Dear parents, friends, staff and students,

This week we enter Holy Week as our church calendar celebrates the most meaningful phase of our Catholic tradition. With Palm Sunday occurring this weekend, we are reminded of the celebration and joy of the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. This joy is contrasted with the fact that He entered on a donkey rather than a fine stallion and was surrounded by ordinary people rather than heavily armed guards. Over the following week, however, many of these people would turn against Him as the events of Holy Week and the traditions of the Jewish faith were played out. Following His sharing of time and a meal with His friends at the Last Supper on Thursday evening, He went to the garden to be still and present in conversation with His father. The ordeal and death that follows on Good Friday plunged the earth into despair and sadness, but this is finally overcome with His resurrection on Easter Sunday. This ebb and flow of emotions between joy, solemnity, sorrow and hope, is a reflection of the normal flows of everyday life for us. Jesus went through these but His glory came when He conquered death by rising to new life. As a people of hope, we try to retain this thinking and message through our interactions with those around us. We are reminded of this when we participate in the ceremonies of Holy Week. I encourage all to attend your local parish in community with others for these ceremonies wherever possible.

Yesterday we witnessed history in the making with our senior boy’s basketball team winning the national Marist title. These young men went to Adelaide after a long and fruitful training period (some would argue years) to beat teams from schools with a long-established basketball tradition. We were very proud of our athletes before they left Sydney and now are happy they are recognised with the accolades they deserve. Congratulations to the young men and to their coaches, Mr Harply, Mr Withnall and Mrs Asuit.

Today we badged our Youth Ministry Captains, Carmelite Captains and House Captains. These students are on the first phases of their student leadership journey and will develop many skills and values whilst undertaking these responsibilities. Congratulations to the students who have been named as Year 10 student leaders and thank you to each of them for accepting these important roles.

Last Wednesday evening we held the first of our current Information Technology parent information evenings. This was attended by over 40 people and was an opportunity for us to again welcome parents back on site to engage with their child’s learning. The evening outlined how technology is currently used by the students and how parents can understand what the students are using and how it changes their learning. We are fortunate to have Mr Teuma (our ICT Coordinator) who is also an ‘Apple Learning Coach’ (one of only about 20 outside the USA) who presented on the evening. Thank you Mr Teuma.

A reminder that Enrolment packages were distributed on the information night and can still be collected from the College office, however these are due to be returned to the College next Thursday April 6 by 2pm (the last day of Term 1).

In terms of the Cross country, parents and students are reminded that as per our normal practice, the canteen will NOT be open for sales next Thursday. Earlier today, an email was also sent out reminding parents and students that on Thursday, Year 12 students will be permitted to leave the College at 1:45 pm following the Cross Country. Years 7 – 11 will be permitted to leave at 2pm. For those who remain, supervision will be provided until the normal afternoon buses which will still be available. Should the carnival be cancelled due to weather, normal timetabled classes will occur during periods 1 – 4 and the above publicised finishing times will still occur.

I will be on leave for the first two weeks of next term to complete some Marist spiritual development. During my absence, Mr Huntly will be the Acting Principal and Mrs Meharg the Acting Assistant Principal. I thank them for taking on these important roles and encourage you to contact them should you have any concerns.

Given that next week is a shorter week with Thursday being our College Cross Country Day, this will be the last newsletter for the term. Thank you to all our staff, students and parents for your cooperation and support over the term. We have been working very hard given a number of staff shortages and absences which are occurring across schools. I wish all in our community a very Holy and relaxing break.

Ite in Veritate

Mr Steve Lo Cascio