Siena Catholic Primary School
Laps for Life and Laundry – What a Great Morning!
Well done to all the Siena Primary children, staff and family members who walked, danced, and smiled their way through our hour-long Laps for Life and Laundry venture on the last day of Term 1 for Caritas, St Vinnies, and Orange Sky Laundry through our Project Compassion Quest for Lent. What a terrific atmosphere of joy, community spirit and commitment to assist our poorest of poor in the world. Many thanks to all those who donated to our venture including family businesses, school families, children, staff and parishioners. We are so truly humbled by the response from our Siena Primary family raising over $11,000 for the most vulnerable. WOW!
This is our call, as Christians, to assist the marginalised and the charity shown by our Siena community reflects God’s love in action.
Stella Maris Primary School
There is no doubt that if our original ANZACs could have seen the engagement of the Stella Maris Catholic Primary School community in both the lead up to ANZAC Day and the day itself, their hearts would have swelled with pride. The spirit of those ANZACs continues to touch hearts and impact the lives of even the littlest Australians, over a hundred years after the first ANZACs arrived at the shores of Gallipoli.
Our formal acknowledgement of ANZAC day began with a whole school prayer assembly, dedicated to recognising the sacrifice of all service men and women and their families; praying for peace; and committing to being peacemakers in our world today. While our Year 6 students led us in prayer and reflection, Mr Ballam spoke about how we can honour the legacy of the ANZACs today. Our Stella Fellas choir performed a soul-stirring rendition of The Last ANZAC before each class placed a wreath in our sacred space. Mrs McNamara (a current staff member and past member of the Royal Australian Navy) recited The Ode and then you could have heard a pin drop during the playing of the Last Post, the minute’s silence and the Reveille. After a spirited singing of the National Anthem, we all followed the procession of wreaths to where they were displayed in our Path of Remembrance.
And then on ANZAC Day itself, a record number of over 200 students and staff represented the school in the march from the Maroochydore RSL and following service.
May we all continue to learn from the past, look to the future with hope and live like Jesus taught us.
Siena Catholic College
We have all hit the ground running at the start of a new term. Teachers spent time over the break catching up with marking and report writing, while students kept up with revision and assignments – all while finding some time with family and friends in order to recharge for the term ahead.
The week began with school photos and there was much tying back of hair and polishing of smiles -in preparation for the taking of a perfect image to grace the refrigerator door of grandparents everywhere.
On Wednesday we joined in a prayer for Earth Day – which asks us to consider how we care for our common home. Creator God, open us to see Your presence in all of creation, and show us how to safeguard and protect its beauty. We ask this in the name of your Son, who taught us about the sacredness and interconnectedness of all of life. Amen.
Sport has also played a big part in the week. Rugby teams across all year levels took to the field on Wednesday night, while on Thursday afternoon all students ran the often-muddy Cross Country track.
