Dear Community,
We are halfway through Lent and racing towards Easter- it will be here before we
know it! We are encouraged during Lent to spend some time looking into our own
lives to see the ‘direction’ our lives are taking and whether that direction is
sometimes towards other people and not always towards ourselves. The Annual
Lenten Appeal of the Australian Catholic Relief is called ‘Project Compassion’. Each
family received a Project Compassion box, and each classroom has one too. This is
one way to consider others during this time.
Hopefully, as Lent progresses we will be able to lead our children to a better
understanding of compassion and how they can exercise this virtue in their own
lives.
This Thursday, many of our children from Year 4 will celebrate the Sacrament of
Reconciliation for the first time. The children and their families will experience the 2nd Rite of Reconciliation. During this 'rite', a communal gathering is held with Fr Emil, we listen to the Word of God, reflect on the message of the readings and then go briefly with a priest for individual confession. The emphasis in this celebration is just that: celebration. Please keep our children and their families in your prayers.

Principal’s Retreat
I am currently writing this from the Archdiocesan Principal’s Retreat in Bowral. Each
year, all principals within our Archdiocese and key Catholic Education staff gather on
retreat to reflect on our roles as leaders in Catholic schools. This year, we are fortunate to have Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP lead our retreat. Fr Timothy is a distinguished figure within the Catholic Church, acclaimed for his profound
contributions as both an English Catholic priest and a Dominican friar. Most recently
he was chosen by Pope Francis to lead the pre-Synod Retreat and provide regular
reflections for members during the Synod.

Athletics Carnival
I was so sorry to miss my first Sacred Heart sports carnival yesterday. The weather
was fantastic and know it was a great day. A huge thanks to Mrs Laura Stumbles for
coordinating our day and to the many staff and parents who helped to make this a successful day.

Working Bee
We will host a Working Bee on Friday 22 March, from 3:30 pm to 6 pm. We have a lot to do to tidy up our school grounds in preparation for the enrolment period and open days and would love your support. Please claim the date and bring along gardening equipment: whipper snippers, blowers, gardening gloves, hedge trimmers, hand weeders, barrows, bags etc. We will cook a sausage sizzle and provide drinks following the Working Bee. Kids are most welcome to help too!

Stage 3 Camp last week
Last week I had the absolute pleasure of joining all Year 5 and 6 students and their
teachers on their Stage 3 camp to Sydney. It was a fantastic excursion and our students were a credit to our school. The students visited the Sydney Cricket Ground, National Maritime Museum, Mary MacKillop Place, St Mary’s Cathedral, The
Rocks, Sydney Zoo, Chinese Gardens, Hyde Park Barracks and walked across the
Harbour Bridge. Our accommodation in Colloroy was terrific.

I know the students learnt a great deal about early colonisation in Sydney and enjoyed the experience of camp. I was very proud of the behaviour and manners of our students - we received many compliments from the public. Thanks also to Ben, Katie, Aaron and Amy who spent two nights away from their own families to ensure our students participated in this worthwhile experience.

Boys at Sacred Heart Meeting- Wednesday 20 th March 5:30-6:30pm
I invite all parents who have boys in Kinder to Year 3 who may be undecided on
upper-year enrolment or and all parents who want further information about the offerings we have for our students during Years 4 to 6 at Sacred Heart, to attend a meeting in the school library on Wednesday 20th March, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm.

A few families have approached me to provide information about the educational, social and leadership opportunities which Sacred Heart has to offer during the remaining years of their primary education in Catholic Education. I am more than happy to address this and share information.

During this meeting, I will discuss what we offer in our Catholic K-6 co-educational
systemic school, tuition fees, leadership and enrichment opportunities, curriculum
focus and extra-curricular sports. There will, of course, be opportunities for dialogue
and questions too.

Sacred Heart is part of the Mary Help of Christians Parish, along with Marist College. Being from the same Parish, we have written confirmation from Marist: “Catholic
boys from Sacred Heart Primary will be guaranteed a position in Year 7 at Marist
College Canberra should families decide to keep their sons at Sacred Heart Primary
until the conclusion of Year 6.”
Please pencil this in your diaries and come along.

Have a great long weekend everyone!

In faith and partnership,

David Austin

Principal