“What God asks of us in these forty days is that, as much as we can manage, we try to muse a bit on who we are, what we amount to, where we are going, and how we may grow well.”

• Peter Steele SJ, ‘Six Oases in the Desert’

The late Jesuit priest Peter Steele has written an excellent piece on Lent, from which comes the quote above. Lent began last week, with Ash Wednesday, and Steele suggests that this period of time is best spent on the above – asking ourselves ‘how things stand with us’, and in such a way that there is a recognition of our need for God. He writes of Lent issuing a challenge: ‘…challenge to identity, challenge to integrity, challenge to readiness to be oneself’, by which means a fuller, generous, loving and compassionate self. This challenge culminates of course with Easter, when all the challenges in our lives find their way to fullness of life.

Years 3 – 6 Leadership Opportunities

Next Monday, Luke Gubler and I will be presenting, to interested parents, an overview of leadership and learning opportunities for students in Years 3 – 6. Luke is our Coordinator of Middle and Senior Student Leadership. The information night starts at 6pm in the hall, and we hope to detail all of the excellent opportunities that are available to all students as they progress through to high school. Some of the opportunities have a particular focus on high school readiness. All of them have great value in the immediate present. All parents are welcome to attend.

Year 6 Retreat Day

We welcome to Sts Peter and Paul Olivia Brown, our new Youth Minister Coordinator. Next week, our Year 6 students are participating in a ½ day retreat, at school, run by Olivia. The retreat has a Lenten edge and focuses as well on the students’ leadership capacities.

Year 6 Camp

Still on Year 6, our school leaders are going on camp next week to Borambola, outside of Wagga, for 3 days, Wednesday – Friday. I look forward to joining our Year 6 leaders on their camp, together with Bridget Pigram and Katie McGregor. My thanks to Katie for coordinating our camp.

Week 6 Parent/Teacher Interviews

Parents are invited to book a Parent Teacher Interview with their child's classroom teacher on Monday 4^th March, Tuesday 5^th of March or Wednesday 6^th of March to discuss Interim reports. Bookings will open this Friday the 23^rd of February and will close on Friday 1^st of March. An email will be sent out on Friday morning which will give further instructions on how to book an interview. Interim reports will be given out at these meetings. My thanks to Sam Mance for organising the interviews, and to all teachers for their support of students and parents.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes 

Cameron Johns

Principal