Christians attempt to comfort sufferers by touting the benefits of suffering. “Suffering builds character,” we say. “I don’t want character,” says the sufferer. “I want relief.” Then come the inevitable questions: “Why does God let bad things happen?” and “Where is God when it hurts?”

The care that parents give their children suggests answers to both questions. For example, suppose a seven-year-old girl is taking her first ride on a bicycle. Her father, running alongside her, sees that she is about to hit a rough spot on the road but restrains his impulse to reach out and steady the bike. The dad wants his little girl to learn how to ride with confidence, so he does not prevent her fall. When the bike bounces off the bump, the girl panics, tumbles to the pavement, and scrapes her elbow and knee. The dad scoops her up into his arms and comforts her. Then he carries her into the house, cleans and dresses her scratches, holds her on his lap, and tells her a favourite story.

God is like that dad. He lets us navigate our way, but he stays alongside us. He does not prevent bad things from happening because he wants us to learn to deal confidently with hardship. But when we suffer, God scoops us up and stays with us. He shares our pain, sustains us, and consoles us.

That’s the message of the cross, and signing ourselves opens us to hearing it. God’s only Son became a man in Christ. In his human nature, God himself suffered rejection, humiliation, ridicule, abandonment, buffetings, scourging, crucifixion, and death. He embraced suffering as a man so that he could comfort us in our suffering.

When we make the sign of the cross we invite the Lord to join us in our suffering. We touch our forehead and move down to our breast, telling the Lord with this gesture that we want him to bend down to us. Then we cross our shoulders in a movement that asks him to support us—to shoulder us—in our suffering.     

(From The Sign of the Cross by Bert Ghezzi)

Week 9

We pray that all have a safe and holy Easter break over the next four days. I hope your Easter will be a time of rest and reflection. May the Risen Lord break into our lives and transform us. Students return on Tuesday 3 April.

Our Year 9 students were excellent in their re-enactment of the Passion today. Congratulations to all students involved – you should be very proud of your efforts. Thanks to Mr Dan O’Brien for working with the students so tirelessly and adding his interpretation to this very meaningful and reflective prayer.

Our students will once again pray this Passion prayer at Mass on Good Friday at 3pm. Please join them in the Sacred Heart Church.

Staffing changes Term 2

It is with mixed feelings that I announce that Katie Thompson will be taking on the role of Acting Assistant Principal at St Mary’s Young for the remainder of the 2018 school year. We will miss Katie’s expertise, wisdom and incredible input in our school but also wish her all the very best as she embarks on a new endeavour in her career. We strongly encourage our staff to take on new roles and opportunities and support Katie’s courage as she enters the learning pit! We know that Katie will be a huge asset to the St Mary’s community and we wish her all the very best. We will let you know staffing changes as we find teachers to fill both the REC role and Katie’s teaching load as we are able to fill these positions.

Congratulations Mock Trial Team

The first round of the Mock Trial was held against Radford College Canberra (2017 champions) and we congratulate our Sacred Heart team on being victorious! This is an excellent effort. Thanks to our students for their positive attitudes and team work and to Mrs Nicky Trinder for coaching the team and driving them to Canberra.

Community Breakfast

We enjoyed another very successful community breakfast on Wednesday. Students, staff, parents and families enjoyed the wonderful pancakes whipped up by Sacred Heart Staff. Thanks to the Wellbeing Team and the Student Leaders for organising this wonderful community get together. It was terrific to see so many of our parents and students coming together on such a beautiful morning.

Thanks also to everyone for their donations for our uniform free day. We raised $296.20 which is a credit to the community. Funds raised will be added to our Project Compassion total.

This month on SchoolTV - Physical Activity & Exercise

In the last decade, children's participation in physical activity and exercise has been in decline. In this digital age, children are using computers and mobile devices, not only for learning, but for relaxation and recreation purposes. This sedentary behaviour is having a detrimental effect on today's youth. The key is finding the balance. Research shows, that regular physical activity and exercise leads to changes in the brain. It improves cognitive function, elevates mood, enhances learning and improves academic outcomes. Playing sport helps kids develop fundamental movement skills impacting positively on their confidence, self-esteem and ability to develop social skills. Parents play an important role in helping children establish positive habits that will benefit them in the long-term.

