Last Sunday’s Gospel…

From Mark’s Gospel, we heard about the time that Jesus went into the desert for 40 days. He hadn’t yet started his public ministry. It was a time for him to prepare for what was to come by being clear in his mission and close to God who would be with him throughout. This is why we ‘do’ Lent. The same 40 days where we do without some food as Jesus did, pray and look after others. It is a time to come closer to God too as we prepare for Easter. 

Did you know…

Lepers were outcasts in biblical times because there was no cure for the disease so keeping the lepers apart was their way of trying to reduce infection. Leprosy is treatable and curable with modern medicine.

News… 

We had a lovely celebration yesterday morning worthy of the nine million dollars spent on our school! Bishop Brian, Peter Hill - Director of Schools, and our local and federal members joined with architects, builders, parishioners, CEO staff and other dignitaries to mark this special occasion. Your children were magnificent! Thank you for presenting them so beautifully. They behaved exceptionally and joined in enthusiastically with all their parts. All the visitors commended us time and again on how well today went including the number of parents we had making the time to come. I know the staff took up parking space in the surrounding streets so thank you for your understanding. We shall be back to normal tomorrow. I couldn’t have been prouder of our students. They really showed how delightful they are. Our staff worked very hard to make sure our school looked lovely, the students were well prepared and therefore confident and calm, and did innumerable jobs setting up everything from chairs, to morning tea to prayer spaces and performers, to liaising with officials, ushering, shopping and not least, packing up. I know what a special and excellent school Mary Immaculate is and now a large number of other people do too! Thank you to everyone for such a community effort. 

If you weren’t able to be here today we will be organising a time for you to come and have a look through all the spaces. Even though the fencing was down for photos, the grounds are not yet ‘ours’. There are a few things to finish. 

I have been stopping parents as they leave the parish car park in the afternoons to remind them they aren’t to use it for pick up or drop off. And you have all been lovely – thank you! The number doesn’t seem to be getting smaller so I am asking you all again, to please not use the parish car park. It is parish property and not to be taken up by parents. Staff park in there so as to leave more room in the surrounding streets. It creates a hazard using the driveway with many parents and students needing to cross over. Staff are not permitted to enter or exit at certain times either. I’d rather not have to operate the gates every morning and afternoon because it creates more duties for teachers so please, if you have been using it, please stop and either use the pick up or drop off zone, or park and walk. Please also remember to arrive in the morning well before the first bell if you want to walk your child to their bag hook and then wave goodbye on the first bell so classes can start on time. We are finding that classes where this is working well have a happier transition into their day – so thank you for helping out! 

Our first assembly for the year is on Friday on the basketball court. The front gate will open for you to come in at about 1.40pm – once most of the students have moved down to the court with the aim to start about 1.45pm. We will tighten up our timing after this first one. I look forward to seeing you Friday if you can come.

God Bless, 

Ms Michelle Rolfe, Mr Lindsay Burns and Ms Emilia Ahern

Principal and Acting Assistant Principals