Filter Content
Dear Parents and Carers,
It is great to be back at school after taking extended leave to spend time with my older siblings in Queensland. Time is precious and I appreciated the opportunity to spend these couple of weeks with them. Thank you to Susan Chant and Luke Mooney who stepped up as Principal and Assistant Principal in my absence. They did an outstanding job, as I expected they would.
Today the staff are using the designated Pupil Free Day to do planning and catch up on any missed release time they have had to forego (and the anticipated loss of time in the coming weeks). We are coping quite well at the moment and have not had to split a class so far this term. Other schools have not been as lucky with some having to return to online learning for a short time while staff recover from illness. Across our Catholic schools, staff absenteeism is at an all time high. This is from a combination of COVID 19 infections but also the flu. We will continue to put all appropriate health and safety recommendations in place and do out utmost to ensure that every class has a teacher every day. Thank you for your support and understanding as we navigate this winter and the amount of sickness accompanying it.
First Eucharist
Staffing
This term Mrs Sarah Salter has joined us and will be teaching Year 3/4B on a Thursday. Sarah will be doing some relief work with us as well.
We welcome back Mrs Leyrizza Nyunt (formerly Leyes) from her maternity leave. Leyrizza will be teaching various classes over the first 6 weeks of the term and will take over Year 2R when Aimee Rastar begins her maternity leave in Week 7.
Miss Sophie Riley will be working with the Learning Support team on a Monday and Tuesday.
CATALYST
COVID Update
- Staying home when sick - staff, students and visitors must not attend school if they are unwell and will be sent home if they have any symptoms of COVID-19.
- Hygiene Requirements – Please remind your child about safe and hygienic practices of coughing, sneezing, washing hands and disposing of tissues.
- Cleaning – the school will continue encouraging hand washing and sanitising as well as frequent cleaning of shared area surfaces e.g. door handles
- Masks – although masks are not mandatory, staff and students are able to wear masks if they so choose.
- Covid Cases – Parents will need to continue to report positive Covid cases to the school office. The school will communicate with parents, if there is a significant number of cases recorded in any one class.
- Parents on Site – At this stage, no parents are allowed inside the school building with the exception of the Front Office. Unfortunately, we are unable to have parent volunteers in the classrooms. Meetings should be held remotely but were deemed beneficial, face-to-face meeting are permitted after hours. Parents and Carers are welcome to attend our morning assemblies at 8:50 each morning.
Only 4 weeks until spring! Have a great weekend folks.
Yours in partnership,
Ursula Jamieson
Principal
RE Week 3 - Our Common Home - Connecting with God
This year the students of St Thomas the Apostle have engaged in Christian Meditation. It is important to take time during the day or week to be still and embrace silence. By doing this we create a sacred space where God is welcome and we slow down, which can allow us to appreciate the things around us. Pope Francis says:
“We tend to demean contemplative rest as something unproductive and unnecessary, but this is to do away with the very thing which is most important about work: its meaning… rest opens our eyes to the larger picture and gives us renewed sensitivity to the rights of others.” (Laudato Si, 237)
Take some time to discuss Christian Meditation with your children this week. You could even have a go yourself. If you are interested in finding out more, you can visit this website below.
Geoff Ryan
REC
Date |
Event |
Monday 8 August |
School Community Council meeting 6pm |
Wednesday 10 August |
Sacrament of Eucharist 6pm |
Friday 12 August |
ACT Netball Finals Day |
This week the students began reading and then creating their own book reviews for some of the new shortlisted books in our library. It was wonderful to hear the students discussing why they think these books were nominated and what features of the texts they enjoy.
Important Dates for Book Week 2022
Friday 12 August - Orders due for a signed copy of Anna Battese's books. These texts are more appropriate for students in lower primary.
Friday 19 August and Monday 21st August - Anna Battese Author Visit
Thursday 25 August - Book Week Parade/Dress up Day
Thursday 1 September - Book Week in Schools Performance for students (see information below for the synopsis)
Story Quest!
I’ve been dreaming…
Marley wakes up full of excitement and expectation. She’s been dreaming that she has written the most marvellous story and now she’s awake it’s time to set about making it happen. However, the road to creating her story is much more difficult than it first seems. What happens in dreams often isn’t how things turn out and Marley finds herself embarking on a journey filled with unexpected twists and turns. To reach a destination where ‘dream comes true’ she must overcome some pretty significant obstacles.
Dreaming is much more challenging when you’re awake!
Join Marley on her new STORY QUEST adventure as part of CBCA Book Week 2022 and celebrating the CBCA Book Week 2022 theme: "Dreaming With Eyes Open..."
Students will be immersed into the storytelling and interaction with the books featured from the CBCA 2022 shortlist woven into an engaging, original narrative filled with music, adventure and intrigue!
Borrowing days for next week
Tuesday 9 August - K-2, 3/4B
Wednesday 10 August - 5/6B, 5/6KP, 3/4J, 3/4G
Leah Godfrey
Teacher Librarian
(Term 3)