Welcome to Week 8 as we continue in lockdown. I have been speaking to staff and students about dealing with uncertainty and focusing on what we know. 

What we know:

• that many students are working hard and making very pleasing progress in their subjects
• that teachers are also working very hard to provide engaging and effective lessons.some students and families are finding online learning challenging
• that many parents and carers are enjoying the privilege of watching online learning. It is a rare privilege to be in a classroom and this is certainly an opportunity to see students and teachers in action.
• that the Year 12 Graduation Mass has been postponed to a date in Term 4 yet to be confirmed.
• that the last day of this term and the first day of next term (September 17 and October 5) will still be pupil free days with no classes on those days.

I had the privilege of joining Mrs Cronin and Mr Quinn’s Year 9/10 online iSTEM classes today. It was wonderful to see the high student engagement and depth of learning as students were challenged in their bridge building skills. Mrs Hibbert, Mrs McInerney and I were all guest teachers and were not nearly as talented as the students in this challenge!

Mr Andrew Fouracre and Mrs Rayleigh Keith announced that they will be taking up positions at St Paul’s Secondary Catholic College in Kempsey next year. Andrew has taught Maths and Science and been a member of the College Leadership team in the role of Director of Studies. Rayleigh has taught Science and been the Leader of Science. The staff and students will greatly miss both of them for their professionalism, quality teaching and leadership and friendly and generous natures. We wish them all the best for the next step in their careers.

This beautiful prayer was shared with staff at morning briefing on Monday by Miss Chen and I thought I would share it with everyone.

Prayer for a New Normal

The World as we knew it is gone, and for what feels like such a long time we have

experienced so much hardship during this Pandemic. 

As we prepare to walk into the future we pray for the "new normal" to come.  

May our hearts be unified in You more than ever.  

May the tender moments of seeing someone again in person be all the more rich and treasured.  

May the reunions, interactions, and moments ahead be held in such intentionality and

may we turn to You in sincere gratitude.

Help us to come out of this Pandemic better, not bitter. 

Help us to become more considerate of others, more mindful of how we can help one another, and how we can serve You and Your children well.  

We thank You that no matter how dark the night may get, there is the hope of the dawn to come.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

Kathy Holding