Dear Parents and Caregivers
This Sunday, is the 2nd Sunday of Lent. During Lent many of us practise giving up something or fasting during this season. For me, rather than fasting or giving up things, my focus is on how I can be a better person during this season. I focus on the words Pope Francis used in his Ash Wednesday homily from 2019 when he asked us the following question and then shared his thoughts:
Do you want to fast this Lent?
Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
Fast from worries and trust in God.
Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
Fast from bitterness and fill your heart with joy.
Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.
Building Progress
I would like to express my thanks to our parents and caregivers during the building of our Performing Arts Studio. Your patience, especially as we have navigated reduced parking and footpath closures has been appreciated.
This week, the courts area opened up for our students which was well received by both staff and students. In week 8, from Wednesday 23 March to Friday 25 March the Transportable Classrooms will be removed and shortly after that our Nature Play area will be worked on. Hopefully the transformation of this area will be complete early Term 2.
Pupil Free Day
This Friday the Staff will be involved in our continuing Professional Development with the Berry Street Education Model. We will be focussing on Domain 3 on Stamina and Domain 4 on Engagement.
Stamina focusses on creating a culture of academic persistence by nurturing resilience, emotional intelligence and a growth mindset.
Engagement is about motivating students with strategies that increase their willingness to learn.
In our next Newsletter, I will delve deeper into what we looked at during these sessions.
SkoolBag Alerts
This week we have had numerous communications go out on our SkoolBag app including a reminder of our Pupil Free Day on Friday. I urge all parents and caregivers to check the app regularly for updates. The following communications have gone out this week:
Farewell Linda Brine
Early this term, Linda Brine our Bursar / Finance Officer announced her retirement. Linda has been an integral part of the SJMS community for the past 6 years and a valued colleague. Linda has also spent many years working on the Finance Team at CESA. On behalf of the SJMS community I would like to thank Linda for her dedication to her role. The knowledge and expertise she has shared with the Finance Committee has been invaluable. She will be missed.
As Linda transitions out of her role, I would like to welcome Nicki Cambourn as our new Bursar / Finance Officer. Nicki has been a part of the Finance Team at St Columba's College, Andrews Farm. She will work alongside Linda over the next few weeks as she moves into the role.
School Board Annual General Meeting
Usually, early in Term 1 we hold our AGM for the School Board and P&F for 2021. Due to COVID, this has been postponed to Wednesday 30 March at 6:30pm. At this stage, we hope that we will be able to meet face-to-face in the Piazza but are awaiting clarification regarding this. An invitation will go out to all families next week.
If you would like to nominate for a position on the School Board or P&F, please click here and submit your nomination.
There is an opportunity to submit ‘Questions with Notice’ prior to the Annual General Meeting. If you would like to submit a question, please click here to submit no later than Wednesday 23 March 2022.
Yours sincerely
Grace Vassallo-Wakefield