Last Sunday’s readings are directing us to take a look at ourselves during the season of Lent. In the parable in the Gospel, Jesus spoke of a fig tree planted in a vineyard, which was alive, but did not fulfil its duty of bearing fruit.  When the owner went to look at it for a fruit, he found none on it. The tree had been without fruit for three consecutive years. Finally, tired of that useless tree, the man told the gardener to cut it down. The gardener asked the owner to patiently wait another year during which time he would dig around the tree and put manure on it in the hope that it would bear fruit. If that helped after one year and there was fruit on it, good; if not, then it should be cut down. 

There is not much arable land in Israel, so the fig tree had to justify its existence. The gardener had a willingness to be far more patient with the barren fig tree than the tree’s owner was.  The tree was given additional time to be productive. 

The fig tree reminds us of two kinds of human persons, those who give and those who take. Those who give symbolise the sacrifice they make and fulfil the purpose of their existence. They give what they have without holding back anything for themselves and this is in generosity. Those who only take have to justify their existence. They have to fulfil their purpose of existence.  To accept Christ’s message is to be open for conversion and change of heart. It invites the person to bear fruit and fulfil the purpose for which it has been created, namely to give. During Lent, God personally calls each one of us to return to Him with all our hearts, with fasting and prayer, so that we too are given extra nourishment just like the fig tree so that we are better able to bear fruit.

Reminder!  This Friday is the last day to submit a response to the uniform survey for the girls’ summer dress. 

At present, just like your children, staff members are undertaking a lot of new learning due to changes that are being implemented from a Diocesan level and beyond.

New learning includes:

• Landing students on progressions instead of the current continuum;
• Setting up excursions and interviews using Compass, which I am sure you would have found much quicker and easier;
• Using new compulsory templates for programming;
• National Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) which directly affects our funding, hence each teacher is being given some time on an individual basis to ensure that everything is exact; 
• Collaborative goal setting and inquiry using data; and
• Using Schoolzine to produce the school newsletter. One of the features of this program is that it provides feedback on the number of people that access this form of the newsletter. At this point, just over half of the people receiving this form of the newsletter are opening it. We find it easier to produce as we can collaborate with it rather than Rachell being responsible for compiling all of the pieces so we hope that more people start adopting its use to make it cost effective.

We are also currently undertaking readiness testing of our equipment for the upcoming NAPLAN assessments, which will be online this year for the first time.

Cross Country Carnival
Just a reminder that the Cross Country Carnival will be held next Monday. The Carnival will commence at approximately 9.30am and will be held at Alexandra Park (the park opposite the school).  The event helps promote participation, school and team spirit. All students are expected to participate to the best of their ability.  

Children will need to wear their full school sports uniform including their school hat and will need to bring lunch, afternoon tea, drinks (including plenty of water) and sunscreen.

Helpers will be needed on the day to assist with the races.  Due to the nature of the events, it is impossible to provide parents with an exact time for each race.

Parent/Teacher Interviews are being held this week.  If for whatever reason you are unable to attend your appointment, please contact the school.

Have a lovely week everyone,
Kayleen Petzer