Dear Parents,

It has been a busy week around the school with the fabulous sporting days - the Olympics Games Day led by the Year 6 and the Athletics Carnival with many great events on offer. This week we held the First Reconciliation parent meetings and the Kinders celebrating 100 days at school. 

Reconciliation Commitment Masses

This is a special weekend for our Year 3 families whose children are beginning their preparation to engage in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The children and their families will attend a commitment Mass this weekend.  

School Fees

This week the school fee statements were emailed by Catholic Education to parents. I have noted several emails have bounced due to parents not updating contact details. Please contact our office should there be any issues or you need to request a split billing form. The school is no longer able to change payment arrangements unless the correct form is completed.

Building Fund Tax Invoices for the 2023 - 2024 school year were sent out by CE. Only families who opted in to pay the Building Fund will receive a statement. 

Families Leaving 

We continue to receive enrolment requests for places at Mother Teresa School for 2025. If you are aware you are leaving, please advise the office as soon as possible. Thank you to those parents who have notified the school.

Hats On!

It is that time of year when the children are to wear their school hat whenever playing outside. We have an agreed practice of 'No hat, Sit under a Shade Shelter'. The teacher will start to enforce this rule from Monday.

Annual School Survey - Tell Them From Me

Over the coming weeks parents, staff, and students from Years 4 to 6 will be invited to participate in an annual survey to reflect on the positive and areas of growth. Additional information will be sent home via Compass with an opt-out option should you prefer your child not to participate.

NAPLAN Results

All students who participated in NAPLAN in Years 3 and 5 have been issued with a letter to take home containing their NAPLAN results. Where a child lives between two homes the second copy of the report has been posted. Every effort was made to check which copies needed to be posted. Please check your child's bag if you have not received the envelope. 

Kinder Health Checks

Next week the Kinder health checks will be occurring from Wednesday to Friday week at the school.

ADFA Musica

On Friday 9 August our Year 5 and 6 students are attending the ADFA production "Pirates of Penzance". Buses leave at 9.15. Please ensure you have provided permission via Compass Events.

Maths competition

On Thursday 8 August, commencing at 9.15, we have 95 students who were registered by their parents to participate in the Maths Competition. Unfortunately, entries are now closed. All the best to those involved.

Community Council Meeting - Everyone Welcome

Our next meeting will be held on Tuesday 13 August at 6pm in the staffroom.

Traffic around the school

Today a neighbourhood person, representing the residence who lives in the flats across from the school, complained about parents driving through the unit complex, due to our not right turn sign at the school exit. Please do not use private property as a way to make a quick exit. We want to work with our neighbours.  

God Bless,

Carmel Maguire & Craig Hart

Principal & Acting Principal

WHOLE SCHOOL FOCUS

The Whole school focus theme for this year is ‘COME HOLY SPIRIT’

This term at Mother Teresa School we will use the theme that:  We are called to Innovate.

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. Psalm 139:14

We will share our gifts and talents with each other throughout the year. The values we will be focusing on this term are Responsibility, Sustainability, Care/Kindness, Respect & Affirming

At Mother Teresa School the value we will be focusing on for the next two weeks is:
Responsibility

At Mother Teresa School that means:

- Accept responsibility
- Accepting consequences
- Fixing mistakes
- Staying on task
- Being a risk-taker
- Following rules
- Power to choose

THANK YOU 

Thank you to our wonderful CSYMI students and Miss Greenwood, for their fabulous Focus Assembly on Responsibility. Jesus tells each of us that we are the light of the world. God is light and He sent His Holy Spirit to live in all our hearts, it is up to us to share the light! We shine the light of the Lord on those around us through our words and actions. They shared some beautiful prayers of the faithful and role played different ways in which we show responsibility at MTS. They concluded with the beautiful song that the whole school is learning for this term called “My Lighthouse” that portrays God’s light will shine and guide the way.

RECONCILIATION 2024

Thank you to all those parents who attended the Parent Information session for Reconciliation last Tuesday. Please ensure you:

• Attend mass this weekend and take your enrolment form and a copy of your Baptism Certificate.
• An email will be sent to Register online your choice for the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
• Payment needs to be made online by the 11 August.

Please contact anne.leet@cg.catholic.edu.au  or mel.unwin@cg.catholic.edu.au  if you have any questions.

