Dear Parents, Carers, Staff and Students, 

It was with a sense of hope and joy that we have welcomed our students and families back to school this term. Hope is a fascinating emotion. Hope is an outreaching desire with expectancy that something good will happen. In the scripture passage from the book of Jeremiah it is the conviction that no matter the circumstances, God's plans for our lives are "for good, to give you a future and a hope".

Covid-19 and the localised realities of the pandemic in Picton certainly bring home the daily uncertainty of what we are facing and challenges our positive mindset to be a hope-filled community. St Mary of the Cross Mackillop wrote in 1871 that we need to ‘stay calm and be full of hope’. Sometimes this is easier said than done. This term we will focus on a positive mindset that resonates across the whole school community and provides the tools to face the challenges we are all presented with on a daily basis. 

One of these challenges will be next Friday 7 August, when we will celebrate the Feast Of St Mary of the Cross Mackillop. Her actual Feast Day is Saturday 8 August. In a ‘normal world’, our families would be looking forward, with a sense of hope and anticipation, to join the school community in a day of celebration. Due to our Phase Three Covid-19 restrictions, parents are unable to attend on-site school activities. The students will celebrate the day by participating in a classroom liturgy using an online video link developed by our REC’s Mrs Brown and Mrs Cordingley, Sr Julie and our Year Six Spirituality Team.

We are truly finding it difficult not having parents and carers within the school. Your presence in the school brings so much to our school community, and your own child/ren’s learning and growth in faith. One innovative way we will attempt to involve our parents will be during our Parents & Friends meeting next Monday 3 August at 6:30pm. For the first time this meeting can be attended by a zoom link that will be emailed to each parent. I look forward with a sense of hope that a good number of parents will attend the meeting via online link. More information can be found in this newsletter and will be sent home via our COMPASS portal.

Please continue to stay safe and healthy.

Take Care

Principal