TERM 3 - WEEK 1
Front Cover - 3/4 Fischer
We would like to welcome back all the families, students, and staff within our school community. In 3/4JF, we have settled well into term 3, we are excited to be back at school!
This week we drew ourselves as Lego people! We would like to share our artwork with our school community.
Leadership
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Students, and Friends of St Thomas More,
Welcome back to Term 3, it was lovely to see the students return full of stories from their holidays and eager to start the term. We hope you have had a wonderful holiday and are ready for the busy term ahead which includes many different events and celebrations including Sports Carnivals, Book Week, Year 5/6 camp, Catholic Schools Open Week, Andrew Chinn visit, Learning Conversations, and the Catholic Schools Music Festival. Further information will be sent home at a date closer to each event.
Staffing News
Our Head of School, Vicki Rubino is on leave for the first three weeks of term. We welcome Luke Ferguson to this role and our school community during this time. We extend a very warm welcome to Stav Haros the new Reception class teacher and to Tamika Tran who is working in classrooms in the role of co-educator. We also welcome back David Hillard our school counsellor. At the very end of last term, we farewelled Olivia Bersagliere who has worked in our school as a co-educator. Olivia will be remembered for being very warm, friendly, and caring to our students, staff, and families. On behalf of the school community, we thank Olivia for the contributions she has made during her time with us, and we wish her every success and blessing for the future.
Semester One Student Achievement Reports
At the end of last term student reports were sent home. If you have not received your child’s report or wish to discuss any aspect of your child’s report, please contact your child’s classroom teacher.
School Uniform
The uniform policy of St Thomas More School addresses the total appearance of the student while at school. The uniform is seen as an internal and external statement of the quality education offered at St Thomas More School. In effect, it presents to the public an image that is in line with the school's ethos. In addition, the uniform is a means of helping to develop unity and pride within our community. The uniform policy is developed by the school community and approved by the School Board. It is an expectation that all students will comply with the policy in all its requirements. Indeed, enrolment at the school is dependent upon parents accepting and supporting the school’s uniform policy and rules. Generally, the students are wearing the correct uniform and look very smart. A list of St Thomas More School’s uniform requirements is available from the Front Office if you have any queries.
Pupil Free Day
Our Term 3 Pupil Free Day is planned for Friday 1 September (Week 6). On this day staff from both St Thomas More School and St Mary Magdalene’s School will come together to participate in training and development.
Term 3 School Assemblies
Week 3 Friday 11 Aug hosted by the Year 3/4 class
Week 5 Friday 25 Aug hosted by the Reception MT class
Week 9 Friday 22 September hosted by the Year 1/2CM class
The school assemblies provide students with opportunities to share their learning and celebrate their successes and achievements with the wider school community. The Assemblies commence at 9.00 am and we look forward to having you join us at these times.
School Photos
School Photos have been booked to occur this term on Friday18 August (Week 4). Further information will be sent home closer to this date.
Shaping our future together
Leadership Team
Religion
Feast of St. Mary Magdalene
This week students and staff at St. Mary Magdalene’s celebrate the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. St. Mary Magdalene was a friend of Jesus and she travelled with him and the other disciples, listening and learning about what it means to bring God’s promise to the world. She was one of the people who had the courage to stay with Jesus at the foot of the cross at the crucifixion. She was the first witness to the resurrection and was given the role of telling the apostles that Jesus had risen. We hope students and staff enjoy their celebrations.
St Vincent de Paul Society
A very big thank you to those families who were able to donate clothing items for the St. Vincent De Paul Society. Thank you for your gold coin donation on our casual clothes day held on the last day of term two. This money will go to supporting St. Vincent De Paul’s, Fred’s Van. Volunteers who give their time to Fred’s Van, provide meals, blankets, toiletries, snacks, and hot beverages to those in need.
Whole School Mass
We invite you to join us to celebrate our term 3 whole school Mass in Week 8, Tuesday, September 12 at 12pm in the Jubilee Hall.
