Dear Parents and Carers 

I hope you are enjoying the start to Term 2 with your children. They certainly continue to make us proud in their love of learning and respectful, safe and responsible behaviours.

The recent ANZAC Day assembly conducted by 1 AM with special live music guests Vin Healy and Matteis was a perfect example of this. 

We were reminded Anzac Day is about the past and reflecting on the sacrifices made by our service men and women. It is also a time to stop and think about the present and the future. Today we share a wonderful country. Today we share wonderful freedom. And although it is not perfect, we share a wonderful world. We invited students, as they go about their day, to stop and think about how they can make a better world for themselves, their friends, their classmates and family. Peace starts with us. Peace starts with the choices we make. ANZAC day is about peace and hope and, in remembering, being truly thankful.

Confirmation: The following Year 6 children will be celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation this coming Saturday 13 May.  The sacrament of confirmation builds on the sacraments of baptism, Reconciliation, and Holy Communion, completing the process of initiation into the Catholic community. We congratulate and pray for the following candidates as they receive the Holy Spirit and further commit to using these gifts in service to others, ensuring they contribute to making the world a better place throughout their daily lives.

Allegra Aquilina, Harry Banks, Jabez Bellingham, Eve Bennett, Billy Bianco,  Finn Briggs, Harry Bright, Kai Buhagiar, Braxton Burgoyne, Lila Butcher, Zara Cardona, Lillia Casamento, Oliver Chapman, Zoe Clarke, Leonard Cole, Harrison Creak, Lachlan Cunningham, Matilda Dalton, Chloe Davies, Kiara Dean, Harrison Delrayne, April Dowling, Lewis Due, Jackson Ellis, Sebastian Flanders, Matteo Fragapane, Owen Gallagher, Zayne Garner, Stella Graham, Max Grantham, Blake Hachem, Arthur Hardwick, Matilda Kerr, Isabella Kiddle, Harrison Lawry, Daniella Leonidou, Reese Liston, Flynn Madden, Harvey Martinelli, James McIntyre, Ned McNamara, Ella Mitchell, Isabella Montgomery, Angus Montgomery, Audrey Morgan, Jessica Neicho, Annabelle O'Neill, Oliver Parton, Maddison Pitfield, Tobie Prout, Rory Quinn, Abigail Reddan, Audrey Reid, Sapphire Renkauskas, Jackson Riddle, Ruby Ritchie, Ellie Rundle,  Heidi Salisbury, Holly Sargeant, Chase Scott, Flynn Simons, Hunter Simons, Kashmir Singh, Giuseppe Sottile, Lilian Spolding, Arie Strode, Eden Theobald, Jasmine Turner, Oliver Warren, Olive Wearmouth, David Wilkens, Patrick Wolfe, Mackenzie Wurfel, Zachary Zarro.

FIRE Carriers (Friend’s Igniting Reconciliation through Education)

On Friday, we officially became a FIRE Carriers school! This stands for Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education. The ceremony was very similar to the Laying on of Hands which the Year 6s are preparing for with Confirmation. It was a moving ceremony at the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry centre in Thornbury. Ruby, Arthur and Bas spoke with passion and contributed many great ideas that we will aim to implement into our everyday practices to support reconciliation in our community. They now have the leadership to perform this ceremony with other students at school who wish to become FIRE Carriers and is something we will do at an assembly, to share with the whole school.  We are excited about the journey ahead and our role in growing relationships and understandings with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Many thanks to Ms Mariane and Ms Emily for further supporting this initiative.

Here is a reflection from Ruby Ritchie.

I am Aboriginal and love the culture of the Aboriginal people so I became a FIRE Carrier. Before I go on I should explain what FIRE stands for, Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education. I am so connected to the community and the land and that’s why I love being a FIRE Carrier. You learn as much as others learning with you, I'm so proud of being a Fire Carrier. At Star of the Sea the recognition of my heritage was so amazing, we have lessons to learn and take care of the legacy of the Aboriginal people. 

Family Week May 15-19 “Circle of Inclusion.”

Next week we celebrate National Families Week. National Families Week 2023 celebrates families in all their diversity and promotes the capacities and resilience of families in creating strong, safe and connected communities. Family Week is a perfect time to come together to celebrate the power of family relationships in all their diversities, and the importance they play in our lives and community. This year's theme is 'Circle of Inclusion' We reflect on the strengths and significance of families, make contact with extended family and friends, and share in the enjoyment of family activities within the wider community. It is a time to celebrate the meaning of family and to make the most of family life – no matter what form your family takes.

Tonight we celebrate our mums, grandmothers or carers. You are welcome to come in any time between 4.30pm - 6pm and enjoy a sausage, have your photo taken and look at your children’s learning and classroom space. On Friday, we will also acknowledge our mums, grandmothers or carers during assembly at 9 am.

On Friday 19 May, we will further celebrate National Families Week by coming together in House Colours (Family Groups) before recess and taking part in a range of family activities and games. There will also be a focus on Family Week through prayer and suggestions for home learning next week is included in the Hub News. 

First Nations People Education and Uluru Statement from the Heart link here: The Faith and Spirituality group in our parish is organising some Winter reflection meetings on 25th of June, 2nd of July and 9th of July, incorporating Naidoc Week. Their proposed timing 2.30pm - 4.00pm on each of the Sundays being held at Our Lady Star of the Sea.  We were fortunate to meet with the group and share what we are doing as a learning community with Reconciliation. They were deeply impressed by our school’s commitment through our indigenous elements in the curriculum and the resources deployed in our  Reconciliation Action Plan. We look forward to further forming a link between Parish and School in this area.

Retreat Invitation- Inner Peace in Divine Love – the First Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola. : 

Fr. Javier Diaz SJ together with Anne Thomas will guide this retreat 'in daily life' – also called a retreat for busy people. Interested adults are invited to participate. There is no cost involved in making this retreat. 

The booklet and application forms are on the Holy Trinity Parish website and below in the Religious Education section. 

Click here to view a short 1 minute video put together by  Michael Todd, Religious Education Leader at St Ignatius College, with Fr Javier extending the invitation.

Wishing you all a spirit filled fortnight ahead.

Kerryn