Last weekend we celebrated the feast of the Body and Blood of Christ, which is traditionally the time when many of our students and parish members would have taken the next step in their Catholic initiation. Each step of initiation is a sign of great hope that our 2000+year faith continues to be handed down from one generation to the next. It is a great privilege to witness the love and support parents provide to their children on a daily basis, through the day-to-day life of our school. As parents, each time our child takes another step in their growth, development and faith journey we are certainly proud, but we should also be challenged to remember the enormous responsibility of our role as their first educators. Just as we have a responsibility to nourish our children’s bodies through a healthy diet, so we must also nourish their faith by providing opportunities to practice the rituals and actions in the context of our own families and our parish community. As the old saying goes, “You are what you eat.” This might be the case for our bodies, but it is also certainly true for our spiritual life. If we are what we eat, then what is currently feeding our spiritual life and that of our children? This is especially true during our current situation when our opportunities to engage actively and practice our faith in the context of a parish community are greatly diminished.

When Jesus celebrated the last supper with his disciples he asked them to “Do this in memory of me.” Regularly celebrating within a community of faith and being nourished spiritually by the Eucharist is certainly the source and summit of our faith. But we can also be challenged to consider what else Jesus might have meant when he said, “Do this in memory of me” What are the implications of the word this? What is the this that we are called to do and to be in our families, our school, our community and our world?

We pray for all those children in our own community and across the world who, due to the COVID restrictions, have been unable to take the next step in their initiation. May we be creative in the ways we can support our children to continue to grow in faith within our families, parish and school community and may we be attentive to the ways we can help them to discover the ways they can continue to make Christ their way and life on a daily basis.

Let Christ be our way and life.

Principal

Next week parents will have the opportunity to discuss the contents of their child’s interim report with their class teacher. At this stage, only 66 parents have booked parent / teacher conferences via Compass. Although the interviews will be conducted by telephone due to the current restrictions, please do not be put off by this method as it may have many positives and allow parents and students to be engaged in the process from the comfort of their own home. It can often be useful, especially with older students for the students to be engaged in the conferences as it is a way to further engage the students in their own learning, since it is ultimately the student who is the key participant in obtaining the desired learning outcomes. The opportunity to meet with both parents and teachers reinforces the notion that we take a team approach to learning. These conferences provide the opportunity to plan learning goals and future directions for improved learning outcomes in Semester Two. I often liken the role of parents and educators to the role of coaches and cheerleaders. Ultimately like the athlete, it must be the student who must do the practice and consistently implement the strategies and advice in order to continue to improve and succeed. Research on improving educational outcomes for students supports the cooperation of those who have the greatest influence on them, namely parents and teachers. There is strong evidence that parental involvement makes a significant difference to educational achievement. When schools and parents are able to work together in constructive and meaningful ways much can be achieved. Please take the time to lock in a timeslot during Week 8 to discuss and plan for the learning in Semester 2.

Advice regarding the need for medical clearance for students returning to school

• If any student does not attend school because they are unwell, they are required to provide medical clearance before returning.
• This includes:

1. When a student is sent home unwell they are required to provide medical clearance before returning to the school site
2. When a student proactively stays home because of illness (i.e. they are recorded as 'sick'), they are required to provide medical clearance before returning to the school site.

TRIAL OF NEW MORNING ROUTINE

Thank you for your wonderful response in supporting the safety and punctual arrival of students at school each morning.

In an effort to alleviate the congestion at the Kiss and Drop Zone we will trial the opening of the Aquamarine Drive gate. Teachers on duty will open the gate at 8:00 am and close the gate immediately on the first bell, so that they can move directly to their classroom to begin the day with their class.

Due to continuing restrictions, only students are able to enter the school site in the morning.

We hope this change will further help to support students to have a safe and settled start to the day.

Thank you in advance for your continued support. 

VISIT BY CAMPBELLTOWN POLICE

Today we were fortunate to host a visit by the Campbelltown Police Liaison Officer Constable Louise Michell. Louise spoke to Year 3, 4, 5 and 6 students and the information presented included a variety of topics such as cyber-safety, bullying and the long-term possible consequences associated with inappropriate choices both in the school and community setting. It was wonderful that Louise was able to reinforce the same messages we have been communicating to the students within the school context.

To assist parents to reinforce similar messages at home we will provide a summarised version of the content covered during Louise’s presentation in next week’s newsletter.

 LATE ARRIVALS

• Thursday - 61 Children Late
• Friday - 56 Children Late
• Monday - 54 Children
• Tuesday - 48 Children Late
• Wednesday -  46 Children Late