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- Principal's Message
- RE Term 4 Week 2 - "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6)
- Upcoming Events
- Term 4 Term Information Letters
- Library News
- Awards Term 4 Week 2 2023
- Fete Newsletter
- Birthdays this week
- Auslan - Sports
- Will Lipscombe Memorial Art Award 2023
- St Thomas Youth Rally
- TeamKids Newsletter
- Kelly Sports - Soccer Program for Juniors
- Menslink Counselling
- PERKS Parenting Seminars
Dear Parents and Carers,
Thank you to the many parents (and students) who came and helped with the Referendum barbeque on Saturday. It was well supported by you all. Though we raised a good amount of money (total still to be completed) it was more important that we showed the local community how welcoming and supportive we are. Comments were made how many polling places didn’t have a sausage sizzle and that ours was one of the best! Well done St Thomas the Apostle!
Class Allocations for 2024
It’s hard to believe that we are coming to that time of the year when we turn to our planning for next year. During this term, we will be working on and finalising our staffing arrangements for 2024. Below is a copy of the ‘Class Allocation Policy’ which aims to ensure a fair and just process in allocating students to classes for the upcoming school year.
I firmly believe that teachers are in the best position to decide a child’s placement because they know all the children in their classes and have a view of the ‘big picture’. However, I invite parents to inform me of anything that you feel needs to be considered, for your own child’s well-being or development.
As there are multiple streams of classes each year at St Thomas the Apostle, there are different combinations of children in classes. When forming the class lists the following factors are taken into consideration:
- Gender;
- Diverse Learners;
- Work habits;
- Cognitive ability;
- Friendships;
- Behaviour;
- Health considerations;
- Religion (to assist in achieving a balance between classes, especially in Sacramental years).
Ideally, we aim for an equal spread of both positive and challenging characteristics. Where practical, parental requests based on educational concerns may be considered. At St Thomas, the staff and parents will follow these principles and guidelines when considering the placement of students each year:
- Every care will be taken to ensure that each child is placed in the best situation to enhance learning and social development;
- Parents who wish to raise particular concerns regarding the placement of their children in particular classes should put the concern in writing and email it to me (ursula.jamieson@cg.catholic.edu.au) by Friday of Week 4 (Term 4- Friday 3 November);
- Parent concerns will be considered during the process. It must be clearly understood, however, that no definite guarantees can be given regarding parental concerns;
- Where appropriate, advice will be sought from the Classroom Support Teacher, School Counsellor, Chaplain and current class teacher during this process;
- Considering all the factors listed above, the current class teachers compile class lists from mid-term, Term 4. These are then given to me to confirm;
- Children will be informed of their class placement for the following school year in December (a designated time in the last week of school) and
- Children will be informed of their class and meet their teacher and classmates for 2024 on Thursday December 14th. They will have the opportunity to spend some time with their new class teacher. They will do an activity and have lunch together. New students to the school for the following year are invited to attend;
- Throughout this process, after appropriate consultation, I reserve the right to make final professional decisions regarding the placement of children.
Playground use after hours
We are committed to creating a strong sense of community and ensuring our school is a welcoming place for all families. The school playground is available to parents, carers and students after school. We encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity to connect and socialize with other parents and enjoy the outdoor play area our school has to offer.
We kindly ask all parents and students to remember that school rules remain in effect during these extended hours. These rules are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all children and adults using the playground. Please take note of the following:
- Supervision of children: Parent need to actively supervise their at all times. Your presence not only ensures your child's safety but also promotes responsible play and good behaviour.
- No climbing on the cubby houses: Please refrain from allowing children to climb on the cubby houses. Adhering to this rule will help maintain the safety of the children and integrity of these playground structures.
- Respect for others: We ask that all families show respect and consideration for one another. Sharing and cooperation are essential in creating a positive and harmonious environment for everyone.
- For the safety, comfort, and appropriateness of the school environment, we kindly request that children refrain from removing their clothes while using the school playground after school hours. Ensuring that they remain fully dressed is a crucial part of maintaining a respectful and responsible play environment for everyone involved. Shoes can be taken of in the sandpit but for safety should be worn when leaving the school grounds.
By following these guidelines, we can continue to foster a positive and inclusive atmosphere for all families within our school community. Together, we can maintain a welcoming and secure environment for our children to have fun and enjoy themselves.
