Term 3 - Week 2 - Newsletter

Prayer of the Week

Image retrieved from https://sharecatholic.com/blog/tag/prayer-2/page/3 

From the Principal

The Queensland Government has announced an update to COVID-19 isolation protocols. The change relates to people who have had COVID-19 and are considered ”cleared cases”.

Previously, cleared cases did do not need to isolate or get tested if they re-presented with symptoms in the 12-week period after having contracted COVID-19. Current medical advice suggests that reinfections may occur as early as 28 days after recovery from a previous COVID-19 infection, therefore the Queensland Government has announced that the “cleared case” period will be reduced from 12 weeks to 28 days (4 weeks).

This means that people who were previously infected with COVID-19 will need to get tested and isolate if they re-present with symptoms or return a positive test from four weeks after their initial infection.

This is likely to increase the number of students and staff requiring further isolation periods during Term 3.

A reminder that staff and students over 12 years who are returning to school after completing their isolation period must wear a mask for the next 7 days. While children between 2 - 12 years of age do not have to wear a face mask, they are encouraged to wear do so where it is safe.

The requirements for ending isolation are that you must not have any of the following symptoms on day 7:

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Cough that is bad or getting worse.

You do not need to stay in isolation if you still have some extended ongoing symptoms:

• Mild dry cough
• Mild fatigue
• Loss of taste or smell.

Further information can be found on the Queensland Government COVID-19 website.

If you have any questions or concerns, as always please feel free to contact the school.

God Bless.

Mr Michael Cash

Principal

From our APRE

Next week, we join with schools not only across our Diocese, but across Queensland to celebrate Catholic Education Week (CEW). CEW is always a special week to reflect on and celebrate the things that make Catholic schools such wonderful places to learn and play. This year, CEW is extra exciting for Toowoomba as the state launch is happening here in our very own town! 

Next Tuesday, 16 students from Year 1 - Year 6 and a selection of staff will attend the State Launch Mass at St Patrick's Cathedral. Mrs Ramage and Service Club have been busy in the last week creating some gifts to go in the bags for the special visitors at the Mass and a selection of artwork was chosen from STM to be featured on cards shared at the Mass as well. Congratulations to  ...

4 Blue

Emilia (Year 5)

Navya (Year 5)

Aimee (Year 6)

Makenzie (Year 6)

Florence (Year 1)

Some beautiful artwork from our dear friend Tanisa will also be included on the Order of Service booklets those attending the Mass will receive. 

We have many special things happening at STM to celebrate Catholic Education Week next week. See an outline of just a few of these things below:

Part of the annual Catholic Education Week celebrations also includes recognition of staff in our schools who are doing an outstanding job. We are very lucky at STM to have the most dedicated and hardworking staff, all of whom are outstanding! This year we especially recognise Mrs Leah and Mrs Heuschele (who were nominated for Spirit of Catholic Education Awards) and Ms Roberts (who was nominated for a TCS Excellence Award). 

Dr Margy Heuschele, our Teacher Librarian, has only been a staff member at St Thomas More’s since 2019, but she has made such an impact on the school community in a relatively short amount of time. Margy has worked diligently over the past three years to create a library learning space for the school community that not only celebrates reading and learning but is a safe space for students to work and play. Margy provides students in the Upper School with various opportunities for leadership through the Library Monitor Program and the Green Team (caring for our common home) initiatives that she coordinates throughout the year. Margy works creatively to engage the whole school community in library initiative by inviting parents and families to be part of various library happenings including an intergenerational book club and library competitions.

Leah Gierke is one of those rare creatures who always has a smile on her face regardless of the craziness happening around her. Over the past two years, Leah has worked in a variety of positions at St Thomas More’s including a Prep School Officer, a Year 1 School Officer and an Administration Officer. Although her classroom work is exceptional, showing great skill and care for the students and collaboration with the teachers, in 2021 she really shined in her work as one of the school Administration Officers.  Leah took on the challenge of a very different position with her usual smile and worked exceptionally hard to master the intricacies that comes with being the ‘face of the school’. Leah always prioritised students and families first, which resulted in her forming strong relationships across the school community founded on mutual respect. Leah not only shows care and concern for students and families, but for staff as well, playing a large role in the STM Staff Wellbeing Committee in 2021. 

