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Last Sunday’s Gospel reminds us of the need to examine ourselves and to avoid passing any judgement on others. Generally there is a tendency within us to find fault in others and point the finger at them. The Gospel presents a sharp contrast between the cruelty of the scribes and Pharisees and the compassion of Jesus. The scribes and Pharisees had no regard for the woman who had sinned and brought her to Jesus. They were only interested in using her to try to trap Jesus.
Jesus knew what they were up to and as usual was full of compassion. He handled this serious offence delicately. He challenged both the accused and the accusers: he called on both to look deep into their hearts and examine them.
Jesus’ final words to the woman were “Go away and don’t sin any more”. Jesus transformed her into a new person.
Jesus placed a bigger challenge before the accusers. He asked them to consider their own actions and their own shortcomings. He told them to look into themselves before passing any judgement on others. They knew too well that they had to be honest regarding their sinfulness and they could not publicly accuse a person while they were sinful.
If we had been there that day, what would we have done? Would we have condemned the guilty woman too? Even during the past week, how many people have we condemned in our hearts or in our words? In our society the instinct is to punish and even destroy the wrongdoer. Are we regular readers of newspapers, magazines or watchers of TV programs which delight in putting people down and publicisng problems in their private lives? Every day we see the media condemning and even claiming to be "shocked" by the misdemeanours of the famous and the not so famous. How do we think Jesus would deal with such people?
How many people have we ourselves passed judgement on? On the other hand, how many have we extended a hand of love and compassion to? In these last weeks of Lent, let our challenge be to not just refrain from throwing the stones, but being a part of restoring wrongdoers to the community.
This year our school will still participate in the Mittagong march even though it is in the holidays. We would appreciate any students and family members who are able to represent our school in this significant Australian event to join us. Could any students attending please wear their winter school uniform and meet at the Visitors' Centre in Mittagong at 10.15am.
Due to ANZAC day falling during the school holidays, there will be no staff attending this year’s dawn service.
Holy Week Liturgy and Assembly
The Holy Week Liturgy will take place on Friday at 11:40 in the hall. Easter will be celebrated with a Mass next term. The usual Friday assembly will start at 2pm this week followed by the Easter Raffle draw.
Uniforms
Students return to school wearing their winter uniforms. Please find accompanying a uniform list so that you are aware of the correct uniform. The new tunic for the girls will commence being worn this season and will be phased in over the next two years. If the weather is warm on our return please use your discretion as to which uniform to wear but please make sure it is one or the other, not a combination of both. Please take note of our policy for haircuts. Some students are coming to school with haircuts that draw attention to them, please save those styles for holiday times.
Kinder Enrolments
This is the last week for applications for Kindergarten for 2020. If you have not returned forms or know of someone who needs an application please take care of this by Friday.
Girls’ Summer Uniform
Thank you to the large number of people who responded to the survey. The results are overwhelmingly in support of the dress with the red trim.
Mimosa have quite a few of the current style uniforms still in stock that they are selling at a reduced price. As the new uniform will be phased in over a two year period, the current uniform can continue to be worn. If you were considering a new uniform, a second uniform or want to last out the time your daughter has left with us, as they are in Years 5 & 6 you might consider purchasing one of those uniforms. Attached is an order form for you to complete, just as you do with the shirts. If we put the order in through the school the dresses will be at a heavily reduced price of $30 each so it will be first in best dressed.
Free to Good Home
We still have a few old style chairs that we no longer require. Please contact the office if you would like some or all of them.
It is hard to believe that it is the end of the first term already. Have a wonderful break away from routine over the coming two weeks.
The staff and students wish everyone a happy, safe and holy Easter.
Kayleen Petzer
Congratulations to the following students who were nominated for Student of the Week:Kinder - Tom Burns
Year 1 – James Scott-Blackley
Year 2 – Arabella Compton
Year 3 – Sebastian Cox
Year 4 – Morgan Goodfellow
Year 5 – Daniella Padovano
Year 6 – Abigail Frank
The trophies were presented to: Sebastian and Daniella
Keep up the wonderful work!
A reminder that the 2nd Rite of Reconciliation is being offered on Monday 15th April at 6:30 pm. This is the first week of the school holidays (Holy Week) and will take place at St Thomas Aquinas Church, Bowral. Several priests will be in attendance.
Holy Week is a special time in the Church calendar. There are many meaningful services and liturgies celebrated across Mittagong and Bowral.
Liturgies of Holy Week 15 to 21 April
| Monday | 2nd Rite of Reconciliation | 6.30pm | Bowral |
| Holy Thursday | Mass of the Lord's Supper | 7.00pm | Bowral |
| Good Friday | Stations of the Cross Celebration of the Lord's Passion |
10.00am 3.00pm |
Bowral Bowral |
| Saturday | Solemn Easter Vigil |
6.00pm |
Bowral |
| Easter Sunday | Mass |
7.30am |
Mittagong |
| Mass |
9.00am |
Bowral | |
| Mass |
6.00pm |
Bowral |
On Thursday all of our classes will gather together in the Hall for a special liturgy to remember the events of Holy Week. Early next term we will also come together for a Whole School Mass to celebrate the season of Easter.