In this edition of SchoolTV, parents will discover practical advice relating to the benefits of regular physical activity and exercise, as well as tips on how to get their kids motivated and moving more. We hope you take time to reflect on the information offered in this month's edition and we always welcome your feedback.

Check out this month's edition http://shcoota.nsw.schooltv.me/newsletter/physical-activity-and-exercise

Investing in your child’s education

Each year as our students return to school, we monitor and analyse where students are up to with their reading fluency, comprehension and the level of text sophistication needed to keep them interested and challenged (but not stressed) with their reading. Approximately 25% of our students in Primary who are not yet independent readers, drop by several levels from the end of a school year to the beginning of the next.

We cannot stress the value and importance of ensuring your child reads or you read to your child EVERY day for 10 minutes (no more is needed). In fact, we say to parents, read to your child for 10 minutes – if they wish to continue on their own, great but you need to invest 10 minutes either listening or reading with your child every day for them to gain significant benefits with their reading and literacy. These benefits will be far reaching in their whole education as they continue to improve their literacy skills and these are utilised throughout their schooling.

We also encourage parents to play a board game or card game several times a week with their children. The skills learnt by students include sharing, numeracy, fine motor skills, resilience and spending quality time with family. The impact on their mathematical and numeracy skills cannot be underestimated.

With blessings,

Mrs Janet Cartwright

Principal

1. Sacrament of First Eucharist:

Congratulations to the 26 students who made their First Holy Communion on Saturday night. It was a beautiful celebration and many thanks to the Sacramental Coordinator, Dan O’Brien and the Sacramental Team comprising of staff and parishioners who supported the children and their families. Congratulations to:Zara Bodycott, Scarlett Chambers, Emily Dickson, Katherine Diwa, Declan Emery, Alexander English, Patrick Golden, Joshua Harris, Henry Hazlet, Mia Hines, Blake Holder, Brock Holder, Leila Ismay, Amarli Kelleher, Ellie Lake, Evan Lonnen, Lachlan Monaghan, Isaiah Monteleone, Mia Nalder, Sean O’Brien, Lucy Paterson, Sophie Roberts, George Smith, Eliza Tozer, Nellie Ward, Jake Winsor

       2. Class Masses:

Over the last few weeks there have been several class masses in both secondary and primary - S3W, Year 8-1, Year 7-1 and S1M. Thank you to the parents and carers who have come along to support their children during these celebrations of Eucharist. The class masses provide a wonderful opportunity for students to be highly involved in the planning and implementation of their mass. Fr Joshy leads the primary masses and Fr Trenton from Temora, leads the secondary masses. We are very grateful for the time they give to our students in support of their faith journey.

3. Holy Week and Stations of the Cross:

Throughout the week each class has been involved in walking the Indigenous Stations of the Cross and participating in a prayer service. These stations were made last year as a school wide project that involved our Indigenous students, Mrs Aileen Maher (Aboriginal Education Worker) and community members, including Mr Peter Beath and Mrs Sally Puckridge (art teacher and Indigenous Stations of the Cross creator.)

Mrs Maher composed a beautiful interpretation of Richard Campbell’s artworks which follow the 14 Stations of Jesus’ walk to Calvary with Indigenous history and Richard’s personal journey through life. The students are to be commended on the reverent way in which they engaged with the Stations of the Cross, and I thank Mrs Maher for her ongoing support in raising awareness in our community of our Catholic and Indigenous historical traditions.

4. Passion Play:

Congratulations to Year 9 and Mr O’Brien on a moving and reverent portrayal of the story of Christ’s passion. They enacted the Gospel story today for our school community as well as staff and students from Trinity Murrumburrah and Hennessey College Young. They will enact the play again tomorrow in the 3pm Good Friday service at Sacred Heart Church and all families are most welcome to come. Many weeks of preparation and practice have gone into the play and we thank them for their contribution to our schools’ ongoing tradition – now over 30 years long!! Well done Year 9 and Mr O’Brien.

~Community Breakfast~

~ 1Miima Class Mass~

2018 NSW Catholic PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORT

GOLF TOURNAMENT nominations are OPEN

Who is eligible? Any student in Years 3 - 6 at a NSW Catholic School affiliated with NSWCPS MacKillop & Polding. Entries are by individuals not as a team or school.

What divisions are there? 9 Hole Tournament - a participation competition. No golf link number or handicap required and suitable for beginner golfers and less experienced. (Must have some experience).

18 Hole Tournament - participants must have a golf link number and a handicap. This event is also used for selecting Polding and MacKillop teams to go to the NSW PSSA State Carnival in September.

What do I need? Each participant must provide their own equipment - clubs etc. Participants must wear their school sports shirt (and jacket). No caddies are allowed but we are always looking for volunteer walkers.

How do I enter? Entries are completed online on our CSSS website.(www.csss.nsw.edu.au) If you have an account on the website, simply log in then go to the NSWCPS portal > Golf > Register. Ensure you select the correct region.

If you do not have an account, go to help and follow the prompts to set up a new account and add a child. Then register for golf.  

Upon entry, an email will be sent to your principal for principal approval.

When and where are the NSWCPS Golf Tournaments?

Both held on the same day - Monday 6 August at Mudgee Golf Course  More Information >> 9 Hole    >> 18 Hole

How much does it cost?

9 Hole $30  18 Hole $40 which includes greens fees. Payable online at registration.

For more information, contact NSWCPS Executive Officer on 0414 864 008

Ann-Marie Miranda

Executive Officer NSWCPS

am.miranda@csss.nsw.edu.au

Junior Rugby League Holiday Clinic

Once again in the Term 1 School Holidays NRL Game Development will be holding a School Holiday Clinic in your area.

Venue: Nicholson Park, Cootamundra

Date:  Friday 20th April, 2018

Time: 10am – 1pm

Cost: $40

Ages: 5-14

All participants will receive a holiday pack which includes,

• NRL Boot bag
• Mod Football
• Hand Pump
• 6 x Field Markers
• Water Bottle
• Trucker Hat

All participants will also receive 2 tickets to an NRL Game.

To register for the clinic please click on below link and follow the prompts.

http://bit.ly/2018CootamundraHolidayClinic

SSA Annual School Holiday Netball TID Camp

The Southern Sports Academy is offering a School Holiday Netball Camp to be held at the Equex Centre, Wagga Wagga on the 17^th- 20^th April 2018. 

The camps are a valuable opportunity for children of all skill levels to receive top quality coaching. We are excited to announce that former NSW Swifts player, Jackie Murphy, will again host our Junior Netball Camp this year and will be joined by a panel of experienced coaches including Southern Sports Academy Coaching staff, special guest coaches and Southern Sports Academy athletes.

This year players between the ages of 7 and 10 will be attending on Tuesday 17^th and Wednesday 18^th April, while the players aged between 11 and 14 will attend on Thursday 19^th and Friday 20^th.

^{Further information and registration forms available from Mrs Maxwell}

Rugby Union- Game On Clinic

Over Weeks 7-11 Primary Classes will have the Rugby Union game on program delivered to them by a Brumbies Development officer from Wagga. Stage 2 and 3 will have a session every Thursday and Infants classes will have two sessions of Brumby Jack Attack each Friday in Week 10 and 11.

Primary Dates:

Friday 13th April Sacred Heart Cross Country

TERM 2

Primary Archdiocesan Touch Trials 2^nd May - Cootamundra

Western Region Cross Country 4^th May - Gundagai

Young Soccer Carnival 4^th May - Young

Mortimer Shield Stage 3 rugby league and tag league - Temora

Sacred Heart Athletics Carnival 25^th May - Cootamundra

Secondary Dates:

Wednesday 4th April Secondary Rugby League Trials-Forbes

Friday 6^th April CCC Swimming Trials - Sydney

Friday 13th April Sacred Heart Cross Country

TERM 2

Secondary Archdiocesan Touch Trials 2^nd May - Cootamundra

Sacred Heart Athletics Carnival 25^th May - Cootamundra

Secondary Basketball carnival 29^th May - Canberra