Term 3 - Week 4 - Newsletter

Prayer of the Week

This prayer was courtesy of Mary MacKillop Quotes and Facts (vbtcafe.com)

From the Principal’s Desk…

Over the past few weeks, Saturday's Courier Mail has run alarming articles concerning inappropriate use of social media by children and the ease of access to online material of a sexual and violent nature and the effect this was having on our school-aged children.

A further article spoke of the ignorance of parents in their responsibility for keeping their children safe online. Child psychologist, Michael Carr-Gregg called on parents to 'find their digital spine' and set clearer boundaries for their children on their devices.

Queensland Family and Child Commissioner, Cheryl Vardon said, 'We cannot leave this cyber education to schools and others, parents have to get a handle on the technology…we want parents to be clear on the capacity of the new technology their children have.'

Following are some ideas from the Australian Life Education website to assist you in monitoring of your child's online usage. Let's be honest, it can be overwhelming. Whilst our offspring are first-generation digital natives with technology running through their veins, most of us feel like we are constantly playing 'catch-up'.

1. Get Involved in Your Child's Online World: Join the sites and social media platforms that your child uses. Research shows that 67% of 8-12 year olds use social media including Skype, Facebook, Club Penguin and Instagram. Not only will you generate a little 'tech cred' with your kids, but they will be more likely to come to you if there is a problem.
   
2. Talk to Your Tech Savvy Child: Remember that your tech-savvy child can't physically understand risk until their early twenties. So, talk to your child about what they do online (calmly) and ensure they know to come to you if there is a problem.
3. Set Rules Together: Work with your child to set limits for the time allowed online. Remember, too many restrictions can make it even more appealing. Discuss what information your child should and shouldn't share online. Research has shown that 68% of teens had shared personal information online which is frightening.
4. Educate Your Child Just as You Would in The Offline World: Teach your children about the importance of online manners and respect. Talk about technology safety just like you talk about road and sun safety.
5. Get Technology Working for You: Consider using parental controls. Ensure your security software is comprehensive, up-to-date and is able to protect you against viruses, spyware and hackers.

So, next time you are having a conversation with your children, why not share your favourite Instagram post with your kids or discuss any uncomfortable or slightly embarrassing messages or pictures that one of your Facebook friends uploaded. Before you know it, the communication will be flowing and they'll be coming to you for help.

One of the keywords mentioned is ‘respect’.  I believe there is a real need to revisit the meaning of the word with young children. Sometimes people become too one-dimensional in their understanding of what respect means. It is not just the use of manners and how we speak to others. There is more to it and developing a strong sense of self-respect is vital, especially when it comes to the appropriate use of social media. It is quite obvious that an increase in disrespect for others has grown to almost crisis point in our society and is evidenced in the increased violence and anti-social behaviours that are reported daily through the various forms of the media.

Individually, we can't change society but we can make a big difference in our little corner of it. It's up to us to make sure that we're doing our part to be respectful adults and to teach our children to be respectful emerging adults. We parents can quickly lose credibility if we are rude to our children while teaching them to be polite, or chastise children for inappropriate use of social media if we show disrespect to others when messaging on Facebook. The following piece of writing is a young person's response to the invitation to put into writing their feelings about respect – there is a moral to this piece of writing:

"Everyone expects respect
No matter who they are.
The only way to gain it is to treat everyone
As a friend, as an equal person,
As part of our extended family
No matter their colour or creed.
Only then, will you start to get
The respect you so dearly need."

It's for sure that children learn their standards of respect from what they see around them and parents are in a powerful position to teach by their own example as well as by instruction. Because our children take their cues from us, we need to be sure that we are setting the best possible standards. Schools teach children about respect but parents have the most influence on how respectful children become.

Respect is not the same as obedience. Children might obey because they are afraid but, if they respect their parents and teachers, they will obey because they know that parents and teachers want what is best for them. Respect is an attitude and being respectful helps children succeed in life. If children don't have respect for parents, peers, authority or themselves, it's almost impossible for them to succeed. The best way to teach respect is to show respect. When children experience respect, they know what it feels like and begin to understand how important it is.

If we reinforce our children's positive and respectful behaviour, and eliminate disrespect by immediately calling attention to it so as to discourage it, we are helping to develop the moral intelligence of our children. This will improve their ability to be able to apply critical analysis to television, social media, films and music whose content is increasing in the portrayal of disrespectful behaviour. It is true that we can't change society, but it's also true that we can be a powerful influence in our little corner of it.

Thanks for reading…  Duane

God Bless,

Duane Wann

Principal

Student Protection Contacts

From our APRE

Hi! My name is Trish Wardle and I am the Acting APRE until the end of the year while Miss Byrne is filling the APRE and Middle Leader role at St Patrick’s Primary School, St George.

St Thomas More’s Primary School was certainly abuzz last week with various activities happening as part of Catholic Education Week celebrations. Catholic Education Week is an opportunity for all 309 Catholic schools in Queensland to celebrate and promote their distinctive mission and ethos. A Catholic School is more than just a school. It is a connected community that welcomes people of all faiths and backgrounds with the unified belief of creating a better tomorrow.

As part of Catholic Education Week, school staff along with staff from other local Catholic schools attended the annual Bishop’s Inservice Day.  This day provided an important occasion for staff to gather, celebrate, reflect, and learn together. We were able to meet the new Bishop of our Diocese, Ken Howell, listen to guest speaker, Associate Professor Maeve Heaney who is a senior lecturer in the faculty of Theology and Philosophy at Australian Catholic University, and celebrate Mass together.

I look forward to continuing Miss Byrne's great work at St Thomas More's Primary School for the next few months. 

God Bless.

Mrs Patricia Wardle

Acting Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Term 3 Date Claimers

Please see below the important dates for Term 3. 

Thinking STM for Prep in 2024 ...

From the Middle Leader

NAPLAN Results

It is my understanding that NAPLAN Individual Student Reports are starting to be sent out to schools to distribute to parents. As soon as QCAA posts hard copies of the Individual Student Reports to St Thomas More’s, we will ensure that these are sent out to parents as soon as possible. 

ICAS Testing

We are delighted to inform you that students from years 3-6 will once again be participating in the world-renowned ICAS competition  this year.  Information regarding registration was sent out via the Parent Portal on the 13th of July. Registrations have now closed.

Please see below regarding the dates that registered students will sit the test. If your child is absent on the day indicated, rest assured that they will sit the test on an alternate day during the test window.

REMINDER: Shaping the future of our schools – share your views

With only one week remaining to share your views and shape our future, we encourage all our parents to complete the Shaping our future – Toowoomba Catholic Schools perception survey. 

Parents, staff and students from our other 30 schools and the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office are being called on to complete this survey to shape the ideas, innovations and quality of Toowoomba Catholic Schools.

If you are yet to share your thoughts, please check your email for the link and complete the 15-minute survey. Please note that the survey closes on Sunday, 6 August, 2023.

From Our Sports Desk

Interschool Sport – Friday 4th August   

Last week we had a huge number of children that didn’t have a water bottle for interschool sport. Can you please support your child by ensuring they have a water and hat for sport.  

If your child has chosen to play soccer, they will be required to have/wear shin guards. If your child has chosen to play rugby league, they will be required to wear a mouth guard and wear school-coloured footy shorts and socks.  

Netball  

1:35pm Senior A vs Fairholme court 5  
12:50pm Senior B vs Fairholme court 6 
12:50pm Junior A vs Rangeville court 12  
1:35pm Junior B vs Toowoomba East Navy court 11  

 Soccer – Anderson Park  

1:35pm Senior A Boys vs Darling Heights  
12:50pm Junior A Boys vs Darling Heights  
12:50pm Junior A Girls vs Darling Heights  

Rugby League – St Mary’s Field 2 

1:00pm Senior A vs OLOL 

 Year 4 Rugby 7’s – TAS  

12:50pm – 2:15pm  

Catholic Netball & Touch Carnivals 

All children who participated in the Catholic Netball & Touch Carnival held last Thursday had a fantastic day representing St Thomas More’s. The Year 6 boys were successful in making it through to the touch grand final, however were beaten by St Mary’s. Thank you to our amazing sponsors that helped everyone look wonderful in their new playing uniforms. A big shout out to our parent helpers that gave up their day to look after some teams. We really appreciate your help.   

*Please return all unneeded playing uniforms to Mrs H as soon as possible. 

Term 3 Swimming Lessons 

Years 4-6 will participate in swimming lessons in Term 3. Due to renovation works happening at the Centenary Pool, we will be busing our students over to the Harristown High Pool. The swimming lessons will still be conducted by Darren Lange Swimming Academy. Below are the dates and times that the lessons will be held.  

Please ensure your child has their swimming costume, towel, cap and goggles for their lessons and anything else you feel they may require. They do not need sun shirts as they are inside for lessons. Swimming caps are encouraged for both swimming lessons.  

If there is a problem with your child’s lessons, please speak to their class teacher and they will deal with the concern. Please do not contact the pool directly.  

Dates for lessons 

Tuesday 18th July  
Tuesday 25th July 
Tuesday 1st August 
Tuesday 15th August  
Tuesday 22nd August  

Lesson Times – 45min  

11:45am – 12:30pm       Year 4 Gold & Blue  
12:30pm – 1:15pm         Year 5 Blue, Gold 5/6 Red 
1:15pm – 2:00pm            Year 6 Blue & Gold  

God Bless,

Stacey Hancock

HPE Teacher

From Our Library

Colour Run

Classroom Newsletters

From our P & F

If you would like to join us but can't make it to the meeting you can link in via Zoom.  A link will be released a week prior to the meeting date.

From OSHC

Dear St Thomas Mores families,

I hope you have had a great week and are ready for a relaxing weekend with your families.

We have had a mix match week this week.

Monday, we started with a magic show with Miss Jannali. We also watched a video of a magic show and had question and answer time after. I threw in a trick question to see who was really watching . I asked what kind of tree was in the background of the magic show that was being presented , and Sam got it straight away. It was an orange tree.

Tuesday Miss Hannah held another popular Anime drawing class. We watched a short film showing anime and it was a sweet video of a little boy who wants to fly to the moon. He rides in one of those coin operated toy rockets, but of course it doesn’t go to the moon. He then decided to save up all his coins and put them all in the ride to see if he can fly to the moon. He started a lemonade stand and had saved all his coins until he was an old man. He put them all  in, and the ride started to shake and rattle , and it took off to the moon. The younger children were captivated. We of course had questions and answers after.  The older boys had a game of footy in the playground after afternoon tea.

Wednesday Miss Gemma held a program about different cultures in Australia. We started this program with a video called ‘A kids guide to Australia. ‘ We then had questions and answers after. We also spoke to the older children at group time about starting a ‘Helpers Club’ where you have to be 10 years and over to be in the club. This will be a reward system. We will start with 5 stars , and then a small reward is given, then 10 stars will be a bigger prize , then 15 stars will be a voucher of some kind. The children will gain stars by helping others at OSHC. Braxtyn said he was going to aim for 5 stars , and Harrison said  , no way I’m aiming big, I’m going for 15 stars. All the children laughed at Harrison’s joke. I am hoping this will help the older children take on some responsibilities and  also be role models for the younger children to look up to.

Thursday Miss Gemma was being active outside after afternoon tea playing soccer with the children. Before afternoon tea we watched a video called ‘Who invented soccer’ with questions and answers after. The little Prep boys really enjoyed this video, as it was in animation . I left at 3:30 as I had a Challenging Behaviour Workshop Webinar from home from 4pm-7:30pm. I found the webinar very helpful and will bring the resources to the staff meetings as I think it will help all staff   incorporate the strategies at OSHC. The Webinar mainly dealt with children who identify as ADHD, ODD, and ASD.  

Friday Bishops Pupil Free Day for Catholic Education Week. Just a note , as I had a couple of enquiries. If there is a Pupil Free Day , I will delete all BSC and ASC bookings, so you will not be charged , however if you require care for your child/ren, you will need to go in and book them in.

This morning the children made their own cookies, and Miss Hannah cooked them for them. The were a lot of messy fun 😊 and they taste good too. The girls played ‘ Guess the logo,  This or that, and Lisa and Lena. The boys played T-Ball, and build amazing creations with Lego, and the new magnetic blocks.   

Today we had some children come to OSHC with no hats, and some with caps and thongs. Just a reminder please, that we have the same rules as the school, Closed in shoes, and a wide brim hat at all times.

Staffing news, Miss Drew has resigned effective immediately , as she has managed to be given the opportunity to become a Prep Teacher at a Catholic School in Laidley. We wish her all the best; she was a real asset to the team.

I am currently recruiting for a permanent part time educator. Kallen will be starting next week on a traineeship. The older boys really enjoy it when Kallen is here, as he is up for a game of tag, or footy. We look forward to Kallen joining our team.

Please enjoy the pictures from today .

Until next week.

Kind Regards

Debbie and the team

From our Tuckshop

Tuckshop is back to our normal Thursday & Fridays this week.  Please make sure your orders are done by 1pm Wednesady via flexischools.

Tuckshop Menu

Open every Thursday & Friday.  Please place your childs order through FlexiSchools by 1pm Wednesday for Thursdays & 1pm Thursday for Friday. 

From our Uniform Shop

From the St Thomas More's Parish

Please find attached the bulletin for this week. 

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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