St Thomas More School Newsletter - Term 1, Week 9 2024
Our Newsletter | 2024
Receptions put on a perfect Palm Sunday performance
As part of our Holy Week Performance, all three reception classes came together to perform a re-enactment of Palm Sunday. Our students worked very hard to make sure that everything was perfect for the performance. As part of our performance, we sang the song “Cloaks and Branches”. Students were very excited to show off their hard work and were so proud of themselves. We hoped you enjoyed our performance as much as we enjoyed putting it together.
Sharing our future together,
Miss Brittney, Miss Theodosi and Miss Haros
Reception Teachers
A Message from our Leadership
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Students, and Friends of St Thomas More,
Welcome everyone to Week 9 of Term 1.
Last Sunday all Catholic and Christian Churches across the world celebrated Palm Sunday. This celebration signals the beginning of Holy Week, where we journey along with Jesus through the last week of his life, which culminates in his death and resurrection on Easter Sunday. It is a time for us to reflect on the great gift of love Jesus bestowed upon us as well as on our own lives as we seek ways to become more like him. As we do this, we are ensuring that we show our love and respect towards others by being welcoming, accepting, supportive and forgiving.
“We proclaim the resurrection of Christ”, says Pope Francis, “when his light illuminates the dark moments of our existence, and we are able share it with others; when we know when to smile with those who smile, and weep with those who weep; when we accompany those who are sad and at risk of losing hope; when we recount our experience of Faith to those who are searching for meaning and happiness…and there - with our attitude, with our witness, with our life - we say ‘Jesus is Risen,’ with our soul.”
During this very significant week our students have participated in various activities and prayers in the lead up to Easter Sunday. On Easter Sunday, we celebrate the mystery of the Resurrection, proclaim our faith and hope, and give thanks for these gifts
We wish you all a blessed Easter Sunday and a happy, safe weekend with your families and friends.
Shaping our future together,
The Leadership Team
Staff Announcements
Farwell Taylor Meyer
It is with a great deal of sadness that we farewell one of our treasured staff members this week. Taylor Meyer will conclude her role as Leader of Teaching and Learning on Thursday and commence her new role as Principal of St Joseph’s School Peterborough next Tuesday.
We thank Taylor for her dedicated work, commitment to excellence and unwavering support. She has been an exceptional mentor and role model, inspiring others to strive for greatness. We wish Taylor all the very best in her future endeavors.
Welcome Matthew McGinty and Michael Clifford
This term we welcomed Matthew McGinty to the role of Leader of Learning: Wellbeing. Matthew is working at St Thomas More School from Monday to Wednesday and at St Mary Magdalene’s School on Thursdays and Fridays.
Next week we welcome Michael Clifford to the role of Leader of Teaching and Learning at St Thomas More School.
We look forward to working with both leaders as they bring a high level of expertise to their roles, and we trust that their time with us is a rewarding and fruitful experience.
Welcome to our new Co-educators
We also welcomed three new co-educators to our St Thomas More school community. Julie Benham, Aston Smith and Sarah Adeli bring with them a wealth of knowledge and skills to their roles and have established many positive relationships with members of our school community. We appreciate the wonderful contributions they have already made to supporting our students in their learning journeys.
Year 5/6 Camp
Last week our Year 5/6 students attended a three-day camp at Woodhouse Adventure Park.
The students engaged in a variety of activities including team challenges, hiking, geocaching, disc golf and challenge hill just to name a few. The camp was a wonderful opportunity for students to build and strengthen the connections and relationships they share with each other and with staff.
It's easy to see from the photos captured at Camp that the children had a wonderful time, creating lifelong memories of a treasured time.
Volunteers
A reminder that we will be holding volunteer induction sessions at the following dates and times so if you would like to attend one, please contact our Front Office on 7285 1500 / info@sttmore.catholic.edu.au to book in:
- Thursday 4 April at 9 am
- Monday 8 April at 9 am
- Tuesday 9 April at 9 am
- Wednesday 10 April at 2.15 pm
- Thursday 11 April at 2.15 pm
How can I become a volunteer?
If you are interested in volunteering at our school, we ask that you contact our Front Office to let them know. They will then be able to give you more information about the following four-steps to becoming a registered volunteer that will require completion:
- A Volunteer Application Form
- WWCC – Working with children check
- Participate in our Induction course (available throughout the year)
- Undertake RRHAN training for voulnteers
We value your contribution to our school community and support of the many events we have planned for this year.
Sports Day
We remind you that our whole school sports day this year will be held on the last day of Term 1. Please join us on Friday 12 April to cheer on our students in the various events they will be participating in and support our wonderful sports teams. Click the link below for more information about Sports Day 2024.
Qkr! App now on Android
As many families have been aware, there has been a delay in the Qkr! App being available on Android smart phone and tablets. We are happy to announce that this has now been resolved! Parents and Caregivers can now download the App from the Google Play Store. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Faith and Community
Liturgical Calendar Information
A Liturgical Calendar shows the cycle of seasons in the Catholic Church. The Church year consists of six liturgical seasons: Advent, Christmas, Ordinary Time after Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary Time after Pentecost. In each newsletter we aim to highlight different events in the Liturgical Calendar that we might be focusing on or celebrating in our school.
