Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome to Week 8. The holidays are not far away and we’re looking forward to a strong finish to the term with lots going on.

Counselling has been a common topic of conversation between the staff and within the community. After discussions with Canberra Goulburn Education and Marymead CatholicCare their advice was to continue to refer your child if you haven’t done so. They will either provide more telehealth counselling support or send someone out from Canberra if there is a need. Instructions on how to refer are outlined in the article below. Please do so if your child needs support in this area.

On Sunday we welcomed Father Hilary Rotich from Goulburn to our Parish while Father Dom enjoys a well-earned break. We look forward to Fr Dom's return albeit a short one, before he is placed somewhere in the Archdiocese as the Parish Priest. This will happen in the new year. We are unaware of who is replacement will be.

Sunday was ‘Safeguarding Sunday’. The day acknowledges the immense damage caused by the sexual abuse of children and adults at risk, including that done by priests, religious and lay people within Catholic contexts. St Mary’s and the Parish together make a commitment to practices and protocols that create and maintain safe environments for all people. We also invite all to pray for those harmed by abuse directly and indirectly.

With the weather warming up it is a great time to get our school looking as fabulous as possible. To do this, our community council are holding a working bee. Unfortunately we have had to change the date that was previously published. The new date is Sunday the 22nd of September after Sunday Morning Mass (approximately 10:30). If you can spare some time to help out that would be much appreciated!!

Remember my door is always open.

Principal

Damian Collins