Dear Parents,

I welcome everyone back for the commencement of Term Two and trust all students are rested and ready to participate in their learning and other school based activities planned for Term Two. I especially welcome the Carson, Fernandez and Robinson families who have joined our community from various towns around Australia. We hope they enjoy their association with our wonderful school.

ANZAC Day March

We had nearly seventy students represent St Mary's at the ANZAC Day ceremony held in Young. On what was a very warm day I thank the students for their participation and the reverence and respect they displayed. Thank you also to the staff that attend and to the parents who marched behind the school banner or transported students to the ceremony.

School Play

During the last few weeks of Term One, auditions were held among the Year Five and Six students for the leading roles in the school play which is to be performed over several sessions in Term Three from the 14th -16th August. This term rehearsals will gather pace and all students will be involved with each class having an item to perform.  

Due to the demands of play on teacher time, all assemblies held prior to the play will have no class performances. 

Upcoming Events

There are a number of important events happening in the first half of this term. Parents are asked to carefully look at the school calendar to ensure they know what is happening across the school. While we do send out reminders about upcoming events, using the calendar to plan ahead makes attending events easier.

Enrolment Period

The enrolment period for the 2024 school year commences on Monday and runs until the 26th May. Open days are being held on Tuesday 2nd May and Thursday 11th May.

If you have a child or know of a family considering enrolling a child at St Mary's, I ask you to advise them of the dates.

Please see the school’s website for more details.

Now that very same day, two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking together about all that had happened. And it happened that as they were talking together and discussing it, Jesus himself came up and walked by their side; but their eyes were prevented from recognising him. He said to them, 'What are all these things that you are discussing as you walk along?' They stopped, their faces downcast. Then one of them, called Cleopas, answered him, 'You must be the only person staying in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have been happening there these last few days.' He asked, 'What things?' They answered, 'All about Jesus of Nazareth, who showed himself a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and the whole people; and how our chief priests and our leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death, and had him crucified. Our own hope had been that he would be the one to set Israel free. And this is not all: two whole days have now gone by since it all happened; and some women from our group have astounded us: they went to the tomb in the early morning, and when they could not find the body, they came back to tell us they had seen a vision of angels who declared he was alive. Some of our friends went to the tomb and found everything exactly as the women had reported, but of him they saw nothing.' Then he said to them, 'You foolish men! So slow to believe all that the prophets have said! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer before entering into his glory?' Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself. When they drew near to the village to which they were going, he made as if to go on; but they pressed him to stay with them saying, 'It is nearly evening, and the day is almost over.' So he went in to stay with them. Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing; then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, 'Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked to us on the road and explained the scriptures to us?' They set out that instant and returned to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven assembled together with their companions, who said to them, 'The Lord has indeed risen and has appeared to Simon.' Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.

REFLECTION

Today we hear Luke’s version of the story of the walk to Emmaus.  We know this story well. Most likely, if someone asked us, we could easily tell them the story.  Familiarity can be good but at times, but it also can be a hindrance.  Today I invite you to read this Gospel passage again.  Read it slowly and attentively. Be open to the message that Jesus has for you today. After reading the passage, take a few minutes and quietly listen for Jesus’ message.

At times in our lives, we have been “the disciples on the road to Emmaus:” feeling lost, alone, sad, confused, and perhaps angered by our personal Calvary experience. True, it was not literally our crucifixion and death. Yet, most likely it was a time of great pain, confusion, anger, sadness or loss. Or it might have been a time when a significant person or part of your life died to you. Take a moment and remember one of your Calvary experiences.  Like the disciples who never thought they would lose Jesus, you also were lost, sad, confused, depressed and perhaps angry.

What was that time in life like for you?  How long did it take you to begin to recover and begin to come back to life?  Did your faith sustain you during this time or did God feel light years away from you?  Was there any sense, small though it may have been, that God, Jesus, or the Spirit was with you, sustaining you, strengthening you?  These times are extremely difficult and they may threaten our trust and faith in God.  We all know that bad things happen to good people; however, when they happen to us, our natural reaction is to question: “Why me? Why did God let this happen?”

