Dear Parents and Carers,

This Sunday, 26 May, we celebrate Trinity Sunday. It is the day we celebrate the greatest mystery of all – the Holy Trinity! God is so great that Jesus taught us to understand Him as three persons in one being who is God. As we try to understand this mystery, Jesus taught us the greatest lesson of all … GOD IS LOVE and that God wants us to be a part of this love.

Let us pray, to the one God, Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit that our lives may bear witness to
our faith. Father, you sent your Word to bring
us truth and your Spirit to make us holy.
Through them we come to know the mystery
of your life. Help us to worship you, one God
in three Persons, By proclaiming and living our
faith in you. We ask this, Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit, one God, true and living, for ever and ever.
Amen.

The Sacrament of Confirmation will be conferred by Archbishop Christopher Prowse on Sunday 23 June at 10:30am in our Sacred Heart Church. The Sacrament of Confirmation builds on the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion and completes the process of initiation into the Catholic community. In preparation for the sacrament some of our Year 6 students will present themselves to our community at the commitment mass this Saturday night at 5pm. Please keep these candidates and their families in your prayers.

NATIONAL SORRY DAY, 26 May 
National Sorry Day, 26 May, is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations Survivors and reflect on how Australians can all play a part in the healing process for the people and the nation. While this date carries great significance for the Stolen Generations and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it is commemorated by Australians right around the country.

Today, our Stage 2 students represented St Mary’s and joined other school students and members of the community to acknowledge the significance of the day by walking across the Batemans Bay Bridge in unity to recognise Australia’s traditional owners and pay respect to the Stolen Generation. Following the walk they had morning tea and a barbeque on the Clyde River Foreshore.

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK 2024, 27 May-3 June
Each year National Reconciliation Week (NRW) celebrates the rich culture and history of the First Australians. It is the ideal time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
The dates for National Reconciliation Week remain the same each year: 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.
Reconciliation Australia’s theme for 2024, ‘Now More Than Ever’, is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will —and must —continue.
There have been many moments in Australia’s reconciliation journey that make us want to turn away. But when things are divisive, the worst thing we can do is disengage or disconnect.
Now more than ever, the work continues. We need connection. We need respect. We need action. And we need change.  Now more than ever, we need reconciliation.

K-12 PATHWAY COMBINED SCHOOLS MASS
Next Wednesday, 29 May, all students and staff will be attending the Combined Schools Mass at Carroll College, Broulee. The Mass will take place during National Reconciliation Week (27 May-3 June), and the theme for the Mass is ‘Now More Than Ever’. 

We look forward to sharing this special celebration with the St Bernard’s and Carroll College communities, as approximately 1000 students and staff come together in prayer. A consent form for students to attend is on Compass and needs to be completed by Monday 27 May. All families are warmly invited to attend this Mass.

All students are to wear their sports uniform and their school hat. They need to bring a water bottle, fruit/morning tea, which we will eat on arrival at Carroll before Mass begins. A sausage sandwich and drink will be provided for each student after the Mass.

For our Year 5 and Year 6 students who will remain at Carroll for the afternoon, they will be able to purchase additional snacks costing $1-$2 from the Carroll food alley.

GURUBANGAMBA MENTORING PROGRAM
On Monday, 3 June, our Stage 3 Aboriginal students will attend the second day of the Gurubangamba mentoring program. The theme of the day is ‘fostering resilience’ and the Carroll College mentors have prepared a range of activities that will encourage collaboration with others, solving problems and persevering to complete a challenge. 

COMPASS - WHOLE DAY ABSENCES via PARENT PORTAL
Whole Day Absences
If your child is absent from school for a whole day or longer, please submit details of the absence via the Parent Portal. This should be completed within 7 days of the absence. There is no need to adjust times for whole day absences.

If your child will only be absent for a partial day, the absence will be recorded as your child is signed in or out via the kiosk at the front office. You do not need to add an early pick up or late drop off via the Parent Portal.

Unexplained absences for your child will be displayed on your homepage when you log in to Parent Portal. If an unexplained absence appears that you believe to be incorrect, please send an email to the front office for investigation.

STUDENT REPORTS
Catholic Education Canberra-Goulburn (CECG) has communicated to schools regarding semester reporting to parents/carers in 2024. 

CE has advised schools that general comments will not be required on Semester 1, 2024 reports, but to prioritise Parent/Teacher Conferences for every family in Term 2. These meetings provide an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress, their strengths, challenges and future areas of focus. A Semester Report will still be sent home as in previous Semesters providing A-E grading and attendance information. At St Mary’s, the Semester Reports will be available on Compass on Friday 21 June. This will be followed by Parent/Teacher Conferences on Monday 24 June and Tuesday 25 June. 

Catholic Education has advised schools that Semester 2, 2024 reports will have a general comment for all children. This general comment will provide a summative comment for the year, areas of achievement and areas to focus on for the following year. A-E grading and attendance information will remain as normal. 

We would encourage all parents/guardians to engage regularly with their child/ren’s learning, connecting with their class teacher/s regularly to discuss learning progress.

God bless and take care

Leadership Team