Dear Parents and Caregivers
What a term! It is hard to believe that we are at the end of the first term of the year. It has been both challenging and rewarding. Trying to navigate COVID, home and face-to-face learning, building programs, trucks, excavators etc! As we make our way to the end of the term, I thank you all for your patience and support of our community.
Over the next 2 weeks, work will begin on the Koala Crossing at William St. We look forward to this happening as it will provide another layer of safety for the students when crossing the road.
Next term, we will be able to access the Performing Arts Studio. As well, work will begin on our Nature Play area and the re-surfacing of our Netball / Basketball courts. We look forward to this work being complete so that we can fully utilize our play space. I thank the staff and especially the students at William Street for their patience as this work continues.
Holy Week
Over the past few days, the children in R/1 and 2/3 have helped us to reflect on the significant moments in Jesus life during this week. On Monday, we reflected on the triumphant entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. On Tuesday, we reflected on both the Last Supper and the Washing of the Disciples Feet. The Passover meal. On Wednesday, the classes participated in praying the Stations of the Cross with depictions of these stations illustrated by our Year 4 - 6 students. These are significant events for Christians around the world. When I was at mass on the weekend, Fr Michael referred to Holy Week as the Grand Final. For Catholics and Christians everywhere, this week is Grand Final week. Jesus love for humanity was obvious and yet, sometimes it begs the question; who do you think Jesus was?
Jesus was a Jew. He was baptised by John the Baptist, his cousin, and began his ministry in Galilee. He had a well-developed reputation as a healer and gathered a group of disciples around him without regard to gender, status or background and celebrated their unity through the sharing of meals. Opposition to him reached a climax during a Passover celebration in Jerusalem where he was arrested, tried and crucified.
Jesus’ message was centred on the Kingdom of God. His message was communicated through parables, proverbial sayings, the Lord’s Prayer, table fellowship and miracles. The Kingdom of God was open to all people including, the destitute, the sick, the crippled, the tax collectors and sinners.
As we come to the end of Lent, it is good to renew our efforts to pray well. When the followers of Jesus asked him to teach them to pray he gave them the ‘Our Father’. That prayer shows us how to speak to God as a loving parent and carer.
Lent ends on Holy Thursday and we move into the holiest days of the year. We call these days the Paschal Triduum. These three days, from sunset on Holy Thursday to sunset on Easter Sunday are the Christian Passover Feast.
Easter is not just one day but a whole season of fifty days lasting until Pentecost. We take longer to celebrate Easter than we take preparing for it during Lent.
On behalf of the staff, I wish you all a happy and holy Easter.
I look forward to seeing the children return to school on Tuesday 3 May.
Yours sincerely
Grace Vassallo-Wakefield