Term 1 - Week 8 - Newsletter

Prayer of the Week

Prayer retrieved from https://twitter.com/stm1936/status/857262828444504064 

From the Principal’s Desk…

God Bless,

Duane Wann

Principal

Student Protection Contacts

A letter from Mr Wann

From our APRE

Thank you to Miss Candale and 3 Blue for sharing a lovely Prayer Celebration last week about Lent. We really enjoyed the new songs you taught us and it was a great opportunity for those present to reflect on how they can turn back to God during the Season of Lent. 

This week we head into our 4th week of Lent. Have you given up something you love for Lent or have you instead taken up the challenge to do a good deed each day? Don't forget we have our handy Lenten calendar to help us out ... plus a few wise words from Pope Francis. 

Image retrieved from https://www.shannonparish.ie/do-you-want-to-fast-this-lent-this-is-what-pope-francis-says/ 

Project Compassion 2023

With the busyness of last week, I was not able to get around and check Project Compassion boxes, but it was on my list of jobs for today! Thank you to the children and families who have been able to spare some money here and there to support our campaign.  

Our two main fundraising initiatives for Lent for the rest of this term are 50c Friday and our Easter Raffle. Easter Raffle tickets are 50c each and can be purchased at first break and before 8:15 am each day. An enormous thank you to all those staff and families who were able to donate eggs for our raffle. We have 8 amazing hampers already made up (sorry about the typo last week - definitely not 28!) and more eggs ready to make even more hampers. We are still taking donations of eggs if any families had some they wanted to send in. They can be dropped off in my office. 

Worship Choir

Worship Choir is back this week. Children from Year 2 - Year 6 are welcome to attend on Tuesday at First Break. 

Family Mass

This term we celebrate Family Mass with the St Thomas More's Parish on Saturday, March 25th. This is a special opportunity for our STM families to connect with our local parish and for the children to share their love of prayer. All families are most welcome to attend. We will need some children to take on some additional ministries on the evening, including reading, singing and symbols. If your children would like to be part of one of these, please let me know via email (Kristin.Byrne@twb.catholic.edu.au). We have very eager children, so please be aware that everyone who volunteers will not be able to read or carry forward a symbol ... but the choir is never too big!  

Volunteering at STM in 2023

We love our parent helpers at STM! Any parents who would like to volunteer at STM this year will need to complete the TCS Volunteer Induction. This needs to be completed each year by parents who volunteer at our school. Please email me (Kristin.Byrne@twb.catholic.edu.au) if you would like an induction pack sent home. 

Out of Bounds Areas

Just a friendly reminder that we have aligned our before-school and after-school out-of-bounds areas. Please note that in the afternoons there is no play on any school ovals or equipment after school, just like there is no play in these areas before school until 8:15 am when the teacher on duty opens these areas. Teachers on the Stop Drop and Go duty near the Church Carpark may choose to open the Bottom Oval Playground for play after 3:15 pm. There is to be no play on this equipment until the teachers on duty indicate so. 

Harmony Week

This year, St Thomas More's will celebrate Harmony Week in Week 9! The theme for Harmony Week in 2023 is everyone belongs. Our Cultural Committee has planned some really exciting things for Harmony Week. Further details will be shared about this closer to the end of the term. 

At this stage, we can share that we will be having a Harmony Week Prayer Celebration led by 4 Blue - with Prep to Year 6 to attend. We will also be creating our beautiful Hallway of Hearts again this year, with our annual whole-school art project. This year, our hearts will represent artwork and styles that reflect the diversity within out St Thomas More's community. If we have any parents or family members who would like to come and teach our students about Indigenous Artwork, African Artwork or Polynesian Artwork, please contact Miss Byrne via email. We would love your help. Families who have other cultural backgrounds will also have the opportunity to create a heart at home to add to our Hallway of Hearts. 

Below I have shared a link to a song that will feature heavily in our Harmony Week celebrations this year. Happy singing! 

God Bless.

Miss Kristin Byrne

Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Thinking STM for Prep in 2024 ...

Miss Byrne's Important Dates to Remember for Term 1

From Our Learning Support

NAPLAN 2023

Students in Years 3 and 5 will take part in the 2023 National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) from Wednesday 15 March to Monday 27 March 2023. Please mark these dates on your calendar.

This is the first year NAPLAN will be held in March, having previously taken place in May. This change was made so school systems would have access to results earlier in the school year, so they can be used to inform teaching and learning plans for the remainder of the year. 

NAPLAN assesses literacy and numeracy skills that students are already learning at school. On its own, NAPLAN is not a test that can be studied for, and students are not expected to do so. NAPLAN does not replace ongoing assessments made by teachers about student performance. Students participate in a total of 4 tests over the testing window including Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language, and Numeracy. All tests are completed online using a laptop except for the year 3 writing test which is a pen-and-paper test.  

Students and parents wishing to familiarise themselves with NAPLAN can visit https://www.nap.edu.au/ where you can also access the demonstration site, example papers and parent information about NAPLAN.  

A test schedule will be sent out over the next couple of weeks.  If you wish to discuss your child’s participation in NAPLAN, please contact me as soon as possible at Patricia.wardle@twb.catholic.edu.au 

Enjoy the rest of your week!

God Bless,

Patricia Wardle

Middle Leader/Learning Support Teacher

From Our Sport Desk

Rugby League Tag Gala Day 

On Monday 6th March, a group of Year 3/4 boys and girls attended a Rugby League Tag Gala Day. They participated in a modified, non-contact version of Rugby league where they learnt new skills and played against many schools. Everyone demonstrated great sportsmanship and represented St Thomas More’s with pride. Well done everyone!  

