Dear Parents and Carers,

Every year at this time we hold Holy Week and Easter liturgies aligned with the sequence of events of Holy Week.  We are certainly missing the opportunity to come together as a whole community in our school hall and reflect on Palm Sunday (this Sunday), the Last Supper and Jesus’ death on the cross at Calvary with the children. Of course, we conclude with the triumph of the Risen Christ on Easter Sunday. We will miss the Kinders waving palms, tea-towels on the heads of our crowds, and the students, staff and parents reflecting on the importance and prayerfulness of this time. This year to celebrate the events of Holy Week our Year Six Faith Leaders, our Youth Minister Osley Gwese and supported by Mrs Everding have prepared reflection videos for each class to use for class liturgies. Tomorrow our students will participate in the Station of  Cross, which is always a reverent experience.

Holy Week is the most important period in the Church year though, given our commercial world, we might be forgiven for thinking it to be somewhat left in the wake of Christmas.  This is particularly so when we compare the joy of Christmas with the events of Holy Week where the story of betrayal, suffering and death dominates events.  It is only at the end of the week when we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus that the focus turns to joy and hope.

God’s love for each one of us was perfected in the suffering and death of his son Jesus Christ.  The death of Jesus was one of violence and cruelty – betrayed by a friend, deserted by followers and rejected by those he had tried to help.  Yet we realise that God sent Jesus into the world to be the saviour of all, and by sharing in the human condition in its most distressing form, God’s love is manifest in a way which leads us to eternal life.

As we follow the events of suffering, death and resurrection this week, we look to them to recognise the love God has for us, in the knowledge that no matter how great our suffering or distress may be, God understands and is there as our silent companion.  In Jesus we are given not the end but the path to eternal life.

We wish you a very holy and happy Easter with your families.

EASTER REFLECTION

In the northern hemisphere, Easter comes at a time when the earth is awakening from its winter sleep.

The greening of the tree, the budding plant, the gurgling of the brook recall new life, rebirth, an awakening from an apparent deadness.

Easter, for the Christian, is the community of the Last Supper;

the acceptance of suffering, not without meaning, but with focused faith;

the inevitability and reality of death;

but most of all the hope of resurrection, a new beginning,

a birth to eternal life.

In the life death and resurrection of the Christ, we have a letting go of what has been,

An acceptance of what is and a hope for what will be.

The school holidays are a perfect opportunity to read! Our students are in the habit of reading for 20 minutes every day at school and it would be wonderful if this could continue in the holidays. The only way to improve reading is to read every day.

I hope that all families have a happy and restful break. I wish all those who are travelling safe travels. I know that the staff are looking forward to a very well deserved break. I thank them for the dedication, enthusiasm and passion that they demonstrate daily.

Thank you for your ongoing care and partnership in your child’s learning.

God bless.

Rachel Smith

Principal

Principal’s Notes

Cross Country

What a fantastic day we had on Monday with the students participating in our annual Cross Country Carnival. It is always so heartening to watch our students challenge themselves to do their best and in doing so be cheered on and supported by their fellow students. What a lovely community spirit is nurtured through our school carnivals. Thank you to those parents and grandparents who attended the carnival, in particular those parents who helped the staff with the smooth running of the carnival.

NAPLAN

Students in Years 3 and 5 will sit the NAPLAN tests next term. Parents may elect to withdraw their children from these tests. If you do not want your child to sit the NAPLAN tests, please contact Ms Val Ciuffetelli at school immediately.

Winter Uniform

It is time to get the winter uniforms out and dust them off. When we return for Term Two we will have the usual few weeks of change over, but students are expected to wear correct winter uniform. A reminder that black ‘jogger, canvas or boot’ type school shoes are not part of the school uniform. The only school shoes allowed at St Clare’s are the traditional or formal black leather school shoes.

Term Two Starting Date – Wednesday 27^th April

Enjoy the break from school routines. We look forward to seeing all students back safely on Wednesday 27^th April.