Dear Parents
Over the last two days I have had the opportunity to participate with several of my colleagues in the Diocesan leaders retreat. An opportunity to “renew the batteries“ of being a Religious /Formation leader, as an integral part of my role as a Principal in both our school and Parish community. It was an opportunity to reflect, study and act upon two days of prayer, discussion, contemplation and decision making about one’s self , growth and future direction in my school leadership role. This opportunity was a time to learn more about prayer in our lives- ‘Why we do it?’ ‘When? and ‘How does it change our lives and the lives of others we interact with each day? Pope Francis’ most recent book “Let us Dream” reminds us that “we pray so we believe so we live. A faith that is strong will make prayer real, make prayer purposeful and something we want to do as Christ centered people”
Prayer encourages us to seek and read more discerningly of scripture to undergo a process of reflection and to finally react in a positive and loving way towards God and others.
Last Monday George and Joseph Diab accompanied me and representatives from all our Diocesan schools gathered to celebrate 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia. The celebration commenced with a traditional Indigenous Welcome to Country smoking ceremony followed by a celebration of the Eucharist. Each school was presented with a commemorative plaque to celebrate the occasion that was blessed by Bishop Vincent -Bishop of Parramatta. We ask our Lord’s blessing on the next two hundred years of Catholic Education in Western Sydney.
During the week, families were emailed details regarding the 2021 TTFM Parent and student surveys. It is important for both our Diocesan schools and the Catholic Education Office Parramatta that feedback from the surveys is completed by as many of our families as possible. I encourage all families to complete the survey during the upcoming weeks. Our Years 4-6 students will complete the survey at school. Information collected by the survey is anonymous. Reports will be made available to the school over the next few months. The link to the survey will be sent home early next week.
After some fifteen months of consultation with both Parramatta Council and residents our proposed Pickup Zone in Burradoo Close has been approved. The relevant signage for the zone will be erected by council during the upcoming winter holiday break. The implementation of this imitative is to ease congestion on the Statham Avenue drive through of an afternoon. More details regarding how this will operate will be distribute in the coming weeks.
Details regarding our upcoming parent teacher interviews in weeks 9 and 10 will be distributed early next week. Parents will have the opportunity to choose either a face to face or phone interview with their child’s classroom teachers to discuss their semester one progress. Reports will be sent home prior to the interviews on Friday of week 8 [11th June]
Over recent weeks more children are bringing toys to school. This is something we would ask you to discourage as it has caused some angst and disagreements amongst students. Your support of the this request will be greatly appreciated.
This term our office ladies have noted an increasing number of students coming up to the office requesting food for recess and lunch either because they don’t’ have any or they are still hungry. We have also noticed a number of students throwing uneaten food in the bins on the playground. It would be appreciated if parents can discuss this matter with their children to determine what they like to eat for both recess and lunch and the quantity. Thanks
Have a great Week
Tony Hughes
Principal
