Honouring Mary in the Month of May

In the Catholic tradition, the month of May is dedicated to Mary, the mother of Jesus. During this special time, we honour Mary for her faith, love, and trust in God. She is a model of discipleship for us all, gentle, strong, and always open to God's call. As a school community, we turn to Mary in prayer, asking for her guidance and care, especially during this time of reflection and reconciliation.

A Prayer to Mary, Our Mother

Mary, Mother of Jesus,
we thank you for your love and care.
Help us to be kind, gentle, and full of faith,
just as you were.
Guide our hearts to listen to God,
to care for others, and to walk the path of peace.
Pray for us, Mary, now and always.
Amen.

The Sacramental Program

I am excited to share that Walter from Year 5 has recently completed a very special step in his faith journey.

Last week, Walter made his First Reconciliation with Father Michael, a sacred moment of reflection, forgiveness and grace. On Sunday, Walter then celebrated his Confirmation and First Holy Communion during a beautiful Mass led by Bishop Joseph Caddy.

It was a joyful and reverent celebration, filled with prayer, music, and the loving support of Walter’s family, friends, and our school and parish community. Walter received the gifts of the Holy Spirit and shared in the Eucharist for the first time, a truly significant and faith-filled milestone in his life.

We congratulate Walter and his family on this sacred occasion, and we continue to keep him in our prayers as he grows in his relationship with God.

Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week

Next week, our school community will come together in prayer and reflection for our Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week liturgy.

Led by our student leaders, we will pause to remember the Stolen Generations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were taken from their families and communities. We will gather to reflect on our shared journey toward healing, justice, and unity.

This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, “Bridging Now to Next,” reminds us that reconciliation is an ongoing journey. It calls each of us to listen deeply, speak truthfully, and work together to build a future grounded in understanding and respect.

During the liturgy, students will acknowledge two significant milestones in Australia’s history:

• May 27, 1967 – when Australians voted to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the national census, and
• June 3, 1992 – the date of the landmark Mabo Decision, which recognised native title for the first time. This momentous ruling was led by Eddie Koiki Mabo, a proud Meriam man from Mer in the Torres Strait.

We will also acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we gather, the Kaurareg people, and pay our respects to their Elders, past and present. Their stories, culture, and wisdom continue to guide and inspire us.

As we prepare for this important liturgy, may we open our hearts to truth, compassion, and a shared commitment to walking together in reconciliation.

The Learning Dashboard

We are pleased to let you know that this semester, our school will begin using a new reporting system through The Learning Dashboard.

This new platform has been introduced across Catholic schools in our diocese to provide a consistent and accessible way for parents and carers to view their child’s end-of-semester report. While the full features of The Learning Dashboard will be rolled out over the coming years, for now, it will be used only for accessing formal reports at the end of each semester.

Why the Change?

The Learning Dashboard is designed to make student reporting clearer and easier for families to access. It replaces the traditional paper-based or emailed reports with a secure, digital platform. This change supports our ongoing efforts to improve communication and strengthen the partnership between school and home.

What You Need to Know

• Only the end-of-semester report will be available on The Learning Dashboard at this stage.
• Parents will receive step-by-step instructions on how to access the platform and view reports.
• These instructions, along with login details, will be shared via Seesaw in the coming weeks, before reports are published.

We understand that using a new system may raise questions, and we will be here to support you every step of the way. Our goal is to ensure the process is smooth, informative, and valuable for you and your family.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we continue to grow and improve how we share student learning and achievement.

God bless,