Principal's News
Dear Parents and Carers,
This week the schools of the Ballarat Diocese celebrate Catholic Education Week. Our theme this year is: “Let the Words you Speak Always Be Full of Grace.”- Colossians 4:6.
Our students will be joining the children of St Mary’s and St Brendan’s for Mass on Friday and for morning tea and a play with the kids from our neighbouring schools. We will be travelling to and from by bus.
“Let the words you speak be full of grace” How timely. What a world it would be if all of our words were always full of grace. Even when we have to disagree with someone else, in person or even when online. Imagine if we could do it gracefully?
Last night I watched an excellent episode of “Q&A” on the ABC - well worth catching it on iView. As many of you will know it was to be the last hosted by Stan Grant, at least for a while as he steps away from his hosting role for the sake of his own mental health, such has been the hate-filled and racist comments directed at him and his family in recent times on social media.
It is absolutely crucial in our precious democracy that we can disagree with each other from time to time, it helps us to build a fairer and more considerate Australia. But surely these disagreements can be carried out respectfully? We all bring different experiences and knowledge to the table - what can we learn from one another? Those that are so certain that they are right and therefore justified in using derogatory and insulting language should be treated with distrust. Take it from this grandpa, life is so unpredictable, complex and surprising that NOBODY knows everything. Remember only a few hundred years ago people were certain the world was flat.
We want our children to be open to the possibilities that present themselves to them as they grow, rather than closed off to new experiences, new friends, new adventures and new learning.
Twelve months ago, this week, we introduced our students to the beautiful Aboriginal elder Dr Miriam Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann. Miriam was one of only 10 Australians to be invited to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. She spoke to our students of respect and reconciliation. She spoke with such GRACE and humour. She told our students about her home and her family. She asked only that her audience listen.
Ours is a good school. It’s not a perfect school but it is a good school, but still under construction. I remind the children almost daily that they build it into a better school every day through their words and actions. Because a school, like a country, is made of people not buildings and not the space around those buildings. All of us want this to be the very best school we can make it, so we have to work at it every day, speaking our words with grace.
Personally I want Australia to be the best country it can be too. I'm going to try to do the same, so that my own children, my grandchildren and these Sacred Heart children see my example and hopefully I leave them a better country than the one I inherited.
ROAD SAFETY MESSAGE We were all distressed no doubt by the terrible bus crash west of Melbourne last week involving school children. Every morning and afternoon hundreds of our kids travel on buses just like that one. Parents are reminded to speak with their children about the importance of sensible behaviour whilst on the bus and the importance of wearing your seatbelt.
ENROLMENTS FOR 2024 A reminder that all parents who would like to enrol their child/ren in Foundation for 2024 please ensure that their Application Forms are returned to our school office by Friday June 2nd.
SCHOOL CALENDAR CHANGE Please be advised that our scheduled school closure for June 9th has been rescheduled. Unfortunately our presenter is unavailable for this day and so school will be open as normal on Friday, June 9th.