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Last Sunday’s Gospel…
We heard another story about the Resurrected Jesus. Some of the apostles were going about their daily jobs - being fishermen again after the death of Jesus. They saw someone on the beach but didn’t realise who it was. When the man called them over to come and have breakfast he had been cooking for them, they realised it was Jesus! They all ate happily together. This was more evidence that while Jesus looked a little different in his glorified body, he was definitely a physical person and very much alive.
From the Principal and Assistant Principal…
Term 2 Staff Development Days
This term, we will have two staff development days. This means that students are not required to attend school on these days:
Friday 30 May - staff will be learning how to further embed evidence based teaching strategies into daily practice and
Monday 2 June - Day 4 of Berry Street Education Model.
We hope this will give families a Long Weekend together and minimise having to make arrangement for childcare if you require it this term.
Winter Uniform Change Over
From the beginning of Week 3, this Monday, 12th May, the students will need to wear their full Winter uniform. For girls, this includes black leather shoes, black stockings, green pinafore and the yellow blouse. For boys, this includes black leather shoes, grey pants, green long-sleeved shirt, and the school tie. Please make sure the only jewellery worn is a crucifix on a very light chain around the neck and tucked in to the shirt - that way it is not a choking hazard, and earrings are only one in each ear and small silver or gold studs or light sleepers - again for safety as well as not drawing attention. We did notice that on the whole the students came back from the break looking very neat and tidy, an important component of respecting ourselves. Please ensure that all jackets, jumpers and school hats are labelled with your child’s name. These are often the items that are left on the playground as students become warm when playing.
Parents of students with a Personalised Plan
Yesterday, parents of students with a Personalised Plan were invited to book a meeting with their classroom teacher and Mrs Chapman to discuss the adjustments that we have in place to support your child’s learning. Please ensure that you book this meeting via Compass, as we value the opportunity to collaborate and plan with you.
Principal Information Session and Q and A
The next session will be Monday 26 May 1.30 pm - 2.30 pm or 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm. I will be speaking about how our reward system works at the request of parents. Then we will have our Q and A where you can ask about anything you wish. If something you are wondering about may take some investigation or gathering of information, please let me know prior so I can have it ready. If you are a bit nervous about coming and asking questions, bring a couple of friends with you. I will have a couple of suggestions for the information part at the beginning but am always happy to present what you’d like so bring your ideas as well.
Eating Time After Play Trial
We are hearing from the students that they are not very excited about eating second! We will give it a little more time to get past the adjustment phase. They say they are soooo hungry! We are pushing fruit break to the middle of the morning block to help with that. It has taken a little while to organise the canteen with the new process. No-one is going hungry but it is carrying over to class time. Two benefits we are seeing are more students playing rather than spending the break eating, and eating second is settling them after play so they are more ready to learn. We have had a dramatic reduction in high level behaviour incidents on the playground too. It may or may not be connected. We shall continue to see how it is going - no final decisions yet.
Anzac Day March
Thank you to the families who represented our school at the Anzac Day March and service. We had 14 students and five staff. I hope we can have more next year!
Awards Assembly
Our Awards Assembly is this Friday. Letting parents know about awards seems to be working well. We are keeping to the hard deadline of a week before to let you know. If for some reason awards aren’t ready for a particular class by the deadline, we will hold them and capture them in the next ‘round’ so there will be double at the next assembly so students won’t miss out.
Mother’s Day Stall
Once again our Mother’s Day stall was a great success thanks to the hard work of our parent volunteers co-ordinated by Ms Ahern. The perfume proved popular during set up! Thank you to everyone who gave their time so generously. We could not do it without you. We hope all our Mums, Grandmums and mother figures have a beautiful Mother’s Day this Sunday.
God Bless
Michelle Rolfe and Emilia Ahern
Principal and Assistant Principal
Jubilee Year of Hope
This year as decreed by the late Pope Francis is a Holy Year of Jubilee. A Jubilee is a special year of grace and conversion, involving prayer, pilgrimage and sacramental repentence. This is held every 25 years. The goal of a Jubilee year is to encourage us to grow closer to God and our faith.
As part of this Jubilee Year, Bishop Brian has designated several sacred sites within our Diocese in order to undertake our own pilgrimage. To support this pilgrimage, the Diocese has created a special ‘Pilgrim’s Passport’ for you.
This passport will be sent home for you this week. It outlines the place you can visit on your pilgrimage, a place to record your pilgrimage visit and a guide to starting your pilgrimage. Please take the time to read and plan your own journey in order to make the most of this Jubillee Year!
Caritas Australia: Project Compassion Update
This money will be sent to Caritas Australia to support our neighbours in places such as Samoa. Many communities are are in desperate need of basic necessities such as access to clean water for students attending local schools.
Sacrament Update: IMPORTANT REMINDER
Sessions for those, with children preparing for the reception of Holy Communion, commenced last night. There are now THREE remaining sessions for the Parents to be held on Tuesday nights at 7:00pm in the Parish Hall. The dates for these sessions are 6, 13, 20 and 27 May.
The reception of Holy Communion at the weekend Parish Masses in June.
Families will be asked to nominate any Parish Mass that month. Please contact the parish immediately if you have missed the first session and are still interested in your child making this sacrament.
St Eugene Liturgy
All students will be attending a liturgy on the 21 May to celebrate the Feast Day of St Eugene De Mazendo; the founder of the ‘Oblates of Mary Immaculate’. His overwhelming desire to serve God as a missionary priest inspired Father Leo, Father Didier and many like him to join the priesthood.
Under the patronage of Mary, these missionary priests travel across the world to serve and support many communities. We are very lucky to have the Oblates guide and support our school and parish!
Whats Happening in the Parish?
WEEKENDS: Saturday Vigil 5:30pm & Sunday 8:30am | 10:00am | 5:30pm.
WEEKDAYS: Monday & Tuesday: 9:00am. Wednesday: 7:30 pm.
Thursday & Friday 9:00am. Saturday: 9:30am
SPANISH MASS- Saturday: 7:00pm FILIPINO MASS – 2nd Sunday- 4:00pm
RECONCILIATIONS: Saturday 10:00am to 11:00am (During exposition of the Blessed Sacrament) BAPTISMS: On the 2nd & 3rd Sunday of the month. Contact the parish office for necessary information.
DEVOTIONAL TIMES ROSARY: BEFORE weekday Mass.
DIVINE MERCY Chaplet- Fridays after 9am Mass, Chaplet & Benediction -First Fridays after Mass Divine Mercy Prayer Group: 4th Friday at 6.30pm (in crying room)
HOLY HOUR led by Filipino Group: First Saturday of the month 11am
This year our Mary Immaculate Choir will once again be participating in the Celebration Sing Out Choir Event. Students who are in Grades 3-6 and are passionate about singing are being invited to join the 2025 Celebration Sing Out Choir. This Choir will be performing with many other schools at a special concert on Sunday 26th October, 2025 at Sydney Town Hall. The concert is organised to raise money for the Music Therapy program at Westmead Children’s Hospital. The hope is to raise over $30,000. The Celebration Sing Out Choir will practice during break times at least twice a week.
If your child is interested in joining the CHOIR for this special event, please get them to collect a note from the school office. Thank you.