Dear Parents and Carers

For courage when you thought things would be different by now
God, I thought I would feel different by now, 
but new pressures just keep mounting. 
I have been struggling for too long
to meet each new challenge, 
to scrape up resources, 
to find small comforts, 
to change strategies, 
to dig deep into our reserves,
to stay positive,
but I need relief 
and fresh hope
and a minute to just say,
I really wish things were easier.

Kate Bowler and Jessica Richie

We have begun the season of Lent, a preparation time for Easter, and a season that has traditionally focused on a deprivation of some sort, to highlight the need we all have for God. At times, however, we can feel that the whole of our life is one perennial season of Lent, and that we are in constant need. The hard truth is that our faith tells us we have always been in need of God – certainly something beyond ourselves – to sustain us. Whatever our gifts and talents are, or circumstances, or network of family and friends, they will not always rise to meet every challenge. The good news is that we are never in this alone.

Year 5 Camp

Today, our Year 5 students travel to their camp at Berry, NSW  https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/sport-and-recreation-centres/berry

It promises to be an excellent camp and the children will have a great deal of fun and take important steps in independence, leadership, resilience and problem solving. My thanks to Josh Gereis and Fron Garrett-Rumba for organising the camp. Joining Josh and Fron on the camp are Anna Williams and Sarah Walsh, to whom I am also very grateful. I wish our staff and students a wonderful camp and I look forward to their safe return Friday afternoon. A reminder please to Year 5 parents who have children in other grades that their other children will need to be collected at the end of the school day on Friday. Our campers will not be returning to school until 5pm or 5.30. I apologise for any inconvenience caused by the need to visit the school twice on Friday afternoon.

Parent/Teacher Interviews

A reminder that next week, over Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons (and evening, in the case of Tuesday), we are holding Parent/Teacher interviews. The link to the interviews can be found on Compass. Bookings close tomorrow. I encourage all parents to make a time to meet with their child’s teacher/s, and to collaborate in the setting of goals for the semester. My thanks to all teachers and to Anna Williams, for coordinating the interviews.

Principals’ Retreat

Next Wednesday – Friday, I will be attending the Principals’ Retreat in Bowral, with the Director of Catholic Education Ross Fox, as well as other senior leaders within Catholic Education. The three days are invaluable for the discussion and sharing of system initiatives and directions, as well as the time spent on faith development.

Presentation Mass – First Reconciliation

A reminder that this weekend at the Parish of the Transfiguration, Curtin, students in Year 3 who are receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation are being presented at one of the weekend Masses. I will be attending the 9.30am Mass and I look forward to being part of this important school and parish occasion.

To conclude my input in this week’s newsletter, I would like to finish by quoting the end of the poem which began my reflections, above:

Blessed are we who look to you, God,
in the midst of troubles that are too great for us, 
that have gone on far too long.
Who dare to say, 
now would be a good time for help to come,
for this to be over, once and for all.
God, send us help.
Bring solutions for the desperate, 
protection for the vulnerable, 
comfort for the suffering, 
strength to the caregivers, 
wisdom to those in charge.

Infuse us with the courage to suffer with hope. 
That our suffering doesn’t go unnoticed by you.

Sustain us and orient us to the reality in which we now live.
Help us pace ourselves. Keep us awake
to what might be done, right now.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal