PRAYER 

There are many things that I take for granted. May I not ignore them today. 

Just for today, help me, God, to remember that my life is a gift, that my health is a blessing, that this new day is filled with awesome potential, that I have the capacity to bring something new, unique and good into this world. 

Just for today, help me to remember to be kind and patient to the people who love me, and to those who work with me too. Teach me to see all the beauty that I so often ignore, and to listen to the silent longing of my own soul. 

Amen 

WELCOME BACK 

As we start another busy term, I welcome all families back and hope that everyone had a restful, safe holiday.  

I’m excited to be filling in as Acting Principal for the first 5 weeks of term. I have found the students very welcoming and well-behaved, the staff extremely committed, pastoral and professional and the facilities are second to none – all the ingredients for a wonderful learning environment. That isn’t to mention the warm welcome I have received from those parents I have met so far. I have been a principal since 1995 with appointments in Mossman, Cairns and Brisbane. Your children may share that I have been in their classrooms as I enjoy discussing learning and progress with students. I know that you will join with me in wishing Megan a safe and fulfilling time of leave and I know she is looking forward to returning for term 4. 

As a loyal and proud NSW supporter (it’s been a couple of hard years!), I can attest to a difficult couple of weeks and many moments that have pushed my loyalty. It was good to get a victory on Wednesday night. However, as I say to the students, it is important to acknowledge excellent skills and gifts, even if they belong to the other side! Well done Queenslanders and they were the better side over the series! 

What can we learn from the Origin series that applies to learning: 

1. No matter how good you are at a task, you can always take advice from others. 
2. To be good at any task, you must practice, practice, practice! 
3. It’s ok to make mistakes, even the best make them!
4. We are so much better performing as a member of a team rather than doing actions different to the team. 
5. Celebrate victories, large or small and always strive to do your best. 

We do it all again in 2024!  

It’s all things football at present. Students were very excited to be visited by staff and players from the Northern Pride on Thursday. They addressed students about how the school values apply to football and life in general. They also facilitated some games and drills that were a lot of fun. This was to support the game between the Falcons and Pride this weekend at Andoom Oval. If you are free, sounds like a great thing to do on Saturday night. 

FEEDBACK SURVEYS 

We live in times of feedback and Cairns Catholic Education is no different. I invite parents as well as staff, to participate in this year’s Feedback Surveys (previously known as Satisfaction Surveys). It should take about 30 minutes to complete. 

You will receive an email containing a link to the survey in the next couple of days and this link expires on Friday, August 4. These surveys are an important tool in providing information and opinions – both positive and negative. This information guides us to further develop and refine our operations and offerings, at both the school and system levels. 

Like all surveys, the greater the number of participants, the greater the breadth of opinion so I encourage each and every person to take advantage of this opportunity.