Assistant Principal
Jacky Guardascione
The Prodigal Son
On Saturday Night, our school will gather for our Term 4 Family Mass. This date was chosen as our Year 3 students will make their commitment to the preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
A key Gospel for this Sacrament is the Parable of the Prodigal Son - I am sure you know it. But do you really know this parable?
In Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells the story of a father and his two sons. The younger son asks for his inheritance early—a shocking request in Jewish culture, essentially wishing his father dead.However, the father grants it and the son leaves for a distant land, where he squanders everything in reckless living.
When a famine hits, the son is left destitute, forced to feed pigs—an unclean animal in Jewish law. Starving and ashamed, he decides to return home, not as a son, but hoping to be accepted as a servant. He prepares a humble speech of repentance.
But while he is still far off, his father sees him, runs to him. For Jewish men of this time, running was a shameful action for a dignified elder but the father does so to save his life. The town could have rejected the son and his life was in danger. However, it is father’s embrace and actions that save his life and fully restore him. The father orders a robe, sandals, and a signet ring. The ring is very symbolic in this passage as this ring was how business documents were sealed at this time these actions are symbols of honor, belonging, and authority. Finally, a feast is held to celebrate the son’s return: “This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”
This passage is used during the preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation to show FULL RESTORATION. The father does not ‘sort of’ forgive his son - he completely forgives him and this is the gift that we receive from God when we celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation.
I know you all join me in keeping our Year 3 students in our prayers as they begin their preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
STEM in Preschools
As part of our school goals of building relationships within our local community, this term we will be visiting local preschools to share our wonderful STEM learning experiences with our youngest learners. Have you heard of Buoyancy? Displacement? The Archimedes Principle? Well, just ask our 2026 Kindy Students! We are looking forward to visiting more preschool classrooms throughout the rest of Term 4.
Pledge a Street
Often in Term 4, for a variety of reasons, families may be looking for new schools for their children. In recognition of this occurrence, we are hoping to drop off some school flyers in our local area. As a result, we are asking for families to pledge a street - this means picking up some pamphlets from the school office and leaving them in letterboxes near your home. Simply pop into the office and let us know what streets you can deliver to. Your assistance with this is greatly appreciated and students dropping them off in School Uniform - Ever better! Thank you in advance to those who have already volunteered. Students in Year 6 can count this outreach towards their Pope Francis hours also!