OPEN AFTERNOON / EVENING

As has been communicated previously, this year’s event will be different due to the need to be COVID-19 safe.

The evening will be divided into 3 sessions and, instead of a presentation from key staff, videos of key messages about Magdalene and the enrolment process will be viewed on various screens around the College. These will also be available after the night.

I remain very thankful to the hundreds (yes hundreds) of students who have volunteered to assist on the night.

Tours and various displays will still occur during the evening and our wonderful P & F members will again host a BBQ.

If you have children in year 6 2021 do register on our website to attend on the night and come and collect application forms. Application Forms for Year 7 2022 need to be submitted by 29 March 2021!

SWIMMING CARNIVAL

It was lovely to have a slice of (almost) normality with the College Swimming Carnival occurring on Monday. I write ‘almost’ as not all of our students were able to attend yet it was great that all competitive swimmers and students from Years 7, 11 and 12 could be there and get involved.

Final results are still being tallied and will be published in the near future. This stated, I can confirm that a number of records were broken this year and there were a large number of highly competitive swimmers in action on the day.

I thank Mrs Andruschko for her organisation of the carnival and all staff who helped in any capacity on the day. I also commend our Year 12 students who dressed up in Hawaiian theme and fully participated in the various races and activities.

UNIFORM UPDATE

In light of recent media reports, I have had a few queries in regard to non-traditional haircuts. As you know, we are quite conservative in our policies and expectations when it comes to uniform and appearance. Mullets have never been allowed at Magdalene, and, to make it crystal clear, we included the phrase “no mullets are allowed” in this year’s diaries. If students or parents/carers are ever in doubt about allowable hairstyles do ask us before attending barbers or hairdressers.

It was great to see jumpers arriving. If you have ordered a jumper, parents / carers / students will be contacted upon its arrival. Cardigans will be here soon!

A quick reminder that students in Years 8, 9 and 12 need to be in their correct uniform at all times. Items of the Year 8, 9 and 12 uniform can be purchased from the 2^nd Hand Uniform Store and/or Noone can assist you with this.

If students in Years 8, 9 or 12 wish to move into the new College Uniform - that is not a problem – students just can’t mix items of old and new uniform.

PRAYER

Prayer this fortnight is a courtesy of “Catholic Daily Reflections” (https://catholic-daily-reflections.com/) and focuses on both prayer and the season of Lent.

“One of the most important parts of true prayer is that it takes place deep in the inner room of your soul. It is there in the inner depths of your being that you will meet God. Saint Teresa of Ávila, one of the greatest spiritual writers in the history of our Church, describes the soul as a castle in which God dwells. Meeting Him, praying to Him and communing with Him requires that we enter into the deepest and innermost chamber within this castle of our soul. It is there, in the innermost dwelling, that the full glory and beauty of God is discovered.

God is not just a God who is “out there” far away in Heaven. He is a God who is closer and more intimate than we could ever imagine. Lent is a time, more than any other time of the year, when we must strive to make that journey inward so as to discover the Indwelling of the Most Holy Trinity.

What does God want of you this Lent? It’s easy to begin Lent with more superficial commitments, such as giving up a favourite food or doing an extra good deed. Some choose to use Lent as a time to get in better physical shape, and others decide to dedicate more time to spiritual reading or other holy exercises. All of this is good and useful. But you can be certain that the deepest desire of our Lord for you this Lent is that you pray.

Prayer, of course, is much more than saying prayers. It’s not only saying the rosary, or meditating upon Scripture, or reciting beautifully composed prayers. Prayer is ultimately a relationship with God…”

My divine Lord, I give myself to You this Lent. Draw me in so that I may come to know You more. Reveal to me Your divine presence, dwelling deep within me, calling me to Yourself. May this Lent, dear Lord, be glorious as I strengthen my love and devotion through the discovery of the gift of true prayer. Jesus, I trust in You.