If we hold onto our faith in God, Jesus eventually will appear to us again, most likely in unexpected ways, places, or people. Will our mind and hearts be open or will they be closed by anger, fear, and loss? Today may we pray for the grace to trust that Jesus will come to us.  May we trust and believe that Jesus IS with us always! (Sr Kristine Anne Harpenau)

RECONCILIATION

Thanks to all families who enrolled their children for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The current Year 4 students were prepared at the end of last year and will commence a revision of the content next week in class. Reconciliation will be celebrated on Tuesday 9th May at 5:30pm. Please keep the students in your prayers as they prepare for this special celebration of forgiveness.

CONFIRMATION REGISTRATION

We have been informed that Confirmation registration will remain open until June 30th. Any Year 6 students who have not already registered, but wish to make this Sacrament are asked to collect a registration form from the school office and return it with a $50 registration fee to the school.

MASSES AND LITURGIES

This morning, Year 6 participated in a beautiful Mass with Fr Jiss celebrating the Risen Christ. Thanks to Mrs Connelly and Mrs Eastwood for the preparation of the Mass.  On Monday, Year 6 will lead the whole school in an ANZAC Day Prayer Service at 8:50am in the hall. On Friday, Year 3 will celebrate a Liturgy at 9:30am in the Prayer Room. We extend a warm welcome to any members of our school community who would like to join us for these celebrations.

God Bless,

Warren Ziebowski

(Religious Education Coordinator)

NSWPSSA Swimming Championships

We congratulate Chloe Buck and Harry Robinson on their amazing efforts in representing the NSWCPS (MacKillop) Swimming Team at the NSWPSSA Swimming Championships in Sydney last term. Chloe swam in the 11yrs 50m Freestyle and finished 12th in the State. Harry swam in the 13yrs 50m Freestyle and finished 7th in the State. This is such an incredible achievement and we are so very proud of them!!!

Archdiocesan Football Trials

We congratulate Kynan Burgess and Pippa Smith for their selection in the Archdiocesan Football Team. The competition was indeed very tough at the trials so well done to both of you!!! They will now compete for selection at the MacKillop Football trials to be held in Goulburn on Friday 26th May. We wish you all the best!

St Mary’s Soccer Carnival Year 1 to 6

We will be holding our annual Soccer Carnival for the first time in a couple of years on Wednesday 10th May. This is a fundraising opportunity for the Community Council and we invite other schools from the district to attend. It is a non competitive day and caters for all levels of experience. Registrations to play are now open so please check your Compass Events page as all students from Year 1 to 6 have been invited. You will need to Opt In and confirm permission and pay via Compass. The cost is $5.00 per player. It is held at Gus Smith Oval and Cranfield Oval. There will be a canteen run by the Community Council running at Gus Smith Oval. The option to Opt In will close on Thursday 4th May - so please ensure you have confirmed permission and paid by this date.

Archdiocesan Sport - Year 5 & 6 only

Rugby Union - Monday 15th May at Lyneham - please register via the Canberra Goulburn Sports webpage. Nominations close 8th May 2023.

Canberra Goulburn Sports webpage links:

https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/nominations 

https://csnsw.sport/help/help-guide-for-parents

The Full Sports Calendar is now available on the Canberra Goulburn Sports webpage:

https://www.sport.cg.catholic.edu.au/calendar

The Canteen has taken this week to replenish and get up to speed for the new term. I have been working on adjusting the flexischools menu to reflect the flavours and items we have in stock.  

I am excited to have a few new items on the menu for next week.  Keep your eyes peeled on flexischools for a couple of ‘Go Cup’ combos which offer either nuggets or yummy drummys with potato gems and your child’s choice of tomato or BBQ sauce in a paper chip cup, pleasantly portable ?

I am also so happy to get your feedback on what I am calling a ‘MUNCHABLE Bento Box’ this is for the child who is so over sandwiches and will offer meat, cheese and crackers with veggies and dip along with a mini version of my chocolate chip cookie cake all in a little compartmented box.

I am all set with my pizza experimentation for this year and have decided the kids want their lil McCain pizzas back so I have ordered them to be delivered next week and will offer a plain cheese or ham and cheese option.

I have also added on a couple of my experimental pizzas for those with more adventurous palettes, a garlic bread pizza and an English muffin pizza while supplies last.

Keep an eye our for some more Canteen volunteer opportunities on the Zelos Team Management app. I would love to see you in the Canteen and thanks so much to all those that helped me so much last term!
https://app.getzelos.com/i/nxRsgjaJ

Have a wonderful weekend,

Jen Harden