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- Reflection
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- New drink fountains!
- Lockdown practice
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- School Photos Monday 10th August
- School Cross Country, Wed 12th August
- Band Soiree, Wed 12th August
- Parish Bulletin
- Little Stars Yoga & Wellness
Feeding of the Hungry Crowd
Note the disciples’ reaction to the plight of the hungry crowd: ‘Send the people away so that they can buy.’ The disciples have gone for the fix which puts no responsibility on them. They are willing to entrust the hungry crowd to market forces. Those with money can eat: those without, can’t. For the disciples, money and commerce are the answers to hunger.
Jesus rejects that solution. ‘There is no need for them to go; give them something to eat yourselves.’ The solution to the hunger of that crowd was to give generously what little the disciples had. What they could have kept for themselves was to become gift. Once the disciples were in Jesus’ frame of mind, the hunger of the crowd was satisfied. How did this come about? The answer lay in human cooperation with the impulse of Divine generosity which knows no limits. The story simply says that Jesus blessed and broke the loaves ‘and handed them to his disciples who gave them to the crowd.’ Jesus depended on the disciples to obey him: ‘Give them something to eat yourselves’.
Jesus still looks with gut-wrenching compassion on those who are hungry in our own society and throughout the world. If we answer that market forces will suffice, Jesus will reject our answer as decisively as he rejected the answer of his earliest disciples. We have to take responsibility to share what we have, to be generous with what we have. After all, Jesus, Our Lord and Master, commands us: ‘Give them something to eat yourselves’. Note how Jesus blessed those loaves and broke them before they were distributed, which reminds us of the words of Pedro Arrupe, former General of the Jesuits, ‘Eucharist will never be complete so long as people still go hungry in the world.’
We could pause for a moment at Mass to ask: Who are those hungry people crowding in on us, and then pray that we may respond to them as our Lord commanded, so that the hungers of the crowd, and our hunger to really follow our Lord, will be satisfied.
© Fr Michael Tate; mtate@bigpond.com
Dear Families,
We have had another great week here at St Thomas More’s. Mr Stacey and our students have been taking advantage of the wonderful weather to practice for the cross country, while our G5/6 area today resembled an arcade as they showcased the games they have created. The innovation and creativity were amazing, and it was fun!
A reminder that we made some changes to some of our CoVID19 restrictions. We are able to have visitors to our office area only; if you need to visit a classroom or other areas of our school you must first sign in and register your visit. Siblings of our kinder students will no longer be released from class early; we will go back to our normal leaving time of 3pm. As our gates are unlocked all day, late and early leaving students must be signed in/out at the office by a parent or guardian. We will no longer be delivering students to parents at the front gate.
Today we met Henk, Miss O’Neill and her partners new baby. Henk Phillip Stanley Bessell was born on the 5th July, weighing 7pounds 11ounces, and 53.5cm long. He joined us late but healthy. Fletcher is very happy with his new friend.
Vinnies are holding a virtual sleepout for children in order to promote an awareness of homelessness. If your child is interested in registering, please follow this link. For more information please click here.
You may have read Deacon Chathura Silva’s Ordination into the Priesthood is this Friday, 31st July 2020. This year Deacon Chathura has become a regular visitor to our school providing a great insight for our students on our Catholic faith. I ask that you keep Chathura in our prayers as he prepares for this important part of his life. Please refer to the invitation to the Ordination Mass for the live stream links.
Have a great week.
God Bless,
Shayne Kidd
Congratulations to the Uche-Amanze family
Please join us in congratulating Maryevans and children Munachi (Ethan) and Adaeze (Kayla) on the confirmation of their Australian citizenship on Tuesday.
The Uche-Amanze family are valued members of the St Thomas More's community and we wish them our heartfelt congratulations in the celebration of their citizenship.
Emergency Practice
Within the next 8 weeks we will hold an unannounced emergency practice with staff & students, to test our response to a potential scenario that staff identify a threat warranting the school go into lockdown (opposite to evacuation).
Like for fire evacuation drills, we recognised the worth to test this process.
We have plans in place to make this practice as least disruptive as able.
If you have queries you are welcome to call our Safety Officer Simon Natoli on 0400 105 476
Feast Day of St Mary of the Cross (Mary MacKillop)
School Photos Monday 10th August
School photos are being held on Monday 10th August, 2020.
Please ensure students are in the full winter uniform, including jumper (we have spare jumpers at the office if needed for the day). Prep and Kinder students are to wear their sports uniform.
Photo envelopes have been distributed for every student. Please note the shoot key listed on the envelope is unique for each student - please contact the office if you have not received one.
Please get a sibling photo envelope from the office for anyone wishing to have sibling photo's taken. Sibling order envelopes need to be handed directly to the photographers on photo day at the time of sibling photo being taken.
Parents can order and pay online through the MSP website (www.msp.com.au). Instructions are included on the envelopes.
Please see the attached flyer for information.
We are pleased to be able to hold our first Band Soiree on Wednesday 12th of August.
Please note that our Strings Soiree will be held a little later in the year - date coming soon!
In order to meet our ongoing capacity requirements, we are limiting the evening to 1 parent per band member. Please see the attached notice for full details.
If you have not already done so, please register your attendance via the following Google form to enable us to maintain an accurate register. STM Band Soiree. The attached permission form also needs to be completed and returned to the office.
There is a minimal capacity for additional attendees - please contact the office if you would like to request an additional attendee.
Please find attached the most recent Parish Bulletin Parish Bulletin