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Dear Parents and Carers,
One of the great privileges of my life was the opportunity to spend several weeks in the Holy Land in 2018. During this time, we walked paths and retraced some of the journeys that Jesus walked. This experience changed forever the way I visualise the scripture stories.
The mantra of our pilgrimage was “This moment or this place is as perfect as it can be.” Our temptation, as humans is to always look to the next moment to be more perfect. We tend to always be disappointed in what we have. We are always rushing into the future. The reason we’re rushing into the future is because we’re not experiencing a wholeness in the present. When we haven’t grasped the present, we always live under an illusion. It is an illusion that the next moment or place is going to be better than the last. When we get around this corner, when we see the next town, when we get to Jerusalem, when we get to the next hotel—whatever it might be. But pilgrimage helps us see that attitude as essentially wrong. As long as we think happiness is around the corner, it means that we have not yet grasped what happiness is. Happiness is experienced in the present moment and the present place, this moment and place are as perfect as they can be.
During the pilgrimage, our group travelled to the top of Mount Tabor, a mountain that rises from the plains of Galilee. Our group celebrated mass in the beautiful Church of the Transfiguration - the scene of Sunday’s Gospel account. According to tradition, it was to this mountaintop that Jesus, took his three most trusted disciples and they were transformed by the vision described in the Gospel of Mark. This was the ultimate mountaintop experience. Peter, James, and John were entrusted to take the perfection they experienced on the mountaintop and allow it to transform the way they lived their lives as believers, amidst the ordinariness of their own lives. They were sent, just as we are to be bearers of Christ’s love.
The placement of this Gospel story in the Lenten Season has significance for us all. This Season is one that calls for each of us to be transformed and present to opportunities to renew ourselves as we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection at Easter.
Every day at Mary Immaculate there are visible instances of renewal, of growth and of perfection and transformation. Such growth and renewal can occur within the learning environment and is especially evident in those ‘Ah-ha’ moments when learning connections are made, absorbed, strengthened, and consolidated. Growth is also especially evident in relational matters particularly where conflict or disagreement have arisen. Relationships between students in conflict can be transformed through structured dialogue with a focus on developing empathy through the opportunity to see a situation from the perspective of another. The Restorative Justice processes of our school provide a scaffold to support such transformational change.
During this Lenten Season, we are all called to transform aspects of our lives that hinder a full relationship with our God and with each other.
May we all, through practices of prayer, generosity, and forgiveness, invigorate our Lenten Season and rejuvenate our relationships. May Christ continue to be our transformational guide just as he was for his disciples Peter, James, and John on the mountaintop of Mount Tabor.
Tina Murray
Principal
PARENTS AND FRIENDS ASSOCIATION
Thank you to the following parents who have accepted nominations and leadership roles in this group for 2023.
President – still to be filled
Vice President – Kerry Watson
Secretary – Rebecca Whitburn
Treasurer – Helena Lasan
The position of President has not yet been filled, and we are seeking support from the wider parent community from anyone who may be interested in assuming the role of President role for 2023.
Please contact Mrs Murray to discuss interest in this position further.
If all Executive positions are not filled, the P&F will not be a viable option for the remainder of 2023, and other avenues for parent engagement and involvement will need to be explored.
CROSS COUNTRY VOLUNTEERS
We are still seeking the assistance of Parent Volunteers to help at the Cross Country on Friday 24 March 2023. Please click on the link below if you are able to volunteer.
SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
Congratulations to the students who took the next step in their sacramental journey this week through the reception of the Sacrament of Penance. We are grateful for the dedication of the Parish Sacramental team and our school staff who supported the candidates during their preparation and at the liturgies that took place this week.
In response to previous parent feedback, we are providing the following information to help parents understand the importance of these practises and to understand each type of drill. We understand some students may become nervous so we ask parents to please discuss the drills with their children in readiness for the practises that must be completed this term.
The students and staff of our school are required to practise the following emergency drills each year. Each type of drill is explained below.
EVACUATION DRILLS
The school is required to conduct a ‘Evacuation Drill’ on an annual basis.
During an ‘Evacuation Drill’, students will be safely escorted along a designated evacuation route to our pre-determined evacuation site. The grass area in front of the hall has become our new evacuation site due to the current building project.
At the conclusion of the drill, all students will be escorted back to their classrooms. We want each student to understand and be aware of the importance of this drill and not be afraid when the alarm is sounded. By practicing they will know what to do and how to do it in the event of an actual emergency.
LOCKDOWN DRILLS
The school must conduct at least one ‘Lockdown Drill’ throughout each school year. This type of drill will secure the school building and safely shelter all students, staff and visitors inside the building. The purpose of this drill is to keep the students safe from any danger outside or inside the building. During a ‘Lockdown Drill’ all the perimeter doors to the school building will be locked and will remain locked until the danger or issue outside or inside the building is removed. To enable everyone to remain safe, no one will be allowed to enter the building or leave the building until the drill is completed.
