TERM 1 - WEEK 3
Cover Page - 5/6 Morrison
Over the first 2 weeks of school, 5/6CM have been focusing on developing a positive, growth mindset towards school and our learning. We have looked at our personal traits and where we show strength, and how we can change the way we think to improve and succeed in areas we find difficult. As leaders of the school, we focused on our school Mercy Values and what they mean to us. We brainstormed ways we can model these kinds, caring and positive behaviours and mindsets in our classroom and the school yard.
In 5/6CM we can show the Mercy value of:
JUSTICE: by being fair, standing up for what is right, telling the truth and being honest
COMPASSION: by letting everyone join in, showing kindness, thinking about others feelings, celebrating differences, being inclusive
SERVICE: by donating to charities, including everyone, taking care of our environment, making a difference.
RESPECT: by listen when someone is talking, manners, respecting yourself, others and the environment
HOSPITALITY: by welcoming new people to our community, using our manners, accepting others and our differences, sharing, being kind
COURAGE: by being yourself, facing new challenges, trying new things, standing up for yourself, having no fear to make mistakes and keep learning
5/6 M - Mercy Value Photos
Leadership
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Students and friends of St Thomas More School community,
The school year has started in an exciting way with the movement of classrooms, maintenance around the school and renovations to the Year 5/6 classroom. When I think of St Thomas More, Elizabeth Park, I immediately think of a treasure chest filled with many precious gems, some old and some new. Yet constantly being added to at all times.
The largest gem in the treasure chest is HOPE. Where every student, parent, staff member, parishioner and community member is a person of great worth and significance because they are made in the image of God and called to greatness.
There are lots of smaller, yet just as precious gems made up from HISTORY. These are the many families who have served the St Thomas More School community over many years. The Sisters of Mercy, Parish Priests, past Principals, staff all have served and added to the wealth of this treasure.
And then there are the many brightly glowing gems that are made up from our COMMUNITY today. These are the life-giving gems where the stress is on growth and development, on relationships and on learning with and for each other underpinned by an ethic of care and co-operation. These are the very ‘strong, loving and wise’ gems that have much to offer. They focus on high expectations of conduct, effort and achievement. They go out of their way to reach out to others, to be inclusive.
All of these gems are encased in a special treasure chest that is called the Catholic Church. This strong religious culture gives structure as well as nurturing the precious gems within.
My hope is that the brightness of these gems continues to glow as strong as ever, where we as partners in the education of children at St Thomas More School, support the common vision of our community which is built around SHARED VALUES (what we hold to be important) and SHARED DREAMS (our optimism for the future). This shared vision will promote excellence in our contemporary Catholic education.
May we embrace with enthusiasm the future, cherish the relationships and celebrate this precious community.
PARENT MEET AND GREET
Thank you to the families who attended the Parent Meet & Greet evening. The feedback was very positive and we are very much looking forward to the school year ahead. If you were unable to attend, I ask you to make contact with your child’s teacher to organise a time to meet.
SHROVE TUESDAY
Shrove Tuesday is the day before Lent starts on Ash Wednesday. The name Shrove comes from the old English word 'Shriven' meaning to go to confession to say sorry for the wrong things you've done. Lent always starts on a Wednesday, so people went to confessions on the day before. This became known as Shriven Tuesday and then Shrove Tuesday.
The other name for this day, Pancake Day, comes from the old English custom of using up all the fattening ingredients in the house before Lent, so that people were ready to fast during Lent. The fattening ingredients that most people had in their houses in those days were eggs and milk. A very simple recipe to use up these ingredients was to combine them with some flour and make pancakes!
Next Tuesday (16 February), please join us from 8.30 am for pancakes – cooked by staff!
CHINESE NEW YEAR - THE YEAR OF THE OX STARTS ON FEBRUARY 12
Chinese New Year is the first day of the New Year in the Chinese calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar. It is also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year. Every year is represented by a zodiac animal sign. The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar that is used to determine important festival dates, such as Lunar New Year.
Lunisolar Calendar
The Chinese calendar is lunisolar. It is based on exact astronomical observations of the Sun's longitude and the Moon's phases. It attempts to have its years coincide with the tropical year and shares some similarities with the Jewish calendar.
