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- Principal's Message Term 4 Week 1 - 2023
- Protecting Children Viewing Distressing Images
- School Community Events
- Registration Community Report
- Religious Education News - Anne Leet
- Parish Celebration - Save the Date
- Parish Office Manager - Inner North Parishes
- Barty House Celebration
- Sports Shorts with Mr Russell
- 2023 Year Book
- Bring Your Own Device to school - Years 4, 5 and 6
- Parent Workshop - not to be missed
- Scholastic Book Club
- Community Council News and Events
- Community Service Announcements
Dear Parents
As a Catholic learning community,
all at Mother Teresa School are called
to care, to dream, to innovate, to inspire!
Frequent communication between home and school is important so please do not hesitate to contact me should you have concerns about your child’s safety or well-being. We want the children to be settled at school so that their learning will be successful.
- Miss Sara McCluskey (Mondays to Wednesdays) and Mrs Kate Higgins (Thursdays and Fridays) will be teaching in Kinder Scarlett this term. Sara is a new graduate and Kate is returning from parental leave.
- Mrs Elzani Smith and Mr Jake Rawlins have formally joined our Diverse Learning Team to provide additional support to the teachers and students across the school.
- Mrs Barbara Rundel Dobson will be providing teaching support and covering various classes, when teachers are away on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
- Mrs Louise Thomas who will be working in Kinder Crimson each Friday while Mrs Amy Slaven coordinates our Aboriginal Education program and develops plans for 2024.
Class Groups Concerns
Much care and deliberation occurs when forming our class groups. Teachers are highly professional and have the main responsibility for placing their current students in the most appropriate class for next year. Over the next two weeks, the teachers will be observing friendships to assist with class groupings. Children will be asked to identify four learning friends. Every endeavour is made to ensure a child has at least one learning friend in their class. Please chat with your child so they know who they may like to nominate.
When forming class groups we aim for an equal spread of both positive and challenging characteristics. Every care will be taken to ensure that your child is placed in the best situation to enhance learning and social development.
Confidential concerns should be brought to my attention in writing, by Monday 23 October, even if you have raised concerns in previous years. Please email directly to carmel.maguire@cg.catholic.edu.au. General concerns should be raised with your child's teacher. As Principal, I will make the final decision on all class placements. Late requests are very difficult to consider once groups are finalised.
The MTS Yearbook is Back!
The Mother Teresa School Yearbook has been confirmed for 2023 and our committee we would love your help to make sure it is the best it can be.
The committee is calling on parents, carers, teachers and students to provide photos they have taken throughout the year. The committee al looking for photos from sporting events and carnivals, school activities, awards, camp, excursions and any other photos you would care to share.
The Yearbook has always been wonderfully received in the school community and is a great keepsake for your child/ren to reflect on their journey here.
The Yearbook is no easy task to produce. It is a costly exercise and takes long hours assembling pictures, words, stories, graphics etc, to compile into something that caters to all families and reflects the values of Mother Teresa School; so please help the committee in their mission to make sure everyone and everything is celebrated.
If you have attended school events (sporting, social etc) and you like taking photos, the committee would love for you to send a few photos for use in the yearbook (appropriate permissions will be sought).
If you can help with the above, please reach out and contact the Yearbook team via the yearbook email mtsyearbook00@gmail.com
Car Park
We are working hard to keep our pick-up and drop-off zone available for our ELC families. We have added an additional teacher on supervision at our car park crossing to ensure the safety of the children each afternoon.
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 adviseas soon as possible. This will help with our planning for 2024.
Student Behaviour Expectations
Uniform Shop Opening 2023
Principal
With the turmoil in the world and the vivid images that are currently being shared in all forms of media, we need to consider the impact on our children viewing various images associated with war. Please find attached what you can do if you have concerns regarding images shared on social media.
With the help of Vicki, our Community Liasion Officer, we have planned several events to help connect families in our community.
Small steps that we hope will grow.
