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Dear Parents and Carers,
We have come to the end of our first week of Remote Learning and hopefully by this time in a fortnight we will have all the children back with us. Thank for your support in these trying times and keeping your children at home with you where you can. This has meant that we are all together in protecting our children and families and keeping everyone as safe as possible.
I have updated the form for you to register your child for school attendance should it be needed for the rest of the lockdown period. This information can be gathered as the time progresses; you do not have to do this by a certain date. All I ask that you give me 2 days' notice of requiring attendance of your child/ren. This will give me time to ensure that we have enough staff on site school to support the students in their Remote Learning. Here is the link.
https://forms.office.com/r/Frp0ak4APU
As I have said previously, during this difficult time we are all susceptible to feelings of frustration, fear, anxiety & stress. Please be kind to yourselves and each other, and together we can get through this. Reach out if you need help and please reach out to family, friends and colleagues to check that they are okay. Catholic Education is providing additional counselling support to our school communities during this time. If needed, you can contact CatholicCare on (02) 6162 6100.
Our staff have worked very hard this week making sure that the online learning is engaging and appropriate while also working to ensure that families are feeling connected with school. I am so proud of the staff here at St Thomas the Apostle.
Thank you also to all our amazing students who have engaged so quickly and positively in learning remotely. I am impressed with their positivity in what is a challenging time. I can see by the way they have been interacting, they are also helping each other out along the way.
Finally, to end the week, I want to extend a huge thank you to all of you - our amazing parents and carers. You are there beside your children, supporting them with their engagement in Remote Learning, while at the same time managing your own work commitments and keeping home life as normal as possible. You are making all the difference to your child, more than you probably will ever know.
I hope you can all ‘down tools’ for the weekend and enjoy the sunshine and slightly warmer weather.
Yours in partnersip,
Ursula Jamieson
Principal
RE Week 6 - Who do you say I am?
Thank you to all those families who are engaging with the daily prayer sessions. At all stages of our lives we can open our lives to hear God calling us into closer relationship with Him. In times of challenge, we can all benefit from the knowledge that we are never alone. God is with us always. His hands are always open to care for us and to protect us. This knowledge is the source of great hope and joy. It allows us to see the blessings in everyday life and to feel calm amongst chaos. More than that, it joins us with a wide community of believers. Children who know that they are part of a compassionate and inclusive community grow up with a strong sense of purpose and resilience. What a wonderful gift.
We continue to pray for all members of our St Thomas the Apostle community and can rest in the knowledge that they are also praying for us.
Sacramental Programs
We share in the disappointment the children feel around the postponement of Eucharist and Confirmation. Please be assured that we will resume the programs as soon as it is safe for everyone involved. For those with children preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, I encourage you to spend some time with your child selecting their saint. It is worthwhile looking in to modern day saints who have much to offer in the way of spiritual guides. Carlo Acutis is a fine example.
Penny Vanzwol
REC
Next week is Book Week!
We look forward to seeing your children online dressed as their favourite book characters! The read aloud for Library next week is one I am sure you will all connect with. Please spend the time to share it with your children. You will definitely get a laugh!
Book Week Dress up Day is on Friday 27 August.
Penny Vanzwol
Teacher Librarian
Please send your photos to lynette.wilson@cg.catholic.edu.au for inclusion in the Newsletter, facebook and the Yearbook.
Date |
Event |
Friday 20 August |
Science Week - dress as a scientist day |
Friday 27 August |
Book Week dress up day |
If you would like photos of your child/ren included in upcoming newsletters and the Yearbook please send them to Lynette Wilson at lynette.wilson@cg.catholic.edu.au
School Front Office Contact during Lockdown
Please note that if you need to contact the school during lockdown please call Naomi Trussler on 0414 036 764 or email naomi.trussler@cg.catholic.edu.au
Our amazing Canteen Manager Victoria Town is at it again!
This week she is opening a dinner service for all of the hardworking parents, carers, children and teachers. We know it is hard to be in lockdown and trying to manage working from home, remote learning and just the day to day stress of living in a Covid outbreak.
Therefore, the canteen will be offering family sized dinners for sale with contactless pick up (pre-arranged time for pick-up by contacting Victoria) from school during lockdown.
Victoria will be putting options on Flexischools shortly and this is the preferred way to order and pay and cut off time is 12:00pm.
Victoria will update Flexischools with options as she finishes cooking them!
Pick up time will be between 1:00-3:00pm Thursday and Friday. We will start our service tomorrow (Friday 20/8) and continue this each Thursday and Friday for the next two weeks.
If you are in quarantine and cannot take advantage of the school pick up "Lockdown Dinner Service" there are plenty of people here in the school community who would be happy to deliver your order to you and leave it on your doorstep. If this is your situation all you need to do is order on Flexischools and then email me on ursula.jamieson@cg.catholic.edu.au and I will organise with Victoria in the canteen to have it delivered to you.
Any questions please contact Victoria via email victoria.town@cg.catholic.edu.au or phone 0447 325 239.
Happy Birthday to the following students who will cebebrate a birthday this week
Entries are due Friday 27th August (Week 7)
We look forward to seeing your entries and the creative way you reflect someone you look up to for their bravery.
Please send your entries via email to lynette.wilson@cg.catholic.edu.au or they can be left in the "letter box" opening on the right of the School front door.
About Will Lipscombe
Will was a courageous and inspirational member of our St Thomas community. Sadly, Will passed away in 2015. 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.
This means that even though Will is no longer with us in person, he will always live on in the heart of our community.
Our community has a HUGE heart.
Courage, spirit and honesty form the legacy that Will leaves in our community.
This year, Will’s family has had a book published about Will’s life. The book talks about several teachers at St Thomas the Apostle School and the impact they had on Will and his family.
This is a reminder of how lucky we are to be a part of this wonderful community. It also talks about how brave Will was.
The image on the cover of the book is one of Will’s drawings. It is a great reflection of bravery and courage.
Each year we offer an opportunity for students to contribute an artistic work in memory of Will. This year, we ask you to reflect on someone you respect for the bravery they show.
Entry Form
Early last week Kinder made mini shelters as part of their investigation in to different materials.