It was great to see so many parents, carers and families come to the school on Wednesday afternoon for our Sh.O.W, “Sharing our Work” afternoon. We know that the rain and illness made it difficult for some families to attend. Nonetheless, those who were able, enjoyed visiting the classrooms and seeing what the students have been learning about.

ThinkUKNow

Following on from the classroom visits, we were so pleased to have 39 parents attend the ThinkUKnow presentation, regarding online safety for children. There were many excellent questions and comments fielded from those in attendance. This presentation was a follow up to the online presentation we had in Term 2. This was the Safe on Social webinar presented by Kirra Pendergast.  The session was recorded and if you haven’t had the chance to watch it, I encourage, no urge you, to set aside an hour and watch it.  Here is the link to the recording.

To refresh your memory: Safe on Socials  was hosted by Kirra Pendergast, founder of 'Safe on Social' via an online. It was specifically for audiences 18 years and over containing adult content.

Kirra comes with a wealth of experience. The following blurb can be found on her website:

A Career dedicated to Cybersecurity and Online Safety Kirra Pendergast’s career has been deeply intertwined with the evolution of the internet. From the early days of widespread online adoption, she has been a leading voice in promoting cybersecurity and online safety. With over three decades of experience, Kirra’s work has spanned from high-level government advisory roles to grassroots educational outreach. Her commitment to the field is evident in her hands-on approach to teaching internet users about the potential risks of online life. By prioritising knowledge-sharing and skill-building, Kirra has helped to sculpt an online environment that prioritises the well-being of its users. Through Safe on Social and The Online Safety Agency, she has crafted training programs and resources that offer practical solutions to everyday digital interactions, ensuring that individuals and organisations are equipped to navigate the complexities of the online world with confidence and safety.

Change to recess and lunch

In Term 4, we will be trialing a new routine at recess and lunchtime where students will play first and then eat afterward. This shift allows students to release their energy on the playground, returning to the classroom more settled and ready to focus on their learning. Additionally, it gives our teachers time to address any playground issues or social concerns during eating time, ensuring that these matters are resolved before students begin the next learning session. This means that learning time will be less interrupted and students can enjoy a calm, focused eating time after they play. We look forward to seeing how this change has a positive effect for both behaviour and the students eating more (or even better) all of their lunch rather than rushing off to play.

Planning for 2025

We are will underway with our planning for next year. We are also recruiting for teaching staff. I am sure you are also planning your year.  To help with this, Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn have announced the dates for school holidays and pupil free days for 2025. They are as follows:

Term One begins for all students on Tuesday 4 February and concludes on Thursday 10 April. Friday 11 April is Pupil Free

Term Two begins for all students on Tuesday 29 April and concludes on Thursday 3 July.

Term Three begins for all students on Tuesday 22 July and concludes on Thursday 25 September.

Term Four begins for all students on Tuesday 14 October and concludes on Thursday 18 December.

Term 4 begins on Monday 14 October

We look forward to seeing all our students in the summer uniform. The second had uniform shop has many quality items for sale at the inexpensive price of $5. This is open every Friday morning between 8am and 9am. Here is the link to the uniform policy in case you need to check the details.

Two points I will stress though:

Sports shoes are for sports days only.  Black leather (or PU leather) is the required footwear for the formal uniform.

Socks are to cover the ankles (so anklet socks are not allowed). Girls wear white socks and boys, navy socks. They need to be plain socks without branding.

It is so important that you, our parents and carers, support the wearing of the school uniform. Wearing a school uniform promotes a sense of belonging and school pride, helping students feel more connected to their peers and the values that we aspire to at St Thomas’.  School uniforms contribute to a positive and focused learning environment.

School Website

Our school website has had a makeover. Thankyou to Luke Mooney for his work on this. Please check it out, especially the section on teaching and learning information.

The Fete

One of the big highlights for Term 4 is our annual fete – Yes! The best fete in Canberra. Erin Maher and her team of coordinators have everything organised and now what they need next will be your help and contributions. Early next term we will be advertising a QR code where you can sign up to help up on the day.  If every family signed up for only an hour we would have everything covered.  We will also be looking for contributions to the cake and sweet stall, along with donations of good quality items for the Treasure Trove.

I hope you get to have a refreshing spring break with your family. I look forward to seeing all the student's smiling faces on Monday 14 October.

Yours in partnership,

Ursula Jamieson
Principal

Student_Attendance_Dates.pdf

Student_Attendance_Dates _pdf 95.77 KB