What an extraordinary year we have just experienced!

Thank you for your support and your trust in the College and I thank you for your efforts, in our communal manner, to challenge, extend and grow our young people so that they can be the very best that they can be.

I would like to thank our dedicated staff – both teaching and support staff. They have experienced no year like this previously and have had many new challenges and obstacles to overcome, AND, yet they have done brilliantly.

It is unfortunate but each year there are always staff who leave us to take on opportunities elsewhere or to make life decisions and make a physical move.

The following staff are all high-quality educators with generosity of both spirit and action. I thank them all for their efforts and their generosity in working with our students.

We thank:

• Mr Macdonald – who will be moving to a local school in the Macarthur
• Ms Herborn – who will end her contract but will stay on our casual roster
• Ms Dyer – who will end her contract, but we may see her back doing casual in the near future
• Mr Burden – who will also end his contract and, given he has left and returned previously, it is likely we will see him back doing casual
• Mr Yeo – who will be moving to a school closer to his home
• Ms Curtis – who will be moving closer to her family on the NSW Mid North Coast
• Mr Doepel – who has taken up a Science position in Northern NSW and will be building up there
• Ms Flocco – who will be moving to a promotional position at a prestigious Sydney school (and will be closer to her home)

I thank them all and trust their time at Magdalene will stay in their hearts for a long time.

ADVENT

Advent reminds us to be grateful. It is not only a time of joy but also gratitude. As such, I reminded our students today of the need to show  gratitude. Of course, this doesn’t need to be by way of gift – but a simple card, or word of thanks is always appreciated by staff.

I am thankful as well for the generosity which our students have shown during the St. Vincent de Paul Appeal. Any final donations can be brought in on Monday.

MASS SERVICES

I also encouraged students to try and attend at least one religious service over Christmas. I acknowledge the additional challenges that COVID-19 has brought, however, good news - if you are unable to attend Christmas Mass, the Christmas Vigil at St Paul’s Camden will be placed on YouTube for your viewing. You can find further details from the Parish website.

FINAL WORD

I wish you all a safe, happy and holy Christmas. I can’t wait to move towards greater normalcy in 2021 and I know we have a great deal planned to make the year very special for son and/or daughter. Take care and God Bless.

PRAYER FOR THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR

While there are still events planned for next week, at the end of this school year, the following prayer is most appropriate.

We give thanks to God:

For all the teaching and learning that has taken place, both in and out of the classroom, 

For the talents and gifts that have been shared and the challenges that have been faced – especially in this COVID-19 year;

For the burdens that have been lifted and the hurts that have been healed;

For the respect and care that has been given, we give thanks.

We give thanks to God:

For the friendships that have just begun and for those that have grown.

For the faith that has been lived in our daily struggles,

For the hope that has lifted our hearts on the dark days

And for the love that has kept us going, e give thanks

May Your Spirit inspire the entire Magdalene community over the upcoming Christmas vacation.

May You bless our students, families and staff members with confidence and calmness.

Bless our families as we take our holidays, may family time together leave memories to cherish. 

Pour out Your love on us O Lord that we may return renewed and refreshed to continue our journey together. 

We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. 

• Amen