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- Principal's Report
- RE Week 9 - Be still and know that I am God
- Library News
- Help us make 2020 a Christmas like no other for families in need
- Upcoming Events
- Canteen News
- Awards Term 4 Week 9
- December Birthdays
- Photos - Ninja Colour Run
- Photos - Dion Devow Cultural Award
- Photos - Silent Disco
- Photos Year 2 Art Show
- Photos - Yr 3/4 Library
- Photos - Carols by Sunlight
- Guitar Tuition
- TeamKids Summer Holiday Program
- Holiday Happenings
- Tuggeranong Southern Cross Junior Basketball Club
- Canberra Cricket Academy - date correction
Dear Parents and Carers,
What a great week we have had here at St Thomas’. After a year dominated with COVID restrictions, it’s good to finish on such a high. The highlights of this week include the Year 2 Art Show. To see the creative works of art that the students had on display demonstrates what can be achieved when given the opportunity. Thank you to Patty Porteus, Laura Vandenbroucke and Tona Tallarida for fostering the artistic talents of our Year 2 students.
Yesterday we had Carols by Sunlight. Whilst we missed having all the families here for our traditional evening sausage sizzle and carols, the students enjoyed listening to the carols and songs performed by each class and the school choir. We also had the keyboard and guitar students play their instruments to the audience. It finished with the excitement that only a visit from Santa can bring.
Today was our inaugural “Colour Run Ninja obstacle course”(we would like to make this an annual event). This was sooo much fun and there were squeals of delight from the children as they were peppered with coloured powder. The staff also managed to get covered in colour. It was fun day for us all.
Reports
The teachers have spent the last few weeks completing assessments, writing reports and preparing classes for next year. Semester Two 2020 Reports will be sent home today. It is important to remember that a school report is not the definitive measure of your child’s abilities. It is only one measure amid a wide range of opportunities, experiences and activities. Setting a pattern of constructive support should help make report time a productive and positive experience that will help your child make progress at school. A few tips:
- find the positive aspects of the report and praise your child;
- take into consideration that the A-E grading scale is very different from the one you would have experienced when you were at school;
- discuss what your child found difficult. Look at work habits, routines, diet, sleep patterns, etc; and
- discuss how things could be improved. There are recommendations in the report. Offer some constructive/criticism and attainable goals for next year.
Special thanks to the teachers for the many unpaid hours of work, outside school time, that go into marking assessments, preparing, editing and finalising the written reports.
Staffing for 2021
Following is the staff list and class teachers for 2021.
Kindergarten: Ms Jacinta Housler and Mr Matt Lowe
Year 1: Ms Leyrizza Leyes and Ms Laura Vandenbroucke
Year 2: Ms Aimee Barry and Ms Patty Porteus with Ms Tona Tallarida (Fridays)
Year 3/4: Ms Lauren Jameson, Mr Geoff Ryan and Ms Susan Chant, Ms Monique George and Ms Georgia Croker (with Ms Rachel Kennedy returning in Term 3)
Year 5/6: Ms Anne Barbic, Ms Natalia Ciuffetelli, and Ms Tathra Kennelly sharing with Ms Natasha Pank
Indonesian Teacher: Ms Zita Clifford
Music Teacher: Mr Geoff Ryan
Principal: Ms Ursula Jamieson
Assistant Principal: Ms Susan Chant
Religious Education Coordinator and Teacher Librarian: Ms Penny Vanzwol
Coordinator and STEM teacher: Ms Luke Mooney
Classroom Support Teacher: Ms Cathy Duffy
Classroom Support Assistants: Ms Nicole Joyce, Ms Karen Duffy,
Ms Lynette Wilson and Ms Sally Cameron
Wellbeing Counsellor: Ms Anne Gowen
Office and Finance Manager: Ms Naomi Trussler
Publications Officer and Principal Support: Ms Lynette Wilson
Canteen Manager: Ms Paula Papandrea
Grounds and Maintenance: Mr John Cousins
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 2021 on Thursday 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. 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 2021 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 2021
Our Student Representative Council members (SRC) are: Claire Van der Linden, Angela Strmota, Sienna Nehme, Joshua Burt, Matthew Hoskinson and Cameron Long
Our House Captains are:
Erindale: Haylee Laws and Dominque Busa
Riverview: Geoffrey Olivetti and Dempsey McNally
Lanyon: Sophie Cameron and Lara Kirk
Cooleman: James Rice and Macy Moule
These worthy students were voted in by the school community. I look forward to working with these school leaders in 2021.
School Fees for 2021
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 $164 on 2020. This equates to around $3.15 a week and will help to ensure our school can maintain the resources to deliver high quality education.
St Thomas The Apostle 2021 Fees Per Child
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.
