St Thomas More School Newsletter - Term 2, Week 5 2024
Our Newsletter | 2024
REC/SH are settled in and applying their learnt skills!
Our Reception students in REC/SH have well and truly settled into Term 2, and are consolidating all their new learnt skills.
We love reading story books every day and they especially love writing about these stories.
The reception students are now beginning to write words on their own and they love illustrating their work and making their own books as authors and illustrators.
They have been learning about:
- Books! Each week we focus on a new book, the Book of the Week is "The Gruffalo"
- Time! They now can tell the difference between analogue and digital clocks.
- Religion! During these lessons we looked at Churches around the World.
I’m so looking forward to seeing the wonderful work they produce as their minds absorb all the information they are learning.
Shaping the future together,
Stavroula Haros
Reception Teacher
A note from our Leadership
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Students, and Friends of St Thomas More School Community,
Week 5 - a week of Reconciliation and Cultural Awareness
Last Sunday was National Sorry Day, marking the beginning of Reconciliation Week. In respect of this important week, students and teachers have been engaging in a variety of activities to enhance cultural awareness. Moreover, NAIDOC Week is coming up at the end of the term and preperations for this significant week are already underway. Further information about this will be communicated to families throughout our various communication channels.
Parent/Caregiver Survey - link is out now!
This week we begun providing families with a survey to complete, with the intent to seek important feedback that will contribute to further developing our relationships with families as well as the wellbeing and learning of our students.
We thank the families who have already completed the survey.
If you have not had the opportunity to engage with the survey yet, we ask that you please consider providing us with your valuable feedback. You can access the survey by link below, or scanning the QR Code with another device.
St Thomas More School
Parent/Caregiver Survey
Please take 10 minutes to complete our survey and
go in the draw to WIN a family prize!
Entries close 12 June 2024
Student Wellbeing – Classroom Pulse Check In
Each term in Weeks 5 and 6, all students in Catholic Education schools complete a Classroom Pulse Check In.
The purpose of the check in is to learn about how students are feeling about their experience at school with a focus on identity, belonging, relationships and learning. Every student in our school matters and their identity, sense of belonging, relationships and opportunities for learning are paramount for their success. Through analysing the student survey responses, we can monitor how individual students are progressing and identify areas they may need further support in to enable them to thrive as people, learners and leaders.
Australian Early Development Census - AEDC
Our school will take part in the AEDC this term. The AEDC is a national census that is conducted every three years by the Australian Government, in partnership with state and territory governments. It measures how children have developed by the time they start their first year of full-time school.
The AEDC is voluntary, and it does not measure how well children are doing at school, nor how their school compares to other schools. Instead, it shows how children are growing and progressing in five key areas, what is being done well and what can be improved. AEDC data is used by schools, early childhood organisations, researchers and governments to help plan and improve services and supports for children and families. This is why it is important for all children in their first year of school to be included in the AEDC. Further information has been provided to our families with children in a Reception class and you can learn more about the ways AEDC data is used at https://www.aedc.gov.au/.
Shaping our future together,
Leadership Team
Reconciliation Week
Thank you!
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our staff, students and families for all efforts during Reconciliation Week. Our students spent time this week learning and developing their understandings of First Nations cultures and stories, and we're so proud of them.
'Wear it Yellow'
Today, was a sea of YELLOW across our school grounds as the students and teachers showed support of "Children's Ground" charity. Children's Ground is about supporting a bright future for First Nations children and families, and all money raised will be donated to this cause.
You can read more about this here; About - Wear it Yellow 2024
Our children raised $130 today, and here is what that money could go towards:
- $45.00 can support educational resources in a child's first language
- $65.00 can support a child's transport to on-Country learning days, surrounded by family, culture and community.
- $105.00 - Can support nutrition programs to give children a healthy start.
What does Reconciliation Week mean to you?
We invite you to view the video link below, where some of our students have braved the camera to tell us what Reconciliation Week means to them. We're so proud of their compassion, empathy and understanding of this important issue.
Vacation Care Bookings
As we approach Week 6 it is time to begin planning care for your children during the term break.
Our Vacation Care programs can be viewed below. To make a booking for your child, please phone our Director, Cheryl Bielby on 7285 1555 or 0409 551 699.
Kids Who Cook!
Our Co-educators run Cooking Classes from time to time - and the students absolutely love them.
To be able to offer this class to a few more students, our school is in need of some essential items that any chef couldn't do without! If you have any extra of the following items lying around the house, please donate to the school if you can:
- Cooking utensils
- Pots and Pans
- Aprons
Year 4-6 | Soccer and Netball Carnivals
On Thursday 16 May, 56 of our Year 4 to 6 students participated in the Regional Catholic Schools Netball and Soccer Carnival at Argana Park.
The round-robin competition allowed students to develop their skills and knowledge of the sports, and showcase their enthusiasm, discipline, teamwork, and a high level of skill to produce some great results.
It was fantastic to see students work together to create opportunities for team members. All the students enjoyed the day and are to be congratulated on their fine sportspersonship during all matches.
Thank you to all the teachers and co-educators that helped with coaching and supervision and the parents that attended on the day for their help and support during the carnival.