Anita has been a staff member at St Thomas More’s since 2019, having previously taught at St Mary's in Goondiwindi. In her short time at STM she has shown many skills and dispositions of emerging leadership. Anita is proactive and never sees a need without doing something about it, whether this relates to student needs, wellbeing (both of students and staff) or community initiatives. Anita is particularly passionate about the area of wellbeing having been an integral part of the STM Wellbeing Committee and the STM Social Club since her arrival at St Thomas More’s. Anita is committed to professional renewal and development. Anita is always willing to try new strategies and practices in her classroom and honestly and vulnerably shares her experiences in doing so with other staff. Anita is a leader of teaching and learning at STM, taking part in the innovative practitioners program in 2021, implementing blended learning in her classroom and facilitating its implementation across her PLT. Anita is a valued member of the St Thomas More’s school community and we commend her to you as an emerging leader with huge potential.  

Matilda Jnr Update

We are well and truly on the countdown to our Matilda performances now! This week we begin full rehearsals with our main cast and class numbers - how exciting! A big thank you to all of our teachers for being so flexible and accommodating of our extra rehearsal time this term - particularly Mrs Grimshaw (who has more than half her class in the main cast), Mrs Weier and Miss Benvenuti (with our Matilda's).  

Tickets for Matilda Jnr will go on sale this week via TryBooking. We will share the link via Facebook and the Parent Portal once the setup is complete. 

Details of costumes for our Year 4 - 6 classes and our main cast are shared again below. These costumes are now locked in. Please start putting your costumes together! A big thank you to Kathryn Boulus and the ladies from the STM Parish craft group for your amazing effort in making 200 Matilda ties for our musical school uniforms! Just a reminder that students can wear parts of their STM uniform as their costume. 

If you don't have elements of your costume at home and have no need to purchase them for future use, please let Miss Byrne or Mrs Deb know - we may be able to rustle an alternative up for you! 

Week 2 Rehearsal Schedule

Week Beginning July 18th 

Week 3 Rehearsal Schedule

Week Beginning July 25th 

Just a reminder that if children cannot make their singing sessions after school, with Mrs Skinner, Mrs Skinner needs to be contacted directly to arrange an alternative time.
You can reach her by email at Elizabeth.Skinner@twb.catholic.edu.au 

Matilda Jnr The Musical: Costumes

God Bless.

Miss Kristin Byrne

Assistant Principal: Religious Education

School Renewal and Improvement Process (SRIP)

Part of the renewal process for Toowoomba Catholic Schools includes a formal review process that occurs every few years. Our last review at STM was in 2018 and many areas of strength and areas for development were identified. The full report from the 2018 review can be found on our school website or you can email the office to ask for a copy to be shared with you.  

This week we welcome a panel of members from the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office to STM to conduct our 2022 SRIP. Parents are most welcome to be interviewed as part of this process. Interviews will be taking place on Tuesday and Wednesday this week. If you would like to be interviewed as part of the SRIP and have not already contacted the office, there is still time! Contact the office TODAY to book in an interview time. 

Nationally Consistent Collection of Data On School Students With Disability (NCCD)

Every year, all schools in Australia participate in the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD). This collection of data will assist us in ensuring all students take part in all school activities on the same basis as students without a disability. Thomas More’s Primary school is dedicated to ensuring all students have effective and differentiated learning programs to ensure all students have the ability to succeed at school.   

The NCCD process requires schools to identify information already available in the school about the support provided to students with disability. These relate to legislative requirements under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, in line with the NCCD guidelines (2019). At St. Thomas More’s Primary School learning adjustments could be in the form of extra time to finish tasks, small group instructions, 1:1 support time, Learning and Support Teacher assistance or physical adjustments made to the environment to better support students. Students do not need to have a diagnosed disability to receive learning adjustments, however, students receiving these do come under the National Consistent Collection of Data. These learning adjustments are significant to their learning program and assist their learning style. Should you wish to discuss adjustments that might benefit your child please talk to your child’s class teacher.  

Information provided about students to the Australian Government for the NCCD includes: 

• year of schooling 
• category of disability: physical, cognitive, sensory or social/emotional 
• level of adjustment provided: support provided within quality differentiated teaching practice, supplementary, substantial or extensive. 

This information assists schools to: 

• formally recognise the supports and adjustments provided to students with disability in schools 
• consider how they can strengthen the support of students with disability in schools 
• develop shared practices so that they can review their learning programs in order to improve educational outcomes for students with disability. 

