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Dear parents,
I am currently working with staff to allocate students to classes for the 2021 school year. Students will be asked to nominate five friends they would like to be with in 2021. While we try to have every child with at least one friend, there are times when this is not possible.
To take any perception of favouritism away from class placements we use a program called ‘Class Creator’ to place students in classes. Initially the head of the diverse learning team, Karen Garrity, and I sit down and work out the best placement for our students with high needs. We then talk with the class teachers involved.
Before class lists are generated teachers populate a survey outlining a child’s academic ability; their social skills, behavioural issues, friends, and students they may need to be separated from. In addition to this, the program also ensures we have a balance of boys and girls. The program then generates four classes that take the information into account and comes up with four closely balanced classes.
Parents, including staff, are not able to request a certain teacher for their child. If students have had issues with a fellow student previously, we will consider keeping them apart. If a staff member and a parent have clashed in the past I will consider where we place the child. It would be pointless putting both the teacher and the parent together if the beginning of the school year is going to be marked by negativity, as it would make for a long year.
We send class lists home with the semester two reports at the end of week nine.
Next week I will be absent from school from Wednesday to Friday as I will be accompanying the year six students and their teachers to Camp Cooba. We all have our fingers crossed for fine weather.
Maths Problem
Congratulations to Brody Press who was this week’s winner as his was the only entry. This week’s problem is below and is aimed at our younger students.
African penguins are a small breed of the only penguins that lay their legs in Africa. To nest, they dig burrows on land, and the female usually lays 2 eggs in it. Both parents work together to keep the eggs warm and to feed the chicks when they hatch. If you saw 6 eggs, how many mother penguins would you expect to see? If you saw 24 eggs, how many mother penguins would you expect to see?
God Bless
Peter Hughes
The Whole school focus theme for this year is: Be Just Like Jesus
To be like Jesus is to be a person willing to put others before yourself, to seek wisdom, and to care about how you interact with all people you come across in life.
Grade Masses Thank you to Fr Thonn for celebrating Mass with our Year 4 students and teachers on Tuesday. He was very impressed by the way the students responded during the mass and sang so beautifully. It was a truly amazing mass with everyone totally involved throughout the ceremony.
All Souls Day Mass
We will be commemorating our dearly departed loved ones with Mass for All Souls Day on Monday 2 November at 7:00pm. Please follow this link to make a booking for this Mass.
Parish Youth Group
Our Youth Group will be meeting this Sunday 1 November from 5pm to 7pm. All children in Years 5 to 12 are invited to join in. $5 entry fee.
Booking to attend Mass
To attend Mass in person, please follow this link to make a booking. We encourage you to all come back to Mass if it is safe for you to do so. We look forward to seeing you!
Parish Newsletter
This weekend’s newsletter is now available online. Click on the link here to access: https://www.holyspiritgungahlin.org.au/31-october-1-november-2020-saints/
THIRTIETH-FIRST SUNDAY IN
ORDINARY TIME
All SAINTS
"Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven."
The Story
This gospel story takes place on a mountain top. Mountains are sacred places. Just like Moses went up a mountain to receive the 10 Commandments from God, Jesus now gives his disciples a special set of blessings from God.
This story is sometimes called “The Beatitudes” because ‘beatitude’ is an old word that means ‘blessed’.
God loves all people but blesses in a special way those people who are sad, people who depend on God, people who care for others, people who are treated unfairly, gentle people, forgiving people.
The Scriptures
A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew 5:1-12
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the side of a mountain and sat down.
Jesus' disciples gathered around him, and he taught them:
"God blesses those people who depend only on him. They belong to the kingdom of heaven!
"God blesses those people who grieve. They will find comfort!
"God blesses those people who are humble. The earth will belong to them!
"God blesses those people who want to obey him more than to eat or drink. They will be given what they want!
"God blesses those people who are merciful. They will be treated with mercy!
"God blesses those people whose hearts are pure. They will see him!
"God blesses those people who make peace. They will be called his children!
"God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the kingdom of heaven.
"God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven."
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Discussion
Invite the children to describe the love their parents have for them.
Then ask the children to describe the love that God has for them.
Invite everyone to share stories about the ways they have seen other people demonstrating their love for another person or for God.
Reflection
Some of God’s blessings we can see, but some blessings are invisible.
Talk about some of God’s blessings that you can see.
Now talk about some of God’s blessings that you can’t see.
Spend a few moments in silence thanking God in your heart for these great gifts.
Peace & Best Wishes
Anne Leet
Religious Education Co-Ordinator