Parents & Friends Committee
We thank the parents who attended our last gathering - we will hold another gathering this term, details to be advised.
These gatherings provide wonderful opportunities to meet with other parents and carers and discuss planning for future opportunities that continue to build and strengthen our school community. All ideas and suggestions are welcome.
For more information please contact our Front Office, we look forward to seeing you at our next gathering.
Mid-Year Reception Vacancies
Just a reminder that our school offers a Term 3 Reception intake each year.
The criteria for starting Reception on the first day of school in Term 3 is that the children will have turned 5 on or before 31 October of that particular year (i.e. 2024 this year).
If you have a child who is eligible for this intake, please make a time for an enrolment interview with a member of the Leadership Team. If you are aware of another family who has a child eligible to begin in Term 3, and is considering St. Thomas More School, please feel free to encourage them to make an enrolment interview time.
Our transition program for Term 3 Reception students will occur this term providing them with the opportunity to meet and get to know their teacher and peers.
Call us on 08 7285 1500 or email enrol@sttmore.catholic.edu.au
STM Beanies
Be cool (...or warm) this winter with our brand new STM Beanies. They have just arrived, right in time for the cooler weather - and we love them.
They are available to order for $25 on Qkr!, with all orders being collected from the Front Office. If you have any questions regarding ordering or collection please contact the Front Office directly.
Faith and Community
Liturgical Calendar
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.
This term we celebrate many feast days that occur in our liturgical calendar. A feast day is a day when we remember and celebrate something or someone important to our faith.
Special celebrations that we focus on during classroom and whole school prayer throughout term 2 and those that come up in our liturgical calendar include:
Week 5 (this week)
26 May | Feast of the Trinity
26 May | National Sorry Day
27 May | Reconciliation Week
Week 6
2 June | Feast of the Body and Blood of Christ
5 June | World Environment Day
Week 8
20 June | World Refugee Day
22 June | Feast of St Thomas More
Week 10
7 July | NAIDOC Week
Feast of the Trinity
The Easter season is over. Pentecost has passed. Now we are in Ordinary Time, which will last for the next 6 months. Ordinary Time is filled with its own feasts and festivals. This week we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Trinity. One of our oldest traditions has been to call God by the names of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These are the three persons of the Holy Trinity. And yet we know that there is only one God. God’s life is a mystery. It is hard to understand in our minds, but we can deepen our understanding with our hearts.
Reconciliation Week "Now more than ever"
With the theme ‘Now more than ever’ for National Reconciliation Week 2024, it is a time to reflect and continue building momentum towards reconciliation in our schools and early learning services, workplaces, and broader communities. This theme invites all Australians to learn more about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and explore how everyone can contribute to promoting reconciliation in our everyday lives - in our homes, workplaces, and social circles.
In our prayer this week, we reflect on the millions of footprints that travelled the Dreaming pathways and give thanks for their wisdom and knowledge. We remember and recognise the people of the Stolen Generation and all those who were directly or indirectly affected by this terrible time in our history. Through our celebrations this week, we are reminded that God’s dream for humanity is one of justice and equality, of compassion and understanding, of forgiveness and mercy, to be shared by all peoples on earth. We join with God’s dream now more than ever for the first peoples of our land. May we walk forward together in a spirit of reconciliation and unity.
STM Feast Day Celebrations
We are preparing to celebrate the Feast of St. Thomas More, with a liturgy, lunch and play at Freemont Park and some school-based games led by our sport captains and Year 5/6 helpers. Keep checking Seesaw for more information.
Elizabeth Catholic Parish Sacrament Program
For those families who have enrolled in the program, please be aware of the following dates:
Reconciliation Workshop Session
Saturday June 15, 9am – 11am at St Thomas More Church – 19 Laverstock Rd, Elizabeth North.
Reconciliation Celebration (TERM 3)
Friday August 2, 6pm at St Thomas More Church – 19 Laverstock Rd, Elizabeth North.
Practice for Confirmation and First Eucharist (TERM 3)
Saturday September 7, 9.30am – 11am at St. Ann’s Church – Midway Rd, Elizabeth East.
Please contact Melissa Musolino for more information on 08 7285 1500 or email mmusolino@sttmore.catholic.edu.au
School Calendar Term 2
Our School Calendar has been updated to show important days and events scheduled for Term 2. Please keep an eye on this calendar throughout the term, and we will endevour to update you as more items are added.
View important dates below, or access the School Calendar here or directly through your Szapp homescreen (the tile titled School Calendar).
June 5 | SEDA College Basketball Clinic R-6
June 5 | World Environment Day
June 7 | PUPIL FREE DAY (TBC)
June 10 | Kings Birthday Public Holiday
June 11 | Mid-Year Reception Transition Visit 1
June 13 - 14 | SACPSSA Basketball Carnival
June 18 | Mid-Year Reception Transition Visit 2
June 20 | World Refugee Day
June 22 | St Thomas More Feast Day
June 25 | Mid-Year Reception Transition Visit 3
June 26 | SEDA College Basketball Clinic R-6
June 28 | Assembly
June 28 | Northern Areas Network Netball and Soccer Carnival
July 4 | Last Day of Term 2
July 5 | Pupil Free Day
Raising Hearts and Minds