School Community Council
I would like to take this opportunity to say a genuine and heartfelt thank you to the members of our SCC. They are a dedicated group of parents who want the best for this school and all those who are part of it. I would like to say special thank you to our departing member Angela Bartkowiak who has been our Secretary for the past two years. Angela is certainly a voice of reason on the Council and her words and actions are always appreciated by the team. Thank you Angela for all you have contributed in your four years on the SCC. Thank you also to the rest of the SCC team for your work this year. Carl Jenkins, SCC Chair; Katherine Hellwig, SCC Deputy Chair; Mike Giacomin, Treasurer; Anne Barbic, staff representative and to our general members, Liz Grellman, Jacinta Bryce, Corrine Smith. Early next year we will be calling for nominations for the SCC for the next two years. Hopefully our current members are keen to nominate again, and of course there is room for new members.
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 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.
School Shirts
Our new blue school shirt is only available for purchase from the school and are not available in shops. They are for sale from the front office for $19 ($25 for long sleeved shirts). Paula will also have the 2nd hand clothing shop open next week on Thursday 17 December from 2:00pm – 3:30pm.
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 bin.
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 Masses (there are two due to COVID restrictions) will be held next Wednesday 16th December at 9:30am and again at 6pm.
During this very special Mass we will celebrate and farewell our Year 6 students and any families who are leaving the school. Year 5 will also attend the 9:30 am mass. If any families attending have children in Kinder to Year 4 , they are most welcome to bring them to the Mass as well.
Candle Ceremony
the handing of leadership from Year 6 to Year 5. This will be on the last day of school. Unfortunately once again because of COVID restrictions, only students will attend. We are limited by the number of people we can have in the church and also the school hall. This is unfortunate, however, parents are welcome to meet their children in the school grounds under the big tree at 3:10 on Friday afternoon. As long as social distancing measured are recognized, it will be lovely for everyone to be able to say a last goodbye as our Year 6 students finish their time at St Thomas the Apostle School.
With only one week to go we hope that it’s a peaceful and calm one.
Many blessing on you and your family in this season of Advent.
Ursula Jamieson
Ursula Jamieson
Principal
RE Week 9 - Be still and know that I am God
RE Week 9 - Be still and know that I am God
This week we light the third candle on the advent wreath. The third candle is pink and represents joy. We look forward to seeing the Kindergarten students perform the Christmas Nativity. This is always a joyous occasion and is a perfect way to reflect on the story of Jesus' birth. We continue to prepare our hearts to receive Jesus at Christmas.
Candle Ceremony
The candle ceremony will be held on the final day of school this year. The focus of the candle ceremony is the handing over of leadership from Year Six to Year Five students. Unfortunately, due to COVID restrictions, we are unable to invite parents to this event. It will be held during school time and will highlight the handing over of leadership to the rest of the school students.
Altar Servers
We have 6 students who are currently being trained as altar servers for the St Thomas the Apostle Parish. These students completed their First Eucharist earlier this year. We are fortunate to have such wonderful students in our community who can help support the parish in this way.
Geoff Ryan
REC
Help us make 2020 a Christmas like no other for families in need
Given the current circumstances, the St Vincent de Paul Society Kambah Conference will be organising their Christmas Appeal slightly differently. To support them, each child has been allocated a Christmas treat to provide for the hamper. Families wishing to make further contributions are asked to do so in the form of new, unwrapped gifts. These may be for any age group. Ideas may include gift cards, movie tickets, IPlay tickets, bowling tickets, toiletries, stationery, ITunes gift cards, candles, Christmas decorations, games, travel coffee mugs etc.
We ask that all items be donated by Monday 14th December, Week 10.
We appreciate your continued generosity and support.
Date |
Event |
Monday 14 December |
Kinder Nativity (parents and carers) 10am |
Tuesday 15 December |
Farewell Assembly 2.30pm |
Wednesay 16 December |
Year 6 Graduation Mass 9.30am Year 6 Graduation Mass 6pm |
Friday 18 December |
Candle Ceremony 12pm |
A friendly reminder that the canteen is closed in Week 10.
We would like to wish you and your families a safe and very Merry Christmas.
Enjoy the festive season!
From Paula and the community services team!
this week. Photos will be included in the next newsletter.
Kinder | Mila Laverty, Matthew Lawton Veda Stewart, Tilly Bellato |
Year 1 |
D'arcy Keefe, Bonnie Bryce |
Year 2 | Raya Vinco, Hudson Wundersitz Apajok Deng, Vinh Ngo |
Year 3/4 | Joe Adams, Lily Darcy Ella Field, Rory Bayer Dakota King, Dylan Dunn |
Year 5/6 | Ielyn Shaji, Thomas Odd Adele Abbott, Ashleigh Clark Dominique Busa, Sam Taylor Josh Burt, Riley Masters |
Principal's Special Award |
Nicholas Masters |
Jesse Jongue
Baani Toor
Oliver Jansen
Eliza Creber
Harper Clark
Georgia Penny
Greg McGoldrick
Lily Williamson
San Geraghty
Kailee Hellwig
Dempsey McNally
Ruben Hines
Lara Kirk