"Lent provides an opportunity each and every day for us to look into our hearts and see whether our external and internal lives are in union.  We are called upon to try and unclutter any of the unnecessary distractions of life in order to more fully prepare for the joyous season of Easter."

What we you unclutter during the next 40 days?

How will you prepare for the joyous season of Easter?

Dear Friends,

Welcome to Week 5 and the beginning of Lent.  Yesterday our school marked the beginning of Lent with an Ash Wednesday prayer celebration streamed through each classroom.  A special thank you to our Year 6 Christian Outreach Leadership group who lead this significant day in our Catholic faith.

Congratulations to many of our students who celebrated the Sacrament of Eucharist last Sunday.  Unfortunately as there were other children from differing schools in the group photo on the altar, we are unable to publish this today.  We now continue the preparation journey with our Reconciliation candidates and look forward to presenting them to our Parrish community on the weekend of the 19th and 20th of March.

At the beginning of each school year, I present a literacy workshop for our parents and carers.  This involves discussing strategies and ways to support literacy development at home and also to share the teaching and learning of literacy that students experience at school.  This is a very collaborative meeting, and thus, because of COVID restrictions, I am unable to facilitate this.  I know all  teachers shared the literacy learning happening in each of our  the classrooms  to families at our Parent Information night in Week 2, however I would also now like to share some strategies and ideas around how to support children with literacy learning at home.  This is particularly relevant for our early years families (K-2). 

Please see the link below: 

Parent_Reading_Workshop_Booklet_2022.doc

Parent_Reading_Workshop_Booklet_2022 _doc 1.56 MB

We continue to have very minimal cases of COVID in our community and I once again thank you all for your cooperation and support with regular RAT testing and  keeping children at home when sick. I know that afternoon pick up is continuing to provide us with some challenges, mainly at the front of the school area. Can I please ask that parents and carers waiting in the car pick up queue to not stop next to the traffic islands. This blocks the road and cars (and buses) are having to drive on the wrong side of the road to get around.  Space is needed for cars to go around in the traffic island space. Below is our daily COVID reporting table: 

Tomorrow we celebrate the first of our Awards Assemblies for 2022.  This will also be the first time we live stream this event to each classrooms and parents of award recipients. Groups photos of these award winners will be published in next week's newsletter. 

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Church's season of Lent. The marking of ashes on our foreheads on this day is a public expression of our faith and humility. It is a time of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Throughout prayer we come closer to God so that we are better able to realise the promises made for us at our baptism, to live justly as Jesus teaches us. Fasting joins us in solidarity with people experiencing poverty who often have no choice but to go without the basic human needs. Sharing what we we have, or almsgiving, is a sign of our commitment to justice and our thanks for all that God has given us.

During Lent, our school community will join with Caritas Australia, in supporting and helping others through their Lenten campaign, Project Compassion. Each year we raise student awareness of people around the world that are less fortunate than ourselves and need our support. Your child can bring donations to school at any time throughout Lent and place them into the class donation box in their classroom.

To begin our Lenten journey at school, our Year 6 Christian Outreach leaders led the school in a prayer celebration, which was live streamed to each classroom. The Christian Outreach leaders led with reverence and integrity, explaining the significance of Ash Wednesday and the placing of ashes on our foreheads.

First Eucharist

Reconciliation

If your child is preparing for their Sacrament of Reconciliation, please remember to select a time for your child to receive their Sacrament. Click here for the Sacrament of Reconciliation sign-up sheet. The Sacrament of Reconciliation Presentation Masses will be on Saturday, 19th March and Sunday, 20th March. Please continue to pray for our Reconciliation candidates.

Important Dates:

Saturday, 19th March & Sunday 20th March: Reconciliation Presentation Masses

Friday, 25th March: Reconciliation Retreat for Year 3 students

Saturday, 26th March: Sacrament of Reconciliation commences

ELC Philosophy

The ELC teachers, educators and children are re-writing the ELC philosophy to reflect the ever-changing landscape in early childhood education. We value family collaboration in this process and would be grateful for your input on providing three words to contribute to the philosophy. These words, although limited, can highlight what you value in your childs learning.

These words can be emailed to cushla.sheehan@cg.catholic.edu.au

School Holiday Program

Preschool finishes on Friday 8 April 2022 and will resume on WEDNESDAY 27 APRIL (due to ANZAC Day Public Holiday 25 April, Staff Professional Learning day Tuesday 26 April) but the ELC will remain open for the School Holiday Program on 11-26 April.

The aim is to provide a relaxed atmosphere where the children will be able to play, participate in a variety of fun activities and interact with their peers in a safe and supportive environment. The holiday program will operate from the ELC but also make use of our local environment too.

Bookings must be made before the ELC office by Wednesday 6 April. Cost is $110 per day. Children will need to bring morning tea, lunch, hat and water. The ELC will provide afternoon tea. The ELC opens 8am-5.45pm in school holidays.

Spaces are limited and priority is given to current ELC families, please book early to avoid missing out.

 If you would like to book your Preschooler, Kinder or Year One child please click here.

Covid Update

A reminder for families that if you have a COVID case in your family, to please notify me via email  - cushla.sheehan@cg.catholic.edu.au

This applies to both Preschool families and families whose children attend Before and After School Care.

HOLY TRINITY SHOW ‘N SHINE:

On Sunday, 3 April from 10am-3pm the carpark and in front of the church will be given over to this event, conducted under the auspices of the ‘Canberra Street Machine Association’.  Over fifty vehicles of mainly Ford, GMH and Chrysler lineage (the ‘Big Three’) will be on display.  The 9.30am Mass that day will be rescheduled to an 8.30am start. Come along to an enjoyable day and help support the ongoing St Vincent de Paul South Coast Bushfire Relief effort.  If you could assist with some tasks in preparation and/or on the day, please contact Fr John or the parish office.