Dear Parents and Carers

I hope the start to Term 4 has gone well for you all. My recent trip to New Zealand certainly further evoked an appreciation of our world and its beauty. Amazing scenery and weather. Most importantly, a special time with family which I am grateful for.

Mission fete is approaching and our staff have been led in a prayerful reflection around ”I am because we are”. You can see this in the newsletter prayer today.  Ubuntu is a philosophy based on the idea that all humanity is connected. The thinking originates in southern Africa but forms part of many African belief systems and serves as a foundation for education. With ubuntu, the relationship between a person and their community is interdependent and mutually beneficial. Such a grounding and beautiful concept that we can all reflect on and take into our lives.

Please see below for more information in regard to Mission Fete which Marianne Caddy is so beautifully coordinating. I encourage you to take note and discuss with your children the importance of the sacred dignity of each person and gratitude. A gratitude practice you can engage in, is to read what Sr Abeba says in her letters below and have a dinner conversation with your children around what it is we are truly grateful for and, in this space of gratefulness, how can we give to others. 

Diversity Day: I was delighted to see that  Diversity Day was celebrated in an atmosphere of much excitement, nurture, respect and engagement and was sorry to miss such a significant day. From all accounts it was certainly another wonderful example of us all flourishing together inclusively, as we embrace difference and diversity. Special thanks to Marnie Hallam, Kristen Leonard, Bella Scaffidi, Natalie Skahill, Kevin Mitchell and Eliza Hull for the organisation of the day and participation. Thank you also to the students in the choir and Sophie Foulsham and Ruby Ritchie for their thoughtful questions for Eliza. This is a special day when we educate, celebrate and again see our catholic community shine, as we model the values and encourage our students and each other to live these values. Some beautiful feedback from one of our families further shines a spotlight on the importance of what we are doing. 

Just a quick note to say thank you for the great Diversity Day celebration yesterday and for including my child  in the assembly. She was excited to ask her question in front of the whole school. It was great to hear from Liz Hull and her experience of disability. The choir, using Auslan & Kevin were great too. It was nice to have the focus on people's abilities and strengths. It certainly made me feel included and hopeful for the future of our community. 

Feedback Story Dogs: 

Recently the Year Two students fundraised for the Story Dogs program they engage in twice weekly. This is a program that also aligns with our inclusion where students feeling anxiety can read to therapy dogs. Research shows this makes a huge difference to their wellbeing and academic gains. Here is some warm feedback from Julie Rysdale, a wonderful volunteer with the program. 

I am writing to thank you for your recent Story Dog fundraising day, held at the end of last term. I was lucky enough to be able to attend with my dog Zander, and was invited to participate in the activities organised by the classroom teachers. It was such a pleasure to go into each grade 2 classroom and talk a little about Story Dogs, and to answer a range of questions from the students about Zander. The students were very attentive and engaged. I was really impressed with the students’ questions. They showed their genuine interest and were very thoughtful. I was also very impressed with how accepting the students are of children who need extra support with their reading. The students were also able to meet and pat Zander and were very gentle and respectful. It was great to see the origami dogs that were made in the classes. And I even spied one that was very Zander-like, created by a boy who reads to Zander! (Additionally, from my perspective, the students who take part in the program by reading to Zander, are so gentle with him and have each developed a connection; are very polite, but happy to engage in conversation with me. And they are committed to participating and to reading. It is a privilege and pleasure to work with them.) Thank you again and best wishes.

Come and discuss the future of your parish- “Take the Way of the Gospel” Parish discernment meetings.

As you may be aware, the future of the Church as we know it is unsure with reduced numbers attending and a shortage of priests being two of the factors. We are holding an opportunity here at Our Lady Star of the Sea which you are invited to, to listen and share your voice in the future of your parish.

• Ocean Grove at 7.00pm on Thursday, November 10th in the Hall at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School.
• Ocean Grove at 10.00am on Monday, November 14th in the Hall at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School.
• Barwon Heads at 10.00am on Friday, November 18th at the Holy Family Church.

The meetings are intended to determine a Parish response to Archbishop Comensoli’s proposals for “mission” and inter-Parish cooperation and to allow for parishioner feedback to the Parish Pastoral Council on the “health of our Parish”. If unable to attend a time proposed for your Mass centre, you are most welcome to attend at one of the other Mass centres.

Minor Capital Works: During the holidays we were able to complete a job with two new doors coming off green hub onto a lovely deck area. Not only will this benefit the traffic and pick up areas for these year 1 students with 2 extra exits but it will also enable further opportunities for outdoor learning. As you can see by the photos below, the students are engaging well with this new extension.