Principal’s Blog – 1 April 2021

Dear Parents, Students and Staff

It was great to spend some time with the Year 7 cohort at their camp in Collaroy last week. They were fully immersed in the various activities and took the opportunity to get to know others in their year group. In amongst the physical activity, the students also had a few minutes quiet time – sitting together on the Collaroy Peninsula in the dark, overlooking the ocean and listening to the waves, the crickets, the frogs, the slight breeze and the waves crashing on the beach under an almost full moon and starry sky! In our busy, contemporary world, it is important that we provide opportunities for quiet, reflective time. Thank you to the wonderful staff who gave up their time so that the students could attend this very worthwhile experience. I am very grateful to the staff for ensuring it was a huge success!

This week is the most important week of the Church’s calendar. As Christians, the liturgical events of this week (Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday) provide the reminder of why SFX even exists at all. The life and teachings of Jesus must be the axis on which the College revolves, and I believe it is evident here. I hope you will find some time to participate in the Holy Week liturgies in your local church.

The caring nature of our students and their sense of social justice has had a high profile over recent weeks with their participation in the ‘World’s Greatest Shave’ and the ‘Project Compassion’ fundraiser. The students have shown incredible generosity with their support of these projects. The Senior students who shaved their heads displayed an amazing amount of courage. It has been wonderful to witness all our students engaged in the ‘almsgiving’ aspect of the Lenten period. Furthermore, it is a practical way of thinking about those less fortunate and providing the environment to be less ‘self-centred’ and more ‘others-centred’.

The parent-teacher nights were very well attended. We had to arrange things a little differently this year due to the COVID-19 restrictions – hopefully most parents were able to access their child’s Teacher. If you did not have the opportunity to attend, you may wish to email your child’s Teacher for a possible phone call chat (although this may not be possible until Term 2).

I pray you will have a restful and relaxing time with your family and friends over the Easter break. For those travelling, I hope your journey is a safe one. School resumes on Tuesday 20 April for students – there is an email outlining this change in date.

May you recognise God’s blessings in your daily lives.

Paul Carroll
Principal