Sports Trials 

Good luck to Harrison McCarthy, Bastie Machalek and Emilia Dewar as they attend the Darling Downs trials for AFL on Tuesday 14th March.  

 Interschool Sport – Years 5 & 6 

Boys AFL Draw – Friday 17th March – Queens Park  

12:30pm Jnr A – Scratch Match   

1:15pm Snr B v Harlaxton  

1:15pm Snr A – Concordia  

 Girls Touch Draw – Friday 17th March - Kearney Springs Touch Fields 

12:30pm Jnr A vs Our Lady of Lourdes 

12:30pm Snr B vs Our Lady of Lourdes 

12:30pm Snr B vs East SS 

1:15pm Jnr B vs Our Lady of Lourdes 

1:15pm Snr A vs Our Lady of Lourdes  

 All children will need to remember to have a hat and water bottle for interschool sport.  

Due to a change in the start time for games this term, students will stop work at 11:45am to get on the bus and arrive at venues for a 12:30pm start. Students are encouraged to bring a small bag (school swimming bag) that they can use to pack some lunch to bring and eat once they arrive at the venue. Students will return to school between 2:15pm-2:30pm.  

2023 STM Cross Country Program 

• Tuesday 21stMarch  
• Andersen Park  
  Starting Time   11:00am  

 The program for the day is below.   

All students require water bottles, sunscreen, and hats. Asthma puffers ( if required ) to be carried at all times. If any students have reactions to insect bites or any other allergies, please ensure the required medication ( epi pens ) has been given to teachers so that the required action can be taken.  

If students are going to absent on the day, or parents wish to take them home at conclusion of the cross country, then teachers must be notified either by note, email or seen in person on the day, as official rolls need to be marked.  

Children can wear a shirt or accessories that match their sports house.  

God bless,

Stacey Hancock

HPE Teacher 

Year 6 Camp Reflection

Last week our Year 6 students and a handful of very brave school staff headed off to camp at Tallebudgera. The students had a great week learning new skills, developing their teamwork and pushing themselves out of their comfort zones to achieve some really amazing things! 

Some of the highlights of Year 6 Camp inlcuded:

- The Cliff (The children 'jumped' off the 10m cliff face and abseiled down to finish with their best superhero pose) 

- The High Ropes Course: Amazing teamwork, courage and determination shown as the children scaled the highest of the high obstacles

- Body boarding on the beach

- Beach games

- The amazing instructors who were so kind and patient

- The delicious meals! 

A big thank you to our Year 6 teachers Mr Fechner, Ms Roberts and Miss McVeigh and our special guest Mrs Deb for accompanying our Year 6 children on such a fabulous adventure! 

Literally, 100s of photos were taken! Here are just a few to give you a taste of the fun and adventure! 

My New Gallery

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Classroom Newsletters

Week 7 Awards

Well done to our students who were recipients of awards last week. Keep up the great work!

From our Tuckshop

Tuckshop Menu

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

News Flash: 

Exciting things happening in the Tuckshop for Term 2

From Our Office

From the Library

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

🟡 If you can’t join us in person tonight for the P&F meeting, please feel free to join us via Zoom. 

🔵 The log in details are: 

Kristin Byrne is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: March P&F Meeting
Time: Mar 13, 2023 07:00 PM Brisbane

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:
    https://twbcatholic.zoom.us/j/67806654733

Join from SIP/H.323 room system:
    SIP: 67806654733@zmau.us

    H.323: 202.177.207.158 (meeting ID: 678 0665 4733)

Join from telephone (meeting ID: 678 0665 4733):
    (02) 8015 2088 (Sydney)
    (07) 3053 8570 (Brisbane)
    (08) 7150 1149 (Adelaide)
    (03) 8375 9112 (Melbourne)

    International numbers available: https://twbcatholic.zoom.us/u/edceSe2M3b

Join from Skype for Business (Lync):

    https://twbcatholic.zoom.us/skype/67806654733

……………….……………………………..

We invite you to the St Thomas More’s…

🍷  COMMUNITY DINNER  🍔

Friday, 24th March 
6pm - 10pm
Blue Mountain Hotel 
$30 per person 

Ticket price includes: 
▪️Welcome drink on arrival 
▪️Platters served throughout the night, including…

{Skewers}
Marinated beef & onion, moroccan lamb & capsicum, Korean fried chicken w/ asian glaze.

{Sliders}
Cheeseburger, BBQ pulled pork, chicken & bacon

{Bluey Hot}
Sausage rolls, mini pies, quiches, spring rolls, samosas, sweet chilli & tomato sauces.

{Asian}
BBQ pork buns, prawn & curry spring rolls, prawn & ginger dumplings, wagyu beef gyoza, karaage chicken, bao buns and dipping sauces.

IF YOU HAVE DIETARY REQUIREMENTS, please let us know so we can offer alternatives. 

▪️Buy your tickets before Wednesday 22nd March to go into the draw for a lucky door prize of a $25 food/drink voucher to the Blue Mountain Hotel. There are 5 to be won. 

📍RSVP via this link…

📍All payments are to be made to:

St Thomas More’s P&F 
BSB: 064433 
Account number: 00920855
Reference: name of the guests attending
($30/person)

We look forward to spending the night with you all

From the Parish

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!

A huge thank you to Meat Cellar for their continued support for our school events.

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