Dear Parents and Guardians,

Vale Rose Ahrens - A Cherished Member of the Columba Community

It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I write to inform you of the passing of our beloved colleague and friend, Rose Ahrens. Rose was a much-loved member of the Columba School community and the Iona Parish, and her loss will be deeply felt by us all.

Rose touched the lives of so many within our community. Her positive nature was infectious, her genuine care and kindness for others shone brightly, and her pure love for the children she taught was evident in everything she did. For Rose, the message of Christ was always at the forefront of her work and her interactions.

We know that this news will be difficult for our students and our entire community. We ask for your support in the coming days and weeks as we navigate this period of mourning. Please be patient with the school as there may be some disruption to learning schedules in the week ahead as we support our staff and students. Our staff will be mourning the loss and we will try our very best to communicate any disruptions to the learning.

We encourage you to be open and honest with your children when discussing this sad loss. Allow them to express their feelings and provide them with the comfort and understanding they need. It is times like these that we can use prayer to help mourn our losses and sit with God who will be there for all of us during this difficult time.

If you would like something sent to Rose's family please deliver it to school next week or send to Kelly Lucas, klucas@bunyip.catholic.edu.au through email. We will be sure to pass it on.

Finally, we ask that you keep Rose and her family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

May she rest in peace.

Sincerely,

Andrew Greco

Principal