Dear Parents and Carers, 

Welcome to the new school term. While the weather has been challenging, the school term has started very well. All staff commenced the 2nd term with a Spirituality Day which commenced with a smoking and cleansing ceremony led by our Aboriginal team. Staff were then led through prayers and activities related to the four new school virtues of Compassion, Inclusion, Service and Respect. These four virtues will be introduced to the students in coming weeks. 

On Friday 3 May, the school had an ANZAC day commemoration service organised by our Defence Force Mentor, Mrs Julie Lawrence. Congratulations is extended to Mrs Lawrence and all staff who assisted with the preparation and implementation of the ANZAC commemoration. It was a team effort from teachers, AEAs, SSOs, students and parents. All aspects of the commemoration were planned meticulously and it was amazing to have so many Defence personnel present. For everyone who set up the hall, prepared the choir, organised the slideshow and music, prepared the students and assisted with administration, thank you. The day concluded with a beautiful morning tea organised by members of the parish. A wonderful morning!

Kindergarten enrolment interviews on 4 May 2024 were a heartwarming showcase of generosity, warmth, and community spirit. The teachers and support staff, embodying patience and kindness, welcomed each family, fostering an atmosphere of inclusivity and encouragement. The children, wide-eyed with curiosity and enthusiasm, painted a vibrant picture of the promising journey ahead. Final interviews will continue over the next two weeks and offers for placement in Kindergarten 2025 will be made to families towards the end of June. Thanks again to our teachers, School Support Staff and Aboriginal Education Assistants for assisting on a Saturday.

Due to the poor weather last week, the Wollongong Diocesan Cross Country at Willandra was postponed until Tuesday 28 May, 2024. I am appreciative of the planning that Mr Allmark, school staff and parents made while preparing for the day. We are looking forward to the next carnival on Tuesday 28 May. 

Thank you to the parents who attended the reading workshops this week with Mrs Heffernan. There was much discussion and clarifying during the two valuable meetings which occurred. I encourage all parents of students in Kindergarten upwards to attend the next round of workshops. 

Over the next two weeks, students, staff and parents will have an opportunity to participate in an online survey called, ‘Tell Them From Me’. The Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong is introducing the Tell Them From Me® suite of surveys [TTFM] for implementation within all schools in 2024. Developed by The Learning Bar, and used extensively across Australia, the student, teacher and parent/caregiver surveys will enable schools within the Wollongong diocese to measure and understand the factors that are known to have a direct and profound impact on well-being and student learning within our school. We look forward to all families participating in this survey which will provide important feedback to the school. The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.

On Friday morning, many of our mothers and special people in the children’s lives, gathered in the Parish Hall for our annual ‘Mother's Day’ liturgy. This was a prayerful and fitting tribute to mothers around the world. Thank you to Mrs Mathieson, Mrs Royston and all staff and students who assisted to organise the liturgy. An additional thanks goes to our Parents and Friends (P&F) group for hosting the beautiful morning tea. The school is also very grateful to the P&F for organising the highly successful Mother's Day stall which has operated each morning and afternoon last week. The raffle associated with Mother's Day has some amazing prizes and I encourage all families to buy tickets. The monthly P&F meeting is on this coming Tuesday night, 14 May 2024 at 6pm in the school library. A zoom link will be shared through the Compass Parent Portal for those unable to attend on-site.

Let us pray for our mothers, for their well-being, and for the grace of God to continue strengthening them in their incredible journey of motherhood. Let us ask for God's blessings on them, that their days may be filled with joy and peace. Remember, to respect our mothers is to respect the very essence of love and life itself. They are the first teachers of compassion of faith, and of the truth that in giving, we receive. Their selfless love mirrors God's love for us, reminding us of our call to love and serve others in the same unconditional manner. Let us remember that every day is a day to honour, respect, and cherish our mothers. Let us pray for them, express our love for them, and thank them for being the beautiful, loving, and nurturing souls that they are.