Dear Parents and Carers,

It is with the saddest of hearts that I write in our newsletter today. Keelan Glasgow, a student who graduated from St Mary’s last year, tragically died in an all-terrain vehicle accident on Saturday evening. Keelan will be remembered as a young man full of life who was fiercely loyal to his mates. Our most sincere prayers and thoughts are with Trent, Carlie, Kade, Kelsie and all members of the Glasglow and Nicholson families on the loss of their treasured young man. 

Today and over the coming months, you might be worried about your child. Reactions and feelings can vary. This is part of how we respond to a traumatic death. Tell your child you know that a student has died. Tell them you will listen to their concerns. Stay connected with your child. It’s one of the best ways to support them. 

Your child might like to talk with a counsellor, or class teacher or trusted staff member. We have extra counsellor support today with Emma McRae and Danielle Hudson at St Mary’s working with groups of students. If you have any concerns, please contact your child’s class teacher or the school and we will arrange support. Emma McRae will also return to St Mary’s on Wednesday.

Please join me in praying for Keelan who is now with our Heavenly Father. Join me in praying for his family, that they find strength in God’s love, in our community and in each other as they begin to come to terms with their loss.

Lord, Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. 

Amen.

Phil Nielsen

Principal

Love, following in the footsteps of Christ, in concern and compassion for all, is the highest expression of our faith and hope.

Love rejoices in seeing others grow. Hence it suffers when others are anguished, lonely, sick, homeless, despised or in need. Love is a leap of the heart; it brings us out of ourselves and creates bonds of sharing and communion.

“‘Social love’ makes it possible to advance towards a civilization of love, to which all of us can feel called. With its impulse to universality, love is capable of building a new world. No mere sentiment, it is the best means of discovering effective paths of development for everyone” (Fratelli Tutti, 183).

Love is a gift that gives meaning to our lives. It enables us to view those in need as members of our own family, as friends, brothers or sisters. A small amount, if given with love, never ends, but becomes a source of life and happiness. Such was the case with the jar of meal and jug of oil of the widow of Zarephath, who offered a cake of bread to the prophet Elijah (cf. 1 Kings 17:7-16); it was also the case with the loaves blessed, broken and given by Jesus to the disciples to distribute to the crowd (cf. Mk 6:30-44). Such is the case too with our almsgiving, whether small or large, when offered with joy and simplicity.

Dear brothers and sisters, every moment of our lives is a time for believing, hoping and loving. The call to experience Lent as a journey of conversion, prayer and sharing of our goods, helps us – as communities and as individuals – to revive the faith that comes from the living Christ, the hope inspired by the breath of the Holy Spirit and the love flowing from the merciful heart of the Father.

May Mary, Mother of the Saviour, ever faithful at the foot of the cross and in the heart of the Church, sustain us with her loving presence. May the blessing of the risen Lord accompany all of us on our journey towards the light of Easter.

Message of the Holy Father Francis for Lent 2021

My loving Lord, Your love for me is infinite and perfect in every way.

I pray that I will learn to love You with every fiber of my being, holding nothing back, and to daily grow deeper in my love of You.

As I grow in that love, I thank You for the overflowing nature of that love, and I pray that this love of You will flow into the hearts of those around me.

Jesus, I trust in You.

   

 

The Reconciliation Retreat day last Tuesday was a reflective and prayerful experience for the Stage 2 students.  We will  continue to keep them in our prayers as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation next Wednesday evening. It was a privilege to be part of Caitlin Parker’s baptism at the retreat mass and witness her class mates support as she become a Catholic. Congratulations Caitlin, proud parents Wayne and Clare and Caitlin’s Godmother Mrs Cuthbertson.

   

Students and teachers have been busy practising for our Passion Play to be held on Thursday 1st April at 2.00pm in the church.

Every student will have a special role in depicting the Passion of Jesus Christ: his trial, suffering and death.  This story is the centre of our Catholic Christian faith and we are very proud to be re-enacting this sacred story.

We welcome all parents, grandparents and carers to our Passion Play.  There will be a booking system coming out next week as we have limited seats due to COVID-19 regulations.  All parents and visitors will also have to sign in on arrival.

What should your child wear?

Students should come to school in school uniform.

Students must bring black t-shirts and black leggings/jeans/shorts on Thursday for the play.  Students will change into these clothes at school, their class teacher will specify further via Seesaw at a later date.

Bookings Essential!!

Due to the COVID-19 rules still in place the church is restricted to 200 people.  Unfortunately this means we will sell tickets to the Passion Play.

To purchase tickets please open our school APP, click on the orange Calendar tile, scroll to the 1st of April, click on the Passion Play and then tickets to secure your seats.

Each family will be able to purchase 5 tickets and this will include any pre-schoolers in the group.

If you are having problems with the ticketing procedure please call the school office and we can assist you.

Happy Birthday to

Abbie Blampied, Montana Crouch, Emily McCoullough and Hunter Connellan

who celebrate their birthdays in the coming week.

We hope you enjoy your special day.

  

Infomation Evening - YEAR 7, 2022 

Monday 22nd March

6.30pm - 7pm

Belinda Duncan, the Year 7 Year Advisor at West Wyalong has informed us that this event has been postponed until early in Term 2.  Parents will be advised of the new date once it is finalised.

Assembly

Year 3/4 Reconciliation Retreat Day

Paul Kelly Cup Year 5/6

Our Year 5/6 students, with Mrs Cuthbertson and Miss Beach, travelled to Wagga on Wednesday to play in the Paul Kelly Cup AFL gala day.

Both our boys and girls teams played in the non-competitive competition and had a fantastic day.  There was some great team work and sportsmanship and this was a credit to them all.

Both our teams managed to win a few games and discovered they had more AFL skills than they thought.

Well done year 5/6.

Bullying No Way

On Friday the students wore orange mufti clothes and worked together in their MJR groups on various activities to stamp out bullying. Thanks Mrs Mcpake for organising the day and activities.

Cyber Safety Year 5/6

 Lachlan Ellis with our Year 5/6 classes.

The following events are in next weeks calendar.

To see the school's full calender check out the SZApp or our website.