TERM 2 - WEEK 9
Front Cover - Rec Arnold & Appelbee
In Mathematics, Miss Arnold's and Miss Appelbee's classes have been learning about ordering and sequencing an event. As a class, we investigated the steps to making a hot chocolate and recorded the procedure which helped us make our very own to enjoy. It was delicious!
Leadership
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Students and friends of St Thomas More,
Reminder
Last day of term 2 is Friday, July 8
Term 3 begins on Monday, July 25
Staffing News
I am pleased to share that we have appointed Miss Natasha Trestrail as our Term 3 & 4 Reception teacher. Natasha has been teaching at Kaurna Plains School for the past 12 years. Natasha is very much looking forward to working with our new children. I’m sure you will join me in congratulating Natasha and wishing her every success as she joins our school community.
At the end of Term 2 we farewell Ms. Jamie Warren.
Jamie will be leaving the St Thomas More School community. Jamie began at St Thomas More School at the beginning of the school year, as our Year 5/6 teacher. Mr. Jay O’Leary will be replacing Jamie for the remainder of the school year. On behalf of the St Thomas More School community, I would like to thank Jamie for sharing her gifts and talents and extend our gratitude to her. I wish Jamie every blessing and success in her new adventure.
NAIDOC WEEK
This year’s theme is – Get up! Stand up! Show up! – encourages all of us to champion institutional, structural, collaborative, and cooperative change while celebrating those who have already driven and led change in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities over generations.
Events will be held around Australia during NAIDOC week to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
NAIDOC is celebrated by people from all walks of life, Indigenous and non‑Indigenous. The week is a great opportunity to participate in a range of activities and to support and amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
During Week 10, our school will be involved in a variety of activities which will be communicated through See Saw.
Student Achievements
I continue to be amazed by the outstanding sporting achievements of our children. I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight these achievements. Congratulations to the students listed below who have represented the Playford District at the SAPSASA state championships.
Xavier Dempsey, Tyrell Agius, Cruz Ramsell, Riley Kirkbright and Simon Timmermans - Football
Grace Sandery, Ellie Daniels and Milo Wright - Netball
Congratulations and well done to all the students who have competed in a variety of Carnivals during Semester 1.
Thank you to Mr. Chevalier who does a fantastic job in supporting the skill development of all our children and for his efforts in preparing them for all carnivals and competitions throughout the year. I also thank the staff and volunteers who support on the day.
Mid Year Reports
Wednesday 6 July (Term 2 Week 10) you will receive your child/ren’s Mid-Year Report. These will be given to your child in a sealed envelope. We do this to protect your child’s privacy and so that you (the parent/s) will be the first to read the report and discuss it with your child. These reports are a descriptive summary of your child’s progress for this year and should also point out to you and your child, the specific areas needed for ongoing learning improvement. It is essential to your child’s ongoing learning that both you and your child know of the achievements that they have made and what they need to do to continue this progress.
If there is anything in the report that comes as a surprise to you or your child, or you do not understand some of the comments made, then please make an appointment to see your child’s teacher.
I strongly urge you to take this opportunity to meet with your child’s teacher and the Specialist Teachers (if necessary) to discuss personally how your child is going, where they are at and how they can be supported.
Fortnite Game & Social Media
The Fortnite game continues to be a topic of conversation amongst, staff, students, parents and many psychologists. As a school, we have been reflecting on how we are seeing this game affect our children and their ability to solve conflict restoratively, treat others respectfully and behave in socially acceptable ways.
The recommended age to use Fortnite is 13+, which means that it is not only inappropriate for most primary-aged children to play but also does not comply with the U.S. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Following are some excerpts from psychologists across the world who are now querying if this game is in fact, changing the minds of our children;
“The American Academy of Pediatrics has concluded that games “in which killing others is the central theme” – a good summary of Fortnite – “are not appropriate for children.” Incidentally, “children” here means “humans under 18 years of age.” In their guidelines, the Academy advised that “Video games should not use human or other living targets or award points for killing” and that parents should not allow their kids to play games that violate this guideline. In case you haven’t seen it, Fortnite is a game in which the object of the game is to kill other humans.” Psychology Today
”You must have the courage to say: This is not a good thing. Kids need to learn face-to-face social skills. They need to be physically active, preferably outdoors. They need to get a good night’s sleep. A kid obsessed with Fortnite is less likely to be doing any of these things.” Psychology Today
“………. Games like Fortnite are designed to exploit the brain’s vulnerabilities in the same way poker machines do” Professor Yucel is a clinical neuropsychologist
"I could see this aggression starting to form, he started being rude and I was, like, oh my God, this game is going to drive me mad!” Parent
Our school teaches and values respect and kindness, we are working daily to develop self-esteem, growth mindsets and relationships, how does Fortnite enhance the personal, social and psychological development of your child? Fitness is a key holistic element of well-being, strongly correlated with positive outcomes such as success in school, better sleep behaviours, and reduced stress. When we move more, we are happier and healthier. If you wish to discuss gaming and the possible effects on your child’s learning please speak to your Class Teacher, Leadership or our School Well-being Counsellor.
