Dear Parents and Carers,

As we continue our Lenten journey—a season of reflection, gratitude, and renewal—we take a moment to express our deepest appreciation for someone who has faithfully served our community with dedication.

After years of unwavering commitment, Sue Benc has decided to retire, leaving a legacy of kindness, leadership, and faith-filled service. Just as Lent invites us to pause and reflect on our blessings, we now pause to thank Sue for her many contributions.

Sue has been a guiding light, touching countless lives with her wisdom, compassion, and generosity. Her work has been more than just service—it has been a ministry, enriching our community beyond measure. While her daily presence will be missed, the impact of her work will continue to inspire us.

As Sue embarks on this new chapter, we pray she finds joy, rest, and new adventures. May God bless her abundantly, just as she has blessed us.

Please join us in expressing our gratitude and well wishes for Sue.

A morning tea will be held on Wednesday, April 2nd, at 11:00 a.m. in Mary McKillop Hall to allow the children and families to farewell Sue. We would appreciate it if you could contribute a plate to share.

Today, we celebrate Harmony Day, an Australian celebration held every year on March 21st. It promotes inclusivity, respect, and a sense of belonging for all Australians, regardless of their cultural or linguistic background. The day aligns with the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

 The key themes key themes of Harmony Day:

• Celebrating Diversity – Recognising Australia's multicultural society.
• Inclusion & Respect – Encouraging acceptance of different cultures.
• Belonging – Emphasising that everyone has a place in the community.

The official colour for Harmony Day is orange, symbolising social communication and meaningful conversations. It also represents freedom of ideas and encouragement of mutual respect.

The students came together today at our assembly to share what they have been learning this week and their understanding of this significant day.

Maria

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

TERM 1 2025

MARCH

APRIL

TERM 2 2025

MAY

Today, we celebrate Harmony Day and World Down Syndrome Day. Our staff and students wore orange and crazy socks to show that we are all more alike than different.

Thursday, 3rd April will be a free dress day to celebrate the end of a very busy and successful Term 1.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS

Happy Birthday to Teige Hobson, who celebrates his birthday on April 6th and to Stev's Cassidy, who celebrates his birthday on  April 11th.

We hope you have a wonderful day. 

March 26th is Purple Day, an international epilepsy awareness day, aiming to raise awareness and reduce stigma surrounding epilepsy.

Please wear a splash of purple with your school uniform to show your support for this important day.

Mental Health and Wellbeing News

Dear Parents and Carers,

Following on from the information about gratitude in the last newsletter, here are a few activities you might find helpful and fun to do with your children.

• Gratitude Journaling:

Encourage children to write down 3 things that went well for them each day or use a gratitude journal with prompts. 

• Family Dinner Discussions:

At dinner, have everyone share something they are grateful for or something that went well that day. 

• Gratitude Jar: 

As a family, start a jar where each person writes down things they are grateful for and read them aloud together. 

• Gratitude Walks:

Go for walks and point out things you are grateful for, like the sun, the trees, or the kindness of strangers.

2. Express Gratitude:

• Thank You Notes:

Have children write thank-you notes to people who have been kind or helpful. 

• Verbal Appreciation:

Encourage children to say "thank you" more often and to express appreciation for others. 

• Acts of Kindness:

Help children identify ways to show kindness and gratitude to others, like helping a neighbour or volunteering. 

3.Focus on the Positive:

• "Gratitude Glasses": Encourage children to imagine they are wearing "gratitude glasses" and look for the good in situations. 
• Reflect on Challenges: Discuss how gratitude can help overcome challenges and focus on the positive aspects of difficult situations. 
• Celebrate Small Wins: Acknowledge and celebrate small achievements and positive experiences. 

The Resilience Project has an at home website that you might like to explore. I have included the web address below. There are things on there for kids, teens, adults and parents.

https://theresilienceproject.com.au/at-home/home-2023/

If you have any questions or would like further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Deb Owens

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader

SCHOOL PHOTOS

The Tarra Valley Festival has days and days of entertainment planned over the Easter holidays. The parade is scheduled for Saturday, 19th April.

The theme this year is 'Back to the Future' and as much as we would love to have our school represented in the parade, we understand that this is a busy time for parents and families.

We would like to please remind you to hand in your permission notes at your earliest convenience.