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Dear Families
Well Autumn has commenced, so here’s to falling leaves and cooler evenings.
Open Afternoon
We have received so much positive feedback from all members across our St Thomas community, our learners were proud to share their learning spaces, our teachers loved having a chance to meet families and families felt relaxed and comfortable in the community classrooms and school grounds. The sun even shone for us all. We have noted a few technical issues with sound and visual and the trickiness around timings for some families and that will inform our future planning. The turnout was amazing, thank you so much for demonstrating the importance you place on education to all our children with your attendance.
Special thanks to the Lions club and FOST for the many sausages and lollies that were devoured. Also a big shout out to a group of Year Six leaders from the promotions, tours and events teams. They stayed after school for three hours to offer help guiding visitors to communities and answering questions.
Learning Update
Teachers have been discussing how well our students are settling into their classroom routines. This does not just mean they know what is happening at different times of the day but also encompasses them understanding how to be an effective learner. This includes organising the things they need, listening and responding in class, building stamina to keep trying when things are new and seeking support when needed. Our learners are demonstrating many of these dispositions and all will assist them to build skills whilst developing self confidence.
Lots of exciting work is happening across the school around being healthy, this includes both physical and mental health. After finding out what the children already know and would like to know using pre assessment tasks, each community carefully plans learning experiences to meet the Victorian Curriculum Progressions of Learning and the needs of the community. Teachers use key texts to unpack facts and information and to get children asking questions to find out more. Please talk to your child about what they are learning about health, I am sure they would love to share their new learning. On a quick tour around school today I saw posters about our brains, healthy eating, strategies for keeping our mind healthy and much more.
I know the grade ones are especially looking forward to some fruit tasting this week. Our littlest learners in Foundation are also taking part in an incursion with St Johns Ambulance to learn about keeping safe, helping others and how to get help if they need it. Finally, lots of our senior students are delving deep into how much sugar products really contain and also how advertising affects our choices.
Finally a big shout out to all the fabulous women in our school community in advance of international Womens Day next week.
Kind Regards,
Sarah Chappell
Professional Learning Leader
Project Compassion Casual Clothes Day
You would have received a note in your email inbox with regard to the Casual Clothes Day. This is a day where students can wear casual clothes and not their normal school uniform for a day. This day is coming up next week on Tuesday March 7th.
Sacraments update
Whilst we are in the middle of the Reconciliation Program at the moment, it is worth tuning in our families to the rest of the program over the course of the year. We will place the Sacramental Calendar in the newsletter every week, so you always have an update on what’s happening and what’s coming up. Be sure to watch for changes in the plan, as these can sometimes happen.
St Thomas the Apostle Parish Sacraments 2023
Reconciliation
08 February- Reconciliation - Parent Formation Night 6.45pm
15 February- Reconciliation - Parent Formation Night 6.45pm
14 March- Reconciliation - Parent/Child Workshop 6.45pm
15 March- Reconciliation - Parent/Child Workshop 6.45pm
02 May - Reconciliation - Celebration of Reconciliation 5pm & 7pm
03 May - Reconciliation - Celebration of Reconciliation 5pm & 7pm
Confirmation
09 May - Confirmation - Parent Formation Night 6.45pm
16 May - Confirmation - Parent Formation Night 6.45pm
30 May - Confirmation - Parent/Child Workshop 6.45pm
31 May - Confirmation - Parent/Child Workshop 6.45pm
14 July - Confirmation - Retreat 11am - 3.15pm
19 July - Confirmation - Reconciliation (for STAPS) After Mass
Communion
19 July First Communion - Parent Formation Night 6.45pm
26 July First Communion - Parent Formation Night 6.45pm
26 July Confirmation – Reconciliation (for STAPS After Mass)
29 July Confirmation – Confirmation Ceremony 11am & 2pm
08 August First Communion - Parent/Child Workshop 6.45pm
09 August First Communion - Parent/Child Workshop 6.45pm
06 September First Communion – Reconciliation (for STAPS) After Weekday Mass
07 September First Communion - Retreat 11am-3.15pm (all candidates)
09 September First Communion - Mass
10 September First Communion - Mass
16 September First Communion - Mass
17 September First Communion - Mass
Parish News
The Parish Bulletin can be accessed weekly on a Friday after 5pm via the following link
https://stthomasap.
St Thomas the Apostle Church Dedication Mass will be on Sunday 23 April 2023. All are invited.
More details coming soon.
Lost Property
The lost property box is once again overflowing with items.
If your child is missing an item of uniform, drink bottles etc please remind them to check the lost property box. Please labels all items so that it can be easily identifiable and returned to the student when found.
All unclaimed items will be donated to the Second Hand Uniform sale.
Student Absences
A reminder that all absences must be communicated to the school. If your child/ren are absent with no communication the following procedure will be followed to ensure the safety of your child/ren.
• SMS sent to main contacts ie parents/guardians
• If no response, a phone call is made to main contacts
• If no response, a call is made to all emergency contacts
• If no response, the school contacts Victoria Police
If you have any queries please contact the school.
Thankyou from FOST
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