Kindy Acts of Kindness at Springsure

Spread kindness, was the message from students at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Kindergarten, Springsure as Catholic kindergartens, primary schools and colleges in the Diocese of Rockhampton joined Catholic Education Week celebrations across Queensland recently.

After reading the book Reach Out and Give by Cheri J Meiners, Our Lady’s kindy students made jars of confetti labelled ‘Sprinkle Kindness like Confetti’ and chose someone to present their gift to as an Act of Kindness for Catholic Education Week.

Kindergarten Director Belinda Smith said the students loved the idea of giving and fully embraced the notion of kindness being contagious.

“We discussed how giving is like a circle, when you do something for someone that person might go and help someone else and the kindness may even come back to you,” Mrs Smith said.

“The children loved the idea of making people’s faces light up and seeing how happy it makes someone feel,” she said.

The Act of Kindness, a time-honoured tradition during Catholic Education Week, was an opportunity to reach out to the community and share Jesus’ message of hope and love for the world, according to Diocesan Director of Catholic Education, Diocese of Rockhampton, Leesa Jeffcoat.

“Even though distancing restrictions imposed some limitations, our Catholic Education communities found creative and innovative ways to participate in this aspect of Catholic Education Week, none more so than in our Catholic kindergartens,” Miss Jeffcoat said.

Mackay Kindergartens

Miss Jeffcoat said students at Emmanuel Catholic Kindergarten in Mackay discussed Pope Francis’ environmental encyclical Laudato si and wrote a beautiful thank you prayer for the gifts of creation to share with their community. 

“Other activities undertaken by our students included baking treats and making cards for local businesses and organisations thanking them for their hard work and support including special outreach to medical personnel thanking them for their care during the pandemic,” Miss Jeffcoat said.

Recognition of Outstanding Service

Catholic Education Week also saw recognition of the outstanding efforts of staff in the diocese.

A record number of staff were nominated from the Diocese of Rockhampton for the statewide Spirit of Catholic Education Awards to be announced at the end of term and long-serving leaders were also presented with commemorative plaques.

“We had 45 staff nominated for Spirit Awards and plaques were presented to 17 long-serving leaders who had served over 20 years in leadership roles in Catholic Education. That is quite a testimony to the depth of talent, commitment and dedication within our Catholic Education family and Catholic Education Week is the perfect opportunity to acknowledge this wonderful service,” Miss Jeffcoat said.

Catholic Education Week is marked annually across Queensland’s 307 Catholic schools to celebrate and promote their distinctive mission and ethos as they seek to make a difference in the lives of those in their schools and wider community.