Dear Parents and Carers,

Our Reconciliation students are travelling through the preparation process and are feeling excited about the ceremony that is to come. I quickly interviewed them today asking how they were feeling. Have a look at Faith Works in our newsletter and I will post an item on our Facebook page for you all to see. Please like and share our news with your friends.

The Grade six students will be working on presenting their learning about rules with the wider community next week. They are posing a question “How can using rules make us happy?” The preparation for this has been working with their buddies and I believe the work was showing them how to play Snakes and Ladders.

This week we had Sean Choolburra visit our school on Wednesday. The children were entertained not only by Sean but by their own interactions with him. There were so many volunteers who got up to dance and demonstrate the traditional dances he taught. He explained the traditional paint he wore on his body and told traditional creation stories as well as a few tall stories. He was very engaging and funny and the children and teachers all learnt something new about First Peoples of Australia.

Next week we look forward to the feast days of St. Patrick and St. Joseph. On St Patricks day, Wednesday 17th we invite students to wear an additional green item, a ribbon, a bow, a badge to celebrate the People’s saint. Saint Patrick patron saint of Ireland was born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but returned in about the year 432 to convert the Irish to Christianity. By the time of his death on March 17, 461, he had established monasteries, churches, and schools. Many legends grew up around him—for example, that he drove the snakes out of Ireland and used the shamrock to explain the Trinity. He is called the people’s saint because he was never officially canonised by the church. So revered was his reputation that the Catholic people considered him so good that they called him a saint and the church adopted that. He gives hope for change for the people.

Equally revered is Saint Joseph the human father of Jesus. This year Pope Francis has proclaimed a special celebration of 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of St Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church as the reason to the church’s year being nominated as  “The year of Saint Joseph”.

“The Holy Father wrote Patris corde against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, which, he says, has helped us see more clearly the importance of “ordinary” people who, though far from the limelight, exercise patience and offer hope every day. In this, they resemble Saint Joseph, “the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence,” who nonetheless played “an incomparable role in the history of salvation.” ”. St Joseph stands for all fathers, grandfathers, uncles, those who have many children and those who have only one. Those who care for others’ children, those who teach and those who minister. To begin our official celebrations for this year we will be attending Mass together on Friday morning. With using QR coding we are allowed families at Mass and we warmly welcome you to all attend.

SPORTS

Wednesday 24^th March is the date we have for our school sports. This will be on our oval behind the church. At this stage we do not know if we are able to invite parents to help with the activity rotations … during the week the students will come home with more detailed information about the event, their house colour and what they need to bring.

HOT CROSS BUN ORDERS

Just a reminder that Hot Cross Bun orders are due next Tuesday 16^th. We thank the parents who put their hand up to help with our fundraising efforts, we will be contacting you in the following week with times to help. Also, any other parents, grandparents or friends who would like to volunteer to help our fund-raising events please contact the office and we will make a note of your availability.

Office emails are

kglass@shmorwell.catholic.edu.au

Kristy Glass

sallan@shmorwell.catholic.edu.au

Sylvia Allen

cheinemann@shmorwell.catholic.edu.au

Carmela Heinemann

I have had some queries this week through our website page…which is great way to communicate but there was some request for teachers emails to be sent again so please find again the following.

Teachers emails are as follows

arobb@shmorwell.catholic.edu.au Anne-Marie Robb - Principal

minchincoli@shmorwell.catholic.edu.au Michelle Inchincoli – Grade 1/2 teacher, Learning Adjustment Leader, Senior Middle Leader, Senior Teacher

kbarton@shmorwell.catholic.edu.au Kerry Barton – Grade 1/2 teacher, Middle Leader, performing arts teacher

hdawes@shmorwell.catholic.edu.au Heather Dawes – Foundation teacher

kprecht@shmorwell.catholic.edu.au Kayla Precht – Grade 1/2 teacher

jmcdonald@shmorwell.catholic.edu.au Julianne McDonald – Grade 3/4 teacher

csmyth@shmorwell.catholic.edu.au Cassandra Smyth – Grade 5/6 teacher

msmith@shmorwell.catholic.edu.au Mark Smith – PE teacher, support teacher across all levels

smartin@shmorwell.catholic.edu.au Sheridan Martin – Art teacher

I wish you all a restful weekend,

God Bless,

Anne-Marie Robb

Lavalla Catholic College is hosting our Open Evening for all prospective families for Yr 7 2022 on Wednesday 31^st March.

Should parents have any questions regarding the enrolment process please don’t hesitate to either email registrar@lavalla.vic.edu.au or phone Allison on 5174 7355.

Delicious Bakers Delight Hot Cross Bun order forms that were sent home a couple of weeks ago are due back to the school by Tuesday 16th March.  Orders will be completed and ready for your collection after 2.30pm on Wednesday 24th March, 2021.