Term 4 - Week 5 - Newsletter

Prayer of the Week

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From our Principal

Dear Parents / Guardians,

Each year schools are able to nominate students for the Mayoral School Achievement Medal. The medal is awarded to students who have met or exceeded educational requirements during adverse times.

The St Thomas More’s recipient of the medal is Elliemay Rae.

Elliemay was diagnosed with Leukemia at the end of Year 2. She has continued to attend school on a semi-regular basis during the year in between her cancer treatments. Elliemay has been inspirational to all in our school community with her continued happy and positive attitude to school and life in general. Both STM and her parents commend her on her determination to continue learning during her cancer journey this year. Elliemay, you are a superstar and we are so glad to have welcomed you back to school full time at the end of Term 3.

Thank you to the students, staff and families who were able to support the Day for Daniel Walk, Hike for Homeless and the Parish Family Mass. While everyone is time poor, it is very important that we provide the opportunity for our students to contribute to the community beyond the school gates.

God Bless

Michael Cash 

Principal

From our APRE

Welcome to Week 5! A big thank you to all our students and staff for accessorising in red last week to show support for the Day for Daniel. This is such an important day for Australian schools and families, opening up an opportunity to have conversations about child safety. Students will be undertaking lessons from the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum later this term. Further details on what each year level will be learning about are included a bit later in the newsletter. 

A big thank you also to the members of our school community who participated in the Base Services Hike for Homeless over the weekend. Although our group was a bit smaller this year, they were no less enthusiastic. Thank you for representing our school and raising much needed funds for such a worthy local cause. 

Each year, St Thomas More's nominates a member of a school community to receive a Mayoral Medal. To be eligible for this prestigious award, students have been recognised for demonstrating bravery and dedication to their studies, committing to achieving their educational goals despite the adversity and complex challenges they may be facing. This year, STM nominated Elliemay Rae (Year 3). Elliemay was diagnosed with leukemia at the end of 2021. She has been an absolute superstar this year, attending school on a semi-regular basis while between cancer treatments. Elliemay, we are so very proud of you. You are an inspiration to us all! Congratulations. 

A big 'good luck' to Ms Roberts who is off to the TCS Excellence Awards Diner this week. We are super proud of you for making it through as an Aspiring Leader finalist and we all have our fingers crossed for you!

Don't forget we are opening our classrooms this Wednesday for a short PAP (Parents as Partners) Session. We invite families to come along and join in the classroom morning routine and independent reading time. Families can head on up to classrooms when the 8:30 am bell goes and spend 30 minutes with their children. The P&F will then be hosting a Parent Breakfast for anyone who can stay from 9:00 am in the Sportscentre. A big thank you to our wonderful teachers for accommodating this special experience for our families amidst such a busy time in the term!

Socktober

This year we celebrate Socktober on Monday, November 7th. Children can wear their normal school uniform with their most crazy socks for a gold coin donation. Children will also be able to participate in the Socktober Kick-Off. We are looking for parent volunteers to be kick-off goalies. You don't need to be David Beckham - you just need to be able to stand in a goal and at least attempt to stop some soccer balls from making it through! We're after 30-minute commitments but of course, you can do longer if you are willing and able. Please let me know if you are able to help out!

Why Socktober? 

Each year Catholic Mission supports communities across the world. In 2022, through Socktober Catholic Mission is giving students and their families across Australia a chance to raise funds to support families in Ethiopia who are facing malnutrition and food insecurity.

The reason we use soccer is because sport is something that unites people across the globe. Children in Ethiopia play soccer just like we do, they just don’t have access to the same resources. Many children in the communities Catholic Mission helps don’t have access to soccer balls like we do, so they have to make their own out of materials they have around their home and school. They might have balls made out of socks, old clothes or plastic bags. As you prepare for Socktober, it would be a great idea to make your own ball to use for our Kick Off, with the help of your adult, using something from home.

Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum 

During Term 4, we will be implementing the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum. This curriculum has been developed to support Queensland schools’ delivery of key safety messages to students from Prep to Year 9. Through a series of lessons, students will learn how to recognise, react and report when they are unsafe or find themselves in situations that can have a significant detrimental effect on their physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing.  

We encourage you to talk to your children about what they are learning in class. The following table outlines the content areas to be covered by each class this year.  

