Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome to Term 2. I hope everyone had an enjoyable holiday break. It was with great joy that I checked in with each class last week, hearing many wonderful stories of holiday experiences.

This Sunday we celebrate Mother’s Day, a special time of recognition and celebration for the gift of our mothers. This morning it was wonderful to see so many mothers join the Nazareth community for a special breakfast and liturgy. I wish all mothers and grandmothers a happy Mother’s Day for this Sunday.

A Prayer for Mothers

All-loving God,
we give you thanks and praise for mothers young and old.

We pray for young mothers,
who give life and count toes and tend to our every need;
May they be blessed with patience and tenderness
to care for their families and themselves with great joy.
We pray for our own mothers

who have nurtured and cared for us;
May they continue to guide in strong and gentle ways.
We remember mothers who are separated
from their children because of war, poverty or conflict;
May they feel the loving embrace of our God who wipes every tear away. 

We pray for women who are not mothers
but still love and shape us with motherly care and compassion.
We remember mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers who are no longer with us but who live forever in our memory and nourish us with their love.

Amen.

Thank you to the Parents and Friends Association for organising and running today’s Mother's Day Stall. It was hugely successful, and the children loved the opportunity to choose and purchase a gift. This Saturday 11 May at 5:00pm, we will celebrate a special Mother’s Day mass with the parish, everyone is warmly invited to attend. Our Kindergarten students will be performing a special reflective song during the mass. 

As we continue to navigate through the challenges presented by the digital age, I want to take a moment to emphasise the importance of online safety, particularly in the lives of our young students. In today's interconnected world, the internet offers endless opportunities for learning and exploration. However, it also comes with its own set of risks and dangers, especially for our children. As educators and parents, it is our collective responsibility to equip our students with the knowledge and skills they need to navigate the online world safely and responsibly. I strongly encourage all parents to closely monitor their child’s online interactions at home and carefully read the attached Carly Ryan Foundation – App Factsheets, especially regarding Roblox. 

Enrolment interviews for Kindergarten 2025 commenced this week. If you haven’t submitted an application for Kindergarten 2025 and you plan to, please do so as a matter of urgency. We have limited places available and demand for placement is high. Offers will be made at the conclusion of Term 2.

During the month of May, we will be collecting valuable data on a range of aspects of school life, practice and procedures from the perspectives of students, parents and teachers via the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) survey platform. This data will provide valuable insights that will be used to inform school planning and decision making. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community, we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide is anonymous and will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at Nazareth. Please click here to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey -
http://tellthemfromme.com/nazareth 

Wishing you a wonderful week.

Kind regards, 

Mr Matt Downes 
(Acting Principal)