For our community, Easter is the key celebration within our calendar. Holy Week is the final week of Lent and a time where we recall the events leading to Jesus’ death and resurrection. On Sunday, we will celebrate the story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where he was welcomed by crowds worshipping him and laying down palm leaves before him. On Easter Thursday, we recall that Jesus was arrested and tried. Jesus shared his Last Supper with his disciples. Jesus was crucified on Friday. He was buried the same day and arose three days later, on Easter Sunday. Our Assistant Principal of Catholic School Culture, Mr Tony Haintz, has written an article about the Passion that leads to Easter and has included Mass times for this year's Holy Week. These details can be found here.

Tomorrow we move into the John Shannon Centre for our Easter Liturgy. It is poignant that it is for Easter that we come back together as an entire school community for prayer and reflection. Additionally, we take this opportunity to farewell a small number of staff who will be leaving us at the end of this term;

Nicole Saleta, who has supported us in Science as a Lab Technician, makes the move to Bacchus Marsh Grammar in a full-time Lab Tech role; Damian Foster, who has been part of the ICT team, and has made the move to the Catholic Education Office – DOBCEL; Learning Support Officer Vicki Williams takes on a new role at Mt Clear College in Student Counselling; Joel Cassidy returns to full-time study to finish off his Music Teaching degree, and finally, Matthew Byrne our Principal of 13 years is finishing up at Damascus College at the end of this week to take up the role of Deputy Director of Catholic Education at Catholic Education Ballarat. Further details of Matt’s time at Damascus and farewell can be found here. We wish our outgoing staff all the best in their next journey ahead.

Assistant Principal of Student Wellbeing, Mr Andrew Robertson, is taking some well deserved Long Service Leave for Term 2. Ms Hannah Keating and Mr Daniel Jans will be filling in as Co-Acting Assistant Principals of Student Wellbeing, along with their current interim role of Assistant Head of Xavier and St Martin Houses, respectively. We wish Andy all the best during this time and look forward to welcoming him back in Term 3.

The College community is currently working together to support Project Compassion, the Catholic aid agency of the Catholic Church. Families are encouraged to support this fundraising activity by equipping students to make a donation on the casual dress day this Friday. Students will work six shortened lessons on Friday before a 2:18pm dismissal.

Term 2 will commence on Tuesday, 26^th April.

I remind families that there will be changes to our Mobile Phone policy at the College, beginning in Term 2. Mobile phones brought to school must be switched off and stored securely in student lockers without use during the entire school day.

Our collective aim in enacting this policy is to provide;

1. A safe environment to learn without inappropriate mobile phone use (including cyberbullying) or distractions.
2. Greater opportunities for engaging relationships with social interaction and physical activity during recess and lunchtimes.
3. Improvements in student achievement.
4. Increase in student wellbeing and decrease in mental health concerns.

Students have been encouraged to talk with their parents/guardians about these upcoming changes. To enable a smooth transition to the new policy, we kindly ask for your support at home in encouraging students to make appropriate adjustments and choices. Families are invited to view the new Mobile Phone policy here.

If you have a child in Year 10 who has work experience next term and the paperwork has not been returned to the College, could you please attend to this as soon as possible. For any student who has not yet secured a place, there will be an expectation of attendance at school for the entire week to undertake virtual work experience opportunities. However, the preference is for all students to source and complete a work placement.

This is just a reminder that Year 7 immunisations will occur in the first week back of term on Wednesday morning, 27th April. Remi, our therapy dog, will be available to support our students throughout the morning. All Year 7 students are to return their immunisation cards to the College, whether they are being immunised or not.

Students will be able to wear Summer or Winter uniform (but not a mixture of both) for the first two weeks of next term. Can I ask families to please get out their Winter uniform now and attend to it if there needs to be some alterations made. As parents, daughters will say to you that no one else has their skirt to knee length – please hold firm in supporting the College requirement and ensuring that it is the required length to avoid unnecessary and embarrassing follow up! There is also a pant option if students are uncomfortable with the skirt or an appropriate length.

You may also be pressured to purchase a rain jacket. This item of uniform was introduced to cover the expensive blazer as students walk to and from school or as they wait at bus stops. It is an optional item of uniform.

Holidays should be holidays, but I encourage families to log onto PAM and ensure that you are up to date with your student’s progress in their respective studies. Holidays may provide an opportunity to catch up on work that has been missed or to create a summary of first term learnings. Year 12 students are now one-third of the way through their learning program, so a comprehensive revision of content to date will be important.

It is quite an exciting time that we can welcome back families onsite to our Mothers Day Liturgy and Breakfast. This event takes place on Thursday, 5th May, from 7:15am. Numbers are limited; however, there are still a small number of tickets available. More information about the event can be found here, and a link to book tickets at https://www.trybooking.com/BYQHO.

We keep the Sisters in our thoughts and prayers as Sr Tricia Vagg of Community South B died peacefully at St John of God Hospital, Ballarat, on Monday. We remember Tricia’s ministry contributions over the years as a dedicated teacher, principal and pastoral worker in Ballarat and the Western District in Victoria. Tricia, a fine woman of Mercy, is now gently held in the loving embrace of her God. May she rest in peace.

I wish everyone well for a blessed Easter and a safe and happy holiday.

Unit next term…Chris