Prep to Year 2 

 Year 3 to Year 6 

Further information about the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Lessons and Curriculum can be found at ...  

Lessons: https://danielmorcombe.com.au/keeping-kids-safe-resources/keeping-kids-safe-lesson-plans/  

Curriculum: https://education.qld.gov.au/curriculum/stages-of-schooling/daniel-morcombe  

If you would like further information about what the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum involves, please contact your classroom teacher or Miss Kristin Byrne (Kristin.Byrne@twb.catholic.edu.au).   

TCSO Family Life Lessons 2022 

At the end of this term, the Sexual Health Education Program (better known as Family Life Lessons) will be taught to children from Prep to Year 6. Please have a conversation with your child/children and clarify any questions that they have after these lessons. 

These lessons are part of the curriculum of our school and all schools across this Diocese. They form part of the Personal, Social and Community Health Strand of the Australian Curriculum and follow the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Toowoomba, Guidelines for Teaching Sexual Health.  

Please be assured that this material will be handled with sensitivity. Below is a brief overview of the content covered across the school. You will also receive a note home with further details for each year level. If you have any questions or concerns about the content being covered or your child's participation in these lessons, please contact your classroom teacher.  

God Bless.

Miss Kristin Byrne

Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Once again, a huge thank you to Evention for your sponsorship and support of our Matilda Jr. production this year! You went above and beyond and we are so very thankful! 

Important Dates to Remember for Term 4

Due to Lower School swimming, some adjustments have been made to our school calendar. Please make sure you check the calendar dates below and note any changes - especially the Junior School Swimming Carnival. 

From Our Learning Support

God Bless.

Mrs Patricia Wardle

Learning Support Teacher/Middle Leader

From our Sport Desk

Term 4 Swimming Lessons Prep-Year 3 

 Junior Swimming Carnival 2022 Prep-Year 2 

Dear Parents, 

This year our Junior Swimming Carnival will be held on Thursday 1st December at the TAS (Toowoomba Anglican School) swimming pool, access via Wirra Wirra Street. Children in Prep – Year 2 will have the opportunity to participate at this carnival. We invite parents to attend this carnival if they wish.  

We will leave school via bus at the conclusion of the End of Year Mass (approx. 11am) to hopefully start by 11:30am and we intend to be back at school by the end of the day. All Prep-Year 2 teachers will attend the carnival. We encourage all students to attend regardless of their swimming ability.  

Shorter lap lengths and novelty races ensure that this is a memorable day, whilst building confidence in the water prior to joining the more competitive races at the upper school swimming carnival in years to come. Some events will include freestyle/kickboard, noodle and other novelty races. 

No ribbons will be awarded at this carnival as this is purely a non-competitive carnival to encourage fun in the water. Adults will be placed in each swimming lane and will be available on the sides of the pool to assist if required.  

The school will provide buses to transport students to and from the carnival. 

Children can wear their sports uniform and wear their togs underneath or get changed at school before getting on the bus. They will also need to bring a towel, goggles (if needed), swimming cap, sunscreen, lunch and a drink bottle.  

*All Year 2 students participate in this carnival, even if they would also like to participate in the Senior Swimming Carnival if they are an 8yr old and can confidently swim either 25m or 50m* 

If you have any further queries, please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s classroom teacher or myself. 

 Senior Swimming Carnival 8-12 Years 

The 2022 swimming carnival will be held on Tuesday 29th November at The Glennie Aquatic Centre. This year the swimming carnival will be open to all students born from 2010 to 2014. A decision as to whether parents can attend this carnival is still being worked out.  

To assist with the planning of the carnival, please complete a form for each child using the following link.  

https://forms.office.com/r/eKpNSnxzGN  

The Central Zone and Catholic Carnival Teams for 2023 will be selected from the results of the 50m events. Correct technique is a requirement for some strokes. The Central Zone Carnival will have strict nominating times that will need to be adhered to. Children born 2014 will be eligible to be nominated in these carnivals in 2023 if they choose to swim 50m events at our school carnival.  

Please read the following information and complete the nominating form by Friday 11th November. Once all nominations have been completed a program will be created and available to students and parents.    

We will be offering a bus to and from the carnival. The school will cover the cost of the bus. If you wish your child/children to utilise the bus, please indicate on your child/children’s nomination form.  

