Week 2 Term 2 - 2022

Dear Families

For us, it truly was wonderful to finally be able to come together as a community today to celebrate Catholic Schools Week and Mothers Day. Over the last couple of years we have been separated physically as a community due to the virus but this year we stand strongly and closely beside and with our community as they work to rebuild and heal following the devastation caused by the floods.

Catholic Schools Week is a celebration of who we are and what we do. This year the theme is ‘Community, care, compassion’ It truly couldn’t be more apt or appropriate for our community at this time, as we have experienced and witnessed some of the most incredible acts of community, care and compassion over the last few months. 

Today at Mass I took some time to acknowledge all the people involved over the last couple of months and give thanks, as they are our community and they reflect and remind us of who we are and what we need to do on a daily basis.

• Our community of people and the volunteer SES who worked tirelessly over a period of 8 days to ensure the safety of the people of Woodburn and the surrounding communities regardless of what was happening to their own homes. 
• Our students who turned up on the first day back with some trepidation but mainly an overwhelming sense of joy and relief to see and be with each other again. The sense of looking after each other, and working together to get through things has been nothing short of amazing. I was particularly touched by part of a letter from one of our students in a response to a letter from a student from another school, she said, “it is now more than ever that we need to be there for each other no matter what. Our arms are open to give to those who have lost everything, our ears are open to listen to the terrible stories and we are always ready to give out free hugs’ 
• Our staff who have worked to be there for our families and children to help clean up,  for phone calls and gatherings, to organise clothing and products and to set up our school site to get the children back as soon as possible and work with them in their learning and wellbeing. I am extremely grateful to each and every one of them.
• To our wider community of schools, organisations and individuals who have gone above and beyond with their kind and generous support of prayers, encouragement and donations of money, gifts and resources for our families, students and school. We even had a check-in from the Royal family.
• To Father Max Gow and Fr Peter Jones who have provided the space for us to be in at the moment and consistently check in on us and support us. 
• To the Catholic Schools office who have been with us every step of the way, guiding and supporting us
• To our parents who through their love, care and resilience teach us every day.
• And finally leading up to the celebration of Mothers day this Sunday, to our mums, people who are like mums to us and grandmas who continue to be the consistent steadying, loving, calming and ever-present influence in all of our lives. 

We continue, walking with Jesus in thanksgiving for the incredible people that we work with, gather with and learn from every day.

Thank you to all the mums, dads, grandmas and great-grandmas who were able to join us today!

We have been lucky enough to receive a generous donation from a colleague school to be able to continue organising lunches, recess and fruit breaks for the students going forward from today. 

There will be a slight change in that the lunches will be made at school instead of buying them and bringing them in. The children were told today and have already organised their favourite sandwiches for next week. 

At this stage, we will be continuing Pie Day Friday.

This Sunday we celebrate mothers and all women who are like mothers to us. Mother's Day is the perfect day to do something to show mum just how much you appreciate everything does for you. For some of us, it is a time of remembering the past and for others, it is a time to celebrate the future. 

'We light our 3 candles, as we remember the head, heart and hands of those we call mother.
Our first candle honours the innate wisdom with which mothers guide their children.
Our second candle honours their loving hearts which never cease to believe and
hope.
Our third candle honours our mother's capable hands which nurture and comfort.

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Happy Mother's Day to all our mums, grandmothers and the women who
play a special part in our life. We hope you have a very wonderful day.

Have a wonderful weekend and Mother's Day!

Regards

CONGRATULATIONS