School Voices

Our Lady’s Primary School

It has been a truly positive start to the school year and we are grateful to all of our staff, parents, and children for embracing the many events that have taken place over the past two weeks.  The beginning of the year has provided us with the opportunity to re-establish relationships as a community, and for the teachers to reaffirm expectations regarding student behaviour, so we can create learning environments that are safe, welcoming, and focused on achieving excellence for all.

It was wonderful to celebrate our Opening of School Year Mass on Friday, 10 February.  We are grateful to Father Hoang for leading the Mass so gently, and being a support in the planning of these special times of celebration.  It was lovely to have our choir, led by the wonderful enthusiasm of Mr Hawke.  We were excited to acknowledge and bless our new school leaders and present them with their badges and jackets!  It was also very special to present our Foundation students with their Guardian Angel Badges and warmly welcome them to our school.  Our year 5 buddies were a great support to our Foundation students, by walking with them to the church and sitting with them, gently explaining the Mass and modelling respectful behaviour.

It was also terrific to have the 5/6 class lead us in prayer at assembly.  It was an opportunity to delve more deeply into prayer, and make connections to social justice.  Our whole school meditation program is up and running again on Mondays and Fridays at 11.45 am.  It is a wonderful time of stillness and silence throughout the school and time for our students to ‘let go and just be’. 

We enjoyed celebrating Shrove Tuesday as a community.  Traditionally Shrove Tuesday was the last chance for a spot of indulgence before 40 days of fasting, and also an opportunity to use up food that couldn’t be eaten during Lent.  We celebrated this day by handing out pancakes before school and then we welcomed Father Hoang to join us to burn the Palms from last year’s Palm Sunday Mass, in preparation for our Ash Wednesday Mass. 

Another way we acknowledge the season of Lent as a community is by placing Bedtime prayers on our school website.  Our students have recorded prayers, that they will be able to share each night with their families, and offer prompts for reflection.  These prayers can be found on Our Lady’s Primary School website.

By Annie Engellenner, Principal