Dear Parents/Carers,

Last Sunday marked the beginning of the Advent season, which comprises the four Sundays before Christmas Day. It is known as a time of waiting and preparation. This waiting and preparation each year is for the celebration of Jesus' birth - in essence, one big birthday party! In the Church's tradition, we are also said to be waiting and preparing for the second coming of Christ as it is mentioned in scripture.

However, as Fr Andrew Hamilton writes, "the Australian context of Advent is sometimes characterised by the rush towards Christmas in which work presses hard, preparing for family celebrations and perhaps vacation afterwards occupies the mind. It is a time when the ringing of cash registers is heard throughout the land. Advent offers us a time to find a moment of space in a busy world." How a family can find that space is a challenge, however maybe these suggestions may be worth pursuing: attending Mass each week; taking one day during Advent to spend time in nature (at a beach, on a bushwalk, in a public garden); attending a Christmas carol event; or visiting a relative or friend who may be unwell or lonely. These activities would provide an opportunity to remove ourselves from the rush of Christmas and to refocus on what is really important about this season. 

At school, through our Religious Education lessons, we provide the children with the understanding that Christmas is more than giving and receiving presents. The Christmas Family Concert tonight will hopefully strengthen this understanding as we celebrate in song the birth of Christ. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible tonight. You are reminded that it commences at 6.30pm (children need to be in the Hall by 6.00pm) and that the sausage sizzle (gold coin donation per item) will be available from 5.00pm.

At the end of next week the academic reports for all students, including Kindergarten, will be made available on Compass. We will send out a notification to let you know when this will occur. Please make sure that you have access to Compass, either as an app on your phone or via a web browser (best viewed on a computer). If you need support with this, contact our office staff who can provide assistance. 

Wishing you a happy and safe forntnight,

Paul Moroney
Principal