Dear Parents and Carers

Last week was NAIDOC Week - a week to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee. It has its roots in the 1938 Day of Mourning, becoming a week-long event in 1975. For us, this nation’s story began at the dawn of time. NAIDOC 2020 invites all Australians to embrace the true history of this country – a history which dates back thousands of generations. It’s about seeing, hearing and learning the First Nations’ 65,000+ year history of this country - which is Australian history. It is a week where all Australians are called to celebrate that we have the oldest continuing cultures on the planet and to recognise that our sovereignty was never ceded.

All students did some learning around this last week and the slogan this year Always Was, Always Will Be, is powerful, deeply moving and apt.

(Collaboratively completed by Year 6 during an Art lesson)

Mission Fete Success: Many, many  thanks to Miss Marianne, Miss Lib and you all teachers, parents and students for what is perhaps the most emotionally successful Mission Fete to date. Bulbula needs our support now more than ever. This was evident in Sr Abeba's last message.

$10,000 was raised, therefore we have been able to donate $9500 to Bulbula. That is 272445 Ethiopian birr. We also donated $500 to Catholic Mission. Such a wonderful achievement from a very generous community which truly continues to amaze us. Terima kasih.

St Brendan Bushfire Thankyou: What a wonderful gesture from St Brendan's sending this lovely thank you video message from the Bushfire Appeal we had for their school in Term 1. It seems so long ago now. Another example of us as a Catholic Learning Community striving to make a difference.

Whole school photo and clip from St Brendans:

School Education Open Board Meeting Invitation: 

This Wednesday 18 November is our Annual open School Education Board Meeting. As a board we have been meeting via Google Meet. If you would like to join the meeting  this Wednesday please email me directly for a link to be shared. principal@staroceangrove.catholic.edu.au

A gentle reminder that Covid restrictions still apply in relation to parents not coming on site unless it is essential or pre-arranged. If you are picking your child up early please email the teacher and wait at the front of the school. Students will be signed out when you arrive. We are still required to obide by our current guidelines. 

Hub News: Please be sure to click on the link to your child's hub news. This is a great way to keep up to date with information specific to child's learning and activities. This term in particular there are many events planned in a short time frame in light of the year we have had.

Warm wishes for a healthy and peaceful fortnight ahead.

Kerryn