Chaplain Heather welcomes you: Sibongile Day & Night Care Centre/School

Sibongile Day & Night Care Centre/School

South Africa comes to our school

During week 10 of term 3, we welcomed my dear friend Nomasango to our school.
Nomasango is the founder and Director of the Sibongile Day & Night Care Centre in Khayletisha, which cares for 31 children with cerebral palsy.

In 2005, at only 15 years of age, Nomasango's daughter passed away. Her legacy is the Sibongile Centre and now newly opened community School.

The Sibongile Centre began with only a bucket full of courage, heart full of love and a Shipping Container.

Now, 11 years on..... http://www.sibongile.org/

Family BBQ & Bushdance Fundraiser

Thankyou to everyone who supported this community event and contributed to the chaplaincy program in our school.

Special Thanks

To Ross and all the staff of LPS
Parents who helped out with BBQ
Rossini's Italian Restaurant - Lisarow Plaza
Alan's Meats - Lisarow Plaza
The Erina Surf Shop - Lisarow Plaza
The Florist Shop - Ourimbah
Sign-a-Rama
The Lantana Bros Bushband
Gareth & Nix
The Hardy Family for the gas heaters
The Corkill Family for the gas
Nicole for the chiminea
My hubby Craig for all his support and hands on work
Craig Pinel & Jon Gould for PA

Family Hardship

Part of the reality of life is hardship. That is not a negative statement. It is simply a statement of fact. Every day brings new challenges. Living with the expectation that life will be difficult makes hard times easier to deal with. When a family encounters hard times they will need to join together and face the challenge as a team. They will need to be sensitive to the needs of individual family members each of whom will face unique difficulties. Life is not easy, but having a support system makes life that much easier.

If you and your family need assistance and support, please be reassured that you can contact me (in confidence) for referral to local organisations, who can provide food, support and finance (without strings attached).

Despite, how it might feel, please let me reassure you that when you ask for help you are taking a road less travelled and one to be proud of as you put real needs of those you love before anything else.

And, as always, I am available if a conversation is of benefit to you.

About Chaplain Heather

My husband Craig and I have lived happily on the Central Coast for more than a dozen years. We have one beautiful daughter, Talisa.

My foundational community principles come from growing up with a large family in rural NSW.

My approach to most things seeks to strengthen and build into the lives of people around me. Those that know me value my discretion and insightfulness. A core value of mine is communication.

"I believe in the stories of people, particularly children."

To the school community, I bring training and experience in school, hospital and community chaplaincy, pastoral care, clinical counselling, workplace training, events management, community projects, short-term mission experience overseas, camps for children, young adults and families, catering and a love for good food and company. I am connected to a variety of networks, have a reputation for being able to introduce a wide range of resources to a situation and creatively bring about something from nothing.

I believe that sincerity is sustenance; a warm hug for the soul.

Chaplain's Activities

Your School Chaplain is funded by the National Chaplaincy Program.

The role of the chaplain is to champion individual and community well being by:

1. fostering stronger relationships between the school and local community

2. Providing an increased variety and accessibility of welfare support for students, staff and parents

3. Encouraging and assisting students to engage with other organisations and support systems where relevant

4. Investing in individual and community well-being through social skills and student welfare development programs

Questions about Chaplains and Chaplaincy

If you have any questions about the role of the chaplain in schools, the chaplaincy program, Special Religious Education (Scripture) or the like, please don't hesitate to contact me either by logging blog post, sending an email Question/Comment direct to my email or contacting me at the school for a time to chat.

Phone: 43 621048 (during school terms)

Email: heather.pinel1@det.nsw.edu.au

Office: Bailey Cottage, Lisarow Public School (Wednesday & Thursday). Please check in with reception first.

Sibongile Day & Night Care Centre/School

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