Congratulations are in order for the Year 5/6 students of Our Holy Redeemer Primary School who presented the Passion Play to the school community on the second last day of Term 1. The students wrote their scripts, planned the costumes, and designed the props. This year, the events depicted came from Matthew’s Gospel, so the students researched information about this gospel and the author. The collaboration was amazing and the reverent way the audience worked their way around the playground, watching the six scenes in order, highlighted how great a job they had done.

In addition to their outstanding performance, the students’ dedication and leadership extended beyond the Passion Play. Each year one of the main goals of the RE Student Leadership Team is to raise funds for and also build awareness of the work of Caritas Australia and their Project Compassion Appeal. 

To support this appeal, the team was involved in three initiatives. Firstly, they sold zooper dooper icy poles every Tuesday and Thursday after school in Term 1. They also placed Project Compassion Boxes in each classroom and the school office. Finally, they organized the ‘Giving 100% for All Future Generations Challenge’.  What this involved was challenging each student to make a 100% commitment to something during Lent. This could have been a physical challenge, giving 100% to help somebody or even giving 100% in prayer.

In completing this challenge, the students at OHR visited family and friends and asked for donations. They set a challenge for each class to raise $20 per student and if they were successful they got to pour a bucket of icy cold water over their teachers. Five classes were successful and so a good number of teachers received an ice cold drenching!!

Through all the donations and profits from selling the zooper doopers, OHR raised $3,116.75 which is an amazing effort.

Michael McGirr – the Mission Facilitator for Caritas Australia will be a special guest at our whole school assembly on Monday, 22 May where he will accept our donation and share some information with us on how this money might be used.