Dear Families,

For many of you, this may feel like Week 4 of Term 3, but for me, it’s Week 1! After a three-week sabbatical, I’ve returned feeling deeply refreshed, renewed, and incredibly grateful. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the wonderful team who led our school in my absence: Mrs Kerry Wode, who stepped into the role of Principal with professionalism and dedication; Matthew Maloney, who served as Acting Assistant Principal and Janica Morella, who took on the role of Acting Coordinator.

Their leadership ensured that everything ran smoothly, and I’m so appreciative of their commitment to our school community and allowing me the time to get away.

My time away was a blend of rest and spiritual enrichment. I had the privilege of joining a Catholic group pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi, a journey that was both deeply spiritual and historically rich.

As you may be aware, this year marks a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church (every 25 years), a time of grace, renewal, and pilgrimage. One of the most moving experiences was crossing the Four Holy Doors in Rome, at St Peter’s Basilica, St John Lateran, St Mary Major, and St Paul Outside the Walls. These doors are only opened every 25 years. Each door represents a passage into deeper communion with God, and walking through them was a powerful reminder of the mercy and love at the heart of our faith. Two of the highlights for me was processing the pilgrimage cross across St Peter’s Square and attending the Papal audience.

In Assisi, I walked in the footsteps of St Francis and St Clare, whose lives of humility, service, and joy continue to inspire. The town itself radiates peace, and visiting the Basilica of St Francis, where his tomb lies, was a moment of huge reflection.

I also went to the tomb of Carlo Acutis, a young man who passed away at age 15 and whose life and witness speak powerfully to our students today. He will be canonised a saint next month. I’ll share more about him in next week’s newsletter, his story deserves its own spotlight!

From the grandeur of the Vatican to the quiet beauty of Assisi, I was struck by the artistry, devotion, and centuries of prayer embedded in these sacred spaces. Standing beneath Michelangelo’s dome in St Peter’s, standing in the Sistine Chapel, praying in the crypts of saints, and witnessing the living faith of pilgrims from around the world (including half a million young people who were in Rome at the same time for World Youth Day!), it reminded me of the deep heritage we share as a Catholic school.

As a Principal in a Catholic school, this pilgrimage wasn’t just a personal journey, it was a professional and spiritual renewal. It reminded me of the sacred responsibility I have to nurture faith, learning, and community. I return with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to continue building a school where every child is known, loved, and inspired and where we nurture hearts, minds and spirits.

Thank you for your ongoing support and prayers. I’m excited for the term ahead and all the opportunities it holds.

Feast of the Assumption – Whole School Mass

This Friday, we will celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of Mary with a whole school Mass at 9:30am. This is a significant feast in the Catholic calendar, honouring Mary’s assumption into heaven, a moment of hope and promise for all. Year 1 are hosting.

We warmly invite all parents, carers, and family members to join us for this special Mass.

Claim the Date – Father’s Day Breakfast

Our Father’s Day Breakfast will be held on Friday 5 September. Come and enjoy a delicious breakfast of bacon and egg roll and a hot drink. It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the dads, granddads, and father figures in our community. Year 2 will host the Fathers’ Day Mass at 9:30.

More details will follow soon, but for now, please mark your calendars!

Bullying! No Way! Week

This week, our classes have been engaging in important conversations as part of Bullying! No Way! Week. We’ve explored what bullying looks like, how to stand up against it, and how to foster kindness and respect in our school.

We take bullying extremely seriously. Every child deserves to feel safe, valued, and supported. These discussions are vital in building a culture where everyone belongs and where empathy and courage are celebrated.

Book Week

Next week is Book Week, and we’re all looking forward to celebrating the joy of reading and the magic of storytelling. It’s a wonderful opportunity to highlight the importance of books in our lives, both in learning and in sparking imagination.

To kick things off, we’re thrilled to welcome ‘Treasure Hunt’, an interactive musical adventure, to our school tomorrow. It promises to be a fun and engaging experience that brings stories to life in a whole new way!

On Wednesday 20 August, we invite all students to come dressed as their favourite Book Week character. Whether it’s a classic hero, a mischievous villain, or a beloved animal friend - let creativity shine!

