From the Parish House

Dear Friends,

This week marks the end of Term 3.  I would like to pay tribute and thank all the teachers, staff and parents across our parishes for an incredible term.  When schools turned to distance learning during the pandemic, educators had to establish how to reach out and teach all students.  Staff had to turn to new strategies of teaching – for connecting with students and provide remote learning.  They have responded to these challenges with creativity and commitment so as to hold, support and continue to teach the students of our parish.

I would like to thank our three Principals, Mrs Jennifer Gray at Our Lady of Good Counsel, Mr Frank Dame at Our Holy Redeemer and Ms Annie Engellenner at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour.  Each of our principals has led our schools with great commitment to ensure that students and families were supported throughout the term.

I would like to particularly single out Mrs Jennifer Gray at Our Lady of Good Counsel, Deepdene who in the last weeks has announced her intention to finish up at our school at the end of 2020 when she and her family will return to Queensland.  Jennifer has given Our Lady of Good Counsel school 10 years of dedicated service and will leave a strong legacy for her successor.  We will have the opportunity to celebrate and acknowledge Jennifer before the end of the year.

I believe that the experience of remote learning has seen a new appreciation of teachers by our community.  New insights into education methods and the expertise of our teaching staff has been highlighted.  This is evidenced by some of the feedback our schools have received along the way.  Here are some examples:

Thanks so much for all your hard work, especially over the past six months.  Both boys have definitely grown in so many ways, we are so lucky to have you!!   A grateful parent.

At the top of the list when measuring the quality of a school has to be the quality of the teaching staff.  We are beyond fortunate to have a team of teachers truly dedicated to positive outcomes for all children.

I wish all our students, families and teachers all the best for the holiday period.  Let’s hope and pray that next term will see students return to school for on-site learning and celebrate together the wonderful things that have occurred in this most extraordinary year.

Fr Brendan