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Dear Parents and Carers
As you have no doubt already heard, the lockdown in the A.C.T. has been extended until Friday September 17, the end of Term 3. This means that our Remote Learning will continue for the remainder of the term. It remains the preference of the school, where possible, that students remain at home, although of course we understand that for students of essential workers, this is not always possible.
The teachers will continue teaching their students in the same manner that has been in place for the last few weeks. We are fine-tuning as we go and making improvements to the delivery of our lessons, however the broad contours of the school’s Remote Learning delivery will remain the same. The Remote Learning website will include, for each grade, the lockdown letter, a two-week overview and a daily timetable of the day’s learning, updated on a daily basis. The teachers are in the process of preparing a two-week overview for Weeks 9 and 10, which will go on the school’s website this Friday. Daily or twice-daily check-ins will continue for each class, with the times set by each class teacher. Weekly assemblies will also continue.
A reminder for Kindergarten parents that they can pick up their child’s learning packs for weeks 9 & 10, tomorrow between 10 am and 12 pm. The teachers will be handing them out in a drive-through format. If you are unable to pick up your child’s learning pack at that time, you will be able to collect it from the front foyer after 12 pm tomorrow.
A reminder too for this Thursday’s weekly assembly, at 2 p.m. The link to the assembly can be found here:
It is of course the hope of the school that we return to face-to-face teaching for Term 4. We miss all the children a great deal and are very much looking forward to their return. The decision to return to face-to-face teaching is – as it is for us all – out of our hands, and we are learning to live with a situation that is somewhat out of our control, in terms of the way we teach the students. What is in our control is our capacity to respond to the current reality with hope, as well as an ongoing commitment to meet the needs of our students and to ensure that they are as cared for and taught as well as they can be. In other words, our vocation as a school remains as it always has. As always, I will update the parent community as information about the lockdown, and the way it affects the school, comes to hand. Please contact your child’s teacher, or me, if you have any concerns or queries.
School Community Council
Last night, the Community Council met, as it does in Weeks 3 & 8 of each term. The Council had a number of social events planned for the social calendar, involving both families and occasionally just parents; unfortunately, these have had to be put on hold, due to the A.C.T. lockdown. The Council will inform parents when such events can take place, which will not be until Term 4, at the earliest.
General School Events
A number of school events have had to be postponed until the restrictions ease and we return to face-to-face (for example, Book Week, as I have written elsewhere). As the lockdown progresses, however, we are working through ways we can hold events in an online world. This will particularly be the case if the lockdown continues into Term 4. The Leadership Team and the staff are currently working through what that might look like and will communicate accordingly with the parent body. Communication is a quality which is vital at the best of times; never more so than in a situation like a lockdown and remote learning. For the moment, weekly assemblies and the daily routines of class learning are our focus. Should there be a need to communicate with parents regarding extracurricular events, such as Book Week, this will be done accordingly. I thank all parents for their understanding.
Fathers' Day
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all fathers a very Happy Fathers' Day this Sunday. I hope that your day is a very happy and affirming one, and that it is very blessed.
I wish all of our parents and families a very good week. Please contact the school if you have any questions or queries.
Best wishes
Cameron Johns
Principal
Gospel Reflection
When Jesus speaks the word of healing, Ephphatha (Be opened), He appears to be speaking not only to the man but to all those listening. Be open to the possibility of embracing those you have cast out; be open to a different understanding of Messiah. When Isaiah described the signs by which the Messiah would be recognised, he identified those people who were isolated from society by their physical afflictions. He portrayed a Messiah who released them from those afflictions and allowed them to re-enter society. That is what Jesus did time and time again. In the healing of the deaf and silent man, Jesus called on all those around Him to also be opened – that their hearts may be opened to compassion. Jesus calls to us through this week’s Gospel to also be open to compassion and open to the needs of those around us.
