In last week’s newsletter, I reminded our community that Jesus remains with us even though He ascended into Heaven. This week, the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles tells us of the events of Pentecost. After the ascension of Jesus, the apostles would have been confused and feeling a sense of fear and aloneness. They would also have been unsure of what to do next given that Jesus, who had guided and led them for three years, had now gone. The reading tells us that a powerful gust of wind came, and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire. It was at that point that they were filled with a sense of confidence and were able to go out into the streets and preach the message of Jesus in a language that the listeners could understand. I often wonder whether the simple miracle in these events is that once filled with the Holy Spirit, these men gained confidence and understanding. This allowed them to share the message of Jesus. For us, being open to God’s message can give us the confidence and knowledge to go out and live a life that brings God to others.

On Monday, we began using the STEM building classrooms with very positive comments from students. Whilst there will always be teething issues in a new building, the students have told me that they feel more motivated to study and are more relaxed in these areas. The feedback is always welcome. The next stages will involve the demolition of two buildings at the front of the College, and these have already been sectioned off. There have been some changes to bus pick up in the afternoon and these processes will be refined over the coming days. In the next week or so, the builders will also take access to our old TAS space and the lower portion of J block. These will be refurbished. Thank you to all students, staff and parents for your flexibility during these building projects and as can be seen by the STEM building, they are worth the wait.

Last Tuesday evening we hosted the Parent Library evening. This evening is now a regular on our calendar and is a very informal way of promoting reading and literacy. Parents are invited to attend and browse the many donated books and choose anything they wish to take and read. The simple purpose is to enable opportunities for students to see their parents reading and valuing this as a productive way to take time out. Congratulations to Mrs Murphy for continuing to organise these evenings, and to the English staff who attend in support.