Co-Principal’s Message

Dear Parents

This week we celebrate National Reconciliation Week (NRW). The theme this year is Grounded in Truth, Walk together with Courage. This is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The dates for NRW remain the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Last week Rob and I were in Sydney attending the annual Association of Catholic Schools Principals at the NSW State Conference. The Conference encompassed the very essence of the work principals do as leaders in Catholic schools – Faith, Learning and Wellbeing. Participants from across the State engaged with national and international presenters, masterclasses, liturgies and prayer. Rob and I certainly gained new learnings and look forward to sharing and implementing these within our school community. We thank Catholic Education Diocese of Wagga Wagga for allowing us this opportunity.

Year 5 hosted our School Assembly last Friday and by all accounts was a very entertaining production. Thank you to everyone involved and also Year 6 parents for the morning tea. There are photos on our galleries page. Congratulations to the children who received merit awards at this assembly. You can see these further in the newsletter.

Last week we conducted the Grades 3 – 6 Field component of our Athletics and on Monday, in very cold conditions, we concluded with the Track events. It was pleasing to see our children participating with great enthusiasm and sportsmanship. On many occasions we saw students cheering and encouraging  their peers. The student/staff relay event provided much banter and laughter, and ended in a very tight finish with the students winning by a whisker! Events like these create lifelong memories for our children and it was wonderful to see them having so much fun. A big thank you to Brenda Seckold for her organisation and to her band of helpers. Events such as these cannot be run successfully without the help and support of both our staff and dedicated parent volunteers, so thank you.

Unlike many other schools, our Year 3 and Year 5 students completed their online NAPLAN with minimal fuss or interruption. At this stage we do not know when these results will be made available but will inform you when this information comes to hand.

Please keep our Year 3 students in your prayers as they prepare for the Sacrament of Eucharist. This will be celebrated on Sunday 16th June at 10.30am, in our Church.

Just a reminder that our Parish/School Mass will be celebrated this Saturday evening, the 1st of June at 5pm. You are all warmly invited to attend.

A reminder that Friday June 7 is a Pupil Free Day for students. All schools in our Albury Deanery are coming together for some Professional Learning. All staff from our school, St Anne’s, Holy Spirit, Xavier High School, St Patrick’s Holbrook, St Joseph’s Culcairn and St Mary’s Corowa will gather at Xavier as a K-12 teaching community to focus on Building and Developing our Catholic Learning Community. Keynote speakers will address staff on Faith, Wellbeing and Learning and Teaching, and then workshops will be run focusing on aspects of each of these areas. The day will provide staff with the opportunity to focus on our Catholic Learning Communities and share expertise. This is an exciting initiative for our Deanery and all Keynote speakers and workshop presenters are staff members from our school communities.

On Friday, we celebrated the feast day of Mary Help of Christians, the patron saint of Australia. Let us conclude with a prayer to celebrate her:

God of Wisdom,

Inspire us by the example of Mary’s unassuming humility

and her ability to proclaim your greatness by her life.

May we live in this attitude of quiet wisdom and bring to birth a new world!

We make our prayer through Jesus Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Kind regards,

Liz and Rob.