A message from our Principal

Dear Families,

I write this final newsletter of the term fresh from the Lorne Catholic Schools Principals Conference. The insights gained there have been at the forefront of my mind as I put this piece together.

As a group of principals, we often discuss "getting up on the balcony" of our schools stepping back to see the bigger picture. Often, we don’t get the chance to do this because our sleeves are rolled up and we are "in the trenches" of everyday life: work, sport, kids, and everything in between. However, last week provided a timely moment to stand on that balcony at St. Leonard’s and reflect on both our successes and what lies ahead.

The conference opened with a celebration of the Feast of the Annunciation with Fr. Mark Reynolds, which perfectly framed our key theme: Nourish your Purpose. In his homily, Fr. Mark spoke of how Mary had her life planned out, only for it to be turned on its head when she learned of the great gift of carrying the Son of God. It made me think of the many times, both personally and professionally, where we must pivot or deviate from the plan. This message rolled seamlessly into a wonderful keynote by engineer and PhD researcher Dr. Yemi Penn, who noted that "life will life us!" How fitting that Yemi’s message is as relevant for us today as it was for Mary.

A main takeaway for me was how we nourish our purpose by challenging our beliefs. We must ask: Are these still true to me today? Are they allowing for my full potential? Just like Mary, we may have to deviate from our original path to ensure our beliefs are truly nourishing our purpose.

These small moments of reflection are precious; they allow us to step back, pause, and be grateful. They aren't moments for planning "what’s next," but for simply being. I have been blessed this week to have these moments both individually and among my colleagues. Of course, none of this is possible without those picking up the mantle back at school. My sincere thanks to Angela Foale for leading our school in my absence, to our leadership team for their support, and to our staff for continuing to go above and beyond for our children.

As we approach the end of Term One, Easter invites us to reflect on how we can show kindness, forgiveness, and compassion, just as Jesus taught us. As we journey through this sacred season, may we continue to grow in faith and bring the message of Easter into our everyday lives.

Sometimes we have to empty our cups in order to refill them for the next phase of life. I challenge everyone over the Easter break to find a small moment to "empty your cup" and allow a moment for yourself. Whatever your "thing" is, give yourself permission to pause. It pays dividends not only to ourselves, but to everyone around us.

Finally, I want to thank our students, the heartbeat of our school. The resilience, friendship, care, and leadership they demonstrate daily are what make St. Leonard’s such a calm, beautiful place.

"A heart sees where love is needed and acts accordingly." It has been a privilege to watch how the children in our community have shown this over the six months; it truly sets us apart. This was in its fullest form as our Mini Vinnies team supported Caritas through their market stalls and the amazing generosity our families showed along with the contributions made to Scleroderma Victoria in Anna Adaman’s honour. I am thrilled to be leading this wonderful community.

I wish you all a safe break and a very Happy Easter as we commemorate the resurrection of Jesus.

Alyce