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- Principal's Message Term 2 Week 8 - 2022
- Religious Education - Term 2 Week 8 - 2022
- MTS Sports News Week 8
- Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability
- School Canteen - Over the counter sales week 9
- Counsellor's Corner - from Bronwyn Wyatt & Ryoko Koyasu
- MTS Community Council - Social Club Upcoming Events & More!
- Community Service Announcements
- Community Council Entertainment Book
- Lee Revell, our Defence School Mentor, who is resigning from the position to take up a full-time position with a local agency. Lee has supported the children of our Defence families over the last two years. This is a vital role within our school as we support over 100 children and their families as they transition between various posting around Australia and internationally.
- Emmie Hoffsink, our student administration office, has resigned from her position to have time with family and settle into a new home over the border. I thank Emmie for the care she has shown the children, who have required first aid on a Monday or Tuesday.
- Kate Higgins will be finishing up at the end of the term to access maternity leave and welcome the arrive of baby number two.
- Arrangements are currently in place to fill the positions with both Lee and Emmie's jobs advertised on the CE website.
Next week we will be undertaking a range of athletics activities to ensure students are able to qualify for the regional track and field events.
Students are asked to wear their runners/joggers every day in Week 9. They can wear these with either the sports uniform or on an extra day if possible.
Privacy
- I acknowledge that CECG’s Privacy Policy as amended from time to time is available on the CECG website.
- I acknowledge that the School may make reports to relevant government agencies concerning child safety issues in some circumstances, and that these reports are not a breach of privacy but are reports that are required to be made by law.
School Fees, Levies and Charges
- I will pay all School fees, levies and charges associated with the Student’s education when the fees, levies and charges are due, unless I have entered into an alternative arrangement with the School and/or I have been approved for a Fee Remission through the Fee Remission process at the School.
- I acknowledge that I am legally obligated to pay any and all outstanding fees and charges incurred whilst the Student is a student at the School, even after the Student is no longer enrolled at the School. This includes any expenses incurred by the School as a result of late or non-payment, or any associated charges incurred through formal collection or fee recovery processes.
- I acknowledge that the School has the discretion to utilise formal collection or fee recovery processes should fees and/or charges remain outstanding for extended periods of time, if no other arrangements are put in place through an approved payment plan or the School’s Fee Remission processes.
- I understand that the School is part of a system of schools within the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn and that Government funding and school fees within the system may be distributed among member schools according to need as determined by the Approved Authority.
Afternoon Pickup through the ELC drop off zone
After school, all parents collecting kindergarten to year 6 child/ren need to pick up from the carpark located on the basketball courts. Please DO NOT use the ELC pick up/drop off zone located at the front of the school. This is a dedicated area for the ELC students only.
Very Important - Explaining absences for partial days when attending school events
There have been a few events run recently where some children have participated but not attended school before the event, after the event, or both. In these circumstances, parents will need to submit an absence for the period that they were not at school. This can be done on the Compass Parent Portal through the "shortcuts" button on the home screen. Please remember to check the date and change the times to reflect the actual time away from school (noting that the school day starts at 8:45am and finishes at 3:00pm). This will then cover any unexplained time away from school.
Example:
On Friday 10th June, Freddy attended the Brumbies Championships which started at 11:30am but did not attend school prior. You will need to complete an absence for the period 8:45am to 11:30am.
Events - Off campus Events Notices & Updates (Compass)
As many of you would be aware, we are now utilising the "events" function in Compass which allows us to specify which students are attending particular events off site. Please note, once you have completed any necessary permissions/registrations etc with regards to events, that all updates and information regarding the event will be sent via Compass email. No information will be sent to the full school community with other daily Compass alerts. You will need to check your emails (including junk mail) if you are looking for the latest information on an upcoming event or alternatively go into the Event tab on your parent portal and all information will be there.
School Fees
A reminder that school fee reminders were sent out last week. Payment is now overdue. Please settle your semester one accounts as soon as possible. If you are experiencing difficulties please contact me on my email carmel.maguire@cg.catholic.edu.au.
Pupil Free Day
A reminder that our next Pupil Free day is next Friday 24 June. Kidsbiz will be running on that day. Please contact them if you need to book in.
Tissues & Wipes need re-stocking
We are running low on tissues and antibacterial wipes in our classrooms. If all students could please supply one packet of each to their classroom teacher it would be greatly appreciated.
