Dear parents,

This week we welcomed back our Year Five students and teachers from their Sydney camp. They enjoyed wonderful weather, great activities and even though a small number became ill, from all feedback they had a wonderful time.  We hope to have some photos to share next week.  Many parents with younger students will have tired children this week after their first week of swimming. The program is running smoothly with one week to go.

This week we received permission to hold our carol's night on Friday 4^th December.  The singing will be led by ‘O Christmas Trio’ which consist of well-known vocalists and musicians from Canberra.  Due to COVID restrictions this event will be ticketed and limited to 200 adults.  It is a free event and a helps us bring the year to an enjoyable close.  

Families that come along will need to provide their own food and refreshments due to COVID restrictions. A picnic blanket will help keep your family together and socially distance yourselves from other families.

More information will be sent home shortly on Szapp with the digital booking form.

Community Council Elections

On Tuesday 1st December we will be holding the AGM for the Community Council. The meeting will take place in the staff room and any interested parents are welcome to attend. 

Working Bee

This Sunday commencing at 9am we are holding our annual working bee. We will be weeding various sections of our gardens and applying new mulch.  I thank those that have volunteered their time. We still need more assistance, so if you can spare any time on Sunday morning, we would love to see you!

Please bring along any equipment you may have that will assist.

BYOD Information Night

We have been waiting as late a possible to try and run a parent information night for our Year Three parents regarding our BYOD program.  Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions we are unable to run one this year.

All information regarding our BYOD program and the specifications for iPads is on the school website. This can be found here.

Chess Championships

Last week we conducted the MTS School Championships.  We had approximately 30 participants with all participants playing seven rounds. The top placings for the tournament are listed below.

1^st        Esther Robin and Oscar Schmidt

2^nd       Oliver Schmidt

3^rd        Jonty Duvall, Sonal Perera, Roy Halliday and Quinn Truong

Math’s Problem

This week we had some excellent designs for social distancing at the carol’s night.  I liked the bubble idea but we will go with marked circles. The first entry drawn out was Brody Press. This week’s problem supplied by Mrs Williams, is below.

Sharing Beans

Anna and Ben bought a bag of jellybeans and decided to split it. They shared the jellybeans out evenly and there wasn’t any remainder.

Before they could pack away the beans, Anna’s brother Chris burst in and asked for a share.  Anna and Ben combined their piles and divided the jellybeans into three equal piles. Once again, the jellybeans divided evenly and there was no remainder.

As soon as they finished, Dan, Emma, Frank and Greg all arrived and requested a share. With a sigh, the piles were merged, and the jellybeans shared out into seven equal piles. Once again there were no leftover beans.

“I can’t believe we get so few beans,” Anna complained to Ben. “We started with so many!”

“True,” replied Ben. “But I’m surprised that the beans always split so evenly. It seems like a miracle!”

There were fewer than 50 beans in the bag. Can you work out exactly how many there were?

Bike Safety

It has been reported that students from our school are crossing roads in a dangerous manner.  Can parents please remind children to use the designated crossings when crossing main roads and that when crossing roads that are not supervised the best option is to dismount and then walk their bike across the road.

God Bless

Peter Hughes

The Whole school focus theme for this year is: Be Just Like Jesus

Jesus showed us that serving others and humility go hand in hand. Serving others is more than keeping up with your to-do list. To be a servant means we genuinely need to care about people. It’s keeping our eyes, hearts, and schedules open for divine appointments. Jesus was not stressed by time, what others thought of Him, or a list of tasks to accomplish each day. Jesus was led by the Spirit of God and followed His promptings to serve, love, and help others. No task was ever beneath Jesus, and no person was ever unworthy. As we start to prepare for Advent and Christmas  we need to think about how we can ‘Be the hands of Jesus by giving to others.’

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! 

CHRIST THE KING - Year A –

22 November 2020

​"The Son of Man will sit upon his seat of glory
and he will separate all into two groups."

Preparing to hear God’s word

If you were the king or queen of a huge kingdom, what rules would you ask your people to follow?

​What would be most important for keeping all the people safe and happy?

The Story

Jesus tells us in this gospel passage that the mark of a true disciple is a compassionate response to people's needs.

Jesus wants us to show our care for other people in real and meaningful ways.

​This is what is most important in God’s kingdom.

The Scriptures

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 25:31-46

Jesus said to his disciples:

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all of his angels, he will sit on his royal throne. The people of all nations will be brought before him, and he will separate them, as shepherds separate their sheep from their goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Then the king will say to those on his right, 'My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that was prepared for you before the world was created. When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink.

When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, and when I was naked, you gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was in jail, you visited me.'

"Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, 'When did we give you something to eat or drink? When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear or visit you while you were sick or in jail?'

"The king will answer, 'Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.'

"Then the king will say to those on his left, 'Get away from me! You are under God's curse.

Go into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels! I was hungry, but you did not give me anything to eat, and I was thirsty, but you did not give me anything to drink. I was a stranger, but you did not welcome me, and I was naked, but you did not give me any clothes to wear. I was sick and in jail, but you did not take care of me.'

"Then the people will ask, 'Lord, when did we fail to help you when you were hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in jail?'

"The king will say to them, 'Whenever you failed to help any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do it for me.'"

Then Jesus said, "Those people will be punished forever. But the ones who pleased God will have eternal life."

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Reflection

'I was hungry and you fed me. I was thirsty and you gave me a drink'.

​Discuss what it is that people hunger and thirst for - food, respect, shelter, a job, peace, happiness, a word of encouragement, forgiveness, belonging, love.

Think about the many ways in which you can respond to people's needs e.g. a smile or a friendly word.

Peace and Best Wishes,

Anne Leet

Religious Education Co-ordinator

Don’t forget to order your gingerbread house kits!

The MTS Community Council are selling fabulous gingerbread house kits for you to create your own edible architectural gem. An amazing little present for you or someone else!

Choose from original, chocolate and gluten free. All the kits are egg, nut, dairy and palm-oil free.

The kit includes absolutely everything you need – gingerbread house parts (importantly!), piping bag, assorted lollies, baseboard, cellophane and a ribbon.

The kits cost $35 and can be purchased using the online order form -  Gingerbread House Kit Order Form .

Orders are due by Friday 21 November.

The kits will be available for pick-up outside the school hall after school on Friday 4 December. If you can’t pick it up on the day, it will be given to your child’s teacher to hand out on the following Monday.

We are also holding a ‘Grand Designs’ inspired gingerbread house decorating competition for the kids. Just send in a picture of their completed gingerbread house to MTSCommunityCouncil@mail.com with your child’s name and class for a chance to win a $50 cash prize.  You can use what is provided in the kit or add in some more of your own decoration.

The kits are from Gingerbread Folk. Check them out online at www.gingerbreadfolk.com.au .

Key Dates

Thank you for your support!