Term 1 Week 7 of 9
Friday, 15th of March 2024
This Week’s Newsletter Items:
● Principal’s Letter
● Catholic Education Week 2024
● Harmony Week
● Student Reports - Online Link
● Easter Hampers
● Community News
● Gospel & Gospel Reflection
● Term 1 & Term 2 Dates
Dear Parents, Students & Friends,
I’m settling in well to my role as Principal of Resurrection Catholic Primary School.
On Thursday members of the school leadership team and myself completed the planning of our 2024-2027 School Improvement Plan and 2024 Plan to begin accomplishing this.
The plan is based on 4 major goals
To cultivate an inclusive learning community imbued with a Catholic worldview, where all members learn about, reflect on and engage in the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church.
To develop a whole school evidence-based pedagogical approach, The Resurrection Way, to achieve growth for all by embedding highly effective teaching strategies, both in practice and in documentation.
To build the capacity of staff through engaging in a coaching model to implement The Resurrection Way in order to promote efficacy and staff growth.
To strengthen capacity to activate and embed voice, agency and leadership that enhances engagement and empowerment for all.
We are now continuing to create ways to make these goals come alive. We are engaging in this in order to:
-strengthen the Catholic Identity of our school
- create the best programs to meet the educational needs of our students
- build our teachers' knowledge and skills in planning for the needs of our students
- help our students become more involved and engaged.
I look forward, as do our whole school team, in making these goals into a reality and building upon the great work that has already been done.
Best wishes,
Adrian Glasby
Principal
Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne to celebrate their Catholic identity, the pivotal role they play within their local community and the strength of the sector.
This year’s theme, ‘In the light of Christ’ is drawn from the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools strategic plan, MACS 2030: Forming Lives to Enrich the World. Christ is our inspiration, the very life of our purpose as Catholic educators. Everything we do is illuminated by this.
Today myself, Mr Glasby, as well as four of our school leaders are attending the annual MACS St Patrick's day Mass. We look forward to sharing that with you in next week’s newsletter.
HARMONY WEEK
Harmony Week is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds.
It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.
At Resurrection Catholic Parish Primary School we are very lucky to belong to such a diverse school community where our cultures are not only celebrated but highlighted as something that makes us so unique and special. As stated in our school vision
Called by Faith
Our Community, Diverse In Culture, Language and Tradition
Lives out Christ’s Care In Everything We Do
By Providing Excellence In Learning
To celebrate Harmony week, we are asking all students to wear a touch of Orange on Thursday 21st of March. This can be as simple as an orange bow, ribbon, socks, hat, etc. All
other clothing items must be school uniform.
We look forward to celebrating harmony week.
Mrs Jess Davis
Deputy Principal Wellbeing & Community
From time to time we are asked by parents for copies of school reports. Some are lost, needed for enrolments or other reasons. But, did you know that your child’s reports are available online for you to access anytime?
Please visit:
https://parentgcr4.nforma.com.au/portal/#/login?schooldomain=rskingspark
Or via the school website
EASTER HAMPERS
The fundraising committee are asking all students to bring in donations of the following items:
Chocolate Easter Eggs
Hampers or Baskets
Ribbons / Cellophane
Anything else Easter related!
We are asking students to bring these items into school from Monday 18th of March until Friday 22nd of March.
This year we are asking local organisations to donate gift cards and vouchers to make these hampers extra special! Over the last few weeks, members of the Fundraising Committee have been asking local companies to donate vouchers to our efforts.
A huge thank you to the following companies for their generous donations
Hoyts Cinemas Watergardens for donating a double pass movie voucher
PSW for donating a $25 voucher
Dance Generation for one free term of dance class to the value of $150
Candy’s Plaster Creations
Western Ford Car Service Voucher to the value of $450
Woolworths’s voucher to the value of $50
Woolworths Watergardens Donation of Easter Eggs to the value of $500
We are looking for parent helpers to assist with the following 2 fundraising events
Putting together Easter Hamper’s on Monday 25th from 9.00am
Organising Hot Cross Buns to be distributed to students at 2.00pm on Monday 25th March
If you can assist with either of these fundraising initiatives, please contact the office!
