Dear Parents and Guardians,
Happy St Joseph’s Day -19th of March 2024
In 1866, a young 24-year old Mary Mackillop together with her Parish Priest Father Julian Tenison Woods began an order of sisters who were to be very different in the sense that instead of being behind the walls of a convent, they were to live amongst people, especially the poor, in groups of 3 or 4, own nothing, ask for donations and do what they could to help others.
Mary MacKillop and Father Julian Tenison Woods chose the saint of St Joseph to be the patron saint for this order due to the understanding that Joseph, as the chosen earthly father of Jesus, was a humble man. In fact, the scripture they chose to base their order and work was from Micah 6:8 “Act Justly, Love Tenderly, Walk Humbly”.
The Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart is an order based on ‘Humility’ and ‘Service’. But what is humility?
Humility is not being a door mat, but is an expression of truth, a truth of who we are to enable us to acknowledge our strengths and our weakness. To use our strength to help others and seek help when we need others.
Humility is being down to earth and be aware that without humility we could elbow people aside.
Humility is boldness and courage.
Humility allows inner authority of a person to be expressed.
Humility is needed to have courage and reveal compassionate God.
As we approach the end of the term, I would like to take this opportunity to reflect on the events that have taken place in our school community as we look forward to the celebration of Holy Week and Easter.
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the success of our community events. The Carnevale was a vibrant celebration of our diverse community, filled with joy and laughter. The racing of the Pizza Delivery Vans was an absolute highlight. The Ash Wednesday mass was a wonderful celebration with the parish as a meaningful start to the Lenten season, reminding us of the importance of repentance.
Our Meet the Teacher Evening was a wonderful opportunity for parents and teachers to connect and discuss the progress of our students. The Welcome BBQ was a delightful event organised by the P&F committee, that brought our school community together in a spirit of friendship and connection.
The Wellbeing Day was a significant event that emphasized the importance of mental and physical health. The activities were engaging and educational, and it was heartening to see our students participate with such enthusiasm. The highlight of the day was the remarkable creations for the Egg Drop!
The AGM was yet another example of the commitment of our families in being an active part in our school community. Thank you to our 2024 School Board Members:
- Father Long Hai
- Ben Catalano
- Claire Little
- Kelly Sergi
- Dave Wylie
- Gemma Smyth
- Catherine Rowe
- Regan Marshall
- Kirsty Miller
- Reena Parmar
- Stuart Rainsford
- Richard Sellars
In the past fortnight we have also had both NAPLAN and our Junior Primary Swim Week. The NAPLAN assessments that our students undertook was approached with diligence and determination, and we are proud of their efforts. Each child completed assessments in Writing, Reading Comprehension, Conventions of Language and Numeracy. The results will provide valuable insights into our students’ learning progress and help us improve our teaching strategies.
The Junior Primary Swimming Week at Immanuel College was another highlight of the term. Our youngest students demonstrated great excitement and resilience as they spent the last 4 days at the pool. It was wonderful to see them enjoy the water and improve their swimming skills.
We also celebrated with 7 children from TWCS, the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Coordinated by the Parish and Father Long Hai, the children and their families have spent a lot of Term 1 preparing for this important Sacrament. They will later prepare for the Sacraments of Confirmation and Holy Communion.
As we move towards Holy Week, we are reminded of the journey that Jesus took for us. The week begins with Palm Sunday, which commemorates Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem. This is followed by the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, the Crucifixion on Good Friday, and finally the joyous celebration of the Resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Easter is a time of renewal and rebirth, a time to reflect on our own lives and how we can bring the message of Jesus into our daily actions. It is a time to celebrate the victory of life over death, of love over hate.
In conclusion, I would like to express my gratitude to all parents, teachers, and students for their continued support and commitment to our school community. May the joy and peace of Easter be with you and your families.
God Bless,
Ben
Principal
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