Dear Families,

It is hard to believe that we are nearly at the end of Term 1. This term has been a particularly challenging term, especially with the large number of staff and student absences and illness. While we are still seeing some disruption, students and staff seem to be getting into a bit of a rhythm.

ELC
Firstly, I would like to welcome Linda Baird to the ELC. Linda is our new office manager and started this week. I am sure you will make her feel welcome.

Our ELC is looking magnificent! We are so excited to be so close to moving in. We only have a few compliance approvals to go and we will be able to move in. Hopefully these will happen over the next week, so we may put out a request for spare hands to help move into the new space over the break.

Oval
Everything seems to be all happening at once. For those who have driven past the school recently, you will have seen our oval almost complete. Turf has been laid and we are just waiting for it to settle so we can start planting trees and shrubs. Our new fence is being erected along Lhotsky, with the remaining fence along Ginninderra to go up soon. As with all things in this current climate, rain, Covid and a shortage of materials is slowing the timeline down.

Crossing
We would like to remind families who are dropping children off in the mornings to watch out for children using the crossing at the front of the school. Primary aged children are still developing their road sense and will not always wait for cars to stop before stepping onto the crossing. We have noticed some cars racing through the crossing to drop children off at drop off and are not slowing down or stopping to wait for children about to enter the crossing. Please be extra careful as you approach the crossing knowing that children can step out at any time.

Easter message
As we approach Holy Week students are already reflecting on this time. On Monday, students participated in an online Palm Sunday Liturgy, which marks the beginning of Holy Week. During this week, students will get a sense of the triumph with which Jesus entered Jerusalem, much like an Emperor coming in through the City gates following a successful battle. But instead of bringing war to the nations, Jesus brought peace, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.” Lk 20:38.

On Thursday, they will remember the Last Supper and Good Friday. There is often a focus on Good Friday as being a time where Jesus sacrifices Himself for our sins. However, this focus often misses the point. The great ‘victory’ for Christians at Easter is that Christ conquered sin and death. God’s all powerful, all loving and magnificent response to humans torturing and killing Christ was His resurrection. Fr Richard Leonard gives a great talk of God in amongst suffering. In it, he talks about Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is also a wonderful resource for anyone who is suffering and asking “Where the Hell is God?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH6dKc-mQBE

For those who will travel (not that we can) this break, I wish you a safe journey. I wish all of you Easter Blessings and look forward to seeing you again next Term. A reminder that Monday will be ANZAC Day and Tuesday will be a pupil-free day, so students will return on Wednesday 27th April.

Take care and God bless.

Yours in Faith

Leah Taylor
Principal