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 4 August 2024 - Year B

“Work for food that gives  eternal life.”

Something to Think About
What is the difference between a ‘need’ and a ‘want’?
Can you name something that you ‘need’ in your life? 
Can you name something that you ‘want’ in your life?

The Story
The message of this gospel story, is that God will provide everything we need – and more!  Material things alone will not make us happy, but what God gives will satisfy us completely. God wants us to have faith and believe in Jesus.

Video
Click to watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21fM5Hxf-OU

Peace and Best Wishes,

Anne Leet
Religious Education Co-ordinator

Cambpell is such a joy to be around! If you are having a tough day, he will fill your cup. He is gentle, polite, positive and accepting of all.

Despite facing adversity, he has shown courage by coming to school each day with a smile on his face. He has taught myself and others to be grateful for what we have and to find the positives in each day. 

Our Athletics Carnival was held on a beautiful winter's day yesterday at the AIS. With clear skies and a crisp breeze, students showcased their athletic talents with Olympian-like enthusiasm. The competition was intense, and Barty House emerged victorious, celebrating their impressive achievements with pride.

The success of the carnival was made possible by the dedication of our parent volunteers and staff, whose efforts ensured the event ran smoothly and effectively. Their support, from organizing to cheering, was deeply appreciated and crucial to the day’s success.

Overall, it was a memorable day of spirited competition and community spirit, highlighting the exceptional abilities of our students and the collaborative efforts of our school community. Congratulations to all participants and thank you to everyone who contributed to making the event a triumph!

Age Champions:

12 years - Emily E and Patrick M

11 years - Reegan J and Dash M

10 years - Eva B and William M

9 years - Elsie S and Oscar C

8 years - Zoe L and Blake S

The map below and further information can be found using the following:

https://www.transport.act.gov.au/?a=1258838

This term our school will be teaching Protective Behaviours to students using current resources from the Daniel Morcombe Curriculum and Education 2 Empower Publishing. We understand the content of Protective Behaviours can be confronting for some students and we are therefore keen to ensure there is an opportunity for families to engage with the contact before lessons are taught. To achieve this an overview of the program is attached and weekly updates will be provided.

The following document outlines the term days and pupil-free days for 2025.

The teachers will engage in professional learning and preparation during the additional professional learning days next year. 

Years 1 to Year 6 will commence on Tuesday 4 February 2025.

Our Kindergarten classes will commence on Wednesday 5 February 2025, in line with our other Catholic Gungahlin schools.

Second Hand Uniform Shop
The Second Hand Uniform shop is run by the MTS Community Council in the school hall.

This term the shop will be operating Wednesday and Friday from 8:45am to 9:15am, with payment by QKR! app and cash. The QKR! by Mastercard app can be dowloaded via Apple or Google store.

Please ensure your car is off the basketball court by 8.50am as we must close and lock the gates for safety. 

Donations of uniforms that have no rips or stains and are freshly washed are always welcome to be dropped off at the front office.

Scholastic Book Club - Issue 5 
The Issue 5 catalogue for 2024 is now available. The cut-off date for orders is on Sunday 11^th August.

Special offer this catalogue: 3 free books when you spend $70, 2 free books when you spend $50, 1 free book when you spend $20

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 classrooms, once they arrive at the school. MTS Community Council parent volunteers are running the Book Club, please ensure inquiries are directed to them via the office email. Parents concerned about possible missing, misplaced or damaged orders are advised to wait until the catalogue is closed and use the home postage option.

MTS Community Council have organised a wonderful opportunity to get a brilliant family portrait for only $20. 

Thanks kindly to East Lakes Gungahlin for providing a warm room for the stunning photographs to be taken by Kieran from Lasso photography. He takes amazing family portraits, which is something that we look forward to every year.

Book now before places fill up

 https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1257661?

FREE WEBINAR FOR PARENTS AND CARERS

Consent and online boundaries: how to support your primary-aged child

Tuesday 20 August 2024

7.30pm - 8pm

We hope to you see online at our upcoming Term 3 eSafety Commissioner cybersafety talk for parents and carers.

As children begin to navigate the online world, they need to know how to make decisions around consent and boundaries. This 30-minute webinar will outline strategies for parents and carers, as well as support those hard-to-have conversations.

Please register here:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/1244428795787444059