As we move into the middle of Term 3, I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our school community for the support you have shown me while I was Acting Principal in Mr. David Graham’s absence over the first three weeks of term. Your encouragement, patience, and prayers have been deeply appreciated as we worked together to ensure a smooth and successful start to the term.

It has been wonderful to see our students and staff settle quickly back into learning routines. Classrooms have been alive with energy, hard work, and a genuine commitment to growing in knowledge and faith. I am continually inspired by our teachers’ dedication and by our students’ enthusiasm for learning.

We are looking forward with great excitement to the school dance team’s upcoming trip to Cairns to perform at the Australian Catholic Education Conference. This is a wonderful opportunity to share the talent, culture, and spirit of our school with a wider audience, and we wish our dancers every success.

This term we also celebrate the gifts and achievements of our high potential learners. Next week, several students will participate in the Junior Indigenous Youth Parliament where they will step into the role of young leaders, debating issues that affect their communities and learning how government and decision-making processes work. Later this term, a group of students will represent our school at STEM MAD (Making A Difference) down in Brisbane, a Catholic education initiative where young people design innovative solutions to real-world problems using science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This opportunity has become available to our students through our work with St Finbarr’s Primary School and St Thomas More College with the support of the Yadha Muru Foundation. In addition, a number of students have recently completed the Australian Mathematics Competition, a national event that challenges students to think critically, solve complex problems and apply mathematical reasoning beyond the classroom. I am so proud of all the efforts demonstrated by the students participating in these learning opportunities. Their commitment to their own learning and achievements is to be commended.

As we move through to the second half of the year, we continue to encourage every student to attend school each day and to arrive on time. Every lesson is valuable, and consistent attendance ensures children make the most of the opportunities provided to them academically, socially, and spiritually.

Next week we will gather as a community to celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary. As Catholics, we honour Mary, who was assumed body and soul into heaven, as the first disciple and the Mother of the Church. Due to our Athletics Carnival on Friday, our school liturgy will take place on Monday morning, giving us the chance to reflect on Mary’s “yes” to God and how we can live with that same faith and openness.

As we reach the halfway mark of Term 3, let us take a moment to pause and give thanks for the learning already achieved, for the blessings we share as a Catholic community, and for the many opportunities still to come. May we continue to walk together in faith, hope and love, supporting each other in all that we do.

God bless,