Last Sunday’s Gospel was about forgiveness and Jesus tells us how important it is. Forgiveness does not mean the action was ok, it means we are letting go of our resentment of it. When the students apologise to each other, I encourage them to say “Thank you”, rather than “That’s ok.” It’s not ok if someone has said something hurtful, for example, but we show appreciation that they can own their mistake and change their ways. If we do this for others, we can expect the same for ourselves when we make a mistake. “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

On Monday evening, we had a wonderful night hearing many of you telling us about our school. There were about 35 parents present and 14 staff. I thank you all for giving up your own time to be with us, and for the respectful and thoughtful way you engaged with the evening. We have all your responses and will compile a summary to send to you all so you can see what was brought up. We will also look at what actions we can take in the short term and what will wait until the leadership for 2024 and beyond is in place. One item that was very important to Year 6 parents was to have the Year 6 dinner on a separate night to the Graduation/Farewell ceremony because of the tight time. We are checking in with Fr Leo and will look at a separate evening. If you would like to add your voice to this, please let me know.

I am being guided by parents on this one!

Thank you all for the positive way you have engaged with the pick up procedures. It is running very smoothly even with buses running late the first two days! The students took cards home with family names on them and if you can display them in your car for us, it will make pick up even quicker because we can call the students out earlier.

Some students were looking for the group that walk to the duck pond this afternoon. There is no longer a group that walks to the duckpond. We are not allowed to run a separate or alternate pick up point. That is part of council rules too. The designated pick up zone is installed by Council following traffic studies to determine safety and traffic flow. Students are only allowed to walk home, not to another place to meet you. If you have been allowing your children to do this, it doesn’t replace the school duty of care. We are still responsible.  Either come in and pick up your children, or pick them up from the pick up zone – please!

We received the wonderful news about one of our students artworks making the final in the Diocesan Christmas Art Competition. This is quite an achievement! There were only 44 from across the diocese. Please read further for all the details.

We are meeting with the builders today and are hoping to get more information about the timeline for the new buildings to be finished, the landscaping and the playground. It is exciting to think it will soon be finished. We’ll let you know!

Mrs Lillian Del Giudice will continue to take leave for the duration of Term 4, 2023. As a result, Mr Lindsay Burns will continue his secondment in the position of Acting  Assistant Principal for the remainder of 2023. We are very happy to be able to keep Mr Burns for a while longer and wish Ms Del-Giudice well, while she is on leave.

God Bless,

Michelle Rolfe - Acting Principal

Lindsay Burns - Acting Assistant Principal

CHRISTMAS ART COMPETITION 2023

Congratulations Emily!

Our school recently entered several artworks to be part of the Diocesan Christmas Art Competition.

Emily’s artwork was chosen to be part of this very special event and will be displayed in the Wollongong Art Gallery alongside 43 other finalists.

Her work was judged against a criteria and reflected exemplary writing and artistic skills.

Emily will be invited to attend the Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition Opening and Awards Night that will take place in early October. 

We wish Emily the best of luck with her entry!

The Hidden Truth

Emily C 

My artwork depicts ‘Preparing the Way’ for a new king; Isaiah 40: 3-5. The Jewish people had developed an image in their mind of a Messiah who would be a great king, one who would free them from slavery and oppression. Isaiah called for his people to ‘Prepare the Way’ to ensure obstacles that kept them from truly seeing him were cleared in their hearts, so they were truly ready to receive him. 

I have chosen to represent this passage with the traditional Aramaic print of the time in the background and the image of his birth in the foreground. The Torah promised a Messiah, someone who they imagined and wanted to make change ‘now’, not the gentle man filled with love, serving those on the margins, born of humble beginnings. 

In our own lives we need to make sure that we too are open and responsive to God’s call in our own lives by clearing a path in our hearts where we can respond to God’s love for us.

Ms Kirsty Simpson

Religious Education Co-Ordinator