Dear Parents and Carers,

It’s astounding to think we are almost halfway through the term already.  Our last day for the students is Monday 16 December (a very unusual day to end the year). Team Kids will be running a vacation care program from Tuesday 17 December.

The next 5 weeks are going to be very busy with all the end of year activities. The big one to start us off is our fete this weekend…..

St Thomas the Apostle Community Fete – Just One More Sleep!

Excitement is in the air as we count down to our much-anticipated St Thomas the Apostle Fete tomorrow! Join us for a fantastic day from 10am to 3pm, with something for everyone – and only one more sleep to go!

Our fete will be packed with a variety of stalls, including the ever-popular Treasure Trove, Arts and Crafts, Cake and Sweets, Show Bags, and Side Show Alley. Don’t miss out on the silent auction, pick-a-prize raffle, and pony rides. There’s still time to lend a hand – even an hour of your time volunteering would be greatly appreciated.

As a special bonus, every student attending the fete will have their name entered in a draw for an amazing big-screen TV! Remember, students must be present to win, with the draw taking place towards the end of the fete.

The proceeds from the fete will be split 50/50 between our school and our parish, supporting the needs of both our communities. A huge thank you to everyone from both the school and the parish who have put in such a tremendous effort to make this event happen.

Please come along and enjoy the fun!

Our Bike and Swimming Programs

This week, our Bike Riding Program for Years 3 to 6 wrapped up, and what a success it’s been! It’s been fantastic to see so many students confidently developing their riding skills and making great use of our bike racks.

Next week, we’re diving straight into a week of daily swimming lessons for Kinder to Year 4! Please remember to pack swimming gear on Monday – swimmers, towels, goggles, and a water bottle. With warm weather forecasted, it’s the perfect time for our students to get in the water and enjoy learning important water safety skills.

Please see the flyer in this newsletter for the checklist.

Parent-Teacher Conferences Coming Up in Week 7

We invite all parents and carers to join us for Parent-Teacher Interviews in Week 7, on November 25, 26 and 27. This is a valuable opportunity to connect with your child’s teacher to discuss their progress, learning experiences, and achievements throughout this semester. Your involvement plays a key role in supporting a strong partnership between home and school, fostering a full understanding of your child’s academic, social, and emotional growth.

We encourage every parent and carer to take up this important opportunity as we continue to partner with you to support your child’s learning. Each interview slot is 15 minutes, with 13 minutes allocated for discussion to allow teachers a brief break before the next meeting. These meetings will be held in person, but if you’d prefer a remote option, simply book your appointment online and email the teacher to arrange a Teams meeting link.

Bookings will be made using the Compass platform. Booking access opens on Tuesday 12 November at 7:00pm with instructions sent out via Compass on Monday 11 November.

Student reports will be sent home via Compass on Friday 6 December (Week 8).

End-of-Year Christmas Carols & BBQ Night

Mark your calendars for our much-loved SCC Christmas Carols and BBQ Night on Thursday 5 December! This special evening will kick off at 6pm. with a free sausage sizzle, followed by a lineup of wonderful class performances starting at 6:30pm.

Cold drinks will be available for purchase throughout the night. The event will wrap up by 8pm so bring your picnic rugs, settle in, and get ready for a festive evening with our school community. A fitting way to celebrate the end of 2024, another great year at St Thomas the Apostle School.

That’s all for now. I look forward to seeing you all at the fete tomorrow.

Yours in partnership,

Ursula Jamieson
Principal

Calendar

To view the Parent and Carers calendar please follow the link below to our school website. This calendar is very user friendly and clear to view on mobile phones.

Happy Birthday
to the following students and staff
who are celebrating a birthday 

Hamish O'B
Gracelyn O
Odette C
Alex L
Hugo W
Meikah L-M
Maddison B
Bronte T
Rishaan S
Emma H
Tessa M
Winter C
Audrey R
Layla R
Alexander S
Zoë A
Hugo W
Samara S
Miss Croker
Mrs Bartkowiak