St John the Evangelist Catholic High School Nowra
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31 John Purcell Way
Nowra NSW 2541
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Email: info@sjedow.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 02 4423 1666

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

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MID YEAR HOLIDAY AND WINTER SOLSTICE

The winter solstice passed today, 21 June 2024 hidden under the excitement of State of Origin, the World Cup Cricket, the NRL and the coming end of Term 2. This is the day where the daylight hours are shortest and the night time darkness the longest.

In Australia the 4 - 5 week period immediately after this is the coldest time of the year as the water, atmosphere and land halts growth and the cooling down process; and then slowly starts to gain more warmth from the sun. So this cold time is a fitting time to have a few weeks holiday where we can gather strength for the coming period of spring growth.

Similar to the weather, the school year will commence to 'heat' up upon our return to Term 3, with Year 11 moving towards their Preliminary Course Exams and the selection of the new School Leaders for 2025.

The Year 12 group encounter the HSC Trial exams and then have a period of focused study leading to several farewell events towards the end of Term. All this leads to them commencing their HSC Exams in Term 4.

For the rest of the students the warmer weather should bring a reflection on the learning gains made this year and a consolidation of this as we move towards the growth from one Year group to another at the Christmas break.

I wish all families a restful and refreshing holiday period spent with family and friends. Next Term commences with the returning to quality learning and teaching.

WE NEED SOME TRIALS IN OUR LIVES

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further.

So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped of the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.

The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were Life's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. Remember nature needs no help, just no interference. There are processes of life, things we all go through. The struggles are a part of our journey and are preparing us for what awaits. They are preparing us to fly.

author unknown

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Mr Wayne Marshall

Principal