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Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you’re all praying that we do not return to remote learning! I certainly am. Schools have been asked to prepare for online learning in the event that we need to move quickly to a different format. I wanted to assure you that we are working behind the scenes to get everything organised as best we can. If students are required to work from home our Yr. 3 to Yr. 6 students will be provided with a Chromebook laptop, if they do not already have a device they can work from. (Our students will be accessing their daily work schedule and tasks through Microsoft Teams). Kinder will access Google Classroom, which is a tab in Microsoft Teams.
The following documents will be sent home with students this Friday:
- How to login to Microsoft Teams.
- STM Expectations Student Poster
- Student passwords.
As was the case last year, we will be open for children of essential workers. More information on this will be circulated once we have a clearer idea of the situation.
Grandparent’s Day
Thank you to all our grandparents and the special people in our student’s lives for coming along to our Prayer liturgy last Friday. The Yr. 5/6 students and teachers presented a beautiful liturgy.
Athletics Carnival
We are looking forward to our Athletics Carnival this Friday. We will be catching buses to Merici College, leaving at 9:15am. A very big “thank you” to Brittney Temple and Andrea McQuirk for organising the day. Special thanks also to all the parent volunteers – we could not run this event without your help.
100 Days of Kinder
Congratulations to our Kinder students who are celebrating 100 days of school today! They have had a fun-filled day, with many treats.
Hats on!
From the beginning of August through to the end of May sun protection will be required for at least part or most of each day in Canberra. So, next Monday, we will start implementing our school's sun protection policy and ask the students to wear their hats during outdoor play.
Uniform
Just a reminder that we are currently wearing Winter uniform. Thank you to those parents who are enforcing our uniform policy. Girls wear navy tights or navy socks with the Winter uniform.
Term Overviews
A reminder you can read the term overviews on our website under the “Curriculum” tab.
Yours sincerely,
Julie Wiley
Principal.
Sacrament of Confirmation
Confirmation enrolment will take place on Sunday 22 August after the 9:30 am Parish Mass. The celebration of the Sacrament will take place at 6pm on Saturday 16th October.
CHANGE OF DATE “Archdiocesan Women’s Taskforce Dinner”
The Mary Magdalene dinner has moved to the post-COVID-lock-down date of Friday 3rd September, 6.30pm at the Southern Cross Club, Woden. Current tickets remain valid for Fri 3rd September. If you require a refund, no problem, contact elisabeth_doherty@hotmail.com or ring 0432 608 310. Limited tickets still available. Three course meal $65. Bookings essential at http://bit.ly/MaryMagdaleneDinner
Yours in Christ
Samantha Mance
Religious Education Co ordinator
I am delighted to introduce myself as the new DSM for St Thomas More’s Primary School. As an ex Defence Member and now a Defence spouse with 3 children, I understand the complexities that come about as a result of being a Defence family and hope to support the children and families in any way I can.
I will take the next few weeks introducing myself and getting to know the children, spending time in their classes. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any concerns in regards to how your children are settling in this term.
I have recently attended a meeting with Education Liaison Officer at DMFS where I have made some great contacts and will be able to find out information of upcoming events. One particular event that may be of interest is the Catch Me If You Can musical being held at ADFA. As well as the show times advertised on their flyer, there will be a lunch time Matinee on Friday 13 Aug 21. This event is now only open to ADF members, Defence APS and their families by gold coin donation as a fundraiser for Legacy Australia. The production is rated PG and tickets are available from eventbrite.com.au.
I look forward to meeting with you in due course and in the meantime please feel free email me on lisa.holl@cg.catholic.edu.au . I can be contacted on 6249 8869 or alternatively you can visit me at school. My hours are:
Mondays 1015 to 1415hrs
Wednesdays 0830 to 1300hrs
Thursdays 0915 to 1515hrs
Lisa Holl
DSM
Dear Parents and Families:
Book Fair Dates: Tuesday 3rd August- Friday 6th
Reading for pleasure unlocks the power of information and imagination and helps children discover who they are. Here’s what you can do to help children develop stronger reading skills and a love for reading:
- Set the example. Let children see you read.
- Have a collection of books in your home. Update this collection routinely to keep up with changing tastes and reading skills.