Cuppa and Chat - Tuesday 17 October
Weekend Picnic in the Park
WHOLE SCHOOL FOCUS
The Whole school focus theme for this year is ‘Walking Together’ and the Bible reference that supports our theme is Luke 24:13-35. The Emmaus Story. This year as we Journey Together, we realise we are not so different from the two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus. Jesus walks with us and among us every day, and yet, too often, we fail to recognize him. Let us learn from this story to find him in the Scriptures and recognize him each time we break bread in church, at home or at school.
WELCOME TERM FOUR
We do hope that all members of our school community have returned happy and excited as we resume for the final term of 2023.
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:35
Companion God,
You call us to be people of journey.
You call us to enter the story of your people that stretches back through all of time.
Remind us that our journey of faith is walked in and with this community.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, who walks with us. Amen
Year A | Sunday 15 October | green “Whomsoever you find invite to the wedding.”
Something to Think About
God constantly invites us into a closer relationship. We need a patient, open, listening heart to know God better. Through prayer, we can listen to God's invitation to life and to love. In this story, the invitation was to come and be a part of a welcoming and celebrating community. Our families, schools and parishes are communities. Are they welcoming? What can you do in your communities to welcome others?
Is your community marked by the spirit of joy? What can you do to bring joy and laughter into your community?
The Story
In Jesus’ time, invitations to an important feast or party didn’t include a specific time - when all the preparations were complete, the servants would be sent out to tell the invited guests that they could come in. In this story, the people who were invited chose not to come, so people were welcomed in from the streets instead. The people who were invited to the wedding but refused to attend in today’s story, represent the religious leaders - they were invited to believe in the Messiah, but they refused. Those who accepted – the people who came from the street corners - represent people from all over the word who believed in Jesus.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEbwiQvo5k4
Praying the Rosary
The month of October each year is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary. The word rosary comes from Latin and means a garland of roses, the rose being one of the flowers used to symbolise the Virgin Mary.
If you were to ask what object is most emblematic of Catholics, people would probably say, "The rosary, of course." We’re familiar with the images: the silently moving lips of the old woman fingering her beads; the oversized rosary hanging from the waist of the wimpled nun; more recently, the merely decorative rosary hanging from the rear-view mirror.
We pray to Mary because she is the Mother of God and her prayers are very powerful (Jn.2: 1 -11). When we pray the Hail Mary, we combine worship of God and honor of Mary.
Invitation For New Altar ServersAll children who are in year 3 and above and who have received the Sacrament of First Eucharist to join us as Altar Servers. The Parish will be hosting an introductory training session at the Church on Sunday 23 October at 2:00pm. If your child would like to attend, even if they aren't sure but would like to see what it involves, please complete the form in the Church foyer and drop it in the red box, or complete this online form https://forms.gle/PF6bvjjsgwz7nZiB9
People are invited to apply for the position Parish Office Manager, Inner North Parishes (encompassing Campbell, Canberra Central, O’Connor & Watson). This is a full-time position (subject to review in 12 months)
Essential Requirements:
An understanding of and support for the Catholic Church and its teachings
Excellent verbal and written, interpersonal and communication skills
Computer literacy in MS Suite and database skills, (in particular PACS database)
Act with tact & discretion, maintaining high levels of confidentiality, honesty, integrity, reliability and punctuality
Please email Deborah.foote@cg.org.au for a detailed copy of the duty statement and selection criteria. Applications addressing the Selection Criteria with attached resume to Fr Anthony Riosa, SSS, anthony.riosa@cam.org.au must be received by Friday 3 November 2023.
On Tuesday, 10 Year 6 athletes travelled to Sydney to compete in the Netball NSW State Cup Finals. They won their way into the championships by winning the ACT State Title in Term 2. Schools came from as far north as Tweed Heads and Inverell and as far west as Orange. The girls and boys acquitted themselves against some quality and tall opposition coming away with 3 wins and 3 losses on the day to finish as the 7th best school team in the whole of NSW and ACT. Congratulations to all students involved. A massive thank you to the parents who gave up their time to drive their children to Sydney and to Ayisha Cicchini who coached the team at all three days of competition this year.
This information is for parents of students currently enrolled in Year 3 and new students going into Years 4, 5, 6 in 2024.
