Spotlight on Year 5

Year 5 have been learning about Jesus’ Commandment to ‘love your neighbour’ and how to live that out in our every day. To deeply understand this we first explored the historical and cultural context as well as the literary style of three different pieces of Scripture that share this important commandment. Year 5 have reflected then on how real people of inspiration live out Jesus’ commandment of love. Some of their reflections:

Amar Sing is the president and founder of the charity organisation, ‘Turbans 4 Australia.’ It is a charity that gives food to people in need. Amar is showing justice and care to people in need.   - Nikolas H

Keith Parker acted as an Australian representative helping negotiate weapons surrender during a period of conflict in the Solomon Islands. He volunteers in an ambulance as well. Keith helps people, showing how Jesus wants us to love one another. - Lachlan D

Sacha King set up a charity in 2019 delivering mental health training and community workshops. She helps people with mental health issues all around Australia. She cares for others like she cares for herself. - Daniel H

Shamuruh Mirza co-founded SiTara’s Story in 2017 after encountering many women with depression. She volunteered among culturally and linguistically diverse groups in Canberra. She reflects Jesus’ commandment of charity because she helped a lot of women and volunteered for CALD.

Whole School Prayer

Thank you to Year 2 for your fabulous whole school prayer last Friday. I think everyone was singing R E S P E C T all weekend!!

You’re Invited!  Our next Whole School Prayer Times are in Holy Week which is in Week 10.

All of our prayer times will be held in the Hall. See below for each event:

Monday 3 April – 9:15am Palm Sunday WSPT Kindergarten

Tuesday 4 April 9:15am Washing of the Feet (hands) (Year 3)

Wednesday 5 April 9:15am Last Supper / Agape Meal (Year 4)

Thursday 6 April 9:15am Stations of the Cross (Year 6)

All families are warmly invited to join us in the Hall for each of these special reflections on Jesus’ Passion. Year 5 will have their own prayer reflections on camp each evening.

Project Compassion

Project Compassion’s theme this year is ‘Together, we can make a difference now, and For All Future Generations.’ Each classroom has a donation box where children are encouraged to help fundraise for Project Compassion during Lent.

The Social Justice group are excited to be encouraging student donation to earn some rewards around the school. Our first target was $100 and the students enjoyed their reward of 10 minutes extra lunch play time on Friday last week. Our next goal will be to raise over $400 when the students could be treated to a movie afternoon in their classes. Keep that cash coming in!!

Caritas works across the world helping people to live better lives. Each week they focus on one real story of how your charity changes someone’s life. This week’s focus is Thu from Vietnam:

Thu in Vietnam

Thu lost his leg after stepping on a land mine in Vietnam. In addition to being the breadwinner for his family, Thu had to take on the role of caring for his wife, Linh, after she suffered a stroke.  

Determined to turn their lives around, Thu and Linh joined the Empowerment of People with Disabilities program, run by Caritas Australia’s local partner in Vietnam, the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development (SRD). 

The Empowerment of People with Disabilities program supports people living with disabilities to establish Village Saving and Loans Associations (VSLA) so that they can access affordable loans. Through the VSLA he was able to obtain a low-interest loan, which he used to open his own barber shop on a new road that was constructed near his home. 

Check out the Caritas, Project Compassion website to learn more about Thu and the vital work being done by Caritas.