A Reflection

This week I would like to share some thoughts on struggle and hope. I had a chance to reflect on this at my most recent Principals retreat.

At our retreat we were asked to think about a remarkable story of struggle and hope from the Bosnian War. This was a conflict when neighbours turned against neighbour. In the siege of Sarajevo on May 27, 1992 a group of people were standing in line at a bakery hoping to get their share of the dwindling supply. A mortar shell fell from the sky. Twenty-two innocent men, women and children were killed.

The next day, the principal cellist of the Sarajevo Orchestra, Vedran Smailovic, took his cello to the crater left by the deadly blast. He played the most beautiful music he knew Albinoni’s Adagio in G Minor. This was the music found on a fragment of paper in Dresden after the terrible bombings of World War Two.

He played for twenty two days straight amidst the continual bombing and sniper fire.
Smailovic did what he loved and knew best. He played his cello. He played for life, for peace, and for the joy and hope that exists even in the darkest hour. His music was stronger than hate. His courage was stronger than fear.

Verdran Smailovic action was that amidst despair he would not give up. He could find beauty in the world. He could still give hope. 

This story is a reminder that in life there will always be struggle - the death of a loved one, illness, disappointment and rejection. Our children will meet these difficulties. We must educate them that the road ahead is not to give up and become bitter or practice payback. We must believe in hope. Hope is not about waiting for things outside ourselves to get better. It’s about allowing ourselves to let go of despair and trust in God. Often things then can be seen in a different light and we approach difficulties with new wisdom. Our Archdiocesan Education Catholic School motto asks us to build in our students a sense of joy, wonder and hope. With the many difficulties in our world our job as adults must be to give our students hope in a better world.

Staffing Changes

There will be a change in our support staff for the rest of the year. Stacey Writer is finishing her work here this week. We appreciate all her work and we will still see her here as a casual relief person and supportive parent.

Starting next week Gavin Halder will be doing Tuesdays in the classrooms and Danielle Haigh will be working in the office one day per week. This will be a temporary arrangement till the end of the year.

They will be very welcome.

Please send any newsletter requests to the office email please.

When we receive our staffing 2020 hours we will look at advertising positions as required.