Dear Parents and Carers

This is our final newsletter of Term 1, which is hard to believe. When we think of where we were this time last year after the fires and the dawning of our COVID world I can only be grateful for the way our community has responded. Reaching out with support and love despite the challenges that have appeared in our way. This is really the story of the Resurrection, our Easter story. Out of the darkest despair Jesus was taken from his family and his friends, isolated and alone, we can only imagine the fear and faith in equal measures that Jesus must have experienced as he died. The moment of Resurrection made more triumphant as his friends and family realise and understood his true identity. So many times in our lives we can be looking beyond the people around us for answers, often they are standing right there with us in our community just like Jesus was with his family. My prayer for Easter is that we appreciate those around us and the joy and comfort they bring to our lives.

Next week we will commemorate the journey of Jesus through the events of Holy Week, as a school we will gather at 9:15 am in the school hall to walk the journey of Jesus from Palm Sunday to the Crucifixion. These commemorations have so many lessons for all of us, engendering compassion and empathy for others. We are sorry that parents cannot join us in person but we will be zooming each of these liturgies so you can zoom in with us. On Thursday at 12 noon we will bring forward our easter celebration to an assembly, during which we will have an Easter hat parade (Hats to be made at school), we will also announce the winners of our P&F Art Competition, the Bunnings Colouring Competition and of course the P&F Easter Raffle.

On Wednesday morning we were delighted to welcome many new families to our school for our 2022 Kindergarten Open Day. There were many excited children with enormous smiles coming through our doors. It is astounding to think that for so many years we have been preparing learners for the 21st Century, these children in fact will very probably live into the 22nd Century. I can only wonder what it is they will have seen and experienced, and what skills and knowledge they will require for their lives from St Mary’s. It was so lovely to see our Year 6 student leaders showing families around with such pride and maturity.

I hope everyone has a happy and holy Easter, staying safe and having time with family and friends during the holidays. We look forward to seeing you all back for Term 2.

Yours in partnership

Laurinda Nelson
Principal