Leadership Communication

Wishing Our Community a Joyful Diwali!

We send our warmest wishes and much love to all the families and staff in our school community celebrating Diwali.

One of the great joys of yard duty is wandering around with our young people and hearing all about the exciting things happening in their lives. This week has been no exception! I've heard wonderful stories about preparing for family gatherings, visitors, special foods, delicious sweets, colourful celebrations and all the excitement of what is to come.

I even received a little lesson in pronunciation when I attempted to name some of the delicious Indian sweets and treats the children were describing. My efforts were quickly corrected! What was even funnier was the look of genuine surprise on their faces when they discovered that Mrs Chappell had actually eaten Indian sweets before and even knew some of the sweets they were talking about! I might not have been able to pronounce their names correctly, but I certainly knew what they were and had tasted them. I do love these moments when our children become our teachers! These conversations remind me just how fortunate we are to belong to such a wonderfully rich and diverse school community.

As a Catholic school, our commitment to Catholic Social Teaching calls us to recognise the dignity of every person, to respect and value different cultures and faith traditions, and to engage in genuine dialogue with others. It is not simply about learning about different religions and cultures, but learning from one another, celebrating what makes us unique and discovering all that connects us.

Our children are growing up in a beautifully multicultural world, and what a gift it is that they can experience so much of that world within their own school family. Through sharing our stories, customs, celebrations and traditions, we help our children develop curiosity, understanding, respect and a deeper appreciation of one another.

We are also incredibly fortunate to have teachers and education support staff who so generously share their own cultures, traditions and celebrations with our children. The colours, stories, customs and, of course, the occasional delicious treats bring these celebrations to life and enrich the learning experiences of us all.

To everyone celebrating Diwali, may this special time bring light, love, joy and happiness to your homes. May you enjoy precious moments with family and friends, both near and far, and feel the warmth of connection and community.

We look forward to hearing all the wonderful stories from the children on Monday!

What a blessing it is to have so much to celebrate, so much to learn from one another and so many ways to recognise that, while our traditions may be different, there is far more that connects us than separates us.

Happy Diwali to all who celebrate!

Sarah Chappell

Acting Deputy Principal