Congratulations!
Eva Brady for coming 1st in her freestyle event at Regionals and qualifying for the State swimming championships in Melbourne next month
Around the School
Yesterday we had a visit from a bushfire survivor. Cole is a rescue joey from the Mount Cole bushfires. Luckily, Cole landed into the loving hands of the McKay family. Thanks for sharing him with us, Peta and Joel.
Year 3-6 Cross Country
Our Year 3 - 6 students had great weather for Cross Country at Richardson Oval on Tuesday this week
Seeking Volunteers - Athletics Day BBQ
We will be holding a sausage sizzle at the oval during our annual Athletics Carnival on Tuesday 23rd April. If you are available to lend a hand with set up, cooking and/or serving, please email Jess at jpraag@smararat.catholic.edu.au or contact the office
From our Principal
Term 1 Week 9
Dear families,
This week is Holy Week. For Christians, Holy Week is a very sacred time of the year, for it is now that we commemorate and remember the last week of Jesus' life on this earth. These are the days leading up to Easter when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Easter is a time of renewal and a reminder that we can start afresh and come to know a new way of behaving and belonging.
Staff and students have commemorated each day this week with whole school prayer and a retelling of the stations of the cross. Inspired by the Gospel, our students have explored the themes of ‘Finding Our Voice’, ‘Small Actions Great Love’, ‘Our Common Home’ and ‘An Easter Perspective’ as a way to unpack the deep meaning of the way of the cross. Thanks to the families and parishioners who made the time to come along and be part of the prayer and the learning with us.
As we conclude our term, I would like to thank the amazing St Mary’s community for their hard work and dedication to our school. Each day is an absolute blessing as I get to work with passionate educators, wonderful children and families who are keen to partner with us to achieve the best outcomes for the little people in our care.
Every blessing for the Easter season. Stay safe.
Roxanne
2024 Student Free Days
MONDAY 15TH APRIL
TUESDAY 16TH JULY
MONDAY 4TH NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY 18TH DECEMBER
(STUDENTS LAST DAY TUESDAY 17TH DECEMBER)
Catholic Education Week
Monday 29th April to Friday 3rd May
2024 Easter Raffle Winners
Thank you to all who donated prizes and sold raffle tickets for one of our major annual fundraisers. This year we raised a total of $1663, which will be utilised within each of our learning communities.
A special thanks to Jessica, Simone, Maddison, Holly, Megan and Evie for helping bundle and wrap all our prizes!
1st Prize: Sunny
2nd Prize: Harri Cox
Other prize winners:
April Marshall, Mark Dalgleish, Charnino Espinosa, Danny Purcell, Rachel Purcell, James Lenehan, Coral Moran, Alfred Metcalfe, Lilly Karslake, Theo Metcalfe, N Dickson, Emily Marshall, Layla Delmenico, Joyce Espinosa, Arabelle Bourizk, Zanetta Hosking, Miranda Bulger, Oscar Fox, Justin Castro, Tanaki Waihape, Ryan Song, Tyler Wilde, JoJo Clothier, Emma Preston, Ava Christie, Tanaki Waihape, Hadley Carey, Mary Egan, Jacob Batobalani, Inez Perera, Kaleb Harris, Hahn Nguyen, Kaye Chamings, Olivia Davidson, Dexter Coburn, Scott Phillips, Chad Waihape, Ciara Waihape, Dennis Harrington, Lani Coburn, Willow Kalwig, O'Boyle Family, Judd Marsh, James Davidson, Isla Jackson, Kaia Waihape, Pat Harrington, Pieter Jardine, Anabelle Xalfa, Marni Wilson, Joel Kaliczewski, Elissa Gault, Ella Dunmore, Ben O'Loughlan, Rachel Chaffey, Jocelyn Oddie, Lorna Dunmore, Di Cunningham, Ted Williams, Chas
In Our Community
Ararat & District Junior Football Association
2024 Season Player Registrations now open. Mixed (Boys U/13s & Girls U/14s)
Registration Fees $75 https://www.playhq.com/afl/register/776d4d
ARARAT BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
REGISTRATIONS ARE OPEN FOR THE
WINTER 2024 SEASON
The Winter 2024 Season will run over Terms 2 & 3, and is planned to commence the week of APRIL 15th, 2024 for our Junior & Senior Basketball and Futsal Competitions.
REGISTRATIONS CLOSE NEXT MONDAY APRIL 1ST!
