Week 11 Term 1 2022

From the Principal

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Week 11! Holy Week

As the first term reaches its conclusion, I would like to commend all students for the way they have worked this term and their positive attitude, despite interruptions and challenges of Covid. I also extend big THANKS to our staff who have been amazing this term. Please take the time to thank them as it means so much to be appreciated.

Holy Week and Easter

This week is Holy Week. This time of the year is most important for Christians as we remember Jesus’ death and resurrection, the unconditional love of God and the promise of eternal life.

Whatever your beliefs, the concept of resurrection holds deep metaphorical meaning. Essentially it is about transformation. It is about dying and letting go, so as to receive new life and new spirit. This cycle is not something that we undergo just once. Rather, it is something we can undergo daily, in every aspect of our lives - for example, letting go of the old and making way for the new, letting go of what is not helpful to us and embracing that which is, or changing our view of a situation from a negative one to a positive one.

Our IHM community is one where we are loved and accepted for who we are and each day is a new rising, as we work together with hope and love for our beautiful children and the renewal of our world.

May the promise of hope, love and connectedness be with you and your families this Easter!

Ukrainian Easter Eggs - Pysanky

These beautiful painted Easter eggs are to bless every part of life as talismans of prosperity, fertility, healing and protection, long life and bounty. I have fond memories of spending hours decorating our pysanky each Easter.

These then placed them in a special basket with Easter bread (paska), greenery and covered with special embroidered cloth, to be blessed at church on Easter Saturday and then shared for Easter Sunday breakfast.

This year the eggs and their symbolism hold very special meaning and wishes. Let us especially pray for peace in Ukraine and the world.

IHM will be an Election Polling Centre - May 21st 8am - 6pm

We have a great opportunity to raise some funds for the school as our beautifully renovated hall is being used as a Polling Booth. Please consider donating goods or helping with the democracy sausage sizzle for an hour or so on the day. Many hands make light work! More information in the P & F section.

Happy Holidays

It has been a long and rewarding term and I would like to wish you all a safe, restful and enjoyable school holiday. I hope that you have the opportunity for some quality family time together. May your family and home be blessed with good health, love and joy during this Easter season.

See you next term!

Warmest wishes,

Pauline Kinsman
PRINCIPAL

From the Assistant Principal

Happy Holidays

I would like to begin by saying how exceptionally proud Pauline and I are of our teachers and staff during these extraordinary times. We are also very grateful for the IHM community support as we deal with this complex and ever changing situation. As a school, we are navigating these changes as best we can and with as little disruption to teaching and learning as possible.

Despite the different start and COVID restrictions, there has been much to look forward to in our IHM community and are proud of the events we have been able to have in Term 1.

Some of the highlights were:

Our Harmony Day - Wall of Hope flowers
1/2 H Class Mass
Whole School Excursion working with Aboriginal Artist Tjimari the Kumarninthi director and his sister Iteka to create Painted Poles for the Ovingham overpass
SACPSSA Swimming Carnival
House Leader Broadcast
Clean Up Australia
RAA Street Smart Program
Crazy Hat Day
R/1 Excursion Tea Tree Gully Heritage Museum
Shrove Tuesday
IHM Coin Challenge

IHM Coin Challenge - Project Compassion

What a sensational job our House Leaders did in organizing, coordinating, and supporting students in our IHM Coin Challenge. We were very impressed with the number of coins brought in. The total length of the coin line was a massive 107.21m. We raised in total $865.00 for Project Compassion.

Well done to 1/2 H for their 28 metre line of coins and to 2/3 PB who raised $270.30. Impressive!!!

Below are the total amounts raised for each class.

R/1 T - $138.35

R/1 M - $54.20

1/2 H - $143.25

2/3 PB - $270.30

4/5 FW - $185.60

5/6 C - $73.95

Holy Week

Easter

In the school holidays we will celebrate Easter which is Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. It will be celebrated this Sunday, and marks the end of Holy Week, the end of Lent, the last day of the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday), and is the beginning of the Easter season of the liturgical year. Easter is not just a single day of celebration in the Christian Tradition – it’s an entire season where we celebrate new beginnings. Easter is celebrated for 50 days up until Pentecost.

We always see eggs around at Easter time as eggs remind us of new life. In the Northern Hemisphere, Easter occurs during spring time and in the spring we see bird nests filled with eggs which represents the gift of new life.

I think a well-deserved break is needed and I wish everyone a safe and happy school holidays.

ANZAC Day April 25^th

107 years have passed since Australia’s involvement in the First World War. ANZAC commemorates Australia’s involvement in World War I and remembers anyone who has served in a war or conflict as well as those men and women still serving in the Defence Forces today. ANZAC Day is when we remember the anniversary of the landing on Gallipoli in 1915. It is also the day we remember all Australians who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations. The spirit of ANZAC, with its human qualities of courage, “mateship”, and sacrifice, continues to have meaning and relevance for our sense of national identity.

“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old.”

Yet in our growing we allow them to flourish.

In our days and years, their memory finds an ample place

“At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them.”

Wishing you safe and happy holidays.

Annette Diassinas
APRIM