TERM 4 - WEEK 7
Front Cover - 5/6 Carritt & O'Leary
Congratulations
To our year 6 students on your successful completion of primary school. The best way to predict your future is to create it!
- Thursday 7 December – Yr 6 Graduation Dinner.
- Monday 11 December – Yr 6 Graduation Liturgy - 6 pm.
Leadership
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Students, and Friends of St Thomas More,
What a busy and fast-paced term it has been, it is hard to believe that we are very near the closing end of the school year. We have a few more school events coming up which we are looking forward to and listed are the dates and times for these:
- Friday 1 December - Christmas Carols Night. 5:30 pm start with a sausage sizzle.
Please bring chairs and/or picnic rugs. - Tuesday 5 December – 12 pm End of Year Thanksgiving Mass. All families are invited to attend.
- Wednesday 6 December – SPORTS DAY
- Thursday 7 December – Yr 6 Graduation Dinner.
- Monday 11 December – 6pm Yr 6 Graduation Liturgy.
- Wednesday 13 December – Last day for the school year.
Christmas Carols Evening
All the classes have been busy practising their performance for Friday evening, and everyone is very excited about this event. We would like to acknowledge and thank the following people for their contributions in preparing for and ensuring a successful evening is enjoyed by all. Many thanks to
- Mrs Theodosi for organising our Carols night.
- Miss Maiello, Miss Morrison & Miss Trimboli for organising invitations, schedules, and brochures.
- Mrs Arnold for organising drinks in the canteen.
- Miss Jessop and Miss Fischer for organising the tickets and sausage sizzle.
- Our MCs for the evening – Miss Meyer, Ellie Thomas, and Daniel Cela
- All the staff running the canteen and cooking the sausage sizzle.
- All staff and students for all of their hard work and dedication.
Sports Day
We look forward to holding our Sports Day next Wednesday 6 December. The weather forecast for this day is looking perfect. Please remember to apply sunscreen, wear a hat, and stay hydrated on the day as the weather will be on the warmer side. We apologise again for the changes in dates for Sports Day due to the weather and thank you for your understanding and flexibility. We look forward to an enjoyable day and seeing you there.
Student Reports
Teachers have been very busy writing student reports, and we are currently in the process of finalising them. Student reports will be sent home on Monday 11 December. A letter will accompany the reports to let you know which class your child will be in for 2024 and the class teacher they will have.
Student Transitions
On Tuesday 12 December, we are holding a whole school transition. This will occur at 1.45 pm – 2.45 pm. During this time students will have the opportunity to meet with their class teacher and their peers as well as familiarise themselves with their learning space for 2024.
Student Information Checklists
We are currently preparing a Student Information Checklist for every student currently enrolled at STM. The purpose of this checklist is to ensure we have the most up-to-date information for each student on file. Last week you received an envelope that contained:
- A Cover Letter
- Student Information Checklist (containing all current information)
- Change of Personal Details Form (to complete if you need to update any details).
We thank you for returning these forms promptly.
2024 Reception Transition Program
Our transition program has been running smoothly with many children excited about starting school next year.
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 for further information.
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
The Feast of Christ the King
Last Sunday was the celebration of the Feast of Christ the King in the church. It is the last Sunday of the Church’s liturgical year. The feast focuses on Jesus as King. Not a king of power but a king of compassion, kindness, and love. As we prepare to head into the season of Advent next Sunday, we are reminded to see the face of Jesus in everyone we meet and work to be compassionate, forgiving, kind and loving to all.
Advent
This coming Sunday will begin the season of Advent. Advent is a season to prepare for Christmas when Christ’s first coming is remembered. It is a season of joyful expectation. We take this time every year to practice how to receive Jesus every day, of our lives. We remember the call of Jesus to his followers to make our world a peaceful and loving place.
Advent reminds us of the sacred meaning of Christmas. It is the period of four Sundays and weeks before Christmas. Advent means ‘coming’ – this is the coming of Jesus into the world.
We use the colour purple on our prayer space as we wait in joyful hope to celebrate the birth of Jesus, our king and, light of our world.
Being Church Together
On November 17, leadership in Catholic Schools joined with parish priests and pastoral associates for the launch of the document, Being Church Together: a Theology, Vision and Guiding Principles for the Parish-School Relationship. This document is a key resource on re-imagining and strengthening the Parish–School relationship and providing some space for diving into the resource and planning next steps. Being Church Together is an invitation to the whole Parish, both the worshipping community and Catholic schools to envision new possibilities and enable further conversation regarding School – Parish relationship.
Classroom Learning
This term, students in 3/4 Fischer have been learning about various celebrations in the Catholic Church through the Liturgical Calendar. Students were asked to choose a celebration to research and reflect on its importance to the Catholic Church.
Signs and Symbols of our Catholic Faith: Advent Wreath and Candles
The wreath and candles are full of symbolism tied to the Christmas season. The wreath itself, which is made of various evergreens, signifies continuous life. The circle of the wreath, which has no beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God and the everlasting life we find in Christ. The candles also have their own special significance. The four candles represent the four weeks of Advent, and one candle is lit each Sunday leading up to Christmas. Three of the candles are purple because the colour violet is a liturgical colour that signifies a time of prayer, penance, and sacrifice.
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:
3/12 1st Sunday of Advent
10/12 2nd Sunday of Advent
End-of-Year Thanksgiving Mass
Please join us to celebrate our end-of-year Mass and blessing of our Year 6 students on December 5, at 12 noon in the Jubilee Hall.
Christmas Carols
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.
Adelaide Strikers
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
December 1
CHRISTMAS CAROLS NIGHT
December 5
2024 Reception Transition Visit
End-of-Year Thanksgiving Mass
December 6
SPORTS DAY
December 7
Year 6 Graduation Dinner
December 11
Year 6 Graduation Liturgy.
December 13
Last day of the school year.
Raising Hearts and Minds