At Mother Teresa School teaching and learning in Years 4, 5 and 6 involves a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program. Students in Years 4, 5 and 6 bring their home-owned device to and from school each day and use their device to support some of their learning throughout the school day. The devices are used to complement the curriculum, and are used purposefully. Technology provides different opportunities for collaboration, creativity and independence. Technology does not take the place of good teaching.
Our BYOD program is currently in transition from iPads to Chromebooks, with the vast majority of Year 4 students bringing Chromebooks in 2023. If you are purchasing a new device, we ask that it be a Chromebook.
Teachers have reported that Chromebooks are much better suited to the research, publishing and typing needs of student learning compared to iPads.
BYOD devices other than Chromebooks and iPads are not supported at Mother Teresa School.
Devices do not have to be brand new. Please contact the office if sourcing a device is difficult.
Please see below for device requirements.
Further information about the BYOD program, policies and setup instructions will follow later in the year but we know parents are keen to find out about specifications now.
BYOD Chromebook specifications - Years 4 - 6
The transition of BYOD (Bring your Own Device) to Chromebooks continues in 2023. If purchasing a new device, we ask that it is a Chromebook. A Chromebook is a kind of laptop running Chrome OS, an operating system made by Google. Chromebooks are made by a range of known technology brands like Lenovo and ASUS. There often is not a lot of difference between brands.
You may like to shop around and see if there are student or education deals around or keep an eye out for upcoming shopping events like Black Friday (October/November), Cyber Monday (November), Boxing Day (December).
When purchasing, please be aware of the following specifications:
- 4GB Memory (RAM) minimum
- 32GB Storage for use in primary school is fine, many will have 64GB anyway
- 11-13 Inch screen minimum
- personal preference
- please consider the size and weight of the device - your child is transporting the device to and from school each day - not too heavy or large
- consider if it fits into their school bag (this was an issue we discovered in 2023)
- At least 8 hour battery life
- Must have the ability to connect to headphones, whether it be via a port or bluetooth - whatever your student has access to
- Must have a camera
- A touchscreen can be useful for some students (but it's optional)
- Stay away from Chromebook tablets without keyboards - these are not recommended
- In terms of price, don't spend too much on the Chromebook. A budget of up to $500 is reasonable. One of the deciding factors in moving from iPads to Chromebooks was the comparable/cheaper price.
- A protective case or cover for the Chromebook is required
- Headphones or earphones are required
- Some students have a mouse (optional)
- Warranty should be a consideration when purchasing a device
- We recommend that you consider adding the device to your insurance policy
Chromebooks do not require active firewalls, or anti-virus and anti-malware software. When the Chromebook is connected to the school network via specialised BYOD WiFi, it will utilise the online security settings set up by Catholic Education.
Scholastic Book Club
The Issue 7 catalogue is now available. The cut-off date for orders is on Sunday 22nd October.
Parents can order online via the LOOP parent portal on the Scholastic website, no orders or cash will be accepted by the school. Late orders are charged a flat rate for home postage.
Books will be delivered to children in their classroom once they arrive at the school. Parents concerned about missing, misplaced or damaged orders are advised to wait until the catalogue is closed and use the home postage option. MTS Community Council parent volunteers will be running the Book Club, so please ensure any inquiries are directed to them via the office email.
It’s a great time to get an Entertainment book in the lead up to the holidays- multi-city means you can use your vouchers anywhere too (not just in Canberra)!!
This limited-time exclusive Bonus Holiday Pack includes:
- 1 x Complimentary Adult Cinema Voucher (Adult eSaver Voucher valid at participating Event, Birch Carrol & Coyle, Village Cinemas) valued at $25
- $50 Hotel voucher courtesy of Entertainment Travel
- $50 Cruise voucher courtesy of Entertainment Travel
- $20 Sea Link ferry or harbour cruise voucher
- $20 Go City Explorer Pass voucher
- And a Free Upgrade to a Multi-City Membership (bonus value up to $110)!
Plus, every Membership purchased goes into the draw to win an epic cruise holiday on the azure waters of Fiji, valued at over $7,282!
Campaign Dates: 21st September-4th October
After our last Paint & Sip night was so much fun and such a successful night, the MTS Community Council have organised to run another amazing evening. Save the Date- Saturday the 18th November and we will have booking details available when we return from the holidays.
