FROM THE PRINCIPAL'S DESK
Dear Parents,
Here’s a little story about someone who got a 'rude' awakening and which I found thought provoking.
“There was once a wealthy businessman who invited a group of guests around to his house for a party. As they are standing around the swimming pool, he points out to them that there is a shark swimming in it. ‘I’ll give a million dollars or the hand of my beautiful daughter in marriage, to the man who dares to swim one length of that pool.’ Immediately, there is a splash and he turns around to see a man in his pool, swimming with all his might towards the far end. The swimmer makes it and scrambles out just before the shark gets to him.
The businessman rushes around to congratulate him. ‘Well, my friend, which will it be, a million dollars or the hand of my daughter?’ ‘All I want,’ the man spluttered breathlessly, ‘is the name of the so-and-so who pushed me in!’” Author unknown
If we have had a difficult experience in our life, we might need a 'push' to get things started again. Accepting what’s happened to us will not change our circumstance but it can change our thoughts and feelings. There is no doubt that it takes courage to maintain a focus on the change we need to achieve and it takes wisdom to perceive problems as opportunities for personal development.
Living is a mix of experiencing both paths of life, peace and turmoil, opportunity and disappointment, gain and loss. However, obstacles, setbacks and hard times have the potential to make us the best we can be. “Your trials do not come to punish you, but to awaken you.” Author Uncertain
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
Next week is Catholic Schools Week. All Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Wollongong will be celebrating this event with all other Catholic Schools in NSW and the ACT. The purpose of Catholic Schools Week is to increase public awareness of the strengths and distinctiveness of Catholic Schools, while acting as a focus for community celebrations about the good things that occur every day in Catholic Schools. The Kindergarten Welcome BBQ will be held next Monday evening, Shrove Tuesday Pancake Day for children will be held next Tuesday and our Year 6 students will be hosting our very first Assembly for the year next Friday afternoon. Our School Community looks forward to sharing Catholic Schools Week with you.
This year the Season of Lent begins next Wednesday 6 March, when we celebrate Ash Wednesday. The Church encourages the faithful to undertake a time of reflection and personal enrichment during this time of Easter preparation. As in the past our Diocese of Wollongong encourages people to join a Lenten Group. The Lenten Program prepared for 2019 is called ‘Trust’. The Program consists of meeting once a week for six weeks, where participants are guided through scripture, reflections and prayer. Each session will run for approximately 40 minutes. This year I would again like to offer a Lenten Group for parents of Mary Immaculate. The group will meet on a Thursday afternoon at 1.45pm. The Program will commence Thursday 7 March. If you are interested in joining the group could you contact the School Office or complete and return the attached RSVP before Friday 1 March.
..........................................................................................................................................
I, _________________, am interested in participating in the 2019 Mary Immaculate Parents Lenten Group.
Signed ____________________ Date ___________________
Contact number _____________________________________
CHANGE OF ARRANGEMENTS
I take this opportunity to remind parents to please notify your child’s Classroom Teacher or the Office Staff if there are any changes to going home arrangements of an afternoon for your child. Parents are also reminded to please keep your contact details up to date. These details include phone numbers, addresses, email and emergency contacts. The safety and well being of all students is of paramount importance.
CAR PARK
A reminder to parents that during school hours parking in the Church Car Park is restricted to Staff, Parishioners who attend the 9.00 am Morning Mass, and school deliveries. I ask parents to refrain from entering the car park to drop off and pick up their children. Please be aware that the speed limit around our school is 50kph, and 40kph during the morning and afternoon School Zone hours. Please also be aware of the various parking restrictions around the School. As always the safety of our children is paramount.
WESTERN REGION SWIMMING CARNIVAL
On behalf of our school community I would like to wish our swim team all the best when they compete at the Wollongong Diocese Western Region Swimming Carnival next Tuesday. I am sure the children will do themselves and our School proud.
PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
At Mary Immaculate the staff has an ongoing commitment to Professional Learning. The staff benefits from attending in services, 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.
Date |
Staff Members |
Professional Development |
27 February |
Don Spencer |
Principal's Meeting |
27 February |
Rebecca Sidorenko |
National Learning progressions and links to the syllabus |
28 February |
Kirsty Simpson |
Lamplighters Spirituality |
1 March |
Christopher McInerney |
Nationally Consistent Collection of Data |
Have a great week and let Christ be our way and life.
Don Spencer
Principal