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Dear Parents and Carers,
Unfortunately our Year 3 – 6 students did not have the opportunity to gather in the Church to celebrate Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent. All students participated in an Ash Wednesday liturgy in their classrooms with their teachers. The ashes we received today serve as an outward sign of our need for penance and symbolise our mortality, a reminder that one day we will die and our bodies will return to dust. The following reflection by Fr Ron Rolheiser, OMI provides deeper meaning and insights into the symbolism of Ash Wednesday.
It is no accident that ashes have always been a major symbol within all religions. To put on ashes, to sit in ashes, is to say publicly and to yourself that you are reflective, in a penitential mode, that this is not ‘ordinary time’ for you, that you are not in a season of celebration, that you are grieving some of the things you have done and lost, that some important work is going on silently inside you, and that you are, metaphorically and really, in the cinders of a dead fire, waiting for a fuller day in your life.
All ancient traditions, be they religious or purely mythical, abound with stories of having to sit in the ashes. We all know, for example, the story of Cinderella. This is a centuries-old, wisdom-tale that speaks about the value of ashes. The name, Cinderella, itself already says most of it. Literally it means: "the young girl who sits in the cinders, the ashes." Moreover, as the tale makes plain, before the glass slipper is placed on her foot, before the beautiful gown, ball, dance, and marriage, there must first be a period of sitting in the cinders, of being smudged, of being humbled, and of waiting while a new life is being prepared. In the story of Cinderella there is a theology of Lent. In some Aboriginal communities there was the concept that occasionally someone would have to spend time in the ashes. Nobody knew why a specific person was called at a particular moment to sit in the ashes, but everyone knew that this was natural thing, that ashes do an important work in the soul, and that sooner or later that person would return to his or her regular life and be better for having spent time in the ashes. The belief was that the ashes, that period of silent sitting, had done some important, unseen work inside of the person. You sat in the ashes for healing.
The church taps into this deep well of wisdom when it puts ashes on our foreheads at the beginning of Lent. Lent is a season for each of us to sit in the ashes, to spend our time, like Cinderella, working and sitting among the cinders of the fire - grieving what we've done wrong, renouncing the dance, refraining from the banquet, refusing to do business as usual, waiting while some silent growth takes place within us, and simply being still so that the ashes can do their work in us.
Wishing each of you the companionship of Christ in the Lenten journey ahead.
Tina Murray
Principal
On Tuesday, our senior students participated in the online Launch of Project Compassion for 2022. Spanning the six weeks of Lent each year, Project Compassion brings thousands of Australian schools, parishes and supporters together to raise funds for people living in some of the most vulnerable communities across the world.
As Pope Francis said, “Education is an act of hope” and we have an opportunity through our involvement in Project Compassion to celebrate the power of learning and the ability we each have to make a difference in our world, especially in the lives of those who are most vulnerable to extreme poverty and injustice.
Project Compassion offers all of us an opportunity to allow our Lenten promises to take active form. In giving to those in need, we express the love and compassion modelled by Jesus. During Lent, Project Compassion boxes will be part of each classroom’s sacred space and will be available to assist our students to fulfill the Lenten promise to care for those who are less fortunate. Gratitude is extended to our Year 6 Mini Vinnies Team supported by Miss Earnshaw, Mrs Young and Mr Edwards, for coordinating initiatives at our school. Each family will receive a box and is invited to participate in collecting funds to contribute to the Project Compassion appeal.
ATTENDANCE
Regular school attendance is essential for all children to achieve their educational best. When your child attends school every day, learning becomes easier and your child will build and maintain positive friendships. To ensure students do not miss out on essential learning activities it is important that all children arrive at school prior to the first bell at 8.23am. Arriving to school prior to the bell helps students learn the importance of punctuality and routine and gives children an opportunity to greet their friends before class. It is essential that if your child is absent from school an explanation for the absence is provided to the school within 7 days. If your child is absent from school for three consecutive days, your child’s class teacher or a member of the school leadership team will contact you to discuss the absence. Education is a sequential process and absences often mean students miss important stages in the development of topics, causing them to find ‘catching up' difficult. Appointments should be scheduled outside of school hours where possible. Below are some very interesting figures regarding the impact of days and minutes lost on learning.
NAPLAN 2022
The National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) is a point in time assessment of literacy and numeracy skills. Students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 participate in the annual tests in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. All NSW schools will sit NAPLAN online in 2022.
Our school will be participating in NAPLAN between 10 and 20 May 2022.
