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Celebrating Catholic Education Week
Dear Families,
This week we celebrate Catholic Education week in the Diocese of Sale. We look to see how the Holy Spirit works in, through, with and around us as the children in our care grow, explore and develop their identity. We celebrate the gifts that the Catholic scripture and faith tradition bring to the schooling experience. We hold firm in the difficult moments where society and faith struggle and grapple with new contexts and old truths.
We are called to “Go out into the world and spread the Good News to all creation.” Mark 16:15 as the theme. This is an action based instruction, a call to action. This can be a daunting task when things outside in wider creation seem confusing and challenging. It is more difficult again when we think we may be ignored, or worse ridiculed. Yet time and again through the centuries people of faith have risen to this challenge.
Pope Francis calls on the Church to be a missionary one. To be engaged in the work at the far edges of society, in the difficult and dirty parts. To do this we must be brave, we must be sure of our truth and we must not go simply as proclaimers but engagers. To listen, to sit with discomfort and no solutions, to reframe our thinking when we become aware of our own bias or ignorance.
I recently heard this wonderful paraphrasing of the Beatitudes from Matthew’s Gospel. By encouraging us to rise up we are called to action.
Rise up, poor and vulnerable and those in solidarity with the poor and vulnerable, for yours is the new way of life.
Rise up, all you bereaved who mourn for loved ones you have lost to illness and violence, for you will be comforted.
Rise up, all of you brave enough to be nonviolent, for you will inherit the earth.
Rise up, you who are insatiably hungry and thirsty for justice, for you will be filled.
Rise up, all who choose to be merciful rather than vengeful, for you will receive mercy.
Rise up, all who choose to be pure in heart rather than deceitful and hypocritical, for you will see God.
Rise up, all you who choose to be spreaders of peace rather than spreaders of hate, for you will be called children of God.
Rise up, all who are persecuted, harassed, heckled, rejected, and mocked for standing for justice, for yours is the sacred ecosystem.
Brian McLure downloaded from https://cac.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/LHTS_Transcript_S3_Episode2.pdf
Thank you for your commitment to Catholic Education and we look forward to the year ahead supporting the children as they grow and come to know the joy of action and sharing the Good News.
May your week be a blessed one.
Kind regards
Ephesus Community Mass
The Ephesus Community celebrated Mass on Wednesday. The theme of the Mass coincided beautifully with the Catholic Education Week theme, ‘Go out into the world and spread the Good News to all creation’.
What does it actually mean to spread the Good News?
We hear about the heroic apostles and later, many saints, that risked their lives to preach the Good News. But let’s take it a step further back - what is the Good News? The Good News is that Jesus made a place for us in heaven and that the way to get there is to love Him and our ‘neighbour’. So how do we spread this amazing news?
The way Father Denis often likes to put it to the students is that we spread the Good News by our actions. We don’t necessarily need to stand up on a tower and in a big voice proclaim Jesus’ message. St Francis of Assisi is well known for saying “Preach the Good News…and use words if you have to”. In other words, actions speak volumes. We love and support our fellow human beings because Christians believe that we are all made in the image of God. And what does it mean to be all made in God’s image? That would need a lot more time and space, but for now, let’s just explore the idea that there is a little piece of God in all of us.
Confirmation Workshops
Next week, we have the Confirmation Parent/Child Workshop. This session is for our Confirmation candidates and one parent. There are two dates, 7th and 8th June but you only attend one. The date has been emailed out to all families, so please take note of which one to come to.
Dates: 7th or 8th June, 7pm
Venue: St Thomas the Apostle Primary School, Jericho Community (upstairs)
Date |
Event |
Time |
7 June |
Parent/Child Workshop 1 |
7pm |
8 June |
Parent/Child Workshop 2 |
7pm |
16 August |
Retreat Day |
|
10 & 17 August 13 August (catechism group) |
Reconciliation |
|
20 August |
Confirmation Masses |
11am 2pm |
Pentecost and Multicultural Day Information
Don't forget children are invited to wear their national dress or outfits reflecting their cultural heritage on Monday 6th June.
We are looking forward to seeing all the beautiful outfits.
Let’s keep our children safe
Getting children to school safely is everyone’s job. Here are a few reminders to help us keep our children safe every day.
School Zone: The speed limit on Fiorelli Blvd outside our school and on Mackillop Way is 40km every day. Let’s make sure we slow down and keep our children safe.
Stop, Look, Listen & Think: be a great role model for your child and take extra care to look out for cars when crossing the road or walking through the carpark.
Slow down and be alert: Children can be unpredictable. Remain careful, especially at the busy morning and afternoon school times – in the school carpark and on the roads as you head home.
Follow signs, road rules and parking signs: They are there to keep our children safe.
Park and walk: Park a little further away from the school to avoid the congestion. Selandra Reserve is an option - with many car parks available, it’s a legal and safe option, and less than 10 minutes walk.
Some of our families are currently facing short term challenges getting their child to school and are looking to develop networks of connection.
St Thomas the Apostle are currently seeking Community volunteers to lend a hand and help take another student to school when needed.
If this is something you think you could offer on one or more days in your suburb, please use the link below to register your details and a member of our staff will contact you, should you be matched with a family in the area.
Parent Notified Absences
Parents should notify the school of any absence by 9.00am. This can be done via PAM or alternatively by contacting or emailing the school.
If you are unable to access PAM please contact the school for further assistance.
Lost Property Box
The lost property box is currently overflowing with unclaimed items.
If your child is missing an item of uniform, water bottle or lunch box, please ensure they check the lost property box located outside the office.
NB: All unclaimed uniform at the end of the term will be donated to the Second Hand Uniform Stall.
CCS (Child Care Subsidy)
What is CCS
Child Care Subsidy (CCS) is the payment made by Government to assist families with the costs of child care. It is paid directly to the service and passed on to families as a fee reduction.
How does the Child Care Subsidy work?
The Child Care Subsidy will be paid directly to providers to be passed on to families as a fee reduction. Families will make a co-contribution to their child care fees and pay to the provider the difference between the fee charged and the subsidised amount.
For further information please visit the following website
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/type-child-care-you-use-can-affect-child-care-subsidy?context=41186