School Prayer Assemblies are still via MS Teams
Our weekly school gathering is held via MS Teams each Friday afternoon from 2:30pm. If you need to collect your child early from school please try to do so before this time so as to avoid interrupting the whole class.
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.
God Bless
Carmel Maguire
WHOLE SCHOOL FOCUS
The Whole school focus theme for this year is ‘Do small Things with Great Love’ and the Bible reference that supports our theme for Term 2 is Ephesians 5:8, in which St Paul says:
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light,
For the effects of light are seen in complete goodness and right living and truth.”
FIRST EUCHARIST/RECONCILIATION
(children in Year 3 or older)
Week 9
- Information Session - Tuesday 21 June 1:00pm and 6:00pm at the Church
- Enrolment weekend - Saturday 25 June and Sunday 26 June
Focus Assembly
Thank you, Mrs Francis and I Coral, for presenting an amazing Focus Assembly on Creativity. They shared some beautiful drawings and insights on how they can be creative at Mother Teresa School. Their choice of song ‘God is Everywhere’,was spot on! They also shared the Creation Story. The first thing the Bible tells us is that God is a creator. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Gen. 1:1)
YEAR 2 MASS
Thank you to our Year 2 teachers and students who celebrated a beautiful Mass on Tuesday 14th June. It was wonderful to hear their amazing singing and they participated in the various processions and responses reverently. The theme “Jesus is the Light of the World” supports our whole school Focus this term. Light permeates into every crack and crevice of our lives and beings, whether visible, physical regarding warmth, or symbolically enlightening us. Jesus is the Light of the world, our world, and in the world.
Have you ever had people come to your house for a meal? How did your family look after the visitors and make them feel welcome? Did you give them something to eat and drink?
The Story
This story tells us something about God's kingdom and also about how we are to work together with Jesus and with one another to bring about the kingdom. Jesus tells us we can't expect him to do everything. When Jesus and his disciples are surrounded by thousands of people, the disciples just want to send the people away. They don’t really want to put in any effort. But Jesus tells the disciples: 'You give them something to eat'. Jesus is telling the disciples that they have a role to play in bringing about the kingdom.
The Scriptures
A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke 9:11-17
Jesus welcomed the people. He spoke to them about God's kingdom and healed everyone who was sick.
Late in the afternoon the twelve apostles came to Jesus and said, "Send the crowd to the villages and farms around here. They need to find a place to stay and omething to eat. There is nothing in this place. It is like a desert!"
Jesus answered, "You give them something to eat."
But they replied, "We have only five small loaves of bread and two fish. If we are going to feed all these people, we will have to go and buy food." There were about five thousand men in the crowd.
Jesus said to his disciples, "Have the people sit in groups of fifty."
They did this, and all the people sat down. Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and fish and handed them to his disciples to give to the people. Everyone ate all they wanted. What was left over filled twelve baskets.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Something to Think About
There is action in this story. It sounds a lot like the Eucharist that we celebrate together when we go to Mass at church. The disciples give their bread and their fish which Jesus blesses and breaks and gives back to the disciples to distribute. We are asked to give of ourselves too. How might you reach out to those who are hungry, or to those who need your friendship, or attention, or kindness?
Following a frustrating two years of sporting cancellations, due to inclement weather and a worldwide pandemic, students are finally back representing Mother Teresa School on the sporting field.
Recently some MTS students have competed in local events including ACT Cross Country, The Wally Masur Cup & the Matt Giteau Cup Finals.
Wally Masur Cup
This event was run in conjunction with Tennis ACT and was hosted for the first time right here at MTS!
Out of the eight teams who competed on the day the final was fought out by two of our teams. All students participating displayed outstanding sportsmanship and represented themselves, their families and MTS with great esteem.
Finals of the Matt Giteau Cup
Our Year 5/6 team won their way to the finals in the preliminary rounds held earlier in the year.
The team did extremely well, considering the quality of the teams, representing not only the ACT, but also surrounding regions of New South Wales.
Once again the players enjoyed the experience and represented MTS with great enthusiasm and respect for their opposition.
A big thanks to all of the parents who came to support on the day, particularly our coaches Matt and Charles.
ACT Cross Country Championships
Congratulations to the Mother Teresa School students who represented the North/Gungahlin region at the ACT Cross Country Championship held on Wednesday 15 June.
