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Dear parents,
There have been a number of changes to staffing that will commence prior to the end of the term. These are outlined below.
1 Coral - Miss Kristina Hudina will complete her role in 1 Coral at the end of week 6 and her place will be taken by Mrs Fiona Matchett who will teach the class two days a week for the remainder of the term. Mrs Francis will return to the class in a full-time position in term three.
2 Emerald - Miss Samantha Beake will commence on a full-time basis in week eight for the remainder of the year to cover Mrs Kari Turnbull, who begins maternity leave. Mrs Spencer who was also working one day a week will also finish up at this time.
3 Cobalt - Mrs Sarah Macarthur will return from maternity leave and will replace Mrs Amy Spencer one day per week commencing in week 8.
5 Pearl - Mrs Williams will be absent for reasons explained to parents of this class for the remainder of the term. Mrs Reeves will continue two days per week however Mrs Leah Bayin will be replacing Mrs Allana Grant for the remainder of the term.
Mrs Christina Page has commenced as our new student welfare officer and Mr Justin Norgrove has been appointed to be our new groundsman/janitor. I welcome both Christina and Justin to our school.
NAPLAN
Over the last two weeks students from years three and five have participated in the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). While the majority of testing was done on-line, the year three writing component was still handwritten. The results normally arrive during the second half of term three. While parents receive their child’s individual results, the school receives valuable data regarding school performance and more importantly growth. Examination of the results allow us to set targets that will be reported against in two years time. This means the targets set for the year three students of 2021 will be reported against when their year five results arrive.
Our setting of targets is also influenced by the standardized testing done across the school using a range of Progressive Achievement Tests (PAT) that students complete in both term one and term four.
Previously we have advised parents that because of COVID, NAPLAN was not conducted last year meaning there is no data for our current year four class to gauge their growth when they complete the tests in 2022.
The target we are working towards this year that was set in 2019 are:
- In Numeracy, to move the students currently sitting in band 4 (39% - Year Three) to bands 7 and 8 by Year Five.
- Improve students’ writing across the school by using the NAPLAN Marking Guide – Elements of Writing; to teach as assess each writing element explicitly while linking it to the Seven Steps for Writing Success. Linked to this will be an increased focus on word processing and keyboarding skills. Our aim is to move our Year Three students where approximately 76% are in Bands 4 and 5 to Bands 7 and 8 by Year Five.
Public Speaking
Congratulations to the following students who have made the finals of the MTS public speaking championships. Finals will be held on Tuesday 25th May and will start at 9.00am in the school hall. Unfortunately, we are only able to invite parents and family members of the students competing to attend. Please remember if you will be attending that you must sign in on arrival and check in via the Check in Canberra app. Thank you Mrs Shelley for organising this event.
Year 4
Nikos Vassiliotis, Thevinca DeSilva, Lachlan Hawes, Lorrelle Reichman
Year 5
Lachlan Hayes, Patricia Sukardi, Mikela Ruberto, Danika-Zeta Jonathan
Year 6
Jonty Duvall, Matteo Johnson, Isabelle Steinman, Savannah Hawes
Beanies
The weather was certainly cold this week and beanies and coats were needed! If you do not already have one, we have a good supply of the MTS School beanies for sale at the front office for $15.00.
Math's Problem
Congratulations to Brody Press who was last week’s winner. This week’s problem is below.
Extreme Adventures
Rock Climbing is a worldwide extreme sport. Mount Everest, located in the Mahalangur Mountain Range in Nepal and Tibet, is one of the most popular and challenging climbing destinations. Its peak is 8,848 metres above sea level. How many kilometres above sea level is Mt Everest?
God Bless
Peter Hughes
An expert teaching team
The school has found ways to build a school-wide, professional team of highly able teachers, including teachers who take an active leadership role beyond the classroom. Strong procedures are in place to encourage a school-wide, shared responsibility for student learning and success, and to encourage the development of a culture of continuous professional improvement that includes classroom-based learning, mentoring and coaching arrangements.
WHOLE SCHOOL FOCUS
The Whole school focus theme for this year is:
‘We Are Bee-Attitude Keepers”
Our value for the next two weeks is: Honesty
At Mother Teresa we are going to show honesty towards those we meet in our class and on the playground by:
- Standing up for what is right
- Recognising right and wrong
- Follow rules
- Align words and actions
- Communicate with honesty
- Seek meaning
- Tell the truth
FOCUS ASSEMBLY
Thank you to Mrs Francis, Miss Haggerty, Miss Andreatta and Year 1 Ochre and Coral who presented a beautiful focus assembly about honesty. The Bible passage they told gave us a very important message. Zacchaeus promises to take drastic measures to right the wrongs he has done, and to live his life in a better and more righteous way: he promises to give much of his wealth to the poor and to go above and beyond in repaying what he took illegally from others (Luke 19:8).
Being honest takes courage. They shared a great story about the importance of being honest. The song ‘This is where I live!’ was fabulous.
The Three Kingdoms
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
There were three kingdoms in the land. The first and greatest kingdom was full of strong warriors who won many heroic battles by might and sword.
The second kingdom was smaller than the first, but full of the smartest people in the world. They were cunning and strong in intelligence.
The third and smallest kingdom was not strong or superior in intelligence. The people of this kingdom valued peace over war. They were satisfied with what they had and not eager to prove their superiority by might or mind.
One day the king of the first kingdom said, "We will conquer the other kingdoms and rule the land!"
The king of the second kingdom heard of these intentions and prepared for battle with a plan to defeat the strong warriors who would attack them.
The war between these two kingdoms lasted many years with the first kingdom winning with might and the second countering with the mind. Years passed until there were very few people in either kingdom left to fight.
The kings said to themselves, "We have fought for many long years and now we are poor and hungry. We must go to the third kingdom for assistance against our enemy."
The two kings arrived at the castle of the third kingdom at the same time, both with small armies who were weary with battle.
The third king saw the armies and called them all to a council of the three kingdoms. There the kings discussed the future.
"You will declare a truce," said the third king. "Our kingdom, which now has plentiful resources will be able to provide for you. You will each hand over control of your kingdoms to me as we rebuild for the both of you. We will ensure that peace remains for the many years to come."
The kings refused, but their counselors and knights were too hungry and tired to continue the war. They kidnapped their kings and pleaded with the ruler of the third kingdom to save them from starvation.
The third king took them under his rule and inherited all three kingdoms, ruling over all the land forever.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)
Pentecost Sunday
23 May 2021 - Year B
“As the Father sent me, so I send you.
Receive the Holy Spirit.”
The Story
Today we are going to listen to a reading from the Acts of the Apostles. It tells the story of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came. Jesus’ friends were together in one room, when they heard a sound like a huge wind. A tongue of fire came and rested above each person. The disciples started speaking different languages so that all the people could understand the wonderful things that God had done.
Something to Think About
If you go into a church this weekend, you will notice that the colours have changed! Things which were white for Easter are now red for Pentecost. The priest will be wearing red too. What does the colour red make you think of?
Video
Peace and best wishes
Anne Leet
Religious Education Coordinator
