Welcome to spring! What beautiful weather we are having as we herald in the warming of the earth and the preparation of the summer season. I have a family of magpies living around my backyard. Each day a pair of juvenile birds come down and poke around looking for scrapes and invertebrates to feast on. The songs and the tunes they happily broadcast to each other are iconic of the Australian summer. Often they will perch themselves on the washing line and appear to have no fear of me walking back and forth as I go about my business. They watch me intently and I will speak to them and compliment them on their beautiful singing. Moments like these allow me to enjoy the beauty of nature and push to one side all the other concerns that can take up my thoughts.  Perhaps you too have some magpies or other creatures that are living closely to you, that you are oblivious to as you go about your movements and business. Many a wise person have urged us to stop and smell the roses as we go about our day. I also encourage you, in this time of challenge,  to stop and appreciate the little things around us that remind us of God’s presence in your world and our lives.

You will have received your letter last Wednesday outlining the changes to the start and finish of term 4 this year. We are hoping that this change will alleviate some of the pressure for girls and families as we all manage our extended lockdown orders. Our thoughts go particularly to the Year 12 girls, who have been superb in managing this time preparing for their trials and HSC. We are hoping their HSC timetable will be released shortly. We also have the Year 11 in our thoughts and prayers, as they complete their Preliminary exams online and then Year 10, who will need to complete their examinations towards the end of the year. These are difficult times and we know all the girls are doing their best to stay up to date and complete their work to the best of their ability.

Next week we have engaged Danielle Millar to give a presentation on Supporting Girls Through COVID.   We have heard and read a lot recently, on the adverse impact the lockdown and restrictions are having on adolescent girls. We have no doubt, many of you are witnessing this impact in your homes at the moment. I strongly encourage you to view this presentation next Wednesday evening starting at 7pm. The link will be sent to you next week and can be found on the flyer in the community section of this newsletter. I am confident you will receive some very worthwhile information and strategies, that will assist you with supporting your daughter.

Finally, I am aware we have a number of families who are really struggling at the moment due to loss or illness of family members. Let’s keep all of these in our prayers as they manage their pain in isolation and under restrictions. I will leave you with a short prayer, St Patrick's Prayer for the Faithful.

Blessings

Sue Lennox - Principal

May the Strength of God guide us.
May the Power of God preserve us.
May the Wisdom of God instruct us.
May the Hand of God protect us.
May the Way of God direct us.
May the Sheild of God defend us.
May the Angels of God guide us.
- Against the snares of the evil one.

May Christ be with us!
May Christ be before us!
May Christ be in us,
Christ be over all!

May Thy grace, Lord,
Always be ours,
This day, O Lord, and forevermore. 

Amen

(St Patrick's Prayer for the Faithful)