Photo: Year 2/3 Art
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Welcome back to Term 2. I trust that you all had a well-deserved break with your children and managed to have some quality family time together.
Last Sunday at mass we celebrated the 5th Sunday of Easter. It is interesting that some people believe that Easter is a one-off event rather than a Season that consists of 7 weeks in our Liturgical Calendar. Last Sunday at mass, we heard these words from the Gospel of John 15:
I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. … Every branch in me that … bears fruit he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. … Without me you can do nothing.
Fr Paul, in his reflection on the Gospel from last Sunday wrote:
To believe in the Resurrection of Jesus means to believe in its power here and now. The passage from Saint John’s gospel (15:1-8) on which we are asked to reflect and pray this Sunday contains the wonderful image of Christ as the vine and, we, his followers as the branches. Thus, as believing people we are connected to each other through our faith in Jesus Christ. Similarly, we are nourished by Jesus and thus given the grace to live out our lives with integrity and love. This love must be expressed in deeds. Our deeds proclaim that we are resurrection people. The Lord rose after his passion and death. We can expect no less. But we also live in the hope of our promised transformation here and now. Resurrection people are people of hope because the Lord came, not to condemn the world, but to bring it to fulfilment. Thus, our world is a place of hope because of the Christ who came to show us how to live. Christian living is challenging. We can only achieve what the Lord promises through his grace. In this belief we take our stand.
Today more than ever this has a powerful message for us. If we as humans are all interconnected as part of the vine, then we need to ensure that we help to bring forth great fruit to this planet. It is our common home and our mission, our function, our purpose is to care for all life on our planet. Through this care, God’s love will flow through our branches to others we encounter.
Staff Changes
As you are all aware, Brady Stallard is taking some study leave for the next 5 weeks. As I step into the role of Acting Principal, I would like to thank Toni Benci (Leadership support) and Matt Harrison (Acting APRIM) for stepping in and supporting me over the next few weeks.
This term, I would like to welcome to our community Mr Nicholas Ryan, Pedagogical Coach for the next 12 months. Nick comes from St Michael’s College where he worked at the Beverley Campus (R-6) for the past eight years in varying positions from R-3 including curriculum leadership as a Literacy and Numeracy Coach.
Cathy Woods takes some well-deserved Long Service Leave this term. We welcome back to our community Ms Mae McGee (Monday to Wednesday) and Ms Alessandra Dichiera (Thursday and Friday) as the classroom teachers of the Reception Blue class.
We also welcome Mr James Samra who will be working in the Year 5/6 Hub co-teaching with Mrs Paula Wesley and Mr Christopher Heaney.
Finally, welcome to Ms Abbey Arbon who will work in Year 2/3R on Thursday and Fridays to release Matt Harrison in the Acting APRIM role.
Parent Wellbeing Information Session
This week, you would have received a flier re: our Parent Wellbeing Sessions for this term on Handling your Child’s Worries and Anxiety. Madhavi Nawana Parker from Positive Minds Australia will again be leading these information sessions. Please book early as places are limited.
Photo: Mother's Day Morning Tea
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Welcome back to Term 2. I look forward to serving the community in my interim role as Acting Assistant Principal RIM over the coming 5 weeks. Already, Term 2 is shaping up to be a very full term, filled with many significant school, system and national events.
Catholic Education Week
This week, we celebrate Catholic Education Week. The theme for Catholic Education Week in 2021 is Raising Hearts and Minds to the wonder and awe of God’s creation. With a focus on creation, our school has been invited to engage in dialogue around ways God’s creation inspires wonder and awe within us, whilst also calling us to action as caretakers of each other and our world. “A true ecological approach always becomes a social approach” (Pope Francis, 2015, Laudato si’ encyclical letter, page 35). Together we celebrate our teaching and learning experiences and what it means to be part of a Catholic school community.
Mother’s Day
On Sunday, we celebrate our loving mothers who have shaped us to be the people we are today. Today we welcomed mothers, grandmothers, aunties and friends in our community for morning tea and a student lead liturgy, it was a wonderful celebration.
200 Years of Catholic Education Mass
In 2021, Catholic Education is celebrating 200 years in Australia, marking the bicentenary of the first Catholic school which was established in Parramatta in October 1820, initially providing education for just over 30 students. Over 200 years, Catholic schools have grown to become the largest of schooling in Australia (outside government) with one in five school age students attending a Catholic school.
Dear Parents and Caregivers
I can’t believe that we are in the penultimate week of term and that the Easter holidays are upon us. This is the final newsletter for Term 1. I’d like to thank everyone on behalf of the staff team for your support and commitment to our school during this term. It is the people who make up our community - be they student, staff, parent, extended family member, parishioner, board or P&F member, and our shared commitment to each and every child that create this unique and special school.
