Jubilee Year 2025 – Pilgrims of Hope

Prayer for Pope Francis

O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful,

look favorably on your servant Francis,

whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd;

grant, we pray, that by word and example

he may be of service to those over whom he presides

so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care,

he may come to everlasting life.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

Dear Parents and Carers,

Our Fete Day is finally here! The school has been buzzing with everything fete for months. Thank you parents, grandparents and friends for your generousity and support. All of our students are so excited today especially as the rides roll in and I look forward to celebrating with you from 4pm – 7pm at this wonderful SJA community event.

Hot cross buns and Easter eggs have been on the supermarket shelves and on display for a month’s now. Last week, I was privileged to be on a Principal’s Retreat with His Grace, Archbishop Christopher Prowse when Lent began on Ash Wednesday. I share with you the following reflection.

Jesus retreated into the wilderness and fasted for forty days to prepare for his ministry. It was for him a time of contemplation, reflection, and preparation. By observing Lent, Christians join Jesus on his retreat.

Lent consists of the forty days before Easter. I didn’t know until recently that we skip over the Sundays when we count the days of Lent, because Sunday is always the joyful celebration of the Resurrection.

Early societies relied on wood fires for heating and cooking, which meant that keeping ashes under control was a major task. Then as now, if a person was preoccupied with something serious, they didn’t always tend to the housekeeping (at least that’s my excuse) — it’s the least of their concerns. Ashes then became a sign of remorse, repentance, and mourning. Today someone might wear a black armband or black clothing to signify they are in mourning; back then people put ashes on their foreheads.

During Lent, ancient Christians mourned their sins and repented, so it was appropriate to show their sincerity by having ashes on their foreheads. The custom has persisted in the Church as society has changed around us. This Lent, I invite you during this period of reflection, self-examination, and spiritual redirection to lean in to your faith and support your sons and daughters during our Pilgrams of Hope journey together.

NAPLAN Weeks – Years Three and Five

This week our students commenced their participation in NAPLAN, the national literacy and numeracy assessment that students in Years Three, Five, Seven and Nine sit each year. It is the only national assessment all Australian students can undertake. Students sit assessments in writing, reading, conventions of language (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy. NAPLAN is just one aspect of a school’s assessment and reporting process. It doesn’t replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance, but it can provide teachers with additional information about students’ educational progress.

All schools have transitioned from paper-based to computer-based assessments. All Year 3 students completed their writing on paper yesterday. Online NAPLAN tests provide more precise results and are more engaging for students. One of the main benefits is tailored (or adaptive) testing, where the test presents questions which may be more or less challenging depending on a student’s responses. Your child should not be concerned if they find questions challenging; they may be taking a more complex test pathway.

NAPLAN can be a source of stress for many students, but it doesn’t have to be. As parents I know you have been supporting your children and helping them feel confident, calm and prepared. NAPLAN is just one small part of their education journey. By fostering a positive environment, you’ll help your child approach the assessment with confidence and, most importantly, feel good about their efforts. You’re not just helping them through this, you are teaching them important skills that will serve them well into the future. A big thank you for your continued support.

Our Year 5 student’s all smiles!

Yours in Faith

Jo Reed

Principal