Dear Families,

Last Thursday, Matthew, Alice, Sanne, Kingston, Liam, Isabel and Janine in Grade 6 all celebrated the sacrament of Confirmation. It was a beautiful mass that we shared with our neighbouring schools in Morwell at Sacred Heart. Thank you to the families of these children for preparing them well and to Mrs Szkwarek for the organisation that went into the mass. It was a lovely way to bring Catholic Education Week to an end.

We also had our boys’ and girls’ soccer teams compete in the Yinnar and District Soccer competition on Thursday and we are very proud to say that both teams are through to the next round. A huge thank you to Ms Ensor for her efforts in bringin the day together, to Janelle Breheny in the office who was a tremendous support in the organisation of the day, Stephen Breheny and Michael Byrne for coaching our teams and to Miss Watson and Miss Charli for attending on the day too. I’d also like to give some acknowledgement to our P&F who ran a coffee stall on the day to raise money for our school. We really appreciate your time and effort in supporting the school.

On Friday, we had a pupil free day where the staff worked with Peta Murray from DOSCEL on how to increase our capacity to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives into the curriculum. We really got a lot out of the day, which we intend on making a difference to how we teach in our classrooms across our schools. Leading into National Reconciliation Week, this was a really timely opportunity to reflect on our Country’s historical treatment of our Indigenous people and why we must all work together for a more positive future together. We have a number of families in our school who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and together we want to acknowledge the past and work together towards respect, recognition, healing and a better future for all Australians.

This week in National Reconciliation Week, all children will take part in some learning around how we can move towards reconciliation together as well as a National Reconciliation Week Liturgy on Thursday.

I’d like to offer this prayer of Reconciliation:

Holy Father, God of Love,

You are the creator of this land and of all good things.

We acknowledge the pain and shame of our history

and the suffering of our peoples – especially the grief of those who were taken

as children from their homes and families,

taken from all they knew and loved.

We ask your forgiveness.

We thank you for the survival of Indigenous cultures.

Our hope is in you because you gave your son Jesus to reconcile the world to you.

We pray for your strength and grace to forgive, accept and love one another

as you love, forgive and accept us.

Give us the courage to acknowledge the realities of our history

so that we may build a better future for our nation.

Teach us to respect all cultures.

Teach us to care for our land and waters.

Help us to share justly the resources of this land.

Help us to bring about spiritual and social change

to improve the quality of life for all groups in our communities,

especially the disadvantaged.

Help young people to find true dignity and self esteem in the ways of your Spirit.

May your power and love be the foundations on which we build our families,

our communities and our nation.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Have a wonderful week ahead,

Sally

Please take note of these dates for your family calendar

TERM 2 2024

Week 7: National Reconciliation Week

Week 8:   6th June - Yinnar and District Winter Sports (Netball)

                7th June- Pupil Free Day (Professional Learning for Staff)

Week 9:  10th June- King's Birthday Public Holiday

               12th June Grades Prep, 1,2&3 Excursion "Catch a Falling Star" 

                Show at Gippsland Performing Arts Centre 

Week 10:  

Week 11: 28th June-Last day Term 2 - 12:30pm Finish 

TERM 3 2024

Week 1: July 15th- Term 3 starts 

Week 2:

Week 3:

Week 4: 6th August - Meerkat Productions Visiting

              8th August - Combined Parish Mass @ Sacred Heart

              9th August - P&F Disco

Week 5: 14th and 15th August- Parent/Teachers Interviews 

Week 6: 19th August - Bookweek Dress Up Day

Week 7:

Week 8:

Week 9: 11th September - School Concert Night

Week 10: 19th September - Last Day Term 3, 3pm Finish

                                         - Footy Day and Hot Dog Lunch (P&F)

                20th September - Pupil Free Day (Professional Learning)

Child Safe Standard 7

Processes for complaints and concerns are child-focused.

https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/the-11-child-safe-standards/standard-7/ 

The Parents and Friends have had a parent kindly donate a 10kg Cadbury Chocolate block. 

Raffle tickets have been sent home with each family. Tickets are due back by Tuesday 4th June to be drawn on Wednesday 5th June