Vinnies Christmas Appeal
Today we launched the Vinnies Christmas Appeal through a provocation of contrasting scenes: a happy family Christmas day with presents and food, and a sad one without the presents and food. These scenes provoked lots of discussion amongst students. 

Each classroom has been provided with a basket for donations. At the end of the term, we will be delivering them to the Yass branch of St Vincent de Paul. We are seeking your support to help those less fortunate in our community through generous donations of non-perishable food items, gift vouchers or gifts or new toys for children or a thoughtful gift for an adult. Your generosity and support is most appreciated.


Sacrament of First Holy Communion
This weekend, 23 children will be celebrating their First Holy Communion at St Augustine’s Church. Due to Covid-19 restrictions it will be split over two days: 21 November at 6pm, and 22 November at 10.15am. Please pray for the children as they prepare for First Holy Communion. 


Religious Education in the Classroom 
Teachers and students have been engaging critically and creatively with Scripture passages through The Three Worlds of the Text: World Behind the Text, World of the Text, and World In Front of the Text. This teaching and learning method encourages students to learn from within the Bible and discover their own informed interpretation. Below is a short description of what the World Behind the Text means. Next week an explanation of the World of the Text will be provided.


World Behind the Text
What was going on when the text was written? What was life like at that time? What can we learn about the culture, religion, history and geography of the text? Who wrote this text? Why was the text created? What roles and relationships did people have at that time? What does Church tradition tell us about the author of the text?

Year 4 students investigated different Bible authors and used this information to create bookmarks.  

Gospel Reading, The Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30)
The summary of this passage is of a master who was leaving his house to travel, and, before leaving, entrusted his property to his servants. According to the abilities of each man, one servant received five talents, the second had received two, and the third received only one. 

World Behind the Text (Background of the text)
The Gospel of Matthew is thought by most scholars to have been written for a New Testament audience of Jewish Christians together with some Gentile Christians who knew Jewish culture, religious belief and practice. Matthew’s text has many Jewish references that take for granted an audience familiar with Judaism, its culture, beliefs and practices (Brisbane Catholic Diocese, 2020).

Have a fantastic week!

May peace be with you,
Eva Karakotas
Religious Education Coordinator (Acting)