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Last Sunday’s Gospel…
Jesus gave the apostles the Commandment to ‘Love one another as I have loved you.’ He also told them to remain in His love – to keep doing His work and elevated them to His friends rather than servants. He was pleased with their faith and knew they would need strength to go out and spread the Good News to the world. We are part of that Great Commission to – to remain in His love and to love one another, even when it is hard.
News…
Welcome back to another happy term at Mary Immaculate. I hope you all made some happy memories with your children during the break.
ANZAC Day
Towards the end of the holidays we had ANZAC Day. Ms Boehm, Ms Young, Mr Edwards and I marched with a number of our students and attended the service at Mawson Park in Campbelltown to lay a wreath. It is very important that we commemorate the sacrifice of those who have gone before us and to pray for peace. I thank all of you who brought your children along to represent our school.
Staff Spirituality Day
We began the term with an extra day off for the students but a day of prayer for the staff. There are many prayers in our tradition and the staff spent the day participating in various forms both for their own spiritual development and to enrich the prayer lives of our students. As well as well known prayers such as the Rosary, staff used St Ignatius’ Examen, presented by Sr Colleen, contemplative poetry and artwork in the tradition of the religious orders, who copied the bible by hand in calligraphy during the Middle Ages, Lectio, Visio and Musica Divina; contemplating the Word, images and music, journey and St Teresa of Avila’s water garden metaphor. It was an enriching day for all of us and helps us remember that we don’t do any of our work without Him.
New Playgrounds
The first day back was very exciting for the students who were allowed onto the new playground for the first time. Children put into action all they have learned about how to use the playground to its full potential. It was a very busy place and some just walked around. The new equipment is very popular and there finally seems to be enough handball courts. We have definitely noticed a significant drop in playground arguments and hope this continues. The students certainly have plenty to do. We have more equipment still coming and will involve the students in telling us what they love – and what they would like to play with on the playground.
Parent Induction and Excursions
Thank you to all the parents who came to the Induction Courses. We had about twenty of you. I will run more on future so please don’t worry if you didn’t get to these ones. We have Gala Days coming up and an Athletics carnival and I am sure many of you will want to help there. A number of you have helped at excursions. Year 1 and 2 both had excursions last week. I know more of you were happy to help but unfortunately we can’t take everyone. Both grades had very good days even though Year 1 were a bit damp at Symbio. Year 3 went to the planetarium in the hall so were nice and dry. These experience not only increase student engagement in their learning but also immerse students in vocabulary and places they help them come to a deeper understanding of the world around them. They are worth the extra effort.
Andrew Chinn
Andrew visited us in the first week to take the students through an Easter workshop of music and movement. The students had a brilliant time. It is wonderful to see students performing and leading in ways they haven’t done before. We are going to incorporate some of these strategies into hymn practice to add joy and life to our liturgical celebrations.
Kindergarten Interviews
We have met many potential new students and their families over the last week during Kindergarten Interviews. I particularly enjoyed the chance to chat to those of you who already have children at the school. Your feedback was invaluable and appreciated. We have more allocations at this stage than positions so please make sure you have applied if you haven’t already for younger siblings. Once offers go out, even if you are already at the school, you aren’t guaranteed a place unless we have someone decline. There is a strict order of criteria we must adhere to and while siblings of existing Catholic families are first, if positions have gone and you apply late, you will miss out. Applications are online this year and much easier to fill out.
Mothers' Day
I hope you can come to our Mother’s day Assembly on Friday afternoon. Year 1 are conducting it and will be welcoming you with a guard of honour. We will open the gates when we have set up and are ready for you. As usual this will be at about 1.40 pm ready for a 1.45 pm start. I will be at the funeral of Emeritus Bishop Peter Ingham during the day. I hope to be back in time to see you all but take this opportunity to wish you all a beautiful Mother’s Day and hope you are all well and truly looked after.
Christ continues to be our Way and Life and I hope He is yours too!
God Bless,
Michelle Rolfe, Principal
Lindsay Burns and Emilia Ahern, Acting Assistant Principals
Upcoming RE Events:
Liturgy -
- Tuesday 21 May 2024 at 10:00 am
- Friday 24 May 2024 at 10:00 am
What do these two religious men have in common?
(other than being priests….)
You may have guessed it… They are both priests who are part of a religious order known as the ‘Oblates of Mary Immaculate’.
Actually, St Eugene (pictured on the right) was the founder of this religious order. His overwhelming desire to serve God as a missionary priest inspired Father Leo and many like him to join the priesthood and this particular religious order.
