Newsletter Term 1 Week 6 - Friday 7th March 2025

Dear families, 

This week saw us change seasons, moving gradually from the heat of the Aussie summer to the refreshing coolness of Autumn.  Along with the change of season we will see changes around us, such as our trees' leaves changing colour and falling to the ground.  

The Church also entered a new season, the season of Lent.  Lent is a liturgical season in which we prepare for the mystery of Easter.  This is a special time in which we joyfully embrace a ‘conversion of heart’.  A new heart and a new spirit, these are God’s gifts during Lent.  Our Lenten call is ‘Repent and believe the Good News!’

Lent is a time of self-discipline, generous concern for those in need, and prayerful reflection. 

The following reflection comes from Michael McGirr’s book 'This Cup We Bless - A tea or coffee break for every day during Lent'. 

Lent starts small. Over four days it will grow into a movement to change the world and us with it. But at the outset it asks us to remember that we are “dust”. To wear ashes on our foreheads as a reminder to keep what goes on behind our foreheads in perspective.

To use the colour purple in our worship, the colour of a bruise, a reminder that we are all hurt and need healing. To take a moment of honesty. To go into our private places and shut the door and to discover the God who finds us in our secret places and brings us into the light. To think about how we spend our time and energy and what really matters.

In our Religion classes this week,  we have been reminded that Lent is not a time for doing special things and saying prayers simply for the sake of it.  Our Lenten practices need to help us understand God’s word more clearly and to live according to that Word more generously.  May we use this time to think about how much the Gospel means to us and how well we are living up to Jesus’ message of love, compassion and relationship to God. 

I wish to thank Ellie McDougall and Ararat Secondary College for inviting us to an event for International Women’s Day. Loella, Izzy (Student Vice Captains) and I spent a morning up at the College with other female leaders in our community listening to some inspirational presentations from women connected within Ararat - some of them were past St Mary’s students! It’s important to involve our young people in celebrating the achievements of women throughout history, as well as the successes the women of our own community are accomplishing right now. The event undoubtedly activated the imaginations of the next generation of female leaders sitting within the audience. 

Every blessing for the long weekend. 
Roxanne

On Wednesday 26th February, 9 students from Grade 5 & 6 represented St Marys at the Black Ranges Division Swimming Carnival which was held at the Horsham Aquatic Centre. The following students represented St Mary's Ararat:

Scarlett Bibby - 11 y/o 50m Freestyle
Lachlan Blandford - 11 y/o 50m Freestyle & 50m Backstroke
Eva Brady - 12/13 y/o 50m Freestyle & Backstroke
Jack Christie - 12/13 y/o 50m Backstroke
Isabel Day - 12/13 y/o 50m Backstroke
Libby Harrington - 11 y/o 50m Freestyle
Isobel Lewis - 11 y/o 50m Breaststroke
James Roberts - 12/13 y/o 50m Freestyle
Loella Thomas - 12/13 y/o 50m Freestyle & Breaststroke
We also had a 12/13 y/o Girls Freestyle and Medley relay teams. 

Well done to all for representing your school with pride and humility, and for the way in which you celebrated each individual's effort on the day. A big thank you to each of the parents who helped support the running of the day and for providing transport to give our students the opportunity to compete.

The following students have qualified to go on to compete at the Regional Championships in late March:

* Eva Brady - 12/13 y/o 50m Freestyle & Backstroke
* Loella Thomas - 12/13 y/o 50m Butterfly & Breaststroke
* The 12/13 y/o Medley relay team (Eva Brady, Loella Thomas, Libby Harrington, Isabel Day)

Well done all!

Every Friday at 2.45pm in The Hub
Term 1 Dates

Friday 14th March - led by JLC1
Friday 21st March - led by MLC1 (rescheduled from 28th February)
Friday 28th March - led by SLC1

TERM 1

WEEK 7
NAPLAN Begins Yrs 3 & 5
Monday 10th March
Labour Day Public Holiday

Wednesday 12th March
Foundation students at school

Friday 14th March
Whole School Prayer @ 2.45pm - JLC1

WEEK 8
NAPLAN Yrs 3 & 5
Thursday 20th March
School Photo Day

Friday 21st March
Whole School Prayer @ 2.45pm - MLC1 (rescheduled)

WEEK 9
Friday 28th March
Whole School Prayer @ 2.45pm - SLC1

WEEK 10
Friday 4th April
Last Day of Term 1
Early finish @ 2.15pm

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
to the following students this week!

Kuno W & Ellie M