Dear Parents and Guardians

We have had an excellent start to the year, with our new staff, students and families settling seamlessly into school life. I take this opportunity to thank our families for the way you have engaged with all aspects of school life, and the way you have supported your children to ensure the school year started so well.

Our Beginning of Year whole school Mass was a beautiful celebration of our school community. Our Year 6 students received their leadership badges and proudly stood before the school as our new school leaders. It was beautiful to watch the beaming faces of their Foundation buddies as they watched their own buddy receive their badge. Our Year 6 leaders are already showing their commitment to leading our school as they support the teachers and younger children in many ways, quietly doing deeds of service with generosity of spirit and commitment to leading with kindness and compassion.

Our Year 5 and 6 students headed off to their three day/two night camp at Sovereign Hill today. They will be learning about the Gold Rush, which will support the learning they are doing at school. In preparation for camp, the Year 5 and 6 students researched the Gold Rush and created questions and wonderings that they will be exploring and answering while they are at camp. We are very pleased that we are able to continue to commit to our students having the opportunity to attend camp and we thank the staff who have supported the children by attending camp.

Next week and the following week (Weeks 4 and 5), we are having our Parent/Student/Teacher meetings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays between 3.10pm and 4.30pm. You are now able to book online for your child’s meeting through PAM.

These meetings are a great way for you to get to know your child’s teacher and for you to share with the teacher what you would like them to know about your child. It is also an opportunity for your child’s teacher to share with you how they feel your child is settling into the school year. We encourage all families to attend these sessions as they help to create strong connections between you and your child’s teacher and creates a collaboration between you that will help your child as the year progresses. You are encouraged to bring your child to the meeting so that they can be part of the conversations. I thank the teachers for their dedication with the time they give to prepare for and engage in these meetings. I know that the teachers find them to be very valuable and I am sure the parents do too.

On Tuesday the whole school made pancakes to celebrate Shrove Tuesday. This is a special day in the year of the Church as it is the day before the season of Lent begins. Shrove Tuesday is also known as Fat Tuesday or Mardis Gras, and symbolises the time when Christians used up rich foods such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent. Today we continue the tradition of making and eating pancakes to remind us that the season of Lent is about to begin.

Yesterday we celebrated Ash Wednesday with the school and parish community. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the season of Lent when Catholics prepare for Easter. The children learned about the importance of doing things for others, saying sorry when we do something wrong and striving to be the BEST that we can be.

During this time of Lent, Pope Francis offers this reflection:

“Love of God and love of neighbour are one love,” Pope Francis continued, explaining that “the contemplative dimension” of Lent can help us “release new energies,” to be “more sensitive to one another: in the place of threats and enemies, we discover companions and fellow travelers.” In his message for Lent 2024, Pope Francis invites the faithful to “pause” for prayer and to assist our brothers and sisters in need, in order to change our own lives and the lives of our communities.

I wish you all a wonderful week ahead and I look forward to seeing you all as you come to school for your child’s Student/Parent/Teacher meetings. We always say that it takes a village to raise a child and together we have the opportunity to provide your child with the best possible experience of school we can.

Kind regards
Lisa