2024 Week 10 Term 4

A Prayer for Christmas Eve
May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of angels, the eagerness of the
shepherds, the determination of the magic, and the peace of Christ the child. Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy
Spirit bless you now and forever.
Amen

Catholic Culture News

Francis' Focus – Who better to help guide us in the true depth and meaning of our Catholic faith than the charismatic and authentic leader of our Church, Pope Francis. Below, Pope Francis reflects upon Sunday’s Gospel and what our preparation through Advent calls us to be as we move towards the celebration and true meaning of Christmas – may our hearts be opened by the Grace of God to the loving presence of Christ so that, in turn, we can open our hearts with love towards the needs of one another:
‘The voice of the Baptist still cries in the deserts of humanity today’, says Pope Francis. There is, the Pope observes, a desert of indifference in our world filled with ‘closed minds and hardened hearts.’
During Advent we are all called to heed the Baptist’s cry. Christians, the Pope suggests, should therefore repent from any selfish inaction on our part. We cannot simply affirm that ‘we’re okay’ because we are Christian and that ‘things are fine as they are and we don’t need any kind of conversion.’
Rather, the Pope encourages us to ask ourselves whether ‘we have within us the same feelings that Jesus has? Is it true that we feel as Christ feels?’ Do we see the needs of others – for forgiveness, companionship, or aid – or are we focused on ourselves?
Having heard the cry, we are also called to share the Baptist’s mission to make Jesus known. And the best way to preach the Gospel, the Pope advises, ‘is to open a door.’
We open a door to belief when our faith is lived authentically and we are attentive to those around us. We must ‘lay low the mountains of pride’, the Pope affirms, ‘fill in the ravines dug by indifference and apathy’, and ‘make straight the paths of our laziness and our compromises.’

2025

Week Zero
Friday 31 January -  Staff Development/Administration day

Week 1
Monday 3 February - Wednesday 5 February

Year 1 -  Year 6

Mathematics Assessment Interviews (MAI)

Thursday 6 February - First Day of School - Students return

Monday 3 February - Friday 7 February -  Best Start Interviews

Week 2
Monday 10 February - Kindergarten 

First Day of School

Christmas Mass Times

Our Lady of Lourdes Wauchope

Chrismas Vigil  - Tuesday 24 December 2024 - 6.00 pm

Chrismas Day Mass - Wednesday 25 December 2024 - 7.30 am

Long Flat 

Christmas Day Mass - 25 December 2024 - 9.30 am

Your child's Semester Two reports were published on Compass last Friday 13 December 2024.

Semester Two reports will reflect your child's learning across all subject areas taught during the second half of the year. These reports will follow the same format as Semester One and incorporate the updated Mathematics and English curriculum for Kindergarten to Year 6. This change ensures alignment with the latest educational standards, current research, and Diocesan consistency.

To discuss your chid's report, please contact your child's classroom teacher.

1. Go into your Compass app

2. Tap on your child's face

If you have difficulties accessing the reports through Compass please contact the school Office 6585 1745 and ask to speak with Ms Solares.

Graduation Mass

Year 6 Fun Day - Stoney Aqua Park

Step Up Day

As Christmas approaches, we are reminded of the importance of nurturing positive, meaningful relationships in our children’s lives. In a world where digital interactions are becoming increasingly common, this festive season offers an opportunity to help our children focus on the value of real-world connections. 

Encouraging a Digital Pause 

The holidays are an ideal time to step back from the pressures of social media and online communication. We encourage you to consider helping your child take a break from these platforms—perhaps even closing their accounts—to rediscover the joy of being fully present in the moment. These platforms can sometimes expose children to unnecessary pressures or inappropriate content, and taking a break from them can create space for healthier, more fulfilling interactions. 

Building Social Skills 

The skills children develop in real-life interactions are essential for their growth. Over the Christmas break, encourage your child to engage in activities that strengthen these skills, such as outdoor play, family games, and community involvement. These moments not only build strong relationships but also lay the foundation for their future wellbeing and success. 

Resources for Parents 

To support you, we recommend the following trusted resources that provide practical advice to help you create a safe and positive environment for your child, both online and offline.

• eSafety Commissioner: Provides valuable information on online safety, bullying prevention,      and managing your child’s digital footprint.
• ThinkUKnow: Provides education on cyber safety, empowering both parents and children to navigate the digital world securely, including guidance on trends and risks.
• Parentline NSW: Confidential and free counselling service offering support and guidance for parents and carers on a range of topics including managing family dynamics and children’s behaviours (1300 1300 52). 

Our Catholic schools are deeply committed to helping students build the emotional resilience and social intelligence they need to flourish. Your support at home plays an essential role in this journey. By guiding our children toward meaningful offline interactions, we equip them with the tools to become compassionate, respectful, and confident individuals - today and in the future. 

May this Christmas be a time of peace, joy, and love for your family.

Bishop Greg’s  

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2024  

For a brief time, each year our thoughts turn from the business and worry of life  to a newborn child in a manger. In the silence of Christmas night, we hear the  secret hopes of our hearts and rekindle the trust and gaze of our childhood. The  past is gone, if only we could fashion our future from the joy of Christmas. This is  a season of hope in which we are called to believe in goodness, truth and beauty.  Moreover, we are challenged to believe in ourselves and each other. 

As we look at the crib we tend to identify with the baby. Curiously we do not  associate with Mary or Joseph, and certainly not with the shepherds or the wise  men. The baby Jesus carries our hopes, our fears and our future. He does not  threaten us, we are not afraid of him. God comes into the world as a baby so that  he can grow with us. We can also grow with God. Jesus shares each of our pains,  difficulties and joys. In the baby, God and humankind are one. Jesus comes into  the world to show us how to believe in ourselves and each other with confidence. 

Take some time to pray. In prayer we are moved by Christmas. Suddenly joy  becomes part of us, and we begin to see life with greater optimism and hope. This  is the miracle of Christmas. May you be gifted with the spirit of Christmas. 

With my prayers and wishes this Christmas and New year.