Principals' Newsletter
Newsletter 27th 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 Luke
Your redemption is near at hand.
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves; men dying of fear as they await what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.
‘Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap. For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.’
Dear Parents, Carers and Guardians,
This week, the Gospel tells us that Advent reminds us to be alert and to be prepared all the time, for God can break into our lives at any moment. Advent also affirms that a crisis can mean breakthrough as well as breakdown. The birth of God in Jesus is the beginning of our own rebirth into life with God. Here Jesus is encouraging all of His faithful disciples – “stand up and lift up your heads” – look heavenward in faith and hope with great joy when these things begin to take place because our redemption is near. We have no need of fear.
Luke 21 also tells us that people will know fear, that earth and heaven will be traumatized, and that “'Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud' with power and glory.” A difficulty, of course, is that there have been (and presumably will be many more) times when there is distress among the nations and the heavens ...
When we think about Christmas, would distress be a word associated with it. Highly likely. Be prepared the Gospel says. Prepared for what? Joy, disaster, love, loneliness. Does Christmas bring all these elements up? And yet it is meant to be the most wonderful time of the year?
Can we look at the words of the Gospel and hope and pray and believe that God is going to break into our lives and show us the way. This is our faith that He will be one with us.
Today I am pleased to announce our House captains for 2025. Congratulations to
Malsawm and Charlotte for Flynn - Blue
Paul and Winter for Burke - Green
James and Abuk for Hunt - Red
Thon and Amity for Ahern - Gold
A huge thanks to Rosa Mitchell and Shiny Antony for the preparation of the students for the presentation. Every student who made a speech is to be congratulated on their outstanding work and I am so humbled as a principal to have these students as my school leaders next year.
Our Year 6's are currently off at Camp Coonawarra in Gippsland. It is warm and muggy and lots of flies, but they are having lots of fun. We have some photos this week, but next week will be a big spread on camp.
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