Our school community will be attending a very special liturgy to celebrate the Feast of St Eugene on 21 May 2024. We are extremely lucky to have the Oblates serving the Mary Immaculate Parish.
Friday 24 May 2024
10:00 am liturgy
Students will be attending a very special liturgy on 24 May to celebrate the Feast Day of ‘Our Lady Help of Christians’. Can you believe that the Church named Mary the patron of Australia in 1844? Since this time we have turned to Mary to be our spiritual guide to strengthen us in our faith, love and compassion.
Snapshot of Learning
Year 6 have been reflecting on scripture stories in order to understand Jesus’ message of inclusion and love for neighbour. After reading the ‘Good Samaritan’, they wrote a journal entry from the perspective of one of the characters showing the importance of being a ‘neighbour’ to others.
Isaiah Yr 6 - ‘The Injured Jewish Man’
Thought I was going to be alright on the way to Jerusalem, but I got jumped by bandits. They beat me half to death and took off with my stuff. I lost hope and thought this was the end but then a priest walked past. He gave me a slight glance and went on his way. I was saddened but then a Levite came by. He too gave me a glance and went on his way. Tears fell down my face until I heard footsteps and looked up. It was a Samaritan. I thought he was about to mock me, but instead he bandaged and cleaned my wounds. He took me to an inn, paid for me and then said to the innkeeper to put it on his tab and left. From that day on I considered him my ‘neighbour’ and helped people just like he had for me.
Samuel Yr 6 - ‘The Injured Jewish Man’
I was walking to Jerusalem when suddenly I was robbed and beaten up. I woke up on the road bleeding and groaning in pain. I was so relieved when I saw a priest coming towards me but then he just stared and walked by. I was in so much pain then I saw a Levite coming down the road. I yelled out but he pretended not to hear me and continued on his way. Tears were filling my eyes and at this point I saw the Samaritan approaching. I started to cry because Jews and Samaritans hated each other. But…. wait…. He stopped, tended to my wounds and bandaged them. I was shocked. I got on his donkey and we went to the inn. He paid for a room and left. He was a true neighbour.
Kara Yr 6 - ‘The Levite’
I haven’t felt more distant to God than I had today. I was just getting ready for the morning rituals; the prayers and reviewing the songs I had to play in my head silently. Suddenly on the road heading to Jerusalem, a man, half-dead lay there - sad, alone and afraid. I looked ahead for anyone to help him, then I saw a priest walking away from him, unmoved by his appearance. I figured he must know what he was doing - he was a priest anyway, and I certainly did not want to dirty my hands (make myself unclean) for the instruments I was going to play. Not to mention the time! So, I just gave the injured man a disgruntled look and quickly ran to the temple.
After departing the building to go and collect some bread, I saw the same badly injured man next to someone. A Samaritan! I had the urge to approach and perhaps even tackle them when I noticed the Samaritan was… tending the other man's wounds? Him of all people helping the man, even paying for the man to stay in an inn! I wondered as I walked to the markets if that could’ve been me .. helping him and serving God. I felt a strong sense of remorse and jealousy that I didn’t do my job as a Levite. I hoped that someday I would have the chance to help my neighbours, like that Samaritan had.
Lual Yr 6 - ‘The Samaritan’
I was on my donkey when I saw a man who was hurt. I saw two others walk past without helping so I went to him and took him to an inn. I knew God would be proud of me because I was building the kingdom. The man offered to pay me back but I said that it was okay and he replied that he really appreciated what I had done.
Exciting News!
Good Samaritans in action!
We are very excited to announce that we will be starting up a Mini Vinnies team in our school over the course of the term.
Interested students from Grades 5 - 6 will shortly be invited to provide an expression of interest.
This team empowers primary school students to become advocates within their school and local community by putting their values into action.
Teachers and students meet during lunch breaks to learn about social justice issues, develop leadership skills and engage with the wider Vinnies community.
Mrs Kirsty Simpson
REC Co-ordinator
Due to the torrential rain over the weekend, yesterday's Primary Diocesan Cross Country event was postponed.The backup date for this event is Tuesday 28 May. If your child is no longer able to attend or you would like to volunteer to be a school official on the day please email the school email: info@mievdow.catholic.edu.auBest of luck to all of the students attending!Leah BeckmanSports Co-ordinator
The School has a reported case of Slap Cheek. If your child has symptoms of this please do not send them to school and let the school know. Please see the information from the NSW Health Department document for more information regardin Slap Cheek.