Filter Content
- Principal's Report
- RE Week 8 - Be still and know that I am God
- Library News
- Partners: Parenting Ideas
- Upcoming Events
- Ninja Colour Run
- December Birthdays
- Student Achievements
- Photos - Award Recipients Week 6 Term 4
- Photos - Kinder Excursion National Zoo & Aquarium
- Photos - Nutrition Magician (Years 3-6)
- Photos - Will Lipscombe Art Awards
- St Thomas Apostle - Netball Teams 2020
- TeamKids Newsletter
- TeamKids Summer Holiday Program
- Canberra Cricket Academy
- Holiday Happenings
- Immunisation Reminder for Year 6 Parents
- Tuggeranong Southern Cross Junior Basketball Club
Dear Parents and Carers,
Congratulations to our School Leaders for 2020
This was the first year that we have had a Student Representative Council (SRC) and the six students from Yr 6 who have been the members of this inaugural SRC have done an outstanding job and set the bar high for the SRC in years to come. On Tuesday, 25 students from Year 5 gave a speech to the school community explaining why they want to be part of the SRC for 2021. Each and every one of these students are worthy contenders to be part of the SRC and, after voting, the six successful candidates were decided. Congratulations to our SRC members for 2021 : Claire Van der Linden, Joshua Burt, Angela Strmota, Matthew Hoskinson, Sienna Nehme and Cameron Long.
Thank you to our outgoing SRC team, you have been amazing. Matilda Hawke, Olivia Grellman, Gab Esguerra, Kailah Longani, Abby Bartkowiack and Ned Adams.
Farewell Mass for Father Peter
This week we celebrated a final mass with Fr Peter as he prepares to leave our School Community and St Thomas the Apostle Parish. Fr Peter has been our much loved and dedicated Parish Priest for the past 14 years. We have been blessed to have him as a shepherd, inspiring us with the love of the Holy Spirit and leading us to follow in the footsteps of St Thomas the Apostle, showing us that Jesus is the way the truth and the life. We will miss him very much and we wish him all the best for his new parish of Yass and Gunning.
Kindergarten Orientation
We had our new Kinders for 2021 join us for an orientation morning last Friday. The pre-schoolers spent time in the classrooms and were introduced to the school environment and some routines of ‘big school’. Coming to primary school is a significant event in the lives of the children and their parents and we are looking forward to making our new (and old) families feel very welcome at St Thomas the Apostle.
Will Lipscombe Art Award
Will Lipscombe was a courageous and inspirational student of St Thomas the Apostle School. Sadly, Will passed away in 2015. Each year we offer an opportunity for students to contribute an artistic work in memory of Will. His father Tim and Joey, his younger brother who is in Yr 7 at MacKillop College came to school last Friday to present this year’s winners with their prizes. Will was well known for his understanding of heroes as being “ordinary individuals who find the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” Will remains a hero in the hearts of many people in our community and this year, we asked students to reflect on someone ‘who is a hero you hold in your heart’. We congratulate the prize recipients for 2020: Archie King, Zoë Adcock, Maeve Wilson, Angela Strmota and Elena Munoz. See photos later in the newsletter.
Staffing and Classes for 2021
We will have all our class teachers for next year all sorted this week and they will be announced in the newsletter next week. The teachers have spent many hours creating the classes for 2021. Students will meet their teachers and classmates for next year, on Thursday of Week 10. They will do a welcoming activity and have lunch together.
End of Year Events
We are ending the year with many fun and also traditional events. We will keep you updated each day via Szapp as to what is happening the next day.
Monday
- Dion Devow Cultural Champion Award presentation
- Year K-2 Silent Disco (normal school clothes)
- St Thomas Talent Show (students will change in to costumes if needed)
- MATES blue band awards - smash and mash ice-cream treat
- SCC final meeting for the year. School fees for next year will be set and will be in the newsletter next week.
Tuesday
- Year 6 going to MacKillop next year will be at an orientation day
- House Captains for 2021 speeches will be presented
- Year 3-6 Silent Disco (normal school clothes)
Wednesday
- Year 2 Art Show evening 1
Thursday
- Carols by Sunlight (children can wear Christmas clothes – a sausage sizzle lunch will be provided)
- Year 2 Art Show evening 2
Friday
- Kinder Nativity presented to the students
- Ninja Obstacle course and Colour run (students wear a white t-shirt)
Students leaving St Thomas the Apostle at the end of the year
Please ensure that you have informed us, in writing, if your child will not be returning to St Thomas’ in 2021. Obviously, this does not apply to students in Year 6. It is imperative, for planning purposes, that we have accurate information with regard to enrolment numbers. I also need to know the destination school as part of system accountability requirements. Thank you to those who have already provided this information.
May God bless you and your family as we enjoy this reflective and beautiful season of Advent.
Ursula Jamieson
Ursula Jamieson
Principal
RE Week 8 - Be still and know that I am God
RE Week 8 - Be still and know that I am God
The word advent comes from the Latin term adventus meaning "arrival" or "coming," particularly the coming of something having great importance. The advent season is a time of preparation for the arrival of Jesus at Christmas. Last week we lit the first candle which represents hope. This week we light the second candle which represents faith.
Reconciliation
21 children celebrated the sacrament of Reconciliation last night with Fr Peter and two other priests. It was wonderful to join as a community to celebrate the sacrament together. The students were wonderful and were very reverent throughout the sacrament. Thank you to these families for their support through the home nights and family nights. We congratulate the students on receiving Reconciliation yesterday.
Geoff Ryan
REC
Date |
Event |
Friday 4 December |
Year 5 Excursion Limelight Cinema Year 6 Excursion Big Splash |
Monday 7 December |
Dion Devow Cultural Award presentation 9.00am Silent Disco (Kinder, Yr 1 & 2) Talent Show MATES blue band lunch awards SCC Meeting 6.30pm |
Tuesday 8 December |
Silent Disco (Yr 3/4 & Yr 5/6) House Captain speeches |
Wednesay 9 December |
Year 2 Art Show (evening 1) 3.30pm - 7pm |
Thursday 10 December |
Carols by Sunlight (no parents/carers) Year 2 Art Show (evening 2) 3.30pm - 7pm |
Friday 11 December |
Kinder Nativity (students only) 10am Ninja Colour Run Obstacle course 11.30am |
Congratulations to Rafael Regala and Arthur Lipton 3/4K for being selected to be 2021 Basketball ACT Representatives for Under12 Boys Division. They will be competing in the South Junior League next year and hopefully at the National Junior Classic in Melbourne.
St Thomas Apostle - Netball Teams 2020
A very special thanks to all the parents, families and players who supported the St Thomas Netball teams during the winter and summer competitions at the Arawang Netball Association - even during the apocalyptic weather! It was a different kind of year with COVID restrictions in force however it did not stop our players from doing well each week on the court
A very special thanks to our coaches who have volunteered to oversee our teams in 2020: Mon Warren and Johno (Year 1,2,3 team), Virginia Wilson (Year 4 team) and Karen Kirk (Combine STTAP/ Arawang Year 5 team). A big shout out to Clare O'Loughlin (Year 6 team) who will be leaving the school this year and who has consistently volunteered coaching the year group since Year 1 (both weekend and school netball competitions) and has seen an undefeatable team come together over the years.
The efforts of all parents involved has been greatly appreciated.
For players interested in being part of a St Thomas the Apostle teams in 2021 please join our closed Facebook Page: Royal Blues Netball Club Kambah - STTAP or email Katie Jenkins (kjenkins@grapevine.com.au) for more information.
BLUE JAYS - Year 1/2/3
BLUE BELLS - Year 4
STTAP/ ARAWANG CHEETAHS - Year 5
BLUE BIRDS - Year 6
Many Thanks
Katie Jenkins