On Wednesday, all Gungahlin Parish schools (Mother Teresa, Good Shepherd and Holy Spirit) celebrated Ash Wednesday with an online Mass, streamed live from the Church.  The Mass engaged close to 2500 students in our Parish from our own classrooms. It was a memorable service and the children participated enthusiastically in all aspects of this liturgy.  A big thank you to the Parish team and staff from the three schools whose efforts ensured this was a special occasion.

We now have forty days to think about ways we can help others and to remember the times when Jesus gave his life for us.  Father Thonn reminded us to spend the next forty days praying for peace - especially with the concerning situation taking place with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Parent Interviews - Conferences

As mentioned during the parent information sessions in Week 3, the teachers will be available next week (Week 6) for brief 10 minute interviews.  To book a meeting, please follow the booking link which can be accessed via your Compass Parent Portal.  All meetings will be held via Teams.  The MS Teams links have also been sent out via Compass today.  Parents must book a meeting time to be able to access a conference.  Any issues please contact your child's teacher or the office staff.

The purpose of the meeting is to check in, set goals and provide a comment on how your child has settled back into school; an information-sharing session.

As the Kindergarten teachers have spoken to many of their parents following the student assessment sessions, they will contact parents if there is a need for a follow-up interview.  Please remember, if you have a concern please raise it with your child's teacher early.

Please open the document below for instuctions on how to book a Parent Conference.

Afternoon Pick Up Arrangements - Wet Weather

Our first very wet day for the term was rather chaotic in the car park so I would like to remind everyone of our  Wet Weather Arrangements

• Kinders to be collected from the Courtyard.
• Year 1 and 2 to be collected from the Oval side of classrooms.
• Year 3 and 4 to be collected in the shade shelter.
• Years 5 and 6 to make their own way to parents once they have been brought around to the outside area.

Unfortunately, the original car line at the front of the school is not an option for pick up for the primary students.  We just do not have available staff to supervise this option of an afternoon.  The staff have noted that a number of families are opting for this alternative arrangement which is causing a lot of confusion.   Please arrange to collect your children from the designated areas.         

Current Uniform Code for MTS as published in our enrolment pack

Following discussion at our recent Community Council meeting, I thought it would be helpful to remind families of our current school uniform.

MTS Secondhand Clothing Shop

Thank you to everyone who donates uniform items back to the school to sell in our secondhand uniform shop, it is greatly appreciated and helps many families.

A reminder that we cannot accept socks, stockings or shoes (unless brand new) and  please check any items before donation for rips or tears, broken zippers and large stains as these items are generally not able to be sold.

COVID Update

All families should

• Continue to monitor for symptoms. Get a COVID-19 test if you or your child  develop any symptoms and isolate until you or your child receive a negative result.  You can check the symptoms of COVID-19 here.
• If you or your child has symptoms and tests negative on a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT), please take a PCR test.  If the PCR test is positive, you should follow the guidance for people with COVID-19.  Please also remember to report any positive test to the MTS covid email covid.motherteresa@cg.catholic.edu.au.  If the PCR test is negative, then students can return to school when well.
• A child can continue to attend school if they do not have any COVID-19 symptoms. We remind families that anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 must not attend school.

School COVID Protocols 

While the use of masks has been relaxed in the general community they are still required to be worn by all staff and visitors when entering the school.  Children are welcome to wear a mask if they wish.

Younger children should not be accessing the play equipment before or after school.  

Parents should not stand around and chat when dropping off or picking up a child. It is critical we continue to minimise contact around the school. 

New hand sanitiser stations are now located outside each classroom for easy access by staff and children.

Canberra Check in (Check in CBR App)

A reminder that schools and early childhood centres still require check-ins with the Check in CBR App when entering the front office 

Canteen 

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

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

God Bless

Carmel Maguire