TERM 2 - WEEK 3
Front Cover - Yr 1/2 Maiello
Maths
In 1/2SM, we have been learning about two-dimensional shapes and their geometric features. We created shapes using pop sticks and matchsticks, challenging ourselves to create shapes such as hexagons and octagons. We drew these shapes in our books recording the properties of each shape. Sides and vertices.
Within our shape unit, we have also explored the two-dimensional shapes in our classroom, the schoolyard, and practiced our wonderful singing talents with shapes songs to consolidate our learning.
Seasons
Do you ever think about, how as the year passes, we see the same tree change colour? We have been learning about the 4 seasons and demonstrated the different colours on our own trees using watercolours. Do you have a favourite season?
Leadership
Dear Parents, Carers, Staff and Students
As we come to the end of the third week of term, classes are in full swing with our students seeking to build on the success of Term One. From the beginning of the term, we have continued to develop our emphasis on a strong learning culture where everyone strives to achieve their personal best.
While our teachers do a remarkable job in staying abreast of the latest educational trends and implementing them into their daily practice, your assistance is also vital. You can never underestimate the impact of parents in developing a learning culture.
Here at St Thomas More, we commit ourselves every day to the aims of all Catholic schools:
“We don’t just know students by name, we know who they are by heart”.
“Our community is underpinned by a spirit of openness, sensitivity and respect, which generates a real sense of inclusion and belonging. It’s these everyday connections between faith and action that let every child know they matter”.
“We work in partnership with families to educate and nurture the whole person, helping them to be thriving, capable learners as well as extraordinary human beings.”
“Inspired by Jesus, our Catholic faith and spirituality, we instil values that last well beyond the schooling experience, they’re ingrained for life.”
“We believe that each child has an inherent goodness that can change the world and it’s our privilege to be a part of their journey - because an intangible piece of your school lives with you forever”.
Catholic Education Week
Last week we celebrated Catholic Education Week. The focus this year is on saying ‘thank you' to all the hard-working people that make our Catholic schools so special and celebrate the people who make our schools amazing – the principals, staff, teachers, families and students who contribute so much. As a school, classes worked on creating a thank you banner which will be placed on the front fence once completed. The banner also includes images of a heart/brain/mind (representing raising hearts and minds). Keep a lookout for this banner on display in the near future. A very big thank you to all students and teachers for the contribution and to Melissa Musolino, our APRIM for coordinating this.
NAPLAN
This week and last week the Year 3 and 5 students participated in the following NAPLAN tests: writing, reading, language conventions and numeracy. The tests ran smoothly under the leadership of Taylor Meyer, our Leader of Learning. We thank Taylor and all the Year 3 and 5 teachers for their work in preparing students for the test situations and supporting students who were feeling nervous and worried. We are very proud of our students and staff for their wonderful efforts.
NAPLAN reports will arrive from mid-August to mid-September.
Parent-Teacher Learning Conversations
Last week we held Parent-Teacher Learning Conversations and we would like to thank all the parents and caregivers who participated in this valuable opportunity to continue supporting your child’s learning. These conversations provided an opportunity to discuss how the students have settled in since the start of the year, review their progress, and consider the next steps in their learning.
If you haven’t already met with your child’s teacher, please ensure you organise a time that is mutually convenient to meet.
National Sorry Day – 26 May
National Sorry Day is an Australia-wide observance held on May 26 each year. This day gives people the chance to come together and share the steps toward healing for the Stolen Generations, their families and communities. Stolen generations refer to Indigenous Australians who were forcibly removed from their families and communities.
National Reconciliation Week 2022 – 27 May to 3 June
This year the National Reconciliation Week theme is “Be Brave. Make Change.” This theme is a challenge to all Australians – individuals, families, communities, organisations and government - to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians. Last year Reconciliation Australia encouraged all Australians to take action; not just during National Reconciliation Week but every week of the year. This year we are asked to make change by beginning with brave actions in our everyday lives – where we live, work, play and socialise.
What is National Reconciliation Week?
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The dates for NRW remain the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
What Reconciliation Australia does
Reconciliation Australia is the national body for reconciliation, an independent not-for-profit organisation that promotes and facilitates reconciliation by building relationships, respect and trust between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The organisation focuses on influencing organisations, people and policies.
Three program areas deliver services, resources and advice to support reconciliation action within Australian businesses, schools, community groups, and government organisations - the Reconciliation Action Plan program, the Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education program, and the Indigenous Governance program.
Influencing people is conducted through a range of activities, using tools to educate, inform and engage all Australians in reconciliation, with National Reconciliation Week as the flagship event.
Influencing policies involves producing authoritative research to inform the national conversation, including through the State of Reconciliation in Australia Report and the Australian Reconciliation Barometer.
At its heart, reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians.
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.
