Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you were able to spend some family time over the break and enjoy the beautiful Canberra Autumn colours!

I took this photograph on ANZAC Day last year.

As part of our pilgrimage to the Holy Land, we attended the Dawn Service at Mount Scopus CWG Cemetery at the Jerusalem War Cemetery.

It’s tragic that the relatively peaceful lands we visited in 2023, where Jesus walked, continue a sad history of violence and war. Who knows when it will be safe again to visit this special part of the world.

Last Thursday, I attended the National ANZAC Day Mass at St Christopher’s Cathedral. The photograph shows the Ensign Party entering the cathedral. 

ANZAC Day reminds me of the sacrifice of those who have served and the courage of those who continue to put themselves in danger for our safety. I pray that we will build the Kingdom of God by seeking gentleness and peace in our hearts and committing to living in harmony with others.

I would like to share with you the moving words of the Processional Hymn, composed by Cecil Arthur Spring-Rice (1859-1918).

I VOW TO THEE, MY COUNTRY

I vow to thee my country-all earthly things above-

Entire and whole and perfect the service of my love;

The love that asks no question, the love that stands the test,

That lays upon the altar the dearest and the best;

The love that never falters, the love that pays the price,

The love that makes undaunted the final sacrifice.

And there’s another country, I’ve heard of long ago-

Most dear to them that love her, most great to them that know;

We may not count her armies, we may not see her king;

Her fortress is a faithful heart, her pride is suffering;

And soul by soul and silently her shining bounds increase

And her ways are ways of gentleness, and all her paths are peace.

Thank you to Mrs Tokich for organising our ANZAC prayer yesterday. It was great to see family members able to attend in uniform and join us for this important reflection. I look forward to catching up with families at our Working Bee this Sunday,

We need your help for our Working Bee this Sunday 5 May.

Click on the Insight Cycle in Compass so we have numbers to cater for lunch or please call the Front Office on 6241 4022.

An opportunity to give to our community, spruce up our grounds for Open Days, meet other families and help Mr Kennedy!

Time: 9am-1pm (Or drop in for an hour if you can)

Entry: via Back gate, pick up area, park on basketball courts

Bring: Your garden tools! Shovel, rake, weeding tools, gardening gloves.

Jobs:

• Mulching under play equipment
• Weeding, mulching garden beds
• Cleaning up front of the school
• Cleaning and weeding around the Greenhouse
• Raking and sifting the sand pit
• Picking up leaves
• Planting seedlings

Enrolment Period Monday 29 April-Friday 31 May (Don’t miss out)

Do you have a pre-schooler ready to start school?

Do you have family or friends wanting to join our wonderful community?

Please invite families with 2025 Enrolments to get in touch.

Our Open Days

Wednesday 8 May: 9am-1pm and 4pm-6pm

Thursday 9 May: 9am-1pm

If you can distribute some promotional leaflets in your suburb that would be a great help!

Recognising Mother’s at St Michael’s (Mother’s Day Sunday 12 May)

All children at St Michael’s will be making a special Mother’s Day Card.

Next Wednesday and Thursday 8, 9 May the Parent Fundraising Committee is holding a Mother’s Day Gift Stall, this is optional for families to participate in.

Your child is welcome to bring money to school to purchase a small, wrapped Mother’s Day Gift.

Items are priced at $6, $8, $10. It would greatly assist if your child could bring the correct amount of money.

Our budget has allowed the purchase of 1 item per child.

We invite our Mother’s and carers to our prayer liturgy and awards on Friday 10 May at 9.30am in the Church. Prior to this, all Mothers and carers are welcome to visit classrooms from 8.30am.

Many blessings,

Judy Egan

Principal