In both these calendars, a common year has 12 months and a leap year has 13 months; and an ordinary year has 353–355 days while a leap year has 383–385 days.
STUDENT PUNCTUALITY AND ATTENDANCE
When children begin school they develop learning habits. These learning habits continue to develop throughout each learning year and these habits can affect learning achievements. Two important habits and life skills are attendance and punctuality. Very few people can argue with the correlation between attendance and school achievement. There is empirical evidence at a state, national and international level to prove that this relationship is true but, closer to home, our own achievement data and student report information clearly demonstrate that, as a general rule, the more time students spend at school, the better they will do.
We need to maximise every day to get full value – this means turning up to school every day and on time. When students arrive late and take time to settle, valuable learning time is lost. When students are absent from school they miss work (which they seldom makeup) and also miss important interactions with their peers.
It is now commonplace for children to stay away from school for reasons that would have been unheard of 20 years ago. These include:
- Their own or a sibling’s birthday
- Stayed up too late watching TV
- Going shopping for clothes
- An extended long weekend
- Not wishing to participate in a sports day, special school event or excursion
This sends a strong message to children that their parents neither value learning nor the school experiences. It is difficult to resist the persistent pressure that children can exert on parents, but parents need to be strong and send their children to school every day, on time, and ready to make the most of school experiences.
In conclusion, it is reassuring to know that parents increase their children’s chances of future success just by making sure they turn up to school every day. This important habit and regular school attendance also prepares young people for the workforce where it is expected that they turn up each day ready for work! For absentee notification, please ring the front office by 9.30 am.
ARRIVAL TIME
It has been brought to my attention that several children are arriving at school after the morning bell. This is very disruptive for classes and not a good beginning for the child. We understand that on occasions things do not run smoothly at home or travelling to school but we stress the importance of arriving at school between 8.30am - 8.45am to ensure that classes can begin promptly at 8.50 am. Parents too should be clear of classrooms by 8.50 am or move out of classrooms as soon as they hear the bell. If we truly value children’s learning then we must make the most of every minute of their classroom learning time! Gates will be opened at 8.30am and locked at 9.00am in the morning and re-opened at 2.45pm and locked at 3.20pm in the afternoon.
2021 RECEPTION ENROLMENTS
Places are available. If you have or if you know of anyone who has a child turning 5 before May 1, 2021, please complete and lodge an enrolment form at the Front Office.
2021 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, 2021, please complete and lodge an enrolment form at the Front Office.
Working in Partnership
Chris Platten, Vicki Rubino, Melissa Musolino, Leah Williams
Come and Try School at St Thomas More
TUESDAY 9 MARCH - 9.30am to 10.30am
All welcome to join us for a morning to familiarise children Under 5 years & their parents/caregivers with the primary school environment in a nurturing and supportive way.
Cost & obligation FREE. Bring your hat, water bottle & morning tea.
Religion
Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday & Lent
Next Wednesday we enter into a new liturgical season in the Catholic Church, the season of Lent. This season lasts for forty days and forty nights. On Tuesday we celebrate Shrove Tuesday. This is a big party day for many Catholics around the world and is celebrated in different ways. Some refer to it as Pancake Day, Mardi Gras, or Carnevale. In preparation for Lent, Catholics would use up foods that they were not permitted to consume during Lent. This included eggs, fat and rich foods.
The marking of ashes on Ash Wednesday is a reminder for us all to walk with Jesus during the season of Lent, to say sorry for the times we have hurt others and aim to become more loving as we work to put others' needs before our own. Due to Covid19 restrictions in place, students will not receive ashes on their foreheads this year. Each child will receive a badge to wear to symbolise the ashes.
As Ash Wednesday begins the Season of Lent, we are reminded that it is a special time when we stop and think about how we can play our part in God’s hope for a world that is fair, just and peaceful. Through prayer, fasting and almsgiving we take the focus from ourselves and instead focus on our relationship with God. ’
Project Compassion 2021
Each year Project Compassion brings together thousands of Australians in schools, parishes and the community to stand in solidarity with the world’s most vulnerable communities, to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. This year, the theme of Project Compassion is “Be More.” It challenges us to venture into a new experience of compassion, and is taken from the invitation of Saint Oscar Romero, to “Aspire not to have more, but to be more.” This message invites us to step up and step out for those who do not have the essential resources they need for their survival.
