2024 Term 3 - Week 7 - Newsletter

Prayer of the Week

Image retrieved from https://www.lords-prayer-words.com/prayers_before/family_prayer.html 

From our Principal

August is a special month for book-lovers. It’s that particular time of year when, during your daily commute, you could be lucky enough to see Captain Underpants, Dorothy, Harry Potter, Mary Poppins and Thelma the Unicorn all walking together to school. No, we haven’t entered a magical parallel universe where characters from our favourite books walk among us—we’ve entered Book Week! Book Week is a special time when schools and libraries across Australia join in the celebration of children’s literature. During this time, children are often encouraged to dress as their favourite book characters to take part in book parades and assemblies. However, Book Week is so much more than just another school dress-up day; it is an annual celebration that encourages children to connect with books and reading on a fun, personal level.

CBCA Book Week was first held in Australia in 1945 with the theme ‘United Through Books’. Teachers, librarians, booksellers and publishers joined in the national celebration with activities that highlighted the importance of reading. Since this time, Book Week has become ingrained in our culture, especially in the education sector. Schools and libraries take this golden opportunity to promote reading and increase the literacy skills of Australian children. This is usually where the famed book parades come into play. Children get to choose their favourite book character and—with the help of crafty family members—get to embody that character for the day. The social benefit of this is that children get a chance to have fun and creatively express themselves amongst their peers and family members. The educational benefit is that, by dressing up as their favourite bookish character, children are given the time to truly connect with books and to associate reading with fun. The power of choice plays an important role in costume selection as well. Children are more likely to connect with a book that they have chosen for themselves, so allowing your child to select a character idea for themselves further strengthens their bond with this book.

And Book Week is not just for children who are already voracious bookworms. It is also a fantastic time to introduce emerging readers to the joys of books. A child may not be fully invested in novels, but perhaps they could dress up as their favourite comic book character or as an animal from their favourite non-fiction reference book? The possibilities are endless when it comes to costume ideas, and they can be as simple or as elaborate as you like; as long as the child is having fun.

Book Week activities are another powerful way to allow children to engage more closely with books and the written word. Many schools encourage children to write and share reviews of the book that their chosen dress-up character is from. Reading aloud to peers and sharing the reading experience together has been proven to improve a child’s vocabulary, communication skills and social skills. Book-related craft activities are another way of encouraging children to associate fun with books and learning.

Family and community involvement is another important aspect of Book Week. Numerous studies have shown that reading books to and with children deepens your bond with them, while also fostering a love of learning and reading books for pleasure. If a child sees a loved one enjoying books, they’re more likely to associate books with enjoyment.

We believe that Book Week is truly a special time. The week-long celebration of literature sends a powerful message to children—and adults—across Australia; reading is vitally important and books are worthy of being cherished. Having the opportunity to personally connect with books as a child creates a sense of fun and nostalgia around reading as they grow into adulthood. Anything we can do to help light the reading spark within every child should be celebrated.

Thanks for reading. 

God Bless,

Duane Wann

Principal

School Reminders

Student Free Day: CTJ Day Friday 30^th August

Please be advised, Friday 30^th August is a ‘Student Free Day’ for staff of St Thomas More’s to engage in professional learning opportunities.  Staff will be offsite on this day.

Parent Teacher Interviews:

Semester Two Parent Teacher Interviews will be offered to families at the conclusion of Term Three.  Parent Teacher interviews are an important component of the school reporting and assessing process, providing important information as to the progress of children.  Fifteen-minute (two-minute transition time) Parent Teacher Interviews have been scheduled for Week 9 of Term Three: Tuesday 3^rd September and Wednesday 4^th September with the format as follows: 

• Tuesday 3^rd September 3:45pm – 7:45pm: Prep – Year 6
• Wednesday 4^th September: 3:45pm – 5:45pm: Prep, Year 2, Year 3, Year 5 & Year 6

The location of the interviews will be confirmed in the week prior to Parent Meetings.  Families can book interview times via the ‘SENTRAL for Parents’ application from midday Monday 19^th August.

Parish St Vincent’s Clothing Collection Bin

The St Vincent’s Clothing Collection Bin previously located near the St Thomas More’s Parish Office has been removed.  Should you have any items for St Vincent’s you are encouraged to take them directly to the main shop on Ruthven St.

Grooming Expectations

Jewellery, rings, body piercings, nail polish and makeup are not to be worn. One earring in each ear only, stud or sleeper.  Shoulder length hair or longer to be tied back, both boys and girls. Hair bands to be royal blue, navy, black, white or gold.   Hairstyles which draw attention to the individual, including but are not limited to: mullet, scullett, mohawks, tracks, tails, hair colouring etc. are not permitted.

Before School Supervision

Before school duty commences at 8:15am.  Children who arrive at school before 8:15am are kindly asked to sit in the ‘Quad Area’ until teacher supervision commences at 8:15am.

School Lunches

We are asking families to have conversations with children regarding eating requirements when at school to ensure enough lunch is packed to see out the school day.  Many children are eating their lunch before school commences.

Parent Engagement Charter (Code of Conduct)

The Toowoomba Catholic Schools Parent Engagement Charter is attached to this notification. It describes the partnership that exists between families and the school and is an agreement between parent, school and Toowoomba Catholic Schools. This begins when an enrolment has been accepted and continues until its completion. I strongly encourage you all to read this document, especially noting the final page of conduct expectations for both staff and parents.  ParentEngagementCharter (twb.catholic.edu.au)

Communication

We believe that good communication is the key to success for your child. If there is something worrying you about your child’s learning or well-being or if there has been changes at home which may be affecting your child, please ensure you contact your child’s teacher or myself to discuss this. Even if you feel it is a small issue, please let us know.

Communication Protocols

St Thomas More’s Primary School recognises and respects the right of employees to disconnect from work and not respond to work-related electronic communications outside of designated hours. St Thomas More’s Primary School staff will reply to electronic communication within the hours of 8.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday.  Where contact is made outside of this span of hours, employees will respond within two working days of the employee’s next designated working day considering weekends, leave, other non-working days, vacation periods and holidays. 

Student Protection

From our APRE

In Week 5, STM celebrated the Feast Day of Mary MacKillop! Students took time during the week to learn about Mary's life and teachings and had the opportunity to reflect on how Mary's life can be an example for believers today.

Mary MacKillop is an extraordinary saint to many! For us at STM, she is our very own Aussie Saint and the co-founder of The Sisters of St Joseph who founded our school in 1961. Mary MacKillop is present in many elements of school life today. Not only do we have a Sport House named after her, but we also have a building named in her honour as well. Mary MacKillop is also integral to the charism of our school, greatly influencing our vision, mission and values. 

We gathered as a whole school on Friday, August 9 to celebrate Mary MacKillop with Fr Brian in the STM Church. Thank you to Father Brian for sharing Mass with us and of course a big thank you to Miss McVeigh and 5 Gold for leading us so passionately and respectfully in prayer. 

Prayer Celebrations Changes This Term ...

Please note that the 3 Gold Prayer Celebration scheduled for this term has been postponed until Term 4. With such a busy term ahead of us, Mrs Rowling and I felt a Term 4 Prayer Celebration was more suitable. I will share the new date for the 3 Gold Prayer Celebration with the school community once it has been confirmed. 

Musical Update

Thanks to all the families who have ordered LKJ shirts. Shirts have now arrived and are in the Front Office ready for collection. A gentle reminder – students cannot collect their LKJ shirt until it has been paid for.

LKJ tickets are now on sale and they are selling fast! Tickets will only be available via Trybooking. Please use the link below to access our unique LKJ page to purchase your tickets. 

This year, we will hold a concession stand at our musical selling soft drinks and lolly bags! Families are invited to help us stock our stand by sending in cans of soft drink and bags of Allen's lollies between now and Week 10. Thanks in advance for supporting our 2024 school musical! 

Costume details have now been sent home for our Whole Cast. If you have any questions or concerns about costumes, please contact your classroom teacher. 

God Bless

Kris Byrne

Assistant Principal Religious Education

Thanks to our Lion King Jr Platinum Sponsor ...

Thanks to our Lion King Jr Gold Sponsors ...

Thanks to our Lion King Jr Silver Sponsor ...

Thanks to our Lion King Jr Bronze Sponsor ...

Miss Byrne's Term 3 Important Dates

From our Sports Department

Swimming Lessons Years 3-6 

Below is the timetable of swimming lessons for Years 3-6. This year we will be using the Glennie Aquatic Centre for our school swimming lessons. Children will be bused to and from their lessons. 

