TERM 1 - WEEK 9
Cover Page - 3/4 Maiello
Gratitude
Each afternoon in 3/4SM, students are given a gratitude question that they reflect on as part of our Mindfulness routine. The aim of this is to help nurture the development of students’ spirituality and identity.
Gratitude is such an important aspect of our lives. It helps us to reflect on the gifts that we have and why we feel lucky to have them, rather than taking them for granted.
Some questions that students are asked include ‘Name someone who made you smile today - how did they make you smile?’ and ‘How has someone helped you lately?’ Etc. This allows students to reflect on the wonderful gifts we are given in life and how we can be more grateful for what we have, helping to develop a sense of appreciation for the lives we are living.
Students have the opportunity to either write or draw when responding to the question. Gratitude is definitely something that helps us to keep calm and relaxed in 3/4SM!
Gratitude Photos
Leadership
Dear Parents, Caregivers, Students and friends of St Thomas More’s community,
200 Years of Catholic Education
In 2021 we are celebrating 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia. During that time, our schools and colleges have educated millions of Australians.
The official launch of the celebrations was held in February 2021. As the year progresses local state, territory and diocesan events will be held around the country.
You can watch the launch video to learn more about this significant milestone. Click on the link below.
A National Mass will also be celebrated in every state, territory and diocese on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians on 24 May 2021.
Australia’s bishops have written a pastoral letter to school leaders, staff, students and families to mark the 200th anniversary of Catholic education in Australia.
The letter, 200 Years Young, recognises the contribution of religious, clergy and laypeople to the foundation of Catholic education, and the distinctive role Catholic schools play in educating and forming young people of faith and service in their communities.
Learn more at the website Celebrating 200 years of Catholic Education in Australia. Click on the link below.
Students with Disability Review
Catholic Education SA began an independent review of its policies, programs and support arrangements for students with disabilities in March 2020 to learn what it is doing well, what it should do less of, and what it should do better.
The Review presented its Final Report in December 2020.
The Overview of Final Report paper outlines the Review’s key findings and the directions it recommends for Catholic education to improve the learning, wellbeing and inclusion of students with disabilities.
Review Process
The Students with Disability Review developed and released the following papers during the course of the review:
Review Discussion Paper - information about the context of the Review and the key matters it intended to address.
Student Conversations Paper - the summary of conversations the Review held with 122 students with disability in 24 schools across metropolitan and country South Australia.
Survey Summary Reports - summaries of surveys the Review undertook with the following groups:
- Parents/carers/guardians of students with disability
- Members of the community
- Principals of Catholic schools
- Staff of Catholic schools: teachers, positions of responsibility, deputy principals and support staff
- Staff in the Catholic Education Office.
Each Survey Summary Report consists of three main components:
- an overview synopsis of each survey’s responses
- data reports for the survey questions that invited a quantitative response
- a brief outline of the themes that people presented in their comments.
Profile of Students with Disability Report - the Review’s presentation of key characteristics of Students with Disability enrolled in South Australian Catholic schools.
Issues and Challenges Paper - the Review’s analysis of the views of key stakeholders on specific aspects of the Australian Government’s Disability Standards for Education. For each Disability Standard, the paper identifies a range of key issues and challenges.
Implementation
The South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools approved in-principle the Final Report’s 40 recommendations at its December 2020 meeting. The Commission approved the Implementation Focus Areas for immediate action in 2021 as outlined in the Final Report. The Commission authorised the development of a three-year Review Implementation Plan for 2022 – 2024 to ensure implementation of the Final Report’s recommendations.
If you wish further information about the Students with Disability Review and the Final Report please:
- email to SWDReview@cesa.catholic.edu.au
- mail a letter to PO Box 179, TORRENSVILLE PLAZA SA 5031.
Good Hygiene
We are doing everything possible to maintain good, regular hygiene. We have hand sanitisers and hand wash in all classrooms. Children are asked to wash their hands and/or use hand sanitisers before they eat. We are also happy for parents to send children to school with hand sanitisers to support their child with good hygiene.
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.
2022 RECEPTION ENROLMENTS
Places are available. If you have or if you know of anyone who has a child turning 5 before May 1, 2022, please complete and lodge an enrolment form at the Front Office.
2022 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, 2022, please complete and lodge an enrolment form at the Front Office.
Working in Partnership,
Chris Platten, Vicki Rubino, Melisa Musolino, Leah Williams
Religion
Holy Week and Easter
Next week our students will be engaging in a variety of activities and prayer rituals to learn about the significance of the week leading up to Easter, known as Holy Week.
Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday and comprises the seven days before Easter. The last three days of Holy Week, link together Lent and Easter, they are called the Triduum (meaning three days). They are Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday. The Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday begins the new season of Easter.)
On the first Palm Sunday Jesus entered Jerusalem with a triumphal welcome in the week before the traditional Jewish feast of the Passover. Jewish crowds who were there for the feast days waved palm branches (a custom of the time used to welcome visiting kings) and cheered Jesus’ arrival on a donkey.
The Easter Triduum begins with Mass on Holy Thursday evening, when Jesus sacramentally anticipated the gift he would make of himself on the cross. His command to serve others is dramatically recalled this night in the ceremony of the washing of the feet, which he performed for his disciples.
The Good Friday rites centre on the reading of the Passion of Jesus. According to ancient tradition, an image or relic of the cross is venerated this day, and the sacrament of Christ’s love for his church is received. It is a day of fasting and quiet mourning.
The Easter Vigil is the high point of the Easter Triduum celebrating the passion and resurrection of Jesus.
Elizabeth Catholic Parish Easter Masses
Covid Update: Restrictions of 1 person/2 sqm still applies.
Numbers allowed are, St Ann's - 140 people and St Thomas More's - 190 people. Please scan your QR Code at the Entrance. Covid Marshals will be present at all Masses and Parish activities. We ask you to respectfully comply with any requests asked of you by the COVID Marshal.
Easter Celebrations
Mass of the Lord's Supper
Thursday 1st April - 7.00pm - St Ann's Church
The Way of the Cross
Friday 2nd April - 10.00am - St Thomas More Church
Jesus' Passion
Friday 2nd April - 3.00pm - St Thomas More Church
Easter Vigil
Saturday 3rd April - 7.00pm - St Thomas More Church
Easter Sunday
Sunday 4th April - 8.30am - St Ann's Church
Sunday 4th April - 10.00am - St Thomas More Church
Andrew Chinn
Let's Celebrate
Students and staff enjoyed a great celebration of singing with the Andrew Chinn concert. Andrew worked with each class in the school before performing an afternoon concert.
Sports Day
On Friday, April 9 St Thomas More will celebrate SPORTS DAY starting at 9:00am. McAuley (yellow), MacKillop (blue), Barry (red) and Coolock (green) will gather to contest the Vin Davies Shield and the Spirit Cup. Children are to arrive at school at the normal time. Parents, friends, and relatives are all welcome to join us on the day.
On Sports Day the students are able to wear a T-Shirt that reflects their team along with their correct SPORTS SHORTS or PANTS and HAT. Students may also wear hair ribbons, socks, or hair spray (put on at home and not to be brought to school) that reflects their team colour. Children are NOT to wear coloured zinc cream or paint their body with coloured Zinc – normal zinc cream only! Class teachers will also have sun cream available for students to use.
Please remember to send your student to school with a labelled drink bottle. Students will also require a packed recess including brainfood.
It is anticipated that Sports Day will finish at approximately 1:20pm. At that time parents may choose to take their child/children home. Children who remain at school will require a packed lunch from home. Students remaining behind will be supervised until 3:00pm.
Most parents taking images of children at sports day are doing so for acceptable reasons and are using appropriate methods.
Please only take photos of your own child/children during sports day and avoid posting them on social media.
The canteen will be closed for lunch orders but will be open during sports day to purchase food and drinks.
Good Luck to all teams and supporters!
Fabian Chevalier
P.E. Co-ordinator
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
March 27
Earth Hour 8:30pm
March 28
Palm Sunday
March 30
Class Mass - 5/6 Morrison & 5/6 May
April 1
Holy Thursday
April 2
Good Friday
April 4
Easter Sunday
April 5
Easter Monday
April 9
Sports Day
Last day of Term 1
Raising Hearts and Minds
