Catholic Education Week
July 27 - August 2

>> About
>> Theme
>> Launch
>> Patron
>> Awards
>> Act of kindness
>> Sponsors
>> Activities planned for Cairns Diocese

About Catholic Education Week

The overarching goal of Catholic Education Week in Queensland is to communicate, articulate and celebrate the distinctive mission of Catholic education. Catholic Education Week is designed both as a period of celebration and a special opportunity to promote the great things happening in Catholic education across the state.
For all Catholic education ministries, Catholic Education Week 2008 is a time to share what we do with our school, parish and wider communities. In 2008, Catholic Education Week celebrations will centre on the theme:

Theme: Faith in Our Youth

The theme is designed to communicate a strong message that the faith formation of young people is at the heart of a Catholic education. It highlights the fact that the Catholic education community has faith in young people to reach their full potential; to become active participants and leaders in their families, parishes and communities; and to be responsible stewards of the nation and planet. In 2008 the theme also provides a clear link to the focus and energy of World Youth Day celebrations that will culminate in Sydney earlier in July.
The Catholic education community is encouraged to embrace this theme throughout 2008 and to celebrate and ‘spread the good news’ about the distinctive mission of Catholic education during Catholic Education Week.

Launch
Catholic Education Week will be officially launched by Bishop Joseph Oudeman OFM Cap, Auxiliary Bishop of Brisbane, on Tuesday 29 July 2008 at Australian Catholic University (ACU National), McAuley at Banyo campus.  Staff and student representatives from all dioceses will be in attendance along with invited guests.

A feature of the launch event will be the performance of a combined choir representative of our Catholic education community, including students from lower primary through to tertiary level and staff of ACU National.  A highlight of the launch will be the presentation of awards to recipients of the Spirit of Catholic Education awards.

Patron

The patron of Catholic Education Week in 2008 is Jean Madden.
Many will know Jean as the originator of the ‘Street Swag’ initiative. In 2006, she designed a lightweight ‘street swag’ for people who are homeless, and along with her mother, now coordinates the manufacture and distribution of the swags in centres around Australia. This work was highlighted by the ABC’s Stateline program and can be viewed at: http://www.streetswags.org/stateline.html

Jean was a Queensland Finalist in the Australian of the Year 2008 in the Local Hero category.  Her citation for the award described her as a ‘shelter provider’ who had ‘revived an Australian icon to help homeless people stay dry at night and protect their belongings during the day’.
Clearly Jean’s work is a great example of the social justice values integral to Catholic education and it is particularly fitting that Jean’s work in this area be more widely recognized following the recent release of the National Youth Commission’s Report on homelessness.

Jean brings to the role not only her passion for caring for others but also her lifelong participation in Catholic education. She completed her primary education at Mater Dei School, Ashgrove West and St Peter Chanel School, The Gap before going on to Stuartholme School, Toowong for her secondary education.  She graduated from Australian Catholic University with Bachelor of Arts in fine art and music, Bachelor of Education and Master of Arts (Theology) degrees. Jean has taught in Catholic schools including St. Marks, Inala, St Edward the Confessor School at Daisy Hill and Nudgee College, Boondall.  She currently teaches part-time at Stuartholme School.

As patron, Jean will visit a number of school communities to speak with students and staff and participate in several official functions.

We are delighted a young woman of the calibre of Jean Madden is the patron of Catholic Education Week 2008 – a year that as a state-wide Catholic education community, we celebrate Faith in our Youth.
  
For further information about the Street Swag initiative please visit: www.streetswags.org

Awards

On behalf of Catholic education employing authorities in Queensland, the Queensland Catholic Education Commission initiated the “Spirit of Catholic Education Awards” to be presented annually as part of Catholic Education Week (CEW) celebrations.

The awards aim to recognize outstanding contributions by individuals within the Catholic education community. In 2008 these awards are supported by the Queensland Teachers’ Credit Union (QTCU) and the Catholic Superannuation and Retirement Fund (CSRF), the Sponsors of CEW.

Areas for Nomination

Catholic school communities and other Catholic education agencies in Queensland are invited to
nominate a member(s) of their community (staff member, parent, clergy or volunteer) who has made an outstanding contribution to the life of the community in one or more of the following areas:
• Teaching and learning
• Co-curricular activities
• Faith and spiritual life
• Social justice
• Pastoral care
• Leadership
• Parent, parish and community partnerships
• Service and support
• Reconciliation

Nominations from the Diocese of Cairns:

Mr Chris Leete
Mrs Maureen Worthy
Mrs Colleen Sheppard
Mrs Rena Ceola
Mrs Lesley Willis
Mrs Terri Higgins
Ms Judy McAvoy
Mr John Draney
Mr Liam Kenny

Shortlisted:

Mrs Fran Hughes
Ms Angelique Taifalos
Mr Terry Power
Ms Maria Beswick
Mrs Lucy Wells
Mrs Mary Dall’Alba

Act of Kindness

Part of the ethos of Catholic schools is to encourage all in their community to make a positive difference to the lives of others. During Catholic Education Week (CEW) we would like every Catholic school in Queensland to engage in an ‘Act of Kindness’ activity on Friday 01 August 2008. (If this date is inconvenient, you may choose another day.)
The Act of Kindness is about helping others through deliberately setting out to do something kind for someone else and not expecting anything in return.  The other person will feel good and will be encouraged to go on to help someone else. The initial kind act will then be spreading to a much wider group of people and the Spirit of Catholic Education will be alive in your community.  These Acts of Kindness performed simultaneously will then ‘connect’ every Catholic school across the State.

Sponsors

Catholic Education Week is proudly supported by Queensland Teachers Credit Union (QTCU) and Catholic Superannuation and Retirement Fund (CSRF). We are grateful for this partnership arrangement, which enables us to celebrate Catholic Education Week across the state.

Queensland Teachers' Credit Union (QTCU)

QTCU: For teachers and everyone who has ever had one. The slogan says it all. QTCU’s wide range of financial products is open to anyone and everyone in the wider community. QTCU has the benefit of being a cooperative, so that as a customer and member you also become a shareholder.  Formed more than 40 years ago by a group of teachers, it has extended its operations to include loans, savings, insurance and investments at branch locations throughout Queensland.

Further information about Queensland Teachers' Credit Union can be gained by contacting the QTCU Contact Centre at 13 29 30 or accessing the QTCU website http://www.qtcu.com.au/.

Catholic Superannuation and Retirement Fund (CSRF)

CSRF is the largest Catholic industry superannuation fund in Australia, with offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Port Macquarie and Townsville. CSRF is a public offer fund, meaning that anyone who is eligible for superannuation in Australia can join and contribute to a trusted and respected superannuation provider.
For further information about Catholic Superannuation and Retirement Fund phone 1300 658 776 or visit the website www.catholicsuper.com.au

Activities planned for Cairns Diocese

• Morning tea and CEW cake-cutting by Bishop James Foley and CES Executive Director Dr Bill Sultmann at Catholic Education Services. Presentation to Spirit Award nominees by QTCU Cairns Manager, Wayne McKenzie (Friday, August 1, 10am-11am)
• Address by CEW Patron, Jean Madden, at St Augustine’s College, Cairns, to students from St Augustine’s and surrounding colleges studying social justice issues (Friday, August 1, 11.30am-12.30pm)
• Combined Mass for Tableland schools, St Thomas's Church, followed by a BBQ lunch (Thursday, July 31, 11am)
• St Thomas’s School, Mareeba: Prayer service on assembly, Grandparents’ morning tea (Wednesday, July 30), Talent Quest/Open Night (Friday night, August 1)