Principal's News
Courage, Faith, Love
Dear Parents and Friends of St Agatha's Primary School,
Our school, along with the 45 Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sale, is currently celebrating Catholic Education Week from 19 May to 26 May. The theme for this year’s celebrations is, Catholic Schools – Places of Encounter. ‘Let the words you speak always be full of Grace’, based on Colossians 4:6.
Catholic schools are more than just buildings where students come to learn. They are Places of Encounter where students can grow academically, spiritually and personally.” The ‘Speaking with Grace’ theme invites us to consider the power of our words and the impact our words mayhave on others. Words have the power to inspire, uplift, and transform lives but they can also be hurtful ordiscouraging. This year’s theme aims to encourage students and those in our school community to use their words to build up others, to speak out against injustice, and to spread love and hope in the world.
Congratulations to Mrs Joy Andrews. Joy received an award at the Catholic Education Week Leadership Dinner held last Friday evening. Joy was awarded with a Spirit of Catholic Education - Inspiring Faith Award. The award recognises staff who make a significant contribution to the development of students’ faith.
Joy has shown exemplary dedication to the Catholic school communities at St Therese’s and St Agatha’s at Cranbourne. She is described as an exceptional teacher and an extraordinary person who lives her faith and expresses it in her day to day to life. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she commits her time during her lunch and recess times to teach TEIKO drumming for Year 3 to 6.
This week, we enjoyed welcoming the community into the school for our Open Day and to celebrate Catholic Education week with us at our whole school prayer liturgy.
National Sorry Day
Every year on 26 May, National Sorry Day remembers and acknowledges the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities, which we now know as ‘The Stolen Generations’. National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how we can all play a part in the healing process for our people and nation.
While this date carries great significance for the Stolen Generations and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it is also commemorated by Australians right around the country. The first National Sorry Day was held on 26 May 1998, one year after the Bringing Them Home report was tabled in Parliament. The Bringing Them Home report is a result of a Government Inquiry into the past policies which caused children to be removed from their families and communities in the 20th century.
Next week, the school will take part in the Reconciliation Week. National Reconciliation Week begins on 27 May 2023 and concludes on 3 June 2023. 27 May is the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum which saw over 90% of Australians vote to amend the constitution to enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be included in the census and to enable the Government to create laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Referendum raised expectations of the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders’, following a ten-year campaign.
Lord God, bring us together as one,
Reconciled with you and reconciled with each other.
You made us in your likeness,
You gave us your Son, Jesus Christ.
He has given us forgiveness from sin.
Lord God, bring us together as one,
Different in culture, but given new life in Jesus Christ,
Together as your body, your Church, your people.
Lord God, bring us together as one,
Reconciled, healed, forgiven,
Sharing you with others as you have called us to do.
In Jesus Christ, let us be together as one. Amen.
Michelle Bruitzman
Principal