“Our challenge is to notice God’s presence and to attend to the beauty and pain of the people and places of our world..…To develop our relationship with God, with others and with the beautiful world in which we live is about noticing, paying attention and engaging with them in prayer and respect. The Eucharist is central in this because it gathers us together in a way in which we can attend to God’s presence and to one another. It is messy because it is a human event in which we and Christ are present in our bodiliness. Above all the Eucharist draws us into the lives of the people whom Jesus noticed – the blind, the lame, the poor and the imprisoned.”

Andrew Hamilton, S.J.

Last night, I joined our Religious Education Coordinator, Veronica Hall, at Holy Trinity Primary. We gathered there with Fr John Woods, Philippa Brierley (Principal of Holy Trinity) and Emily Capper (REC at Holy Trinity), to stream on Teams an information evening for parents of children in Year 4 who are making their First Eucharist this term. Michele Hallis-Pratt, Nic Marsham and Bridget Pigram, our wonderful Year 4 teachers, also joined us online. Fr John spoke about the centrality and importance of parents, as first teachers of the faith, and also spoke about God “coming into our lives disguised as our life.” Veronica and Emily spoke to the Eucharist program at both schools, and the supporting activities that will help all Year 4 students develop a greater appreciation of the Eucharist. My thanks to Veronica, Bridget, Nic, Michele and Fr John, for their excellent support of our students and families.

The quote above comes from the Melbourne Jesuit priest Andrew Hamilton. It was included in some readings Fr John Woods, our parish priest, emailed a few weeks ago, in a parish newsletter. Andrew Hamilton makes the point that Jesus’ presence, in something so simple and fundamental as bread, also speaks to the way that God is present to us in the messiness of our lives. The good, the beautiful and the true speak to God’s presence – but mysteriously, experiences of failure, doubt, bewilderment and other emotions or experiences we usually classify as negative, also speak to a presence of God, which can seem counterintuitive. The Eucharist is a summons to pay attention to all the parts of our lives.

ThinkUKnow

Also taking place last night, at 6pm in the school library, was a presentation by the federal police called ‘ThinkUKnow’. This is a program for parents, which addresses issues around online safety. My thanks to Anna Williams for coordinating the evening, and to Anna, Paul Jenkins and Katie McGregor, for attending and supporting the evening. This important Microsoft/AFP run session taught us ways we can prevent and manage the very real online safety challenges that our children may face. It was a powerful session. If you missed the session, you can learn more here: https://www.thinkuknow.org.au/

NAIDOC Week Mass

Last Friday, Katie McGregor and I accompanied some of our Indigenous students, and their parents, to the annual Archdiocesan NAIDOC Mass. It was a wonderful opportunity for the Archdiocesan schools to celebrate the history, experience and achievements of our students and families. Sts Peter and Paul have particular reason to be proud, as two of our students received awards. Yvaine Moyle’s wonderful skills in art meant that one of her paintings featured on the cover of the Mass booklet – congratulations Evie, a fabulous effort. Ava Goolagong also received an award, for her sports achievement in and out of school. Congratulations, Ava, I am very proud of you. It was a happy moment for the school community. My thanks to Katie McGregor for her coordination and support of our involvement in the Mass.

Finance Training

Over the last two days, I have been attending professional learning run by the Catholic Education Office, concerning changes to way that finances are run in all schools across the Archdiocese. CE has initiated major structural changes to the way that schools now receive funds and manage all financial transactions. Parents received a letter last term detailing these changes, for example, the move away from Qkr! to pay school fees and other transactions. Further changes will be communicated via email and letters. I thank the parent community for their patience, as we learn the new methods and processes.

Working Bee

A reminder that on Sunday August 6^th, from 9am – 11am, we are holding a Working Bee at Sts Peter and Paul. This is a great opportunity for all parents to help build community and beautify the school. Pizzas will be available at the end of the Bee for hardworking mums and dads (and their children). My thanks to Anna Williams and our very hard working Groundsman, Greg Egan, for their coordination and support.

Phizzics Giant Science Show

This Friday, the school is hosting an ‘incursion’ for all grades, with the Giants running their annual science show at Sts Peter and Paul. Similar to Questacon, the show will feature engaging and fun science activities that help explain scientific phenomena, in a way that captures children’s imaginations. My thanks to Anna Williams for organising and coordinating this event.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal

Sts Peter and Paul Primary School