Important Information  

• A teacher will be on duty from 8am at the venue.  

• Years 3-6 teachers will attend the carnival. We encourage and it is expected that all students attend the carnival regardless of their swimming ability and have a go in at least 1 event. There will be no supervision at school for these year levels.   
• Kickboard events are for competitors who are not competing in the 25m or 50m events.  
• Competitors may only swim one distance per stroke i.e. 50m Freestyle or 25m Freestyle or 25m Kickboard. Not all three.  
• Students who are capable of swimming 50m in a particular stroke are strongly encouraged to do so.  
• Only competitors who nominate as 50m swimmers will be eligible for age champion. 

• Only 50m events will have heats if there are sufficient numbers. Otherwise 50m events will be straight finals.  
• Only 50m events will be timed.  
• Ribbons will be given to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th places of kickboard, 25m and finals of 50m events.  
• Age champion trophies will be given to 9yrs-13yrs champion swimmers who nominate/compete in 50m events. 
• Some events may have to be combined due to the number of nominations but will be judged separately.   

• Open 100m Freestyle and Open 4x50m Individual medley events are for house points ONLY.  

 Darling Downs Aquathlon 

Last Friday Kiara and Tamsyn Milligan completed at the Darling Downs Aquathlon. This race consisted of a 1km run, 200m swim and another 1km run. Kiara placed 19th and Tamsyn placed 26th overall out of 40+ competitors. Well done girls!  

God bless,

Stacey Hancock

HPE Teacher 

From Our Library

God Bless,

Margy Heuschele

Librarian

Awards

Wonderful work from our Week 4 award recipients. Keep up the great work! 

From our Student Representatives

We had a great time doing the House Cup Competition last term! We will continue our House Cup Minute to Win It challenges this term as well. Please see an overview of the challenges you can participate in this term below. 

Don't forget ...

House Cup Challenge is in the Digi-Tech and Music Room

each Thursday at second break. 

Have a great week!

God bless,

Darcy and Ava

From our Service Club

Last week, we were super excited to welcome some 2023 prospective Service Club members from Year 5. We hope you enjoyed your visit with Service Club! We loved having some extra helpers to make some special treats for the teachers for World Teacher's Day! 

 Don’t forget Socktober is on Monday, the 7th of November. We will be having a Crazy Sock Day. You can wear your normal school uniform with the craziest socks you can find at home for a gold coin donation! The crazier the better! All students will also have a chance to be part of the Socktober Kick Off. If you have made a sockball for Socktober, bring it along to have a kick with.  

Last week, we celebrated World Teacher’s Day. It was a day for us to celebrate our teachers and say thank you to them for teaching us. We have the best teachers at St Thomas More’s. They make learning so much fun and they make us feel like we are always welcome. Thank you for everything you do for us! 

 Have a wonderful week! 

God bless.  

Aidan and Penny from the Service Club 

Classroom Newsletters

From our Tuckshop

Open every Friday.  Please place your childs order through FlexiSchools by 1pm Thursdays and please supply a Paper Bag for your childs order.

From Our Office

From our Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop will be back to normal hours this term.

Monday 8.00am – 8.30am

Wednesday afternoon – By Appointment

Friday 8.00am – 8.30am

If these times don’t work for you please email your order through to THOuniform@twb.catholic.edu.au and the orders will be at the office for collection at your convenience.

Need some uniform alternations?

A hem taken up?  A skirt taken down?  Some buttons adjust on a shirt?   Give Mrs Fix It a ring and see if she can help.   

From our P&F

Parents as Partners morning 

Next Wednesday 2nd November, we invite parents and carers to join us for a shared reading experience in their child’s classroom. 
This experience is one of the many varied engagement opportunities offered by our teachers with the support of our Parent Engagement committee. 

The morning will run as follows:
8:30am :
-head to your child’s classroom to join in the morning prayer etc 
-enjoy a shared reading experience (how this will work will depend on the individual class, teacher and resources) 
9:00am
-head to the sports hall for a morning tea provided by the P&F 
To ensure adequate catering, we ask parents and carers to (quickly) RSVP via this link https://www.trybooking.com/CDJSW

See you there!

Thank you!

A huge thank you to Westridge Fruit and Vegetables for their continued support with the donation of fresh fruit every week for our students!

Notice Board

From Our Parish