Dear parents,

I would like to welcome everyone back to term four. I hope everyone was able to have a break from remote learning and screen time.

Accompanying this newsletter is a summary of our NAPLAN results, which were sat by students in years three and five earlier in term two. We analyse our results and set targets based on our year three results. We also use the PAT testing we do at the beginning of term one and at the end of the year to inform areas in need of development whether it be for small groups of children, as a class, or an entire year level. The targets set this year will be reported on in 2023 when our year three students again sit NAPLAN.

Parents that have children in kindergarten to year two classes would have received a link to a survey looking at the future of swimming lessons during school time. I ask all parents to complete this survey so we have a good number of responses on which to base our decision.

The orientation sessions for students coming to MTS in 2022 have been planned and parents will have received an email this week.  Due to COVID restrictions we have had to change how we deliver these sessions as well as how we run our parent information sessions.

Return To School

Kindergarten, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 6 - Monday 25^th October

Years 3, 4 and 5 - Monday 1^st November

Last week I outlined a few changes that would be taking place once students return to school.  One of these was to break our students into cohorts and stagger break times. When groups do have times that overlap on the playground they will have designated areas in which they play.  The proposed break times are below.

Points of note:

• All students have access to shade
• Students from kindergarten to year 4 will have their lunch during break one while years five and six will have theirs in break two. Year five and six may have to pack extra snacks for break one.

As outlined in the earlier letter there will be no drive through to collect students as we are attempting to keep student interactions within their cohort. Parents will need to park and collect their children from their designated areas. These are:

• Kindergarten students will be collected from the kindergarten courtyard,
• Years one and two from the area near the junior equipment and the side entrance to the hall,
• Years three and four from the fake grass and
• Years five and six from the shade structure.

Families with multiple children can arrange their own pick-up points.

As parking will be at a premium and given warmer weather I ask families to consider walking or riding to school. Parents of older students are encouraged to park away from the school, at locations such as the Harrison Oval, and have the children walk to you.

Parents entering the school grounds for pick up will be required to socially distance where possible and must wear a mask. No parents allowed on school grounds in the morning. There will be staff to help the younger students at the main gates.

The year six camp that was due to occur late in term four in Sydney has, unfortunately, been cancelled. I know this is disappointing for all involved.

I will send more information regarding return to school next week.

Home Learning Beyond Return To School

Once students return to face-to-face learning, the school will not be continuing with remote learning in its current form.  Students who have underlying medical conditions and are immune compromised will continue to receive assistance but what that looks like depends on the number of students requiring support.  If you have a child who will be staying at home because of this, please let your class teacher know.

As ACT Health and Catholic Education have decided, it is appropriate for children to return to face-to-face learning.  Families who are anxious about the risk of COVID infection and decide to keep their children at home will receive minimal support. They will be directed to our home learning resources under the MTS Community tab on our website.

Staff Review

Thank you to the staff and parents that participated in Mrs Boyton’s performance review of her role as school coordinator. The review was highly affirming and highlighted the respect in which she is held and her contribution in leading literacy at our school. Kelly’s role as coordinator has been extended for a further four years.

On behalf of the MTS community I congratulate Kelly on her successful review.

Maths Problems

I will again be offering three problems a week, with one for each stage. I will return to one per week when we return to school.

Kindergarten - Year 2  -  Sweetie Box

The box on the left is Max's.  All of Max's sweets are in that box.

The box on the right hand is Bryony's.  Bryony's sweets are in that box and there are also three more sweets on top of her box.

Each box has exactly the same number of sweets inside.  What do you know about the number of sweets each child has?

We would love to see your ideas. You may like to use drawings, writing, numbers, symbols... to help show your thinking.

Year 3 and Year 4  -  A box of Socks

A box holds socks which are all the same size.  There are 6 white,10 blue and 16 grey socks.

What is the least number of socks I need to take out, without looking, so that I can be certain of getting a pair of matching socks?

Year 5 and Year 6  -  An Impolite Question

On her birthday in 2007, Rachel’s age was equal to twice the sum of the digits of the year in which she was born.

How many possible years are there in which she could have been born?

God Bless

Peter Hughes

WHOLE SCHOOL FOCUS The Whole school focus theme for this year is:

‘We Are Bee-Attitude Keepers”

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

10 October 2021 - Year B

 “Go, sell everything you have and come follow me.”

Something to Think About

What does it mean to be wealthy? We are all wealthy in some way eg. good health, happy relationships, having enough food to eat. Spend a moment to thank God for your ‘wealth’.

The Story

A man asks Jesus what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus reminds the man of the commandments, and the man proudly states that he has always followed God’s laws. Jesus told the man that he should sell his possessions and give them to the poor so that he would have riches in heaven.

Reflecting on the Gospel

The rich man had asked Jesus, 'What must I do?' Jesus told the man to sell all that he had and give it to the poor. Perhaps he wanted the man to separate himself from his possessions. Perhaps he was also asking the man to think, not of what he had not done (not killed, not stolen, not cheated) but to think of what he could do for others. He was a man of considerable wealth. How could he use his wealth to benefit others?

How might you use your gifts to help others?

Reconciliation & First Eucharist

Please pray for our Year 3 teachers and students who are currently preparing for the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist.

Important Dates:

Prayer Night (via zoom) Tuesday 12 October at 6pm

Reconciliation Heart Mass (via zoom) Sunday 17 October at 9:30am

Weekend Mass:

Our weekend Mass is celebrated every Sunday morning at 9:30am (via zoom) during the lockdown period. All First Eucharist families are asked to attend Mass each week as part of the commitment you made to the program.  Children should bring along their Mass books and follow along. 

Please visit our website: https://www.holyspiritgungahlin.org.au and download our Pocket Parish App to join in the celebration. 

Click here to access the parish newsletter or you can view it on the Parish App.
Join us for Mass on Sunday 10th September 2021 at 9:30am via Zoom.  Click on this link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/824036573 or use meeting number 824 036 573 to join our Mass.

Peace and best wishes

Anne Leet

(Religious Education co-ordinator)