St Thomas More School Newsletter - Term 1, Week 11 2024
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Our Newsletter | 2024
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A Message from our Leadership
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Introducing our School Ambassadors
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Sports Day!
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Learning Conversations
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Staff Announcements
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...STM Beanies have arrived!
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School Calendar Term 2
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Faith and Community
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Important Dates and Events
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Rennovations
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Out-of-School Hours Care (OSHC)
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April Birthdays!
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Raising Hearts and Minds
Our Newsletter | 2024
Year 5/6 SC learn about geographical diversity!
In HASS, our class has been learning all about the geographical diversity and location of places in Asia. They have also learned about Australia’s interconnections with some of these countries and how these can change people and places. To show their learning, students created an infographic about the Asian country that they have chosen. You can see work from students Charlotte, Chloe, Chase and Ellie below, and of course, on the front cover of this weeks newsletter is Sarha's work.
Sharing our future together,
Sarah Carritt
Year 5/6 Teacher
A Message from our Leadership
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Students, and Friends of St Thomas More,
Welcome everyone to Week 11 of Term 1.
It’s hard to believe that we have already reached the last week of term! And what a way to finish off, with another fantastic Sports Day event.
It was a pleasure to see everyone enjoying themselves, and participating in the various activities presented. We thank Mr Cristian Morgado for his organisation for the day and all staff for their preparation of the students and helping out with various tasks across the day.
A very special thank you to the students for their enthusiastic participation and to all families for coming out for the day to support and cheer the students on. We were very proud of the leadership skills shown by our house sports captains on the day and in the lead up to this event.
We would also like to update you on the Student Wellbeing Funding initiated by the Minister of Education. Last year the Minister for Education provided all schools with funding to support Wellbeing. The funding provided was used to employ some new Co-Educators who are available to support children who may struggle to regulate at different times throughout the day. Last year we also developed and implemented the 5-point scale (a self-regulation tool) that the Co-Educators were trained to use in supporting student regulation. Teachers and co-educators were also released to undertake training in PBIS (Positive Behaviour Interventions and Supports) which is continuing into this year to further develop whole school practices. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Education Minister for this funding and the support given to all schools.
We wish you all a happy and safe holiday as you enjoy special family time. We look forward to seeing you all again at the start of Term 2 on Monday 29 April.
Shaping our future together,
The Leadership Team
Introducing our School Ambassadors
We are absolutely proud to introduce our School Ambassadors and Vice Ambassadors for 2024
Charlotte and Aydin (Y6)
Hunter and Grace (Y5)
Our School Ambassadors will be exceptional leaders in our school, demonstrating confidence, wisdom, and empathy to their peers. They are glowing examples of the Mercy values our entire school community is led by.Congratulations, and here's to a fantastic rest of 2024!
Our Ambassadors meet the Mayor of Playford
On Tuesday this week, Playford Mayor Glenn Docherty visited our school. Once again, we were very proud of our School Ambassadors Charlotte, Aydin, Hunter and Grace for their leadership in taking the mayor on a tour and sharing information about our school.
Mayor Glenn Docherty was impressed by the friendliness of the students and their engagement with learning as he visited classrooms as well as the school facilities. He even dropped off personal thank you notes to each of our Ambassadors for a job wel done.
We look forward to his next visit in the following year.
Sports Day!
Sports Day is done for another year! An extra special shout-out to our Sports Captains for leading their Houses throughout the great event. Congratulations on a job well done to:
BARRY: Chloe and Matty
McAULEY: Zoe and Sarha
McKILLOP: Isla and Ellie
We will be sure to post some awesome photos from the day, so stay tuned early next term.
Learning Conversations
Learning Conversations are an important time for teachers and families to come together and discuss and celebrate student progress and set further learning goals moving forward. The Learning Conversations will occur in week 2 next term on the following dates and times:
- Monday 6th May 3.15pm – 5.00pm
- Tuesday 7th May 3.15pm – 5.00pm
- Wednesday 8th May 3.15pm – 7.00pm
To access the booking platform, please click here. You can also access the link directly from your Szapp home screen (click the first light blue tile *BOOK* Learning Conversations).
Staff Announcements
Farwell Sarah Storrie and Shani Wallace-Groves
The end of Term has brought about the farewell of two staff members, Sarah Storrie our STEM teacher and Shani our school Counsellor. We thank both Sarah and Shani for the contributions they have made to the learning and wellbeing of our students and our wider school community. We wish them well in their future endevours.
