Dear Parents and Carers,

We celebrated the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on 15 August. The Assumption is when we honour Mary's journey into heaven. The Feast of the Assumption is a celebration of Mary's life and ministry. All of Mary's roles - Mother of God, Queen of Heaven, Lady of Sorrows - are tied in with her position in heaven, guiding, watching, and caring for God's children. 

Mary's assumption reflects God's promise to all his children. We live in the hope of new life after death, just as Jesus was raised from the dead on the first Easter. Although, the church celebrates the assumption of Mary, we might wonder what this has to do with us. The answer is quite simple: Whatever God has done for Mary; God has done or will do for us. During the gospel, we hear Mary’s great prayer of thanksgiving (Luke 1:46 – 47), a prayer we are invited to make our own: Our souls proclaim the greatness of the Lord. Our spirits rejoice in God our Saviour. The following story by Fr. Dennis Chriszt beautifully illustrates how this can become a reality. 

Many years ago, when I was a seminarian, I did some volunteer work at an inner-city parish in Chicago. The pastor emeritus had been retired there for many years. When he was pastor in the 1960s and 70s, the neighbourhood around the parish changed. It had once been a large Irish Catholic community, but as Black families began to move in, most of the long-time parishioners began to move out. The pastor strove to welcome the new members of the community and at the same time to encourage the parishioners to stay in the neighbourhood and welcome their new neighbours, too. While many of the white parishioners moved away, he stayed. And when he retired, he asked the new pastor if he could continue to stay.

I got to know him as a kind, old man — a man of God — who cared deeply for the people of God no matter their race, colour, or creed. When I was a deacon, I would sometimes assist him at Mass. His vision was going, and he was sometimes forgetful, losing track of where he was in the celebration. After a while, he could no longer preside and rarely left his room, and on occasion I would bring him his meals and we would talk.

During one conversation, he told me that he wanted the Magnificat, the prayer of Mary, to be read at his funeral. He was afraid that whoever preached at his funeral would make him out to be a good and holy man, and he wanted none of that. What he wanted people to remember was what Mary wanted people to remember: “The Mighty one has done great things for me, and holy is his name” (Luke 1:49). Mary takes no credit for anything and instead points to what God has done for her. The old, dying priest wanted to be remembered for what God had done, not for what he had done.

Every evening, millions of people in the church pray the Magnificat. Every time I pray it, I am reminded to remember what Mary and that old, dying priest remembered: “The Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”

As Mary was assumed into heaven, a place in heaven awaits us. Her openness to God allowed God to work through her so that salvation might come to all. Mary is a model and symbol of the Church. May we be like Mary, open and cooperative in God's plan of salvation.

Tina Murray

Principal

MORNING SUPERVISION

Parents are reminded that student supervision commences each morning at 8.00am.

Although we understand many parents have work commitments it is important to note that although a few staff may be on the premises early, gates for students to enter the school do not open until 8:00 am. Students remain the responsibility of parents if they arrive prior to this time. All students arriving prior to 8:00 am are responsible for maintaining safe behaviour. 

The Aquamarine Drive and Emerald Drive gates are opened at 8.00am each day.

Students must wait in the admin undercover area until staff commence supervision.

The Aquamarine Drive gates are locked on the first bell (8.23am) to allow teachers to assume supervision of their own class. Students arriving from 8.23am must enter via the Emerald Drive entrance. Students arriving after the second bell at 8.25am bell are requested to collect a late arrival card from the Office.

 

The Parents & Friends Association are holding our Annual FATHERS’ DAY STALL across two days, Wednesday 31 August and Thursday 1 September 2022.

Students will have the opportunity to create a Mug or a Canvas.

If you would like your child to purchase a gift please return the slip below with money to the School Office by Wednesday 24 August 2022.  

PLEASE NOTE NO ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER WEDNESDAY 24 AUGUST 2022.