PRINCIPAL's MESSAGE
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL PARENTS
I want to publically thank all parents for the way they have taken up the role of assisting their child with their learning. Parents have not replaced the teachers but are now playing a significant supporting role in maintaining a continuity of learning. Your role is crucial and will continue to be so as we move into Term 2 with a continuation of the current situation re social distancing and isolation. A big thank you to all parents.
The last few weeks at John Therry has been eerily quiet without the handball, basketball games, student chatter and laughter and the learning noise that is usually so apparent. The Staff have spent this week up-skilling and learning better ways to deliver learning remotely, reviewing the current continuity of learning plans and altering upcoming assessments. I thank them very much as well.
THIS WEEK THAT WE CALL HOLY
We are now well into Holy Week after the commencement last weekend with Palm Sunday (also called Passion Sunday). So how has it been different for you? How have you made this single week, out of the fifty-two in the year, special or holy? Has it been difficult to focus on your faith in this world of coronavirus?
There is still time to start on Holy Thursday – the start of the Easter Triduum. Three 24 hour periods remembering the suffering, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.
As Catholics we are called to attend all liturgies that occur on these very important days. But that will not be possible in our present circumstances. There are a number of services that will be streamed live for these significant events and I urge you to take up thus option. Over the last few weeks both Bishop Brian (go to https://www.dow.catholic.edu.au/ for the link) and Fr Sarkis (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClQhkeubtYCBu_elfcglmaw) have used this message to allow us to enter into our Sunday and weekday services.
Holy Thursday is the Mass of the Lords Supper, while Good Friday is the veneration of the Cross (where we vividly recall the journey of Jesus to the cross and his death). While the Easter Vigil on Saturday is the main celebration of the period and lasts a little longer and starts later than the usual Saturday mass. It was here that the faithful waited outside the tomb of Jesus. The Jewish Sabbath commenced at sunset on Friday and the body of Jesus was not fully prepared for burial – so they waited during Saturday, praying and mourning.
Finally we reach Easter Sunday, where Jesus rises and provides hope for the world.
The purpose of the three days is not to re-enact historical events, but rather to the engage the paschal mystery as it is being celebrated in the midst of those gathered. The power of this cannot be underestimated. These three days become our preparation for our willing participation in the paschal mystery, so that it becomes our way of being Christian in our daily lives.
I wish all families a safe and happy Easter break filled with the promise of hope and encourage all to make the effort to connect with this most powerful faith filled time of our Church.
LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOLS
Attached to this Newsletter (and sent separately as well) is a letter from Mr Peter Hill and myself, summarizing the turbulent last few weeks and plotting the way ahead. I urge all to please take the time over the holiday period to read it carefully.
P/T/S INTERVIEWS
As previously mentioned, because Staff are contacting students and parents in a different way with online learning, and with social distancing implications, the interviews have been cancelled. Parents wishing to discuss the learning of their child are encouraged to contact the class teacher or Pastoral Coordinator via Compass email.