Principal's Report
Dear Parents and Carers,
It’s almost Christmas and as I flick through the pages of the 2019 Year Book, I can see that it’s been a successful and rewarding year here at St Thomas the Apostle As we see the old year old out, we look forward to what 2020 will bring to us. We have spent the last few weeks completing assessments, writing reports and preparing classes for next year. Following is the staff list and class teachers for 2020.
Kindergarten: Miss Aimee Barry and Mr Matt Lowe
Year 1: Ms Leyrizza Leyes and Mrs Jacinta Housler with Mrs Tracey Kenna (Thursdays and Fridays)
Year 2: Miss Laura Vandenbroucke and Ms Patty Porteus with Mrs Tona Tallarida (Fridays)
Year 3/4: Miss Lauren Jameson, Mrs Rachel Kennedy and Mrs Tathra Kennelly sharing with Mrs Natasha Pank
Year 5/6: Mr Geoff Ryan, Ms Monique George, Mrs Anne Barbic and Miss Natalia Ciuffetelli
Principal: Mrs Ursula Jamieson
Assistant Principal: Mrs Judy Egan
Religious Education Coordinator and Teacher Librarian: Ms Penny Vanzwol
Coordinator and STEM teacher: Mrs Luke Mooney
Classroom Support Teacher: Ms Cathy Duffy
Classroom Support Assistants: Ms Nicole Joyce, Mrs Karen Duffy, Mrs Lynette Wilson and Mrs Sally Cameron
Indonesian Teacher: Mrs Zita Clifford
Office and Finance Manager: Mrs Jodie Luhrs
Publications Officer and Principal Support: Mrs Lynette Wilson
Canteen Manager: Mrs Paula Papandrea
Grounds and Maintenance: Mr Matthew Jones
Class placements for 2020
Teachers have been working on class lists for many weeks. This is not an easy job and takes a considerable amount of time. While teachers have the main responsibility for placing their current students in the most appropriate class for next year, I have made the final decision on all class placements.
Students will be informed of their class placement for 2020 on Wednesday next week and the opportunity will be provided for them to spend some time with their new class teacher and the students in their class for next year. You, as parents cannot always shelter and protect your child or choose their teachers for them. Your child may not get into the class they want or be with the friends they want to be with, they are of course guaranteed at least one friend from their sociogram. Life is full of disappointments, challenges and upsets. A big part of life is learning to deal with a range of people, whether it be other children or adults. It is about building skills and resilience that can be used in later life. How your child responds to the news of their class teacher for 2020 can often depend on your own response. Whether you are satisfied or not, you need to be positive and encouraging. If your child sees that you are upbeat, then they will be confident and optimistic about the future.
Congratulations to our School Leaders for 2020
Our Student Representative Council members (SRC) are: Matilda Hawke, Olivia Grellman, Gab Esguerra, Kailah Longani, Abby Bartkowiack and Ned Adams.
Our House Captains are:
Erindale: Jackson Koch and Ashleigh Clarke
Riverview: Oscar Zacny and Elise Warner
Lanyon: Jack Miels-Barrett and Logan Berry
Cooleman: Isabella Darcy and Liam Dunn
These worthy students were voted in by the school community. I look forward to working with these school leaders in 2020. These students will be presented with their badges at the Opening of the School Year Mass at 9:30m, February 14th.
School Fees for 2020
In order to provide our Catholic schools with the resources required and to continue to meet parent expectations for a high quality education, it is important that income keeps pace with increasing education costs. Fees are set after careful consideration of the needs of Catholic schools in the Archdiocese and the resources needed to maintain and enhance quality education. We are focussed on developing high performing teachers and supporting them to create respectful learning environments that enable all of our students to learn and grow, be happy, feel safe, and be the best they can be. This is an increase across the year of $132 on 2019. This equates to around $2.50 a week and will help to ensure our school can maintain the resources to deliver high quality education.
I would like to thank Michael Giacomin our SCC Treasurer for the hours of work he has put into preparing the budget and school fees for 2020. It really is a big job and I am thankful for his nous and understanding in this important area.
Crazy Hair Day
Thank you for your generosity to support the School Aid Fire Recovery Appeal. We raised right on $500 for this very worthy appeal.