REGISTRATION PROCESS
To Register: visit our website: https://araratbasketballfutsal.com/
Click on the "Register here" for
• BASKETBALL: Little Redbacks, Junior and Senior Basketball including Girls Competition
• FUTSAL: Little Redbacks, Junior and Senior Futsal
SINGING LESSONS
POPPINS STUDIO/FUTURE SOUNDS (AKA KRIS OUR PIANO TEACHER & JACQUI OUR GUITAR TEACHER) HAVE HAD A NEW SINGING TEACHER IMOGEN JOIN THEIR TEAM AT THE STUDIO!
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SINGING LESSONS BEGINNING IN TERM 2 FOR YOUR CHILD, PLEASE CONTACT KRIS FOR MORE INFORMATION VIA EMAIL: KRISASH155@GMAIL.COM
Whole School Prayer - Term 2 Dates
WSP is held each Friday at 2.45pm in the Multi Purpose Room. All welcome!
Friday 19th April - No WSP
Friday 26th April - SLC
Friday 3rd May - No WSP
Friday 10th May - JLC1
Friday 17th May - SLC1
Friday 24th May - MLC
Friday 31st May - TBA
Friday 7th June - TBA
Friday 14th June - JLC2
Friday 21st June - SLC2
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to the following students for this week:
Pia C
And during the school holidays:
Indi B & Thea C
Project Compassion Drive - Thank You
This week's Parish Bulletin
TERM 1 DATES
TERM 2
Monday 15th April
STUDENT FREE DAY - STAFF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Tuesday 16th April
Students Return for Term 2
Friday 19th April
No lunch orders
Tuesday 23rd April
Athletics Carnival @ Gordon St Oval
Tuesday 30th April
Foundation 2025 Information Evening
Thursday 2nd May
Black Ranges Cross Country
From our Principal
Term 1 Week 8
Dear families,
This week provided me with two opportunities to reflect on Jesus’ call for inclusion, hospitality and peace. After all, it is Lent and it is a perfect time to reflect!
I watched the documentary ‘20 Days in Mariupol’. This is a harrowing film depicting the human cost of conflict, offering a raw insight into the lives shattered by war. Through poignant storytelling and intimate camerawork, it captures the resilience and anguish of those living in Mariupol at the beginning of Russia’s invasion in the Ukraine. I found the documentary very confronting as each frame resonates the weight of loss and the fervent desire for peace.
I also saw Ahn Do perform to a full Town Hall audience this week. He told his life story that encapsulates the resilience, determination, and the transformative power of compassion. As a Vietnamese refugee fleeing war-torn Vietnam with his family, Ahn Do's journey to Australia was marked by hardship and uncertainty. However, his experiences as a refugee shaped his character and fueled his drive to succeed against all odds. Through his unwavering perseverance and positive outlook, Ahn Do not only overcame the challenges of displacement but also flourished in his adopted homeland.
And…in and amongst it all was Harmony Day; a day that promotes inclusivity and cultural understanding, sharing a parallel essence with Lent. Both Harmony Day and the season of Lent allowed me to reflect on my interactions, and how I foster harmony in my life and community.
This week, I was reminded by some very ‘real’ stories that unity blossoms from embracing diversity with open hearts. If we genuinely embrace others' uniqueness and difference, we can cultivate harmony; fostering a world where deep understanding for the ‘other’ enables us to be the best version of ourselves.
An invitation to prayer…
Jesus of Compassion, Help us to see in your Cross all the crosses of the world:
The cross of people hungry for bread and for love;
The cross of people alone and abandoned even by their children and kin;
The cross of people thirsty for justice and for peace;
The cross of the elderly who struggle under the weight of years and of loneliness;
The cross of migrants who find doors closed in fear and hearts armoured by political calculations;
The cross of little ones, wounded in their innocence and their purity;
The cross of humanity that wanders in the darkness of uncertainty and in the obscurity of temporary culture;
The cross of our common home that is gravely withering before our selfish eyes, blinded by greed and by power.
Revive in us the hope of resurrection and of your definitive victory over all evil and all death.
Amen
Every blessing for the week ahead.
Roxanne
2024 Student Free Days
MONDAY 15TH APRIL
TUESDAY 16TH JULY
MONDAY 4TH NOVEMBER
WEDNESDAY 18TH DECEMBER
(STUDENTS LAST DAY TUESDAY 17TH DECEMBER)
Next Week is Holy Week @ St Mary's
Next week we will be celebrating Holy Week at St Mary's. All families are welcome to join in with our daily liturgy and attend our post liturgy class discussions and activities. See times below:
Catholic Education Week
Monday 29th April to Friday 3rd May