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Dear parents,
As we come to the end of what has been another unusual term I would like to reflect on something that I heard when I was observing traffic on Wednesday morning. The two parents were talking about the upcoming holidays, one parent said she felt like it was week 20 of term 1. I know many families and staff will agree with that sentiment.
I thank everyone for your support throughout the term but particularly the effort you made to attend parent teacher meetings. I thank staff for the entire term and praise their adaptability but particularly their work in writing reports and facilitating parent – teacher interviews at the end of a busy term. I thank the students for their resilience and their ability to refocus on their work after a substantial period at home.
Have wonderful break and I look forward to seeing everyone re-energised for the remainder of the year.
Mother Teresa Award
Each term the school presents our Mother Teresa Award to two students who the staff vote on, and who have consistently displayed our 5C's in their daily interactions with all members of our community. Due to Covid 19 we were unable to present this award in term one.
The two winners for this term were Alicia Beeton (6 Charcoal) and Alessia Vardanega (1 Amber). We congratulate the two winners who were chosen from many nominations. Each day the vast majority of students at MTS display the 5C’s in their daily interactions. We thank all of the students for their ongoing positive behaviours.
Parent Access in Term 3
From the beginning of term three, parents are welcome back onto school grounds both before and after school, with the following rules applying:-
1. You must maintain social distancing.
2. When dropping off or collecting children at the end of the school day you must must still remain outside the school buildings. Children will come outside to meet you once the school bell has rung.
3. All parent helpers must still present at the front office to sign in and sanitise your hands before entry to the school buildings.
4. If you wish to speak to the teachers, please make arrangements to do so via email at a mutually convenient time.
Thank you for your continued co-operation.
Maths Problem
Congratulations to Nathan Alex who was this week’s winner. The problem below is the holiday challenge for the end of term 2. There will be a special prize for the best design of an asteroid.
Draw an Asteroid
You will need a ruler, pencil, eraser and a large sheet of cardboard.
- On the cardboard draw two lines intersecting at right angles. Lightly mark the point where they meet ‘O’.
- With your ruler beginning at ‘O’, mark both lines at 1cm intervals. Lightly place the numbers 1 to 10 along all axis moving out from ‘O’.
- Repeat this for all four axis.
- Using a ruler careful join the points 1 & 10 with a lead pencil, then 2 & 9; 3 & 8; 4 & 7; 5 & 6; 6 & 5, 7 & 4; 8 & 3; 9 & 2; 10 &1.
- Repeat in all quadrants.
The resulting figure will look like the image below.
Try more numbers or a black texta. Beware a black texta smudges easily so wipe down your ruler constantly.
All finished designs are to be given to Mr Hughes in week 1.
Car Parking in Private Properties
I have mentioned many times in previous newsletters about the concerns raised by residents of neighbouring proerties having their carparks taken by parents dropping off or collecting their children. Yesterday I received a letter from the Operations Manager at Project Independence, 63 Mapleton Avenue Harrison (just behind the school) regarding this issue.
Project Independence is a social housing development for people with an intellectual disability. The residents at Project Independence live permanently in their own units. The car parking spaces in the driveway are private property and are needed for both residents and their support workers.
Could I remind all families again to please not park your car on private property or to detour through the unit blocks across the road. Please respect our neighbours and keep the children and residents safe by avoiding these areas. Thank you for your understanding.
Safe travels to those of you who are travelling and I look forward to seeing you all on Monday 20 July.
God Bless
Peter Hughes
WHOLE SCHOOL FOCUS
The Whole school focus theme for this year is: Be Just Like Jesus This term we will be focusing on: Think Like Jesus: Jesus’ character and the way he lived offers excellent examples of ways we can model ourselves on him. We can do this by doing our best to live peacefully with others, study the scriptures, be gentle and humble, trust God, help others, make good choices, and always obey God.
CONFIRMATION
Please keep our Year 6 students and their teachers at Mother Teresa School and the Parish, in your prayers. The Confirmation Candidates have been preparing for this important event, Sacrament of Confirmation over the past 2 terms. Please ensure that you have returned the tear off slip at the bottom of your letter containing important information about your saint and sponsor names. Don’t forget to register your Confirmation Mass online please.