Congratulations to Brian from Grade 3 for his recent success with Taekwondo competitions. Brian placed second place in the separate events!
If you have an item you would like to share with our school community please email
2025 Prep Enrolments Are Now Open
We are already receiving many enrolment applications from new families; which is a wonderful sign!
To assist us in our preparation and planning, we are encouraging our current parents to please collect and complete an enrolment form and to return it as soon as possible.
If you know of a family who is interested in enrolling their child into Resurrection Catholic Primary School, let them know that EVERYDAY is open day and that school tours are always available.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 12: 20 - 33
If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest.
Among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. These approached Philip, who came from Bethsaida in Galilee, and put this request to him, ‘Sir, we should like to see Jesus.’ Philip went to tell Andrew, and Andrew and Philip together went to tell Jesus. Jesus replied to them:
‘Now the hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you most solemnly, unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life. If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him. Now my soul is troubled. What shall I say: Father, save me from this hour? But it was for this very reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name!’ A voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again. People standing by, who heard this, said it was a clap of thunder; others said, ‘It was an angel speaking to him.’ Jesus answered, ‘It was not for my sake that this voice came, but for yours. ‘Now sentence is being passed on this world; now the prince of this world is to be overthrown. And when I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw all men to myself.’ By these words he indicated the kind of death he would die.
Gospel Reflection
This week’s first reading from Jeremiah is a very powerful image and a foreshadowing of the message and ministry of Jesus. In the Jeremiah reading, the Lord announces that (yet again) a new covenant will be made between the people and their God. This time, however, the covenant will not be a collection of rules written in stone as was the case with the covenant of the Ten Commandments after the people had been led out of slavery in Egypt. The people have demonstrated that they are not able to uphold that covenant. This time, God declares that the covenant will be ‘planted deep within them’ and ‘written on their hearts’. This is a wonderful image: I will write my covenant on your heart! It is the message that Jesus tried to convey over and over again – the Law of God is not to be found in a multitude of rules and regulations but it is a Law of the heart, calling for compassion and love.
This message is no better demonstrated than in this week’s gospel passage. Jesus declares that, ‘unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest.’ He is speaking of course about his own life, but he is speaking also to those around him and those of us who read the words today. Unless we are prepared to let go of our ego, our status, our ‘reputation’, for the sake of others and respond to them from the heart then we can never experience the breadth and depth of what it means to belong to a community. When we are prepared to let go of our hang-ups and reservations to make a difference in the lives of others then the ‘harvest’ that will be gathered from those actions will be great indeed!
Historical Context Gospel Focus - Love of life
Jesus says, ‘Anyone who loves (their) life loses it; anyone who hates (their) life in this world will keep it for the eternal life.’ This can seem pretty tough! It challenges us about how much we cling to the ‘things’ of this life. Are we concerned about the labels on our clothes; the number of our friends; how much money we have; the sort of house we live in? If this is the ‘life’ that we place meaning on, then we will surely lose it. However, if we put aside the world’s focus on material things and focus our attention on others then we are assured of eternal life.
Have you thought- Why Greeks?
The gospel reading begins with some Greeks wanting to meet Jesus. Why is it significant that they were Greeks? The Jews were very clear about the distinction between Jews and non-Jews (Gentiles). Regardless of their intentions and goodwill, a Gentile was simply not a Jew. Greeks, who worshipped an entire pantheon of gods, were regarded as almost as far from Jewish belief in one God as was possible. Yet Jesus made clear that his message was for everyone: Jew and Gentile alike. His death and resurrection would bring a ‘rich harvest’ of belief among Gentiles as well as Jews.
Scriptural context - The Final Days
Today’s reading reminds us that we are closing in on the events of the Passion that we will remember more closely over the next couple of weeks. Although the Gospel of John appears to have Jesus in and around Jerusalem quite often, the events described in this week’s reading take place in the preparation for Passover, immediately before the final days leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. It is a fitting culmination to the Sunday gospels of Lent. It prepares us for the account of the Passion that will be the gospel next week.
