Dear Parents,
Welcome back to the final term for 2020. I trust you all enjoyed some quality time with your friends and family over the last few weeks. I enjoyed my LSL over the last month and would like to take this opportunity to thank Mrs Bernadette Walsh who stepped up into the acting Principal’s role during my leave. The staff and children have all returned to school rested and keen for a busy term ahead as we countdown to the end of the scholastic year and Christmas celebrations. In the next few weeks our students will be completing their end of year assessments followed by the writing of semester two reports by their teachers. As we begin the term let us pray that our Heavenly Father will watch over us all and keep us in his care and love.
To reflect on this Sunday’s Gospel I thought it best to share Fr Michael Fallon’s reflection I read during the week. In today’s Gospel, Jesus focuses attention, in the most simple terms, on the very essence of what it means to be a human being: to be a woman or a man is to live a life of love. Whatever we might achieve in our life, if we fail in this our life has been a failure. Whatever our failures, if we learn something about how to receive and to give love, our life has certainly not been in vain. At the last supper, Jesus asked us to love one another as he loves us (John 15:12). If that is what he asks us to do, he must know that it is possible.. We all know how important is this love which we have for our fellow human beings. If we fail in this, then any other love we might think we have, is phoney. This is certainly true of any love we might claim to have for God (see 1John 4:20).
In week 8 of last term, all parents of students involved in the Term 3 “Test Runs” of the Draft New Curriculum in Religious Education, were given the opportunity to share their feedback and insights. Thank you to all parents who were able to do so. Over 450 parents from across the Diocese have responded and there has been a positive response with the majority of parents agreeing to each of the statements listed below:
- My child has been enabled me to think about their faith
- My child has connected what they have learned to their life
- My child has responded positively to their lessons
- My child has spoken about their lessons at home
Important insights and points of feedback were also provided which, along with feedback from students and teachers, will be read and reflected on by Mission leaders as they continue to refine the Draft New Curriculum.
Please keep in your prayers the students in year 3 and their families who commence their preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. These members of our community will participate in our parish based First Reconciliation programme over the next month. These children will make their first Reconciliation some time in November.
On Tuesday evening our 2021 Kindergarten parents gathered for their initial information as we prepare for the 2020 cohort to attend Transition and Orientation sessions in the coming weeks. It was announced at the meeting that Mrs Marie Louise Tcherkezian and Mr Ben Horne will be teaching Kindergarten in 2021. We welcome many new families to the CTK school community and wish them a successful transition into primary school over the next few months.
At the beginning of each term it is important to remember that all drivers both of a morning and drive through of an afternoon take great care when both dropping off and picking up their children. Keeping to the 10km speed limit and being aware of pedestrians already on the school grounds. It is a major priority of all motorists driving onto the site. Please be reminded that there is no right turn out of the driveway onto Statham between 8:15-9am and 2:45-3:15pm. Thank you to the majority of parents who are observing this request.
Have great weekend!
Tony Hughes
Principal