In the event of an actual emergency, to maintain the safety of everyone involved and to maintain order, we respectfully ask that you abide by the following:
• Do not come to the school site
• Do not call the school offices (as we will be busy with the drill or actual emergency)
• Do not contact students or staff members via mobile phone or social media (as they will be busy with the drill or actual emergency)
• Avoid social media posts. Correct information will be disseminated through the Compass system as soon as possible.
• Please make sure that your contact information is current at all times so that you can be reached without delay in the event of an actual emergency.
• In the event of an actual emergency, you will receive notification about where to pick up your child as soon as practicable.
Please remember that these safety practice drills are done to help maintain our schools as a safe place to learn and work.
Please discuss these procedures with your child.
NSW K-2 English and Mathematics Syllabuses
This year all primary schools in NSW will be implementing the reformed NSW English and Mathematics K-2 syllabuses. These syllabuses highlight foundational literacy and numeracy skills to develop competence in:
- oral language
- reading
- writing
- mathematics
Over the next few weeks I will include suggestions about what you can do as a parent or carer to support your child in these important areas of learning.
Helping your Early Stage 1 child at home with English
Home languages
For children learning English as an additional language or dialect, continuing to develop literacy skills in their home language is important for their development of literacy in English. Speaking regularly to your child in your home language, reading to your child from books written in your home language, and modelling writing in your home language, will help them to develop English language skills.
Oral language and communicating
Oral language and communicating focuses on developing speaking, listening and interacting skills.
You can help your Kindergarten child at home by:
Helping your Stage 1 child at home with English
Oral language and communicating
Oral language and communicating focuses on using more advanced speaking and listening skills to clearly communicate with greater detail and socially connect with peers and teachers.
You can help your Year 1 or Year 2 child at home by:
- using and explaining language that describes position such as left / right, near / far, above / below. Play games such as ‘Simon Says’ or design a map to go on a treasure hunt
- comparing and discussing different aspects of life around you. For example, what is the same or different about the seasons, movies, books, food, clothes, cars or weather
- continuing to support your child to successfully complete 2 and 3 step instructions. For example, make your bed – put on your jacket – turn out the light
- introducing more detailed texts to your child, such as beginning chapter books, so they can focus and listen to you read about one topic over a longer period of time. For example, reading one or 2 chapters per night.
Mrs Lillian Del Giudice
Assistant Principal
YEAR 6 SERVICE TEAM
We would like to introduce our Year 6 Service Team. They are responsible this year for bringing our Catholic Values alive in meaningful ways throughout the school.
ST PATRICK’S GREEN THEME DAY
The Year 6 Service Team has organised a St Patrick’s Mufti Day for next Friday 17 March. This will be a ‘green themed’ day where students are invited to wear a splash of green. Year 6 will also be leading us in prayer and showing service by making Green themed biscuits for the younger students in the school.
WESTERN REGION SWIMMING CARNIVAL
Last Wednesday, 1 March, 12 students from Mary Immaculate represented the school at the Western Region Swimming Carnival at Bradbury. We take the opportunity to congratulate Ella M, Bradley G, Indyana A, Addison T, Noah G, Nathaniel C, Ryan S, Lillian J, Eve S, Nicola W and Piper H on the way they represented the school, cheered each other on, their exemplary behaviour and for doing their very best.
HOCKEY
Last Friday, 3 March, Lyla G participated in the Diocesan Hockey Trials which were held at Narellan. Congratulations to Lyla, who was one of three girls selected to participate in the NSW MacKillop Trials which will be held in Canberra.
Well done to all of these students! We are so proud of your efforts.
Miss Leah Beckman
Sports Coordinator
If your child is in Year 6 this year and you wish your child to attend Year 7 at a Catholic Systemic High School you will need to Enrol NOW!. You will need to obtain a High School Enrolment Form either from their website or from the High School of your choice. You will not automatically be accepted in Year 7 if you attend a Catholic Primary School and the Primary Schools DO NOT apply for enrolment on your behalf. A list of the Local Systemic Catholic Schools is below.
The P & F have organised an Easter Raffle and tickets were sent home today. There are sixteen different Easter Baskets to be won. If you would like more booklets they can be collected from the office. The raffle will be drawn throughout the school day on Monday 3 April 2023.
The Second Hand Uniform Room now has second hand winter uniforms on display if anyone would like to pop in and have a look in preparation for uniform change over.
JUST A REMINDER THAT PARENTS ARE NOT TO PARK IN THE CHURCH CAR PARK
OR USE THE CHURCH DRIVEWAY AS A DROP OFF OR PICK UP FOR CHILDREN.
