Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to Term 3. I hope you and your children had a restful break, and managed to stay warm! The school play equipment was painted over the holidays and it looks great! We also had the “spider web” lifted and straightened. The sandpit has been a great hit since its installation; the kids are loving it! (If you get a chance, wander around the back of the school and have a look).

Teaching staff were appreciative of the time families took to meet with them in the last week of Term 2. Communication between parents and teachers is so important. “Both parents and teachers have an important role to play; their roles do not replace but rather compliment and reinforce the other’s role, thus providing the student with a consistent message about learning. Thinking of parents and teachers as “partners” refers to this mutual effort toward a shared goal. It also implies shared responsibility of parents and teachers for supporting students as learners” (Christenson & Sheridan, 2001).

I would like to thank everyone who has recommended our school to potential families. We have a full Kinder class for 2019 and have enrolments in other grade levels across the school. “Word of mouth” has been the key this year, along with some strategic advertising through social media and our other platforms. At nearly all of my enrolment interviews at the end of last term, the resounding endorsement of our school came from current families. Thank you!

Facebook

Click on the link below – https://www.facebook.com/stmcampbell/ or @stmcampbell

Working with Vulnerable People Cards

A reminder to all parents that if you are helping in the classroom you must have your WWVP card on you always. These cards are free for volunteers.

Grandparent’s Day Prayer Assembly

We look forward to meeting our grandparents on Friday morning. Our assembly will start at 9am, followed by morning tea. For our new families, I wish to advise that due to WHS regulations, the students are unable to attend the morning tea.  Special thanks to our Yr 2 parents for helping out with the morning tea.

BYOD

A letter will go home to our Yr 4 parents today regarding the BYOD program at STM. It is my intention to phase it out. The school will be providing a Chromebook to all Yr 5 students next year.

Yours sincerely,

Julie Wiley
Principal.

Heroes of Faith

‘Walk Humbly’

Walk in Wisdom

Welcome to Term 3! I trust you all enjoyed your holiday break with loved ones.

Our first hero of faith this term is Deborah. Her stories are found in the Book of Judges. Deborah was called by God to provide wise counsel to the Israelites who had turned their back on God. She would sit daily under a palm tree, meditate on GOD’S WORD and encourage the Israelites to put God first.

Some interesting facts about Deborah:

• Deborah is the OLD TESTAMENT Wonder Woman! She ruled around 1105 B.C

• Deborah is the first and only female judge and the first woman on a battlefield.

• Deborah was a woman of strong FAITH.

• Deborah LISTENED to GOD and TRUSTED in God’s WORD. She never doubted GOD.

• Deborah encouraged the Israelites to ‘turn back to God’ and PUT GOD FIRST.

• Deborah had SUPERPOWERS! She was WISE and FEARLESS.

Deborah was a humble woman who knew that all things were possible in God who strengthened her. She led the Israelites in battle and knew that God would protect them.

This Friday, Kinder and Year One students are presenting Prayer Assembly and celebrating our wonderful grandparents. I would like to thank Miss Brown, Mrs Sixsmith and Ms Mikkonen for the time taken to prepare for this assembly.

I wish you all a very happy and peaceful week ahead.

Donna Victory
Religious Education Coordinator

Monday Lunchtime Craft/Lego

Monday Lunchtime Craft/Lego will commence in Week 3 as I am on leave for Monday of Week 2. It is organised by class rotation throughout the term.

Deployment Groups

Are held on Tuesday and Wednesday lunchtimes (after eating time). Please let me know if your family has a Defence parent away (whether it be deployment, course or exercise) and your child would like to attend the Deployment Group.

Relaxation Sessions

Relaxation sessions will be organised by class rotation throughout the term commencing in Week 2. Relaxation occurs during quiet reading time after lunch and is voluntary. Relaxation sessions help children build resilience and coping skills using techniques of deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation and imagery.

Defence Families of Australia

Defence Families Australia (DFA) want to hear from ADF families about the issues they are facing. In August each year, DFA meet with Defence policymakers in Canberra including CDF, Service Chiefs and the Minister for Defence Personnel and so they are now reviewing what's happening in the local Defence Communities. DFA plan to advocate for the programs that most benefit families and the issues that most affect families.          Emma Steil is the Canberra Region DFA Delegate so if you have feedback, contact her via email at act.sthnsw@dfa.org.au or Facebook

@DFAACTSouthernNSW .

Defence Christian’s Dinner

When  Friday 31 August 2018, 7-10.30pm

Where  ADFA Cadets Mess

Info Hosted by Military Christian Fellowship. Key note speaker is Dr John Dickson (PhD). He started out as a professional singer-songwriter, now works as an author, speaker, historian, senior pastor, and media presenter. He has published 15 books, three of which have become television documentaries. Follow link http://mcf-a.org.au/events/defence-christians-dinner-2018/  Enquiries: 02 6266 4950 or email mcf.office@defence.gov.au .

Feel welcome to visit or contact me on 6249 8869 or send an email to sonja.mingay@cg.catholic.edu.au .

