Dear Parents/Carers

This week marks the commencement of the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. Entering wholeheartedly into the Catholic practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving during the sacred season of Lent can be a powerful way of drawing closer to Jesus. I have included with this newsletter a document from Bishop Brian Mascord which provides more details of "fasting and abstinence". Note the age-ranges to which the obligations apply, and also note other exceptions from fasting. Essentially, if the practice adversely affects your health or the health of others, it does not apply to you - a different more creative Lenten practice might be more suitable in that case. 

Note also, "fasting" does not mean avoiding all food for the whole day.

Other ways to make the most of the season include attending an Ash Wednesday Mass or liturgy, attending Stations of the Cross on the Fridays of Lent, and giving generously to the charitable works of Caritas for those in need throughout the world, through Project Compassion. Two Year 6 students, Hailey Gropp and Murphy Batman, attended the Diocesan Caritas Project Compassion Launch with me on Tuesday. We are all invited to give generously to Caritas Australia to support their good works to “End poverty, Promote justice and uphold dignity”.

I take this opportunity to remind you of one of our 2023 Annual Improvement Plan goals:

• Re-established parental involvement in the faith and learning life of the school, with particular focus on belonging to a Catholic community. 

“It takes a village to raise a child” is an African proverb that reflects the emphasis that African cultures place on family and community. I often use this term when speaking with teachers, parents and the Parish in regard to our Nazareth school setting. I have been reflecting on this proverb recently, considering the renewed community spirit that is developing within our school community as we adapt to ‘living with Covid’ in our post-lockdown world.

I strongly believe that we all form parts of the “village” that is needed to foster continual growth in faith and improvement in learning amongst the students at Nazareth. We all have an important role to play, and we are called to journey together as parents and educators.  We are on this journey together in support of the students at Nazareth.

In fact, the name chosen for our school – Nazareth – was chosen because Jesus was nurtured and educated in the village of Nazareth. Our school community aims to be as nurturing for all our students as it was for Jesus.

In light of this, I invite you to avail yourself of the many opportunities to engage with your child’s faith education and academic education as often as you can. The following list outlines some of the opportunities this year:

• Attending Faith and Learning visits
• Attending Celebration of Learning Assemblies
• Attend weekend Mass at All Saints Church with your child
• Attend Sacramental preparation sessions with your child
• Attending Information sessions
• Reading See-Saw posts from class teachers
• Attending weekend Masses at All Saints Parish Church
• Attending P&F Meetings and P&F activities (volunteers are always appreciated)
• Reading all newsletter articles
• Taking an interest in the work on student iPads (in Year 5 and Year 6)
• Following our Social Media – follow us on Instagram and FaceBook
• Reading the Curriculum Outlines (sent home each term)
• Looking through Student workbooks (a subject or two will be sent home each term)
• Volunteering as a Reading Helper (in Year 1 and Year 2)
• Attending and assisting at Sporting Carnivals and Gala Days
• Attending Parent/Teacher interviews (offered in conjunction with school reports)
• Attending Parent/Teacher meetings – arranged as needed by either the parent or the teacher

In Faith and Learning

Lisa Tyson