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The Stuff of Life
Grandchildren reappeared on my horizon over the long weekend and we reflected on how blessed are our lives. As many people cautiously emerge from isolation to get on with their lives some reflect that we are sharing perhaps in the most remarkable events of our era. We begin to relish careful meetings with friends, neighbours and fellow parishioners; swapping a cheery “G’day” and sharing our personal CV stories and circumstances; and familiar standard questions and answers about family, busyness or otherwise and perhaps health and best wishes. In some senses this is “the stuff of life.”
Properly we try to craft our lives as best we can, around relationships, keeping relationships with each other and especially with God at our centre. But still there is an unsatisfied hunger for a deeper encounter with God. Jesus’ confronting message this week (Jn 6:51-57) offers a more profound expression of life. Having life within us! This is something else again; beyond simply living life, with its joys and pains, frustrations and success! Jesus calls us to “eat my flesh and drink my blood” and indeed this is the only way we will have life within us and live forever. Wow! Jesus intends to get this profound message across powerfully and so he does.
This is not “liking” Jesus on Facebook or swiping on Tinder, or swapping yarns, or agreeing to his principles and ideas, or even signing up to do his work. This is Jesus’ invitation to an incomprehensively close relationship with him, a relationship which is at the heart of his gift of himself as the food of eternal life, of Eucharist, to us.
“Human beings seek different kinds of bread to feed their deep hunger; only in Jesus will they find the bread of life that feeds it completely.” (Pagola p429). This is the ultimate Stuff of Life.
Deacon Mark Kelly
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On behalf of St. Vincent de Paul Society, St.Ita’s Conference Drouin, THANK St. Ita’s & St. Ignatius’ Parishes most sincerely for their generous support over the years and without your generosity we would not be able to help those in need. It is time for our Annual Winter Appeal. We are inspired by the Holy Spirit to care for others as Jesus did and through the Holy Spirit we are given the power to make a difference and so we are asking you to be generous in supporting us in winter 2020. Particularly in these changed times the need will be greater than ever because of job loss and financial stress due to the Coronavirus. If you are able to contribute to the Winter Appeal, then please donate by using the St. Vincent De Paul Society Web vinnies.org.au or calling 131812. Please mark your donations to be used by St. Ita’s Conference, Drouin and that will guarantee your Donation will be used to assist those in need in Drouin, Longwarry & Neerim South Communities. Thank you Sincerely. |
A Letter From Fr. Peter
Dear Parishioners, with the help of Fr John and Fr Herman we will be able to celebrate two extra Masses each Sunday for the next while.
At Warragul the extra Mass will be at 9am & 11am and at Drouin it will be at 8.30am & 10.30am. This begins on Sunday June 14.
These times allow for the necessary cleaning that has to take place after every celebration. Volunteers for this work would be appreciated. The other Masses will continue at the usual times.
Numbers are still limited to 20 persons at each celebration, plus the small number of ministers required. And booking is still being done by phoning the parish on p: 5623 1642.
However, this is enabling more of you to join in even if it is occasionally. Our churches are still being kept closed at other times and the distancing applies when you are in the church. So small steps forward but they do allow us to return to some of the public expression of our faith. Fr Peter
How good was it to see all our Grade 3-6 students re-join us back at St Ita’s on Tuesday morning? I’ve never seen so many kids come to school with smiles on their faces as they returned to school. There was a real buzz of enthusiasm with most of them just wanting to hook up with their friends after 8 weeks of remote learning.
From a Principal perspective, it was great to get back to a sense of “normal” whilst still following the social distancing and safe hygiene practices expected of schools. The collaborative effort of all within the St Ita’s learning community has been nothing short of outstanding. The parents, students and the teachers need to be commended for their efforts to work through what was a really tough time for many and hopefully we have come out the other side richer for the experience.
Tuesday gave me the opportunity to speak with many children about how they found the remote learning and their feelings and opinions were very mixed. Some children thrived and loved the independence it created. Some kids really struggled not having the support of their teacher. Some kids missed the social side of school and some kids found it challenging to get motivated each day.
The reality is that we knew all of these things would have an effect on our children and they have worked hard through the challenges and come out better for the experience. The quality of the remote learning program was as good as it gets and this was due to the amazing effort that all St Ita’s teaching staff put in. Everything they did was centrally focused on the children and their efforts were over and above.