- Support our school’s Book Fair. Allow your children to choose their own books to read.
The theme of our Scholastic Book Fair is Reading Oasis, where we hope you will find a cool place to discover hot books!
Book Fair brings the books kids want to read right into our school. It’s a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level. Please make plans to visit our Book Fair and be involved in shaping your child’s reading habits.
Book Fair Tickets & Purchasing Options
Due to social distancing requirements, this year’s Book Fair will a ticketed event. Students will visit the Book Fair with their teachers on Tuesday 3rd August and bring home a wish list featuring the title and price of their selections. We will have helpers to assist the younger students to record their wish list neatly and accurately.
- If you would like to attend the Book Fair with your children to purch
ase books in person, please book a time online (the link below will also be provided in this week’s newsletter). Please only one adult per family in attendance with children.
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/st-thomas-mores-scholastic-book-fair-tickets-164236073517
- If you can’t make it to the fair this year or you would prefer not to attend, purchases can be made online by following the purchasing instructions on the back of the wish list form. Please ensure your child returns their wish list to their class teacher with the 8-digit receipt number to collect their books. Final orders must be received NO LATER THAN Friday 6th I will provide a snapshot (photos & prices via STM Facebook page) of what’s available once I have the book cases set up in the Library. Unfortunately, Scholastic does not provide a detailed catalogue of what’s available as the stock is constantly changing as the fair moves from school to school.
The students are very much looking forward to Book Fair this year! Remember, all purchases benefit our school. If you have any questions, please contact me via email madeleine.reid@cg.catholic.edu.au
Sincerely,
Madeleine Reid
Librarian
We are Moving to Nude Food Wednesdays
What is Nude Food?
Nude Food is food without excess packaging. This reduces the amount of waste that goes into landfill, and helps us to live more sustainably. This can be fresh food made at home, or food bought in bulk that is divided into single serves, and brought to school in a reusable container.
Tips for parents packing Nude Food lunches
Bin audits in schools show large quantities of unopened packaged foods (single-serve yogurts, cheese sticks, sandwiches, uneaten fruit and fruit boxes are being thrown away. This costs your family money as well as creating unnecessary waste. Below are some tips that may help you prepare for Nude Food Wednesdays.
- Cut up fruit and vegetables and pack them in reusable containers so that children can eat some and save the rest for later. (It’s easier to eat a wedge or two of an apple and then reseal the container than to take a few bites out of a whole apple and save the rest). A rubber band around a sliced apple will prevent browning.
- Encourage your children to bring home uneaten food to eat later.
- Appreciate that play time is also important, so discuss with children how much they can reasonably eat in one day.
- If your children have chips, savoury biscuits, or other snacks, try buying a larger bulk pack and have your children put the same quantity into a reusable labelled container that they bring home each day. It’s also cheaper!
- Avoid buying drinks in packaging that cannot be resealed. Many children take just a few sips at snack time and discard the rest. Pack drinks in a reusable container (Adapted from Wipe Out Waste, SA Government Resources).
Coerver Coaching ACT x St. Thomas More’s Skills Clinic – Term 3 2021
Coerver® Coaching Skills Clinics offer a fun filled soccer experience for boys and girls aged 3 - 12 years. The Clinic will include Ball Mastery, 1v1 attack and defence, receiving and passing and small sided Coerver® games.
Players who attend the Coerver® Coaching ACT x St. Thomas More’s Skills Clinic - Term 3 2021 receive:
- 7.5 hours of programmed hours of Coerver® Coaching sessions delivered by Coerver® accredited coaches
- Coerver® Coaching Home Training Diary
- Coerver® Coaching Home Training Online Support
- Coerver® Coaching certificate of attendance
Dates: Tuesday, 27 July – Tuesday, 31 August
Times: 3:15pm – 4:30pm each session
Venue: St. Thomas More’s School Oval, Campbell
For more information, and to register, please visit: https://coerveract.com.au/courses/coerver-coaching-act-x-st-thomas-more%E2%80%99s-skills-clinic-%E2%80%93-term-3-2021
Please see our Coerver Coaching ACT Facebook Page regularly for updates on Coerver Coaching programs, player training advice, inclement weather as well as photos from programs; https://www.facebook.com/Coerveract/?ref=hl
Book Club
