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Book Week
Thank you for organising your costumes, snuggling up and reading, cooking or buying cakes and joining in the spirit of Book Week last week. The children looked fabulous and had a thoroughly enjoyable day. Thanks to Mrs Reid for organising an event filled week, from cake and bake, Snuggle Up and Read, book activities and the parade. Our 5/6 students also had an opportunity to lead younger students in exciting activities related to the books nominated for this year’s awards.
Centred In Learning Gathering – formerly known as Awards Assembly
This Friday we will affirm students for their contributions to our community, their effort and successes. All welcome – Holy Faith Hall at 9am.
Father’s Day Breakfast
A reminder breakfast is served from 8 am this Friday in the school courtyard. Thanks to parents of 3/4 Green who are organising this community event. $10 per family/$3 per person can be paid on the day.
I wish all fathers, father figures and grandfathers a happy Father’s Day on Sunday.
RSPCA Cookie Day
Congratulations to Riley Bransdon who successfully organised this fundraiser for the RSPCA, baked delicious choc chip cookies and sold them to our students on Monday. Her team of fantastic assistants included Elise, Leah, May and Kya. Thank you to our families who supplied the gold coins to allow their child to buy a cookie and donate to this worthwhile cause. Riley has raised $301.40 for the RSPCA.
Read-More-A-Thon
Thank you to all bookworms!!! We are a community of readers at STM and this is clearly evident from the number of enthusiastic participants and generosity of sponsors. We have raised $1245.10
Earn and Learn
Another example of a supportive community we have here at STM- we had so many Woolworths stickers which contributed to the school being able to order resources for coding club. Thank you.
Thank you to Mrs Neuifi and Mrs Tarleton who coordinated this. We also extend a warm thank you to families and parishioners who supplied the school with earn and learn stickers. Our School Community Council has generously agreed to support this initiative with fundraising contributions from our families. Please see Margaret Deerain’s School Council Chair Report in this newsletter.
Yours sincerely
Nicole Mikkonen
Acting Principal
Mini Vinnies
Our next Mini Vinnies meeting will be Thursday, 29 August after eating time at lunch. We will be making posters to advertise our hot chocolate fundraiser to support St Vincent de Paul Night Patrol Van.
Hot Chocolate Fundraiser
Hot chocolates will be sold before school on Tuesday, 3 September for $1. Please let Mrs Mingay know by Monday, 2 September of any child who would like to purchase a hot chocolate who has allergies and a suitable alternative can be provided.
Sonja Mingay
School Chaplain
Work hours: Thu 11am-3pm, Fri 9am-3pm
Book Week 2019
What a fantastic celebration Book Week 2019 has been! A special thank you to families for sharing in the joy of cake making, dress ups and snuggling up and reading books after dark at school.
On Friday, students also participated in activities based on the books that have been short-listed from the Children’s Book Council of Australia. Yet again, our Year 5/6 students demonstrated fantastic leadership in coordinating and running each of these activities, taking responsibility for younger students in mixed K-4 groups. Congratulations Year 5/6.
We capped off the week of celebrations with the book parade. It was great to see the students dressed as their favourite character and we could see the diversity of literature enjoyed by our children at St Thomas More’s. If you would like to have a look at the short-listed books, visit https://cbca.org.au/shortlist-2019
STM School Council Chair’s Report – August 2019
Hi all, I just wanted to give parents and carers a STM Council update. Council membership is made up of parent representatives, teaching staff and the parish priests. We meet twice a term (on Wednesdays weeks 3 and 8) to discuss issues of importance to the school relevant to staff, parents and the parish.
More coding resources
I am very excited to advise that recently STM Council agreed to provide $2,000 raised through fundraising initiatives to increase the supply of coding resources at the school augmenting the resources acquired by the school through Earn and Learn. Council wanted to ensure the school had a supply of resources not only for the coding club but for all the classes to use. We have also purchased some high vis vests for parents to use at events such as the cross country and sporting events (this was an idea raised by a parent).
Dad’s Night Out 6 September
A fabulous idea discussed at Council is to have a ‘Dads’ night out’ event to honour Father’s Day and the plan is to have another event next year for a mum’s night out (around Mother’s Day) – another way for people to get to know each other in a social way and build community at our school. So dads make sure you head to Gryphons Caffe Bar at Griffith (owned by school family the Kennys) on Friday night 6 September from 6:30pm. It should be a great evening for dads. And mums – our turn will come!
Cuppa at the Gate and Second Hand Uniform Shop
The parents on Council are holding another “cuppa at the gate” on Friday 20 September, from 8:20am to 8:50am where you can grab a cup of tea or coffee as you drop off the kids in the morning – and have a chance to chat with Council members and other parents outside of the school hall. We will also run the second-hand uniform shop at the same time so be prepared to pick up some extras for your uniform stash – gold coin donation for items!
New Members for STM Council needed for 2020
Last but not least – we need new parent members on Council in 2020. A couple of parents (including myself and Treasurer/Deputy Chair Lee Kormany) are coming to the end of our tenure on Council and we need some new faces. If you are interested in joining please see Julie Wiley or Nicole Mikkonen. I highly recommend being on Council as a way of being connected to your child’s school and education – it is a worthwhile thing to do and a great way to be involved. Please consider joining!
STM Council email address
And also please always feel free to suggest ideas for the school and for how fundraising dollars could best be utilised – ideas are always welcome on the School Council email: stthomasmorecouncil@gmail.com
Margaret Deerain (STM Council Chair)
