Dear Parents & Friends,

2021 is off to a great start! We have had over 200 new students join us along with approx. 20 new staff and the start of the year whilst busy, has been settled. Many thanks to the parents and carers who have exercised patience as we transition new families to our school community. We certainly are not a little school anymore with student numbers exceeding 1060 and staff numbers exceeding 100. The good news is that our building program is on track with our next two permanent buildings (Middle Years Block and Community Hall) to come online in Term 3.

On Monday, we were blessed with great weather and enjoyed our annual Swimming Carnival at Prairiewood Leisure Centre. It was an excellent day where students showed great house spirit. We have some outstanding student swimmers, some of whom will go on to represent the College at the upcoming Diocesan Swimming Carnival. Congratulations to Chisholm House (Blue) who were the overall winners on the day, narrowly defeating MacKillop House (Yellow).

No doubt, you are aware that the Easter season is coming. Since mid-January, the presence of colourful eggs and chocolate bunnies in supermarkets has steadily been increasing. People like to buy them early in preparation for their Easter celebrations.  However, for us as Catholics, our preparation for Easter goes much deeper than that. Over the next month or so, teachers will be explaining the importance of the season of ‘Lent’ to all students.

The Season of Lent is a time in which we reflect on our relationship with God and the way we are living our lives.  It is the season in which we are called to be better disciples of Jesus Christ.

I have included the following information on Lent to help you and your family understand the meaning, customs and traditions of Lent more fully. We hope that you will work with us to prepare students for the coming Easter Season.

• The season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (Weds 17^th February this year) and concludes before the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday (1^st April).
• Lent is a forty-day liturgical season (not including Sundays) that prepares us for the most sacred part of the Christian year, Easter.
• During Lent we renew our hearts and mind through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.
• Ash Wednesday is a day of fasting and abstinence. This means we only have one main meal during the day (fasting) and we do not eat meat (abstinence).
• The traditional colour of Lent is purple.

Students will be learning more about the season of Lent and will participate in a liturgy on Ash Wednesday.

Thank you for your ongoing support and encouragement. I look forward to work with you and enjoying a great 2021.

May God continue to bless you

Mr Simon Abernethy
College Principal

If you think this may be relevant to your child, please visit the Catholic Sport NSW website (https://csnsw.sport/ sports/nswccc) to read eligibility requirements, as these differ across sports.                                                 

We have hit the ground running at the College and it is with extreme excitement that I look to the future of CAPA (Creative And Performing Arts).

If your son/daughter is interested in the arts, we are looking to roll out a comprehensive co-curricular program in Week 5. Clubs will be offered in dance, drama, circus, music and visual arts, with rehearsals mainly being held during lunchtimes. Some clubs may also require before and/or after school rehearsals. Sign ups will occur in Week 4. Please encourage your child/ren to get involved.

On a seperate note, we will be rolling out an instrumental program in addition to the music bus this year. This program will be for students who are interested in having private tuition. We will begin by offering tuition in guitar, bass, drums and percussion. It is my pleasure to announce that Mr Lee, who is currently a regular relief teacher at the College will be offering the above music tuition. Music tuition through the College is a wonderful way for your child to explore a new instrument or develop existing skills in a one on one setting in one of our, new tutoring spaces that are adjacent to our music classrooms. Students are able to move in and out of these spaces without disturbing classes. Students are also in direct sight of the classrooms and are on CCV camera. Communication is also possible between staff in the music rooms and tutors/ students in the tutor rooms through an intercom system. Mr Lee will also offer an instrumental ensemble as an additional opportunity for students to engage in music education in a group setting with the aim to perform at school events in the future.

It would be wonderful to see more students in the College learning new instruments/ extending their practical music skills as this will feed into the wider vision of the College as a school community that offers students with a wide breadth of learning opportunities. I am looking forward to announcing additional performance opportunities for all students involved in CAPA clubs/ensembles later in the year!

Please read the info pack included in this newsletter and contact the College with your interest ASAP. We aim to begin this tutoring opportunity in Week 4.

Yours in creativity,

Ms Allen
Leader of Creative and Performing Arts

Just a friendly reminder that all Book Club orders need to be placed and purchased by 17th February 2021 online. In the brochure below is further information on how to place your order.