Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back! We have had an engaging start to Term 3. It is wonderful to see and hear the children Centred In their Learning as they begin the new term and new semester. I look forward to my Acting Principal role for the next seven weeks while Julie Wiley is on leave.

Thank you for making time to collaborate with the teachers in Week 10 of last term to set goals and discuss your child’s learning as well as their personal and social capabilities. The teachers appreciate the partnerships these opportunities build, as they work together with families to ensure your child is being their best and reaching their potential.

Centred In Learning and Centred In Faith Gatherings

We regularly gather each Friday morning to present awards and to pray as a school community. We would like to rename these experiences to align them more fully with our school vision and current education practices. When we gather to be Centred In Learning, we will affirm student contributions and effort in their learning. These affirmations will still be presented and celebrated with the whole school in Holy Faith Hall. The students will be presented with a certificate which outlines an affirmation from their teacher. These affirmations will highlight their application to their learning as well as affirm how they have been a person of Wisdom, Courage or Peace. The recipients will be published in the More Reminders newsletter, which is emailed on Wednesdays in even weeks of the school term. 

This week the teachers and students have developed criteria for these affirmations and compiled a list to identify what Centred in Faith and Centred In Learning means for them and how they demonstrate and witness this every day.

Centred In Faith Gatherings occur in odd weeks each term. A class leads the school in prayer and reminds us of our Patron Saint, St Thomas More and how he was a person of Wisdom, Courage and Peace and how we can live our faith and grow these core values. The name change also acknowledges the community aspect of school we build and value.

Athletics Carnival

Thank you to parents and carers who have volunteered to assist us at the Athletics Carnival next Friday August 2^nd. If you have offered your help, and do not have a WWVP card, please come to the office before the carnival to complete a statutory declaration. We thank you for your help. It is not possible to run such events without it.

The carnival is held at Merici College.

Parent helpers

A reminder to please sign in and out at the front office when you come to help at the school. The front office also needs a copy of your current Working With Vulnerable People card. Please print and wear the visitor sticker.

ICAS

Students in Year 3-6 received a note on Monday about entering the NSW competitions. Registration is optional and must be completed online this year. Please refer to the note for further details.

Hats on

A reminder that hats need to be worn from August 1^st- which is next Thursday. It is particularly important on Friday August 2^nd when we are outdoors for the Athletics carnival. Hats are available for purchase from the front office.

National Peace Project

Thanks to Sonja Mingay for organising some of our children to part of the Australian War Memorial Peace Project last Friday July 19^th. See Sonja’s piece in the newsletter for photos and information. Thank you to parents for supporting this and for the following children who graciously represented our school: Elise Clark, Timothy Copeland, Ava Davis, Sophia Ellis, Faith, Mia and Ava Gibb, Ethan Golder, Sora and Mary Golding, Lacie Hill, Lachlan Jaensch, Charli Morris, Ewan Owen, Dashel Spiller and Ava Thuell.

Grandparent’s Day

This Friday we welcome Grandparents and Grandfriends to visit as well as acknowledge and celebrate their valuable and special role in our lives. We will begin with prayer and a blessing at 8:50 am and invite them to visit classrooms between 9 and 9:40. Morning tea is available for Grandparents in Holy Faith Hall at 9:45.  

Survey

An annual satisfaction survey of parents, students and staff will be conducted on behalf of all Catholic schools in the Diocese this term. The surveys are designed to gather feedback from parents, staff and students about our school and will be used to inform school improvement. Responses are confidential and individuals can not be identified.

The surveys will be launched via email on 29^th July and close August 9^th using the email addresses supplied to the school. If you do not receive an email with a link to the survey, you can access and complete the survey at the following: https://www.research.net/r/stthomasmoresparent2019

Yours Sincerely,

Nicole Mikkonen
Acting Principal

nicole.mikkonen@cg.catholic.edu.au

Welcome to Term 3, I am looking forward to my role as Acting Religious Education Coordinator for the next seven weeks while Julie Wiley is on leave.

Value for Term 3

Our value for this term is Peace. Peace is one of our values because St Thomas More was a person of Peace. As stated on our website- He forgave those who opposed him. He was God’s servant first. The Hebrew word for Peace is shalom. Shalom can also be translated into English as fullness or completeness. This understanding of the value of peace broadens the word’s definition to not only describe an absence of war or conflict but to an understanding that to have peace there needs to be a complete trust and support between people in a community.

Prayer Theme for Term 3

We are a Community Living with the Spirit

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

This term we will be exploring the above scripture passage from Galatians. The Apostle Paul writes to us in the Bible about the ‘Fruit of the Spirit’. He sums up nine attributes of a community living in accord with the Holy Spirit. Paul talks about the way we as Christians should treat each other. When translated into English the original Greek term καρπός "fruit" is singular. The Greek word usually means fruit in the sense of edible fruits and vegetables, but it can also be translated as deed, action, or result. The understanding that “fruit” in this verse can mean “deed, action, or result” I believe helps make this verse more personal. Therefore, the result or the work of the Spirit in a believer’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Grandparents’ Day

We hope to see many Grandparents and Grandfriends on Friday. We also would like to acknowledge that there will be many grandparents who cannot be with us on Friday: those who cannot travel; those who live far away; those who are sick; and those who are with God in heaven. I have included the prayer we will use at morning assembly on Friday, your child may like to share this with their Grandparent(s) if they are unable to make it on Friday.

