Term 3 Week 1 - Friday 19th July 2024

Dear families, 

Welcome to Term Three! Students have returned, looking refreshed and ready for a full term of learning. It is always so lovely to see them safe and well on the first day of term, often looking like they have had a holiday growth spurt!  It promises to be a wonderful term with a couple of special highlights in our calendar including the Bush Dance! We are still looking for families to support the event particularly in sourcing raffle prizes and setting up the space (maybe something as simple as a few hay bales and some wine barrels - any support would be appreciated).

During the term break the building project officially began! While the students were offsite, the asbestos was removed and some demolition has started. There have been a few electrical and data hiccups but for the most part they have been resolved. I wish to thank the staff team who have worked diligently to maintain high levels of learning for students during this busy time.. 

I also wish to thank Ben O’Loughlan who managed the start of the building project. This allowed me to travel to Ireland with 13 other principals and some DOBCEL staff to engage in a pilgrimage in Ireland. Some highlights for me included:

• meeting the Brigidine Sisters at Solas Bhride - a centre for Celtic Spirituality in the spirit of Brigid of Kildare. These amazing women held reverence for the diversity of theologies and spiritualities among us. 
• visiting Glendalough and walking the path of St Kevin. He spent a good portion of his life in solitary prayer and contemplation in this place. After Kevin’s death in 618, what had been a humble hermit’s retreat developed into an impressive monastic city. Medieval pilgrims came from far and wide to visit Kevin’s tomb. There are  remains of the early monastery that grew up around St Kevin’s tomb, and most of the monastic buildings date from the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The cluster includes one of the country’s best preserved examples of a round tower. 
• Glenstal Abbey in County Limerick, where a community of Benedictine monks run a boarding school for boys, pray, work & farm amidst 500 acres of farmland, forest, lakes & streams. We had Mass with about 30 Monks who believe that prayer is the foundation to monastic life and each day the monastery is centred around times of prayer. We gathered in the Abbey for Eucharist and listened to the monks chant psalms and sing hymns to God.

I trust that many of our community engaged in NAIDOC week events and celebrations during the break.  The NAIDOC image below by Deb Belyea is titled 'One Fire' and is one of hope for unity.   I hold fast to both these hopes for our First Nations people, for our country and our world. I invite you to read this prayer by Brooke Prentis, Aboriginal Christian Leader and Waka Waka woman.

May our footsteps, on these ancient lands,
remind us of creation and connectedness, in our search for truth.
May the Gum Tree, from its roots to its branches, 
remind us to dig deep and reach high, in our action for justice.
May the Eagle, who soars in the sky, 
remind us of the power, in our call for love.
May the expanse of the lands and seas, of the sky and stars, 
remind us of God’s timing in our faith in hope.
May the Holy three, Creator Spirit, Loving God, Brother Jesus, 
remind us of community.
So with grace, mercy, and peace, go in truth, justice, love and hope.

I look forward to the term ahead and reconnecting with everyone. 

Every blessing, 
Roxanne

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to the following student for this week:

Charlotte B

TERM 3

WEEK 3
Tuesday 30th July
Foundation celebrate 100 days of school!

WEEK 5
Wednesday 14th August - Friday 16th August
SLC Camp in Melbourne

WEEK 7
Wednesday 28th August
SSG Meetings
Thursday 29th August
SSG Meetings
Friday 30th August
Fathers' Day Breakfast

WEEK 8
Wednesday 4th September
SSG Meetings
Thursday 5th September
SSG Meetings

WEEK 9
Wednesday 11th September
SSG Meetings
Thursday 12th September
SSG Meetings

WEEK 10
Thursday 19th September
Bush Dance
Friday 20th September
Students Last Day for Term 3
NO LUNCH ORDERS
Early finish at 2.15pm

DATES

Week 2: Friday July 26th @2.30pm at the Church
Week 4: Friday August 9th @2.30pm at the Church
Week 6: Friday August 23rd @2.30pm at the Church
Week 8: Friday September 6th @2.30pm at the Church
Week 10: Friday September 20th @10.00am at the Church