First Reconciliation and First Eucharist Information Session:
Thank you to all those parents who attended the Zoom Parent Information Session. A few families were unable to attend. If you would like your child to receive these Sacraments, please ensure the following information is completed by Friday 3rd July: Online Enrolment, copy of your child’s Baptismal Certificate emailed to the Parish and Payment envelope. This is so they can be processed and booklets and medals can be ordered before school resumes in July. I am sure you will understand as there are 66 students down to make the Sacrament from Mother Teresa School and around 200 in the combined Parish.
Sunday Mass
We are excited that the restrictions have eased again as from midday 19 June 2020 we will be able to open our church for weekend Mass for up to 100 people at each Mass. We are respecting the practice of social distancing of 4sqm separation, hand hygiene through the use of a sanitiser and collection of name and contact details through our new booking system.
Please note that you must book to attend Mass in person. If you do not book, we will be forced to refuse entry. We are sorry to have to do this however, we do need to be strict about the numbers to adhere to government rules. If you are performing a Ministry at Mass, you do not need to book as these numbers have been factored in.
Book here: https://www.holyspiritgungahlin.org.au/latest-news/mass-bookings/
If are not able to book online, please contact the parish office on 02 6242 9622.
For those who are not able to attend in person at this time, please continue to join us for Mass on Sundays at 9.30am via Zoom using https://zoom.us/j/824036573.
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Year A
5 July 2020
“I am gentle and humble of heart.”
Something to Think About
Do you sometimes feel worried about things?
Do you sometimes feel tired or frustrated and just need a rest?
In today’s gospel we learn that we can give our worries to Jesus and Jesus will give us rest and peace.
The Story
In today’s gospel story from Matthew, Jesus makes a clear delineation between ‘wise and educated people’ and ‘ordinary people’ (in other translations ‘mere children’).
The first group probably refers to the Pharisees and others who rejected the messages of both John the Baptist and Jesus. ‘Ordinary people’ seems to refer to both those who are ‘child-like’ in their understanding (the disciples) as well as to children themselves.
The key message of today’s gospel is: do not worry, for Jesus is gentle and humble and will give us rest.
Something to Think About
Do you sometimes feel worried about things?
Do you sometimes feel tired or frustrated and just need a rest?
In today’s gospel we learn that we can give our worries to Jesus and Jesus will give us rest and peace.
The Story
In today’s gospel story from Matthew, Jesus makes a clear delineation between ‘wise and educated people’ and ‘ordinary people’ (in other translations ‘mere children’).
The first group probably refers to the Pharisees and others who rejected the messages of both John the Baptist and Jesus. ‘Ordinary people’ seems to refer to both those who are ‘child-like’ in their understanding (the disciples) as well as to children themselves.
The key message of today’s gospel is: do not worry, for Jesus is gentle and humble and will give us rest.
The Scriptures
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 11:27-30
On one occasion Jesus said:
"The only one who truly knows the Father is the Son.
But the Son wants to tell others about the Father,
so that they can know him too.
If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens,
come to me and I will give you rest.
Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me.
I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.
This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light."
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK
Prayer
Family Discussion
The Pharisees were supposed to teach the people about God and his Kingdom. But what does Jesus say about the Pharisees? Who does Jesus invite to come to him? The Pharisees were harsh teachers. They told the people to do things even God hadn’t asked them to do. It was like they made them carry a heavy load that made them tired. Jesus invites people to come and learn from him. What sort of a teacher is Jesus? Jesus wants to teach us to be God’s friend and then to live God’s way. How do you become a friend of God’s? What are some of the things Jesus teaches us about living God’s way?
Family Activity
You will need ribbon or string, a small and a large rock (or small and large book).
Using the ribbon or string tie the right wrist of one person to the left wrist of another person. Do not make it tight. “Ok, now that you are tied together, let’s see what you can do. Try waving together. Now try clapping! Try writing in the air (or have a pen and paper for them to try). Can you pick up this rock together? (Have a small rock and a large rock; see which one is easier to pick up) “What is it like being yoked together? What is hard about it? What is fun about it?” Make sure everyone in the family has a go.
Have a great break and keep safe!
Peace and best wishes
Anne Leet
Religious Education Co-ordinator