Adapted from Greg Sunter
Praying during lockdown
Lockdown provides an excellent opportunity to focus on our prayer lives. The following resources may support you to do so during this time. If you would like any further prayer resources for this time, I would be very happy to help, please email me on fran.garrett@cg.catholic.edu.au
Daily online Mass
https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/mass-online/
3 minute retreats
A 3 minute scripture reflection with accompanying music and reflection images
https://www.loyolapress.com/3-minute-retreats-daily-online-prayer/3-minute-retreats-archives/
World Christian Community of Meditation Website
This website provides great videos about the History of Christian Meditation and how to pray in this way.
https://wccm.org/meditate/how-to-meditate/
Is a weekly online child-friendly reflection of the coming Sunday’s Gospel.
Sunday 5th September, 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time
https://www.prayingwithchildren.org/j3ikn0uc4mmw.html
Blessings,
Fron Garrett
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)
Dear Parents and Carers,
To recognise and encourage the kindness that our students are showing during remote learning (and for a bit of fun!) we are starting a Shout-Outs Bingo. We look forward to giving shout-outs to our students for being kind and helping out at home.
How to play
Students need to tick off activities from the attached bingo card. To get bingo they must get 5 in a row (horizontal, diagonal or vertical) from the attached Bingo card. We kindly ask that parents officiate Bingo games at home.
Bingo!
When your child has made bingo please complete this form.
From there we will give your child a shout-out on our school Facebook Page (first name only). The shout-out posts will occur 2-3 times a week. Students can make bingo more than once in a week and siblings within the same household may complete all the same tasks in a day and hence make Bingo at the same time.
Optional Photos
You are also very welcome to send a photo of your child completing one of the bingo activities to be added to the Facebook page with the Shout-Outs to anne.perkovic@cg.catholic.edu.au
Happy bingo and blessings to you
Our Year 5 students have been talking about Mary in their Religion sessions and some have produced some very special artwork.
Book Club is open and home delivery is available!
https://scholastic.com.au/media/6421/bc621web.pdf
In response to the current lockdowns, scholastic has added the temporary option for all parents to have their orders sent directly to their homes. This option will enable them to place and receive orders while their children are undertaking schooling at home.
- When parents place their Issue 6 Book Club orders, they'll have the option to select home delivery or school delivery if you have Book Club opened–if not, the default will be home delivery.
- The home delivery option will automatically be added to schools in the lockdown area.
- The home delivery option can be selected by parents at the time of ordering for $7.50
- Your school will still earn 10% in Scholastic Rewards on home delivery orders.
- Any school deliveries will still be sent to the school once you submit your school order (I will place the school order on Thursday 2nd September so orders need to be finalised by then). Please let your children know that it will then take 2 weeks for the orders to arrive at school. They should be here by the end of week 10.
- Remember to use your LOOP app to order book club and once again thank you for your support of our school library.
Please contact amanda.basedow@cg.catholic.edu.au if you have any questions regarding the Library or borrowing.
Keep reading! Mrs Basedow
Hello Everyone – we hope you are all well. We miss you and so does the garden and kitchen!
Although it’s been quiet here at school, while you are safe and sound, it has been busy at home. While everyone is remote learning with their fabulous teachers, wonderful things have been happening in your very own gardens and kitchens.
We have had a great response to our call out for photos of what’s happening in your gardens and kitchens, so we are going to show a few pictures each week until the end of term.
Our shout out this week is to Kinder and Year 1. Fun in the garden and a new lily…
We also received smoothie yum and brain break sandwich…
But don’t be put off by these fabulous photos - we would love to receive many more. If you have a moment in your garden or kitchen that you love (and looked and/or tasted great!) – take a picture and send it in.
Please send it to Mrs Katie Birch Katherine.birch@cg.catholic.edu.au
The Garden Club.
DATE SQUARES
Ingredients
125 g butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cups self raising flour
1 cup sugar
1 cup desiccated coconut
1 cup dates, chopped
400 g nuts, crushed
Method
Preheat oven to 180 degrees and grease a slice tin.
Beat egg and add to melted butter.
Add all other ingredients to a bowl and pour the butter mixture over the top.
Mix well and press mixture in the prepared tin.
Bake for 15-20, minutes or until golden. Cool for 10 minutes and cut into squares.
