A prayer for Mrs Burfield

Loving and Compassionate God,

We come together as a school community to lift up Leonie and her family in prayer. Surround them with your comfort, strength, and peace in this time of need.

We thank you for Leonie's example of kindness, dedication, and the love she has shared so generously.

Bless her with moments of grace and joy, and may she feel the support of our prayers and the reassurance of your unending love.

We especially remember Leonie's family, including her new grandson. May this little one be a reminder of hope and new life. Bless them all with courage and faith as they cherish their time together.

Lord, we pray for the gift of time - for Leonie to return home and spend this Christmas season surrounded by her loved ones.

In your mercy, grant her and her family a sense of your presence and peace and may they find comfort in the promise of your eternal love.

As a community, we entrust Leonie to your care, trusting in your wisdom and compassion. Sustain us as we journey together, sharing her burdens and holding her close in our hearts.

We ask this through Christ, our Lord.

Amen

Advent

As we approach the final weeks of the school year, we have also entered into the sacred season of Advent, a time of preparation, hope, and reflection.

The four weeks of Advent offer us a special opportunity to pause, reflect on the year past, and look forward with anticipation to the joy of Christmas. As a school community, we embrace this season with reverence and excitement, focusing on the themes of hope, peace, joy, and love that are central to Advent.

Each week of Advent invites us to reflect on a different aspect of this spiritual journey:

Hope – The first week of Advent reminds us of the hope that comes with the promise of Christ's coming. We reflect on the ways in which we can bring hope into the lives of others, particularly those who may be facing challenges or hardships.

Peace – During the second week, we focus on the peace that Christ offers to the world. Advent calls us to be peacemakers in our homes, schools, and communities, fostering understanding and kindness in all that we do.

Joy – The third week of Advent is known as Gaudete Sunday, a day of celebration as we rejoice in the nearness of Christmas. It’s a reminder to embrace the joy that comes with Christ’s presence in our lives and to share that joy with those around us.

Love – The fourth week of Advent leads us to reflect on God’s boundless love for us and the call to love one another. This week challenges us to consider how we can be a reflection of God’s love in our own families, schools, and communities.

Throughout this season, we encourage our students to embrace these themes in both their words and actions. Advent is not only a time to prepare our hearts for Christmas, but also a time to grow in gratitude, compassion, and generosity.

We look forward to celebrating the joy of Christmas with you and your children in the weeks ahead. Thank you for your continued support, and may this Advent season bring you closer to the hope, peace, joy, and love that are at the heart of the Christmas message.

Year 6 Graduation Mass

We are looking forward to seeing our Year 6 families at our Year 6 Graduation Mass this Friday 6th December at 10.30am in the Church.

End of Year Thanksgiving Mass

All of our school community is invited to join us for our end of year Thanksgiving Mass. This mass will be a whole school mass at 9am on Tuesday 17th December in the Church.

At this mass our current school leaders will hand over leadership to our new 2025 school leaders.

The official commissioning ceremony of our new student leaders will happen at our

Opening School Mass on Friday 7th February at 9.15am in the Church.

Family Educator News

FAMILY 2 FAMILY

Christmas Appeal

Dear Parents,

Thank you for your very generous support of the FAMILY 2 FAMILY Vinnies Christmas Appeal. The gift cards you have donated will bring joy and relief to families in our local community, making a significant difference to their Christmas celebrations.

In response to the overwhelming generosity and to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate, we are extending the appeal to Monday, 9 December. If you would still like to donate, gift cards can be placed in your child’s class office tray by this date.

Details of each class's Vinnies family and a list of suggested gift vouchers has been attached to this letter. In the past groups of parents have joined together to buy gift cards or vouchers in order to share the cost. Please note these are all suggestions and any gift voucher you give will be very much appreciated.

Your kindness and care reflect the true spirit of the season, and we are deeply grateful for your support.

Warm regards,

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me, ann.woodhouse01@syd.catholic.edu.au

Thank you and God Bless,

Mrs Ann Woodhouse

Family Educator

Christmas at the Cathedral Opening Night 12th to 25th December

Nano's Lanterns

God Bless,

Mrs Ann Woodhouse

Family Educator

P&F News