Dear families,

This newsletter was scheduled for distribution last Friday, however the announcement that Victoria would enter a 5 day circuit breaker lock down delayed publication.    

A huge thank-you to all families and staff for your support and adaptability over the last few days.  We look forward to seeing all students back at school tomorrow.  Please note the Health and Safety protocols in place prior to the circuit breaker lock down will continue.  They are outlined later in the newsletter.

This week the Liturgical season of Lent commences in the Catholic Church.  Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday pave the way for the Lenten season that encourages reflection and renewal.  Rituals are an important part of Lent and the sharing of pancakes and distribution of ashes next week carry deep meaning and symbolism.  The cooking of pancakes links with the early Christian's preparations for  Lent while the marking of ash on our foreheads reminds us that we are entering a time of contemplation.   The season goes for forty days echoing the time Jesus spent in the wilderness, preparing himself physically, mentally and spiritually for what lay ahead. 

Project Compassion is Caritas Australia's major awareness and fund raising initiative  and  provides us with a way of taking action during the weeks of Lent.  Caritas Australia is a Catholic Aid agency whose vision is for a just world, at peace and free of poverty, where all people live in dignity.  Their work nationally and globally is amazing and through the coming weeks students, staff and families can become more familiar with this work via the caritas website and weekly stories we will share through the newsletter and dojo.  These stories are short, real and inspriational, making them well worth viewing as a family.

Take care, 

Nick