Christ the King North Rocks Newsletter

Happy Grandparents Day to all our Nans and Pops, Grandmas and Grandpas………..

Dear Parents

As the term draws to a close I would like to thank all members of our community for your ongoing  co-operation and support during the last twelve weeks of lockdown and online learning. These have been challenging times for all concerned. We have all been impacted in many ways but have endured the challenges and the “different ways” of doing things to survive and get on with our daily lives. To our parent community thanks for your patience and persistence with your children’s online learning support and the positive and constructive feedback to teachers. It has been greatly appreciated. To our CTK staff thank you for your professionalism, ongoing enthusiasm and drive, and your ability to continually adapt and change to meet the needs of your students. The community cannot thank you enough. Finally to our CTK  students who have shown great resilience in adapting to a new way of learning over the last few months - congratulations. Well done to all concerned. Enjoy the break!

By now you would all be aware of the dates to return to school. These dates are yet to be confirmed and will be dependent on the current lockdown and  health restrictions. School resume after the holidays on Tuesday 5th October. Online learning will continue in term 4 with children learning from home until the staggered return to school is confirmed by the NSW Government. I will keep you updated during the holidays via email and skoolbag of any updates. Please be sure to regularly check these communications over the next two weeks.

Throughout term 3 we have come together every fortnight for our whole school online liturgies. These have been a great opportunity to celebrate our faith together as a Catholic community. Thanks to Mrs Wynne our acting REC who has coordinated these events in conjunction with our teachers and various students who have helped out. Thanks to all the families who have supplied photographs for the different celebrations throughout the term. Just a reminder that each week you can log into the

CTK Sunday mass at any time. Information regarding the login details are available on the parish website:https://northrockscatholic.org.au

Stay safe and healthy

Tony Hughes

Principal 

Keep mentally strong, brush your teeth on one leg.

Monday 4th October 

• LABOUR DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY

Friday 12th November - Please note this date has been updated.

• SCHOOL PHOTO DAY

TERM DATES:

Term 4      Tuesday,      5th October         to      Friday, 17th December

We have made it to Week 10 and have managed to complete a whole term of school online. What an amazing effort by all children and families.

Thank you to everyone for joining in with our fortnightly liturgies. It has been lovely to be able to gather together as a community in prayer. Yesterday we celebrated Grandparents Day as a school community. Thank you to Year 5 and Kindergarten for helping coordinate our liturgy.

Here is a little story that will hopefully make you smile and see what is going on in the world through a child’s eyes.

Child - "How old are you, Grandpa?"

Grandpa - "I'm 81, dear."

Child - "So does that mean you were alive during the Coronavirus?"

Grandpa - "Yes, I was."

Child - "Wow. That must have been horrible, Grandpa. We were learning about that at school this week.

They told us about how all the schools had closed. And mums and dads couldn't go to work so didn't have as much money to do nice things.

They said that you weren't allowed to go and visit your friends and family and couldn't go out anywhere.

They told us that the shops ran out of lots of things so you didn't have much bread, and flour, and toilet rolls.

They said that Easter holidays were cancelled. And they told us about all those thousands of people that got very sick and who died.

They explained how hard all the doctors and nurses and all essential workers worked, and that lots of them died, too.

That must have been so horrible, grandpa!"

Grandpa - "Yes, that is all correct, but I was just a kid back then. But to tell you the truth I remember it differently…

I remember playing in the garden for hours with mum and dad and having picnics outside and lots of bbqs.

I remember making things with my Dad and baking with my Mum.

I remember learning how to do handstands and backflips. I remember having quality time with my family, even when they were being my teachers.

I remember Mum's favorite words becoming 'Hey, I've got an idea...'

Rather than 'Maybe later or tomorrow I'm a bit busy'.

I remember making our own bread and pastry, growing our own veggies and having fresh eggs from our new chooks. I remember having movie night three or four times a week instead of just one.

I remember we got to put our Christmas lights up in the middle of the year, just because we wanted to.

It was a horrible time for lots of people, you are right.

But I remember it differently."

Remember how our children will remember these times.

Be in control of the memories they are creating right now, so that despite all the awful headlines and emotional stories they will come to read in their future years, they can only actually  remember the happy times…

On behalf of the staff at Christ the King, we wish you a safe and restful break with your families.

Erin Wynne

Acting Religious Education Coordinator

SCHOOL PHOTO DAY / NEW DATE - Friday 12th November

ORDER NOW - go to www.advancedlife.com.au and enter the code: FYK386HDG

Online orders are the preferred method however cash may be secured in the order envelope. Exact payment only - no change will be given.

As advised in last fortnight's Newsletter, fee reversals are being applied to school fee accounts for events/activities that did not take place this year due to Covid restrictions.

Reversals have been calculated and have been sent into the Billing Department at CEDP for their action.  Reversals will be processed during the school holidays.

School Fee statements will be sent early next term for those families who have a balance owing and/or are on arrangements. 

Credit balances on Kindergarten to Year 5 accounts will roll over to 2022.Credit balances on Year 6 accounts will roll to Diocesan High Schools for year 7 2022 where applicable.  

Year 6 families whose children will be attending Non Systemic High schools or Private/Public high schools in 2022 will be contacted re a refund of the credit amount.

As always, should you wish to discuss your account or for further information please contact me on 8846 2700 or email: sritchie@parra.catholic.edu.au

Thank you,

Susan Ritchie          on behalf of         Mr Tony Hughes         

Finance Manager                                  Principal

Monday 27 and Wednesday 29 September and Friday 1 October 

For children up to 12 years 

Visit Australia’s oldest Parliament via ZOOM this school holidays for free fun, educational activities for children and families.

We have three sessions over three days planned including storytelling, a virtual guided tour through the chambers and a special cultural session with Mirri Mirri. Link for bookings: Free Family Fun with the Parliament of NSW – Parliament of New South Wales  

We also have a school holiday colouring-in competition. There will be four lucky winners and the prize is a Parliament of NSW Gift Box filled with goodies, valued at $100. The link to the competition is https://education.parliament.nsw.gov.au/school-holiday-fun-colouring-in-competition/