2024 Term 4 - Week 7 - Newsletter

Prayer of the Week

From our Principal

Today, 'at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month' of this 24^th year - many of us will pause for a moment's quiet contemplation and reflect on the legacy of our forebears who sacrificed their lives in the service of their country and those they loved.

Based on a notion of legacy articulated over 2,000 years ago by Plato: 'We should leave our children a legacy rich, not in gold, but in reverence.' Each generation bequeaths to the next what it is most important to remember. And what we must never forget.

This quality of reverence was beautifully captured in the Manchester Guardian's report of the first Two Minute Silence observed on the anniversary of the Armistice, marking the official time and date of the end of World War 1 in 1918:

The first stroke of eleven produced a magical effect. The tram cars glided into stillness, motors ceased to cough and fume, and stopped dead, and the mighty-limbed dray horses hunched back upon their loads and stopped also, seeming to do it of their own volition. Someone took off his hat, and with a nervous hesitancy the rest of the men bowed their heads also. Here and there an old soldier could be detected slipping unconsciously into the posture of 'attention'. An elderly woman, not far away, wiped her eyes, and the man beside her looked white and stern. Everyone stood very still ... The hush deepened. It had spread over the whole city and become so pronounced as to impress one with a sense of audibility. It was a silence which was almost pain ...                                                    

And the spirit of memory brooded over it all.'

World War I was to be 'the war to end all wars'. The admonition 'Lest we forget' was based on the hope that if we could only keep close in our collective memory the experience of horror then we would never go there again.

Remembrance Day has always tended to concentrate more on the suffering and waste than the glorification and heroism of our fallen. This used to be the primary focus of Anzac Day - and still is at the Dawn Service - before the holiday emerged to become more a symbol of nationalist pride and celebration. 

By contrast, Remembrance Day is observed in just one moment's silent reflection, in the course of an otherwise ordinary day, in the belief that if done properly and reverentially this will be sufficient to the purpose.  Although the ritual is one of quiet contemplation, part of the legacy is a refusal to remain silent. 'Lest we forget' is not just keeping the memory alive but acting on it to bring about change for a more peaceful world. And such change, to be effective, has to be at both the personal and public levels.

This dual aspect is best expressed in an exhortation of the Dalai Lama which always pricks my conscience.

Be compassionate.

Not just towards your friends but to everyone.

Work for peace, in your heart and in the world.

Work for peace. And I say again -never give up!

No matter what is happening.

No matter what is going on around you.

Never give up!

At 11:00am, however, when we reflect in silence, our thoughts will probably be of a more personal nature. For Remembrance Day is always about the loss of loved ones. The grieving for their death. The remembrance of their uniqueness and preciousness. A renewed appreciation of the sacrifices they made on our behalf. A sense of wonder at the life and love we shared. An acknowledgement of the incredible impact they had and continue to have on us, the inheritors of their legacy. And, then, a recognition that the personal is universal.

In this way, Remembrance Day will be kept alive. With small public and personal rituals, inviting us to reflect on the big issues of war and peace, life and death. To be reminded of the centrality of love to all our deepest concerns. And to be moved by love's power to unite the living and the dead.

In the end, I find myself reflecting (in faith and hope) on the following words of Oscar Wilde: "The mystery of love is greater than the mystery of death."

Lest we forget

Duane

2025 Step Up Transition Afternoon:  Wednesday 4^th December

In preparation for the 2025 school year, children will engage in a Step-Up Transition Afternoon on Wednesday 4^th December from 1:45pm – 2:45pm.  The purpose of this afternoon is for children to engage with and spend the afternoon with their allocated teacher for next year prior to the commencement of the 2025 school year.

Time Change for End of Year Whole School Mass & Amendment to Final Day of Term Arrangement: Friday 6^th December

Parents/Guardians are invited to the End of Year Whole School Mass on Friday 6^th December.  Please be aware, the time of the Mass has been changed from 9am (as shared in the School Calendar) to 11:30am.  At the conclusion of the Mass, parent/guardians are invited to collect children.  For children remaining at school, supervision will be provided.

Thanks for reading. 

God Bless,

Duane Wann

Principal

Things to remember...

Grooming Expectations

Please be mindful, hairstyles which draw attention to the individual, including but are not limited to: mullet, scullett, mohawks, tracks, tails, hair colouring etc. are not permitted.

Before School Supervision

Before school duty commences at 8:15am.  Children who arrive at school before 8:15am are kindly asked to sit in the ‘Quad Area’ until teacher supervision commences at 8:15am.

