Current Newsletter - Mother Teresa Catholic Primary School

Term 1 2015
Wednesday 18th February
Date Claimers
February 2015
Wednesday 18th February
Ash Wednesday
21st and 22nd February
P & F Masters BBQ
Tuesday 24th February
School Photos
Friday 27th February
Cross Country
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK
Wow, what a week! Last week we celebrated our first liturgy for the year with Fr Joseph,
which was a very special moment for all the new members of our community.
Following out liturgy, we then celebrated our first ever swimming carnival together as a
whole school community, and it was just a perfect day! Many thanks to all the teachers
and parents who helped organise and run the day, and to the so many supporters we had
cheering on ALL children, not just their own; thank you. But most of all, thank you to the
children. Their efforts, willingness to join in and to cheer for all children was simply
awesome. For me though, it is the children who aren’t great swimmers, but participate in
every event, and whilst finishing a distant last, get out of the pool with a great smile of
satisfaction and to the cheers of the crowd. That, for me, is one of life’s most special
moments.
March 2015
Tuesday 3rd March
P & F Meeting
Friday 6th March
School Disco
6.00pm—7.30pm
Thursday 12th March
Liturgy of the word
Tuesday 24th March
First Reconciliation
5pm—6.30pm
St Patrick’s Church
Thursday 26th March
Liturgy of the word
April 2015
Thursday 2nd April
Last day Term I
Friday 3rd April
Good Friday
Today is another special moment, especially in our Church year as we celebrate Ash
Wednesday. The Mother Teresa weather struck again (every Ash Wednesday!) and
instead of a whole school ceremony, individual class celebrations were held. Please take
the time to discuss the significance of this event with your children as we journey towards
Easter.
At the fantastic, informative and very social Parent Information evening last night,
parents were introduced to two staff from Musicorp, who outlined to parents what their
program offers. On Friday morning the instructors from Musicorp will be in the
undercover area at line up time. They will then demonstrate the instruments available
for the years 2- 6 children from 8:30-9:00 while they are assembled in their class lines
before they move off to class. They can also speak to parents at this time. For full details
and prices go to www.musicorp.com.au
SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS : 8.00AM – 3.00PM
I have noticed over the past few weeks a number of children arriving early and being left unsupervised and gravitating towards the new playground. Our supervised duty in the morning starts at 8.10am. If children arrive before
that, they are to be supervised by their parents, or attend OSHC, which is the purpose of having such a facility. Your
assistance and cooperation in this matter would be greatly appreciated.
The rainy weather has been a timely reminder that the weather will soon be turning cooler, and people will be
looking for warmer clothing. We have winter school uniforms (jackets and track pants) which need to be ordered
by this Friday if possible, so stock can be here in time. In the past, we had issues with the quality of the uniform,
particularly the track pants, but this has now been resolved. Because of these quality issues, we had allowed alternative dress (tights, navy track pants). As we have now all quality garments, our winter uniform will be the school
track pants and jacket and not tights / leggings as had previously been tolerated. These are far more practical in
terms of removing them during the day, and limit the variations to what is after all, a uniform dress code.
We are expecting some very heavy rain and wind on Friday. Today all the gutters were cleaned (and 20 balls returned to the sports shed!) so we are hopeful of keeping the undercover relatively dry. We would encourage parents (with umbrellas) to park and collect children from the undercover area, as the library awning does not offer
great protection from wind blown rain.
Last week we informed you of our upcoming disco on Friday March 6. The them for the disco is to come as a figure
from the past. The past can be yesterday, it can be a thousand years ago. Please make sure that the children are
still able to ‘shake their tailfeather’, even in their costume. There will be a simple meal deal (sausage and bread,
popper and ice block) for students, parents and toddlers and order forms for these will go home early next week.
We have had a couple of near misses in the carpark last week, both vehicular and pedestrian. A reminder to all
drivers that traffic in the car park is one way, in a clockwise direction, and we only have ONE exit gate. Driving
against the flow or exiting the wrong gate is an accident waiting to happen.
Could we also please make an effort to use the marked crossings to enter and leave the car park, especially in peak
times. Remember that you are setting a pattern of behaviour for your children, and if you disregard road safety, so
will they, with potentially fatal consequences when you are not around to supervise them. For the sake of the ten
seconds you may gain, please do the right thing by our children.
A reminder we have school photos next week (Tuesday), so please ensure the full and correct school uniform is
worn.
For those of you sporting tragics like myself, you will realise that footy season will be kicking off very soon. We run
a FREE football tipping comp. You can tips for AFL, NRL or be in both. It is a lot of easy fun, and creates a bit of talking interest (aka sledging) around the school. If you are interested, just go to http://www.footytips.com.au/comps/
MotherTeresa and enter your details, choose the code/s and you are done! Simple.