The Fete
We are only a few weeks away from the fete, and the excitement is growing every day. The fete team of parents and parishioners along with Susan Chant, have spent many hours organising this annual and much anticipated event. Being a community affair, it needs the support of everyone in the community. We know that almost every family comes to the fete but it would be even better if every family could give us an hour to help out on one of the stalls. Please give this some serious thought, and be a part of what makes our community such a great one.
Library
As we move towards the end of the Year, Kelli Rootes our Teacher Librarian does an audit of library resources which includes a list of well overdue, and potentially lost books. When students borrow books from our library it is an expectation that they are returned and in a timely manner. We have many popular titles in our library that are often on waitlists or requested by children. The policy at St Thomas the Apostle is, if books are not returned, are lost or damaged then the family is responsible for either replacing the book with a similar title, or a fee of $10 is paid for the book to be replaced. This ensures that we can keep our library up to date with engaging books for all children to borrow and enjoy the love of reading and literature. At present, there are many overdue books outstanding, so I request you please ask your child if they have an overdue library book and to have a look around at home over the next couple of weeks to see if any are there. That way it is hoped that all library books are returned by the end of Week 8 and notices are not required to be sent out for lost books.
Summer Uniform
We have now come to the end of our transition period from the winter uniform to the summer uniform and all students are expected to be wearing the summer uniform from Monday. We have plenty of good quality second hand uniforms available for $5 per piece. The clothing pool is open every Friday morning from 8:15 am until 9:15 AM.
Sue Geh Basketball
Yesterday we had a team of students representing our school at the Sue Geh Basketball finals in Belconnen. Both teams of girls tried their hardest, played fairly and represented our school with pride. Thank you to the many parents who were there to support their children and volunteered on the bench. A very big thank you to Monique and John Warren who coached both teams, giving up their time not only yesterday, but throughout the year with the many days of competitions.
Have a restful weekend and enjoy the sunshine and warmth.
Yours in partnership,
RE Term 4 Week 2 - "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6)
Term 4 – The Truth
Confirmation
The Confirmation information session was run on Wednesday this week. Please keep these students in your prayers as they prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Home Group sessions will begin next week in the library.
Kambah Youth Rally
It is not too late to attend the Youth Rally this Saturday.
The timetable for the day is below.
4pm-5:30pm – Music, Games, Talks/Sharing, Rosary
6pm – Youth Mass
7pm – Pizza after mass
Vinnies
This fortnight we are asking families to donate breakfast cereals and soups. Please consider adding one of these items to your weekly shop to make life a little easier for those in need in our community. Children can bring items in any day and place them in the St Vincent de Paul tub in each classroom.
Geoff Ryan
REC
Date |
Event |
Saturday 21 October |
Kambah Parish Youth Festival |
Thursday 26 October |
5/6S Class Mass 9:30am |
Friday 27 October |
Community Prayer (Year 2) 2:30pm |
Saturday 28 October |
Kambah Parish Youth Festival |
Sunday 29 October |
Bake off - for Fete Cake stall |
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.
SAVE THE DATE! Saturday 11 November 2023 10am-3pm
Will Lipscombe Memorial Art Award 2023
This year the theme for the art award is ‘Nature is our friend’
You might be inspired by aspects of nature that make you feel happy, peaceful and relaxed such as a special tree, a garden, coast, mountains or animals. You may draw or paint using pencils, crayons, textas and paint.
Please use the attached proforma for your artwork. Fill in the details on the bottom of the sheet, including why or how nature is your friend.
Have fun!
Entries are due by Wednesday 1 November (Week 4)
Focus - ADHD
Has your teenager or pre-teen been diagnosed with ADHD? Think Mental Health will be running a free seminar on parenting an adolescent with ADHD and how that intersects with mental health concerns. Parents will be provided with information, practical tips and tricks on navigating this space. Adjunct care is provided - please email details of the children. Topics covered:
- Overview of adolescence
- Understanding ADHD
- Special Adolescent challenges
- Co-occuring MH conditions
- What can you do
- When to be concerned
- Where to get support
- Q&A
Register here:
Focus - Disordered Eating
Is your child showing signs of disordered eating and body image concerns. Learn about the warning signs, practical strategies to best to support your teen or pre-teen with recovery and when you need to seek professional help. Adjunct care is provided - please email me with the details of the children.
Details are:
Date: Tuesday, 7 November
Time: 4-6 pm
Venue: Woden Community Hub, Westfield Woden, above Commonwealth Bank
Register below: