TERM 2 - WEEK 7
Front Cover - 1/2 Docchio
This term in Science, the 1/2 classes have been learning all about the Solar System.
The students have loved this topic and have been very enthusiastic in their reading, writing, and sharing of facts.
To extend our learning we organised for the StarLab Planetarium to visit our school on Wednesday 14th June.
The students were counting down the days to this event and were so excited to see the inflatable dome set up in Jubilee Hall.
1/2MD and 1/2SM were the first classes to enter and were taken on an amazing journey through space. We learned about the rising and setting sun, the moon, the stars and constellations, and the planets. 1/2CM and 1/2CC also had a turn in the dome. What a fantastic experience for our 1/2 classes!
These are some of the comments from the students of 1/2MD after the StarLab incursion:
“I want to be an astronaut when I grow up!” Daniel
“I felt like I was in space!” Blessy
“I felt like I could touch the moon!” Uzziah
“I learned so much about space!” William
“I wanted to grab the moon and stars!” Karta
Marie D’occhio, 1/2 Teacher
Leadership
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Students, and Friends of St Thomas More,
Welcome to Week 7. We trust that you have enjoyed a wonderful long weekend and in particular the glorious weather we experienced on Monday.
Staffing News
We welcome two new staff members to our St Thomas More school community. We congratulate Stav Haros on winning the Reception teacher position for terms 3 and 4. Stav will be running the transition program this week and the next two weeks in preparation for Term 3.
Congratulations also to Nikki Hemlin for winning the position of co-educator. Nikki started working with us last week and has settled in well with our school community.
We hope that their time with us is a successful and enjoyable experience.
Term 3 Reception Transition Program
On Thursday we had the start of our New Reception Transition Program. It was wonderful to meet with all the students and their families, some were very excited, some were very nervous, and others had mixed emotions. Starting school is a very significant event for the students and their families and one that will be remembered for a lifetime, therefore the transition program is vital for the preparation for school. The new reception students will attend another two transition visits on Thursdays in weeks eight and nine. Prior to their first transition visit, they were visited in their kindy setting by their teacher Stav Haros. This provided them with an opportunity to meet with and connect with their teacher prior to their visit. The following transition visits will provide them with further opportunities to meet and get to know their teacher and their peers. If you know of anyone turning 5 on or before 31 October, please let them know that there are spaces available. Please contact the front office for all enquiries.
Student Wellbeing – Classroom Pulse Check In
Over the past fortnight, all students in Catholic Education SA Schools participated in the Classroom Pulse Check-In which occurs each term at this time. This check-in has been developed to learn more about how our students are feeling about their experience at school. Every student in our school matters and their identity, sense of belonging, relationships, and opportunities for learning are paramount for their success. Through analysing the student survey responses, we can monitor how individual students are progressing and identify areas they may need further support in to enable them to thrive as people, learners, and leaders.
Car Parking
It is with increasing concern that we remind everyone about the importance of following road rules and staying safe on our roads. Please pay particular attention to the parking signage around the school. Please do not stop where there are yellow lines marked for your children to enter or leave your car or across the school crossing. Please do not park in the disabled access parking spaces as this is also against the law as well as unsafe. These actions place many children in a dangerous situation when trying to cross the very busy Yorktown and Shillabeer roads. We thank you for your cooperation with this matter.
School Routine Reminders
School Start - School starts at 8.45 am. Yard duty begins at 8.30 am, if students arrive before this time, they will need to attend OSHC. It is crucial that students arrive before 8.45 am so that they be in class on time and be a part of the morning routines which contributes to a smoother start to the day.
Late arrivals – If your child is later than 8.45 am they must be signed in at the Front Office. They will be given a late pass to take to their teacher.
School finish – School finishes at 3 pm, if you cannot collect your child by 3.10 pm they will need to go to OSHC.
Labelling – please label all removable clothing (ie jumpers, jackets, hats), school bags, drink bottles, lunch boxes, and anything else your child might bring. Please check in at the front office for missing items.
Shaping our future together
Leadership Team
Religion
Feast of St. Thomas More
We will celebrate the Feast of St. Thomas More in Week 8, Tuesday, June 20. Our theme this year will be ‘St. Thomas More, ‘courageous and kind’. For this celebration we will have:
R - 2 Liturgy at 9.00 am in the Jubilee Hall
3 – 6 Mass at 12 pm in the Jubilee Hall
Please join us if you are free.
St Vincent de Paul
As the weather gets colder, we invite you to think about those in our wider community who may need our help this winter. St Vincent de Paul provides clothing, shelter, and food to those who need it most. We will be supporting the work of St Vincent de Paul over the remainder of the term by collecting donations of clothing (especially any winter items you may have grown out of) and blankets. You can place these items in the bins located on our school grounds from Week 9 onwards.
Community Prayer
This week our combined school prayer (via Microsoft Teams) with classes from St Mary Magdalene's and St Thomas More, focused on meditation. Miss Jessop from St Thomas More School led 398 (students and staff) in a 2-minute prayer meditation to start our day.
Elizabeth Catholic Parish Sacramental Program
For those families whose child/ren are involved in the 2023 Sacramental Program, please be aware of the following dates for Term 2.
Eucharist Session for Parents and Candidates
Term 2 Week 9 Saturday, July 1, 9.00 am – 11.00 am St. Thomas More Church
Liturgical Calendar Information
Special celebrations that we focus on during classroom and whole school prayer throughout term 2 and those that come up in our liturgical calendar include:
June 20 – World Refugee Day
June 20 – Feast of St. Thomas More
July 2–9 – NAIDOC Week
Northern Areas Network Basketball Carnival
Monday morning a group of our students from St Thomas More and St Mary Magdalane’s schools travelled to The Lights Community and Sports Centre to participate in the Northern Areas Network basketball carnival. Each team performed their very best and achieved well, with the boy’s team placing 2nd in the grand final. A huge thank you to Ms Tullio who was able to supervise on the day and Cheryl Bielby for scoring both our teams. Well done everyone!
Lego Club
Our school has its very own Lego Club! Working with Lego has proven benefits in supporting oral language skills, turn-taking, sharing, listening, conversation, teamwork, and problem-solving. During Lego Club our children are assigned roles, encouraging them to work together to build a model following instructions. The shared focus on building uses their strengths and helps them practice communication and social skills while having fun!
Thanks to Good360 Australia for providing our school with this awesome Lego!
Canteen
Just a Reminder
If your child/children are going to be away and they have a lunch order, please contact the front office to cancel the order by 9:00 am. The order can not be transferred to another day if it is not cancelled. Thank you for your understanding.
Installing SZapp
Please click on the link below for instructions on how to install SZapp on Apple and Android products.
Out-of-School Hours Care
2023 OSHC runs daily: 6:30am to 8:30am and 3:00pm to 6:00pm
School Access
8:30am to 8:45am
Access via the main front courtyard gate at the school crossing.
8:45am 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
Principal's Tour - By appointment only
June 20
World Refugee Day
Feast of St. Thomas More
June 21
World Music Day
Winter Solstice
July 2-9
NAIDOC Week
Raising Hearts and Minds
