Dear St John the Apostle community, 

Well Spring is truly here this week. We've had the rain, the sun and everything is green and growing fast. It's my favourite time of year. Particularly because we really notice how much the students have grown too. It is exciting and energising.

Part of our story

Last weekend, after a very rapid decline in health, I lost a very dear friend, Megan. Megan is the loved sister of Belinda Duke and aunt to Emma (5M). Our thoughts and prayers are with Belinda, Emma and their family.

My wife and I actually met Megan and her husband David 22 years ago when we moved to Canberra and started attending St John the Apostle Parish. Our families quickly became friends. In some ways they became our surrogate family in Canberra. Why am I mentioning Megan?

Megan, along with Belinda, actually attended St John the Apostle as a child. She then sent her three children to our school and during their time here Megan and David were, among other families, very involved in the school. Megan was the Parents & Friends President for quite a few years. Megan and David both contributed significantly to organising the school fete, running the very popular cake stall quite a few times. The whole family cooked up a storm every year! They helped in the canteen, at working bees, in fact they helped wherever they could. 

I have been reminded again that we all come and go, across different chapters, in the community story of St John the Apostle Primary School. We don’t all have to be main characters yet we all contribute to our shared story. The story that began with others, before our time, and will continue after we each have left it. Megan and her family's many contributions helped children in the school during her time and children and families that came after.

We are very fortunate to each be part of the St John the Apostle story and to contribute to and shape it in some way. We have the opportunity to help our own children and also to contribute to something bigger than ourselves, for a long time to come. Our children learn the value of belonging to a community. That there is joy in both giving and receiving.

Thank you to all those who have come before us at St John the Apostle, whose contributions have helped to build this community and place so that we can live, work and learn together. Thank you also to today's families and staff who keep our story alive and strong for our current students. Your contributions and support will have a positive impact on many future children and families as well.

For those wanting to support the community and don't how to get involved, reading this Newsletter and connecting with other parents is the first step. Volunteering as opportunities arise is also fantastic (Just like at the recent disco, our volunteers made a huge difference!). We don't need 'world changers' as volunteers. The best help you can give is 'what you can, with what you have, where you are' (Theodore Roosevelt).

Lastly, thank you for the privilege of St John the Apostle being part of your family story. I look back with thanks and joy for the time my own children spent here at St John the Apostle and SFX. I hope that you will also have fond memories.

Matthew Garton

Principal