Dear Parents/Carers

This week, Mary Immaculate will once again join Catholic schools across NSW and the ACT to celebrate Catholic Schools Week (CSW) from 1 - 7 March.   Approximately 22 million students attend Catholic Schools around the world.

250,00 students in Australia attend Catholic schools, which equates to around 20% of all Australian school students.

The provision of Catholic education equates to one of the largest works of the Catholic Church throughout the world.

It is staggering to consider that despite these statistics approximately 58 million children between the ages of 6-18 from around the world, still do not have access to any form of schooling.  16% of the world is in fact, illiterate. This is a sobering thought and places into perspective the great gift of education that is afforded to each of our students.

Our School belongs to the Diocese of Wollongong.  According to latest census figures our Diocese is one of the fastest growing in New South Wales. It currently administers 30 primary schools, 9 systemic secondary schools, 6 Congregational schools and 1 special education setting. On Thursday night many members of our staff will join with colleagues from all these schools across our Diocese at our Annual Education Mass at St John Vianney, Fairy Meadow to commemorate with Bishop Brian Mascord. This is a very public expression of our individual and collective commitment to work together to realise the opportunities for growth that our Catholic Schools can provide for the students in our care.

Catholic Schools Week is about strengthening relationships between all those who have a stake in our schools – students, staff, families, priests, parishioners, and members of the wider community – by showcasing what happens in our classrooms every day.

Our own School celebration at Mary Immaculate will take place on Friday when all parents are invited to visit classrooms where the students will be extremely proud to share their learning and special pieces of work completed so far this year. This will be an ideal opportunity to support the building of community at Mary Immaculate and learn even more about the great things that are taking place in our own Catholic School.

Our School has a supportive community of Teachers, Parents, Carers, P & F, Clergy, Parishioners and Support Staff who work together to focus on giving students the best education possible, encouraging success, promoting discipline, supporting creativity and instilling compassion.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support of Mary Immaculate and I look forward to seeing many of you at our Catholic Schools Week 2020 celebration on Friday.