MASS TO CELEBRATE THE BEGINNING OF THE 2020 SCHOOL YEAR

Today the school community joined together to celebrate the beginning of the 2020 school year. Student Representative Council members from each grade, received their badges. Congratulations to these students.

ASH WEDNESDAY

On Wednesday 26^th February, students from Years Three to Six will be attending Mass in the All Saints Church at 9:30am to celebrate Ash Wednesday. Students from Kindergarten to Year Two will receive ashes during a class prayer celebration. On Ash Wednesday, a cross will be placed on our foreheads as a reminder that we follow Christ. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Church season of Lent. With the help of Jesus, we try during Lent to become better. Parents are invited to attend Mass with the students.

HELPING CHILDREN UNDERSTAND LENT

Ash Wednesday begins the season of Lent and our preparation for Easter. As parents of young children know, Lent can seem so “heavy” in comparison to the excitement of preparing for Christmas. What can this season mean for little children?

For many of us growing up, Lent meant “giving up lollies”. That wasn’t a bad way to introduce us to the notion of self-discipline, but simply giving up something for Lent, without a whole spirituality that children can enter into, can leave kids dreading Lent more than looking forward to it.

The most important part of Lent can be how children are helped to make this a time to practice being more loving. In this spirit, every family can do something to make Lent special for children. The key features of Lent are:

• prayer
• almsgiving
• fasting

While children are too young to fast they are able to pray and offer help to others. One perfect way to offer almsgiving is to collect money for Project Compassion.

PROJECT COMPASSION

At this time of year, we show our love through our support of Project Compassion. Project Compassion boxes will be sent home with families next week. Could you please give generously to this appeal? Your donations will allow Caritas Australia to reduce poverty and hunger in more than 35 countries around the world.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

In Week 6, we celebrate Catholic School’s Week from 1^st to 7^th March. The school has a number of events to celebrate this week.

On Monday 2^nd March, the school will join together at 1:50pm in the school hall, in a prayer celebration to signify the beginning of Catholic Schools Week.

On Thursday 5^th March, staff will attend the Diocesan Education Mass in the evening.

On Friday 6^th March, there will be the opportunity for parents to visit the classrooms at 1:50pm in order to view students work.

School tours will operate during the week to showcase our school to new families.