Special celebrations that we focus on during classroom and whole school prayer throughout term 1 and those that come up in our liturgical calendar include:
Week 9
- 24th March - Palm Sunday
- 28th March - Holy Thursday
- 29th March - Good Friday
Week 10
- 31st March - Easter Sunday
For more important dates, please view our School Calendar for Term 1 2024.
Holy Week
This week our school community celebrated the events of Holy Week to learn more about Jesus’ death and resurrection. In prayer, students shared through story and song, what happened on Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, and Good Friday. When we return to school after the Easter weekend, we will celebrate the story of the Resurrection. See photos included in this newsletter of our celebrations.
In preparation for the retelling of the events of Holy Thursday, Year 2 D’occhio have been in deep discussion. They reflected on the question, what do you think, Jesus, Judas and the disciples would have been thinking at the Last Supper?
Karta said he thought the disciples might have been thinking, ‘Who is it dear Lord Jesus, who really is it.’ He thought Judas might have been thinking, ‘When is Jesus going to be dead’. He thought Jesus might have been thinking, ‘I’m worried about how they are going to kill me.
Students in all year levels have been engaging in activities about the events of Holy Week to deepen their understanding.
We invite you to join us
Will be celebrating Easter Sunday and the resurrection as a whole school on Tuesday April 2, 2024 at 12 noon.
Caritas Project Compassion - Walk for Water
During term 1 each year, we aim to raise money to support the work of CARITAS through Project Compassion. The theme of Project Compassion 2024 is ‘For All Future Generations’. It is an expression of hope and reminds us that the good that we do today will extend and impact the lives of generations to come. It invites us to make the world a better place by working together now and finding long term solutions to global issues.
We have been reading about Leaia’s Story. Leaia and her family live in Samoa. When their water ran out, Leaia and her children had to collect water in containers from a neighbour down the street. The children would have to take several breaks as the buckets were very heavy for them to lift. To show our support for Leaia’s family and for other families around the world in a similar situation, and to raise much needed funds for Project Compassion, we will be holding a ‘Walk for Water’ event on Friday May 3, where students will complete laps of the oval while carrying buckets and containers of water. We are hoping that you will support us by donating funds to Project Compassion. Look out for more information via Seesaw.
Sacrament Program
For those families who have enrolled in the program, please be aware of the following date:
- Eucharist Workshop Session 2
Saturday, 13th April | 9 am - 11 am | St Thomas More Church (19 Laverstock Rd, Elizabeth North)
Students involved in the Sacrament Program have completed two family workshops with a focus on Baptism and First Eucharist. I invite you to pray for the following students in our school, who, with their families have chosen to complete the Sacraments of Initiation process and become full members of the Catholic Church.
Evie and Ejike
We look forward to walking alongside them as they complete their learning journey.
Important Dates and Events
March 29 |Good Friday - Public Holiday
March 31 | Easter Sunday
April 1 | Easter Monday - Public Holiday
April 5 | Assembly, 9 am - Hosted by RSH
Apri 9 | Ramadan Ends - Eid al-Fitr
April 12 | Sports Day and Last Day of Term 1
April 29 | First Day of Term 2
Upcoming Rennovations
Please be aware that the administration building at St Thomas More School will be undergoing some renovations during the Term break. It is intended that there will be minor disruption for families and students during Term 2. We will update you with any progress as it happens.
Out-of-School Hours Care (OSHC)
2024 OSHC runs daily from 6:30am to 8:30am and 3:00pm to 6:00pm. To make a booking, please call our OSHC Director on 7285 155 / 0409 551 699.
Birthdays!
At St Thomas More School we like to take any opportunity we can to celebrate and eat cake! Let's take a look at the special students who celebrate their birthdays in March this year...
Kayson P
Keenan O
Bentley M
Matthew F-J
Jascilla G
Hunter G
Sophia O
Bianca L
Thomas M
Zoraya T
Leo D
Tobias G
Malaky M
Bridget P
Jack S
Jake S
Matilda C
School Life
Safety Before and After School
For the safety of our students the following yard safety protocols have been implemented:
- Before School:
- Gates open at 8.30am
- Students attending before this time will be placed in OSHC and this will also incur a fee
- Students and parents/caregivers meet in the courtyard.
- Play areas are out of bounds - these include playgrounds, nature play space, ovals and basketball courts.
- School bell rings at 8.45am and students should move to their meeting areas to meet with their teachers.
- Parents/caregivers should leave the school grounds before the gates are locked at 9am.
- After School:
- Gates open at 2.50pm
- School bell rings at 3.00pm and students are dismissed from their classes
- Play areas are also out of bounds after school.
- Gates will be closed at 3.10pm.
Teachers have discussed and practiced the procedures involved with these protocols so that the students are very familiar with these. We thank you for your support in following them contributing to a safe and orderly start and finish to the school day.
Absentee Process
If your child is not going to be at school for any reason, you must inform the school by:
- Phone (before 9:00am): 7285 1500
- Schoolzine / Szapp / School Website (before 9am)
In a case where you know your child will be absent the following day please inform your child's teacher and the Front Office directly.
If a student’s name appears on the class roll as Absent without a verified explanation, our Front Office will send an SMS to a parent’s/caregiver’s mobile to confirm the absence, and the absence will be followed up asap.
Late Arrival Procedures
If a student arrives late (after 9am) they must report directly to the Front Office to receive a Late Card. Failure to do so may result in being marked as absent and may mean that an SMS is sent to the parent’s/caregiver’s mobile phone.