School Lunch

We are asking families to have conversations with children regarding eating requirements when at school to ensure enough lunch is packed to see out the school day.

Communication

We believe that good communication is the key to success for your child. If there is something worrying you about your child’s learning or well-being or if there has been changes at home which may be affecting your child, please ensure you contact your child’s teacher or myself to discuss this. Even if you feel it is a small issue, please let us know.

Communication Protocols

St Thomas More’s Primary School recognises and respects the right of employees to disconnect from work and not respond to work-related electronic communications outside of designated hours.  St Thomas More’s Primary School staff will reply to electronic communication within the hours of 8.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday. 

Where contact is made outside of this span of hours, employees will respond within two working days of the employee’s next designated working day considering weekends, leave, other non-working days, vacation periods and holidays. 

Guidelines

• No jewellery, rings, body piercings or nail polish are to be worn. One earring in each ear only, stud or sleeper.
• Hairstyles which draw attention to the individual, including but are not limited to: mullet, scullett, mohawks, tracks, tails, hair colouring etc. are not permitted. 
• Shoulder length hair or longer to be tied back, both boys and girls. Hairstyles and hair accessory colours to be sensible. Hair bands to be royal blue, navy, black or gold.
• Watches are allowed, but no liability or responsibility is accepted by the school.
• A confidential chat is the appropriate response to students not wearing the correct uniform.
• Boys' formal shirts are to be tucked in.

Technology

• Mobile phones are to be signed in at the office each morning and collected at the end of the day after the final bell.
• Student are not permitted to text or make phone calls from smart watches during the school day.

General

• Students are not permitted to bring toys, trading cards or sports equipment from home.

Student Protection

From our APMI

A big thank you to Mr Fechner and 6 Red for leading us so respectfully and thoughtfully during our Remembrance Day Prayer Celebration today. You set a great tone for the rest of the school to follow and ensured a reverent service. 

Remembrance Day is a great opportunity for people today to pause and reflect on our collective history and the bravery those in the past showed to allow us to live the life we live today. If you want to unpack Remembrance Day more at home, the video below is a great conversation starter! 

Last week, Mrs Rowling and 3 Gold also led our school in prayer. Although I was away on Friday, I know from working with them during the week they had put together a very thoughtful celebration about faith to share with our community. Thank you for helping us to unpack our Term 4 value! 

Vinnies Christmas Appeal

Our major fundraiser for this term is the Vinnies Christmas Appeal. Over the past few years, we have worked closely with our local Vinnies Chapter to support families in our area over Christmas doing it tough. This year we will continue this wonderful tradition. In the coming weeks, your classroom teacher will share details of the family each class is supporting this year. Donations can be dropped into the classroom Vinnies Appeal Tub from Week 8 through to the end of the term. Thank you in advance for your support of this appeal. The generosity of our community always makes my heart smile at this time of year.

Vinnies Sleep Out

This Friday, Service Club have arranged a Sleep Out for our Year 6 students. This is a great opportunity for our school leaders to act in solidarity with the homeless in our community and really get some perspective on the hardships they face. Thank you to Vinnies for supporting this amazing opportunity for our students.

Year 6 families, it's not too late to register your child to attend. Feel free to contact me via email if you have any questions. 

Year 5 Hero Retreat

Next week, our 2025 leaders have a retreat day! This is an exciting opportunity for our Year 5 students to reflect on what being a leader means to them and consider how they can be leaders in 2025 at St Thomas More's. I am sure our whole school community joins with me in wishing them well on the beginning of their Year 6 Leader journey! 

Information has been sent home via the Parent Portal about this opportunity for Year 5 students. Please check the portal for more details or contact your classroom teacher. 

Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum 

Late in Term 4, we will be implementing the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum. This curriculum has been developed to support Queensland schools’ delivery of key safety messages to students from Prep to Year 9. Through a series of lessons, students will learn how to recognise, react and report when they are unsafe or find themselves in situations that can have a significant detrimental effect on their physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing.  

We encourage you to talk to your children about what they are learning in class. The following table outlines the content areas to be covered by each class this year.  

Prep to Year 2 

Year 3 to Year 6 

Further information about the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Lessons and Curriculum can be found at ...  

Lessons: https://danielmorcombe.com.au/keeping-kids-safe-resources/keeping-kids-safe-lesson-plans/  

Curriculum: https://education.qld.gov.au/curriculum/stages-of-schooling/daniel-morcombe  

If you would like further information about what the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum involves, please contact your classroom teacher or myself. 

