Dear parents and carers,

On Monday morning, our Year 5 and 6 students planned and led a beautiful Lenten liturgy focussing on Almsgiving. The poignant message being the importance of giving freely to others without needing anything in return. 

Last week, our community experienced almsgiving first hand. On Wednesday, when the rain teemed, the Camp Australia room, staff room and Principal’s office were flooded with water. Whilst some of our teachers raced to Rex Jackson Oval to fill sandbags, they met friendly neighbours who offered to help. These neighbours spent hours sandbagging our building and providing us with support as well as engaging Mr McCallum  who also spent hours at the school checking the drainage. 

The following day the Helensburgh Rural Fire Service again spent hours sandbagging and creating channels to divert the water away from the building. 

Whilst our plight was nothing like those up north who have truly suffered from flood, we cannot thank enough our good samaritans who helped us and wanted nothing in return. They came to our aid purely because it was the right thing to do. To be of service to others because it was the right thing to do. These people stood in solidarity with us and we are so grateful.

If, at the end of our students’ primary schooling, they leave understanding the importance of Solidarity - being compelled to stand alongside others and being with them when it counts, and the true meaning of almsgiving, then we can be very proud. 

Kaylene Duffin

Principal