From Ash Wednesday you will see Project Compassion boxes in each classroom and the front office.
Elizabeth Catholic Parish Sacramental Program
The Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist form the Sacraments of Christian Initiation. On Friday, February 26 from 5.30pm – 6.30pm, the Elizabeth Catholic Parish will hold a Parent Information Session for the 2021 Sacrament Program. If your child is 9 years of age (or older) and would like to be involved in this program, please contact Melissa Musolino for more information.
mmusolino@sttmore.catholic.edu.au
World Compliment Day
When was the last time someone gave you a genuine compliment? Not just one of those things that people say to fill the awkward silence but an actual, legitimate compliment? Do you recall the way it made your day and made you feel appreciated? It’s a lovely feeling, right?!
People like to be appreciated and are often even motivated by it. Studies have shown that people who receive compliments on their work are much more likely to improve their performance than those who are not complimented. Beneficiaries of compliments may also show improved social interaction as well as an increased measure of overall happiness.
For those who want to have a positive impact on the world, giving a compliment is a powerful and easy tool! Remember, though, that empty compliments are meaningless, so it’s best for compliments to be genuine.
World Compliment Day is the ideal time to share that feeling of well-being with the people in the world around you. There is nothing better than knowing that you make a difference in other people’s lives and that what you do matters. Giving a compliment to someone on this day is an easy way to begin!
HOW TO CELEBRATE WORLD COMPLIMENT DAY
Giving compliments might seem difficult at first, but it doesn’t have to be! Really, it’s just a matter of observing something good about another person and then communicating it to them. Consider these different ways to celebrate World Compliment Day with friends, family, coworkers, neighbors and even strangers.
- Give verbal compliments (Obviously!)
- Send a card or note
- Thank service people
SHARE THE PASSION
In today’s fast-paced world, taking the time to compliment those around us is an art that should be passed down to our children so that it isn’t lost in between generations. World Compliment Day is an ideal opportunity to teach children the way to be sincere in paying attention to other people. It is also a good time to teach them to appreciate those around them and to not take the people in their lives for granted.
It is important to be creative and ask about other areas of life where a compliment could go a long way. People in education, medical professionals, and public servants are just a few other areas in which compliments might be effective. With a little thought, it is sure to reveal itself who in life could use a boost!
Elizabeth Community Connections
Playgroup and ELY
Brain Teasers
Can you solve them?
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.
School Banking
School Banking at our school is on Wednesdays.
For every deposit made at school, students will receive a silver Dollarmites token. Once students have individually collected 10 tokens they can redeem them for an exclusive School Banking reward item in recognition of their regular savings habits.
School Banking is also a great fundraiser for our school. Our school receives a Regular Savers Contribution of $5 for every 10 deposits processed per student as well as an Annual Contribution which is based on the number of students who made at least one School Banking deposit in the prior year.
If your child has lost their book, please contact your School Banking Co-ordinator for a replacement or visit any CommBank Branch.
If you would like to know more about School Banking, please ask for a 2020 School Banking program information pack from the school office or visit www.commbank.com.au/sbc
Advance Notice
Every Tuesday
Parent Coffee/Tea chat 8:30am in Jubilee Hall - Postponed
ECC Playgroup 9:15am to 11:15am
Principal's Tour (first Tuesday of the month) 10:00am - By appointment only
Every Wednesday
ECC Early Learning Years (ELY) 9:15am to 11:15am
School Banking
February 15 -17
Year 5/6 Camp @ Narnu Farm
February 16
Shrove Tuesday
February 17
Ash Wednesday
February 22
World Thinking Day
February 23
School Carnevale Mask Parade
February 26
Catholic Schools Cricket Carnival - Year 5/6
March 1
Schools Clean-Up Day
World Compliment Day
March 8
Adelaide Cup Holiday
March 9
3/4 Maiello & 3/4 Morgado Class Mass
March 12
Pupil Free Day
March 15-21
Harmony Week
March 17
St. Patrick's Day
March 18
Andrew Chinn
March 19
St. Joseph's Day
March 28
Palm Sunday
Raising Hearts and Minds
