THE WEEK THAT WE CALL HOLY 

HOLY WEEK 2023

We are now heading towards Holy Week which will commence next weekend with
Palm Sunday (also called Passion Sunday) taking place on Sunday 2nd April. This is
when Jesus rides triumphantly into Jerusalem to the adulation of the crowds.
So how will Holy Week be different for you? How will you make this single week, out
of the fifty-two in the year, special or holy? Has it been difficult to focus on your faith
in this world after the coronavirus? There is still time to start, it is never too late. The
Lenten period was a time of preparation and soon comes to an end as we change
our focus to Holy Week and then to Easter.
The heart of Easter commences on Holy Thursday – the start of the Easter Triduum.
Three 24 hour periods remembering the suffering, death, burial and resurrection of
Jesus.

As Catholics we are called to attend our Parishes on these very important days.
Holy Thursday is the Mass of the Lords Supper, while Good Friday is the veneration
of the Cross (where we vividly recall the journey of Jesus to the cross and his death).
While the Easter Vigil on Saturday is the main celebration of the period and lasts a
little longer and starts later than the usual Saturday mass. It was here that the faithful waited outside the tomb of Jesus. The Jewish Sabbath commenced at sunset on Friday and the body of Jesus was not fully prepared for burial – so they waited during Saturday, praying and mourning.
Finally we reach Easter Sunday, where Jesus rises and provides hope for the world.
The purpose of the three days is not to re-enact historical events, but rather to engage the paschal mystery as it is being celebrated in the midst of those gathered.
The power of this cannot be underestimated. These three days become our preparation for our willing participation in the paschal mystery, so that it becomes our way of being Christian in our daily lives.
I wish all families a safe and happy Easter break filled with the promise of hope and
encourage all to make the effort to connect with this most powerful faith filled time of our Church.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PARENT-TEACHER-STUDENT INTERVIEWS

As we come towards the end of this very busy Term the students will receive interim
reports as a check in on their progress so far this year. I am often asked by parents,
“how can I assist my child through their schooling. It is so different to when I went to school”.
The simplest way is to show interest and discuss progress and classwork and their
learning with them. Demonstrate to them that you think their learning is important.
Take pride in their successes and work with them when they are less successful.

The Parent –Teacher – Student (P/T/S) interviews that take place in conjunction with
the report are crucial for students to achieve learning success. It is a time to check on progress, identify areas for improvement, enjoy the successes and set a direction for further development in their learning for the rest of the year.

Research shows that students who have a family that is supportive and interested about their studies, perform better than equally talented students with no home support or interest.

They take more care and pride in their work and want to not only do their best but to
show their best, and this also pleases their parents. For parents, it is not about doing
the work with or for them, it is about the time and presence that is generated by your genuine interest.
Parent interest also creates a unity with the class teacher and the family by working with the school in ensuring the best possible learning outcomes for the child. I look forward to seeing all parents at these important interviews.
The interviews should comprise of two parts – the first an honest and open discussion of performance to date and the second a road map for improvement into
the future. On many occasions the feedback provided from Staff will point out issues
or areas of improvement and as parents we may not like to hear these. However, the
true purpose of these interviews is to work together in framing conditions for your
child to reach their maximum potential. And that is what we need to do – together.
I will be available at the Parent/Teacher/Student interviews to meet and discuss any
matters with you that you would like to raise.

P/T/S Interviews take place on:

Wednesday 5 April from 3.30pm - 7.30pm in School Hall.

Thursday 6 April from 8.30am – 12.30pm via zoom.

YEAR 7 2024 ENROLMENTS OPEN

Enrolments for Year 7 2024 are now open. Enrolment packages are available from our school office (8am - 3:30), downloaded from our school website or by clicking on the link below.

SCHOOL TOUR