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Dear Parents,
Thank you to the parents that attended the Parent Information Sessions on Wednesday. I hope you found the sessions beneficial. All parents should receive a copy of the overview for semester one today. This gives you a reminder of some of the information covered on Wednesday.
The school’s Community Council met for the first time this year on Wednesday. This is a body of parents who support the school principal by providing advice on issues related to the school as well as building a sense of community within the school and also organising fundraising activities. The council members for 2024 are:
Alecia Denniss Chair
Pauline Sharpe Secretary
Jenna Hoskins Treasurer
Amy Parkes Parent representative
Judd Morris Parent representative
Karin Thrind Parent representative
Nashiya Rizvanu Haq Parent representative
Next week families will receive a letter outlining new structures the committee wishes to put in place to encourage more parents to be involved without the need to attend meetings, even if it is only to offer support a few times throughout the year. The letter will also explain how the Mothers of St Mary’s group and Men of St Mary’s group will communicate with parents. These groups run social events that allow mums and dads to meet others in a social environment.
A reminder that next Tuesday at 9am the whole school will be attending our opening school mass which is being celebrated at St Mary’s Church. More details in Ms Murray’s RE section of this newsletter.
As I write this newsletter our school swimming carnival is taking place. A full report of the carnival will be in next week’s newsletter.
LENT
On Wednesday, we commenced the Season of Lent with our Ash Wednesday Prayer Service. Kindergarten participated in their prayer service on Thursday.
Lent is a season of forty days, not counting Sundays, which begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on the evening of Holy Thursday. Lent comes from the Anglo Saxon word lencten, which means "spring and life."
WHY 40 DAYS?
The forty days represents the time Jesus spent in the desert, praying, fasting and enduring the temptation of Satan before preparing to begin his ministry.
WHY PURPLE?
Purple, as all colours, is full of symbolism. Its deep dark richness invites us to slow down and remember the sacrifices Jesus made for us. The Bible tells us that the guard put purple on Jesus when he carried his cross to Calvary.
Lent is a time of penance, fasting and almsgiving. These are three ways Christians prepare for the coming of Jesus at Easter. In the early church, Lent was a time to prepare new converts for baptism. Today, Christians focus on their relationship with God, often choosing to give up something or to volunteer and give of themselves for others.
PROJECT COMPASSION
On Monday, each child will bring home a Project Compassion box. Project Compassion brings thousands of Australian schools, parishes and supporters together to raise funds for people living in some of the most vulnerable communities across the world.
The theme of Project Compassion 2024 is ‘For All Future Generations’. This phrase is a powerful affirmation that the good that we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. It is also a call for all of us to play our part in making the world a better place by working together as sisters and brothers in finding long-term solutions to global issues.
We encourage families to donate any change you may have laying around in an effort to make a difference for those that don’t have life as easy as us. Once you are ready, you can send your box back so that it can be added to the class box.
Together we can make a difference for all future generations!
Opening School Mass
Next Tuesday, February 20th, we will be celebrating our Opening School Mass at St. Mary’s Church, 9 am. Parents and carers are welcome to attend and help us celebrate our new school year.
All students will need to be dropped off to the Parish Centre before mass begins and will return to school with their class once our mass has concluded to continue with their regular school activities.
All buses will be dropping students straight to Hennessy bus stop, NOT St Mary's on Tuesday Morning. Students will be supervised by St Mary's staff at Hennessy. Once they are off the bus, staff will direct them to the Parish Centre where they place their bags . At 8:50am after rolls are taken,will forward into the church. Staff will walk students back to school after mass. Students in younger years will be bussed back to St Mary's.
All parents are asked to drop their children to the church by 8:50am.
KINDERGARTEN
YEAR 1/2
YEAR 5
PREMIERS READING CHALLENGE
It's not to late to participate!
Students in Kinder - Year 6 are invited to participate in the 2024 Premier's Reading Challenge. The Premier's Reading Challenge aims to encourage a love of reading for leisure and pleasure in students, and to enable students to experience quality literature.
Students must complete a set amount of reading and record books online to finish the Challenge. Kinder to Year 2 students must read or experience 30 books (20 books from the PRC list and 10 free choice books). Year 3 to 6 students must read 20 books (10 books from the PRC list and 10 free choice books).
We have an extensive collection of books from the PRC book list in our school library. Further information may be found on the PRC website: https://online.det.nsw.edu.au/prc/home.html
Please complete the attached letter or email Mrs Joanne Murphy (joanne.murphy@cg.catholic.edu.au ) if your child would like to participate.
