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Dear Parents and Carers,
Today we celebrated Harmony week in a truly united way. Many children came in National dress and others wore orange, the colour recognised for supporting harmony.
We had a parade in the morning and were treated to a performance by Chinese Lion Dancers. Thank you To Nicholas Chan, father of Winter and Edith for bringing the troupe to school.
Victoria Town waved her magic over the canteen and produced an incredible Ukrainian inspired lunch for all the school. The purpose was to raise awareness for the people in this war-torn country and to support them by our donations but also by our prayers. Thank you to Victoria and her helpers including her husband Dan Town along with Michelle Moule, Jenny Kuzek, Rowena Griffin, Emily O’Callaghan and Mel Tapp. The children experienced food that they had never encountered before and were respectful just to taste the dishes on offer before asking for a serving so as not to waste any food. One child just yelled out to me “Mrs Jamieson, this is the best!”
I really also want to acknowledge the incredible work of our hardworking teachers and staff this term. With the increase of workload due to staff having to isolate and very limited relief staff available, they have risen to the call of being there for the children and each other. I am grateful to each of them and for the additional hours they have put in to ensure that teaching and learning and student wellbeing are all catered for at the highest level. They have gone over and above expectations and they always do it with a smile. I want to also thank you, the parents, for your support and appreciation. We are all part of very kind community here at St Thomas’.
As we approach the final weeks of Term One, our children are becoming increasingly tired. It’s not unusual at this time of term keeping in mind that for many of our students, this is their first full term of schooling in a long period. Two more weeks of engaging teaching and learning before they get to have a well-earned break!
Yours in partnership,
Ursula Jamieson
Principal
In the past week we have seen many wonderful acts of kindness in our community. There have been generous donations to Project Compassion and the Peace for Ukraine lunch, celebration of Harmony Day, commissioning the Mini Vinnies Team, and celebrating mass with the families of students who enrolled for the sacraments of First Reconciliation and Eucharist this year.
This week over dinner or a meal together, talk about the many small acts of kindness your children have noticed throughout the day.
"Saint Therese of Lisieux invites us to practise the little way of love, not to miss out on a kind word, a smile or any small gesture which sows peace and friendship.” (Laudato Si, Pope Francis)
Geoff Ryan
REC
The ACT Government is making some changes to the way rapid antigen tests (RATs) are distributed to ACT school communities for the remainder of Term 1. RATs will continue to be available through our school but will be provided to staff and students on an as-needed basis or in response to increased cases as necessary. If you require additional tests, please contact the front office on 6231 4144 or by email at office.sttapkambah@cg.catholic.edu.au
Thank you for returning books and bringing in those library bags. For students in Years 3-6 if they do have a library bag I have allowed children to borrow more books. I encourage all children to bring a library bag over the next two weeks to borrow a few extra books for the holiday period.
In library the children have been learning about animation and how stories can be told in different ways. We explored an Aboriginal dreamtime story which used stop motion and narration. The short "Fetch" was also viewed to learn about how images, music and sound effects also enhance our comprehension of a text. Over the next few weeks and into the start of next term, the students will be planning and creating their own stop-motion animations!
Borrowing Week 9
Tuesday 29th March: K-2, 3/4B
Wednesday 30th March: 3/4G, 5/6KP, 5/6B
Leah Godfrey
Teacher Librarian (Term 1)