Colour Code Key
Blue = whole school events
Red = Public holidays or major events
Green = Mass/RE events
Purple = Parent advisory board etc
Orange = Interviews/PSGs/Parent helper training etc
TERM ONE
WEEK 8
Monday 18/03
● Solemnity of Saint Patrick (Dress In Green)
● Exec Team 9.30 – 11.00am
● Whole School Assembly 2.30pm
● Team Leaders Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30 pm
● NAPLAN - Conventions of Language Grades 3 & 5
● NAPLAN - Numeracy Grades 3 & 5
Tuesday 19/03
● Saint Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary
● Parent Support Group Meetings
● Parent Advisory Committee 7.00pm – 8.00pm
Wednesday 20/03
● Parent Support Group Meetings
● Staff Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30 pm
● Eucharist and Confirmation Formation Evening 6.30pm
Thursday 21/03
● Parent Support Group Meetings
● First Eucharist & Confirmation Sacramental Sessions @ 6.30 pm
Friday 22/03
● Saint Turibius de Mogrovejo (commemoration)
● Year Level Mass followed by morning tea: Buddies (Grade Prep/5)
Saturday 23/03
● The Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord
Sunday 24/03
● Passion Sunday
WEEK 9
Monday 25/03
● Exec Team 9.30 – 11.00am
● Whole School Assembly 2.30pm
● Team Leaders Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday 26/03
Wednesday 27/03
● Staff Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30 pm
Thursday 28/03
● Holy Thursday (Whole School Liturgy)
● Last day of Term 1 & Student Dismissal 3.15pm
Friday 29/03
● Good Friday
Saturday 30/03
● The Easter Vigil
Sunday 31/03
● EASTER SUNDAY
TERM TWO
WEEK 1
Monday 15/04
Exec Team 9.30 – 11.00am
Whole School Assembly 2.30pm
Team Leaders Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday 16/04
Junior Excursion to Melbourne Zoo
Wednesday 17/04
Staff Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Thursday 18/04
Friday 19/04
Resurrection Day
Saturday 20/04
Sunday 21/04
4th Sunday of Easter
WEEK 2
Monday 22/04
Exec Team 9.30 – 11.00am
Whole School Assembly 2.30pm
Team Leaders Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday 23/04
Saint George
Saint Adalbert
Staff Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm - Vision
Wednesday 24/04
Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen
Thursday 25/04
ANZAC DAY (Public Holiday)
Friday 26/04
Saint Mark
School Closure Day - First Aid Training
Saturday 27/05
Saint Louis Grignion de Montfort
Sunday 28/04
5th Sunday of Easter
WEEK 3
Monday 29/04
Saint Catherine of Siena
Exec Team 9.30 – 11.00am
Whole School Assembly 2.30pm
Team Leaders Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday 30/04
Saint Pius V
Eucharist Parent Formation Evening 6:30-7:30pm
Wednesday 01/05
Saint Joseph the Worker
Staff Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
School Fundraising Committee (6.30pm - 7.00pm) follow by School Advisory council (7.00pm - 8.00pm)
Thursday 02/05
Saint Athanasius
Friday 03/05
Athletics Carnival
Saints Philip and James
Saturday 04/05
Sunday 05/05
6th Sunday of Easter
WEEK 4
Monday 06/05
Team Leaders Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Whole School Assembly 2.30pm
Exec Team 9.30 – 11.00am
Tuesday 07/05
Wednesday 08/05
Staff Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Thursday 09/05
Saint John I
Mother’s Day Stall
Friday 10/05
Saint John De Avila
Mother’s Day Mass (Whole School) & Morning Tea
Saturday 11/05
Saint Bernadine of Siena
Sunday 12/05
Solemnity Of The Ascension Of The Lord
Mother’s Day
Year 5/6 Sunday Family Mass 10:30am
WEEK 5
Monday 13/05
Our Lady of Fatima
Exec Team 9.30 – 11.00am
Whole School Assembly 2.30pm
Team Leaders Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday 14/05
Saint Matthias
Wednesday 15/05
Staff Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Thursday 16/05
School Photos
Friday 17/05
