731 Eighty Rd. P.O. Box 4200 BALDIVIS WA 6171

NEWSLETTER 2.5 TERM 2 (26th June 2015)

FROM THE PRINCIPAL:

Dear Parents and Carers Pope Francis’ recently released encyclical “Laudata Si” (Praised Be) has had considerable global impact. The message to each one of us in our little MTCS community right here in Baldivis is simple: Look after each other and look after our place.

In every community at any one time there will be some members who are carrying heavy burdens of one kind or another – unemployment, depression, grief, insecurity, domestic violence, alcohol and drug addiction – to name just a few. These last cold mornings of this very long eleven-week term, many of us – staff, parents and children - are feeling more ‘frazzled’ than usual. Let’s all make an effort to be gentle with ourselves, and with one another – and especially gentle and calm with the ‘frazzled’ ones among us. The “Are you OK?” approach or simply an offer to have coffee with a person who seems to be suffering in some way, may be the ‘angel’ that that person needs. FATHER GEOFF’S MILESTONE CELEBRATION Our Parish community will be celebrating Fr Geoff’s Golden Jubilee (50 years as a priest) at a special Mass and luncheon on Sunday 5 July at 11am.

Our school community will celebrate his milestone next week at a special assembly at 9am on Friday 3 July, the last day of term. (This assembly will replace the Thursday afternoon assembly next week). Please come and help us pay tribute to our Parish Priest. All classes will take part in this assembly, including Kindy White class.

Continued over page ………………

Telephone: (08) 9591 7100 Email: admin@motherteresa.wa.edu.au

2 | P a g e M o t h e r T e r e s a C a t h o l i c S c h o o l – N e w s l e t t e r

COMMUNICATION Further to the entry on this topic in the last newsletter, parents need to be reminded that FaceBook entries are public. It has been disappointing to learn in this last week that some parents are focussing in their posts on negative hearsay about bullying among children and parents.

“Bullying” is the deliberate and intentional use of power held by a person/s over another. It is a series of repeated acts enacted by someone, or a group of people, to intentionally cause hurt or harm to a person. Bullying can be physical, verbal, covert or cyber and the perpetrators of bullying can be children, teenagers or adults. Bullying can take place in the home, school, sporting field or work environment.

Bullying is not a one-off incident in the playground, accidental harm or a disagreement – all of which are normal and common in any environment.

All instances of bullying among the children should be reported to the classroom teacher and will then be dealt with according to the school’s policy.

Following, for your information, is the link to a talk given by Dr Michael Carr-Gregg on the topic “What is Bullying”: www.mytimeourplace.com.au/media.php?do=details&mid=26 SEMESTER ONE REPORTS AND PARENT-TEACHER MEETINGS Semester One reports for all children will be made available to parents through their individual logons next Thursday 2 July. If parents have not received their username and password to access the Reporting portal, they should contact the school office before then. In the first week of Term 3, on Thursday 23 July, Parent-teacher interviews for all classes will be held in the Covered Area from 1:30pm until 6:30pm. Classes will conclude at 1pm on the day and parents are asked to collect their children from school at 1pm on that day. This week children will take home a return slip on which parents are asked to nominate a half-hour slot during which a 10-minute interview can be scheduled. The slips must be returned by next Friday 3 July (last day of term) so that interview times can be scheduled. Parents will be notified of the time/s of their interviews before the end of this term. It will be assumed that a parent-teacher interview is not required by any family from whom an interview slip is not returned by end-of-term.

Parent-teacher meetings re: student progress will not occur before the end of this term. They will, however, be held in the first week of Term 3 on Thursday 23 July between 1:30pm and 6:30pm. PARENTS AND FRIENDS MEETING Tonight’s meeting of the Parents and Friends will commence at 7pm in the Multi-Purpose Room. Mr Matt Whitfield, Rockingham City Councillor for Baldivis, will be special guest at this meeting. I will also present to the meeting the revised Master Plan for capital development at MTCS. NEW CARPARK The new carpark will now not be commissioned until the holidays. When classes resume on Tuesday 21 July, parents will be able to access the 40 additional parking bays south of the entrance driveway, and staff will park in the temporary unsealed carpark inside our Sixty-eight Rd boundary fence. PYJAMA DAY AND CARITAS Yesterday’s Pyjama Day was a lot of fun and raised $300 for Caritas. The money was banked and a cheque sent to Caritas to support their relief projects for so many people in need in countries throughout the world. May God continue to be blessing for us all – and keep all of our families safe during the coming school holidays.

Geri O’Keefe - PRINCIPAL

3 | P a g e M o t h e r T e r e s a C a t h o l i c S c h o o l – N e w s l e t t e r

WEEK ELEVEN

Mon 29 June Dance Sport (PP – Yr 3)

Wed 1 July ALL DAY School Photo Day (Full Winter Uniform Yr 1-3) (Full Winter Sports Uniform PP (track suit & polo shirt))

Thurs 2 July 2:30pm PPW & B Reading Information Session for Parents (held in PPW)

Fri 3 July 9:00am Fr Geoff Golden Jubilee of Priesthood (Covered Area)

LAST DAY OF TERM

TERM 3 – WEEK ONE

Mon 20 July STUDENT FREE DAY

Tues 21 July Students Commence

Wed 22 July 2:00pm Peter Coombes Incursion (Brought to our children by the MTCS P&F)

Thurs 3 July 1:00pm Early Close 1:30pm – 6:30pm

Monday 6 July - Monday 20 July

Classes resume - Tuesday 21 July

4 | P a g e M o t h e r T e r e s a C a t h o l i c S c h o o l – N e w s l e t t e r

UNIFORM SHOP NEWS

Uniform shop Closure The Uniform shop will be closed the last week of Term – Week 11 (30th June – 3rd July) and will re-open in Term 3 on Tuesday 21st July. Please note the last day to purchase uniforms this term will be tomorrow Friday 26th June.

Price increase There will be an increase in cost of all uniforms as from Term 3. The new price list will take effect as from Tuesday 21st July.

Gentleness is acting and speaking in a kind, considerate way. It is using self - control so that we do not hurt or offend anyone. We can be gentle with people and animals in the way we touch them and the way that we speak to them; we handle things carefully so they will not be broken or hurt. When we think gentle thoughts, it makes the world a safer, gentler place for us all. Without gentleness, things get broken, people get hurt and we can say hurtful things when we are angry. You have to think about being gentle – so that you do not become too rough, move too fast or say hurtful things. When we are gentle, people and things stay safe. Being gentle helps us solve problems peacefully – without becoming rough or saying hurtful things. When you think kindly and gently, people will see the gentleness in your eyes.

“Nothing is so strong as gentleness. Nothing is so gentle as real strength.”… Ralph W. Sockman

“To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” Titus 3:2

2015

TOTAL FUNDS

RAISED - $300

5 | P a g e M o t h e r T e r e s a C a t h o l i c S c h o o l – N e w s l e t t e r

2015 SCHOOL PHOTOS INFORMATION

Our School Photos will be taken on: Wednesday 1st of July 2015

Personalised Envelopes have been sent home to parents. PLEASE NOTE You now have the option of placing your photo order ONLINE instead of filling in the pre-paid envelope, refer to your child’s personalised envelope for details about online ordering, or phone MSP Photography on 08 9342 3465 if you have any queries.

If you are placing your order through the pre-paid envelope please make sure that your child brings the envelope to school on photo day to hand to the photographer, otherwise your order will be missed. NOTE: If you have placed your order online, you DO NOT need to bring in your envelope to hand to the photographer. If you wish to purchase a family photo, please come to the administration office to collect a Family envelope. It is the eldest child’s responsibility to collect their siblings at the scheduled time for family photos. On delivery of the school photos the family photos will be left at reception for parents to collect, they will not be sent home with the children. NOTE: Family photos cannot be ordered online. NO CHANGE will be given so please ensure correct money is enclosed in your envelope. We now offer online ordering for your convenience. Payment for photos can be made by cash, cheque or money order in your prepaid envelope or via Credit Card for Online Purchases Only. All children will have an individual portrait taken whether purchasing photos or not for the school data base. If you have not placed an order on photo day you can still ORDER ONLINE up to 6 days after the last photo day. If you wish to place an order and it is after the 6 day period please phone MSP Photography on 08 9342 3465. PLEASE NOTE: Orders placed after the 6 Day period will incur late fees.

MARY DAVIES COMMUNITY & LIBRARY CENTRE BALDIVIS

The coordinator of Mary Davies Community and Library Centre Baldivis, Caroline Jones, has notified us that

in recent months ‘the Centre has encountered some minor but persistent poor behaviours occurring within

and around the facility by young adults (10-15 years)’. These behaviours, which mainly consist of

inappropriate language, littering, loud and unruly behaviour and disrespectful behaviour towards staff and

community members, will be addressed through increased supervision and the enlistment of other resources

of Rockingham City Council, particularly during the coming school holidays.

The school is asking for donations of suitable second-hand books for Kindy to Year 3 children (in good condition). Donated books can be placed in the tubs located outside the Administration Office from Friday 26th June.

6 | P a g e M o t h e r T e r e s a C a t h o l i c S c h o o l – N e w s l e t t e r

BUS ROUTES Rockingham City Councillor Matt Whitfield has alerted us to proposed changes to certain bus routes and the introduction of a new bus route in Baldivis. It can sometimes take a long time, even years, to procure bus routes required by a school community. This newsletter carries notice of opportunities for parents to speak with representatives from Transperth re: the school’s future transport needs, which may occur as soon as next year with significantly increased enrolments in our school.

7 | P a g e M o t h e r T e r e s a C a t h o l i c S c h o o l – N e w s l e t t e r

2015 Awards of Excellence in

Building Positive School Communities

The Awards presentation cocktail evening is set for Wednesday 5th August to be held at The Classroom, 1/356

Charles St, North Perth from 6pm to 8.30pm. The closing date for entries in the four categories has been

extended to Thursday 30th July. Nomination forms for this year can be found on our website

at http://pff.wa.edu.au/building-positive-school-communities-awards/.

This is a fantastic opportunity to recognise and celebrate the amazing work being done in our schools to build

positive school communities, so if you have an amazing Principal, awesome P&F, outstanding Parent or

wonderful Parish, please nominate for these awards. Anyone in the school community can nominate their

Principal, P&F, Parent or Parish. Applications are welcome from all Catholic schools however, only affiliated

schools are eligible to win a prize.

The venue for this year's presentations is aptly named, "The Classroom", a bar and restaurant in North

Perth. This is a free event for everyone in our schools and drinks and snacks will be provided.

For more information and to register please go to https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/2015-awards-of-

excellence-night-tickets-17406432107

Registration is FREE!

Best wishes, PFFWA Council and Staff

https://www.facebook.com/pffwa www.pff.wa.edu.au 9271 5909 103 Wood St, Inglewood, WA

8 | P a g e M o t h e r T e r e s a C a t h o l i c S c h o o l – N e w s l e t t e r

OSHClub News Before School / After School Care Program

Next Week’s Activities- Children’s Choice Week

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Before Care Activities

Pass the Chicken Cotton Ball Olympics

Paper Plane flying competition

Pirate Bookmarks

Kinetic Sand

After Care Activities

Paper plate snakes

Backyard Cricket Minion finger

puppets Bean Bag Tag

Exploding lunch bags

Parent Information

OSHC program phone: 0428 766 496

Coordinator: Carmen Coombs

Assistants: Monique Medhurst is covering for Term 3

OSHClub Head Office: 03 85649000 All families must be enrolled to attend the program, remember this is Free!! Please create an account

online at www.oshclub.com.au all bookings and cancellations can also be managed via your online

account. For ‘on the day’ bookings please contact the Coordinator direct at the program.

Program Update As our term draws to an end the children of OSHClub have some messages about this term, what they enjoyed and general comments: “We can play. Play games and run around chasey and tag” Bruce “I like Bean bag tag and hide and seek” May “I like playing on the playground and inside and I like OSHClub. And I like our friends” Te Ora “Games I like to play like sleepy dragons and we are going to fly kites outside” Gracie “Um, I like doing new games that I haven’t done before. And I like all the games we play and all the friends” Ethan “Something I would like to say about OSHClub is we could have sandwiches” Rhys “I like playing paper aeroplanes outside. I like to play on the playground” Makayla “I like to play with my dad and we build Lego and I have the Lego to play with here too” Andrew “I like about OSHClub is I like afternoon tea” Chloe “Playing Tag” Cameron “I like playing What’s the time Mr Wolf” Alyssa “I like going to OSHClub because I like seeing Carmen” April “I love OSHClub, everything about it” Quinn Next Week at OSHClub: Next week the children have designed the whole program, putting their voices and ideas to activities and meals. The group had to think hard about active games and sports, arts and craft, science and explorative activity ideas. As a group they were assisted to make choices in both breakfast and afternoon tea that complied with OSHClub food policies and had a good balance of ‘Sometimes’ and ‘Always’ foods. Some examples of their choices are listed below on our program sample.