Dear Parents

Today the School and Parish Community celebrated Ash Wednesday, which signifies the start of the Holy Season of Lent. During our Liturgy children, staff and parents, received on their foreheads the sign of the cross with ashes. By wearing a cross of ashes on one’s forehead, a person publicly acknowledges their need for penance and the fact that they are mortal (dust to dust). It also expresses their solidarity with all members of the Church on earth as they enter together into the Lenten Season. Lent is the time of year when the entire Church throughout the world prepares for Easter. It is a time of renewal, when we all try to be more faithful to our baptismal promises. During Lent, we pray, we fast, and we give alms (money, food, or clothing) to our brothers and sisters in need.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK - Welcome to Catholic Schools Week, a week where we can celebrate the great things we do at Mary Immaculate Catholic Parish Primary School. The theme for 2019 is ‘The Future has a name and that name is Hope’. Catholic Schools Week is about strengthening relationships between all those who have a stake in our schools – students, staff, parents, priests, parishioners and members of the wider community. Our school has a supportive community of teachers, support staff, parents, carers, parents and friends, clergy and parishioners who work together to focus on giving students the best catholic education possible, encouraging success, promoting discipline, supporting creativity and instilling compassion. We, at Mary Immaculate, are immensely proud of our Catholic heritage. We recognise how we are a Catholic school- a school that teaches the messages of God and His love for us.

PROJECT COMPASSION CARITAS - Yesterday our School Leaders, Lee, Diva and James accompanied me to St Brigid’s Catholic Church Gwynville for the launch of Project Compassion in the Wollongong Diocese. Bishop Brian led the Liturgy. The theme for Project Compassion this year is ‘Give Lent 100%. Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal, Project Compassion, brings thousands of Australians together in solidarity with the world's poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. For more than 50 years, Caritas Australia has been privileged to work together with our neighbours and our most vulnerable sisters and brothers in First Australian communities and in many other countries. I encourage all families to place the Project Compassion box you received in a prominent place in your home, and by adding a few coins here and there and donating to Caritas Australia, you can and will make life a whole lot better for someone experiencing poverty in our world. I thank all parents and children for your cooperation and support during this time.

WESTERN REGION SWIMMING - I would like to congratulate those children in the Mary Immaculate Swimming Team who competed at the Western Region Swimming Carnival yesterday. There were some excellent performances with several children, Leila C, Jack B and Adriel F making it through to the Diocesan trials, which will be held next Monday, 11 March. Special congratulations to Jack B who was awarded 2nd place overall in the Junior Boys age group. All children are to be congratulated on their behaviour and efforts displayed throughout the day. Thanks to Mrs New for managing and supervising the team and Mr Coulson and Mrs Bastoli for officiating on behalf of our school. Thanks also to those parents and grandparents who supported the team.

SABBATH WEEK (11 – 15 March) - Each Term, in Week Seven, the students and staff of Mary Immaculate celebrate Sabbath Week. The word Sabbath means 'rest' or 'time of worship' and usually occurs after a period of labour. 7 is an important number as it refers back to the Old Testament observation of the seven Jewish festivals and the observation of one year in seven as being a year of renewal and rest. During Sabbath Week we observe a period of rest in many different ways – no scheduled appointments, no homework, no staff meetings. Instead, we encourage staff and students to take time to focus on ourselves, and our relationship with God. The children of Mary Immaculate will have opportunities for Sabbath prayer in their classrooms, and the staff are given the opportunity to focus on spiritual formation. We hope that all our families enjoy Sabbath Week, and use this time to refresh, renew, recharge and re energise our relationship with God.

MOVIE NIGHT - Last Friday evening our P & F Association hosted a great School Community Event. The inaugural Mary Immaculate Movie Night under the Stars was held. The many families in attendance enjoyed the relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Not having seen the movie before, I also enjoyed watching and was relived when Ferdinand stood his ground, showed courage, bravery and lived to tell his story. Thank you to the P &F for their organisation and to all those families who supported this event.

KINDER WELCOME BBQ - Thank you to the families of the 2019 Kindergarten cohort who attended the Parents and Friends Kinder Welcome BBQ last Monday evening. The event was well attended. Having the opportunity to speak to many parents, it was very positive and affirming to hear the feedback about our school, and the progress of the kinder children. Thank you to the P & F Executive, and especially the Hospitality Committee, for organising the event.

MARK TAYLOR SHIELD - Best of luck to the School Cricket Team when they compete in their first round game of the Mark Taylor Shield Cricket Competition. The children will travel to Dapto on Thursday and take on the team from St John’s Dapto. I am sure the children will do themselves and our school proud.

INTERNATIONAL WOMAN’S DAY - This coming Friday, March 8, is International Women’s Day. Central to Catholic Social Teaching is the belief that all people are equal and should be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of race, gender, religion or ethnicity. This is an important day and the lead up allows us to stop and consider how we individually and collectively promote equality within our community.

PARENT INFORMATION SESSIONS PRESENTED BY VISITING THEOLOGIAN FR JAMES MCEVOY

Our Children – Engaging and Growing in God’s Love

Our children are precious to us and to God – made in His image.  As parents, grandparents, catechists and sacramental program leaders, how do we encourage and nurture our children as they grow in this awareness?  These sessions will reflect on the process of growth in faith, how children are actively involved in their own social and spiritual development – sometimes for the good and sometimes through suffering and hardship.

 When and where:

Tuesday 26  March 2019, 7:30pm-9:00pm
Ingham Room, Xavier Conference Centre, 38 Harbour St Wollongong

Wednesday 27  March 2019, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Phillip Room, Campbelltown Catholic Club, 20 Camden Rd Campbelltown

RSVP: To Helen Bennett by Friday 22 March on 4222 2403 or helen.bennett@dow.org.au  

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
At Mary Immaculate the staff has an ongoing commitment to professional learning. The staff benefits from attending inservices, in curriculum areas, that assists them in providing quality learning opportunities for the students in their class. The following staff have or will attend professional learning and hence will be away from school.

Have a great week and let Christ be our way and life.

Don Spencer
Principal