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 of the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus 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 we can be transfigured and ways in which we can transfigure the world around us. 

Project Compassion

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://lent.caritas.org.au/ . Each Year 8 Homeroom has its own Project Compassion collection box, so I will be able to announce early in Term 2 with pride which of the seven Year 8 Homerooms raised the most money this year.

Foreshore Program

Caring for the natural environment is one of the ways in which we can respond to this call. 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.

The following girls successfully applied to be part of the Foreshore Program in Semester 1:

Sarah Ashwood	Mietta De Gregorio	Madeline Donaldson
Sophie Donnelly	Neve Hoult	Georgie Hutchinson
Lillian Lacey	Matilda Laughlin	Abbey Leonard
Chiara McDonald	Ruby Morrissey	April O’Brien
Verity Perks	Sophie Shepherd	Ava Tekani

Under the leadership of Ms Emily Ahern, these Year 8 students will participate in different activities including revegetation works, weed removal, litter removal and go on a walk and talk to discuss different plants along the Foreshore.

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