Prayer- Dear Father, we thank you for our wonderful grandparents.
They bring such joy and happiness into our lives. Thank you for all the special times that we have with them.
Please watch over them, protect them and care for them now. May they know your goodness and love always. Amen

Sacramental Program- Sacrament of Confirmation

Please find below the timetable for the Sacrament if you are interested in your child participating. Please note all Catechesis sessions will take place after Sunday Mass at St Thomas More’s Church.

Catechesis Dates

• 4 August- Enrolment and Week 1
• 11 August
• 18 August
• 25 August
• 1 September
• 8 September
• 15 September
• 22 September
• Break for School Holidays
• 13 October
• Celebration- Sunday 20 October

Enquiries to Mr Christopher Evans 0415 533 155 or the Parish Office at 0416 823 447.

Samantha Mance
Acting Religious Education Coordinator

Monday Lunchtime Craft/Lego

Monday Lunchtime Craft/Lego will commence in 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 Community Organisation Notice

What  Anti-bullying program

When  First session – Saturday, 27 July 2019  10-11am

Where  New Indoor Sports Centre, Australian Defence Force Academy

(off General Bridges Drive, Campbell)

Info  For ages 6-14 years. Open to children of ADF members. $50 per term. Build self-confidence and self-protection skills with non-offensive techniques. Point of Contact: Padre Mick George 0447 247 398

National Peace Project

During the school holidays on Friday 19 July 2019, a number of STM School Choir members and their siblings attended the National Peace Project at the Australian War Memorial. This was an initiative of the OZY Youth Choir (see https://www.commemorativechoir.com/about.html for information about this interesting online choir). The event commemorated the centenary of 'Peace Day', a day of official celebrations throughout the British Empire to mark the end of the First World War.

The afternoon included an educational tour of the Memorial followed by processing though to the Commemorative Area to the forecourt, forming and filming a giant peace poppy and singing two songs as an “impromptu” Peace Choir.

Elise Clark, Timothy Copeland, Ava Davis, Sophia Ellis, Faith, Mia and Ava Gibb, Ethan Golder, Sora and Mary Golding, Lacie Hill, Lachlan Jaensch, Charli Morris, Ewan Owen, Dashel Spiller and Ava Thuell were all excellent ambassadors for St Thomas More’s.

Sonja Mingay
DSM

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

Welcome to Term 3!

Mini Vinnies

Our next Mini Vinnies Meeting will be held on Friday, 26 July (Week 1) after eating time at lunchtime in the Afters Area.

We will be planning our focus for Term 3.

Seasons for Growth

Seasons for Growth sessions will be occurring on Thursdays during Term 3.

Pens Against Poverty

Pens Against Poverty is a creative writing competition seeking to raise awareness for the most vulnerable in our community. It is an official activity of Anti-Poverty Week (13-19 October 2019).

The theme for this year is ‘Courage in Kindness’.

Students in Years 3-10 living in the Canberra and surrounding regions may enter up to three short stories or poems. Entries must be no more than 500 words and will be judged by author Jackie French. Winners will be announced during Anti-Poverty Week. Winning writers will be published online and have a chance to win some amazing prizes donated from key sponsors, Gallagher and Hesta.

This is an optional activity. Please submit entries to Mrs Mingay by Wednesday, 4 September 2019.

Two good websites to look at for inspiration are:

https://pensagainstpoverty.org/resources/

https://antipovertyweek.org.au/resources/poverty-in-australia/

Anti-Poverty Week supports the Australian community to have an increased understanding of poverty and to take action collectively to end it.

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

Lots of exciting events in the Library this term!

Week 3: Book Fair

The theme of our Scholastic Book Fair is Dino-Mite, where we hope you will Stomp, Chomp, and Read! It’s a fun reading event that 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 dates: Tuesday 6^th - Friday 9^th August

Shopping hours: Wednesday 7^th & Thursday 8^th August

                            Morning:  8:20am- 8:45am

                            Afternoon: 3:00pm-3:45pm

Week 5: Book Week

The theme for Book Week is ‘Reading is my Secret Power’. More information to follow in the coming weeks about the events in store for Book Week this year, but in the meantime… start planning costumes and save the date for these much-loved events:

Cake and Bake Stall: Monday 19^th August

Our Year 6 students will whip up cakes to display and then share with our students. They will be decorated with a storybook theme. Bring a gold coin to buy a slice of cake.

Snuggle Up and Read: Wednesday 21^st August

From 5:30pm-6:45pm, parents and families are invited to our school library to read stories together as a family. This is a family time, not supervised by teachers, but we will bring the hot chocolate and cookies to share! Please come and share the love of reading with your children.

Book Week Parade: Friday 23^rd August

Commencing at 9am at our Holy Faith Hall, you are invited to attend the annual Book Week Parade. We will celebrate the fun of dressing up, creativity of costumes and participation in the day (there will be no prizes for best dressed).

Week 7: Author Visit- Jack Heath

Date: Monday 2^nd September

Jack Heath is the bestselling author of more than twenty action-packed books. He wrote his first novel in high school, and it was published while he was still a teenager. Since then his work has been translated into several languages, shortlisted for many awards and optioned for film and television. His enthusiastic presentations have gotten thousands of kids hooked on reading.