Holy Week
Yesterday was Palm Sunday and the beginning of Holy Week. With the commemoration of the Lord's entry into Jerusalem we begin our journey to the cross and resurrection. Each year when we celebrate these mysteries, new aspects of these days impress themselves upon us. At the end of it we celebrate the three most important days in the Church’s year - the Easter Triduum. During those three days - Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Eve - we will not just be remembering the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we will also be sharing in their life-giving power. At every Eucharist we take part in the death and resurrection of Jesus made present in the sacrifice of the Mass. These three days are like an extended Mass, giving us time not just to remember but also to be immersed. We are not called to explain but to adore and be saved. 'Lord by your cross and resurrection you have set us free. You are the saviour of the world.'
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Holy Week 2021
The week leading up to Easter is often known as Holy Week. Last Sunday at Mass we celebrated Palm Sunday, the day Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem as a King. Throughout this week, we know many things happened to Jesus but the most significant days or events are those that happen across the Paschal Triduum.
On Holy Thursday, the first day of the triduum, the feast of Passover is celebrated and Jesus shares this special meal with his friends. A room is prepared and Jesus along with his disciples celebrate the Passover feast. During the meal, Jesus washes his disciples’ feet as an act of love and service. He also speaks to them of betrayal and denial.
Following the feast, Jesus goes to the Mount of Olives where he prays. Those who follow, are too weak to stay awake and much to Jesus’ dismay they fall asleep. It is during this time that Judas appears and betrays him. Jesus is led away and taken to face the council of high priests, chief priests, elders and scribes.
During his trial, the high priest asks if Jesus is the Son of the Blessed One to which he replies ‘if you say so.’ This answer seals his fate. Jesus is taken to the Roman named Pilate. He does not respond to any of the accusations that are brought against Him and this surprises Pilate. He has the power to release Jesus but it seems that Jesus doesn’t want this.
On Good Friday, the second day of the triduum, Jesus is forced to carry the cross on which he is to be crucified. He is tired, beaten and struggles on the journey. On arrival at the place where Jesus is to be crucified, he is nailed to the cross and mocked. Jesus calls out to His Father and then he dies.
Dear Parents and Caregivers
At Mass last Sunday we heard the Gospel story of the Transfiguration. The Transfiguration occurs about 3 years into Jesus’ ministry. At this time in his ministry, Jesus decides to take some time out to pray and reflect so he goes to a place where he can do this along with three of his disciples. Prior to this time, Jesus has been out in the world, teaching and healing. He has challenged the hierarchy and made some enemies along the way.
During his time away, Jesus’ begins to understand and come to terms with what will be his fate. Jesus knows that by confronting what he sees around him; the oppression and injustice around him, he will encounter opposition and possibly his death.
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Last Wednesday evening saw our AGM take place. Thank you to all those who attended in support of the school. A special thanks to the 2020 School Board; Megan Nehmy, Nick Watson, Nick McCabe, Roman Kluba, Brett Thompson, Grace Vassallo-Wakefield, Paula Wesley and our President Fr Paul Mullins for the time they sacrificed to support and enhance the school last year.
This year we say thank you to Megan Nehmy who has stepped down as Chairperson after completing her tenure of two years. Megan will kindly continue for a further 2 years as a Board Member to ensure she sees the completion of the Performing Arts Studio. Thank you to Megan for her work as Chairperson. A new chairperson will be nominated at our next general meeting.
SJMS has an on site Preschool and two Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) services all rated Exceeding!
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Yesterday and today are two significant days in the church calendar; Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. Shrove Tuesday is a day of observance where Christians prepare for Lent. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent. We know that Lent is a very special time of the year where we as Christians prepare for Easter by reflecting on our lives. It is a time where we focus more fully on making good and better choices. On Wednesday, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and remind us that life passes away on Earth. Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice. The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are then blessed with Holy Water. This year due to COVID restrictions, only students from Year 4 to Year 6 will attend Mass and receive the ashes. Our Preschool to Year 3 classes will participate in a liturgy in lieu of joining the community Mass at St Ignatius Church (ensuring our school’s attendance doesn't push numbers in the parish over their restriction limits).
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Ash Wednesday
Today is Ash Wednesday, a day that signifies, for many Christians around the world, the beginning of the Season of Lent. A time when we prepare ourselves for Easter by reflecting on how we can be a better person by reflecting on life choices and possible life directions.
On Ash Wednesday people who seek forgiveness for their wrongdoings are marked with the sign of the cross, from blessed ashes, on their forehead. This symbolic occasion reminds us of: our sorrow for sins, as well as the will for change and the hope of forgiveness. It is traditionally a time of fasting and prayer.
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Welcome back. I hope the summer break was a chance to replenish and spend quality time with family and friends after what was the most extraordinary year in 2020.