PUPIL FREE DAY
FRIDAY 10 JUNE 2022
(OSHC available – bookings essential)
Working in Partnership
Chris Platten & Vicki Rubino
Religion
Catholic Education Week
Last week in Catholic Education Week we said thank you to the many people who make our school such a wonderful place to belong. Students spent time across the week thinking of those people they would like to thank and wrote letters to give to those people. A thank you sign created by students across the school will be displayed along our fence line this week as we continue to give thanks for all those who assist in our school.
Thank You Gallery
Visit by Archbishop Patrick O’Regan
Towards the end of term 4 2021, our staff was invited to reflect on questions as part of the Plenary Council gathering.
They were asked to consider: What is God asking of us at this time in Australia?
What are the challenges and opportunities in our community?
How can we as a church best fulfil our mission to be the People of God in this place?
Important to this process is gathering input from students in our schools. This week, some year 5/6 students from St. Mary Magdalene’s gathered with year 5/6 students from St. Thomas More School, to meet with Archbishop Patrick O’Regan and Sarah Moffatt from the Archdiocese of Adelaide. Archbishop Patrick asked them what they thought he should tell the Pope when he meets with him in Rome next year. Students shared some of the challenges and opportunities that they faced as young people living today.
Our Visit with Archbishop O'Regan
St Vincent de Paul Society
You are invited to the second Regional Forum, to share and reflect on stories and experiences of poverty and to explore possibilities for action and advocacy.
Sunday 22 May, 2.30pm-4pm
St Thomas More Parish Hall, 19 Laverstock Rd, Elizabeth North
All welcome – bring a friend, too!
Enquiries/RSVPs to
Geraldine Hawkes, Central District Regional President ghawkes@svdpsa.org.au
Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week celebrates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.
The National Reconciliation Week theme, “Be Brave. Male Change”, is a challenge to all Australians – individuals, families, communities, organisations and government- to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians.
Next week we will have the opportunity to reflect on this theme with a Christian lens as we gather for prayer. In the scriptures, we are called to follow God’s way of justice in both word and action. In his footsteps, then, we bring our whole lives and efforts today to the work of healing and reconciling action.
Reconciliation Week
Fri 27th May – Fri 3rd June 2022
St Thomas More School will be celebrating and recognising Reconciliation with a donut and dressing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait colours on the final day of Reconciliation Week, Friday 3 June 2022.
We have got together with Vili’s and are offering students the opportunity to order a $2 donut with 50c of the proceeds going to the Tjindu Foundation. This foundation “helps Aboriginal children in South Australia shine their brightest through participation in our industry-leading cultural and sporting excellence programs” (tjindufoundation.org.au).
Orders for the donuts can be made through the QKR App. Please make payment prior to 3pm Monday 30 May 2022 to ensure you do not miss out!!
Also, on Friday 3rd June, if students would like to, they can come dressed in red, yellow and black or in green, blue and/or white to recognise our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Installing SZapp
Please click on the link below for instructions on how to install SZapp on Apple and Android products.
Children's Book week - 2022
About the Children's Book Council of Australia
The Children's Book Council of Australia (CBCA) is a not for profit, volunteer run organisation which aims to engage the community with literature for young Australians. The CBCA presents annual awards to books of literary merit, for outstanding contribution to Australian children's literature.
Established in 1945, the Children’s Book Council of Australia was founded at a time when Australian children’s books were few, and Australian authors and illustrators were virtually unknown. In 1946 the CBCA established annual book awards to promote books of high literary and artistic quality. These awards are now the most influential and highly respected in Australia.
Each year, across Australia, the CBCA brings children and books together celebrating CBCA Book Week. Throughout the year, the CBCA works in partnership with authors, illustrators, publishers, booksellers and other organisations in the children’s book world to bring words, images and stories into the hearts and minds of children and adults.
Australian children’s literature enriches our nation and reaches children across the world through international editions.
Our Vision: Creating a community that celebrates quality Australian literature for young people.
Our Mission: We promote and advocate for the sharing of quality literature for young people across Australia. We showcase Australian creators and collaborate widely to foster a love of reading.
The CBCA is made up of state branches, that work to promote literature and literacy in their state. The branches each send a representative to the judging panel for the Book of the Year awards.
Members of the CBCA's National Board are either nominated by their state/territory branches or sit as independent directors.
In 2015, the CBCA celebrated 70 years of promoting and supporting the best of Australian literature for young people.
Presenting the CBCA Shortlist - 2022
Congratulations to all CBCA Shortlist Authors, Illustrators and Publishers.
Canteen
Would you like to volunteer? Help is needed in the canteen for week 4 Term 2.
(24-27) May.
Please see Jane or the front office.
PRC and Stem Competition
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
May 26
National Sorry Day
May 27
Reconciliation Week Begins
May 29
Feast of the Ascension
Raising Hearts and Minds