Carols
Last night we had a fun night sharing carols and the must-have sausage sizzle with the families of St Thomas the Apostle Community. The atmosphere was very ‘christmassy’ and was such a beautiful evening to come together to celebrate the year we have had. Thank you to the SCC members for your help with preparations and cooking the barbeque.
New School Shirts
Our new school shirt is available in the Front Office for $19 ($25 for long sleeved shirts). Paula will also have the 2nd hand clothing shop open next week, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The new shirt will also be available there. The opening hours for Week 10 are:
Tuesday 8:30 - 10:30
Wednesday 2:30 - 3:30
Thursday 8:30 - 10:30
As we become more aware of our environment and the detrimental effects on our waterways that manmade fabrics have when washed, I have been given a suggestion from a parent on how we can help reduce this effect. Our school shirts are polyester/ cotton. When polyester is washed, it releases tiny microfibers. These tiny threads shed from fabric have been found in abundance on shorelines where waste water is released. The fibres’ size also allows them to be readily consumed by fish and other wildlife and when viewed under a microscope, they seem to be weaving themselves into the gastrointestinal tract.
By placing synthetic garments in a washing bag such as a guppy bag, these particles are not released into the water, but stay in the bag. Once dried, they can be collected and disposed on thoughtfully. These bags can be purchased on line through Kathmandu. If you would like more information, please copy this link into your browser. https://www.google.com/search?q=guppy+bags&rlz=1C1GCEU_en-GB&oq=guppy+bags&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l7.3711j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Candy Canes & Christmas Cards
At this time of the year, children like to give one another candy canes and Christmas cards which is a thoughtful and giving thing to do. However, we ask children to place cards into their bags as soon as they receive them so that they don’t become lost and we ask them to take the candy canes home to eat. We inform the children that it is not appropriate to eat candy canes at school for a few reasons:
- Parents provide certain foods and expect that their children will eat these foods and not fill up on ‘other’ things
- Parents need to know what their children are eating
- Some children may have allergies to certain foods
- The wrappers are often hard to peel off the cane, coming away in ‘bits and pieces’ which often don’t find their way to the
I ask that you also speak with your children about these things and ask them to bring candy canes and cards home so that you can see what they have received.
Graduation Mass
Our Year 6 Graduation Mass will be held on Wednesday 18th December at 9:30am.
During this very special Mass we will celebrate and farewell our Year 6 students and any families who are leaving the school. Year 2 to 6 will attend the mass. If any families attending have children in Kinder or Year 1, they are most welcome to bring them to the mass as well. All families are welcome to attend this mass.
Crossing Flags on Barritt St
Over the past number of years, the Horsfall family have helped us out by putting out the crossing flags every Monday morning at the crossing on Barritt St and bringing them in on a Friday (They keep them at home). This has been such a help to us, as it’s a little way down the street. On behalf of the school community I would to thank Jess and David for doing this.
As of next year, there will be no Horsfall children attending St Thomas’ and so we are looking for a new family to take over this job. If you live nearby the crossing or drive past it, please consider taking this job on for 2020. I can assure you, it will be very much appreciated
2020 Start of School Date
The 2020 school year will begin on Monday 3rd February for all students, Kindergarten to Year 6. The school day will start at 8:55 am for students in Years 1 to 6. Kindergarten students will start at 9.30am. The day will end at 3.10 with Kindergarten being picked up from the hall and all other students being picked up at the stage or through drive through, or walking or riding home. Kindergarten students will have a rest day at home for the first 4 Wednesdays of the term before starting full weeks at school in Week 5 (Starting Monday March 2nd).
School Fees
A reminder that school fees are now overdue. For those who are not on a regular direct debit with us I ask that you settle your account with us as soon as possible so that we are able to meet our budgetary commitments at this time of year. Payment of these fees can be made by cash, cheque, Qkr, credit card, EFTPOS, BPay or Direct Debit.
With only one week to go we hope that it’s a peaceful and calm one. We think of our friends in the countryside who are struggling with the crippling effects of the drought and bushfires. Please keep them in your prayers as we continue to pray for rain.
Many blessing on you and your family in this season of Advent.
Ursula Jamieson
Principal