Principal's Message
Dear Parents,
This will be my last newsletter until mid-Term 2, as I embark on my professional renewal leave and long service leave. What better time to begin my pilgrimage-retreat than at the start of Lent? My journey will first take me to Shetland, a wild and remote place between Scotland and Norway. Please know that as I travel, I will keep you, your children, and our staff in my prayers, and I ask that you keep me in yours.
During my absence, Nicole Charnock will be taking on the role of Acting Principal, Renata Rozenfeld will increase her Assistant Principal/teaching responsibilities to four days a week, and Zoe Parish will assume Nicole’s Primary Coordinator role. With these three dedicated leaders, along with Leanne Skinner in her role as REC, our school is in very capable hands.
For this time, Belinda Parkes will teach 4 Blue each Thursday and Friday while Zoe is off class in her roles of Pedagogical Mentor and Primary Coordinator and Felicity Peart, a previous staff member, will teach Kinder Gold each Wednesday when Chloe Coe has her Wellbeing Co-Ordinator day. We are very appreciative of our staff and their flexibility to adjust their schedules to support what is in the best interests of the school.
While I am away, the demolition of the COLA in the Quad will take place, making way for the construction of a magnificent new COLA, along with the revamping of the Library. Stay tuned for regular updates—I can’t wait to see the progress upon my return!
Da Vinci Decathlon
We are incredibly proud of Evan T, in Year 6, who has been selected to join a team of students from across the diocese to represent us in the upcoming da Vinci Decathlon. This prestigious academic competition challenges students across ten disciplines:
- Mathematics – Problem-solving, number patterns, and logic puzzles
- English – Spelling, word origins, definitions, textual analysis, and writing tasks
- Science – Engaging with advanced scientific concepts
- Code Breaking – Deciphering complex codes
- Engineering Challenge – Designing creative solutions to problems
- Ideation – Generating and developing new ideas
- Creative Producers – Creating and performing a short drama or commercial
- Art and Poetry – Developing an original poem and artwork on a given theme
- Cartography – Interpreting spatial information and creating imaginative maps
- Legacy – Honouring significant people, inventions, and events from history and today
The theme for the 2025 da Vinci Decathlon – Hunter Region is Sustainability. We wish Evan and his team all the very best and have no doubt that he will represent our school and diocese with excellence.
Lent
Lent is a special time of reflection, and our students embraced its beginning with enthusiasm and reverence.
On Shrove Tuesday, the students enjoyed a pancake picnic, a much-anticipated event filled with joy. A huge thank you to the wonderful parents who helped with toppings and distribution. Demand was so high that we had to make an extra pancake run—we sold nearly 500 pancakes! Any profits raised will support Caritas’ Project Compassion. Thank you for your generosity.
On Ash Wednesday, our Years 4-6 students participated reverently in the parish Mass, engaging wholeheartedly with Fr. Greg’s homily. Several parishioners shared how impressed they were with our students’ participation, prayerfulness, and conduct— a true testament to the faith-filled environment we nurture. Our younger students took part in class-based liturgies, and all students received ashes, reminding them of our call to live like Jesus.
Year 6 2024 Gift
After a series of delays, we are delighted to finally have received the customised carpet runner that last year’s Year 6 students fundraised for and gifted to the school. It now graces our office foyer—when you next visit, please stop by to admire it! We think it looks fantastic and are so grateful to Year 6, 2024 for this thoughtful and lasting contribution to our school.
In this Year of Jubilee, may hope be with you always.
Blessings,
Karen