Thanks to everyone for your amazing efforts.
HAVE YOUR SAY ON REMOTE AND FLEXIBLE LEARNING
All schools in the Diocese of Sale have now resumed onsite schooling and Remote Schooling has ceased.
The Victorian State Government has announced a community consultation opportunity regarding Remote Schooling through an online Survey. The Survey is available for completion until 3 July 2020.
Your feedback is sought to understand what lessons were learned during Remote Schooling and the challenges or opportunities to consider for strengthening the future of school education in Victoria.
As a parent / guardian / carer of a student in the Diocese of Sale, you are encouraged to complete this Survey, anonymously if you wish, before 3 July 2020. If you require further information please contact our Admin staff on 5623 7222.
CAR-LINE
FAMILY SIGNS to DISPLAY
Today, each family will receive 2 signs with your family surname on them to display either on the back of your sun visor or on the dashboard of your car to assist with the collection of students in car-line. Please make sure the sign can be read by the school staff as you are waiting in car-line, this will enable earlier identification for staff and students and assist with a smoother flow of car-line.
VICTORIA ST ENTRY
Parents please be advised in the interest of everyone's safety and keeping the road clear, that there is a no right turn into the school entry when using the Victoria St car-line from 8.30am-9am and 3pm-3.45pm. Please proceed down the hill to the roundabout to come back up the hill and turn left only into the school entry. Please do not use the bus zone to do a u-turn or cut into the top of the car line, the bus zone is a clearway and must be kept clear at all times which is why parents leave a gap in this area.
LAST DAY OF TERM BUSES
School buses will now operate on the last day of term, Friday 26th June however at the end of the school day, they will operate one hour earlier than normal departing school at 2.30pm. School will therefore finish at 2.20 pm on Friday 26th June.
SCHOOL REPORTS
Semester One school reports will be available via NFORMA online. Parents will be able to download their child’s report from the NFORMA Report portal via a password to be sent by email on Wednesday 17th June.
Please make sure your email address is correct in CareMonkey, if not, please advise the office of your correct email address in writing to: admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au & please also update your details in CareMonkey.
SCHOOL NEWSLETTER
Please don't forget to subscribe to the school newsletter via our new school website to receive a copy each each week. https://stidrouin.catholic.edu.au/
Water Bottles required
All students are to bring a water bottle to school each day as the bubble taps are not permitted to be used during COVID-19 restrictions.
Nut Free snacks & lunches
A reminder to all parents that St Ita’s is a nut free environment. We would ask all parents to refrain from sending nuts or nut products in their children’s lunch and snack. This includes Nutella, peanut butter and nuts contained in cakes or snack bars. We thank you for supporting us as we look to keep all children in our school safe, healthy and well.
School Canteen
The school canteen is now open as normal on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please order on-line via Flexischools.
Camp Australia — Before & After School Care
Camp Australia operates Before and After School Care at St Ita’s in the school hall on week-days during the school term. Please contact Camp Australia on p: 1300 105 343 or via their website for bookings and information. Click here for St Ita's Camp Australia information
2021 Sibling Enrolment Forms Now Due
Foundation enrolments for the 2021 school year are now open & we request all existing St Ita’s families with a sibling due to commence school next year, to please complete an enrolment form and return to the school office this week.
Enrolment forms are available on Care Monkey, via email or collection from the office. Please contact our Admin staff via email on: admin@stidrouin.catholic.edu.au during school office hours; Monday – Friday between 8.30am – 3.30pm and we will get one sent out to you.
Parent Teacher Interviews
End of Semester One, Parent-Teacher interviews will be conducted via a phone call during Week 11, the last week of term 2 on Monday and Wednesday for those parents that book an appointment time on-line.
Teachers will be onsite Monday 22nd June from 3.40pm to 6.00pm and 6.40pm to 7.30pm and again on Wednesday 24th June between 3.50pm and 5.30pm. Phone interviews will be 10 minutes in duration. Please contact your child's teacher if you require a longer interview time.
Please book in your preferred phone interview appointment time via the School Interviews website and enter the event code: 9mcc4
https://www.schoolinterviews.com.au/
by Mrs Jenny Adrichem
GRADE 1
The grade one’s have been busy creating a 3D self portrait from recycled materials.
They all looked fantastic! It was great to see so many happy children, they were excited about what they had made.
