Welcome to the new school year and a special welcome to everyone joining the Mother Teresa School (MTS) community in 2022.  It has been a challenging start and as the new Principal, with many years of experience, new beginnings always create a sense of nervousness and curiosity as you begin to learn the way a school operates and most importantly the best methods of communication to keep parents well informed about their children's learning and various events around the school. 

Leading a school community is something very special; a privilege.  I have been involved in education for forty years, with twenty years as a Principal in the Archdiocese.  I am a local Canberra girl who has observed the rapid growth in the Canberra area, especially Gungahlin over the years.  A little bit of Canberra history - Melrose Drive, in the Woden areas, was named after my grandparent's sheep property that covered the areas of Curtin and Lyons.   

Unfortunately, I have not been a visible presence around the school due to a leg injury that occurred after Christmas and is taking longer to heal than expected.  As a consequence, I am required to monitor the amount of time I am physically on my feet; not the start I had planned.  Fortunately, I am beginning to increase my hours at school and have been meeting regularly with the staff remotely, thanks to technology, to ensure the smooth running of the school.  Special thanks to Craig Hart and the staff for their preparation and all the work behind the school preparing the RAT kits for distribution.

A special welcome to new Mother Teresa School staff who are joining us this year: 

Janene Sadler (Kindergarten Ruby)
Tina Bruce (1 Ochre)
Kieran Russell (3 Cobalt)
Claire Dekuyer (3 Sapphire)
Jessica Allen (5 Platinum)
Belinda Hicks (6 Charcoal)
Stephanie Foley (Japanese Teacher)
Dahne Malan & Jackie Broch (Learning Support Team)
Ryoko  Kyasu (School Counsellor)

We also welcomed 97 new ELC students and 125 new students from Years K-6 on Monday. A very special welcome to all.

Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT)

RATs for Week 2 will be sent home with the children on Monday, as we did this week. Unfortunately, we are only receiving the RATs week by week. 

COVID Cases at School

Through ‘Compass’, we will advise you daily of the current situation at Mother Teresa School.  We will inform you about the cohort (group) of students and staff who worked with this group of students who may have had contact with a person who was infectious with COVID-19.

You are reminded that staff and students cannot attend school if they are showing any symptoms of COVID-19.  These include fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, runny nose, loss of smell/taste, muscle/joint pains, diarrhoea, nausea/vomiting, extreme tiredness, unexplained chest pain or conjunctivitis (eye infection).

If symptoms occur at any time, you should not attend school and should undertake a Rapid Antigen Test. If a Rapid Antigen Test is positive, you/your child should isolate as someone who has tested positive to COVID-19.  If you cannot access a Rapid Antigen Test, you can attend a PCR (nose and throat swab) testing clinic.

Please remember that masks must be worn when on the school grounds and entering the office area. 

Morning Bell

This is a reminder that your morning bell goes at 8.45.  Anyone arriving after 8.55am must be signed in at the office by a parent as they will be considered as a late arrival.

Afternoon Parking - Basketball Courts Gate

As the teachers require the use of the basketball court in the afternoon the gates will not be opened until 2.45pm.  Please refrain from arriving early.  Parents will be required to wait in their cars until the bell goes.  All other gates will be opened at 3pm when school is finished for the day.  We must reduce the number of parents entering the school grounds.

Playground equipment

Unfortunately, young children should not be accessing the play equipment before or after school.  It is an issue as it encourages parents to stand around and chat, at a time when we have been asked to minimise contact.  

Bookclub

As we are endeavouring to minimise parental access into the school we are holding off distributing the Ashton Scholastic Bookclub brochures for this term.  My priority is to offer essential services and activities to the children and community this term.

Afternoon Chess Group

Monday afternoon chess club has been delayed to Term 2 to avoid mixing cohorts, this is also the case for many of our lunchtime activities, where grade levels would combine to participate in various activities.

Canteen

The canteen will be open for lunch orders in Week 2.  Please note that students from Years 4 to 6 will collect their lunch orders at 10:20, while Kindergarten to Year 3 will collect theirs from 11:00. 

There will be no over the counter sales at this stage.

Uniform Shop

The Uniform shop will be open next week.  Normal days of operation are:

Monday 8.30am - 9.00am
Wednesday 8.30am - 9.00am
Friday 8.30am - 9.00am

The shop will operate from the side sliding door of the hall (on the carpark side).  All parents must wait outside and one of the volunteers will meet you at the door to assist you. Please ensure you are wearing your mask.  If you know what you are looking for, it would be helpful to have the details on a piece of paper to hand to the ladies on arrival.  Cash payments on site or Eftpos is available at the front office.

Sport Days

Kindergarten - Wednesday & Friday
Year 1 - Wednesday & Friday
Year 2 - Monday & Friday
Year 3 - Wednesday & Friday
Year 4 - Wednesday & Friday
Year 5 - Tuesday & Friday
Year 6 - Tuesday & Thursday

Children are to wear their sport uniform to school on these days.

Lost Property

Could you please ensure that you label all items of clothing, drink bottles, lunch boxes etc, with a student name that is visible and able to be read.  In the past we have had lots of lost property which has no name and we were unable to find the owner.  All lost property with no names is handed to our second hand uniform shop for re-selling.  We are currently reviewing our lost property procedures and will provide more information on this after considering the options.

Special Prayers

It is with great sadness that I inform our community of the loss of one of our parents, Mr Anh Quang Pham.  Our condolences go out to the family and students in our school.  We will continue to support them during this difficult time.

God Bless

Carmel Maguire