Dear Parents and Carers,

Last Sunday was Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost is part of church tradition - not only our denominational tradition, but the tradition of many churches. Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples of Jesus - it is the Church's celebration of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Pentecost is a powerful reminder of how the Holy Spirit leads, guides and empowers us.

We live and work by the power of the Holy Spirit; it is God within us who brings the joy of salvation, perseverance in the face of persecution, and the love that transcends cultural differences within the church.

Joseph Tkach

Pentecost comes from the realisation that God's very life, breath and energy lives in, with and among us. A passage from the Pentecost readings tells of a visit of the Risen Christ to the disciples huddled in fear. "Peace be with you," Jesus says. "As the Father sent me, so I am sending you." After saying this, Jesus breathed on them and added, "Receive the Holy Spirit." The breath, the life, of Jesus himself. Pentecost celebrates that reality.

Sabbath Week

This week is Sabbath Week. It’s always a great opportunity to re-connect with your children, without the pressures of homework. We only ask students to continue their reading practice during Sabbath Week.

Open Classrooms

Open Classrooms was a huge success. Thanks for visiting and having a look at your child’s work. 5/6G will have their Open Classroom tomorrow.

School Reports

Teachers have almost completed the process of writing Semester 1 reports. Yr 1 to Yr 6 have the A-E reporting scale. The Kinder reporting scale is as follows - Competent, Developing, Experiencing Difficulty. Parent/Teacher Interviews will be in Week 10.

Prayer Assembly

Kinder’s prayer assembly will be this Friday at 9am, in Holy Faith Hall.

Mini-Vinnies

This Friday the Mini-Vinnies will be visiting the Southern Cross Apartments to perform for them.

Save the Date

Next Friday (June 21) we have our Feast Day! We will celebrate Mass at 9:30am, followed by some whole-school activities. Our wonderful Kinder and Yr 1 parents will provide a sausage sizzle lunch for the students.

Yours sincerely,

Julie Wiley
Principal.

XPLORE MORE- 

Today I will introduce you to the next phases of XPLORE MORE. This model is used in our Religious Education Curriculum, in HASS (History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship, Economics) and in Science throughout Kinder to Year 6.

During this phase, teachers guide the students to explore the questions they have asked, or additional questions they have based upon what they have found out during the DISCOVER phase. Often their discoveries result in more questions being asked and may even lead the class in a new direction. Teachers may also use this time to redirect the investigations and thinking, refer back to the questions posed and assist students to interpret their research. Additional sources of information may also need to be explored to provide more information and food for thought.

Teachers guide students to reflect on their learning and this is an important part of the process. With reflection, we value what we have learned, what skills we have developed, and how we have managed as a learner. It is essential we reflect on why this learning matters and what we will do with this new learning.

This is the time we act on our discoveries, our explorations and our learning. We make connections between our prior knowledge and our new understandings. Teachers provide options for students to share, express and present what they have explored and learned. This could be an action they will now undertake, an alternative way of doing something, or it can be about how your thinking has now changed.

I will take this opportunity to remind you again of our VISION- At the heart of XPLORE MORE is our capacity to be CENTRED IN LEARNING. At all stages of XPLORE MORE, teachers are the guide and mentor. Explicit teaching of concepts and skills, as outlined in the Australian Curriculum, occurs every day at St Thomas More’s to meet student needs and to support our School Vision of Teaching and Learning Excellence. Teachers bring their students back to be Centred In Learning and to think about what and how they have learned. Being Centred in Learning helps us to grow as learners, active citizens and members of a community.

READ-MORE-A-THON

Next Term we will be holding a READ-MORE-A-THON. The money raised will go towards purchasing books for our classroom libraries. Details for students will follow next term. At this stage, I am asking for any families (particularly business owners) to donate some funds so we can award incentives for books read during this time. Please contact me if you wish to donate! Thank you for supporting the love of reading at STM. 

Nicole.mikkonen@cg.catholic.edu.au

Nicole Mikkonen
Assistant Principal

­­­­­­­­One Community

in God’s Love

We are a EUCHARISTIC Community

Welcome to Week 7.

It is SABBATH Week! I hope you are all enjoying a ‘slower paced’ life, along with family time this week.

I would like to sincerely thank you for your generosity in providing food for St John’s Care. Each Friday when the food hamper is being collected, the box is overflowing with food supplies.

This food will be provided to many homeless people within the inner suburbs of Canberra. Some of the food will be made into meals for homeless people to enjoy as well as be available as food items for people to take and eat.

It is very heart-warming to know that I work in such a wonderful, giving community. Thank you all very much.

Have a wonderful week.

Donna Victory
Religious Education Coordinator

The dedication and teamwork of those Mini Vinnies who have committed to the Disney Show for Southern Cross Care Campbell has been impressive. It will occur this Friday, 14 June (Week 7). They have been working really well in their groups over many recesses and lunch times in the past three weeks. I am sure the residents will enjoy our showcase of talent and good will.

SVdP Winter Clothing Appeal

If you have good quality winter clothing that is outgrown or not worn anymore, or blankets/doonas/bed linen that are not used, you may want to donate them to the SVdP Winter Clothing Appeal. Bags and a note will be sent home by the end of this week. Donations can be given to the Front Office until 26 June (Wednesday Week 9).

Winter Woollies for SVdP Night Patrol Van

All classes are invited to donate winter woollies to help support the SVdP Night Patrol Van who are always struggling to have enough to give particularly during winter months (men’s items is what is most needed):

Kinder/Year 1/Year 2 – new socks

3/4 and 5/6 – new gloves

Collection boxes for donations will be placed in each classroom in Week 8. If you would prefer to donate a different item than allocated to your class (ie scarves or beanies), that is absolutely fine. All donations will be very gratefully received.

Seasons for Growth

There will be two groups for the Seasons for Growth Program. Apologies for the delay in notification to parents. Envelopes with details of the program will definitely be sent home by the end of this week.

Refugee Week (16-23 June 2019)

Refugee Week is an opportunity for us to appreciate the positive contribution made by refugees to Australian society. See the Refugee Week website: https://www.refugeeweek.org.au/about/

It can also be an opportunity for us to consider the plight of the people incarcerated on Manus and Nauru (and in Port Moresby) for almost six years with still no hope of safe re-resettlement. The Catholic Alliance for People Seeking Asylum website https://capsa.org.au/get-involved/ has suggestions of how we may be able to make a difference.

You may consider attending Australia wide rallies on 20 July 2019.

Dear Lord,

In this Refugee Week, help us to be a people of welcome and compassion, with hearts large enough for all people.  Help us, with the presence of your Holy Spirit, to create space for those who seek asylum and refuge. Give strength and hope to those still held offshore in Manus and Nauru for nearly six years, and courage to our leaders to take all steps needed to offer these people protection, safety and a life of freedom from persecution and detention.

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

Coerver Soccer

Questacon

Merici College Concert

As part of Merici College’s 60^th Anniversary celebrations, a very special concert and fundraiser will be held on Friday 9 August and Saturday 10 August in the College Auditorium, Wise Street Braddon. The concert starts at 7.00pm (arrival and seating at 6.30pm) on both nights. Walk down memory lane as each decade is revisited through dance, music, drama performances, Alumni reflections and current students highlighting life at Merici College. Tickets and refreshment packages available at www.trybooking.com/BCWAY.

 PET Training