Dear Parents and Friends,
This week we once again ask all families to reflect on the importance of the Church season of Lent. We talk to the children about the special ways they can show compassion towards each other and how love is a vital component in their lives, just as Christ made it the basis of His whole message to us.
Lent is a time when we focus on our relationship with God. It is a time of letting go of what prevents us from being the person we want to be. During His public life, Jesus faced temptation, suffered hunger, thirst and betrayal as well as the agony and humiliation of crucifixion. He did not face these things so that we could be exempt from them but that we could approach our difficulties in life with dignity.
I have included these thoughts from Pope Francis about our commitment to Lent.
- Fast from hurting words and say kind words.
- Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.
- Fast from anger and be filled with patience.
- Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.
- Fast from worries and have trust in God.
- Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.
- Fast from pressures and be prayerful.
- Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.
- Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.
- Fast from grudges and be reconciled.
- Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.
Himalayan Trek
It is with great excitement that we update our community on the Himalayan Trek that is currently being organised by two of our parents Mr Craig Donnell and Dr. Kaustuv Bhattacharya. As you my remember, the idea of the trek was originally planned for November 2015 but was postponed due to the serious earthquake that hit Nepal in April 2015.
On Friday 28 April 2017, the team of trekkers which includes our parents, will depart for Kathmandu, Nepal to make an ascent on Imja Tse (Island Peak, 6189m). Their mission is to raise $100,000 for the Rare Disease Research Fund at The Children's Hospital at Westmead and St Mary's School. Dr. Kaustuv, who is the paediatric metabolic specialist at The Children's Hospital Westmead, outlined the challenges that lay ahead for his patients and the need for further research to help find cures or treatments.
In addition to the funds being raised for research in Australia, St Mary's Parents and Friends Association along with our students are organising educational supplies that will be carried up the mountain to donate to Shree Himalaya Primary School in Namche Bazaar. A list of what is needed is included in this newsletter so we hope that you can support us. A need for warm clothing for Sherpas and their families has also been identified due to recent hardship caused by the earthquakes and avalanche.
This will be a wonderful opportunity for our community to be involved in this needy cause. Further details are included in today's newsblog.
We wish the Trekkers every success in this very worthy mission to help those in need.
Parents and Friends Association
This week we welcomed many new faces to our first meeting for the year which outlined the plans for the social activities that will take place in 2017. It was a delightful opportunity to engage our parents in the ways they can support the St Mary's School Community this year.
Building Project
Gledhill Constructions are making good progress on the building site now that the traffic management issues have been resolved with North Sydney Council. Work to be completed during this month includes:
- Complete detailed excavation
- Shotcrete works to both elevations
- Commence in ground drainage plus hydraulics below basement slab
- Reinforce and pour concrete footings/shoring columns to Ridge Lane
- Prepare, Form, Reinforce and pour basement slab by April 12th.
Enjoy a relaxing weekend!
Kind regards,
Beverly Coffey