Dear Parents and Caregivers

One more week of school!  It's hard to believe we are so close to the End of Term One already!

PALM SUNDAY
On Sunday 2 April we celebrate Palm Sunday. Palm Sunday recalls an event in the New Testament of Jesus entering Jerusalem and being greeted by the people waving palm branches. For Christians, it is a reminder of the welcoming of Jesus into our hearts and of our willingness to follow him. Palm Sunday, also called Passion Sunday, in the Christian tradition, the first day of Holy Week and the Sunday before Easter, commemorating Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. What does the palm symbolise? The palm branch, or palm frond, is a symbol of victory, triumph, peace, and eternal life originating in the ancient Near East and Mediterranean world. The palm was sacred in Mesopotamian religions, and in ancient Egypt represented immortality.

WINTER UNIFORM
Term 2 is fast approaching and students will be required to dress in their winter uniform on their return to school.  Please place your order for your winter uniforms as soon as possible to ensure that you are able to pick up your required size.  Please note that the uniform shop will be open this Thursday 30 March from 8.15-10.00am and will reopen again on Thursday 27 April.  All orders after this can be done online. To support all our families and students in the changeover from summer to winter uniforms we have a grace period of two weeks to ensure they are all 'kitted' out in the correct winter uniform.

EASTER EGG RAFFLE
Our wonderful P&F are once again organising the Easter Raffle and from what I have seen in the white baskets dotted around the school, there have been plenty of donations coming in from our parent community. Hopefully you have all purchased tickets for the exciting draw which will be held on Friday, after hymn singing. Good luck!

INTERSCHOOL SWIMMING CARNIVAL
Some of our students from Years Four to Six took part in the Interschool Swimming Carnival last week. Another big event for our students and Mr Sanders.  Congratulations to all the participants for their efforts during the day and for putting in 100% in all individual and team events. A special thank you to the many parents who attended, those who volunteered to help as marshals and timing and for all the others who were there to cheer the participants on, with gusto, from the stands.

HARMONY & FRIENDSHIP DAYS
A lovely day was held last Tuesday when we celebrated Harmony Week as a school community, with our students and staff wearing orange accessories to represent our families’ rich cultures and identities. We shared stories and time with our buddies and focused on inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.  On Wednesday we celebrated the joys of friendship within our school and those whom we have bonds with outside of school. Friendship Day is a day in several countries for simply celebrating friendships.

STAFF CHANGES FOR TERM TWO
I would like to inform the Liwara community that Mrs Renee Haynes will be leaving our school at the end of this term, as she will be moving back into the profession she worked in, pre-children and as one of our SSN EAs at Liwara Catholic Primary School.  Renee has been approached by the firm she used to work at many years ago as a draftsperson, to re-join their team and she has requested to take leave for twelve months to make sure the move back into her prior profession gives her as much fulfillment as the role she has with our beautiful students.  On behalf or the staff and school community, and especially the many students who have been cared for by Renee over the years, I would like to congratulate her on her renewed position.  It has been an honour to have worked alongside Renee for her vast contributions not only to the SSN Team but to the entire staff group.  We will think of her with fond memories as she will be leaving a lasting impact on our community as her qualities and commitment to her work are truly inspirational. It has been an honour to have worked with Renee over the last few years. She will be truly missed by us all.

I will be taking System Leaders Professional Renewal Leave (SLPRL) from Week 3 next term to the end of Term 2 with a group of other Catholic school Principals, to join a group of travellers from all corners of the world at a pilgrimage in the Holy Land, starting in Cairo and travelling down the Nile for some of the journey. Some of the significant places we will be travelling through are Petra, Caesarea, Nazareth, Cana, Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho,  Mount of Olives and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.  The second leg of my SLPRL will be a pilgrimage starting in Lisbon and includes Fatima, Spain, Lourdes & Paris.  I will also be accessing some of my Long Service Leave to travel to Scotland and Ireland, with my husband.  In my absence, Ms Angela Leddin will be the Short Term Principal and Mrs McGavigan will step into the Short Term Assistant Principal role with two days out of the classroom.  Ms Meg Stewart will be working in the 5R classroom alongside Mr Scott Varady – 5G, on Mrs McGavigan’s office days.

Wishing you God’s blessings as we journey towards Easter and a lovely holiday period.

Andrea Millar