Last week our Reception – Year Two students gathered to celebrate the Feast of St. Thomas More with a liturgy. Fr. Santosh gathered with the Year 3-6 community to lead our first Eucharistic celebration for the year. Students from across the year levels assisted with different parts of the Mass and the celebration was enjoyed by all.
Andrew Chinn Concert
On Thursday, August 10, Australian religious songwriter and singer, Andrew Chinn, will be visiting our school to share his songs with our children. Andrew’s songs, such as “These Hands”, “Rainbow”, “An African Blessing” and “Rise Up!” are used in classrooms and liturgies around Australia, New Zealand, the USA, and Canada. The concert will take place in the Jubilee Hall, at 2.05 pm. You are welcome to join us for this concert.
Liturgical Calendar Information
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 3.
Confirmation Session for Parents and Candidates
Term 3 Week 3 Saturday, August 12, 9.00 am–11.00 am St. at Thomas More Church
Celebration of Confirmation
Term 3 Week 6 Saturday, September 2, 9.00 am–11.00 am at St. Thomas More Church
Celebration of First Eucharist
Term 3 Week 7 Saturday, September 16, 6.00 pm–7.00 pm at St. Thomas More Church
OR
Term 3 Week 8 Sunday, September 17, 10.00 am–11.00 am at St. Thomas More Church
Liturgical Calendar Information
Special celebrations that we focus on during classroom and whole school prayer throughout term 3 and those that come up in our liturgical calendar include:
July 22 - Feast of St. Mary Magdalene
July 30 - International Day of Friendship
August 6 - Feast of the Transfiguration
August 8 - Feast of St. Mary of the Cross Mackillop
August 15 - Feast of the Assumption
Counsellor
Community Information
Library
During library lessons, students engage in a variety of texts and activities. For semester 1 the year 5/6 classes were placed in groups named Sherlock and Holmes. They were challenged each week with questions, activities, and tasks based on what we have read and learned, about how the library works, etc.
With each class group sorted into team colours, their hands were ready on the buzzers!
The 4 groups in each class compete against the other, as well as the two classes.
5/6 Holmes (Carritt) The winning team colour on 327 points was PURPLE.
Well done to Andrew, Hussain, Phoenix, William, and Sarah.
5/6 Sherlock (O'Leary) The winning team colour was also PURPLE on 349 points, also making them the overall winning team by 22 points. Congratulations to Xavier. D, Daniel. C, Kye, Isla. and Jascilla. They were awarded a $10 QBD Book store voucher and all finalists received a dream bar - Always follow your dreams!
To celebrate the end of the semester each class made a culinary treat. The R-2 students shared a book with me called Sophie Johnson-Unicorn Expert by Morag Hood & Ella Okstad about a girl who lives with unicorns. We made our very own unicorn horn from an ice cream cone and delicious sparkly treats.
Year 3-6 enjoyed the great aussie yarn book Redback on the Toilet Seat by Slim Newton & Craig Smith. With oreos, pretzil sticks and edible eyes we made some amazing redback spiders that tasted devine!
Humans of St Thomas More School
“…I love the amazing students and staff at St Thomas More school. I love how the staff cares for each other so much and how the students try their very best each day.”
The students call me Mr. O’Leary. I am a year 5/6 teacher.
I have been working at St Thomas More School since 2019. I began as an OSHC educator before moving into the classroom as a co-educator in 2020 and began teaching at St Thomas More School in 2022.
I am motivated by the kids who thrive to achieve their best. I am also inspired by the resilience of many of our students and I love seeing the way they overcome setbacks and make improvements.
Community House
Your'e Welcome at the Midway
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
July 30
International Day of Friendship
August 6
Feast of the Transfiguration
August 1-7
Dental Health Week
August 8
Feast of St. Mary of the Cross Mackillop
August 12-20
National Science Week
Raising Hearts and Minds
