Dear Parents and Caregivers,

I want to sincerely thank the Mary Immaculate Parent Community for your wonderful support. Last week the newsletter highlighted some recent difficulties we have been experiencing. The very next day after the newsletter was distributed I was overwhelmed by the number of students who approached me to let me know that their parents had discussed these concerns with them. This is a true and lived example of how our principle of partnership can be put into practice.  THANK YOU!

Since the beginning of the year, our school has been focussing on the concept of kindness. We have been recording examples of simple acts of kindness that have taken place within our school community and we have collected over 2000 instances, although I am quite sure that in reality this figure could be much higher. This week our kindness chains have been displayed to remind all of us, just how powerful kindness can be and how it can bring us together and connect us.

We have extended the concept of kindness by shifting our focus to encompass the other side of the coin, gratitude. A focus on gratitude has the power to completely reset the energy in a room. Intentional opportunities to focus on what we are grateful for force us into a positive frame of mind. The power of this habit lies not in recalling individual moments but in the cumulative effect of opening our eyes to seeing more positive opportunities. Gratitude is fantastic, but what does it actually look like in everyday life? When someone lives with gratitude, what do they actually do each day? Simple practices such as; going around the dinner table and allowing everyone to contribute their own grateful moment from the day or the practice of writing thank you notes for gifts we have received or even writing a letter to someone who has positively impacted our life have been proven to not only improve our outlook but the opportunity to express gratitude may have lasting effects on the brain and our overall physical and emotional health. Often much of our time and energy is spent pursuing things we currently don’t have. Gratitude reverses our priorities to help us appreciate the people and things we do.

I have taken the liberty to try and express gratitude for the life of Fr Donal Madigan.

Dearest Father Donal,

Despite your dream of being sent to minister in Africa, we are grateful that the Holy Spirit had other plans for you. In May 1963 you were sent, so far away from your home and family in Ireland to be with us in Australia.

You first came to us in Eagle Vale in 1989, as our Parish Priest. You opened your heart to our community and guided us for six years with humility, compassion, wisdom and a wonderful sense of humour. When you left our parish in 1995 you had the opportunity to contribute as shepherd for several other parish flocks across NSW and also in other states. We were truly blessed to have you return to us at Eagle Vale before your retirement in 2018.

Everyone has their own precious memories of you as our priest, a friend, a mentor, a guide, a listening ear. When I met you, I had just returned to Mary Immaculate after becoming a mum for the first time. I was touched by your gentleness, your grace, your wicked sense of humour and your ability to see the uniqueness, the good, not the faults of each individual.

Fr Donal, we are truly grateful for your contribution to our parish, our school and our lives. We are grateful that our paths crossed. We are grateful for the many children who were initiated into our faith and received the sacraments through you, the many couples who began their marriage under your guidance, the souls you helped to return home to our God and the parish and school you helped to grow and minister to on a daily basis.

Fr Donal you showed us each day what it takes to make Christ our Way and Life.

You will continue to be in our prayers and we are blessed to know that we will always be in yours.

Much gratitude

Tina Murray

Principal

In the second part of the year, as a School Community, we will be focusing on gratitude. Gratitude is all about being thankful and focusing on the good around us. When you learn to be thankful for everything and have an attitude of gratitude, you will feel more positive, peaceful and happy each day. Studies show that gratitude for children can be a powerful tool, with lots of benefits to mental and physical health. Gratitude can be a tricky concept for young children to grasp. I would like to share with you this ‘Gratitude Scavenger Hunt’, which is perfect for both children and adults to start finding little things to be thankful for.  Year 2 have been reflecting on what they are grateful for this week.  

Vihan 2 Gold is grateful for his family because they guide him.

Lincoln 2 Gold is gratefull for his teachers because she teach's him new things.

Nyarnhom 2 Gold is grateful for his friends because they make him smile.

Kara 2 Green is grateful for the class, nature and herself.

Jessica 2 Green is grateful for her amazing teacher Mrs Voda.

Bonnie 2 Green is greateful for her friends because they care for her so much.

MRS LILLIAN DEL GIUDICE

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL

Congratulations to 4 Blue, the only class to come close to earning a Gold Star last week!! A great effort, well done! We just need to remember to bring our Library Bags, even if we are not sure if it is Sport, Drama or Library!

Premiers' Reading Challenge: There are 82 students finished, and another 215 who are getting there! We now have only just over one week left to complete the challenge, so it is important to ensure that any books read are registered. The last day is next Friday 28 August, so do it now! Go to https://products.schools.nsw.edu.au/prc/logon.html

Remember, any student who needs help registering the books is urged to come to the Library at Lunch 2 for assistance. If you only have a few books to read, we have put aside a collection of picture books and non-fiction books at each level which you can read during lunch and add to your lists! It would be a shame to be close to the required number but not finish …..

Chess:  Next Term at Lunch 2 there will be a Chess Tournament for interested students in Years 3 - 6. Students in Kinder, Year 1 and Year 2 who are interested in playing Chess will have an opportunity after the tournament to play with the senior students, to learn how to play, about the pieces, strategies etc. Any interested students are invited to come to the Library at Lunch 2 on Tuesdays this Term to get in some practice before the tournament starts.

It seems to be  a very busy time even at this time of year but please try to take time to read with your children every day, the effort is worth it.

“I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book!”

J.K.Rowling

Happy reading!

Mrs Sue Bryant

Teacher-Librarian

School Photos will be taken on Friday 21 August 2020 for students in Kindergarten to Year 6.

Each student has been given an envelope detailing Package Price and Description.  You do not need to return this envelope to school if you have already paid on line as the photographers have a record of all children who have ordered on line. 

The preferred Method of Payment is Online. (DUE TO COVID NO CASH OR CHEQUES WILL BE ACCEPTED)

DO NOT PANIC IF YOU DO NOT ORDER YOUR PHOTOS PRIOR TO PHOTO DAY THEY CAN BE ORDERED AFTERWARDS.  EVERY CHILD HAS A PHOTO TAKEN IN CASE OF LATE ORDERS.

Full Winter Uniform (not sport) is to be worn on the day.  Please ensure that your child has a normal school hair style according to School Policy –

‘Hair must be tidy.  Exaggerated fashion hair cuts are not acceptable.  Boys hair should not touch their collar.  Girls with long hair MUST HAVE ALL HAIR PULLED BACK IN PLAITS, PONY-TAIL etc).’

 Thanking you

TINA MURRAY

PRINCIPAL