FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK
Dear Parents and Caregivers,

We were honoured and grateful to have some of the members of our school community - our parents and grandparents present to join with us for our celebration.
In thanking our guests, I also thank the most important people in our school, our students because each of them represents the future of not only our country, but of our world.
NAIDOC Week reminds all of us about the importance of culture.
Culture is defined as the sum of the attitudes, customs, and beliefs that distinguish one group of people from another. Culture is transmitted from one generation to the next, through language, objects, rituals and art. As we gathered on Monday we were surrounded by the symbols of our faith, we also experienced many aspects of Indigenous culture that were incorporated throughout the liturgy.
The culture of our indigenous people is of vital importance to our country, our local community and to our school. Mary Immaculate is a truly multicultural community and the heritage of each member is woven into the great tapestry that is created when the cultural heritage of each member of our community is woven together each day.
Our hope for each of our students, is that the great gift of education that began with their parents and is continued here at Mary Immaculate, will support them to take your rightful place among all the many and varied cultures within our Australian society and in our world.
We only have to watch the news each evening to know that our world is in dire need of unity and healing. We each have a responsibility to contribute to bring this about and it can start right here within our own school community.
Our God has bestowed a great gift upon each of our students, the gift of their uniqueness. Hard work and persistence will give them the opportunity to refine and develop their abilities, their strengths and their weaknesses and to share the rich culture that each of them have inherited. The person each of them becomes will be the great gift they will return to God and those who love them.
In acknowledging our students, who took an active role during the liturgies we must also acknowledge the wonderful leadership and expertise of Mrs Grados in promoting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture within our school community and for supporting cultural leadership opportunities for our students.
When you read this newsletter our Semester One Parent Teacher Conferences will be fully underway. These meetings comprise of two parts – the first an honest and open discussion of performance to date and the second a road map for improvement into the future. On many occasions the feedback provided from staff will point out issues or areas of improvement and as parents we may not like to hear this input. However, the true purpose of these meetings is to work together in order to frame the conditions for each student to more closely work towards reaching their maximum potential. This is done most effectively when we work together in partnership. The role of parents and educators can be likened to the role of coaches and cheerleaders as we can support, direct and celebrate successes. Ultimately, however, like the athlete, it must be the student who must do the practice and consistently implement the strategies and advice in order to continue to improve and succeed. The message that continues to resonate this week, is about striving to be the best we can be. When we do this we come closer to realising the great plan God has for each of us, of becoming the ‘fully alive’ person we are called to be for ourselves and for the world.
Wishing all our students, staff and families a wonderful vacation period, a chance to rest and recharge batteries in order to return for the beginning of an amazing and fulfilling Semester 2.
NETBALL GALA DAY - Much gratitude is extended to Mrs Alford, Miss Earnshaw, Miss Price and Mr Astill who devoted much of their own time in preparing and organising our school participation in this event. Thank you to the parents who volunteered to act as managers / coaches and those who supported our teams by being spectators on the day. Most of all ‘thank you’ to our students who displayed great cooperation and sportsmanship and were fine representatives of Mary Immaculate.
SCHOOL UNIFORM - Thank you to our students who consistently exhibit pride in their school by the attention they pay to wearing the correct uniform each and every day.
Long Hair should be tied up. Hair should not draw attention.
Please ensure if when the need arises to purchase new school sport shoes that these are predominately white, as stated in our uniform requirements. If there are temporary difficulties in maintaining the commitment to the wearing of correct uniform please communicate this in writing to the class teacher.
Tina Murray
Principal