Thursday 22nd August  

Thursday 29th August  

 9:30-10:30 Year 4 Classes 

10:30-11:30 Year 3 Classes  

11:30-12:30 Year 5 Classes   

12:30-1:30 Year 6 Classes 

Please ensure your child has their swimming costume, towel, and goggles for their lessons and anything else you feel they may require. The Glennie Aquatic Centre will provide swimming caps on your child’s first visit. Teachers will collect swimming caps at the end of each session and will be given back out at the beginning of each lesson. These different coloured swimming caps are vital to the smooth running of the lessons as the different colours will indicate which group your child is in for easy organisation.  

Children will get changed before and after their lesson at the pool.  

Swimwear Guidelines: 

To ensure safety and comfort during the lessons, we request that all students adhere to the following swimwear guidelines: 

• Children should not wear rash shirts or oversized clothes. 

• If wearing leggings or full-body coverings for cultural reasons, they must be skin-tight. 

• No scuba masks are allowed (any goggles brought must not cover the nose). 

• We do not supply loan goggles, so if a child wishes to wear goggles, they must bring their own. 

Other updates in readiness for swimming: 

• Children encouraged to wear Sport Uniform on swimming day 

• Children not swimming to attend swimming lessons with the class 

• Parents to notify teachers if their children are not swimming and reason for not swimming.  

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.  

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

Auskick

The postponed Auskick from Week 6 will be made up in Week 9. Children will get a double session that week. 

Darling Downs Track and Field 

Congratulations to Grace O, Jonathan W, Aaliyah L, Penny T and Hamish P for being selected to attend the Darling Downs Track and Field trials. We wish you all the best for Tuesday.

Interschool Sport 

Interschool Sport continues this Friday for children in Years 5 & 6.

God Bless.

Stacey Hancock

HPE Teacher 

From our Service Club

Service Club have had a busy start to this term. Kindy Visits and LEGO Club are going well. We also enjoyed celebrating Catholic Education Week in Week 3.  This term, we have lots of fun opportunities coming up for Service Club. We are helping with Winter Shelter this month, being part of the Toowoomba Socktober Launch and taking on roles as Mission Ambassadors for Catholic Mission. We will definitely be busy.  

Our main fundraiser for this is for the Pyjama Angels, who help disadvantaged children nurture a love of reading. We will have a PJ Free Dress Day later this term to raise some money for them. We will share the date soon.  

We hope you have a great week.

God bless.  

Elly and James from Service Club

Student Awards

Well done to our Week 6 Student of the Week recipients.

Library News

Book Week 

Welcome to Book Week, where Reading is Magic. This year’s theme really encourages us to understand that books can truly take us anywhere and that we can do anything by imagining it or reading about it.

On Wednesday we will celebrate Book Week with a Book Week parade at 10am.  We encourage students to come dressed as their favourite character from a book of their choice.  A reminder that costumes do not need to be purchased, putting them together from materials you have at home is preferable.  Students will need to have the book their character is from with them for the parade, otherwise they are to come in their school uniform.

We look forward to celebrating everything bookish on Wednesday!

Your Kid’s Next Read

There is a fabulous podcast, website and Facebook page called Your Kid’s Next Read. Founded by author A.L. Tait (Allison), Allison Rushby and a teacher librarian Megan Daley.  In the podcast Allison Tait and Megan Daley share books for children of all ages.  Their recommendations are from books they have read and ones parents have seen their children devour and enjoy.  Each episode of the podcast comes with a set of show notes that lists all the books they have mentioned. 

This is a great resource for all to talk about books with their children.  I often use it to source books as gifts and for the library.  The podcast and Facebook page can both be accessed via the website: Home - Your Kid's Next Read Podcast (yourkidsnextread.com.au)

Happy Reading

Catherine McAleer 

Teacher Librarian

P & F News

Tuckshop News

Opening Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Order via Flexischools App.  If you need help to navigate the App, please feel free to pop into the tuckshop and chat to Jemma or email on jemma@archerscateringandevents.com.au 

Cut off of Online orders...
Order before 3pm Tuesday (for Wednesday), 3pm Wednesday (for Thursday) & 1pm Thursday (for Friday).

NEW Tuckshop Menu

REMINDER - IF YOU CHILD IS SICK, PLEASE CONTACT THE TUCKSHOP BEFORE 9AM TO POSTPONE YOUR ORDER TO THE NEXT DAY!

From our Uniform Shop

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

Scholarship Opportunity - Grace Lutheran College

Tennis Coaching.