You created all people in your image. We thank you for the astonishing variety of races and cultures in Australia and in our community.
Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of friendship, and show us your presence in those who differ most from us.
Grant that we may always promote the justice and acceptance that ensures lasting peace and racial harmony.
Grant that we may show equal respect to all persons of different cultures that we may come across.
And help us to remember and appreciate that we are one country, with many stories.

Amen.

Dear Friends,

Today, across Australia, we celebrate Harmony Day - a day  about inclusiveness, respect and belonging for all Australians, regardless of cultural or linguistic background, united by a set of core Australian values. The day coincides with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Australia is a vibrant and multicultural country — from the oldest continuous culture of our first Australians to the cultures of our newest arrivals from around the world. Our cultural diversity is one of our greatest strengths and is at the heart of who we are as Catholics, Australians and an International Baccalaureate school that embraces international mindedness.  Cultural diversity makes Australia a great place to live. An integrated multicultural Australia is an integral part of our national identity. All people who migrate to Australia bring with them some of their own cultural and religious traditions, as well as taking on many new traditions. Collectively, these traditions have enriched our nation. Harmony Day is particularly important day also to focus on values of acceptance, love and respect, as we all come to terms with the horrendous attack at Christchurch last week. 

Next Monday through to Wednesday we will be having our IB Evaluation visit from two assessors: Virginia Sutton, Deputy Head of Junior School, Branksome Hall, Korea and Lee-Anne Pyke, Kingswood College, Albury. During this visit, they will be meeting with all staff members, students from each class, School Board and other community representatives and staff from Catholic Education.  The assessors will also be pouring through all our school documentation and information collated from our 12 month Self- Study.  This is an important time for us to celebrate all the wonderful learning at Holy Trinity as an International Baccalaureate School and also to be given insight from assessors about our future direction. 

A huge thank you, yet again, to Jill Rasmussen who created our 2019 Student Directory.  This takes a considerable amount of time and effort to produce and I know is a valuable resource for our families at both the ELC and school.  Thank you also to all parents who have committed to the Working Bee tomorrow afternoon.  There are many jobs to be completed, so please bring wheelbarrow, shovels, gloves etc and of course, lots of energy!  You will be rewarded with a sausage and drink at the end!

Please keep in your prayer the Di Mezza (Jenna 3 /4) and Prior (Liam 5 /6) families on the loss of their grandfathers this week.  

With every best wish for a holy and peace-filled week ahead with your beautiful families,

Philippa