Dear Parents & Guardians,

We have just had our first experience of Sabbath Week, where if possible, all meetings were cancelled, homework was cancelled and this time taken up by purely being present with each other and in the moment. The children seemed more settled on the playground than usual and in addition, the teachers were also calmer and more pensive about their work, simply because they had the time to be so.  The laughter heard in the staffroom from my office was just a little louder than usual and that was reassuring.  As I walked around the school everyone was still working hard but it just seemed to give the children a little time to breathe as we continue to meet the challenges of our world in 2020!  In addition, this Thursday we acknowledge “R U OK?” Day.  The children have the opportunity to wear a yellow shirt with their sports uniform and we have some activities for them to complete in class that are designed to support them with their own positivity and wellbeing.  Each class will also go on a walk either along the community farm track or down to Onslow as an additional time for them to share some casual conversation with each other.

Stress and wellbeing have really been highlighted during this time where our right to be social human beings has needed to be significantly curtailed.  With this challenge comes a build up of stress which is becoming a serious factor in the general deterioration of mental health. The above actions are our response as a Catholic School to this threat imposed on the integrity of people’s lives through stress and compulsive activity.  The Christian tradition of the desert place and the sought balance between reflection and activity is a powerful one for our community to take back, encourage and develop amongst the whole community.  Our focus last week and this week has been to create a sense of listening, pondering and communicating.

A Catholic school should be serious about contemplation and reflection on the Word which dwells amongst us in how we relate to each other and treat each other.  The sower will sow seeds in vain among the thorn bushes of a conveyor belt of noise, activity and fatigue!

In John’s Gospel it is stated that Jesus said:

“I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.”

Having a full life is not one full of activity!

Go gently,     

Michael Reardon
Principal