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Dear Parents and Carers,
Next we see the beginning of our winter months and with it comes a reprieve from the necessity to wear school hats for a couple of months. The end of May is hats off day!
In June and July, hats go away! Being SunSmart is all about being “smart” when spending time outdoors in the sun, this includes having an understanding around the balance between UV exposure, sun protection and vitamin D.
During the summer period, maintaining vitamin D levels should be relatively easy for children who are active and spend time outdoors most days of the week, even with sensible sun protection. In Canberra, we have already started to witness daily UV levels decrease to what is considered “low” levels (under 3), during the morning and afternoon periods. In Canberra UV levels drop and remain under 3, all day, around the June and July period
The body should be able to store your summer vitamin D levels over the winter period, however by leaving your hat at home during this low UV period and getting some winter sun exposure to your skin you are more likely to maintain adequate vitamin D levels during this cold period of the year.
In winter, by exposing some skin most days of the week during the lunchtime period (the middle of the day is best because UVB will be present), students and teachers should be able to maintain the bulk of their summer vitamin D. Of course there will be groups in the population that are at higher risk of having vitamin D deficiency. To read more about vitamin D visit Cancer Council ACT’s website.
Community Surveys
Over the next two weeks we will be inviting students, teachers and parents and carers to provide feedback on their experience of our school using an online survey. The surveys are an important part of our whole school evaluation and planning process.
We would like to invite you to complete the Tell Them From Me (TTFM) Partners in Learning survey. As we value the role of parents and carers within our school community we would greatly appreciate your feedback. The information you provide will be used to maintain our commitment to working together in partnership to further improve student learning and wellbeing at St Thomas the Apostle School
The survey is anonymous and will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. You are able to access the parent survey on your computer or mobile device by using the URL below:
Pie and Footy Night
Here is the link to the electronic reply form to let us know you’re planning to come, that way we will have enough pies for everyone.
If it is raining on the night, we will move the event to the big screen in side. The Kombi Keg will be parked at the door.
Enrolments
We are still in Enrolment period until the end of May across all Catholic schools in our diocese. Can I please remind families that all enrolments are completed online through a link on our website, and that siblings need to be enrolled, even if they are currently in our ELC. If you or anyone you know would like a tour of the school, please ask them to call the front office and we gladly book them in for one.
Teacher Relief and Day Away
Along with the onset of winter and due to the nature of their jobs in working with many children each day, our teachers are always exposed to a range of colds and bugs. The result of which can lead to absences through sickness. When teachers are sick every attempt is made to organise a relief teacher to cover the class for the day, or longer if necessary. However, at times it can be quite difficult to get suitable relief and even more difficult to get the same relief teacher when there may be a number of days involved.
At St Thomas the Apostle we have a Day Away system in place for if and when suitable relief is unavailable. In this system the students from the class are split across all classes and take with them their Day Away folders containing learning activities prepared by their class teacher. This learning both compliments and reinforces the learning already taking place in the classroom. Each class teacher and the front office have a copy of the split class list and are able to locate your child quickly if needed. We also use this routine when a class teacher takes a group of children from across the school to sporting and cultural activities such as a football gala days. While this routine has only been implemented a few times so far this year and with the shortage of relief teachers available it may happen more often as we move into winter. I thank you in anticipation of your understanding.
Family Week
As we are now well into the colder months of the year, it’s a perfect time to have a fallow week. Next week is Family Week and an opportunity for spending time with family and friends without the added commitment of meetings or homework! We have Family Week in Week 7 of each term as the ‘seventh’ is traditionally observed as the Sabbath or a day of rest.
Reconciliation Day Public Holiday
On Monday 31 May (Week 7), the ACT will celebrate the Reconciliation Day public holiday. As it is a public holiday, all schools in the ACT will be closed on this day.
Pupil Free Day – First Day of Term 3
Catholic Education has nominated that Monday 12 July (first day of Term Three) to be a Pupil Free day to allow staff to continue their professional development in the Catalyst Program. Students do not attend school on that day and TEAM KIDS will provide care for those needed to use the service.
Ursula Jamieson
Principal
RE Week 6 - Who do you say I am?
The night was enriched by the gentle music supplied by our Parish choir. We are so blessed to have members of our community who are committed to our students in such a way that they are prepared to give up their time to attend celebrations such as this.
Mini Vinnies
Today our Mini Vinnies Team had a visit from the Youth Liaison worker from St Vincent de Paul. Matt spoke to the team about the St Joseph the Carpenter program which will be the focus of our fundraising for St Vincent de Paul this year.
What is the St Joseph the Carpenter Youth Program?
St Joe’s has been providing respite and recreation for vulnerable Canberra children aged 6 to 15 since 1978. Holiday camps and weekend activities provide children experiencing financial or social disadvantage with experiences that other families take for granted. Weekend activity days aim to provide children with an opportunity to experience recreational activities they would otherwise miss out on, such as visits to the Zoo and Questacon, or adventure activities like rock climbing. Camps are run during every school holiday period with two camps running in January. Activities on camp include art, sport, bushwalking, games, swimming, cooking and life skills.
Penny Vanzwol
REC
In years 3-6 we had a very interesting conversation about how the News impacts children and on the impact of Social Media influencers. If you would like to follow these up with your children, you can follow the links below. It is certainly a worthwhile conversation.
Penny Vanzwol
Teacher Librarian
Compass - Signing Students In & Out
Date |
Event |
Friday 28 May |
Assembly (Yr 3/4) 9.15am (parents/carers welcome) |
Monday 31 May |
Reconciliation Day (public holiday) |
Thursday 3 June |
Yr 3/4 Excursion (Nationl Museum of Australia) |
this week.
Awards will be presented at this week's assembly on Friday at 9:15am.
Kinder |
Penny Elliot, Lewis Fox |
Year 1 |
Vincent Sommariva, Ambrose Walton |
Year 2 |
Alyssa Keeffe, Verity Le |
Year 3/4 |
|
Year 5/6 |
|
Principal's Special Award |
Sophie Cameron |
Cultural Award |
Elisha Nguyen |