Kia ora koutou e te whānau,

Diwali, also called Deepavali, is the Hindu festival of lights, with variations celebrated in other Indian religions such as Jainism and Sikhism. It symbolises the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance.

Diwali is a five-day celebration that will begin on the 31st of October in 2024. This will last until the 4th of November.

The five days of Diwali include Dhanteras, Naraka Chaturdashi (Choti Diwali), Diwali, Govardhan Puja and Bhai Dooj. Each day of Diwali celebrations has its own rituals and significance.

A special thank you to our parents who came in and shared their knowledge of Diwali with our students.

Last Friday, we celebrated World Teachers' Day. We are so lucky to have such a dynamic teaching team.

On Friday, we also joined the Parish for All Saints Day. It was lovely to see Father Joy again. Our students were reverent and respectful. All Saints Day is a time to remember all those wonderful people who have lived in such a holy way.

We had a lovely evening last Sunday to celebrate our Year 8 students as they prepare for next stage of their educational journey. What was so joyful was the opportunity for our families to connect as well. This year's Year 8s are a wonderful bunch that have all supported each other.

I am looking forward to seeing you at the disco. Special thanks for those families who have offered to help.

Thank you for everything you do for our school. It is very much appreciated.

Arohanui,
Bernadette Murfitt
Tumuaki
Sacred Heart Cathedral School