In preparation for NAPLAN, our school will also be participating in practice tests between 23 March and 8 April. The practice test is a trial run and key preparation activity for NAPLAN in May. It is not an assessment of student ability, and the tests will not be marked.
Excessive preparation for NAPLAN is not recommended. Students can use the public demonstration site (https://www.nap.edu.au/online-assessment/public-demonstration-site) to familiarise themselves with the types of questions and tools available in NAPLAN.
If you have any questions about NAPLAN, please contact your child’s teacher.
Parents of Year 3 and 5 students have been sent additional information via Compass.
Tina Murray
Principal
Catholic Schools Week
This week is Catholic Schools Week! Our Year 6 Faith Team and classes have compiled a short clip on ‘What makes our school so special?’
This clip can be viewed by clicking on the link below:
Welcome Liturgy Reminder
This Friday, we are holding a special Welcome Liturgy at the Church for the newest members of our school community. Parents and friends of our Kindergarten students are warmly invited.
Year 6 Leadership Induction Postponed
We will be holding the Leadership Induction Liturgy for Year 6 next Friday 11 March 2022 at 11.30 am.
Mrs Kirsty Simpson
Religious Education Co-Ordinator
Congratulations again to 2 Gold, the only class to have earned a Gold Star, well done!! The other Year 2 classes were close too … quite a few other classes have come close, with only two or three students forgetting. Remember our Library days:
This Thursday – Kinder
Next week:
Tuesday – Year 6
Wednesday – Year 5
Thursday – Year 3
Friday – Year 2
Because each class only borrows fortnightly, any student who finishes the books they have borrowed and would like to change them in between lessons is welcome to bring their Library bag and come to the Library at Lunch 1 on Tuesday or Thursday. They can return the books they have finished and choose some new ones!
Premiers’ Reading Challenge: All students from Years 2 - 6 will be automatically registered. Any student who remembers their login from last year can login and begin to register your books, your logins should not have changed. Year 2 is participating as a grade, the teachers will ensure they read the required books to the students, and all books will be registered at school. Any student from K - 1 who would like to take part, I just need a letter from parents please. Thank you to those who have contacted us already – please be patient, logins for new students will be sent home as soon as we receive the details. You can begin to read your books, and keep a list at home. The booklists are found at: https://products.schools.nsw.edu.au/prc/booklist/home.html
You can search our Library catalogue to see all the available books on the list – go to oliver.dow.catholic.edu.au/miev, and type ‘premier’ in the search box. You can then select the required level, either K - 2, 3 - 4, or 5 - 6.
Daily Reading: Please remember how important it is to make time to read with your children for at least ten minutes a day.
"To read a book for the first time is to make an acquaintance with a new friend. To read it for a second time is to meet an old one."
~ Chinese saying
Happy reading!
Mrs Sue Bryant
Teacher-Librarian
Today is Ash Wednesday and it is the launch of our Project Compassion Campaign. We look forward to working as a school community to help raise awareness and money for Project Compassion to help our local and broader community.
What is Project Compassion?
Project Compassion which is run by Caritas Australia raises vital funds to help those facing poverty and injustice in the world. It is a campaign for people all over the world that can’t afford things that most people would be able to afford. By donating our spare change or money into the Project Compassion box at home or at school, we are helping people that are struggling to survive and supporting them to live a happier and longer life.
What is the 2022 theme?
The theme for 2022 is ‘For all future generations.’ This helps remind us that we all have an impact on other generations to come.
Project Compassion Boxes:
At school each classroom will receive a Project Compassion box to raise money for the poor. In addition to this each family at the school will also get a Project Compassion box.
How can we raise money?
Do a match with your teacher day, scavenger hunt around your house for loose change you can also check your couches. Later this term there will be a mufti day and donations will be sent to Project Compassion.
Written by
Cooper T, Brody G, Adelle B and Danniella L
Denzel T 5 Bue, Elizabeth L 3 Green, Jessica A 6 Green, Sienna C 4 Gold, Daniela A 3 Gold, Savannah V 2 Gold, Elijah N 1 Green, Owen J 1 Gold and Riley J 1 Gold.
Please check COMPASS for details and permission.
ALL students are expected to attend the Athletics Carnival as it is considered a normal school day.
Parent helpers are also needed - if you are able to assist in any way - please answer YES in the questions tab of the COMPASS event.
Parents are able to drop off and collect students from Campbelltown Athletics Centre from 8:30am.
A bus is also available for students at a cost of $15.00 - if you would like your child to catch the bus, please complete the COMPASS event titled - Athletics Carnival BUS CONSENT AND PAYMENT.