“To be happy is to stop feeling like a victim and become your destiny's author... It is having the courage to hear a "no". It is confidence in the face of criticism, even when unjustified. It is to kiss your children, pamper your parents, to live poetic moments with friends, even when they hurt us... And when you make a mistake, start all over again. For only then will you be in love with life. You will find that to be happy is not to have a perfect life. But use the tears to irrigate tolerance. Use your losses to train patience. Use your mistakes to sculptor serenity. Use pain to plaster pleasure. Use obstacles to open windows of intelligence. Never give up.... Never give up on happiness, for life is an incredible show. "

Pope Francis, Homily Part 2, 2018

This week’s reflection comes from the same homily by Pope Francis, from which I quoted in last week’s newsletter. Again, from the position of a life deeply lived and well versed in service and compassion, Pope Francis offers a perspective on what it means to live an authentic and truly Christian life. Clearly something of a wordsmith, with a very good turn of phrase, his final message about never giving up speaks to a faith in God who is bigger than we all are and who does not give up on us. We are charged with the same vocation: to keep faith with our children and to see in them great gifts and an image that mirror’s God’s own love.

Parent Teacher Interviews and Reports

A reminder to all parents that parent teacher interviews are taking place next week, from Monday – Wednesday, via zoom. A letter has gone home asking you to nominate your preferred interview time, via an online booking site. Your child’s school report, which is currently being prepared, will consist of an A – E grade for Religion, Maths and English, and one other subject area common to your child’s grade or stage. All subject areas have been taught and assessed to a degree, but there are differences between subjects in terms of the rigor of assessment, due to the interruptions brought about by COVID-19. During the parent/teacher interviews, the teachers will be able to speak of the growth of your child in all subject areas, but only 4 subjects will actually receive an A – E grade for the report. The Semester 2 reports, which are sent home in December, will have normal grades for all subject areas, as is usually the case.

We have had a very good response to the online booking platform, so I encourage all parents to log on as soon as possible to secure their preferred interview time. The link to the site can be found here:  https://stpandp.schoolzineplus.com/Semester1PTInterview

Community Council

Last night the Community Council met for the second time this term. I would like to thank the members of the CC for their ongoing support of the school and the wider community. The council discussed looking ahead to Term 3 and what could be done, in these socially restricted times, around sport and social events, for the community. I look forward to sharing with the parent community details and information around developments in these areas, in the coming weeks.

Have a wonderful week with your families.

Best wishes

Cameron Johns

Principal