Principals' Newsletter
Newsletter 14th November
We the staff of St Patrick’s acknowledge the traditional owners, the Kulin nations, of the land on which we learn and play.
We pay respects to the Aboriginal Elders, past and present, who are our teachers.
We thank them for taking care of children and country for countless generations.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
He shall gather his elect from the four winds.
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘In those days, after the time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its brightness, the stars will come falling from heaven and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then too he will send the angels to gather his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the world to the ends of heaven.
‘Take the fig tree as a parable: as soon as its twigs grow supple and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. So with you, when you see these things happening: know that he is near, at the very gates. I tell you solemnly, before this generation has passed away all these things will have taken place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
‘But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son; no one but the Father.’
Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians,
In today's Gospel reading Jesus speaks of being on our guard for we do not know the day or the hour when we will be called to Him. But if we take his words to heart and stay close to Him as we journey, we have nothing to fear. His gift to us is His presence with us 'till the end of the world.
Even in our darkest hour the Lord does not abandon us. His eye always upon us He watches over us night and day. I have no doubt that in today’s world, there are many of us who experience dark hours or days. These days will always come and go, but often the darkness remains. How can we ensure we find the light in these situations when all hope appears lost? Is our faith strong enough to have us turn to our Lord in those deepest darkest hours and know that there will be some glimmer of hope given to us. Like my favourite Christian poem, Footprints in the sand, when the person walking along the beach notices that there was only set of footprints and wanders why they were abandoned at their most troublesome times in their life; to which the Lord replied, it was then that I carried you…
This week, our Year 1s and Foundation students have begun their swimming over at Splashes and they have been having a wonderful time. Thank you to our parent helpers who have assisted the teachers in walking the students across to the pool.
This week you will notice an range of wonderful photos from the various events that have taken place over the past 2 weeks, including Junior and Senior athletics, Year 2 excursion to Old Gippstown and Year 1 Excursion to LegoLand.I am always so proud of our students and how well they continue to conduct themselves in public and cheer and encourage one another at sporting events!
It is important to keep an open discussion with your child/ren around their expected behaviour and work ethic as we enter the last few weeks of term 4. Even though the year is winding down, the staff of St Patrick’s will continue to insist that all 5 values of RESPECT, SAFETY, CO-OPERATION, COURAGE AND RESILIENCE will be adhered to both inside and outside the classroom.
God Bless
Meg