Filter Content
Last Sunday’s Gospel…
The saying about a camel passing through the eye of a needle has it’s origins in the gospel story. In biblical times it would have been a familiar metaphor. The entry points to the walled city of Jerusalem were very narrow and known as the eye of a needle because of their shape. A camel could only fit through if it wasn’t carrying any load – goods or baggage. Jesus says it by way of explaining that we can’t get to heaven if we are holding on to our worldly goods or baggage. It is allowable for us to have and use our worldly good responsibly, but we can’t hoard them or take them with us. We have to be prepared to let them go.
From the Principal...
We look with hope to this new term and the return of our students to school. You will have all read the extensive letter that came out earlier this week with the maps for drop off and pick up. Please make sure you read them so you are aware of where to go to pick up your children so they, and you, aren’t distressed by the changes. The two points for pick up – front of school for A-G surnames and back of school Koala Park for H-Z surnames starts on Monday. You do not have to pick up at 2.55pm. Please come any time between 2.55pm and 3.15pm. I would add, please make sure your children have a raincoat! They are not allowed umbrellas at school but there is no cover for them to wait for you so please supply a raincoat or poncho for them. The staff will assist in putting them on. We are very excited to see Kinder and Year 1 back on Monday!
We have been working on the reasons to assign a colour to each house so there is some meaning behind the colours and have come up with the following; Benedict - Green (for the green pasture around the monastery where Benedict lived and worked), Caruana - Gold (for Fr Peter‘s Golden Jubilee of priesthood), MacKillop - Red (for the red earth of the outback where she did a lot of her work) and Teresa – Blue (for the coloured stripes on her habit).
Connected to the house names we have begun today, the process for voting in Captains for 2022. I met with Year 5 and their parents via Zoom today to explain how we will be doing this. The proposed timeline you will see in the accompanying procedural statement will be a little different due to the return to school. We will see how the students are when they come back and make any necessary changes. We are trialing a system of boy and girl captains and vice captains and house captains chosen from a house but they could be two girls, two boys or one of each. This is because of a big difference in numbers in some grades and in some houses in the numbers of boys and girls. We will review the process after this year to see if we need to alter it.
As you will know from your children’s work, they have been looking at the missionary work of the church because October is Mission Month. We know many of our families are struggling financially so are not putting pressure on for donations this year. If you can donate to those who are not as well off as we are, here is the link.
https://www.socktober.org.au/fundraisers/holyfamilycatholicprimaryingleburn
I know we will all do what we can this year.
God Bless
Michelle Rolfe
Principal
Over the next week teachers will be preparing students for their return to school. At times changes can bring students additional levels of concern so we would like to support students as best as we can with their transition to school. The PB4L Committee have created GoogleSlides which outline:
-What things are the same?
-What things are different?
-What things are new?
These slides will be shared to students by their classroom teacher. When students return teachers will be taking the time to explicitly teach students the school rules and routines.
Staff have had the opportunity to reach out to students to ask them what things they are looking forward to and what things may be concerning them. Some students have expressed that they are looking forward to seeing their peers, reading with their teacher and getting back into the routine of school.
Over the last fortnight students have been engaging in various forms of prayer led by various members of staff. Last week students got the opportunity to make rosary beads and were encouraged to pray a decade of the rosary each day. In October the Church celebrates this prayer by reminding us of its beauty and gentle power.
This week students have participated in the lectio divina, visio divina and have had the opportunity to create their own labyrinth. Here are some photos of students' incredible work however I encourage you to please check our facebook for more photos.
Greetings and many blessings to you all. Here are some updates and resources that I feel will be of benefit to you
Month of October - Month of the Rosary
You may have noticed a bit of extra time set aside for praying this term! October is the month of the Rosary. We have loved seeing the children make rosary beads and share them online.
Sacrament Update
As many of the Year 3 and Year 6 parents and carers would know, the Sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation are taking place this term. I ask that you pray for the students as they prepare for their special day.
The Sacrament of Confirmation will take place on:
Wednesday 1st December- 7pm - 6 Blue
Thursday 2nd December - 7pm - 6 White
The Sacrament of First Holy Communion will take place on:
Saturday 11th of December with two Mass times:
10am for students in 3 Blue
11.30am for students in 3 White
Mission Month/ Socktober
The month of October is also known as Mission Month. As a diocese we focus on building awareness and educating children on the needs of others around the world as well as the Good Works of charitable organisations such as Catholic MIssion.
Thank you to those who have been able to donate money to Catholic Mission. We know this is a difficult time for many families.
HELP WANTED
While restrictions are in place, Mrs David can still make plans for next term and next year.
Would you be able to or know someone that could assist with one of the following (we will supply the resources):
- Hemming material for prayer spaces
Digital To Know, Worship and Love books and Understanding Faith
Your children’s class teacher should be posting work every so often linked to the Digital to Know Worship and Love texts. You don’t need to wait for a lesson to get online and have a look at this beautiful and useful resource.
See the login and password details below:
Username: wingleburn
PW: wingleburn
Season of Creation
Podcast: Ripples Ripples is a PODCAST developed for staff and parents on-going spiritual formation. It seeks to offer a space where people can draw on the wisdom of a series of guest speakers and can experience some treasured stillness through meditation. See the link - you can either download the files as podcasts or listen to them directly from the website.
Weekly Mass Online:
Many parishes are providing a live streaming of Sunday Mass so that we may all participate in the celebration of the Eucharist.
Bishop Brian and other clergy are live streaming Mass every Sunday. If you are interested, go to their Facebook page:
Catholic Diocese of Wollongong - Home
Do you yearn to have a moment of stillness or inspiration?
Have you listened to one of the CEO Ripples Podcasts?
Scan here to access the podcasts and download onto your phone.
You can download straight onto iTunes or PodBean.
