for homelessness in Australia.</p><p>As part of the 2020 <a href="https://www.thesudsychallenge.com/">Sudsy Challenge</a> – run by <a href="https://orangesky.org.au/">Orange Sky Laundry</a> – the team raised an amazing $6100+ after setting an original target of $1200.</p><p>St Peter Claver College, Assistant Principal Religious Education, Angela Ryan said St Peter Claver had been a supporter of Orange Sky Laundry for a few years.</p><p>“We were part of a BCE fundraising effort that helped raise money for their first van and from that it's been an organisation we've continued to support," she said.</p><p>Ms Ryan also said the College had a long tradition of supporting people experiencing homelessness.</p><p>“It's not possible for us to participate in our traditional social justice activities in this space at the moment due to COVID-19 restrictions, so we saw this as an effective and COVID-safe way to be able to support the crucial work of Orange Sky Laundry," she said.</p><p>“It's been a great way for us to raise money and awareness about homelessness in Australia and a good way to get our students talking about it too.</p><p>“I found while wearing the orange shirt for three days that I was a lot more mindful of how I take things like clean clothes and a choice as to what to wear for granted. I was sick for a couple of days during this time and also thought how hard it would be to be unwell and not have a safe place to rest or have access to medication.</p><p>“It really made me appreciate the things I usually take for granted – like having a washing machine or a safe place to lie down when feeling unwell."</p><p>SPCC Campus Minister Stacey van der Westen said participating in the Sudsy Challenge was an educational opportunity for the students as well as herself.</p><p>“It was very eye-opening for the students to understand that more people than they might have originally thought are actually living with homelessness," she said.</p><p>“Personally, it was a reminder people don't choose homelessness," she said.</p><p>“I was also grateful to have had this opportunity to contribute to something greater than myself."</p><p>All funds raised as part of the Sudsy Challenge will help support Orange Sky Laundry's 31 services across Australia and give people doing it tough access to free laundry, warm showers and most importantly, genuine conversation.</p><p>The words of St Peter Claver inspired staff to take action and join in the Sudsy Challenge. He said, “We must speak to them with our hands by giving before we speak to them with our lips."</p><p><strong><br></strong></p><p><strong>Did you know?</strong></p><p>1 in 200 Australian experience homelessness. </p><p> </p><p><strong>PHOTO:</strong> The SPCC Sudsy Challenge Team raised $6100+ for homelessness in Australia.<br></p> | | | | |
| Artwork captures essence of College | | http://www.spcc.qld.edu.au/news/Pages/Artwork-captures-essence-of-College.aspx | Artwork captures essence of College | <div>The Rosewood Tree – it stands tall and strong in the College grounds, between the Music Room and Art Block.</div><div><br></div><div>Now, an artistic impression of the flight path of a falling seed of the same tree – called <em>Take Flight</em> – stands proudly at the front of the College. It’s silver colouring contrasting against the darker exterior of the Champagnat Building.</div><div><br></div><div>St Peter Claver College Principal Terry Finan said it was an artwork of great meaning built to stand the test of time.</div><div><br></div><div>“All artworks have a story to tell and great artworks, like this one, have many layers of meaning,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We’ve gone to nature and chosen a particular tree within the College grounds – the Rosewood Tree – to draw inspiration from.</div><div><br></div><div>“As the tree, the College prepares its students, the seeds, through education and values for success before setting them out into the world.</div><div><br></div><div>“Each seed or blade in the artwork has a pattern representing the College community and the support that we offer to one another.”</div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://www.jacoroeloffs.com/">Local sculptor Jaco Roeloffs</a> said this particular concept was meant to be.</div><div><br></div><div>“The idea came to me the evening before I was due to present some concepts to the College and in the end it was the winning design,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“Everyone felt the design perfectly communicated the College’s values and purpose which was the goal.</div><div><br></div><div>Mr Roeloffs also said that sculptures like this one rely as much on their technical elements as they do on their design and story.</div><div><br></div><div>“A lot of engineering went into the production of the blades, as well as making sure the finished product was structurally sound.”</div><div><br></div><div><em>Take Flight</em> stands more than 5 meters tall, and took 3 months to create and approximately 8 hours to assemble.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Watch a video about <em>Take Flight</em> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/183107621783745/videos/618678802392595/">here</a>.<br></div><p><br></p> | | | | |
| Altar a gift to symbolise new partnership | | http://www.spcc.qld.edu.au/news/Pages/Altar-a-gift-to-symbolise-new-partnership.aspx | Altar a gift to symbolise new partnership | <div>The theme of partnership resonated loudly when staff and students from St Peter Claver College, Riverview, joined St Ann's School, Redbank Plains, for a very special assembly.<br></div><div><br></div><div>The purpose of the assembly (held on Monday 3 August 2020) – for SPCC staff and students to gift a brand-new handmade Altar to the primary school in its foundation year.</div><div><br></div><div>St Ann's School Principal Sonny Smith said as a Catholic school, the Altar would be a very welcome addition to all school Liturgies and Masses.</div><div><br></div><div>“The Altar also formally acknowledges the unique partnership that our schools will continue to develop over the coming years," he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We not only hope St Peter Claver College will be a school of choice for our students as they move into their secondary studies, but we also hope we will have some of our St Ann's students visit when they are students of St Peter Claver and remember the day this relationship was forged."</div><div><br></div><div>The finished Altar is a combination of the passion and dedication shown by the Year 12 Certificate I in Construction students who designed and constructed it. The Altar also incorporates St Ann's symbolic cross.</div><div><br></div><div>St Peter Claver College Principal Terry Finan said it was a pleasure to be a part of something that has brought the two schools together and will continue to bind them for decades to come.</div><div><br></div><div>“As Catholic communities, we both value rituals and this Altar will be both a focus of many of St Ann's Liturgies and an ongoing symbol of our partnership," he said.<br></div><div><br></div><div>“When it became apparent St Ann's needed an Altar we didn't hesitate to volunteer for the job.</div><div><br></div><div>“The College has the tools needed to execute the job and the talented students needed to bring it to life."</div><div><br></div><div>St Peter Claver College Head of Technology James Dolan said real-life experiences like this are incredibly valuable for students.</div><div><br></div><div>“By giving them the opportunity to participate in these types of tasks they are able to contribute to the community while honing their skills and showing how much they have learned during their time at St Peter Claver College," he said.</div><div><br></div><div>“It's a part of both schools' history now – the St Ann's Altar built by the SPCC construction students of 2020."</div><div><br></div><div>Mr Smith also added, “We cannot thank the community at St Peter Claver College enough for this amazing gift. Every time we come together to acknowledge and celebrate the presence of Christ amongst us, we will reflect on this moment."</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>PHOTO (LEFT – RIGHT): St Ann's Primary Learning Leader Kathleen Andzue, SPCC Head of Technology James Dolan, SPCC Principal Terry Finan, SPCC Year 12 Certificate I in Construction students Anthony Buhse, Ciaran Shaw and Robert Rwigema, School Progress and Performance Learning Services Cluster 5 Senior Leader Paul Leeson, St Ann's Principal Sonny Smith and St Ann's Assistant Principal Religious Education Katie O'Kane.<br></div> | | | | |
