Dear Parents
The Gospel passage this Sunday, reflects upon the manner in which we come before God in prayer. It is the tax collector, whose simple prayer is ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner,’ who goes home at rights with God. In this simple prayer, the tax collector recognises that he is not in right relationship with God and asks for God’s mercy. This is a hallmark of the lowly and outcast in the gospel of Luke: they recognise their need and seek God’s forgiveness and mercy. [John Suter] The model of faith that is depicted over and over again in this gospel is the one who recognises their need for God’s loving mercy and asks for it. We are repeatedly reminded that God’s mercy, forgiveness, and abundant love are constantly outflowing towards us and all we have to do is humbly desire and welcome them.
Welcome back to the final term for 2022. I trust you all enjoyed some quality time with your friends and family over the last few weeks. The staff and children have all returned to school rested and keen for a busy term ahead as we countdown to the end of the scholastic year and Christmas celebrations. In the next few weeks our students will be completing their end of year assessments followed by the writing of semester two reports by their teachers. As we begin the term, let us pray that our Heavenly Father will watch over us all and keep us in his care and love.
As a school community we continue to pray for the repose of the soul of our young classmate and friend Jayden El Jer who passed away in the school holidays. We remember his parents Joe and Pam and family who are mourning the loss of their son and grandson Jayden. The family have extended an invitation to our community to attend the forty-day mass at St Charbel’s Punchbowl on Saturday the 29th October commencing at 7pm.
As you may be aware a new children’s playground has been installed under the awning on the back oval. Our Thanks to the Dundas Sports Club for making the playground available following a recent renovation at the club. A special thanks also to one of our parents, Paul Bosci who liaised with the club in considering our school for the playground and for transporting it to our site. Thanks also to our year two students who worked with me in a small school site utilisation programme in choosing the location for the playground and its eventual configuration that best suited the space available, rules for its use and the way we could utilise it with our students. Thanks, and appreciation to all those who have made this project possible.
Last term CEDP gazetted two additional staff development days for teacher directed work activities. Our CTK staff took their first allocated day on the last day of term 3. The second of these two days will be on Monday the 14th of November [Week 6]. There will be no classes on this day and parents will need to arrange for the supervision of their children. I will confirm if our Ambrose School Before and After School Care will be able to provide supervision for those families who require it
Congratulations to Nick K [Yr 6] who represented the Mackillop team at the NSW PSSA Athletic Championships in the 200m sprints and long jump events. Nick achieved his personal best in each event, very proudly representing both his school and the Diocese of Parramatta. Well done Nick on a great achievement!
Today our children participated in the NRMA travelling road show which examined various aspects of road and bicycle safety. Thanks to Mrs Walsh for organising the visit and to the parents who joined us for the sessions.
After three year hiatus, our annual Christmas concert and carols will be held on Thursday evening 8th December commencing at 6:30pm. Please put this date in your diary. More information will be shared in the coming weeks.
Enjoy your weekend
Tony Hughes
Principal