TCS Family Life Lessons 2024 

At the end of this term, the Sexual Health Education Program (better known as Family Life Lessons) will be taught to children from Prep to Year 6. Classroom teachers will let you know when this is coming up in Class Newsletters. Please have a conversation with your child/children and clarify any questions that they have after these lessons. 

These lessons are part of the curriculum of our school and all schools across this Diocese. They form part of the Personal, Social and Community Health Strand of the Australian Curriculum and follow the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Toowoomba, Guidelines for Teaching Sexual Health.  

Please be assured that this material will be handled with sensitivity. Below is a brief overview of the content covered across the school. You will also receive a note home with further details for each year level. If you have any questions or concerns about the content being covered or your child's participation in these lessons, please contact your classroom teacher.  

Semester Two Academic Reports

Our Semester Two Report Cards this year will be distributed in the last week of this term via the Sentral for Parents App. Over the course of this semester, teachers have been gathering evidence of learning for each learning area for each of our students. This process involves gathering, analysing and reflecting on multiple sources of evidence to make an informed judgment about what students know, understand, and can do.   

Assessment in the classroom can come in many forms. It can either be …  

• Diagnostic (assessing prior learning) - pre-tests and work samples.  

• Formative (assessing for learning) - observations, group work, individual conferencing, ongoing work samples.  

• Summative (assessing of learning) - tasks, assignments, presentations. 
  

In Week 10, families will receive Semester Two Report Cards for students from Prep to Year 6. This Report Card is a culmination of your child’s academic achievement throughout the semester, as well as a snapshot of their spiritual and social development. It is just one way of communicating information about student achievement, effort, and behaviour.   

The Australian Curriculum is written in such a way that there is an ‘Achievement Standard’ for each year level for each subject area. It is this Achievement Standard that we report against. The standards are written as a statement of what a student is aiming to achieve by the end of the school year for their year level. A student receiving a ‘C’ standard indicates that they have met this standard, that is, that their work demonstrates a conceptual understanding of the concepts covered and that they can apply this knowledge and skill in familiar situations. Simply speaking, a ‘C’ standard indicates that your child is able to do what is expected of them for their year level.  

To move beyond a ‘C’ standard, a student must demonstrate that they are developing a sophistication of conceptual understanding, with a strong application of skills, and that they are beginning to transfer their knowledge and skills to new situations.

Similarly, a ‘D’ standard does not constitute a failure, but indicates that a student is continuing to develop their understanding of the expected curriculum and may be able to demonstrate some of the elements within it, whether with support or inconsistently. A rough outline of these standards is provided below.   

In each KLA, students also receive an effort achievement level. This level is derived by the level of application and study habits during that particular KLA. Students who receive ‘C’ for effort are demonstrating the expected level of effort and engagement during learning time. Please see the table below for the effort achievement scale. 

Academic Reports will be shared via the Sentral for Parents App in Week 10. If you have not already downloaded this app, please do so as soon as possible. 

If you have any questions about Semester 2 Academic Reports, please feel free to make contact with your classroom teacher.  

We are well and truly on the downhill slope now! Keep your eye on Sentral and our social media platforms for updates on school events! 

God Bless

Kris Byrne

Assistant Principal Mission and Identity

Thank you to our Lion King Jr Sponsors who made our 2024 Production so wonderful! 

Thanks to our Lion King Jr Platinum Sponsor ...

Miss Byrne's Term 4 Important Dates

Not returning in 2025?

From our Sports Dept

 Term 4 Swimming Lessons 

Below is the timetable of swimming lessons for Prep – Year 2. This year we will be using the Glennie Aquatic Centre for our school swimming lessons. Children will be bused to and from their lessons. 

Monday 25th November 

Thursday 28th November  

Year 1 – 9:30am-10:15am 

Year 2 – 10:15am-11:00am 

Prep – 11:00am- 11:45am  

Please ensure your child has their swimming costume, towel, and goggles for their lessons and anything else you feel they may require. The Glennie Aquatic Centre will provide swimming caps on your child’s first visit. Teachers will collect swimming caps at the end of each session and will be given back out at the beginning of each lesson. These different coloured swimming caps are vital to the smooth running of the lessons as the different colours will indicate which group your child is in for easy organisation.  

Children will get changed before and after their lesson at the pool.  

Swimwear Guidelines: 

To ensure safety and comfort during the lessons, we request that all students adhere to the following swimwear guidelines: 

• Children should not wear rash shirts or oversized clothes. 

• If wearing leggings or full-body coverings for cultural reasons, they must be skin-tight. 

