TERM 1 - WEEK 11
- Front Cover - 3/4 Jessop
- Leadership
- Religion
- STEAM
- Installing SZapp
- Parent/Teacher Learning Conversations
- Pupil Free Days
- Canteen
- PRC and Stem Competition
- Come and Try Events - Swimming and Football
- Secondary School
- Playgroup and ELY
- Out of School Hours Care
- School Access
- Advance Notice
- Raising Hearts and Minds
Front Cover - 3/4 Jessop
Easter
In 3/4 KJ we have been learning about Holy Week and the lead-up to Easter. We have explored both bible stories and explored the reasons why we celebrate Easter. We remember that the time leading up to Easter is an important time for people of the Catholic faith, as we remember and celebrate the life of Jesus.
Holy Week is the time we think about all Jesus gave up for us. He gave his life for us. - Sophie Fiegert
Leadership
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Students and friends of St Thomas More School community,
Easter is the most significant time of the Church year. It is a time when the Christian story provides us with the opportunity to reflect on a hope for a positive future and a new beginning in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. During Easter, we are called to share the message of Jesus through our words and actions. We would like to wish you all a safe, happy and meaningful Easter break and look forward to working together in Term 2, where we continue to live out the Easter messages of faith, hope and love!
“No act of kindness no matter how small is ever wasted.”
How to Stop Literacy Loss Over the Holidays
As children’s first and most important teachers, families have a major role to play in motivating children to read during the holiday period. There are many ways that families can use to encourage holiday reading.
Combine Activities with Books
Holidays leave lots of time for children to enjoy fun activities, such as going to the beach or seeing a movie. Why not also encourage them to read a book about an activity? If you’re going to a sports game, suggest that your child read a book or article about a favourite player or about the game beforehand. In the car, you’ll have lots of time to talk about the book and the game.
Lead by Example
Read the newspaper at breakfast, pick up a magazine at the doctor's and pack a paperback book into your beach bag. If children see the adults around them reading, they understand that books and other reading material are a fun and important part of their holidays.
Talk it Up
Talking with your children about what you have read also lets them know that reading is an important part of your life. Tell them why you liked a book, what you learned from it, or how it helped you. Soon they might start doing the same.
Help Children Find Time to Read
By the end of a long day, children may be too tired to pick up a book. Make some time for reading, such as before bedtime or after breakfast.
Relax the Rules for Holidays
During the school year, children have busy schedules and often have required reading for classes. Holidays are a time when children can read what, when and how they please. Don’t set daily time requirements or decide the number of pages they have to read. Instead, make sure they pick up books for fun and help find ways for them to choose to read on their own.
Have Plenty of Reading Material Around
Storybooks aren’t the only thing that children can read for fun. Newspapers, magazines and information material can spark the interest of a young (and old) reader. Encourage them to read about an interest or to extend their knowledge.
Use Books to Break the Boredom
Without the regular school regimen, adults and children need more activities to fill the hours. Books that teach children how to make or do something are a great way to get children reading and keep them occupied.
Read Aloud with Children
Take your children to see a local storyteller (local library) – or be one yourself. The holidays leave extra time for enthusiastic read-alouds with children, no matter their age. Find your inner actor and improvise different voices or wear a silly hat to make the story that much more interesting! Starting an engrossing book at the start of the holidays can become a highly anticipated part of the day for all the family.
(Acknowledgement: Reading is Fundamental)
Advice for Parents About Social Media
“Technology will only ever be used as well and as honourably as the motives of those pressing the buttons. Everyone needs to acknowledge its extraordinary power. The technology is out of the bag and we should respect it, but not fear it. Any threat from social networks comes not from the technology, but from those who use it.” (NZ Listener editorial August 27)
The best advice is to look at the way your child manages normal everyday interactions with family and friends. If this involves constant outbursts of emotions, hostilities, accusations and tears, then their online relationships are likely to be similar. A child who has happy, respectful relationships will usually enjoy using social media and have few if any problems.
Risk
Fitting in with peers is an important element of growing up. The main risks young people online today are risks from each other, risks of improper use of technology, lack of privacy, sharing too much information, or posting false information about themselves or others. These types of behaviour put their privacy at risk, often for years as they leave behind evidence of which sites they have visited.
One of the biggest threats to young people on social media sites is their digital footprint and future reputations. Youngsters who lack an awareness of privacy issues often post inappropriate messages, pictures, and videos without understanding that “what goes online stays online”. As a result, future jobs and opportunities may be put into jeopardy by rash clicks of the mouse.
What You Can Do
- Parents are the best people to educate young people to be responsible, sensible and respectable digital citizens.
- Talk to your child/ren about their online use and the specific issues that today’s online users face
- Become educated about the many technologies your youngsters are using
- Place the emphasis on responsible citizenship and healthy behaviours, not punitive action unless truly warranted
- Supervise online activities with active participation and communication, as opposed to remote monitoring with a net-nanny program
Term 2 Arrangements
Term 2 commences on Tuesday 3 May at 8.50 am
2022 Term 3 Reception Enrolments
Places are available. If you have or if you know of anyone who has a child turning 5 before October 31, 2022, please complete and lodge an enrolment form at the Front Office.
