Principal's Message Term 2 Week 4 - 2022
Federal Election this weekend
In recent weeks, Catholic Education has reached out to candidates standing in the Federal Election for seats in the ACT.
Catholic Education has met candidates from the Labor Party, the Liberal Party, the Greens and an Independent in a series of stimulating conversations about education.
The priorities in the discussions were government funding for our schools to support parent choice, student wellbeing, and religious discrimination law reform. On the funding issue, our key message is that systemic Catholic schools offer low fee, quality education choice, and wanting to keep this affordable for all families.
Catholic Education explained to the candidates that our schools also support a significant number of families with fee relief, especially with the impact of Covid-19 and the rising cost of living.
We stretch ourselves to accommodate students with the highest needs because parents want their child to be in our school- and we are inclusive.
Unlike other Catholic school systems across Australia, in the ACT we have a projected funding reduction or shortfall compared to current funding. Catholic Education highlighted to candidates that if our current funding path is maintained, in the ACT the shortfall in 2023 is estimated in the vicinity of $400 per student per year, rising to around $1500 per student per year in 10 years’ time. We continue to seek fair and equitable government funding.
Attached is a ‘report card’ from the National Catholic Education Commission and a policy summary to understand more about the policy positions of the main political parties.
Please consider the report card when you enter the polling booth on Saturday.
Athletics Carnival Day - Changed to Thursday 2 June.
Due to the Protected Industrial Action occurring next week we have rescheduled the Athletic carnival to Thursday 2 June. The original permission note returned will remain valid to cover this new date. Any parent volunteer who is now not able to assist on Thursday should email justine.henshaw@cg.catholic.edu.au and advise you need to withdraw your offer to assist. All volunteers must hold a current WWVP card and provide the school with a copy of the card.
Working With Vulnerable People Cards
A reminder that any visitor or volunteer must carry a valid ACT Working With Vulnerable People Card to assist around the school. This is available from Access Canberra and is free for all volunteers. It is also a reminder for those who have a card to check the expiry date and action a renewal if needed. A copy of the card must be maintained at the front office. Both sides of the card must be provided.
Annual Improvement Plan
Each year schools prepare an Annual Improvement Plan to direct their focus to improving various aspects of the school including students learning and growth. This year Mother Teresa School has three key goals
- High Impact Teaching Practice is visible in every classroom
- Daily Review in Literacy and Numeracy developed by a Catalyst coach employed by CE
- Achieve growth in all aspects of Learning
- Development of Professional Learning Team Action plans with a focus on English, Maths, Religious Education and General Capabilities
- Equitable outcomes for all students
- Critical and Creative thinking
- Effective feedback to improve learning
Refer to the attached document for specific details on how the goals will be actioned throughout the year.
Considering Enrolment for 2023
Every effort has been made to follow children who were away during our formal NAPLAN testing session. Today was the last opportunity we had to provide time for catch-up tests. A big thank you to Brooke Jeffries for the coordination of our 2022 NAPLAN Assessment program.
Tennis News
At Mother Teresa School we are continually encouraging students to lead a healthy lifestyle. Late last year Mother Teresa School was recognised as the ACT Tennis School of the Year. Following this, we were nominated for the national prize of Australian School of the Year. Unfortunately, due to COVID our delegates were unable to attend the black-tie event in Melbourne, and despite not winning we have been recognised as a finalist and received an award, which arrived last week. A big congratulations to all involved in our tennis program at MTS.
COVID Reminders
Families still need to advise the school should a child be at home with COVID via our specific email address, covid.motherteresa@cg.catholic.edu.au then followed up with a Compass absentee notification through the Compass Parent Portal.
RAT kits are still available from the office should you require kits for regular testing, particularly if your child is a close contact.
We are considering a return to the original morning tea and lunch timetable from Week 6 with some level of cohorting to restrict the transmission of infections. This change will depend on the number of cases reported across the school in the next few weeks. For our new families, I will communicate what the "old normal" will look like when we are ready to change over. Like you, I am still to find out.
Mother Teresa School Dates for Additional Pupil Free Days
Following consultation with the other Catholic Primary Schools in the Gungahlin area, we have nominated the following dates for our additional Pupil Free days granted to schools by the CE Director.
- Tuesday 31 May & Friday 24 June
During these days the teachers will be engaged in additional PL to support our Catalyst program and provide time for class preparation and student assessment. KidsBiz will be open on these days.
Following discussion with our canteen provider they will only be open on Wednesday to Friday for online lunch orders 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.
God Bless
Carmel Maguire