• No scuba masks are allowed (any goggles brought must not cover the nose). 

• We do not supply loan goggles, so if a child wishes to wear goggles, they must bring their own. 

If there is a problem with your child’s lessons, please speak to their class teacher and they will deal with the concern. Please do not contact the pool directly.  If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact myself or your child’s classroom teacher.  

2024 Swimming Carnivals – Save the dates 

Senior Swimming Carnival – Tuesday 26th November at the Glennie Aquatic Centre  

Junior Swimming Carnival – Tuesday 3rd December at the TAS Pool.  

The 2024 senior swimming carnival will be held on Tuesday 26th November at The Glennie Aquatic Centre. This year the swimming carnival will be open to all students born 2012-2016. Year 2 students are already participating in the junior swimming carnival, however children who are turning 8, are capable and can confidently swim 25m or 50m are more than welcome to participate in the senior swimming carnival as well. 

 
To assist with the planning of the carnival, please complete this form for each child. Please reflect on your child's capability and only nominate them in events that they can actually swim confidently. The Glennie Aquatic Centre staff have assessed all children at their swimming lessons this year. If nominations are not similar to their assessment, events will be changed to ensure the safety of all children. 

 
Once the program is finalised, children will be unable to change events prior to the carnival and at the carnival. This is to ensure that the child's capability has been crossed checked with their assessments. 

Nominations will be closed on Tuesday 19th November.  

https://forms.office.com/r/LFp... 

QLD Primary All Schools Touch 

Well done and congratulations to our touch teams who travelled to Redlands last weekend. Our mixed team ended day 1 undefeated and made it through to the top 16 championship group but lost their first game on finals day. Our junior  team ended day 1 undefeated and made it all the way through to the semi finals on finals day. Awesome effort from all the players!  

Stacey Hancock

Health and PE Teacher

Library News

Borrowing 

Borrowing from the school library has now closed.  We are in the process of having all books returned so that we can complete the end of year procedures.  We would appreciate it, if you could have a scout around at home to check that you have no outstanding books. 

In the final newsletter for the year, I will share other ways in which children can engage in reading across the holidays.   

Competitions 

The final winners of the reading challenge for Years 3 to 6 are: 

Flo – 3 Red 

Lliam – 5 Gold 

Thank you to all the students in Prep – Year 2 who entered the Transformers Colouring Competition.  Entries have been judged and the winners are: 

1. Edison – Prep Red
2. Scotia – Year 2 Blue
3. Dinel – Prep Red

First prize is a Book Club voucher and second and third prize will be able to draw from the library prize box.  All entries will now be forwarded to Scholastic for their draw. 

 Catherine McAleer 

Teacher Librarian 

From our Service Club

This term, our main fundraiser is the Vinnies Christmas Appeal. Each class will find out their family next week and you can start bringing donations from Monday! Some donation ideas include … 

Donations can come in right up until the last day of this year.  

Kindy visit are going well. So is LEGO Club, which continues each Wednesday this term. In Term 4, we are also bringing ART Club to STM. Students from Prep – Year 6 can come to Miss Byrne’s Room at second break on a Thursday and join in Art Club with us. At Art Club you can draw, colour, knit and perhaps even crochet!  

A friendly reminder our Vinnies Sleep Out for Year 6 students is this Friday night. If you want to come along for this, make sure you ask your adults to check the Parent Portal and give you permission.  

Thank you to the Year 5 children who came along to Service Club this week. It was great to have you along. We hope you come back again next week. We meet each Tuesday at First Break. 

Have a wonderful day, 

God Bless. 

Minnie and Isla from the Service Club 

Student Awards

Week 5

Amazing work from our Week 5 award recipients. 

Week 6

Amazing work from our Week 6 award recipients. 

From our Uniform Shop

P & F News

Tuckshop News

Opening Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Order via Flexischools App.  If you need help to navigate the App, please feel free to pop into the tuckshop and chat to Jemma or email on jemma@archerscateringandevents.com.au 

Cut off of Online orders...
Order before 3pm Tuesday (for Wednesday), 3pm Wednesday (for Thursday) & 1pm Thursday (for Friday).

NEW Tuckshop Menu

REMINDER - IF YOU CHILD IS SICK, PLEASE CONTACT THE TUCKSHOP BEFORE 9AM TO POSTPONE YOUR ORDER TO THE NEXT DAY!

From the OSHC

Thank you!

A huge thank you to Westridge Fruit and Vegetables for their continued support with the donation of fresh fruit every week for our students!

Notice Board

Tennis Coaching