As well as Fortnite, we have had further discussions with students about social media and cybersafety. Our compulsory curriculum, Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum, has specific teaching on keeping yourself safe online. This is much more of a need at the moment due to the increased usage of computers/phones during isolation.
During these discussions with students, there is a number that talk about Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Tik Tok as well as Fortnite. This is where some bullying is occurring outside of school hours and on weekends. We wish to inform our learning community of the following things to keep our students safe and promote well-being practices.
You MUST be 13 years and older to have your own account on Facebook, TicToc, Snapchat, Instagram and for online games such as Fortnite due to the level of maturity and resilience which can affect the ability to have positive experiences on social media and respond appropriately to harassment, bullying or privacy concerns. This does not necessarily mean that the site is unsafe but it is in compliance with the U.S. Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
We encourage supervision and cybersafety discussions to occur. For further information visit: www.esafety.gov.au
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 camping, fishing 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 doctors and pack a paperback book into your travel 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)
Ensuring Our School is a Safe Place for All
As the first semester concludes, I want to assure all parents and carers of our absolute commitment to ensuring that St. Thomas More School is a safe place for all.
- Our staff is committed and trained to protect the children and young people in our care.
- All staff and regular volunteers have current police checks.
- We teach our children age-appropriate strategies to keep themselves safe through South Australia’s Keeping Safe Child Protection Curriculum.
- Staff complete certification and undertake regular updated training in Responding to Abuse and Neglect in Education and Care Settings.
- We also promote strategies to minimise bullying and help students stay safe online.
Additional information about the broader protection policies of Catholic Education SA can be found on their website. http://www.cesa.catholic.edu.au/our-schools/safe-environments-for-all
The website also includes links to online resources for parents and students on a range of topics including anxiety, depression, bullying and how to support your child.
If you have any questions or concerns about child safety please contact me.
Annual General Meeting
Thank you to those who were able to attend our Annual General Meeting last week. This was an opportunity to share our 2021 school achievements and areas of growth as well as highlight directions for this year and beyond. A hard copy of my AGM Report is available to families via the Front Office and an electronic copy can be found on our school website.
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, 2022, 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.
Working in Partnership,
Leadership Team
Religion
The Liturgical Year of the Church and Special Celebrations
Next week we celebrate NAIDOC Week. The theme this year is Heal Country! Heal our Nation! For our indigenous people country is part of their identity. It is family, kin, law, ceremony, tradition and languages. Through their languages, songs, ceremonies and traditions they celebrate country and country speaks to them.
On Tuesday July 5, as part of our celebrations, Mihali and Anzac Lochowiak, two of our co-educators, will lead us in a smoking ceremony before we head back to our classrooms to complete an activity prepared by Ms. Jessop.
We pray today that we begin to heal country by embracing First Nations’ cultural knowledge and understanding of Country and see them as equal to the cultures and values of all Australians.
Feast of St. Thomas More
Last week we celebrated the Feast of St. Thomas More with a whole school liturgy, activity day and sausage sizzle. With many staff away for our celebration, the day was slightly different from that planned but comments from students across the school showed that the day was enjoyed by many.
Feast Day Photos
Sacrament Program 2022
For information regarding our Sacramental Program, please email Melissa Musolino.
Carnival
On Friday the 24th of June seventeen year 4-6 boys participated in the Regional Catholic Schools Football Carnival at Ridley Reserve. The round-robin competition provided an opportunity for students to showcase their skills and develop teamwork during several small-sided games.
The weather was kind to us although we had a few showers and some breezy moments. The ovals were in great condition which provided opportunities for the players to take some high marks and kick spectacular goals.
The boys' teams relished the challenge of playing against some tough opposition. They enjoyed the competitive element of the game and fought hard all day to produce some outstanding results.
All the boys enjoyed the day and are to be congratulated on their fine sportspersonship during all matches. Thank you to Lesley Swann and Carly Morrison for their support in supervising/coaching the teams on the day.
Fabian Chevalier
PE Teacher/Co-ordinator
Vacation Care Program
Installing SZapp
Please click on the link below for instructions on how to install SZapp on Apple and Android products.
Canteen
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
Last Day of Term 2 - Friday, July 8
July 3 - 10
NAIDOC Week
July 11
World Population Day
July 22
National Pyjama Day
Term 2 Begins - Monday, July 25
Raising Hearts and Minds