Long Service Leave for Connie Carter
Mrs Connie Carter (Year 1 teacher) is on long service leave this week and in the first week of term 2. We look forward to her safe return in week 2.
Welcome Back Mr Platten!
Next term, we also warmly welcome back our school Principal Chris Platten, who has been on leave for the last part of this term.
...STM Beanies have arrived!
Be cool (...or warm) this winter with our brand new STM Beanies. They have just arrived, right in time for the cooler weather - and we love them.
They are available to order for $25 on Qkr!, with all orders being collected from the Front Office. If you have any questions regarding ordering or collection please contact the Front Office directly.
School Calendar Term 2
Our School Calendar has been updated to show important days and events scheduled for Term 2. Please keep an eye on this calendar throughout the term, and we will endevour to update you as more items are added.
Access the School Calendar here or directly through your Szapp homescreen (the tile titled School Calendar).
Faith and Community
Holy Week
A big thank you to our families who were able to join us for our Holy Week and Easter celebrations this year. Staff and students were highly creative in sharing their learning through story and song. You can more images from our celebrations in the gallery below.
Caritas Project Compassion - Walk for Water
During term 1 each year, we aim to raise money to support the work of CARITAS through Project Compassion.
The theme of Project Compassion 2024 is ‘For All Future Generations’. It is an expression of hope and reminds us that the good that we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. It invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long term solutions to global issues.
We have been reading about Leaia’s Story. Leaia and her family live in Samoa. When their water ran out, Leaia and her children had to collect water in containers from a neighbour down the street. The children would have to take several breaks as the buckets were very heavy for them to lift.
To show our support for Leaia’s family and for other families around the world in a similar situation, and to raise much needed funds for Project Compassion, we will be holding a ‘Walk for Water’ event in Term 2 on Friday May 3, where students will complete laps of the oval while carrying buckets and containers of water. We are hoping that you will support us by donating funds to Project Compassion.
You will receive a flyer this week via Seesaw about our Project Compassion Fundraising event, ‘Walk for Water’. You are welcome to join us for our beginning of day prayer service at 9am in the Jubilee Hall. You might also choose to join us in our walk around the oval.
If you are able to support us to help Project Compassion by sending along a gold coin donation on the day or clicking on the link in the flyer, we greatly appreciate your support.
Sacrament Program
For those families who have enrolled in the program, please be aware of the following date:
- Eucharist Workshop Session 2
Saturday, 13th April | 9 am - 11 am | St Thomas More Church (19 Laverstock Rd, Elizabeth North)
Important Dates and Events
April 29 | First Day of Term 2
May 6 - 8 | Learning Conversations
May 8 | Annual General Meeting
May 12 | Mothers Day
May 13 - 17 | Catholic Schools Open Week #ILoveMyCatholicSchool
May 15 | International Day of Families
May 15 | SEDA College Basketball Clinic R-6
May 16 | Northern Areas Network Netball and Soccer Carnival
May 17 | Assembly
June 5 | SEDA College Basketball Clinic R-6
June 5 | World Environment Day
June 7 | PUPIL FREE DAY
June 10 | Kings Birthday Public Holiday
June 11 | Mid-Year Reception Transition Visit 1
June 13 - 14 | SACPSSA Basketball Carnival
June 18 | Mid-Year Reception Transition Visit 2
June 20 | World Refugee Day
June 22 | St Thomas More Feast Day
June 25 | Mid-Year Reception Transition Visit 3
June 26 | SEDA College Basketball Clinic R-6
June 28 | Assembly
June 28 | Northern Areas Network Netball and Soccer Carnival
July 5 | Last Day of Term 2
Rennovations
Please be aware that the administration building at St Thomas More School will be undergoing some renovations during the Term break. It is intended that there will be minor disruption for families and students during Term 2. We will update you with any progress as it happens.
Out-of-School Hours Care (OSHC)
2024 OSHC runs daily from 6:30am to 8:30am and 3:00pm to 6:00pm. To make a booking, please call our OSHC Director on 7285 155 / 0409 551 699.
April Birthdays!
At St Thomas More School we like to take any opportunity we can to celebrate and eat cake! Let's take a look at the special students who celebrate their birthdays in April this year...