Dear families,

Term one is more than half way over! It seems only yesterday that we began the year. Our first few weeks focussed on setting the learning environment. This meant classes were focussed on discussions around how we learn, what conditions we prefer to learn in and how we can each act to ensure learning is achieved. Each class developed their own expectations of behaviour that they can hold each other accountable to when learning each day.

As a school there has been significant work over the past years around developing school wide expectations. In the next few weeks we will launch these three key expectations in the school community. Safety, Respect and Learning are the core of our work here at St Thomas the Apostle. These build on our Catholic Identity which is characterised by our four pillars of Thanksgiving, Reconciliation, Prayer and Service. 

Some of our Year 6 students will lead the launch by sharing the process of developing these expectations and what they mean in the school setting. Please watch out for next newsletter where we hope our students will share this with the parent community.

A gentle reminder that our school day begins at 8.45am. We still have a significant number of students arriving between 8.45 and 8.55am which is delaying the beginning of our school day. Please consider arriving at school 10 minutes earlier as there is supervision on the yard from 8.15am. If weather is inclement (raining or cold wind) we send students in early to be protected.

As we journey through Lent and focus on prayer, fasting and almsgiving we reflect on how these ancient practices can be incorporated into our modern lifestyles. Perhaps we will fast from social media or from an indulgent purchase. Perhaps our almsgiving will be in giving to a neighbour of our time or our listening ear. In our times of prayer we need to offer thanks for the blessings we have and ask for love to be shared among all.

You can read Pope Francis' message in Lent here: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2021/02/12/210212a.html 

Wishing you a peaceful, contempletive and caring few Lenten weeks as we move towards Easter.

Kate