This Sunday’s Gospel centres on the message of Jesus about love; in fact, on two loves to be united in each of us. Love of God and love of neighbour - this is the only commandment of Jesus. It sums up what Jesus believed life is all about. Without this interconnection, all we say we do for Christ is really done for ourselves. No detail of religious observance is above Jesus’ law of love. Jesus never allowed the laws of religion to overtake the need for love. The message of Jesus is all-embracing and covers all our relationships, including close relationships such as marriage, family and friendship, as well as the call to love the wider world, particularly where the needs are great.  

(Adapted from https://www.sacredspace.ie/scripture/matthew-2234-40) 

GOSPEL: Matthew 22: 34-40 

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law tested him by asking, "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments." 

Reflection on Love 

Nothing is more practical than finding God, than falling in Love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, whom you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in Love, stay in love, and it will decide everything. (Attributed to Fr. Pedro Arrupe, SJ (1907-1991)) 

Some focus prompts for reflection: 

The fact that Jesus, almost in the same breath, says we are to love God and love our neighbour means that one love is not greater than the other. They are interdependent. By loving God, we love our neighbour. By loving our neighbour, we love God. 

How are we called to love God and neighbour this week? Could it be through the practice of gratitude? 

Prayer: 

O God, may our hearts be softened, transformed and inspired to love as Jesus loves. No conditions, no excuses, no favourites, no judgements, no hoops, no seeking rewards. We long for this transformation through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

(Adapted from CESA Staff Spiritual and Religious Formation Team) 

Creative, Collaborative, Connected Learners - Inspired by Love 

Children’s University:

It was wonderful to see our group of students graduate from the Children’s University program for 2020. In spite of the Covid restriction, this small group of students still managed to log up many hours of extra curricula learning activities; up to 300 hours for Chloe, one of our Year 6 students. When 30 hours equates to an extra week of school over the course of the year, all our children put in a fantastic effort. A big thank you to Mr. Wood for coordinating the program for our school, the parents who supported their children and of course the children themselves for maintaining the commitment in such a trying time. 

Book Week:

Building Program: 

The completion date for the new Learning Pods continues to be on track. The anticipated completion date is now 13th of November. With the last group of transportable classrooms to be removed this week, earth works will begin to complete swale and landscaping associated with the Pods and the area vacated by the transportable classrooms will be prepared for planting new lawn and other landscaping finishes. The work around the relocated OSHC continues with decking and new verandas to be built. Children will move into the new Pods at the start of the 2021 school year. 

Media Consent:

Over the course of this year we have had many opportunities to share with families, events where children have participated in. You have no doubt enjoyed SeeSaw photos from your child’s teacher where the excitement of their learning achievements come to life as they happen. 

This is more problematic when videoing whole school events such as Sports Days or Book Week parades as it is not always possible to remove children from images without affecting the whole class. This means we are unable to share these events with school families through our school Facebook page or newsletter. Therefore, we would like to initiate a conversation about how we might resolve this dilemma. Notwithstanding any child protection orders, our hope would be to move all other students to a general permission for your child's image to be placed on our social media pages without identifying names. Next week you will receive a form, which would indicate if you would be willing to support such a move. Once replies are in, then we will determine how we move forward. Any new arrangement will not commence until 2021. 

We ask all families to respond regardless of whether you have granted an existing permission. 

School Fees 2021

Sports Day:

We remind families that our Sports Day will be held next Friday 6thNovember at the Gawler South Oval. If you have not already done so, please indicate the number of attendees (other than students) if you are planning to attendfor catering purposes.

We also remind families that this is a ‘Covid Safe Event’ and you are required to abide by the arrangements in place to ensure the safety of everyone there. Therefore, please follow these procedures;

• Do not attend if you are unwell (this includes students) 

• You are required to sign in any adults attending at either of the two entrance gates. (see below) Alternatively, please complete the attached form for any adult who will be in your group attending, sign, and postdate it for next Friday. You can hand in this form on the day. 

• Abide by the 1.5m social distancing rule – the oval provides plenty of space for this. 

• Abide by requests from any of the 4 Covid Marshalls (Mrs. White says she will bring her 1.5m ruler just in case) 

• Use hand sanitizer provided or bring your own. 

Other information:

• Toilets: Adults are to use the external toilets behind the clubrooms. Children use the internal toilets. 

• Entry: Pedestrians can enter via the eastern gate on Dawsons road closest to St Brigid’s and vehicles can enter through the main gates on the southern end via Dysart Road. Vehicles may park on the oval boundary. 

• Catering: Rory’s and Cuppagino’s will provide food, beverages and coffees for the day. 

We look forward to you joining us for this community event.