Happy Easter! I do hope you had a beautiful Easter and had opportunity to share in the joy of the risen Christ. I hope that you also had some time to relax with family and friends over the holiday period.

You may have noticed articles and images posted in the local papers of the girls who represented the College in the ANZAC Day March in Campbelltown. Under the direction of Mrs Musico Rullo, a number of girls marched, dressed in the uniforms of women who served in WW1. Some of these uniforms were on loan from the 
RSL and some were made by one of the parents of the girls. More recently the students have been researching nurses who lived in the Campbelltown area and served during the war. It made the degree of risk and the commitment of these women so much more tangible and relevant when it was related to real people. As an all-girls' school, it is important to keep the profile and the significant contributions made by women on the agenda in our area. I would like to thank Mrs Music Rullo for her work in this area and the many staff who walked with the girls on the day.

This week our Year 9 girls went on camp. I walked with the Duke of Edinburgh girls on the Sunday into the camp site. It was a lovely walk through beautiful bush areas and pine forests. Once in the site, we all had to set up. The girls had to prepare their own meals and set up their tents. The night was very cold (2 degrees) and many didn’t sleep very well, however, despite this they were resilient and buoyant throughout.  Midday Monday, Mrs Nash came with the rest of Year 9 and took over the supervision of the Duke of Ed girls.  Over the next three days, all girls will have opportunity to do their own cooking, abseil, bike ride, use the flying fox and sleep in both a tent and an ecocabin. This is a great experience for the girls. They learn they can survive without phones, showers and the regular mod cons. They learn to push themselves and appreciate nature. I certainly enjoyed the days away from the busyness and time with a few of our beautiful students. I am sure when the girls return home they will have some good stories to share with you that they will recall for many years to come. I would like to acknowledge the staff who have taken the girls on camp, as without them they would not have had this experience. Thank you also to Mr Bacca for his organisation.

Wednesday 8 May was our Annual General Meeting of the Company. The Members of the Company and some Board of Directors were present and worked through the documents reporting on the operations of the College for 2018. We are very fortunate to have such dedicated and loyal members. Under the leadership of Sr Elizabeth Delaney sgs, we have been truly supported and encouraged to be our best for the girls and Good Samaritan Education. I would like to acknowledge and thank them for the time and energy they bring to their role in a voluntary capacity. If you would like to read the Annual Report ( as required by NESA) it is available on the website. If you would like a hard copy, please contact the College.

Finally, I would like to welcome Ms Haylee Williams to the College. Ms Williams is replacing Mrs Irwin and will be with us for the remainder of the year. We also welcome Ms Nicole Calka who will begin in Week 3/ Ms Calka is replacing Mrs Foran and will be teaching Religion and HSIE courses.  I am sure you will make both of these new staff very welcome.

I will leave you with this brief reflection on mothers. Wishing all mothers and those in mothering roles a wonderful day on Sunday. Without your unconditional love and selflessness, many of us would not have achieved half of what we have been able to accomplish in our lives.

Blessings

Sue Lennox - Principal 

A Prayer for Mothers 

All-loving God,
we give you thanks and praise
for mothers young and old.

We pray for young mothers,
who give life and count toes
and tend to our every need;
May they be blessed with patience and tenderness
to care for their families and themselves
with great joy.

We pray for our own mothers
who have nurtured and cared for us;
May they continue to guide
in strong and gentle ways.

We remember mothers who are separated
from their children because of war,
poverty, or conflict;
May they feel the loving embrace of
our God who wipes every tear away.

We pray for women who are not mothers
but still love and shape us
with motherly care and compassion.

We remember mothers, grandmothers, and great-grandmothers
who are no longer with us
but who live forever in our memory
and nourish us with their love.
Amen.

by Heidi Busse, Author of Bringing Rainforest Adventure Home