Dear Parents and Carers,

This week is Sabbath Week at STM. Sabbath Week is a week of “no homework” (except, of course, reading). It’s also a time where we encourage families to participate in a family activity after school that our busy lives don’t always allow.

Although there has been opportunity to re-connect with your children during the pandemic, it’s another reminder that as restrictions start to ease in the territory, to fully appreciate the time you have with your children at this age. The months in a school year fly by and as we approach the latter part of Term 2, I am again reminded of the need to take stock of what’s around us – the interactions with our students and the health and wellbeing of all our community members.

Children’s Emotional Development

Having a solid foundation of social-emotional development is crucial for a child’s success in school and in life. Relationships are the core of social-emotional development. A child’s ability to establish and keep relationships is a very important aspect of their development. This is primarily seen in a child’s ability to make and keep friends. Friendships allow children to “broaden their horizons beyond the family unit, begin to experience the outside world, form a self-image, and develop a social support system.”

Below are some helpful ways of supporting children’s emotional development:

• Listen and validate the child’s emotional experience. You might say, “It sounds like you’re really angry. Let’s talk about it”.
• View emotions as an opportunity for connecting and teaching. You might say, “I can see you’re really frustrated about having to wait. Why don’t we read a story while we’re waiting?”
• Encourage problem solving to manage emotions. You might say, “What would help you feel brave?” Or “How else could you look at this?”
• Set limits in a supportive way. You might say, “I know you’re upset that your friend couldn’t make it over, but that does not make it okay to yell at me.”

Live Streamed Marriage Seminars - Sundays in June

The local Archdiocese has organised a series interactive live-streamed presentations for Marriage & Family Month immediately after the 11am Online Mass at St Christopher’s Cathedral for the next three Sundays (14^th, 21^st, 28^th June).

Listeners will be able to interact online and ask questions of our impressive line-up of international, interstate and local Catholic couples speaking at 11.45am each Sunday from mid-June. See full program at https://www.catholicvoice.org.au/marriage-family-month-june-2020/

Yours sincerely,

St Thomas More’s Feast Day- Monday 22nd of June

St. Thomas More was born in London in 1478. He was a devoted husband and loving father. He studied to be a lawyer, and had many books published. Thomas More was a real ‘Hero of Faith’ who had the courage to stand up for what he believed in to be right, fair and just. He had the courage to love God and to put God first. Thomas More’s faith gave him the strength to be courageous in the way he lived his life ~ a life lived with wisdom, integrity and courage. Thomas More was declared a saint in 1935.

We will celebrate his Feast Day on Monday 22nd of June. Our Youth Minister Rossen de Ramos will live stream Mass read by Father Emil for the children to view in the morning. In the middle session the children will share time together playing card and board games. We would love the children, in a few week's time, to bring in their favourite card or board game from home. 

The students will then enjoy a pizza lunch, followed by a movie and popcorn in the afternoon. Please check your child’s bag as notes about the pizza lunch went home yesterday. There is no charge for the pizza.

Friday Mass

Last Friday Year 2 viewed Father Emil celebrate Mass at the parish. The homily explained to the students the importance of the Trinity. Year 2 created art

work around their understanding of the Trinity which is now hanging in the Church. It 

has been wonderful that our Youth Minister Rossen, has been able to film these Masses so they can be shared with the children. 3/4 White have created artwork this week and will view the Parish Mass this Friday.

Samantha Mance
Religious Education Coordinator 

Thank you to the parents and children that have sent in their Winter Woollies for the SVdP Night Patrol Van. It's not too late, please keep your donations coming.

We still require:

New socks - (allocated to Kinder, Years 1 and 2)

New gloves - (allocated to Years 3/4 and 5/6)  

Collection boxes for donations will be placed in each classroom. Items for men are usually most needed. If you would prefer to donate a different item than allocated to your class, i.e. scarves or beanies, that is fine, all donations will be very gratefully received.

Donations will be accepted until 26 June (Friday Week 9).

As always thank you for your ongoing support.

Anglicare Pens Against Poverty

Anglicare is putting the call out to all young writers to submit an original poem or story of no more than 500 words based on the theme ‘Lost and Found’, inspired by Shaun Tan’s book, ‘The Lost Thing’.  I have read the story to 3/4W several times and it has prompted a great discussion amongst the class on disconnect and what it might feel like to be lost and then found. Some of our defence students were able to associate the feeling of being lost to when they have had to move schools.

The contest is open to students in grade grades 3 to 10. More information can be found at https://pensagainstpoverty.org/.

Please feel welcome to visit or contact me on 6249 8869 or send an email to brenda.galvin@cg.catholic.edu.au

Brenda Galvin
School Chaplain

‘See,  Think,  Do’

It is great to have our students back at school and settled after such a long break. During the past few weeks we have started our Lunchtime craft activities on a Thursday, and we have lots of our defence kids and their friends attending. Activities have included playing chess, making crowns and jewellery with lots of colouring in. Everyone is relaxed an enjoying the activities and it gives me the chance to spend some extra time with those who may need it.

Brenda Galvin
Defence School Mentor 

Dear Parents,

To encourage regular borrowing and great reading in our school we will be participating in the MS Readathon next term.

Throughout the month of August we will be reading as many books as possible to raise funds for kids who have a parent living with Multiple Sclerosis.

Help Us Reach Our Goal!

Each class will have their own class page to log their reading progress. Parents must register their child to participate in the reading challenge. Donations can be small contributions as little as $1 & $2 dollars.

Register before the 12th June to receive a free t-shirt (while stocks last).

Follow these steps:

1. Login on to the webpage www.msreadathon.org.au
2. Click on the register now tab.
3. Select that you are registering a child. 
4. Complete the registration form beginning with parent guardian details.
5. Complete your child’s/childrens’ details and search for St Thomas More’s Primary ACT School and select their class. (Kinder, Year 1, Year 2 ect).
6. IMPORTANT! For families who live in NSW, you may not be able to view our school or classes (as our school is in the ACT). I have called the organisers and they are working to correct this. If you cannot select our school, no problem! I can add your child to our class pages at the end of this term.
7. Donation goals are just a guide and there is no expectation to raise the amounts suggested. Even small donations of $1 or $2 will be making a difference on a whole school scale.
8. You can register now to receive a free t-shirt, or you can register anytime up until the beginning of August.
   

Can I register multiple children under one email address?

Yes! Start by entering your parent or guardian details first. When you get to the ‘children’ step of registrations, simply hit the ‘add’ button to put in your child’s details. If you’d like to add another child under the same email, select the ‘add another’ button. You can register up to 5 children under the one email address.

If you would like assistance with completing these registrations please feel free to give MS a call on 1300 677 323 and we can assist you.

Happy Reading!

Mrs Reid
Librarian

Book Club

Holiday Happenings

The Winter digital edition of Holiday Happenings can be viewed (simply click the link below).

www.holidayhappenings.com.au/online-booklet

It's great to see activities and programs starting to return. Make sure you contact businesses early to see if they are running as planned.

If its happening in Canberra, you'll find it at Holiday Happenings.

Coerver Coaching