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Message - Religious Education Leader
MISSION STATEMENT
In the spirit of St Thomas the Apostle, who was one of the first Christian missionaries and is the patron saint of builders, the community of St Thomas will endeavour to build a community of prayer, thanksgiving, service, and reconciliation and provide opportunities for all its students to experience a collaborative and reflective learning environment that educates, engages and challenges.
Dear Families,
My family has just been blessed with a new puppy. Wow, have things changed for us! Everyone who has ever experienced a new puppy coming home for the first time will know the joy and also the chaos that comes with this. It’s very similar to having a baby in many ways.
One of the things we have taken on (and you get so much advice on raising a new puppy) is going out of your way to hand feed your pup. Not because they don’t know how to consume food on their own, but because you are teaching them that “all good things come from you”. It’s a beautiful way to build relationship with your new family member. We began doing this straight away and we have enjoyed the eye-contact and the closeness associated with hand feeding. It’s a little bit gross but who cares really! It’s a great bonding experience.
Last Sunday, with the Gospel reading at Mass, we had the wonderful miracle of the Loaves and the Fishes or sometimes known as the ‘Feeding the Five Thousand’. John the author, has a brilliant message in it for us. In fact, there are five weeks of John spelling out to us that Jesus is the ‘Bread of Life’. The essence of the ‘Feeding the Five Thousand’ story is that “all good things come from Jesus”. Even more, there is an abundance of goodness when you are nourished by Jesus, as we know from John’s gospel that there were twelve baskets left over! There is an abundance of goodness from His Word and by the Eucharist.
Speaking of Eucharist, I would like to encourage and pray for our newly enrolled candidates for First Holy Communion (from our Year 5 cohort). They begin their preparation this week and will celebrate this beautiful sacrament at the end term. They will be learning about the relationship they began with Baptism but are invited into a whole new level when they receive the Body and Blood of Jesus in Holy Communion.
Just a reminder at this point that the Year 4s will have the opportunity to enrol for First Holy Communion next term.
Please pray for me and my family as we try our best to keep our slippers from being destroyed and keep our home intact during this time of upheaval.
Sincerely,
Andrew McDermott
Religious Education Leader
Dear Parents
Our world continues to throw us changes and challenges. Please be kind; to yourself and to others. Listen and ask questions. Be still and allow time for positive reflection and gratitude. Enjoy your children - they are such a blessing for us all.
The children have returned to schooling demonstrating all those skills and values one would hope to see: joy, love of learning, friendship, fun, adaptability and resilience. They are a credit to you and your families.
Kind regards
Kate
REFLECTION
100 Days of PREP
Parent Notified Absences (PAM)
Parents should notify the school of any absence by 9.00am. This can be done via PAM or alternatively by contacting the school by phone. If you are unable to log into your PAM account please contact the school for further assistance.
Health Care Cards
If you have recently become eligible for a Health Care Card, please contact the school for a Camps, Sports, Excursion Funding (CSEF) application form. The Government provides funding for families with an eligible HCC which also entitles eligible holders to a fee concession. If this applies to you please ensure that all paperwork is submitted by the 1st August.
Uniform Reminders
Winter Uniform will be required to be worn from Term 2. Uniforms can be purchased from PSW located in Hampton Park.
NB: We have a number of unnamed items in lost property. Please clearly label your child's items of clothing so they can be returned to your child if handed to lost property.
Illness
Dear Parents
If your child is unwell, has a fever or has been vomiting or have had gastroenteritis, they must stay at home until they are symptom free for 24 hours. If they are not completely symptom free eg: runny nose, cough they will need a medical certificate to confirm they have recovered and are not contagious in order to attend school.
Change of Clothing (Foundation – Junior students)
Accidents happen, from muddy puddles to tummy troubles; there may come a time when your child needs a change of clothes. Please ensure your child has a spare set of clothing in their bags at all times in the event they are needed.