We’ll be holding a Book Parade during morning assembly, and we warmly welcome parents, grandparents, and carers to come along and enjoy the celebration. It’s always a highlight of the week, and we can’t wait to see the costumes and characters come to life!

National Catholic Education Conference

Next week, I’ll be away from Tuesday to Friday attending the National Catholic Education Commission Conference. This is a valuable opportunity to connect with leaders from across the country, share insights, and bring back fresh ideas to enrich our school. I will be joining Principals from our Archdiocesan Catholic Schools.

I promise I’ll be back on deck full-time after this!

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. It’s a joy to be back!

In faith and partnership,

David Austin

Principal

Bullying No Way

‘Be Bold. Be Kind. Speak Up’ is the theme of Bullying No Way 2025.

Classes have been exploring the theme this week. ‘Bold’ is a lot like courage - our virtue this term!

We need to have the courage to make kind choices for ourselves and others, and the courage to speak up if we see or hear something that is unkind, rude, mean, excluding others or lacking respect. We are making a school display and practising how to be kind and how to speak up. Together we can help each other to say ‘Bullying? No Way!

I’m attaching a guide for families which has definitions, conversation starters and support links. One great support network is Kids Helpline. Many classes have spoken about this free service. If we teach our children to be ‘upstanders’ and not just ‘bystanders' then we can Be Bold (Courageous) together. 

Parent_information_about_Bullying.pdf

Parent_information_about_Bullying _pdf 130.52 KB

Uniform

It’s August. That means hats are back on due to higher UV levels. Teachers will be enforcing ‘No Hat - Seek Shade’ as of next week. Time to find the old hat or purchase a new one. Please ensure your child’s name is on their clothing.

Our school uniform policy calls for hair which is shoulder length or greater to be tied back. Many health and safety reasons for this. We ask families to support us by ensuring your child has their hair tied back with simple, school coloured, hair ties.

Yours in working together

Kerry Wode

Event Reminder

A reminder that the consent and payment for the Boorowa Touch Footballl and Netball Carnival is due this Friday 15th August. You can find this event on Compass. If your child is not attending, please go in and decline the invitation to attend.

Next week, we will be celebrating Book Week. The theme this year is 'Book an Adventure’. We have many exciting events happening at school to promote the joy of reading and to foster a lifelong love of books.

Tomorrow, all children will participate in a visiting Book Week performance. The show is titled '2025 Treasure Hunt' and will use some CBCA Shortlisted books to remind children of the importance of nature and the environment.

Next Tuesday, Grace Lustri, a local author will visit to share her story ‘What Would You Tell Your Older Self?’ Children from Year 2-6 will have an opportunity to listen to Grace read her story and answer questions. More information is attached.

Next Wednesday, the children are invited to dress up as their favourite book character. We will have a parade at morning assembly, so we share our love of book characters.

There will be a guessing competition running in the library during the week, where children can try to match each teacher with their favourite picture book. On Friday, the teachers will share their favourite picture book and read it with a small group of children.

Thank you for encouraging your child to find joy and adventure through books.

Grace is a local Canberra artist/author and former student of Sacred Heart, Pearce. She published a children's book in 2024 titled, 'What Would You Tell Your Older Self?'

The story is about an eager primary school student, Astrid. Her homework task is to take the role of a journalist and interview her peers for the advice they would offer their future adult selves. The children's responses remind all to consider the wise and joyful perspectives often forgotten in adulthood.

Next Tuesday, as part of Book Week, Grace will share her book with the Year 2-6 classes and answer questions about the journey to become an author. Grace will have copies of her book available to sign and purchase. If your child would like a copy of the book, Grace sells them for $20.00. The most convenient way to purchase a book on the day would be with cash. This could be left with the front office or handed to Grace.

We thank Grace for sharing her book and journey with our school community and look forward to being inspired by her book.

Last Friday Kindergarten celebrated, 100 Days of Kinder! Such a fantastic day celebrating all that they have learnt so far. Your teachers are so proud!

Please see our bulletin for more details on the below:

• Disciples of Jesus is running a Catholic Youth ‘Explosion’ Conference in October,

• Last chance to register your interest for the Mothers Prayers Retreat Day on 23 August and

• Our freezer has been lovingly filled by our generous parishioner cooks & Marist, please help yourself or someone in need.