Year Level Mass followed by morning tea: Grade 5/6
Saturday 18/05
Saint John I
Sunday 19/05
Pentecost Sunday
WEEK 6
Monday 20/05
Mary, Mother of the Church
Exec Team 9.30 – 11.00am
Whole School Assembly 2.30pm
Team Leaders Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday 21/05
Saints Christopher Magallenes and companions
Wednesday 22/05
Saint Rita of Cascia
Staff Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Thursday 23/05
Year 4 - First Eucharist Immersion Excursion
Friday 24/05
Our Lady, Help Of Christians
Saturday 25/05
Saint Gregory VII
Saint Mary Magdalene de Pazzi
Saint Bede
Sunday 26/05
Solemnity Of The Most Holy Trinity
Year 1/2 Sunday Family Mass 10:30am
WEEK 7
Monday 27/05
Saint Augustine of Canterbury
Exec Team 9.30 – 11.00am
Whole School Assembly 2.30pm
Team Leaders Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday 28/05
Wednesday 29/05
Saint Paul VI
Staff Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Thursday 30/05
First Eucharist Parent Formation Session
Friday 31/05
The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Year Level Mass followed by morning tea: Grade 1/2
Saturday 01/06
Sacrament of First Eucharist @ 6.00pm
Sunday 02/06
Feast Of Corpus Christi
Sacrament of First Eucharist @ 9.00am
Sacrament of First Eucharist @ 10.30am
WEEK 8
Monday 03/06
Saint Charles Lwanga
Exec Team 9.30 – 11.00am
Whole School Assembly 2.30pm
Team Leaders Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Tuesday 04/06
Wednesday 05/06
Saint Boniface
Staff Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
School Fundraising Committee (6.30pm - 7.00pm) followed by School Advisory council (7.00pm - 8.00pm)
Thursday 06/06
Saint Norbert
Saint Marcellin Champagnat
Friday 07/06
Instalment 2 - Family Fee Payment Due
Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
Saturday 08/06
Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Sacrament of First Eucharist @ 9.00pm
Sunday 09/06
10th Sunday In Ordinary Time
Sacrament of First Eucharist @ 9.00am
Sacrament of First Eucharist @ 10.30am
Year 3/4 Sunday Family Mass 10:30am
WEEK 9
Monday 10/06
King’s Birthday – School Closure
Tuesday 11/06
Saint Barnabas
Parent Support Group Meetings
Wednesday 12/06
Staff Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Parent Support Group Meetings
Thursday 13/06
Saint Anthony of Padua
Reports due to leadership for proofreading
Parent Support Group Meetings
Friday 14/06
Year Level Mass with Morning Tea - Middles Year 3/4
Saturday 15/06
Sacrament of First Eucharist @ 6.00pm
Sunday 16/06
11th Sunday In Ordinary Time
Sacrament of First Eucharist @ 9.00am
Sacrament of First Eucharist @ 10.30pm
Year Prep Sunday Family Mass 10:30am
WEEK 10
Monday 17/06
Exec Team 9.30 – 11.00am
Whole School Assembly 2.30pm
Team Leaders Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Eucharist Reflection Day with Gen Bryant
Tuesday 18/06
Parent Support Group Meetings
Wednesday 19/06
Saint Romuald
Staff Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Reports back to teachers
Parent Support Group Meetings
Thursday 20/06
Parent Support Group Meetings
Friday 21/06
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
Year Level Mass followed by morning tea: Grade Prep
Saturday 22/06
Saints John Fisher and Thomas More
Sunday 23/06
12th Sunday In Ordinary Time
WEEK 11
Monday 24/06
Exec Team 9.30 – 11.00am
Team Leaders Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Whole School Assembly 2.30pm
Printing and signing of student reports
Tuesday 25/06
Wednesday 26/06
Staff Meeting 3.30pm - 4:30pm
Thursday 27/06
Saint Cyril of Alexandria
Friday 28/06
Saint Irenaeus
Last Day of Term 2
Whole School Mass
Semester 1 Student Reports Sent Home
Dismissal Time 3.15pm
Saturday 29/06
Saints Peter And Paul
Sunday 30/06
13th Sunday In Ordinary Time