Our representatives were:
Grace P – Yr 2
Maria M – Yr 3
Anessa C – Yr 5
Ruby S - Yr 5
Charlotte P - Yr 5
Lachlan R - Yr 2
Nikos V - Yr 5
Brody P - Yr 5
A special mention to Nikos, Lachlan and Ruby who all finished within the top 10 for their age group.
Well done to everyone who competed in these events! It is great for sport to be back and we look forward to sharing many other experiences throughout the year.
Craig Hart & Justine Henshaw
As advised, our canteen provider will only be open on Wednesday to Friday for online lunch orders. All lunches will now be ready for collection at 11am - over the counter sales will also be available from 11:15am-11:30am.
Supporting Children with Anxiety
All children experience feelings of anxiety sometimes, especially during new or challenging situations. However, when anxiety starts to take over and effect day to day life, this can be a sign that they may need some support and guidance to build some coping strategies.
Some signs that your child may need some support to cope with their anxious feelings are:
- Their worries seem out of proportion compared to the situation they are in
- Anxiety is interfering with their ability to participate in activities that other children their age do
- They start to avoid situations that cause them to feel anxious such as school, social activities, sports
Whilst avoiding situations may seem like a good short term solution, the dilemma is that this avoidance tends to make facing that situation feel harder next time.
Here are some tips from Kids help line and Beyond Blue to support you in supporting your child.
- Find out more about anxiety
- Acknowledge your child’s feelings. Try not to tell them not to worry or to ignore it.
- Help your child notice when they are feeling anxious and how anxiety can sometimes be felt in the body Eg. Stomach aches, headaches, sleeplessness
- Emphasize giving things a go rather than focusing on success or failure
- Teach them about anxiety and why we have it. A great resource to explain anxiety is the book Hey Warrior by Karen Young
- Tell your child that you’ll figure it out together
- Help your child to notice the worried thoughts they are having about the situation and support them to come up with some calm and more realistic thoughts instead.
- Set small goals with your child to help them to face their fears slowly over time
- Encourage and acknowledge their success when they face a situation they were anxious about
- Learn some calming strategies with your child like slow deep breaths or listening to a mindfulness app such as Smiling Minds
Remember that there is support available if you feel that your child could benefit from it. The goal isn’t about eliminating anxiety completely, but rather, supporting children to build strategies for coping with their anxious feelings so that anxiety doesn’t get in the way of them participating in things they enjoy.
For more information, please visit the Kids Help Line or Beyond Blue websites or contact your School Counsellors Bron and Ryoko if you feel that your child could benefit from any further support.
https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents/issues/anxiety-kids-and-teens
https://healthyfamilies.beyondblue.org.au/age-6-12/mental-health-conditions-in-children/anxiety?
MTS Social Committee – upcoming events and more!!
It’s been a tough time for the Social Committee trying to arrange events in and around COVID so we’re excited to announce some MTS Social Events for 2022!!
Kicking off this term with our 80’s Zumba Party on 17 June (see the details below) and a Trivia Night in Term 3.
80’s Zumba Party – In the School Hall on 17th June 2022 7-9pm
Bookings: $10 https://www.trybooking.com/CABKC
With a few of our members leaving last year we would love to welcome some new members. If the Social Committee sounds like your sort of gig don’t be shy, get in touch. You can learn more about what we do and just sign on for the Trivia Night if you’d like a taster. Contact us at: MTScommunitycouncil@mail.com or through one of the Facebook pages.
Speaking of Facebook, we’re also pleased to launch our “MTS Community” Facebook page. If you’re interested in keeping up to date with all the social events & fundraisers happening at the school join up! One of our aims is to promote a strong friendly community at MTS. Having our own page means we will transition away from putting up too much information about Social Events and fundraisers on the individual Year level pages. What’s that? You didn't know about the Year level Facebook pages? They are a great way to communicate/connect with other families at MTS – perfect for finding that lost jumper, trying to recall if it’s dress up/party day, organising year level catchups etc. Check out the links below to find us and don’t forget about the school run Facebook page as well.
Facebook pages (run through Mother Teresa School Community Council (MTSCC)):
Note: The individual year level pages are renewed at the end of each year and you need to rejoin the new group.
MTS Community - for info on Social Events and Fundraisers
Support Mother Teresa School in ACT and purchase your Entertainment Membership from us today!!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Mother Teresa School in ACT
Adelle DeZilva
mtscommunitycouncil@mail.com