TERM 4 - WEEK 3
Front Cover - Rec Haros
During Term Four the Reception children will be looking at Measurement and Geometry. We have started looking at TIME and have brainstormed all the places you might find a clock! Some children have clocks in their kitchen and loungeroom and we even have a clock in our classroom. We have discussed how important “Time” is to everyone and we need to be able to read the time.
The students had fun making their own clocks and they also made a clock tower in pairs using recycled materials. We then had a competition to see who made the tallest “Clock Tower” and the winners were Ariel and Georgia!!!
Much fun was had by all the children creating their “Clock Towers” in pairs.
Leadership
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Students, and Friends of St Thomas More,
We have several school events occurring this term that we are looking forward to and listed are the dates and times to include on your calendars:
Friday 10 November – 9.15am Remembrance Day Liturgy. All families are invited to attend.
Tuesday 21 November, 28 November, 5 December – 9.15am 2024 Reception Transition Visits
Friday 24 November – SPORTS DAY
Friday 1 December - Christmas Carols Night. 5pm start with a sausage sizzle. 6pm classes perform.
Please bring chairs and/or picnic rugs.
Tuesday 5 December – 12pm End of Year Thanksgiving Mass.
All families are invited to attend.
Thursday 7 December – Yr 6 Graduation Dinner. Time to be advised.
Monday 11 December – 6pm Yr 6 Graduation Liturgy
Wednesday 13 December – Last day for the school year.
Further information will be corresponded to you before these events.
2024 Class Placements
Staff have begun to plan for next year including class allocation for students. At this time of the year, parents and caregivers may become anxious about their child’s placement for the ensuing year. Our experience suggests that children do adjust to their new teacher and settle into a productive year in that class with transition supports in place.
Catering to each child’s individual needs is of the utmost importance and therefore staff spend much time considering the educational and well-being needs of the children within the practical constraints of numbers of children, numbers of teachers, etc, in the process of allocating children to classes.
Parents and caregivers, you are welcome to write to the school regarding particular learning needs or particular social and peer group needs your child may have. All correspondence regarding information for 2024 class placements should be addressed to the Principal and be received by Friday 10 November 2023.
2024 Reception Enrolments and Transition Visits
This is a reminder that we have some spaces available for 2024 Reception enrolments.
The criteria for starting Reception on the first day of school in Term 1 is that the children will have turned 5 before 1 May 2024. If you have a child who is eligible to start school, please complete and lodge an enrolment form at the Front Office. If you are aware of another family who has a child eligible to start school and is considering St. Thomas More School, please encourage them to contact the front office. Our transition program for 2024 Reception students will occur this term in weeks 6, 7, and 8 providing them with the opportunity to meet and get to know their teacher and peers.
School Routine Reminders
School Start - School starts at 8.45am. Yard duty begins at 8.30am, if students arrive before this time, they will need to attend OSHC. It is crucial that students arrive before 8.45am so that they are 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 8.45am 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 3pm, if you cannot collect your child by 3.10pm 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.
PLEASE OBSERVE THE ‘NO STANDING’ AREAS AND ‘YELLOW LINES’ AROUND THE SCHOOL. These areas are designated to help provide a safe environment for the students. We ask and expect that all members of the St Thomas More School community follow the road rules associated with the ‘School Crossing’ (on Yorktown Rd) and all road signage (both Yorktown Rd and Shillabeer Rd) stringently to ensure everyone’s safety. These areas are also monitored by the police and council.
Sun Smart
In line with our Sun Smart school policy, all students are required to wear their hats next term. Please ensure that your child has a school hat, labelled with their name to wear. If students do not have a hat, they will need to remain under the shelter area during sports and play times. We thank you for your support with this.
Shaping our future together
Leadership Team
Pupil Free Days
Religion
All Saints and All Souls Day
This week we celebrated All Saints Day and All Souls Day with a liturgy led by Reception Theodosi, Reception Harros, and Reception Arnold. Students told us:
‘We are all saints in the making. This means that God has an important mission for every one of us. Saints are role models for us. We look to them as examples of ways to live like Jesus. There are many saints in heaven with God but there are also saints living amongst us.’
Remembrance Day
Next week, Year 3/4 Jessop, Year 3/4 Fischer, and Year 3/4 Brown will lead our Remembrance Day service. As Remembrance Day falls on a Saturday this year, they will lead this service on Friday, November 10 at 9am. Please see the flyer included.
Signs and Symbols of our Catholic Faith
On our prayer tables throughout the school, we place a candle. Candles remind us of Jesus, the living light of the world. In our churches, you will always see candles on the altar. These candles are lit only during Mass. We also light small votive candles in our churches as a sign of our own prayers.
Liturgical Calendar Information
Special celebrations that we focus on during classroom and whole school prayer throughout term 4 and those that come up in our liturgical calendar include:
1/11 All Saints Day
2/11 All Souls Day
11/11 Remembrance Day
11/11 Catherine McAuley Day
13/11 World Kindness Day
20/11 Universal Children’s Day
26/11 Feast of Christ the King
3/12 1st Sunday of Advent
10/12 2nd Sunday of Advent
Elizabeth Catholic Parish News
Please see below for the link to the weekly parish bulletin.
https://elizabethcatholicparish.com.au/bulletin/
Sacramental Program
We have now come to the end of our Sacramental Program for 2023. If your child would like to be involved in the Sacramental Program for 2024 or you would like to find out more about the program, please see Melissa Musolino.
Christmas Carols
School of Languages
Message from SA Police
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
November 1 - 30
World Novel Writing Month
November 2
International Stress Awareness Day
November 10
Remembrance Day Liturgy 9.15am
November 6 - 12
National Recycling Month
November 11
Remembrance Day
November, 21, 28 November, December 5
2024 Reception Transition Visits 9.15am
November 24
SPORTS DAY
Raising Hearts and Minds
