Dear Families,

Thank you to all of our families who came to the Sacrament meeting at Sacred Heart in Morwell on Thursday night. We appreciate your attendance to find out how you can support your child at home in their preparation to receive their Sacraments.

Congratulations to our children who participated in the Swimming events last week also. Our girls who competed showed great resilience and problem solving in ensuring they had enough swimmers for the relay event. Well done to all who represented Lumen Christi.

We also had our first Parents and Friends meeting here at school last week. Thank you to those parents who came along and joined the group. Parents and Friends are predominantly an events and fundraising group who work to raise money for worthwhile projects to benefit our children. The group always needs new faces and many hands make light work. If you are interested in being involved please come and ask at the school office.

There is another group called the School Advisory Committee whose role is to give a parent perspective to me as the Principal in decisions relating to the running of the school. This groups meets once a term during and is generally an evening time meeting. If you are interested in joining this group, please contact me at: principal@churchill.catholic.edu.au

This week on February 13, it marks the anniversary of the National Apology to the Stolen Generations, who suffered trauma because of past government policies of forced child removal.

Many of these removals occurred as the result of laws and policies aimed at assimilating the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population into the predominately white community.

Stolen Generations survivors are some of Australia’s most vulnerable people and many have kept their stories and experiences secret for many years, even decades.

Through hearing the resilient stories of Stolen Generations survivors there is now a willingness for Australians to join in on the healing journey. To be part of solutions into the future. This is the spirit of the anniversary.

Together as a school community, we pray for continued efforts towards understanding and healing for Indigenous Australians affected by this devastating part of our Nation’s history.

Next week, we celebrate the beginning of Lent. We will be celebrating with a whole school mass on Thursday next week (23^rd February) – all welcome.

Have a wonderful week,

Sally