Oratory

A home that welcomes

To create our sense of home, our oratory program includes celebrating birthdays and special individual achievements, where life skills are taught and where personal development is explored. Our young people are greeted each morning by their oratory teacher who will monitor their progress in all areas of school life, ensuring they feel safe, happy, and continuing to grow as a person. Students learn about their global home through social justice projects and creating a sustainable and healthy environment. The Reflection Day program provides time away from the usual routine of the school day, to reflect and consider how they can create better versions of themselves and offer opportunity explore our values; integrity, respect, joy, belonging and dynamism. The home is represented in our House system where each student is connected to a house for academic, sporting, cultural and citizenship activities. Wellbeing for learning is a dynamic part of our culture and this is supported by our oratory program through platforms such as the resilience Project and OurFutures which both draw attention to the importance of mental health and overall wellbeing. We also learn and celebrate RUOK Day as a way of raising awareness of the importance of mental health and wellbeing.  Each Year Level will also develop age-appropriate themes such as digital citizenship, respectful relationships and healthy lifestyle choices. As experts in boys education, we understand that having connections is vital. We ensure that this is achieved via our peer mentoring program that includes tutoring, personal development topics and games. This begins in Year 7 each student is connected to a Year 10 buddy. Their buddy, journeys with them through the first three years of a Salesian Education. Then in year 10, they become the mentor (buddy). We are a multicultural school with over 80 nationalities currently represented. This is a wonderful setting for learning about our global home. We celebrate Harmony Week, Naidoc Week, International Women’s Day, Reconciliation Week and many more. There is also a strong focus on relationships with mothers and fathers or significant adults in young people’s lives, we prepare for and celebrate mother’s and Father’s day and encourage participation in on mother and son, and father and son evenings which strive to building open and honest relationships and well as opportunities to understand each generation a little better.

A parish that evangelizes

Creating a sense of parish is about developing good humans. We do this in a way that celebrates our Catholic and Salesian heritage through various rituals and special gatherings. These gatherings include Whole school and year level liturgies, weekly community masses, daily class prayer, reflection day activities and the use of the Chapel as a place of quiet and contemplation at any time. Students learn about specific feast days important to our Salesian charism such as the feast of Don Bosco, Dominic Savio, Mary help of Christians and the Liturgical Season of the Church Calendar.  Our Sacramental program also offers many students the opportunity to commit to their faith by preparing for and receiving the Sacraments. Some choosing to be baptised, receive first reconciliation, communion and Confirmation. These unique experiences allow for a strong personal faith and an understanding of the diversity of the beliefs of others.  We endeavour to bring to our young people an alternative way of viewing the world, through the eyes of Christ, with love and dignity.

A school for learning

There is so much to learn! Students attend each of their subject classes across the week learning different material through a variety of experiences. In Oratory, students learn how to manage the time, create study timetables, how to use a diary, how to maintain their mental and physical wellbeing for learning, preparing for exams and learning how to manage stress – all of which impact on learning and personal academic development. They also learn how to be leaders of self and others and how this can impact not just their future leadership opportunities but also be leaders in learning – independent, curious, creative and an ability to drive and assess their own learning. It also assists in developing critical thinking skills. Together, these elements provide each student with ownership and control of their own growth as well as establishing a healthy learning environment – a place of learning for self and others. Preparing for the future is always at the forefront of learning, especially at the senior levels where there is much discussion and opportunity to explore future learning, career pathways. This is something included in the oratory program beginning at Year 7 with being more aware of interests and skills and what brings joy through to assisting our year 12 students transition to university, Tafe, or the workforce.

A playground where young people meet and enjoy themselves

Joy and fun are key elements of a Salesian education and the Oratory program. Inter- oratory competitions, hose carnivals and even staff and student games of festival all help our young people enjoy a holistic education. As educators of boys, we understand the importance of balancing learning with play, to enjoy the company of friends and learning how to be with each other. There is lots to be learnt through fun and games about self and others as well has how to share, get along, forgive, praise, be kind and encourage! Wonderful attributes of a good human being.

Nothing expresses our oratory program more than our annual Festival Day. It gives great expression to the nature of our oratory program, encompassing all elements of the Salesian Charter. Beginning with a smoking ceremony, led by a local elder followed by prayer and reflection including a procession of flags and prayers expressed in a variety of languages to celebrate our diversity provides the essence of who we are as a community. Leading up to festival day, the community learns through a variety of activities about our Salesian brothers and sisters around the globe and on festival day the whole school engages in a walkathon to raise money to fund educational programs for other young people living in the South pacific Region and attending Salesian led schools. Our playground is brought to life through a variety of activities and games as an expression of joy and community.

The first oratory established by Saint John Bosco in Valdoco Turin, 1841 was a symbol of hope for all those young boys who were in need of a home, a place of learning, praying and having fun. Over 200 years have passed. The challenges faced by our young people has changed but the need for a home, spiritual nourishment, learning and fun are still as relevant as they were back then, albeit reimagined for the world today.