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Dear Families,
As winter makes itself known and the end of the term approaches, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our staff.
In education, Term Two is known for many things amongst teachers, one of which is report writing. A great deal of time, energy, and effort goes into the decision-making process that informs each student’s semesterly report. Teachers engage students in curriculum-based assessment, using observations, rubrics, notes, formal assessments, and other tools to make decisions regarding growth and progress. Teams of teachers work together on these decisions to ensure a consistent understanding of what is expected at each level of the curriculum. The content of each report is carefully considered to effectively communicate the growth each student has made. We understand that the way school reports are presented to families is not as clear as we would like. We are continuing to refine our reporting process in consultation with parents while also ensuring that we meet the minimum guidelines that all Victorian schools must abide by.
Your child's school report will be available to you at the end of this term. Each family will have the opportunity to discuss the content of the reports with their child’s teacher in Term 3 on Thursday, 20th July. This day will be a Pupil Free Day. Please be on the lookout for a notification regarding booking a time, which will be sent out at the end of this term.
Professional Development and Research
Next week, our Foundation Team will be visited by Dr. Ann Downton and Dr. Jill Cheeseman from Monash University as they continue their research on the ways children learn mathematics. The focus of their research is Multiplication and Division. This presents an exciting opportunity for our staff to collaborate with highly regarded researchers, as the results from this study will contribute to the current knowledge about effective teaching approaches for problem-solving and investigations with young children. We look forward to sharing their work with the school community in the future.
Wishing you all an enjoyable, longer weekend. Safe travels if you are going away in this time.
Best wishes,
Peta Overbury
Deputy Principal – Teaching and Learning
Jericho Mass – Be A Light to the World
The Jericho community celebrated Mass on Wednesday this week, with the theme ‘Be A Light for the World’. The students thoroughly enjoyed participating in the liturgy, singing up beautifully - especially the classic, ‘This Little Light of Mine’.
Father Denis used the analogy of the Moon and the Sun. He asked the congregation, “Have you noticed that the moon can be seen fully sometimes and only a tiny bit at other times?” We know that the moon does not shine on its own. It needs the sun’s energy to reflect the light. We are the moon, and Jesus is the Sun. The Sun is the one that provides the light and the moon receives this light and reflects this energy. We can sometimes ignore the light and that’s why it is sometimes dark. If we pay full attention to the light, and follow Jesus’ way, we can show others by our actions that we are people of the light.
The FOST group (Friends of St Thomas) put on a morning tea for anyone who wanted to hang around a bit after Mass and have a chat. We had a small group of people who kicked on, but we hope that this becomes a regular item, to offer something social for our community.
Next Week – Ephesus Mass (year 2)
If any family or friends of the Ephesus Community wish to come along and help celebrate Mass next week, you are most welcome. Mass begins at 9:30am and hopefully we can have a morning tea afterwards also.
Confirmation
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
NATIONAL SORRY DAY
We wrote some information about National Sorry day to help all of the community understand this important day.
What is National Sorry Day?
National Sorry Day is a day where everyone reflects on the history of Australia and the impacts on Aboriginal people.
When is National Sorry Day?
National Sorry Day is on Friday 26th May, 2023.
Who are the Stolen Generation?
The stolen generation are the Aboriginal children that were taken away from their parents.
Why do we remember this day?
To say sorry to the Aboriginal people and to encourage reconciliation.
Who is National Sorry Day for?
It is for every Australian, Torres Strait Islander and First Nations People.
SOCCER GOALS
Recently, we got new soccer goals. The sport leadership team worked really hard on building the goals. The students love playing soccer with the new goals. They can also be used for Year 6 interschool sport and for recess and lunch. The goals are made of flexible metal and the net is made of polyethylene.
Year Six Interschool Sports
This year the Year Six students will get a chance to compete in sports to represent our school. The following sports will be played: touch rugby, soccer, netball and newcomb. The other two schools are St Therese’s Primary School and St. Agatha’s. Our first day will be on Wednesday 14th June.
Year 6 Police Visit
Q&A
Recently the Year Six community had a police officer come to visit. He taught us about what the police do and why they are here to help. We learnt about what to do in difficult situations and who to call in a time of need. Some of the things the Year Six community learned was the three main crimes and how police officers handle bullying/assault. These techniques have been taught to us at a very young age, but officer Dave went into detail about how they handle crime anywhere even in the police department itself.
The Three Crimes
Theft/Stealing - Theft is the act of taking someone's property or money. If a theft has already happened special detectives will get on the case instead of your regular police officer.
Assault - A crime when someone hurts or abuses you or threatens you in a harmful way. This can happen in a matter of places like school work and even just at the supermarket.
Cyber Assault- When you're threatened online physically or receive any threats. These threats can include blackmail and your personal information. People like this could be anywhere. You could receive a scam call in the middle of work and they try to act like a company and they will say that they need any of your online details.
How the Police Work
Police officers are very busy workers and work all day. Police officers drive around our roads and keep them safe from speeders to burglars. The police officer that came to visit us told us that he specifically works with kids/teenagers that have done something wrong. Officer Dave told us a story about a cybercrime that happened when a person that been contacting a girl and he was asking for personal information. We have learned to talk to someone if that were to happen to us.
Foundation Learning Report
In today's newsletter, the Newsletter team interviewed Foundation students about their learning and this is what they said.
What have students in Foundation learned?
They have learned about Pig the Pug, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. They have also been learning about drawing techniques.
What have they enjoyed about being in Foundation?
They have enjoyed the games learnt in maths, when we come inside from lunch we can have a nap (don't worry they actually don't!!) and then start learning again.
They have also enjoyed playing with family and friends at school and drawing.
They have enjoyed strawberries and apples at fruit time and the numbers 23 and 30 in maths.
By Nicholas M, Nicholas K, George, Lennox, Miranda, Kean and Christopher.
OUR 2023 PARISH RENEWAL PROGRAM
We have commenced our three weeks Parish Renewal Program – and we warmly invite all our parish school families to be involved. The Program challenges us all – as individuals and as a parish community – to reflect on the value of St Thomas’ Parish and its importance in our lives.
Our focus this week is on ENGAGEMENT in parish life. At all Masses last weekend, we heard from members of the Program Leadership Team who shared how being actively involved in our parish has nourished their faith and positively affected their lives. We invite you to play your role. So please take some time to look at the Groups and Ministries form – we welcome your contributions. This weekend Stephen Littleton, our Program Coordinator, will speak with us on this important subject, and update on current parish priorities and finances.
Click here to view the Parish
Groups & Ministries form
THOUGHTS FROM OUR PROGRAM LEADERSHIP TEAM
Q: Why is it important to be actively engaged in parish Groups & Ministries?
“For our parish community to function effectively, it requires more than just Fr Denis and our wonderful staff. We as a community need to be fully engaged with all aspects of parish life for our community and faith to thrive.”
“My faith has given me so much and being actively involved in our parish is my way of giving back.” “Our involvement gives life to our faith and builds parish community – we are the parish.”
POPE FRANCIS SAYS
“It is not enough to say we are Christians. We must live the faith, not only with
our words, but with our actions.”
