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Dear Parents/Carers,
Term Two has started well, though very differently to any beginning of term that’s happened before!
I continue to be constantly in awe of the support that the St Thomas the Apostle Community has steeped upon our school. While we all (parents and school staff alike) want the school to resume to ‘normal’, your support for making Remote Learning successful as our mode of teaching for the now, is so appreciated.
I have had numerous conversations with parents about how they are making this work. Whilst it is a juggle of what happens in a day to accommodate everyone’s learning and work commitments, I am hearing from parents that they are seeing the silver lining of the extra time they are spending with their children. (We all need those silver linings). It makes for a longer working day to fit everything in, with flexibility being the new ‘norm' for many families. Please remember, just do what you can. If something isn't working, leave it and move onto the next task. If you only get through a few things in a day, then that is OK. Students can engage in their learning tasks early in the morning, later in the afternoon, or even the weekends. It has to work for your family.
Having back at school, only the children of families with no alternative other than school for care, has meant that the number of students attending is manageable. These children are being supported in their Remote Learning by support staff while classroom teachers are creating the Remote Learning lessons and interacting with their class online. For those parents working from home and splitting the day between doing your work along with helping your child with their learning, you are champions. For the parents and carers who are caring for babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers along with helping with the Remote Learning for your school aged child/children, you are awesome. For the teachers and support staff here at school who are working to provide engaging, sound, educational experiences for the children of St Thomas’, I am in awe of how you have taken this on and adapted so resourcefully. I can honestly say that at 3:30pm yesterday afternoon when I was talking with some of our teachers, I have never seen them look so tired. It’s a full on day with no down time, preparing lessons, and interacting with students and parents remotely. Whilst they look and are sapped, they are also excited and motivated about what they are doing. We hope that it is not too long before children return to school, but in the meantime, know that we are here to support you in any way needed. Don’t hesitate to get in touch.
School Uniforms
The winter uniform is the uniform for Term Two (please see the website for details). Week 1 is always a grace period for change over, but with a top temperature of 7 degrees expected tomorrow, I don’t think the transition will be a problem. For our students learning from home, I am requesting that when on screen, they are in their school shirt or jumper (I’m not concerned what bottoms and footwear are worn). I have spoken to other Principals who requested this of their students last term when they were trialling the Remote Learning. They felt it was a real positive for all students to do this, not only to be seen in their school shirt but also psychologically to connect with school and their classmates. I’m asking parents and carers to support this request.
New uniforms are available at Savvy
The fleecy jumper with the logo embroidered was to be available for winter, but the shipment was held up due to the Coronavirus so may not be in stock yet. Information regarding online purchases and opening hours of the shop are further on in the newsletter.
Second hand Uniform Shop
Our second hand uniform shop is going online as well. A digital order form will be sent out shortly. New short and long sleeve blue shorts are only available through the school and not at Savvy. These can also be ordered via the online order form.
Hygiene and Cleaning
Without repeating my previous correspondence regarding this, please know that we are ensuring that measures for personal hygiene such as hand washing and physical distancing, along with disinfecting equipment and things such as door handles, is happening regularly.
With an adult staff of 30 already in the school, we are asking that parents do not come into the school grounds (except for accessing TEAMKIDS) or into the school building. The exception is the school office and we ask that you adhere to physical distancing should there already be adults in the area. Penny Vanzwol has sent out information regarding access to the library. I encourage families at home to come and borrow books. It is a well-resourced library and this is a great time to be getting as much reading done as possible.
Finally, thank you for the time you have spent keeping up to date with reading all the messages from the school over the past few weeks. I know there have been so many. I’ll keep this one short today for that very reason.
May God bless you and your families,
Ursula Jamieson
Principal
RE Week 1 - Be still and know that I am God
Thank you to all of those people who have posted photos of their ANZAC celebrations. Please feel free to email them to me or to upload them to your child’s SeeSaw or Google Classroom.
While Community Prayer is scheduled for certain times of the week, please feel encouraged to engage with these prayers as a family. They are designed to be gentle and hopeful. The staff are also participating in these prayers as a community.
This morning I saw the following post and was touched by its simplicity. We are so blessed to have this wonderful community.
Penny Vanzwol
REC Coordinator
I would just like to let you know that we would like to keep the library operating to ensure that the students have plenty to read. Naturally, there will be conditions established to ensure that everyone remains safe.
Opening Hours
Monday – 1:00-3:30
Thursday- 1:00-3:30
Friday- 11:00-3:00
Please note, students are expected to be available for their afternoon check in so please schedule your visit around this.
Conditions for Borrowing
- Please ensure that you are returning books in order to borrow new ones.
- Please place all returns into the grey returns box next to the Circulation desk so that they can be wiped down prior to being returned to the shelf.
- Only 2 families will be allowed in the library at a time so please be patient if there is a wait time (although I don’t anticipate that this will be the case). If there are already 2 families in there when you come, Mrs Luhrs will let you know and you can wait in the reception area.
- If Ms Vanzwol is not at the desk, please ask Mrs Luhrs to find her rather than leaving a note and taking books.
I look forward to supplying you all with wonderful books!
Penny Vanzwol
The canteen will not be open until school resumes to normal. The children will need to bring morning tea, lunch and fruit break each day.
Thank you for your support,
Paula Papandrea
Canteen manager
A reminder that the beginning of Term 2 marks the start of wearing our winter school uniform. We allow a one week change over to this uniform as it can still be quite mild. The expectation is that all children will be wearing winter uniform by start of week 2. Please encourage your child (as we do) to wear their school uniform with pride.
Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrated a birthday in April
Sienna Nehme | Gregory McGoldrick | Knox Hoevenaar |
Abrylle McInerney | Raya Vinco | Bonnie Bryce |
Thomas Keefe | Mia Harradine | Mohammad Al Shamari |
Dominique Busa | Hudson Wundersitz | Destiny Costanzo |
Rufus McNally | Lucas Donaldson | Samuel Ballesteros |
Dylan Thompson | Zach Clynch | Riley Clynch |
Nixon Dean | Sofia Pearman | Teliaha Goward |
Marshall Fox | Delilah Costanzo |
Also Happy Birthday to the following students who will celebrate their birthday this week
Gab Esguerra |
Ned Adams | Georgina George |
Evie Klau |
Jared Earl |
Savvy Tuggeranong has uniforms available online via https://www.savvyschoolwear.com.au/schoolwear/school and is the preferred method of purchase. We are still encouraging families to purchase online but would also like to encourage families to call ahead to ensure the store is open and availability of uniform.
The current trading hours for Savvy Tuggeranong from the week commencing 4/5/2020 are:
Monday & Tuesday 11am to 4pm
Friday 11am to 4pm
Saturday 10am to 2pm