Have a great week!
Peter
APRE News
Liturgy of the Word
This morning (due to the wet weather) we prayed in our class spaces for Ash Wednesday
where the children received the blessed Ashes in the Sign of a Cross on their forehead as
a reminder that we have begun our journey through Lent and towards Easter. Our next
whole school Liturgy of the Word will be held on Thursday the 12th March at 9am and
our Year 1 classes will host this prayer celebration.
School Photos
Jack P
Our School Photo Day will be held next week on Tuesday the 24th of February. Photo order forms were sent home
last week. Please remember to send the order form to school with your child on photo day. Children will need to be
dressed in full school uniform (blue shirt and shorts, blue school socks, black shoes and hair tied back/neat and tidy).
Project Compassion
The beginning of Lent also marks the start of Caritas’ Annual Project Compassion Appeal. This week, each child will
bring home a project compassion box for your family to make donations during the 6 weeks of Lent. Children can
return their project compassion box/bring donations to school and give them to their class teachers during prayer
circle time any time during Lent.
Ash Wednesday
Caritas
AUSTRALIA
This week the season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which also marks the beginning of the annual
Caritas Australia Project Compassion appeal. This year’s Project Compassion stories focus on the ways in
which Caritas Australia is working around the world to empower vulnerable people to establish sustainable
food sources and develop income streams for life.
Your donations to Project Compassion allow Caritas Australia, the Catholic Agency for International Aid
and Development, to work towards a more just and fair world, where the basic human right for food is met
and sustained.
Each family will receive a Project Compassion box for their donations. You can also donate online via the
website at www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion.
Please put your compassion into action this Lent by supporting Project Compassion 2015.
APRE News
Validation of Contact Details
Please remember to return the Validation of Details form to school so that we are able to ensure that the details we
have on file at school are accurate. Even if your details have remained the same, we would appreciate the form being
sent back to school to confirm you have checked it.
DITTO Show
Next Thursday the 26th of February, the school will have a visit from the Bravehearts Education Program. The DITTO
Show aims to empower primary school children with tools to keep safe and educates them with a focus on resiliency,
while building confidence and awareness. It also teaches children what to do if they feel unsafe. The show is a nonconfronting and engaging way to teach children about personal safety and encourages children to speak out about any
unsafe situation. The interactive performance is presented by a trained facilitator and the messages will be supported
in class by classroom teachers after the show.
Instrumental Music Program
The school is partnering with Musicorp this year to offer instrumental music lessons for students. Parents had an
opportunity at our parent night last night to hear a little about the program that is being offered. Instructors from
Musicorp will be in the undercover area on Friday morning at 8:30 to speak to parents and to demonstrate some
instruments to our years 2-6 students.
Kathleen Crawford
APRE
Finance News
Term 1 statement of fees and levies have been emailed out today, 18th February, could you please advise the office if
you have not received your account by email and if the account holder(s) name is incorrect thanking you.
School fees and levies are issued 4 times a year, at the beginning of each term, and are payable by the due date. This
can be paid by either of the following methods EFTPOS, Credit Card and Debit Card at the School Office or over the
phone, BPay, Direct Debit, Cheque or Cash (ensuring you have the correct amount, due to NO cash on the premises).
Fees are broken up into tuition, student levy, capital levy, family levy and P&F.
An additional $50.00 per family per term will be charged as a voluntary building fund contribution. Families are
encouraged to contribute to the building fund in which a separate tax receipt will be issued to you at the end of the
financial year in which you can then claim this expense with your tax return as its tax deductable. This is used to help
maintain our beautiful new buildings.
It’s still not too late to set up Direct Debit for paying school fees and levies, 2015 DD forms are available on our web
site or from the Admin Office. This is easy to set up and it eliminates the concern of having to pay the School Fees and
Levies in a lump sum at the beginning of each term.
If you have any questions regarding fees please contact me on the school no. 5549 5000 or by email
[email protected]
Warm regards
Helen
SWIMMING CARNIVAL
DO SMALL THINGS WITH GREAT LOVE
Thank you Mr Peter Kerrins for leading by example.
General Interest
BAZZA’S GARDENING TIPS…
SOME SEEDS HAVE DIFFERENT NEED FOR GERMINATION
Seeds that need darkness to germinate: Calendula, delphinium, gazania, larkspur,
nasturtium, nemesia, pansy, verbena, viola.
Fill a seed raising tray with a good quality seed raising mix. Sow the seeds to the depth
suggested on the seed packet and cover the seeds with seed raising mix. Place the tray
in a dark place away from direct sunlight or cover the tray with a piece of cardboard.
