FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Families,
Amidst the changes to our daily lives it would be easy to forget that Holy Week began on Sunday. On Thursday and Friday we will move through the solemn recollections of the Last Supper and Good Friday. On Sunday we will finally celebrate the resurrection; the event that teaches us that Jesus lives today in 2020.
I wish everyone a very happy Easter season and all its blessings, and pray we all see it as a call to renew our commitment to live as disciples and to work for peace and joy in the world.
I take this opportunity to thank each one of our staff for the efforts they have made together for your children this term. They’re a hard working group in usual circumstances, but they have really stepped up during this time of change.
Thanks also to our parents and carers. It has been inspiring to see the way in which you have worked with us and supported us to keep the children engaged and learning.
And thanks to our students. I am proud of the way in which you have so readily worked with us and learnt your new (temporary) way of schooling.
Why? (I shared the following reflection in 2017. It may strike a chord with you now.)
Some people attempt to comfort sufferers by touting the benefits of suffering. “Suffering builds character,” we say. “I don’t want character,” says the sufferer. “I want relief.” Then come the inevitable questions: “Why does God let bad things happen?” and “Where is God when it hurts?”
The care that parents give their children suggests answers to both questions. For example, suppose a seven-year-old girl is taking her first ride on a bicycle. Her father, running alongside her, sees that she is about to hit a rough spot on the road but restrains his impulse to reach out and steady the bike. The dad wants his little girl to learn how to ride with confidence, so he does not prevent her fall. When the bike bounces off the bump, the girl panics, tumbles to the pavement, and scrapes her elbow and knee. The dad scoops her up into his arms and comforts her. Then he carries her into the house, cleans and dresses her scratches, holds her on his lap, and tells her a favourite story.
God is like that dad. He lets us navigate our way, but he stays alongside us. He does not prevent bad things from happening because he wants us to learn to deal confidently with hardship. But when we suffer, God scoops us up and stays with us. He shares our pain, sustains us, and consoles us.
That’s the message of the cross, and signing ourselves opens us to hearing it. God’s only Son became a person in Christ. In his human nature, God himself suffered rejection, humiliation, ridicule, abandonment, buffetings, scourging, crucifixion, and death. He embraced suffering as a person so that he could comfort us in our suffering.
When we make the sign of the cross we invite the Lord to join us in our suffering. We touch our forehead and move down to our breast, telling the Lord with this gesture that we want him to bend down to us. Then we cross our shoulders in a movement that asks him to support us—to shoulder us—in our suffering. From The Sign of the Cross by Bert Ghezzi.
God will be with us through these times. I encourage all families to take 5 minutes a day to pray. Some known prayers may help, followed by some time in silence, asking what God wants of us at this time. Let’s reflect on what we can do to make the world a peaceful and hopeful place. When we all do this, hope will live in our families and community.
What is Happening at SCA (until otherwise notified by us via SZapp)
During the school holidays, we will send home a letter outlining the remote learning to take place during Term 2. Please ensure you have SZapp notifications set, enabling you to receive this message.
Friday 10 April – Monday 27 April
School Holidays
SCA OSHC Vacation Care will be OPEN (unless closed by the government)
Tuesday 28 April – Friday 3 July
Term 2 – Remote Learning
Remote Learning delivered for all students.
Parents strongly urged to keep children home.
Limited teacher supervision for students whose parents are unable to be at home.
OSHC open before and after school.
Three Way Conferences
Three-way Conferences were scheduled to take place early next term. We have obviously had to cancel these. We will look at ways in which we can communicate and report for the benefit of our children. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact your teacher with any questions or concerns.
2021 Enrolments
2021 Enrolment Period is from 4th May until 22nd May
Enrolment time will be on us again in a few weeks. If you have a little one ready for school in 2021 or you know of anyone interested in looking at our fantastic school for their children, the enrolment packs will be ready for the beginning of the new term.
Communication
If you have a question or need to inform us of something, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Please also note the following:
- SZapp is the official mode for all communications
- Any changes to school routines will be sent via SZapp
- Facebook will be used by us to share and celebrate. Comments or messages will not be answered.
- The School Office will be closed in the holidays.
- Teachers will not respond to emails during the holidays.
- In an emergency, please contact Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn (6234 5455) who will be able to pass on your message.
It was once said…
“Ask Jesus what he wants from you and be brave." – Pope Francis
Celebrate this Easter with a heart filled with love and peace. Have a blessed and wonderful Easter.
Matt Egan-Richards
Principal