Yesterday children from Year 3 to Year 6 walked the outdoor ‘Stations of the Cross’ at “The Hermitage” (A Retreat and Spirituality Centre in Mittagong). Br Bill kindly provided us with bus transport to and from the site. It was a meaningful experience for the children to experience the Stations in the lead up to Holy Week. Classes from Kindergarten to Year 2 will view the Stations of the Cross inside our beautiful church this week.
It would be appreciated if any final donations for Project Compassion could be made this week. All money raised will be sent to Caritas Australia and help people in great need.
Mr Richard Tuckwell, REC
Woolworths Earn and Learn is coming in 2019. Between 1 May and 25 June 2019 collect as many stickers as you can and send them in to the school. We are grateful for your support and look forward to being able to receive some amazing resources for our school.
Attention Parents/Carers - Are your contact details up to date?
Please ensure you advise the school immediately should your email, mobile, address or emergency contacts change.
We have attached our Change of Details form that can be found on our website under Parent Links Forms/Notes should you wish to complete and email to info@smmdow.catholic.edu.au
Health Warning
We have been advised of a case of Impetigo in the school. Please see the fact sheet attached for further details.
At the end of March, I was very fortunate to attend the Religious Education Congress in Los Angeles. Staff from the Catholic Education Office, St Thomas Aquinas (Bowral), St Pauls (Moss Vale), St Anthonys (Picton) as well as Fr Sean and I from St Michael's Mittagong, attended this Congress. Over 23,000 people registered for the Congress with 193 speakers and 308 workshops. It was an amazing experience to be there amongst so many Catholic educators and people in a variety of ministries from around the world.
A highlight of the Congress, were the many liturgical experiences that were celebrated each day and the guest speakers who presented information around current practices in Catholic Education and global issues, such as the focus of the Congress "Thirsting For Justice". Most Reverend Jose H Gomes, the Archbishop of Los Angeles said, "We hear in this theme Our Lord’s promise from his Sermon on the Mount: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Righteousness in the Scriptures means “rightness” or jus- tice. This is how God calls us to live – to walk with Jesus and to grow in holiness, to seek his Kingdom through works of justice for the poor and vulnerable. What we are all thirsting for is Jesus Christ."
We were very fortunate to visit a Catholic Primary School, St Irenaeus in Cypress, California. This school caters for children from Transitional Kindergarten to Grade 8. I sincerely thank Mrs Monica Hayden, St Irenaeus' School Principal, for being so welcoming and showing us around her school. This school runs solely on parent contributions. There is no government assistance offered to religious schools in the USA. It is a real credit to their staff and parents, that the school can operate so well under such limited financial resourcing. We were amazed to hear that the staff are only paid for 10 months of the year and their wage is not comparable to that of their government school system's staff. If you would like to see a short highlight video of St Irenaeus School, I have added a link here:
We also had the opportunity to spend a day of reflection at the Mission of St John Capastrano in San Juan Capistrano, California. This mission was established in 1776, to spread Christianity to the peoples of that region. Today the Mission is a place for spiritual reflection, education and worship. It was fascinating to see a place so rich in history.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fr Sean and the community of St Michael's for supporting me in my journey to the Congress and the Catholic Education Office, for providing such a wonderful experience for not only myself but all of the representatives from the schools of the Southern Highlands Schools.
Mrs Katrina West
Assistant Principal
Listed below are some important school dates. The school calendar is updated regularly and can be accessed via the school website and Compass parent portal.
APRIL
| Thursday 11th | 'Hot Dog Lunch' pre-orders only |
| Friday 12th |
Earlier Assembly - 2pm |
| Monday 29th | First day of Term 2 - students return to school Students return to school in winter uniform |
MAY
| Wednesday 1st | Kinder 2020 Interviews (new families) |
| Monday 6th | Kinder 2020 Interviews (siblings) |
| Tuesday 7th | Diocesan Cross Country |
| Wednesday 8th | Years 5 and 6 excursion to Canberra |
| Friday 10th | P&F Mother's Day Stall |
| Tuesday 14th - Friday 24th | Naplan online |
| Saturday 18th May | Confirmation |
| Friday 31st May | Year 1 and 2 Excursion P&F Pyjama Night fundraiser |
Easter Raffle/ Guessing Competition
Thank you so much to all our wonderful families who have supported this year's Easter Raffle. All Easter Raffle tickets (sold and unsold) should be returned to the school by Wednesday, with raffle prizes to be drawn at this Friday's assembly. The winner of the guessing competition will also be drawn.
Happy birthday to the following students who celebrate a birthday this week:
Olivia L, Matilda C and Max G
Happy birthday to the following students who celebrate a birthday during the school holidays:
Maxwell A, Samuel P, Isaac C, Halle W and Dylan O.
