Dear Parents and Carers

“Within a culture that emphasises the freedom of individuals to make whatever they wish of themselves and their world, remembering and honouring do not come easily. They require effort. Just as monasteries once preserved the seeds of renewal through dark ages, so must we labour to sustain memory, so that what is vital is not lost.”

Andrew Hamilton SJ, ‘Lent was never about just giving things up’

Last Wednesday, we celebrated Ash Wednesday with a whole school Mass in the hall. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent, which Christians around the world see as preparation for Easter. The Melbourne Jesuit priest Andrew Hamilton, in an insightful article for Eureka Street that clearly references current world events, suggests that Lent is not only about ‘giving things up,’ but is also about remembering people and events who we might too easily accommodate – too easily smooth over, albeit without realising we are doing so. Perhaps Lent this year could see us rise to the challenge of giving up forgetfulness, and ease, and accommodation with forces that reduce us to less than who we are. On an individual level, we make sense of this in our own way. At a communal level, communities and societies can stand in peaceful witness to the transformative power of the Easter message. Andrew Hamilton’s full article can be found here: Lent was never just about giving things up

Week 6 Happenings

This week sees, or has seen already, a number of important events take place for the school:

• On Tuesday, our Year 6 students participated in a Retreat Day, run by members of the Archdioscean Youth Ministry team. Personnel from CE and Fr James were also in attendance.
• Yesterday and today, Sts Peter and Paul has held parent/teacher interviews for all classes and all grades. My thanks to the parent body for their support, to the teachers for their great commitment and to Sam Mance who has coordinated the event.
• NAPLAN began today, and continues over the next few days, for students in Years 3 and 5. My thanks to the students for their hard work, their parents and teachers for their support, and to Sam Mance, Fron Garrett-Rumba and Paul Jenkins, for coordinating the school’s involvement in NAPLAN.
• Also taking place over the course of the week is some PL for teachers, in Religious Education, coordinated by Catholic Education. ‘Communities of Colloboration’ sees teachers gather on Teams, with other teachers from other schools who also teach the same grade, as well as CE personnel, and collaborate on RE programs using the Brisbane RE curriculum. My thanks to Andrea McQuirk for coordinating our involvement.
• Friday sees our annual Swimming Carnival take place. A mighty vote of thanks to Luke Gubler for coordinating this event.

Colour Run

Our Colour Run is taking place on Friday next week. It promises to be a wonderful occasion. My thanks to Karina Jones for coordinating the event on behalf of the parent body, and my thanks too to Talena Benedet and the CC for their support of the program. The school has already exceeded the fundraising target. My thanks to the parent body for their great support.

Week 7

Next week, I am away for two days, and am attending a Principal Development course in Melbourne, run by the brown collective. A number of principals from Catholic Education within our archdiocese, and from around the country, will be attending in Melbourne. I am away from Tuesday afternoon and will be back at school on Friday. Sam Mance will very capably lead the school in my absence.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal