Dear Parents

Today I focus on resilience, facing challenges and taking risks.

"The nettle stung you because you touched it so lightly. If you had held it firmly, it wouldn’t have hurt you. You can't get much worth having in life without facing risks. Even a rose has thorns to protect it. So, if you want berries, learn to grasp the nettle."

Aesop, in his famous fables, said. “A nettle may be handled safely, if you do it with courage and resolution; if you seize it boldly and grip it strongly, be assured it will never sting you; and you will meet with many sorts of persons, as well as things, in the world which ought to be treated in the very same manner.”

Sometimes things in life will sting you like a nettle. When our path is blocked, the obstacle often presents a new path that uncovers new possibilities. The obstacles that hurt the most can show us what to do next, how to learn from them, and get past them.

That is why we need goals because when we don’t know what’s important to us, we can’t tell the difference between the obstacles worthy of our time, and those that aren’t. Every challenge looks like a massive mountain we must climb.

But once we know what we most want to accomplish, the majority of our obstacles become manageable. We can focus and pour our energy into what really matters to us.

Only in grasping the nettle by persisting and never giving up do we learn what we are truly capable of.

Go boldly! Because if you don’t grasp the nettle, someone else will!

A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles. Christopher Reeve 

Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak. Thomas Carlyle

McAULEY'S ART EXHIBITION:

I encourage you all to make time to view the wonderful McAuley Art Show which is currently running in the School Hall. The exhibition will be open from 9am to 4pm Thursday to Friday this week. Congratulations to all K-10 students who have their work exhibited.  

Kind regards to you all. 

- Rod Little. 

Mercy Week runs from this Sunday, September 22nd to Saturday, September 28th.

During Mercy Week, we celebrate Catherine McAuley, our Mercy identity and heritage, and the many expressions of Mercy as a McAuley Catholic school community.

“We should be as shining lamps, giving light to all around us.”

– Catherine McAuley, Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy

The students and staff will celebrate the Feast of our Lady of Mercy on Tuesday 24^th September which is at the heart of Mercy Week.

As Pope Francis reminds us:    “Mary chose to stand at the foot of her Son’s cross .…. She, the first of the disciples, teaches all of us as disciples how we are to halt before the sufferings of the innocent, without excuses or cowardice”.

On the 24^th September in 1827 Catherine McAuley, Foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, and her early companions established the first House of Mercy on Baggot Street in Dublin, Ireland.

191 years later, we have the opportunity to celebrate Catherine McAuley, our Mercy identity and heritage, and the many expressions of Mercy as a McAuley Catholic School community.

On Tuesday, following our Mercy Mass, the students will gather together to continue the celebrations of our McAuley spirit through …..fun and games. They will then to treated to a free sausage sizzle for a beautiful picnic lunch on the oval.

Prayer for Mercy in our Catholic Schools

God of Love and compassion,

Help us to open the door of mercy in our Catholic school communities,

In our families and in the world.

Let mercy guide our actions and bring us closer to the heart of the Gospel,

That we might live as Jesus

With the mercy that welcomes, loves, forgives

And calls us to live His Gospel joyfully.

We make this prayer in Jesus’ name.

Amen.   

Kenny, Renfrew County CDSB, 2015

To feed the hungry

To give drink to the thirsty

To clothe the naked

To shelter the homeless

To visit the sick

To visit those in prison

To bury the dead

To counsel the doubtful

To instruct the ignorant

To admonish sinners

To comfort the afflicted

To forgive offences

To bear wrongs patiently

To pray for the living and the dead.

If you want to smell the aroma of Christianity, you must copy the rose.

The rose irresistibly draws people to itself, and the scent remains with them. Even so, the aroma of Christianity is subtler even than that of a rose and should, therefore, be imparted in an even quieter and more imperceptible manner, if possible.

Mahatma Gandhi 

In Peer Support lessons this week, the children will be encouraged to attempt new and unfamiliar tasks by trying the best they can. The activities involve the Peer Support group being separated into 3 groups, rotating through 3 different tasks. The different tasks will help children identify different strengths which can be used to solve a problem or complete a task. 

Discuss with your child, their individual strengths and provide them with opportunities to utilise these strengths during the week. Remind them you will be proud of them in all situations if they always do their best!

We would like to thank Gavin's Olivier's Omar, Kathleen, who came to visit Year 1 and 2 students during the week to share her wonderful experiences and connections of South Africa. This was part of the Geography unit on "People and Places"

Thanks Kathleen. The children loved hearing your story. 

Our well equipped Library continues to keep students excited with great new books arriving weekly.  Yr 5/6's Zahli and Rahn are pictured with a just a few of the great new reads.

As part of the Book Week award-winning books, Year 3/4 classes have been studying the book The All New Must Have Orange 430 by Michael Speechley. The students explored the wicked world of advertising and how commercialism influences our purchases. In groups the students created and marketed their own must have, useless objects, which they presented to the class.

Just another great week on our Primary Campus caught on our school camera!

Whilst celebrating and raising awareness for Australia's first Saint, all students enjoyed a uniform-free day on Tuesday when they dressed in shades of BLUE!

Well done everyone for your wonderful MacKillop SPIRIT!

Year 1BT enjoyed a recent Mathematics lesson learning all about Measurement!

Thank you to our ladies rostered on next week's PRIMARY CANTEEN

Monday 23rd (4th Monday) - Jessie Riethmuller

Wednesday 25th (4th Wednesday) - Sam Phillips

Friday 27th (4th Friday) - Amanda Sutton and Narissa Watts

Please make every effort to attend on your rostered day. We would appreciate if you could contact the school - or find a replacement if you cannot make it on your day. 

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT. 

COMMENCES Tuesday, 15^th October                 

= 3.30 - 4.30pm (5 – 7 yrs) Hot Shots…Red Ball

= 4.30 - 5.30pm (5 – 7 yrs) Hot Shots…Red Ball

COMMENCES Wednesday, 16^th October     

= 3.30 - 4.30pm (8 - 9 yrs) Hot Shots…Orange Ball

= 4.30 - 5.30pm (8 - 9 yrs) Hot Shots…Orange Ball

COMMENCES Thursday, 17^th October  

= 3.30 - 4.30pm (10 – 12 yrs)…..Green Ball

= 4.30 - 5.30pm (10 – 12 yrs)…..Green Ball

COMMENCES Friday, 25^th October             

= 3.30- 4.30pm (Advanced/High School)…Yellow Ball

Contact Bernadette Cahill on 0427 343 904EMAIL: birdietennis@bigpond.com FB: Cahill Tennis

Tumut Swimming Club will hold an information session regarding the upcoming swim season.

This will be held THIS Thursday 19th September at Club Tumut - commencing at 4pm. All interested parents and carers are all invited to come along.