FOLLOW ME! CELEBRATING CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK MONDAY 20TH TO SATURDAY 25TH MAY 2024 

This week, we celebrate the contribution that Catholic schools make to the lives of students and families around Australia. Catholic schools educate over 805,000 students (one in five Australian students) and employ over 109,000 staff. For over 200 years, Catholic schools in Australia have provided a choice to Australian families for the education of their children, that reflects their own beliefs and values. 

Our Diocesan theme for Catholic Schools Week this year is “Follow me” (Matthew 4:19). In this story from the Gospel of Mathew, Jesus invites Simon, Peter and Andrew to place their trust and confidence in Him and to follow Him on a journey as His disciples (followers or students). For disciples, to ‘follow-me’ meant that they became like an apprentice to Jesus, to learn His ways, to love like He does, and to serve the poor and outsider like He does. To ‘be’ Good news to all the earth! 

This invitation continues to this day as Catholic schools help fulfill the mission given by Jesus, to “Follow me!” Working alongside our parishes and other agencies to love and serve those in our communities. This attitude of service and caring for the whole person, flavours our Catholic schools’ approach to everything! From striving for excellence in learning, to dedicated pastoral care and wellbeing, to faith formation opportunities for every child, we work hard to help each child to flourish in life. 

Thank you for trusting our Catholic school with the care and education of your child. 

At Our Lady of Victories we would like to invite everyone to come and celebrate Catholic Schools by participating in our school liturgy led by Year 5 on Friday 24^th May at 1:20pm. After liturgy we will have open classrooms where all visitors will be able to participate in activities throughout the class classrooms and see some of the activities your child completes throughout an average day.

Here's a message from Bishop Michael:

Month of Mary

May is the Month of Mary. For centuries, the Catholic Church has set aside the entire month of May to honour Mary, Mother of God. Not just a day in May, but the entire month.

Throughout the month of May, we are going to honour Mary with weekly reflection as a school community. These opportunities will be a reflective and meditative experience rather than a time for discussion focusing on the Glorious Mysteries. We will participate in this at 12:30pm every Thursday throughout May. A bell will ring to alert everyone to stop and settle. The children will hear an overview of the mystery that we are focusing on through the speakers, we will then have a minute silence for reflection and finish with saying a Hail Mary together.

St Vincent de Paul Sleep Out.

St Vincent de Paul Appeal

This term we are focusing our efforts on supporting The St Vincent de Paul Society who work hard to assist people in need and combat social injustice across Australia. Last week we launched our Vinnies Winter Appeal where we are asking for donations of unwanted clothes, blankets, towels, socks, boots etc that can be donated to homeless people who are feeling the cold as the temperature drops during our winter nights. If you have items that can be donated, please send them into school at your earliest convenience.

On Thursday 13^th June we will be hosting a Vinnies School Sleep-Out here at school to highlight the needs of the homeless and bring awareness to this growing concern in our society. Homelessness is a problem often overlooked and misunderstood in Australia. Over the past five years, there has been a 30% increase in the number of families with children being assisted by homeless services. Most of the children in homeless services are under 12 years of age. Homelessness has serious impacts on children’s education, health and wellbeing. This hands-on event develops students’ understanding of the impact of homelessness and provides an opportunity to take action.  Through ‘sleeping rough’ for one night, the Vinnies School Sleep-Out initiative hopes to raise awareness of the realities faced by members of the community with no place to call home. Students in Years 3 to 6 are able to participate.

If your child would like to be part of the experience they will need to get more information off Mrs Dunn and you will need to give them signed permission to be able to attend.