Dear Families,
We have reached the end of Term One and what a busy term it has been. The children and staff have all earned a good rest over the school holidays.
This week, we commemorated Holy Week with our community. Unusually this year, Easter falls at the end of the school holidays. For Catholics, Easter is the most important celebration in the Church year. It celebrates the ultimate sacrifice that Jesus made for mankind by dying on the cross. Easter reflects both his humanness and his divinity in rising from the dead. Easter is a time for us to reflect to consider our faith and how this impacts our daily lives and our interactions with others. Easter is a dichotomy; it is both a commemoration of something sad and traumatic but also a celebration of the resurrection and the commitment and promise Jesus made to us. I pray that you make time to engage in the celebration of the religious aspects of Easter over the holiday period.
It was wonderful to see so many families at our easter picnic and easter egg hunt last night. This is one of my favourite school events; it always reflects the strength of our community. I suspect, however, that I am going to be finding easter eggs on the oval for the next six months.
Today, when our Prep and Grade One children realised that the Easter bunny had been to school, all I could hear was lots of squeals of excited children. I am always amazed by the different ways that our wonderful Exploration team find to engage the children and bring joy to school. I am sure today was a day they will remember!
STAFFING UPDATE
As was announced at the
Easter picnic last night and will be sent home in a separate letter, Caroline Madigan our deputy principal will be leaving us at the end of Term Three. Caroline has been appointed as the new principal of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Catholic Primary School in Sunshine.
Caroline has been an integral part of this school even before it opened and much of what we have developed would not have happened without her input, drive and wisdom. She will be sorely missed but we are really proud of her for being successful in getting this position. I can tell you that it is very well deserved. I hope that you will wish Caroline all the best next term.
Also, as some of you will be aware, Lauren Chamberlain, who is currently teaching in our Discovery Grade Two Learning Community has decided to resign from her teaching position at St Lawerence of Brindisi.
On behalf of our school, we thank Lauren for her work since joining us at the start of the year and wish her all the best for the future.
I will now begin the difficult task of finding a suitable replacement.
FREE STUDENT BROADBAND OFFER
We have been asked by our governing authority, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, (MACS) to let our school families know that the School Broadband Initiative (SSBI) has been extended to June 30. Any families seeking further information should call 1800 954 610 between 10.00am – 6.00pm or visit the website at:
www.anglicarevic.org.au/student-internet.
ADMIN OFFICE REQUEST
I have been asked by our admin team to request that parents and guardians avoid collecting their children during recess times (10.50 – 11.20 am & 1.30 – 2.00pm). It is very hard for the children to hear the announcements during recess times, especially if they are playing on the oval and busily engaged with their friends This can lead to parents and guardians waiting a long time for their children to come up to the office which in turn can led to frustration.
We would also request that parents and guardians do not sign their children out in the last ten to fifteen minutes of school as this can make the admin office quite chaotic at the end of the day.
Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated.
LEARNING EXPO
Last week, we held our Semester One Learning Expo. I will be honest and say that I was a little disappointed at the turnout from parents and guardians, especially as this is one of our major forms of communication with our families in relation to their children’s learning.
As a school, we are always seeking to improve our practice and I would welcome any suggestions that will help our Learning Expo get a better response from the school community next time.
Upcoming Dates
TERM TWO
April
18/04: Good Friday
20/04: Easter Sunday
21/04: Public Holiday
22/04: First Day of Term Two
Easter Prayer Service: Snr School @ 9.15am/Jnr School @ 11.30am
25/04: Public Holiday
28/04: Student Free Day
30/04: Prayer Service: Grade Two & Three / Grade Four – Six @ 2.40pm
May
01/05: Senior School Assembly: Grade Five
08/05: Senior School Assembly: Grade Six
09/05: Mother’s Day Liturgy & Morning Tea: 8.00 – 10.00am
14/05: Prayer Service: Exploration & Grade One / Grade Four – Six @ 2.40pm
15/05: Junior School Assembly: Grade Two
21/05: Prayer Service: Grade Two & Three / Grade Four – Six @ 2.40pm
22/05: Senior School Assembly: Grade Four
28/05: Prayer Service: Exploration & Grade 1 / Grade 4 – 6 @ 2.40pm
29/05: Junior School Assembly: Grade One
June
04/06: Grade Two & Three / Grade Four – Six @ 2.40pm
06/06: Student Free Day
09/06: Public Holiday
12/06: Senior School Assembly: Grade Three
13/06: St Anthony’s Feast Day Prayer Service: Snr School @ 9.15am/Jnr School @ 11.30am
18/06: Prayer Service: Exploration & Grade One/ Grade Four – Six @ 2.40pm
Eucharist Sacramental Retreat (Grade Three students)
19/06: Junior School Assembly: Exploration
21/06: Eucharist Masses @ St Anthony’s @ 5.30pm
23/06: Semester One Reports to Go Home
25/06: Three-Way Learning Conversations: 12.30 – 6.00pm
26/06: Three-Way Learning Conversations: 12.30 – 6.00pm
July
30/06 – 04/07: NAIDOC Week Celebrations
02/07: Prayer Service: Grade Two & Three / Grade Four – Six @ 2.40pm
04/07: End of Term Two: Early Close @ 1.30pm
God bless,
Bill Hill
PRINCIPAL