Messages

Live Love Learn

Dear Families,

As we come to the end of Term One at Galilee, we see further easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria, just over a year since the first Australian lockdown. We are also seeing increasing numbers of people returning to their offices. 

I have worked onsite at school throughout the last 14 months. Some have worked entirely from home while others have blended both locations. Each of us has been impacted differently but all of us have learnt lessons for the future. Will we remember what we've learnt or will the world return to a way of life, just as before? 

Some parents have expressed an increased awareness and appreciation of teachers and how they dedicate their careers to the education of children. 

Without daily travel and routines, some people have managed to increase productivity while achieving greater life balance. Hopefully as people return to offices they will remember the importance of family and of life beyond work.

 

As we approach our celebration of Harmony Day, we remember that although countries have many different customs, we have much more in common than we think. 

Harmony Day

Tomorrow we will celebrate Harmony Day at Galilee. Students will be involved in activities that celebrate the amazing cultures that make up our country. Australia is one of the most multicultural countries in the world – from the oldest continuous culture of our First Australians to the 49% of Australians who were born overseas or have a parent who was.

 

Our cultural diversity is a great strength and brings with it a whole host of traditions, religions, languages and of course, food! 

 

We hope that our school community will come to school tomorrow wearing orange clothing (the colour of Harmony Day) or dressed in their families' culturally traditional clothing. Children are asked to bring a gold coin donation on the day.

What is the meaning of Easter? 

Easter is one of the most important events on the Christian calendar; it is the time when the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is remembered. According to Christian belief, Jesus was crucified and then rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion. As is true of many Christian Festivals, the origins of Easter are actually Pagan. The word 'Easter' comes from the name of Estre, an AngloSaxon goddess who was strongly linked with Spring, fertility and the beginning of new life. 

 

Easter Church Services 

Today, Christian churches in the Western World mark the Easter festival with an Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday – beginning in darkness and involving the blessing of the Easter fire, the lighting of a candle and readings from the Old Testament – and a service on Easter Sunday. Easter Church Services are preceded by 40 days of Lent (a time of repentance and fasting) and followed by a 50 day Easter season. 

 

The days of Easter are: 

  • Palm Sunday – The Sunday before Easter, when Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly
  • Good Friday – The day Jesus was crucified on the cross
  • Holy Saturday – The final day of Holy Week
  • Easter Sunday – The day of Christ's resurrection, now a traditional day for baptism
  • Feast of the Ascension – The day marking Christ's ascension to Heaven
  • Pentecost – Seven weeks after Easter Sunday, celebrating the visitation of Christ to more than 100 followers

Around the walls of every Catholic Church can be found fourteen plaques or pictures depicting Christ’s journey to Calvary – these are known as the Stations of the Cross. The Second Station tells the story of Christ receiving the cross onto which he is to be nailed. We feel his suffering with a sense of the injustice of it all – until we realize that the whole action of the first Good Friday is Christ acting in union with his Father’s will for the redemption of all people, and that the burden of his cross is the burden of our shortcomings and our sufferings. If we’re having a ‘bad day’, we probably give some thought to the burdens of our own life – pressures of work, loneliness, unemployment, a strained relationship or whatever – and come to a realization that Christ, through his suffering and death, is inviting us to allow him to share the things we have difficulty carrying for ourselves. At various stages in our lives, we might experience many small ‘Good Fridays’, when things don’t go how we’d like them to. It is then that we can experience Christ’s redemptive act and our faith will eventually lead us to the ‘Easter’ of our problems. With Christ, we are assured of resurrection. We are ‘Easter Sunday’ people!

Building Project Update

The Galilee school building project is well and truly underway in 2021! Demolition of the former Prep building started in early February, clearing the way for commencement of construction of the new 3-storey Games Hall and Learning Building, which will include some amazing new learning spaces and a full competition sized basketball court.  Following demolition, the Contractor (CICG) proceeded with installation of in ground services including electrical, sewer, fire and communications that will later be tied into the existing school systems.

