22 November 2017

Newsletter Articles

Prayer and Reflection

Presentation Day 21 November

Presentation Day is a special day of celebration for Presentation Sisters and their colleagues and friends around the world. It is celebrated on the Feast of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple. Nano was understood to have a special devotion to Mary, and when her religious congregation was approved by Rome in 1805, the congregation’s name was changed to the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The main source of the story of the Presentation of Mary in the Temple is found in the Protoevangelium of James in the second century.

We read there:

Joachim placed her on the third step of the altar, and the Lord God put grace upon the child, and she danced for joy with her feet, and the whole house of Israel loved her. And her parents went down wondering, praising and glorifying God because the child did not turn back. And Mary was in the Temple nurtured like a dove and received food from the hand of an angel.

In thanksgiving for the gift of their daughter, Joachim and Anne, who had been childless, brought Mary, when still a child, to the Temple in Jerusalem to consecrate her to God.

Principal’s Report

Dear Parents and Guardians

On Tuesday, November 21 our school walked to the Church of the Incarnation to celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Mary. As a “Presentation School” this feast day has particular significance for our community.

The Presentation Sisters were founded by Nano Nagle in County Cork, Ireland in 1775.

Nano Nagle was born into a wealthy family in North Cork, Ireland, in 1718, during a time when Irish Catholics were harshly oppressed by the British under the Penal Laws, which among other things, made it illegal for Catholics to start schools in their homes or send their children abroad for schooling.

Fortunately, Nano and her sister came from a wealthy family that was able to smuggle them to Paris for a full Catholic education. Upon returning to Ireland, Nano was struck by the widespread poverty, and opened a secret school for the poorest of the poor in a rented mud cottage, at great risk. Besides learning their catechism, her students learned simple reading, writing, and arithmetic and skilled crafts that might relieve their poverty.

By the time of her death in 1784, she had established a whole network of schools that became the basis of the Catholic school system in Ireland, as well as a religious order to run them the Presentation Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Known as the “Lady of the Lantern” for her nighttime visits the homes of poor students, her dying words were: “Love one another as you have hitherto done. Spend your lives for the poor.”

The Presentation Sisters first came to Tasmania in 1866 at the request of Bishop Murphy. After initially establishing themselves at St John’s, Richmond, whilst waiting for the convent at St Mary’s Cathedral to be completed, they then went on to open schools and convents throughout the state as the need required. St Cuthbert’s Catholic School was opened in 1938.

Presentation schools are characterized by their provision for the poor and marginalized and for a loving commitment to the fullness of life for all people and for all of creation. At St Cuthbert’s Catholic School we strive to live out the charism of the Presentation Sisters on daily basis.

Remembrance Day

Thank you to William Simaan, Keeley Tanner and Hollie Hill for representing St Cuthbert’s and laying a wreath at the Remembrance Day Service last week.

Parking on East Derwent Highway

Please be cautious when parking on the East Derwent Highway. There have been some ‘close calls’ with traffic, especially buses and trucks, when parents are getting out of cars. Please take extra care.

Loose Parts Clean Up Day

We are very keen to establish our Loose Parts Play program at St Cuthbert’s. In order for this to happen we need to clean up and get rid of a lot of rubbish from the storage garage in the bottom playground. If you can spare an hour or two to help we are having a working be on Saturday, December 2 from 9.00am. Look forward to seeing you there.

Enrolment 2018

We have a limited number of places available in classes Prep to Grade 6 for 2018. If you know of anyone who may be interested in joining us at St Cuthbert’s, please ask them to contact the office for an enrolment package.

Marcus Donnelly
PRINCIPAL
St Cuthbert’s Catholic School

Principal Awards

Athletics

Congratulations to all our students who represented St Cuthbert’s at the recent STCPSSA Carnival.

RE Report from Prep/1 Blue

Child Care Benefits

The school is registered with the Family Assistance Office as a Registered Care Provider. Families may be eligible to receive child care benefits for school fees and levies relating to kindergarten students who are four years old until they turn 5 years old. No other children are eligible. If you require a statement please advise the office by 15th December and your statement will be posted to you early in 2018. Fees need to be paid in full.

Birth-4 Playgroup

Don’t forget our Birth-4 playgroup is held every Monday during Term Time in the Kinder House from 9.00-10.00am. We would love to see you there.

Christmas Carols

St Cuthbert's School Choir will be singing as part of the Combined Schools' Choir on the night.

Food Festival and Fair

Thank you to the following sponsors for supporting our Food Festival and Fair.

Important Dates