Education and Health Communique #5
Submitted by: Nancy Simms
Dear Sisters in the League,
Now that we are into the Advent season it is my prayer that each of us will take time out of our daily busyness to remember the hope, love and joy with which Advent bestows on us.
“Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” Is. 122
Bioethics: I recently received the below email from our past national president Marie Cameron and found the recommended website to be an excellent source of information on bioethics and the church’s position on these crucial issues.
“This was sent to me from one of my CWL friends and I am forwarding it as I find his articles very informative. Fr. Tad was here in Calgary at St. Mary’s University College this weekend for some seminars. Marie
Fr Tad is a respected and well known US expert ( Ph.D at Yale and post doctoral work at Harvard) on bioethics and an advisor to the American Catholic Bishops. He writes weekly on Bioethics issues. His writing is absolutely consistent with the magisterium of the Catholic Church and is a good source of formation for you and for me on these very topical and important issues That’s why I am sending you his website. Please read some of his articles. They are short and clear. http://www.ncbcenter.org/makingsense.asp
In case you want to know more type Father Tad Pacholczyk into Google.com, you will get quite a bit to read.”
Ministry of Education: At our provincial fall executive meeting we discussed the fact that the ministry of education will from now on be informing the provincial Education & Health Chairperson on any curriculum that is up for review and requesting possible feedback on each curriculum. It was decided that it would be too extensive a job for the provincial chairperson to review and respond to all curriculum drafts. Therefore, when I receive notice of a new draft up for review I will immediately pass the information on to all diocesan Education & Health Chairpersons who in turn should contact their Catholic School Superintendent requesting if they have been informed of the draft and for any feedback they may have. If the Superintendents see areas in the curriculum that we as a League need to be addressing to the Ministry, the diocesan chairpersons should then be informing me as the provincial chairperson so that I can inform all members of BC/Yukon to take the appropriate action.
I just received the below email late last week. I know that the deadline for feedback does not give us much time, but let’s do what we can.
“To Education Stakeholders:
The British Columbia Ministry of Education has posted two draft Daily Physical Activity documents for public review and response.
The Draft Program Guide for Daily Physical Activity: Kindergarten to Grade 9 and the Draft Daily Physical Activity Resource: Kindergarten to Grade 9 are available on the following Ministry of Education web site:
http://www.bced.gov.bc.ca/irp/drafts/welcome.htm
The Ministry of Education is interested in receiving feedback on these drafts from education and community partners. Please feel free to share this link with anyone you feel would be interested in providing feedback. Feedback can be provided to the Ministry of Education by printing the Response Forms, completing them and then faxing them to the location listed at the bottom of the form. The Response Forms can be used for either individual or group feedback.
Please complete the Response Forms and mail or fax them BEFORE January 15, 2008
To: Daily Physical Activity Project
Ministry of Education
PO Box 9183 Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC V8W 9H9Fax: (250) 356-2316
THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK ON THE DRAFT DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DOCUMENTS.
Thank you.”
Social Justice 12 Curriculum: Thank you to all members that worked so hard to review this curriculum and let their voices be heard. I believe the resounding concern for all members is to continue to find the balance in society to respect our neighbours while still upholding our values that are rooted in Gods Word.
Bursaries: Encourage members to apply for both the Molly Boucher Bursary (deadline for application forms to be mailed to me is March 31/08) and the National Bursary (deadline application forms to be mailed to national office is May 31/08). Both application forms can be obtained on their respective websites. Let’s encourage our members to apply!
Annual Reports: Diocesan Chairpersons you should now be receiving annual reports from all parish councils. I would strongly recommend that if you have not received reports from all councils by the 15th of this month to just call the parish in which you have not received and give them a gentle reminder. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to make 2007 the year of 100% reporting??
Reading Group: Did you know that there is a program on our national CWL website that is a guide to starting a reading group in your council as a method of spiritual education and personal growth? Check it out and start one in your council!!!
December is The Christmas Seal Campaign: Over 3 million Canadians cope with one of five serious respiratory diseases – asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, tuberculosis (TB), and cystic fibrosis. These and other respiratory diseases such as influenza, pneumonia, bronchiolitis, respiratory distress syndrome and sleep apnea affect individuals of all ages, cultures and backgrounds – from children to parents to grandparents.
National Communique: I have enclosed Judy Lewis’ last communique. Please read and take the suggested action on resolution 07.03 Hospice Palliative Care: An Integral Component of the Canadian Health Care System and on the three proposed resolutions. Judy also has some interesting information on MaterCare which reminds us to continue in our efforts to help this worthwhile cause.
May you have a holy Advent season and a blessed Christmas as you continue your work for God and Canada.
Nancy S….
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