Check every couple of days to see if the seeds have sprouted. Move the tray into a well lighted area and
gradually introduce the seedlings to direct sun to harden the seedling ready for garden planting.
PLAYGROUP @ MOTHER TERESA
Our schools’ P and F run a very popular and successful playgroup for non-school aged children. It is held every Wednesday
between 8:30 – 10:30am for a gold coin donation. It is not exclusively for Mother Teresa families but is open to the wider
Ormeau community.
Our playgroup utilises the before and after school care room where there is an abundance of age appropriate games and
toys. We also venture out for outside activities (sandpit, playground etc). We have music and dance time which is heaps of
fun and we end with story time.
I look forward to seeing new faces and of course my regulars!
PCYC OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS
If you have any questions or would like enrolment
information regarding PCYC Outside School Hours Care or
Vacation Care please contact:
Carmen on 0417246054 or [email protected]
or come in and see us.
For a quick and easy way to enrol please follow the link
https://beenleighmt.hubworks.com.au/
UNIFORM SHOP
The Uniform Shop is open on Thursdays from 8.00 am to 9.00 am.
If you require any uniforms outside of these hours you can simply download the order form from the school website
and enter required details. Payment can be made by credit card (complete all your details on the order form) or eftpos. Please forward the completed form to the office (in person, by email or fax) for processing. Your order will be
processed on a Thursday and will be sent to your child’s classroom.
JACKETS AND TRACKSUIT PANTS PRE ORDER
We are now taking orders for Jackets and Tracksuit pants for Term 2.
All jackets and tracksuit pants will need to be pre ordered as the school does not carry extra stock of these items.
However we do currently have limited stock for purchase.
Orders close on Friday 20th February 2015.
If you would like to discuss your order please contact Kylie Dodd by email
[email protected]
Reminder
SHOES – Students are to wear black joggers (no stripes) Monday to Friday.
SOCKS – Students are to wear School striped socks only.
Leggings, stockings/tights and long sleeved tops are NOT accepted school attire.
JUSTICE OF THE PEACE
A valued member of our Mother Teresa community would like to offer her services as a
Justice of the Peace.
If you require this service please contact the school office and your details will be passed on.
SCHOOL BANKING
School Banking is available on Friday
Opening accounts for School Banking
School Banking accounts can now be opened at any Commonwealth Bank branch. Just go into any branch and ask to
open a Youthsaver account for School Banking. Remember to take in identification for you and your child (such as
driver’s license and birth certificate), you will receive a Dollarmites wallet and deposit book on the spot and be able
to start banking on Friday’s – it is that easy! If you are a Commonwealth Bank customer with NetBank you have the
option to open the account online as well!
When completing the deposit slip please ensure the following:
Correct money is included in the deposit wallet
Deposit slip is completed in blue or black pen
Student id number is included on the deposit slip
Rewards
Claims will be forwarded to the Commonwealth Bank for redeeming.
Reward items will be presented at assembly once the school receives them from the Commonwealth Bank.
Reward items for 2015 from our Outer Space Savers range.
ET DVD and Planet Handball, released Term 1
Invisible Ink Martian Pen and Intergalactic Rocket, released Term 2
Glow-in-the-Dark Solar System and Cosmic Light Beam Torch, released Term 3
Outer Space Savers Money Box and Lunar Light Band, released Term 4
UNIFORM ORDER FORM
Students Name:______________________________ Class:__________
PREP TO YEAR 6
UNIFORM ITEM
SIZE
PRICE
4-14,XS,S
$34.00
4-14
$22.00
School Shorts
4-14,XS,S
$27.00
School Socks
8-12
13-3
3-7
7-10
$7.00
Polo Shirt
House Team Shirt
School Jacket
4-14
$60.00
School Track pants
4 - 16
$30.00
School Hat
All Sizes
$30.00
School Bag/
Padded Cushion
One Size
$55.00
Padded Cushion
only
One Size
$8.00
Hair Accessories
Various
Styles
$2.50 $8.50
TOTAL NUMBER OF ITEMS
QTY
SIZE
TOTAL
TOTAL COST
Prices from October 2013 and are subject to change
Please note all Uniform items are Compulsory including completely plain black Joggers
Received items with thanks___________________________________ Date____________________
Method of Payment
EFTPOS
CREDIT CARD
CHEQUE
Credit Card Authority
Full Name on Card:_________________________________ Contact Phone No._________________
Card type: MasterCard/ Visa/ Bankcard (please circle)
Card Number:______________________________________ Expiry Date:___ ___/___ ___
Total Amount: $________________Signature: ___________________________ Date: __________