This week I have been attending the Annual Principals' Leadership Day and Retreat in Bowral. The Leadership Day provided Principals with the opportunity to reflect on the current educational direction promoted across our Archdiocese. The two day Retreat, led by Archbishop Christopher, focused on exploring the meaning of Mercy as expressed through scripture and in our daily life. 

With COVID restrictions slowly lifting in the ACT we are beginning to see more positive cases in the community.  Across the school, we are experiencing an increase in the number of absentees as family members are required to quarantine for 7 days due to being considered close contacts.  We are also experiencing an increase in teachers required to take leave due to illness, caring for their own children, or attending pre-arranged professional learning.  Please be assured every effort is being made to employ relief teachers, however, as you will be aware we are experiencing a serious teacher shortage in Canberra and across Australia.  When we are unable to employ a relief teacher the class is split across their grade level cohort.  

Next week has been nominated as SABBATH Week.  This is a week when the teachers are encouraged to limit meetings and families are encouraged to focus on extra family fun activities including an afternoon walk, a visit to the park, time to play a board game etc.  Enjoy the week!

COVID Reminders 

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.

Parent Interviews - Conferences

A big thank you to everyone who took up the opportunity to speak with their child's teacher during the week. The teachers valued the opportunity to meet parents and have a general conversation about how the children have settled into school. Thank you to the teachers for their preparation and time.

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.

Canteen News

The canteen will be open for online lunch orders in Week 7.  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.

School Photos

School photos are on Tuesday and Wednesday next week.   Students please wear your full summer uniform.

Unfortunately class photos cannot be rescheduled on the alternate day, however individual photos can be taken on the Wednesday if children are absent on the Tuesday. Please inform your classroom teacher in advance if this is the case.

Sibling photos will be taken outside the hall on Tuesday morning from 7:45am. There is no form required for this.

The Class photo schedule can be found here.

Wishing you all a safe and enjoyable long weekend and we look forward to welcoming everyone on their return to school on Tuesday. 

God Bless

Carmel Maguire