A key milestone was reached on Wednesday this week with the pouring of bored pile foundations.  The piles which will later provide the main supports for the building, are up to 9.5m deep and founded several metres into the weathered rock layer that exists below the school site.  Next activities planned include detailed excavation works in preparation of the construction of the ground slab.  There will be further project updates in the coming weeks on progress of the construction as there is a lot more to look forward to!

We thank the entire school community for your patience and understanding whilst the construction activities progress – especially to the children and staff of Galilee who continue to go about their daily school activities with the added challenge of construction noise and reduced outdoor play space.  We are confident it will be well worth it once our new facility is complete.

Wellbeing - JOMO and Grit

By using grit to focus on building your best possible self, and not being a slave to your phone, you will enjoy the positive feelings which come from JOMO, Joy of Missing Out. 

For many people, their phones are their masters, and they feel they need to be glued to them 24/7 to not experience FOMO, Fear of Missing Out.

Technology should be a fantastic servant to make your life better, not rule it.

JOMO is being self-kind to yourself, try it out.

PE Uniform

Please note the days that your child/ren needs to wear their PE uniform next week. 

These are days that students need to wear their PE Uniform next week:

Prep S: Monday and Thursday

Prep P: Monday and Thursday

Prep M: Tuesday

Year 1J: Tuesday and Thursday

Year 1B: Tuesday and Thursday

Year 2R: Tuesday and Thursday

Year 2J: Wednesday 

Year 2E: Wednesday 

Year 3M: Wednesday

Year 3B: Monday

Year 4R: Monday and Thursday

Year 4H: Wednesday  

Year 5C: Monday and Thursday

Year 6M: Tuesday

Year 6F: Tuesday

 

Tennis with Paul

D.O.G.S

The D.O.G.S. (Dads of Galilee School) Golf Day is happening this Saturday 27th March,  further details below. 

Numbers are limited, due to the golf course availability.

 

Details:

Albert Park Golf Course

Saturday - 27th March 2021

Tee Off from 9:30am

18 holes. 

Price $55.00

After the golf, we will be heading to the Middle Park Bowls Club for a BBQ and drink. 

 

James  

Easter Raffle 

Tickets

This is an Easter Fundraising event to raise money for our school. 

Tickets - $2 each or 3 for $5

Please clearly label each purchased ticket with your child’s name and class.

These envelopes must be returned Tomorrow, Friday 26th March.    

*Additional raffle tickets will be available at the school office if you wish to purchase more.

 

There is no obligation to purchase tickets.

 

Easter Raffle Donations

The Easter Raffle will be drawn at 12.30pm on  Thursday 1st April, the last day of Term 1 and the lucky winners will take home their goodies!

 

Please drop donations to the office by Tomorrow, Friday 26th March. 

Religion

2E Palm Sunday 

2E have been learning about the events of Holy Week. Here are some of their Palm Sunday comics.

Scripture of the Week

 

Reconciliation Reflection Day 

The Year 3 students enjoyed their Reconciliation Reflection day last Friday! They visited the church and studied the stations of the cross with Father John at StsPP. They participated in rotations with their teachers that involved activities such as: Christian meditation, role-playing the parable of the Prodigal Son, writing a Sorrow prayer after an examination of conscience and completing an art activity. 

Many thanks to Father John and Sue Kidd, the catechist at StsPP who has volunteered her time to work with the Year Three teachers to prepare the students for this sacrament. 

A very special thanks to the Yr 3 teachers, Miss Charlotte Biggs and Miss Laura Mason for their time, dedication and preparation of their students also.

On Wednesday afternoon we received news that Fr. Hugh Brown was not well enough to be at the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Please keep him in your prayers as he recovers. 

We would like to thank the students, who were planning to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time on Wednesday at OLMC, for their flexibility with the change of date. We will publish the new date for First Reconciliation at OLMC as soon as we can.

 

SACRAMENTAL DATES 2021

 

Eucharist

StsPP - Sunday, 6 June 2:00pm

OLMC - Wednesday, 2 June 7:00pm

 

Confirmation

StsPP- Thursday 19 August 7.00pm

OLMC - Wednesday 18 August 7.00pm

 

School for Term One will conclude at 1:30pm on Thursday 1st April and commence for Term Two on Monday 19th April.