2023 Reception Enrolments
Places are available. If you have or if you know of anyone who has a child turning 5 before May 1, 2023, please complete and lodge an enrolment form at the Front Office.
2023 Term 3 Reception Enrolments
Places are available. If you have or if you know of anyone who has a child turning 5 before October 31, 2023, please complete and lodge an enrolment form at the Front Office.
Reminders
TERM 2 BEGINS TUESDAY 3 MAY
RECEPTION to YR 3/4 CLASSES SWIMMING LESSONS BEGIN TUESDAY 3 MAY (each day until Friday 6 May)
Working in Partnership
Chris Platten & Vicki Rubino
Religion
Holy Week
Our Lenten Journey has come to an end. This we began Holy Week with the celebration of Palm Sunday. This is a time we remember Jesus being welcomed into Jerusalem, like a King, by an excited crowd. People grabbed branches and waved them. They laid down clothing for Him to walk upon. Where in our lives might we have waited in excitement, hoping to be noticed? On Thursday, April 14, we remember Jesus’ Last Supper. This was the last meal he was to share with his disciples before he died. Before the meal, Jesus washed the feet of the disciples. He held up the bread and then the wine, He gave thanks and blessed them. He asked his disciples to remember Him each time they do this. Today in the Catholic Church, we are invited to partake in this meal and to remember His story. On Good Friday, April 15, we remember Jesus’ journey to his crucifixion. This is a time when we reflect on the way we or others carry crosses in our everyday life.
Students across the school have been learning about Holy Week through song and have created artworks to share their understanding.
Due to not being able to gather as a whole school, we continued with prayer through Microsoft Teams and connecting with students and staff at St. Mary Magdalene’s School. We gathered like this to start our day on Monday morning with a focus on Palm Sunday, Tuesday morning with a focus on Holy Thursday and Wednesday morning with a focus on Good Friday.
Images below show some of the artwork designed by students.
Project Compassion – 20c Challenge
I would like to say a very big thank you to our families for the support you have provided to Project Compassion through your ‘giving’ of 20c coins. We gathered last week to lay out our coins to cover the word ‘give’. Each class gathered for prayer and discussion about how this money might be used to support those less fortunate than ourselves.
Through your generous giving, we were able to raise *****
Sacramental Program 2022
If you would like your child to be involved in the 2022 Sacramental Program, please see Melissa Musolino. Due to Covid, we are currently looking at the possibility of offering an online version of this program.
Happy Easter
As we head towards our Easter break, we hope that you stay safe and well. May Easter be a time of renewed hope for you. May you take the time to appreciate the small things in life that so often get overlooked in the business of our everyday life.
Project Compassion Challenge Photos
STEAM
Term 1 Snapshot
During Term 1 the classes were all busy creating various projects.
The Reception - Year 2 students created Wombat habitats.
The Year 3-4 students designed and built vehicles to deliver parcels.
The 5-6 classes designed and built solar system models in teams.
Here are some examples of their fine work.
Janie Gosling
STEAM Photos
Installing SZapp
Please click on the link below for instructions on how to install SZapp on Apple and Android products.
Parent/Teacher Learning Conversations
Please click on the link below for further information.
Pupil Free Days
Canteen
Would you like to volunteer? Help is needed in the canteen for weeks 3 and 4 Term 2.
(17-20) & (24-27) May.
Please see Jane or the front office.
PRC and Stem Competition
Come and Try Events - Swimming and Football
Secondary School
Playgroup and ELY
Postponed until further notice
Out of School Hours Care
Daily: 6:30am to 8:45am and 3:00pm to 6:00pm Wednesday: 2:30pm to 6:00pm
School Access
8:30am to 8:50am
Access via the main front courtyard gate at the school crossing.
8:50am to 2:45pm
Access via green front pool gate in front of the administration building. You will need to lift the pool gate lock at the top of the gate to open and please ensure the gate is closed securely.
2:45pm to 3:15pm
Access via the main front courtyard gate at the school crossing.
Children dropped off before 8:30am and not collected by 3:15pm will be sent to OSHC and caregivers will be invoiced for the service.
Advance Notice
Every Tuesday
Parent Coffee/Tea chat 8:30am in Jubilee Hall - Postponed
ECC Playgroup 9:15am to 11:15am - Postponed
Principal's Tour (first Tuesday of the month) 10:00am - By appointment only
Every Wednesday
Early Learning Years (ELY) 9:15am to 11:15am - Postponed
April 14-25
Nature Play Week
April 15
Good Friday
April 17
Easter Sunday
April 21
World Creativity and Innovation Day
April 22
Earth Day
May 9
Catholic Education Week
Raising Hearts and Minds
