Dear Parents

As a Catholic learning community,

all at Mother Teresa School are called

to care, to dream, to innovate, to inspire!

School Review

This week Mother Teresa School was involved in a five-year Registration Standard and School Improvement Review. This involved a team of eight CECG Senior staff visiting the school for three days to interview staff, students and parents, review our curriculum documentation, and appraise the school's practices for compliance.  It was a very successful visit and very affirming. The Panel members were very impressed with the commitment of the staff, the pride the children had for the school, the breadth of opportunities on offer for the children and the strong faith dimension within the school. I look forward to sharing the final report with families once it is published next term.

The Voice of Our Students

Year 6 has been learning how to write a Sonnet. 6 Charcoal and 6 Ink worked together to create their first Sonnet titled 'Mother Teresa School'.

Mother Teresa School

I go to Mother Teresa School, yay!
At school we constantly show the 5 C’s,
It is a real fun time every day,
We use all our manners like thanks and please.

We do everything including mass,

We are always prayerful and respectful,

Jesus teaches us to never be crass,

As well as constantly being grateful. 

We also do very difficult HASS,

English, writing, reading and history,

We learn about solids, liquids and gas,

Why we don’t get A’s is a mystery. 

Our Mother Teresa School is the best,

Because our awesome teachers never rest!

Staff Farewell 

Today we farewelled one of our fabulous school counsellor's Bronwyn. Bronwyn provided a very personable service to our families and will be missed. I am currently waiting on CatholicCare to advise her replacement. This will impact the level of counseling service we can provide at school, leading into the holidays.

Parent Interviews and Reports 

Our Semester Two Parent/Teacher interviews will be occurring in Week 9. Invites will be sent home on Tuesday, via Compass, once the teachers have finalised their availability. Reprots will go home in Week 10.

Parent  Annual Satisfaction Survey- Tell Them From Me

Once again students, teachers and parents will be invited to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an essential part of our whole school evaluation and planning process.

We would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community, we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and well-being at Mother Teresa School.

The survey was provided to parents via a Compass News Feed on Tuesday. The survey will close on Friday 16 June. (Extended by one week)

Cross Country Results 

Congratulations to the following students who finished in the top 10 at the North/Gungahlin Regional Cross Country Carnival. 

Athletics Carnival Age Champions

Congratulations to Lachlan R and Eva B who were our 9 year age champions. They, unfortunately, missed out on the original photo for the newsletter. 

Special Incursion Show at MTS

The children thoroughly enjoyed their theatre show 'Hercules' that visits the school on Monday

MSP School Photos 

MSP has advised that we will get delivery of the school photos at the beginning of term 3. As soon as we receive them we will ensure they are distributed straight away to those families that have placed an order. 

 

Student Absentee Reminders

Over the weekend I will be sending out automated absentee reminders to all families where the school has not received a Compass notification to advise why a child was away from school during this semester. Any issues please advise the school immediately so we can correct any errors that have occurred. Errors often occur when children are late and do not enter via the front office to be signed in.

School Attendance

The ACT Education Act 2004 legislates that all children, living in the ACT of compulsory school age, are enrolled and attending school full-time or registered for Home Education, except in exceptional circumstances when an approved Exemption Certificate is in place.

The ACT Education Act 2004 applies to all children and young people living in the ACT and all schools in the ACT – Public, Catholic and Independent. An Exemption Certificate is required when:
• a child or young person of compulsory school age (6 to 17) is not attending school
full-time or registered for Home Education for a period of 5 or more weeks (25 school days – whole or part days).

Exemptions are required for all young people living in the ACT who:
• are not attending fulltime
• are not enrolled
• are not registered for Home Education
• have not completed year 10
• are not yet 17 and are seeking exemption on exceptional circumstance (eg: medical / mental health)

Exemption Certificate applications are completed by parents, signed by child’s school, with supporting evidence attached relevant to the reason eg: confirmation of employment or letter from a treating professional (psychologist, paediatrician, psychiatrist, GP, other medical specialist) when medical well-being is the reason for an application.

Exemption Certificate applications are considered when a child or young person is unable to participate in learning due to their health/wellbeing. Should you require an exemption please make an appointment to discuss and request further information on how to apply.

Are You Leaving MTS

We are receiving lots of enquiries for enrolment in all grades across the school. If you are aware of a possible move, please advise as soon as possible. This will help with our planning for Semester two 2023 and beyond.  

Student Behaviour

This week we have experienced a spike in aggressive behaviour on the playground. While I know the children may be tired and we have experienced class disruptions due to staff absences I want parents to know that issues are followed up and appropriate consequences are put in place. In every situation, we endeavour to listen to all involved and keep parents informed in a timely manner. Please remind your children of our Mother Teresa Way

Enrolment Time

The Catholic Schools official enrolment period has concluded however it is not too late to submit an application. All families with siblings attending our ELC need to also enrol to secure a place. 

Please encourage friends and family to complete the enrolment form, available on our website.

Please spread the word! 

ELC refurbishment and car park arrangements 

With the plans of the ELC refurbishment approved it is expected that construction will commence soon (We are still waiting). Due to delays with several building approvals required the commencement date has been pushed back.  Once the project commences the access driveway in front of the ELC will be blocked off. This will mean that ELC parents will need to park in the car park and school afternoon pick-up for everyone will be at the back of the school near the covered walkway.  

Uniform Shop Opening 2023

Principal

Go the Raiders!

Copper E (3 Sapphire), our very committed team supporter, with Jarrod Croker in preparation for his 300th game.

RECONCILIATION/ FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

Dear Parents/Carers,

If your child is baptised Catholic and in Year 3 or above, Holy Spirit Catholic Parish Gungahlin invites you to join a special faith journey through the Sacraments of First Reconciliation and First Communion.

The Information, Prayer, and Reflection session for these Sacraments will be on

Tuesday 20 June, at Holy Spirit church

1.00pm or 6.30pm

Registration for these Sacraments is now open.  Please follow the link below or scan the QR Code.

Link:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1I3KvClTnNNz_quwOUE5oCtYZg2SPVWD_dZenSa2mHKU/edit

Your child will bring an Information Session invitation home from school this week.  Please select which session you would like to attend and return the slip to school by Wednesday 14 June 2023.

Contact Anne Leet (Religious Education Co-ordinator) anne.leet@cg.catholic.edu.au or Mel Unwin (Sacramental Preparation Coordinator) mel.unwin@cg.catholic.org.au if you have any questions.

Apply now for the Future of Education Equity Fund 2023.

Apply now for the Future of Education Equity Fund for the 2023 school year.

Eligible low-income ACT families can receive one-off payments for financial assistance to help cover the costs of their children’s educational expenses such as sport equipment and activities, music lessons, school uniforms and excursions.

The Fund is open to eligible students enrolled in preschools (attached to a school)
through to Year 12 in the ACT.

Further information and the online application form is available here.