Dear Families,

I would like to start this week's newsletter by sharing some feedback we received from the parish community about our beautiful students. On Wednesday, the Year 1-6 students attended Ash Wednesday Mass to mark the beginning of the season of Lent, along with many members of our school community and the wider parish. As we left the church, many staff members were stopped by parishioners, who thanked them for the students' reverence and engagement during Mass. We also received some phone calls commending the students on their behaviour, which we shared with students at Mindfulness.

I would like to thank Michelle Peel, our Religious Education Leader, who has spent a great deal of time ensuring each of our students is aware of the expectations when attending Mass. She took each class over to the church at the beginning of the year to explain where students would sit, the various parts of the Mass and how students are expected to move in and out of the church. This has set a tone of respect and reflection when at Mass, and students demonstrated this beautifully on Ash Wednesday.

Lent is a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture, we serve by giving alms and we practice self-control through fasting. The following questions may help you reflect and consider these Lenten themes within the context of your own family and life:

What is one way we’ve already seen God working in our family this year?How can we thank Him for that during Lent?
What new prayer practice could bring us closer to Jesus as a family?(For example, a short nightly prayer or grace said more slowly and intentionally.)
What good habit would we like to grow this Lent?(Kindness, patience, gratitude, helping without being asked?)
Who inspires us to love God more deeply?What qualities in them would we like to grow in ourselves?
How can our home become a place of peace and encouragement during these 40 days?
What joy are we most looking forward to celebrating at Easter?

Parish Schools Advisory Council

We are now seeking Expressions of Interest from members of our community. Please consider the opportunity and read the attached letter for more information:

Family Picnic

We hope you can join us!

Prep Tours

If you know any families who may be interested in attending one of our school tours next week, please share this information and encourage them to book:

Kind regards,

Elizabeth Sarpa

School Community News

Penola Open Day:

Tennis Lessons: Gladstone Park Tennis Club

Tullamarine Football Club

Hume City Council: Energy & Water Bill Help

Outside School Hours Care