Staff Retreat 

On Monday, 24 July, the entire staff met in Adelaide for a Staff Retreat Day led by Josephite Sr. Mary Ryan rsj.  The purpose of our formation day is to provide space for reflective and formational experiences with a particular focus on our school values and how we intentionally live out our school values at Our Lady of the River School.  In line with our diocesan theme of being called to community, we explored how Mary Mackillop is a model for our school staff and follows the call of God, even when faced with adversity and challenges. We met upon and walked on the sacred land of which St. Mary lived and worked, responding to people in need with courage, generosity and compassion, always presenting the face of God to those she encountered. We contemplated how to continue Mary’s story and legacy as a Josephite school actioning the calls of our hearts.  We spent the afternoon exploring the history of St. Mary and the pioneering Josephite sisters with a visit to the Mary Mackillop Museum in Kensington.  

Next Tuesday, 8th August we celebrate St. Mary Mackillop’s feast day with a liturgy of the word hosted by the 4-5 students at 9:00am in the hall. Everyone is most welcome to join our celebration. 

MITIOG

This week our students have been participating in our MITIOG program, which is build on the foundational belief that we are all Made In The Image Of God and loved infinitely. This belief underpins the Church's teachings about the dignity of the human person and the sacredness of sexuality. 

The MITIOG curriculum has been developed to ensure that human sexuality education is accessible to all students in Catholic schools, and that it is delivered in an age appropriate and culturally sensitive manner. It is respectful of an individual’s right to make healthy and informed choices about their bodies and their relationships. 

Your children may have questions or want to talk about their learning; this can sometimes be confronting; the following tips and guidelines may be helpful.

• Be attentive and respectful.  
• Teaching children about their bodies must happen in an age-appropriate way.   Read the information letter sent hom so that you are aware of the content your child will be learning about. 
• Know what you really believe and why.  
• Anticipate how you will respond if your child asks what you did.   
• Talk often but not necessarily long.  
• Know their world.  
• Take time when they want to talk.  
• Use correct terminology even when it makes you a little uncomfortable.  
• What is the real question?  
• Talk about risk behaviours.  
• Use story to deepen dialogue.  
• When you talk about human sexuality, talk about human beings.   
• Create a trusting relationship.  
• Connect sexuality and spirituality.  
• Tell the truth. 

 If you have any questions of the curriculum, please make a time to meet with me. 

SOUTHERN CROSS

The current edition of the Catholic newspaper put out by the Archdiocese called,' The Southern Cross,' is available at; The Southern Cross, August 2023 

Rosemary Perre
APRIM