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Dear McAuley Families
I should have asked a few mums and dads to write the (Home School) Newsletter this week! Thank you all for your support of the NSW Health Orders and for all you are doing to keep our community safe. Life has taken on a very different rhythm as we await the 11 o’clock update and talk incessantly about vaccines, targets, orders and lockdowns. At the same time the operations of the school, finance, building and planning for 2022 continues. Special thanks to our teachers and support staff for their preparation, availability and hard work to support our boys and girls. There has been really positive feedback from all about our calls this week – all saying how nice it is to touch base (albeit by phone).
Please do not hesitate to reach out if you or your family need support or advice.
Social Media: Thanks to those who registered for our Internet Safety Presentation with Lachlan Ellis from Catholic Education on Tuesday afternoon. There was excellent input and great questions asked. Unfortunately due to the sensitive nature of the topics raised we did not record the session but will run another if there is sufficient interest. Don’t forget there is excellent support and resources on the E-Safety Website. (https://www.esafety.gov.au/).
Please keep an eye on our Facebook page where we are deliberately posting positive messaging and examples of what students and families are up to during Remote Learning. It seems McAuley is really leading the way in what we are doing and again I am grateful for the hard work and commitment from all involved.
Any important information will be emailed to families rather than posted on social media.
Supervision: The school remains open, with skeleton staff for the children of essential workers and those families with no other option for care and support at home. Those children access the remote learning platform at school in the same pattern as those at home. We remain committed to keeping our students and staff safe by minimising movement in the community and contact with other people. If your children are attending school please ensure they bring a device (if they have one), headphones (it’s not good to share headphones), food and drink and school uniform please. Thanks to the parents who are checking in on our staff – we even received a lovely box of goodies – thank you!
Please also note revised orders that all staff and students in Year 7 and above must wear masks at all times inside and outside on school grounds.
Meet the Principal Check In’s: I would love to connect with some of our students and families and see how you are all going. Please feel free to send an email to office.mcauley@cg.catholic.edu.au to receive a MS Teams Link for a chat and a catch up. I will be available next week on Monday 06 September and Wednesday 08 September from 4.30-5.30. Please feel free to join and we can have a chat in a “Town Hall” type meeting where all join in.
Please enjoy this beautiful spring weather. A special wish for a Happy Fathers’ Day to our Dads, grandads and father figures. I am keenly aware there are many who are separated from their families and dad’s this weekend and I send special wishes to you.
Mary our Mother… Look after us.
Eamonn Moore
Principal
September 1 is the start of the Season of Creation which will end on October 4 with the Feast of St Francis.
I have attached a mantra for each day which has been compiled by Sr Jill Shirvington.
Last weekend it was Social Justice Sunday. The 2021 Social Justice Statement Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor is available for download.
The Statement is an invitation by Pope Francis’ invitation to work towards total ecological sustainability.
Below is a response from the Bishops from across Australia calling on children, women and men to reflect on what creation means to them and the role each of us have to respond to the "Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor".
Prayer
God of might, giver of every good gift,
put into our hearts the love of your name,
so that, by deepening our sense of reverence,
you may nurture in us what is good
and, by your watchful care,
keep safe what you have nurtured.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Father’s Day
On Fathers’ Day, we may not have an opportunity to be with our father’s this year. However, let us remember, honour and thank our dads, grandfathers, uncles, and all the men, living and deceased, who tirelessly and selflessly gave of themselves for their families with unconditional love. In his apostolic letter announcing the Year of St. Joseph, the patron saint of fathers, Pope Francis described St. Joseph as a “beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows.”
St Joseph is the ideal saint for Father’s Day!! I have included a link to a Prayer to St Joseph for Father's
Mass Online
The early Christians prayed in the church of the home. Once more, in troubled times when public worship has to be restricted, we are called to celebrate the Mass at home, always aware of the promise of Jesus, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am among them.”—Matthew 18:20
During this time of lockdown, when our churches are closed, you can still celebrate Mass online daily at 11am with Archbishop Christopher Prowse.
https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/mass-online/
Looking for something fun and educational that all the family will enjoy? These links will take you to the ABC Education site as well as virtual zoo and museum tours from all around the world! Many of these places never normally offer this type of glimpse into their spaces, but because of the world being as it is at the moment are opening up their doors online!
https://www.abc.net.au/education/
https://www.wildlifesydney.com.au/what-s-inside/virtual-zoo/
https://www.brisbanekids.com.au/world-zoos-that-offer-virtual-tours/
https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
12 Museums From Around the World That You Can Visit Virtually | Travel + Leisure | Travel + Leisure
Virtual Zoo | WILD LIFE Sydney Zoo
R U OK? Day is on Thursday 9 September, 2021. This our national day of action dedicated to reminding everyone that every day is the day to ask, “Are you OK?” and support those struggling with life's ups and downs.
The day aims to prevent the impacts of mental illness by encouraging Australians to connect with someone they care about and help stop little problems turning into big ones. As a McAuley community we want to promote and encourage everyone, especially during this lockdown period, to regularly ask their family and friends “Are you OK?”.
There are resources available at RU OK? Day
Suggestion for the Day: Wear a splash of yellow to TEAM meets to show support.?
