After six days Jesus took with him

Peter, James and John the brother of James,

and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 

 There he was transfigured before them.

His face shone like the sun,

and his clothes became as white as the light.

Matthew 17:1-2

The recent gospel reading for the second week of Lent is the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus and is as dramatic as it is mysterious. The notion of being transfigured has remained one that has challenged people of faith ever since the story was recorded in all three synoptic gospels. We are called upon during Lent to examine ways in which we can be transfigured, and ways in which we can transfigure the world around us. 

Caring for the natural environment is one of the ways in which we can respond to this call. Year 8 students will soon be invited to apply to be part of the 2026 Foreshore group. There are 25 places available in each semester, and we attend every second Thursday, on Day 9. Students leave at the start of lunchtime for Mentone beach and return by 3:15pm.

In the Foreshore program, Year 8 students work alongside the City of Kingston Foreshore and Coastal Management Group on the management and conservation of the foreshore and recreational areas. Students explore the relationship between Kingston Foreshore and Port Phillip Bay and participate in pollution control, propagation of indigenous plants and revegetation.

During this Lenten season, all Year 8 students and their families are invited to support Project Compassion. Project Compassion is Caritas Australia’s annual Lenten fundraising and awareness-raising appeal. Millions of Australians come together in solidarity with the world’s poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. For more information, or to donate online, see https://www.caritas.org.au/project-compassion/.

Each Year 8 Homeroom has its own Project Compassion collection box, and its own special QR code to donate electronically, so I hope to announce early in Term 2 with pride which of the seven Year 8 Homerooms raised the most money this year.

We pray that everyone in the Year 8 community will be people of transfiguration during this Lenten season, and beyond.

Bill Fitzsimons

Level Leader: Year 8