Dear Parents 

The season of Advent has begun. The word Advent means ‘coming’. But what are we coming to or waiting to come to us? Simply put we are waiting for the coming of Jesus or the light unto us. To receive the warmth and love of this light we are called to action.  For in this action we are answering the call of God to be more to each other. In doing so we are the light of Jesus in the world today. We can learn, act and pray during this time for a more just and fair world that is full of hope, peace, joy and love - four themes for each week leading up to Christmas.

At the moment we are busy catching up with people we have not seen in a long time. We are doing things again outside of the family home. For some this brings enjoyment and for others some angst with being ‘busy’ again. Mixed emotions can cause stress or heightened behaviour. We are seeing this at school as we move back into everyday routines and expectations.  

So we ask you to be more to each other this Advent. Be mindful that people may be feeling anxious; especially our children. The world is still topsy turvy to them and there is much talk about vaccinations and being allowed to ‘do’ things. We remain consistent in our expectations but remember to be reassuring and validate their and our own feelings. Speak openly and remember that prayer can be powerful. Take some time to be still and be grateful for each other. Be grateful for our new found freedom out of lockdown but go easy on yourselves and our children as we head into sports, visits and other activities. Be still and know that through your words and actions you can be more for those around you in the simplest of these. In essence then being the light of Christ that should be present during Advent and then shine brightly at Christmas. 

Treasa Barwick

Deputy Principal Learning and Teaching