Sonja Mingay
DSTA

Work hours: Mon-Wed 9am-3pm, Thu 9-11am

A very warm welcome back to Term 3 to counterbalance the chilly temperatures we have been experiencing. A special welcome to our one returning family and four new families. I hope you find the St Thomas More’s Community to be friendly and soon feel one of the team.

Mini Vinnies Winter Heart-Warmers Talent Show

The Mini Vinnies Winter Heart-Warmers Talent Show held at lunchtime on Thursday, 5 July 2018 was fabulous! A lot of thought, effort and teamwork went into presenting entertaining and fitting performances. We had a wonderful audience. Thank you to parents who were able to take time to come along and watch. We raised $71.20 which will be donated to the St Vincent de Paul Night Patrol Van. The van is operated by volunteers and offers friendship, support and refreshments to homeless people every night of the year. If you are interested in finding out more about the Night Patrol Van, follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vlzm7oIwV4

SVdP Winter Clothing Appeal and Winter Woollies for SVdP Night Patrol Van

Thank you very much to all families who were able to donate items towards the SVdP Winter Clothing Appeal and Winter Woollies. Your donations have been delivered to Vinnies. The Winter Woollies were very gratefully received by the Night Patrol Van. The second hand clothing either directly helps struggling families and individuals or is distributed to the Vinnies Stores to help generate revenue for St Vincent de Paul’s work within the community.

Next Mini Vinnies Meeting

Our next Mini Vinnies Meeting will be held on Thursday, 2 August (Week 2) after eating time at lunchtime in the Afters Area. We will be planning our focus for Term 3.

Feel welcome to visit or contact me on 6249 8869 or send an email to sonja.mingay@cg.catholic.edu.au .

Sonja Mingay
School Chaplain

Work hours: Thu 11am-3pm, Fri 9am-3pm

Message from the Chair of the STM School Council

This week is School Boards Week in Australia.  It is an opportunity to mark the special relationship and contribution that School Boards or School Councils have in the life of running a school.

We have a great STM School Council with representatives from the School leadership, the parish priests and several parents.  We were really happy to be able to support the school install the new sandpit last term which is proving very popular. The STM Council used our fundraising dollars to contribute close to half of the cost of the sandpit with the school paying the rest.

I know many of the classes have been having class get togethers (some with the kids, some just parents).  The parent class contacts are a fabulous resource at STM- for keeping parents up to date with family contact details and also in organising social events and the events organised by classes throughout the year (thanks in advance to the Year 2 parents who are helping with Grandparents Day this Friday).  The parent network of class contacts is overseen by the Parent Network Coordinator on the STM Council - and thank you to Moira Clancy for undertaking this important role.

Finally I just want to notify you of a "save the date" for later in the year.  The school with the STM Council will be hosting a great art and wine tasting event (this will be an art show of the children's art plus maybe a few extras by adults!).  It will be held on the evening of Friday 2 November (6-8pm).  It will be a great evening for the whole family (food and wine on sale) - mostly a community event but with a bit of fundraising thrown in too.  Mark it out in your diaries!

As always, the STM Council is there to assist the school and bring the voice of parents to the school leadership, so if you have any ideas or issues you want to raise, don't hesitate to contact the STM Council email address:  stthomasmorecouncil@gmail.com

Margaret Deerain
STM Council Chair

PROPOSED CHANGES TO SCHOOL BUS SERVICES FROM 2019

Catholic Education have been made aware of the proposed changes to the Transport Canberra bus network commencing in January 2019. Of particular interest are the changes proposed to school bus services.

Initial analysis indicates that the majority of the Catholic Primary Schools will need to use the general bus routes, having to connect and/or interchange at bus stations.

Reduction of Bus Servies

At Catholic Secondary Schools including Congregational Schools, some of the currently available dedicated school bus services have remained although with a reduction of services of approximately 75%.

Catholic Education has requested Transport Canberra to provide further information on the following concerns;

• How will the students be supported when interchanging?
• How many customer service officers and student safety officers would be available at each interchange?
• What is the specific type of support provided to Primary students?
• Will there be any dedicated platforms at interchanges for school bus services?
• What is the process to handle any incidents which will be a breach of safety?
• What support is provided to school students inside the buses, particularly for Primary students?
• Is there a priority for students getting on general public buses which are at full capacity?

As parents and carers, you are strongly urged to provide your feedback through “YourSay” on https://www.yoursay.act.gov.au/rapid-bus-network before 12 August 2018.

Details on the changes to school bus services can be found on  https://canberrabuses.com.au/schools/

Catholic Education will continue our discussions with Transport Canberra and provide further information as and when available.

Catholic Schools Netball Carnival 2018

This year St Monica’s Primary School is hosting the 2018 Catholic Schools Netball Carnival. The carnival will be held on Saturday 20 October at the Tuggeranong Netball Association Courts, Were Street Calwell. Children in Year 2 to 6 are eligible to play. Registrations are due by Friday 17^th August.

Please ask your child to see Mrs Mance if they have not yet received a registration form.

Campbell Community Association