St Mary’s raises funds for teacher training and resource centre in East Timor
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Students in East Timor looking forward to the new teacher training resources |
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Principal Tony Hughes with students at St Mary's Primary, Rydalmere |
The school community at St Mary’s Primary, Rydalmere recently celebrated Mission Week by raising awareness of the lack of educational resources in East Timor and raise funds for the building of a much needed Teacher Training and Resource Centre in Same. The building project is a partnership between the Diocese of Parramatta and Broken Bay together with the Rotary Club of Northbridge.
Year 6 students are currently studying the nation of East Timor and are looking forward to an upcoming incursion, where they will learn about the art and music of East Timor as well as its long and difficult history.
Principal Tony Hughes said that the students at St Mary’s have been inspired by the work of the Sisters of St Joseph in East Timor and were motivated to help the East Timorese people.
‘The Sisters of St Joseph, through the Mary MacKillop East Timor Mission, have been an inspiration to the staff and students of St Mary’s Primary,’ said Tony. ‘In this centenary year of the death of Mary MacKillop is seemed fitting to recognise their work whilst also contributing in some practical way.’
Students, teachers and parents took part in a special liturgy where a ‘hungry crocodile’ canvas was passed around and each student used their gold coin contribution to fill the crocodile’s tummy with $455 raised on the day. The crocodile is a vital symbol to the Timorese people and the legend of the crocodile accounts for the shape of the island.
St Mary’s held their liturgy underneath a brand new covered outdoor learning area (COLA) where the school community experienced the meaningful expression of solidarity with the people of East Timor.
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