5^th March 2010

Newsletter 7/2010

Dear Parents

I trust that everyone enjoyed the mid-term break that we had last week Friday. We only have one of these in the year so for those not able to make use of such luxuries need not worry about having to do it again, and apologies to the others that we don’t have more.  Certainly from the point of view of the staff, it seems that most benefitted from the day at St Paulus, as one put it “It is food for my soul”.  A couple of years ago the Catholic Schools Office dedicated the year to the Teacher with the theme being “caring for the caregiver”, perhaps that is the kind of day that is envisaged by having events like this planned for our teachers.

Thank you to the parents who have had to make the necessary adjustments to their schedules to cope with the High School students picking up litter.  Most of you seem to accept the fact that we are all responsible for this problem and as such we all need to be doing our bit.  All too often we can believe that it is a job that needs to be done by others – those who are naughty, those who are here to do a service, those who are employed to do the job.  However, we all have to take responsibility for the problem.

Today sees the first of the PTA fund-raising events: The Swimathon.  I trust that it is going to be a successful event. Thank you to all the parents who have already made many donations.  Once the event has occurred and the children know how many lengths they have swum, they need to start collecting the money.  I would like to finalise this event by Monday the 15^th of March.  After that we will announce all the prize winners.

Last week I wrote about the problems we are experiencing with the children in the late afternoon.  It is evident that two things have happened.  The first is the marked improvement in the behaviour of those very children. In addition, however, several incidents have been reported to management and those children have been given their corresponding punishment.

As we come to the last third of the term there are a couple of dates that parents need to be aware of:

The Annual St Patrick’s Day (17^th March – for the uninitiated) will be celebrated with two Masses, the first at 07:30 and the second at 09:40.  Anybody is welcome to attend.

The Annual Careers Evening will be held on Tuesday 9^th March, starting at 18:00.  All Grade 9 & 11 pupils must to attend other grades may also attend.

Parent Evenings will be coming up in the last week of the term, please check the calendar for details.

The priest is not a priest for himself; he does not give himself absolution; he does not administer the Sacraments to himself. He is not for himself, he is for you. (...) When people wish to destroy religion, they begin by attacking the priest, because where there is no longer any priest there is no sacrifice, and where there is no longer any sacrifice there is no religion. (...) – St John Vianney

Yours truly

PR ROSS

HEADMASTER