TERM 3 - WEEK 3
Front Cover - 1/2 Maiello
At the beginning of Term 3, 1/2SM and the Reception – Year 2 classes celebrated 100 days BRIGHTER! We have been counting each school day throughout the year.
To celebrate our hard work in the first 100 days of Year 1 and Year 2, the classroom was decorated in bright colours, and we dressed in colourful accessories. We also made bright crowns to wear throughout the day. We counted 100 counters, pop sticks, Skittles, Smarties, and matchsticks, etc. to represent each day of school this year.
At the end of the day, we were lucky enough to enjoy some Smarties as we are 100 days smarter!
100 Days Brighter
100 Days of School
Leadership
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Students, and Friends of St Thomas More,
It has been a busy start to the term for our students. It has been great to see classes engaged in their learning. We welcome Mrs. Rubino back from long service leave next week. We hope she has enjoyed her break and her house renovations are looking amazing. I’m sure she’ll be grateful to get out of the dust and noise of power tools and back to St Thomas More. Hopefully, I can remember how to tidy up her office just the way I found it!
It has been a wonderful experience for me these past three weeks. I am sad to say farewell for the moment, although I will still be working occasionally with St Thomas More over the next two terms. I thank the STM community for welcoming me and being patient with me learning the ropes of how St Thomas More operates. I thank the staff for their amazing work, I thank the students for their welcoming smiles, and I thank the leadership team for their support. Although it hasn’t been a long time for me, my experience here has had an enormous impact on shaping me as a leader.
Thank you,
Luke Ferguson
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 of 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 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
Children's Safety at School
At St Thomas More School safety of our students and community is one of our highest priorities. We provide a secure environment that allows the student to move safely around the school. Staff are clearly identified by the badges they wear. As our school is fully secure, with fences around all areas, visitors MUST enter through the front office and sign in upon entering the school. Safety in the yard encourages our students to play actively without fear. each teacher on yard duty, wear a fluorescent vest and carries a bag that contains a first-aid kit for the treatment of minor injuries in the yard whilst more serious injuries are dealt with promptly in the sick room by staff who are trained in senior first aid.
St Thomas More is situated on a main road and on a suburban street, which can make the movement of traffic difficult during peak school drop-off and pick-up times. To ensure that the students are safe during this time teachers are on duty at the school's front, ensuring the safe use of the school crossing on Yorktown Road and safely crossing Shillabeer.
Please ensure children enter through the front office if they are arriving at school late.
No Standing Areas
Please observe these areas to help provide a safe environment for the students. We ask and expect that all members of the St Thomas More community follow the road rules associated with the "School Crossing" (on Yorktown Rd) and all the road signage (both Yorktown Rd & Shillabeer Rd) stringently. They are monitored by the police and council.
Religion
Feast of St. Mary of the Cross Mackillop
On August 8, we celebrated the Feast of St. Mary Mackillop. She was the first saint of Australia and her influence in the country has spread far and wide. She is recognised for her commitment to the poor, helping those who needed it the most in any way she could. Miss Maiello led our school in prayer on Wednesday, focusing on Mary Mackillop and helping us to think about how we can be like Mary Mackillop and help others just as she did.
Northern Regional Assembly
You are invited to attend the Northern Regional Assembly.
The 2023 Regional Assemblies are a continuation of the 2021 and 2022 Diocesan Assemblies and involve a greater number of people at the local level in participation, communion, and mission. The Regional Assemblies offer parishes, communities, and schools an opportunity to engage in mutual listening, developing responses to shared needs, and collaboration for missionary action.
The Regional Assemblies will discern the following questions:
What are we being called to do to participate in the mission of God in this time and place?
What is our shared reality in this part of the Archdiocese?
What are the priorities of each of our local communities?
What are the commonalities across our region? Differences?
What can we work on together? How can we support one another? What are the gifts and strengths of our members and communities that can be shared across our region?
Please find attached a flyer about the Northern Regional Assembly to be held on Saturday, September 2, from 10 am – 3 pm at St. Augustine’s Parish, Salisbury.
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.
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
Practice for Confirmation
Term 3 Week 6 Saturday, September 2, 9.00 am – 10.00 am at St. Ann’s Church
Celebration of Confirmation
Term 3 Week 7 Tuesday, September 12, 7.00 pm – 8.00 pm at St. Ann’s 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
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:
15/8 Feast of the Assumption
21/8 Catholic Schools Open Week
1/9 World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
3/9 Father’s Day
Open Day
Dear Families,St Thomas More Scholl will be hosting an Open Day on Tuesday 22 August, where new families are encouraged to visit between 9 am and 11 am.
This is a great opportunity to promote our school to any of your family or friends who may be interested in joining our school community.
To send this invite to a friend or family member, simply scan the QR code or direct them to our front office for more information.
STEAM
CESA Learning by Design Project
This year we have been working with Makers Empire on a 3D design project. The project involved working on the Makers Empire app to learn how to use 3D design and printing to design solutions to a problem in the school community.
On Thursday Week 2, the 3rd of August Mrs Gosling and Ms Swann took 3 students to a showcase in the city to share our work with other Catholic schools involved in the project. Grace Morphett, Savannah McSwain, and Aquixia Carandang from 3/4 Brown represented our school. They had to share with students and teachers from other schools what their class project was about and answer questions from other students and adults. Our students were confident and well-spoken when answering questions. They showed their knowledge of the Engineering Design process when sharing with others.
Well done to all our future engineers in years 3 and 4 who have worked on this project.
Book Week
Humans of St Thomas More School
Sara Hardy
My name is Sara… and I recently took over as Front Office Administrator here at St Thomas More School. You may recognize my face, as I have been at the School for over 9 years, working as an OSHC educator, before moving into the Front Office in March this year.
This school community has a lot to love about it. Everyone is so encouraging and supportive of each other, allowing you to always be yourself, with no judgement or reservation.
Having a laugh every day with the staff and families that come into the Front Office is a great motivator for me to come to work each day. But even more so, it’s being a support for the children when they need comfort.
Something that people might not know about me, is that I played rugby for 12 years or so …although I fear I am a bit too old for that nowadays.
I am absolutely loving my new role in the office, getting to know all the new families and children outside of OSHC. Catch you all next time you’re in the front office…
Pupil Free Days
Community House
You're 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
August 12-20
National Science Week
August 15
Feast of the Assumption
August 21
Catholic Schools Open Week
September 1
World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation
September 3
Father’s Day
Raising Hearts and Minds
