Principal's Update

Our commitment to wellbeing: Inspired and sustained by the gospel

‘It is in relationship with God and others in the school community that young people are enabled to discover who they are, where they come from and what their destiny can be’.

(Catholic Education Melbourne 2017, Horizons of Hope)

Dear Families,

This week we honour and celebrate families through the theme of 2021; Our Family. Our Story. Our Future. Pope Francis in his address to the United Nations at Clementine Hall in 2013 said:

“Over and over again we see that family bonds are essential for the stability of relationships in society, for the work of education, and for integral human development, for they are inspired by love, responsible intergenerational solidarity, and mutual trust. These are factors that can make even the most adverse situations more bearable and bring a spirit of trust fraternity to our world, enabling it to feel as a single family, where the greatest attention is paid to those most in need.”

I celebrate our families this week especially after such an enormous outpouring of love and joyful gathering last Friday at our Mother's Day breakfast where we welcomed over 280 mums, grandmas, mother figures, carers, aunts and even some dads and grandpas! It was a delicious occasion and more importantly, a day to feel grateful and celebrate the wonderful feeling of community that we all play a part in creating together.  We value these bonds as family and as community because they enable our children to be known, valued and to flourish in their learning and their play.

The poster below is one of my favourites. It articulates the importance of family school partnerships and relationships. Last week we came together for Reconciliation workshops and on this night I was again shown how much families value this partnership and opportunity to connect. We had full attendance. Thank you to ALL families for taking the time to be in partnership with us. It certainly feels like a community in full flourish right now!

I also pay tribute to the outstanding staff community who come to school every day because they love teaching and because they love working with children and families. Without their enormous effort last week, the Mother's Day celebrations would not have been so successful.  We are lucky. One of our students told the school reviewer last Monday that she loved her school. When he asked her why she said, "because our teachers BELIEVE in us."

I leave you with a powerful collection of images this week, images that our student leaders captured last Friday and they speak for themselves. Happy teachers, happy students, happy families! Happy people!

Go gently and as always, if you have any feedback, questions or ideas we’d love to hear about them. All feedback drives our work forward. Positive interactions drive our motivation forward.

God Bless,

Patrika Rowley

PRINCIPAL