Dear Parents and Carers,

First Eucharist Mass

We would normally have all our staff attend the First Eucharist Mass but unfortunately due to restrictions we will only have a few staff in attendance. We are particularly sad about this because we believe it’s important to support our students and families on their faith journey through our physical presence. I look forward to being at Mass with our Yr 3’s on Sunday.

 Principal's Affirmation

Congratulatations to Gemma van Daele and Abel Tidswell
on receiving the Principal's Affirmation last week.

Yours sincerely,

Julie Wiley
Principal

A message from our School Community Council Chair

Update on School Uniform Results 

Thank you to those of you who participated in the school uniform survey. It provided some great feedback on your thoughts about the school and sports uniform and how the school can ensure the needs of our parents and students are accommodated. Feedback provided indicated a need for minor changes to be made to the School Uniform Policy to provide more choice with respect to attire and enable students to feel comfortable during play and sports periods. As a result, the following amendments have been made to the School Uniform Policy:

• requirement for sport’s shoes to be ‘predominately’ white as opposed to all white;
• addition of option for students to wear bike pants or ’scungies’ when wearing the summer dress or sport’s skirt;
• addition of an option for students to wear a plain navy coat/parker in Winter as opposed to limiting the option to the school fleece jumper. 

The survey also indicated a level of support for changing the white sports polo top to a darker colour due to difficulty in cleaning and keeping the shirt white. Considering this feedback, the Council will be asking parents to participate in a follow up survey in Term 4, which will help decide whether this component of the uniform is to change. A two-year transition period would occur to minimise the cost for parents, where wearing either the new or old shirt would be permissible. Regular updates via the newsletter would occur to ensure parents were kept informed to ensure costs were minimised and informed decisions could be made when purchasing the old/new sports polo top. 

Additionally, feedback provided to the Council via these results questioned why the Council was focusing on this issue considering recent events. Whilst it is acknowledged and understood that a change to the school uniform is not considered a high priority at this time, the Council has a responsibility to the school and the parish to discuss issues that are raised by parents, in which this was the case. Considering this feedback, I wanted to take this opportunity to explain the role of the School Community Council.

Role of the School Community Council

The Council provides the opportunity for members of the school and parish to work with the Principal, Parish Priest and staff to provide leadership to the wider school community. The Council operates as both a decision making and advisory body and undertakes a range of functions. Some of the functions include:

• Developing, approving and monitoring the annual budget, including school determined levies, loan commitments and the fee collection and remission policy;
• Approving school uniform items decided at school level;
• Providing input on parent priorities and suggest ideas about Catholic schooling for the school’s strategic plan;
• Providing opportunities for social interaction and for parents to form supportive networks and;
• Providing advice on curriculum, educational policies, student welfare policies, etc.

Previous initiatives implemented through the Council include contributing money through P & F funds for the school to purchase coding resources, organising community BBQ’s and breakfasts including Cuppa at the Gate, Movie night and Fathers and Mother’s Day Out functions both within and out of school hours, purchasing and disseminating of gift cards to teachers and support staff on behalf of the school community and raffles. We are currently undertaking initiatives to ensure parents and the wider community are supported during this difficult time by coming up with ideas to ensure community engagement and involvement with the school i.e. raffles and dinner vouchers and so on. 

The Council is here to listen and support parents and the wider community. The Council sits twice per term and welcomes your feedback and enquiries regarding initiatives for Council consideration. If you wish to get in contact with the Council, please do so by sending an email to stthomasmorecouncil@gmail.com or alternatively please come and see me during pick up/drop off. 

Kind regards,

Sonia Skinn
(Alyssa Year 2 and Rhianna’s Year 3/4 Green mum). 

First Holy Communion 

A Retreat day was held today at school for both of the 3/4 classes. The First Holy Communion Mass will take place at 11:00am this Sunday the 20th of September. The Year 3/4 students all expressed how lucky they were to be able to spend most of the day with Father Emil and Rossen, our Youth Minister.

Confirmation 

We are also praying for the children who are preparing for their Confirmation. The Sacrament of Confirmation will take place on Sunday 25th of October. A retreat day will be held at school on Thursday 22nd of October.

Extra Mass in Coming Weeks

Due to the large number at Mass for the Sacramental Programs and COVID 19 precautions, the Parish Pastoral Council has decided to put on an extra Mass each week: to be reviewed at the end of October. However, this week, the 19th and 20th of September there will be no Vigil mass. Masses will be at 9:30am and a special Mass at 11:00am for the First Holy Communion families. The extra 6pm Vigil Mass will continue from 27 September to the end of October.

Yours in Christ

Samantha Mance
Religious Education Co ordinator

Book Week – Curious Creatures, Wild Minds

Book Week at St Thomas More’s School is coming up just after the school holidays. Book Week is held every year to encourage children to develop their love of reading. To celebrate Book Week, we will have a few school events including a parade on Friday 16^th October (Week 1). This year’s theme for Book Week is Curious Creatures, Wild Minds.

The children can choose a character from any book that they have enjoyed reading. Costumes can be as simple or as complex as you like, you do not need to buy a costume. Dress up clothes from around the home are great for Book Week characters.

Simply choose a book character and find clothes that reflect what this character wears in the story. You can use cardboard and other materials to help decorate your child’s book week character. The teachers all come to school on this day dressed as their favourite Book Week characters.

2020 Book Week Events at STM:

• Friday 16^th October- Book Week Dress Up and Parade
• Friday 16^th October- Storytime and Fun Activities organised by 5/6 leaders
  
  
• Monday 19^th October- Cake Stall- Year 5/6 students have the opportunity to bake a cake with a book theme to bring to school for classes to view and purchase a slice/cupcake with a gold coin.
• Thursday 22^nd October- Rug reading with a buddy classes in the sunshine with hot chocolates and marshmallows.

STM Student Book Club

Year 5/6 students have been offered the opportunity to join the STM Book Club, supported by Mrs Reid, Mrs Tarleton and Mrs Galvin during Friday lunchtimes. We had a great response to our expression of interest, with over 20 students keen to sign up! We met last week to select a book from a short list of book choices.

Book choices included:

• The Glimme, By Emily Rodda and Marc McBride
• Catch a Falling Star, by Meg McKinlay
• The Secrets of Magnolia Moon, By Edwina Wyatt
• The 1000 Year-Old Boy, By Ross Welford
• The Bridge to Terabithia, By Katherine Patterson
• How to Bee, By Bren McDibble
• Tomorrow When the War Began, By John Marsden
• A Tale of Magic, By Chris Colfer

At our meeting this week the winning books will be announced. We will also vote on a name for our STM student Book Club. Year 3/4 will be offered the same opportunity during Term 4.

Looking forward to joining in on the reading adventure!

Madeleine Reid
Librarian

Junior Cricket

Our friendly, growing northside club is looking for new junior players – from 5-14 years of age. Cricket is a great sport for kids. It’s non-contact, encompasses a wide range of sport skills, it’s a fantastic team sport, great for girls and boys and it’s easily adaptable to be COVID safe.

The ANU Cricket Club provides learning and playing opportunities for junior players of all ages and abilities. Senior players take on coaching roles for Wednesday afternoon training sessions at ANU and for all matches.

Registrations are now open for the fast-approaching summer of cricket and for the program we are conducting this school holidays – from 28^th September to 1^st October.

To register to play junior cricket this summer www.playcricket.com.au

Follow this link for more info about our school holiday cricket program https://www.playcricket.com.au/club-finder/club-details?Id=16598