Dear Parents, 

Our school, along with the 45 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sale, will celebrate Catholic Education Week from 19 May to 26 May.

The theme for this year’s celebrations is, Catholic Schools – Places of Encounter. ‘Let the words you speak always be full of Grace’, based on Colossians 4:6.

Catholic schools are more than just buildings where students come to learn. They are Places of Encounter where students can grow academically, spiritually and personally.”

The ‘Speaking with Grace’ theme invites us to consider the power of our words and the impact our words may have on others. Words have the power to inspire, uplift, and transform lives but they can also be hurtful or discouraging. This year’s theme aims to encourage students and those in our school community to use their words to build up others, to speak out against injustice, and to spread love and hope in the world.

Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for all Catholic schools to celebrate our distinctive mission and share features that are special about our schools.

Members of our staff attended a Leadership Mass and Dinner to celebrate and recognise outstanding service and excellence of staff and students in Catholic education in our Diocese last Friday night. Congratulations to Olivia Castello, one of our Learning Support Officers who was awarded with a Danial Ahern Bursary Scholarship.

Our school will also hold a number of activities including our Open Afternoon for perspective parents from 4-6pm on Thursday and classroom-based prayer service and multi age activities.  

Stage 2 Building Update

Our building works continue to progress and we are hopeful in being able to move into the new buildings at some stage during term 3.

                                         

As we head into the winter months the school is already experiencing many student and staff absences with the flu, gastro and COVID-19. A reminder to parents that students who are unwell must not attend school. Students who have any of the symptoms of COVID-19, however mild, are encouraged to seek medical advice and get tested. The symptoms to watch out for are: 

• loss or change in sense of smell or taste 
• fever
• chills or sweats 
• cough 
• sore throat 
• shortness of breath 
• runny nose.

Students who test positive to COVID-19 are strongly encouraged to isolate for a period of 5 days and not attend school. 

We appreciate your support and thank you for everything you are doing to keep our school community safe.

Well done to our Grades 3-6 students that qualified to compete at District Cross Country on Tuesday. You all showed tremendous efforts representing our school and doing your very best out on the course. 

Beleza have advised that our new girls winter pants are available in store. 

A pair have been displayed on our uniform wall in the office foyer should you wish to have a look. 

Thanks to our Parents & Friends who helped with the running of our Mother's Day Stall.

We hope all of our Mum's had a beautiful Mother's Day and enjoyed their special gifts!

Our Next Parents & Friends meeting will be held next Tuesday 30th May, 9am in the staffroom.

Tools for the Task

Toolboxes are probably not an image we associate with the feast of Pentecost but there is a connection!

Whenever we are faced with a task, whether some maintenance around the house, struggling around a golf course or baking scones, our thoughts turn to the equipment we need. Already we have the desire to do the task and an idea of what the task requires. We need the right tools to complete the task.

Following the Resurrection and Ascension, Jesus disciples are eager to get about their mission, but they are lacking the equipment. Jesus promises the disciples (John 20:19-23) that the Holy Spirit will be with them and in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1-11) we read of Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit to the
disciples, giving them the tools. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit are: Wisdom, Right Judgement, Courage, Knowledge, Reverence, Wonder and Awe and Understanding. Armed with those tools, the Fruits of the Holy Spirit, their Mission and ours, will proclaim Joy, Love, Peace, Goodness, Kindness, Patience, Self-Control, Trustfulness and Gentleness to the world. On the very day of Pentecost those early disciples
were able to spread the Good News of the Kingdom to thousands and, in the first century, around the Mediterranean, from Jerusalem to Alexandria, Carthage, Ephesus and Antioch and even, at the heart of empire, Rome itself.

We have the best of all messages to share about the Creator of the universe who loves us all beyond measure. If all who called themselves Christians were truly aware of their gifts; if we had all sorted carefully through our toolbox then everyone would be a Christian. There are many of us already but we have many more who have yet to hear the message. That’s our job! Pentecost brings present again our
Confirmation, the day when the Holy Spirit gave us our personal toolbox for our life’s mission. What tools will I select? How am I going to spread God’s Word?

Deacon Mark Kelly