The NCCD provides State and Federal Governments with the information they need to plan more broadly for the support of students with disability. 

The National Consistency Collection of Data (NCCD) will take place in Term 3 and will have no direct impact on your child and your child will not be involved in any testing process. The school will provide data to the Australian Government in such a way that no individual student will be able to be identified – the privacy and confidentiality of all students is ensured. All information is protected by privacy laws that regulate the collection, storage and disclosure of personal information.  

Further information about the NCCD can be found on the NCCD Portal (https://www.nccd.edu.au). 

Portal Update

Sentral have released an updated version of their Parent for Parents App for both IOS(Apple) and Android devices.  There are no changes to the functionality for parents, however you will notice some changes in how you can use the app.

Some of the key changes are:

• New navigation bar at bottom of the screen
• Easier to switch between schools
• Clearer student cards to access more detailed information

To view the changes, please view the image below.

If you are experiencing any issues with the app, please ensure your phone and app have the most recent updates available.

For further information please contact the school office.

From our Sport Desk

Swimming Lessons – Term 3 – Years 4-6  

Below is the timetable of swimming lessons for Year 4 - 6 for Term 3. Please ensure your child has their swimming costume, towel, cap and goggles for their lessons and anything else you feel they may require. Boardshorts are not acceptable for swimming lessons as they hamper improvement. They do not need sun shirts as they are inside for lessons. Swimming caps are compulsory for both swimming lessons and the swimming carnival at the end of the year.   

Absences 

If you are aware that your child will not be participating for an extended period of time due to medical reasons or a family holiday, please contact your child’s teacher immediately.  

If there is a problem with your child’s lessons, please speak to their class teacher and they will deal with the concern.  

COVIDSafe Initiatives Pertaining to the School Program 

• Children and School Teachers are not permitted to attend the DLSA if they have experienced cold or flu like symptoms within the previous 72 hours or have visited a Covid-19 Hotspot within the previous 2 weeks. The DLSA reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone who we feel are exhibiting symptoms. 
• Anyone entering the DLSA Facility 18 years and above will be required to provide a Health Declaration/Contact Tracing log. 
• No parents will be permitted to attend the lessons. 
• Everyone must wash their hands using hand sanitiser provided when entering and exiting the facility. 

• School program participants need to minimise the need to utilise the facility change rooms. We require the swimmers to arrive with their togs on underneath their school clothes. (Children will get changed into their togs underneath their uniform before heading over to their lesson)  
• Any personal belongings left behind will be passed onto the school teachers in the following group if possible, otherwise lost property items will be discarded. 

Due to maintenance work on the pool heater in Week 1, swimming lessons have been pushed back a week to accommodate this. Below is the new/updated timetable. 

Catholic Athletics 

Congratulations to all the students who represented St Thomas More’s at the Catholic Athletics Carnival last Friday. It was probably the best weather we’ve ever had for Catholic Track and Field, and after missing the last two carnivals because of Covid and bad weather, it was great to get out there again and put smiles on so many kid’s faces. Especially the 5-8 year old’s.  They did a fabulous job and were so fun to watch! Well done everyone!  

Central Zone Athletics Carnival 

The Central Zone Athletics Carnival is being held on Wednesday 10th August at O’Quinn Street. This carnival is for selected children from 9yrs-12yrs. Children who have been selected to represent St Thomas More’s at this carnival will receive notes and information early this week. Please return permission notes to Mrs H as soon as possible.  

Catholic Netball and Touch Carnival – Year 5 & 6 

The Annual Catholic Netball and Touch Carnival is being held on Thursday 28th July. All students in Years 5 & 6 participate at these carnivals. Students will need to wear their sports uniform, hat, sunscreen, bring water and lunch.  

Boys Touch  

Venue: Kearney’s Spring Touch Fields, Ruthven St, Toowoomba 

Who: Grade 5 & 6 Boys  

Girls Netball  

Venue: Nell E Robinson, Toowoomba 

Who: Grade 5 & 6 Girls  

Parents of children in Year 5 & 6 are required to complete the form via the link below to indicate their travel arrangements for that day.  

Click Here - Catholic Netball & Touch Travel Arrangements  

Interschool Sport Term 3 – Year 5 & 6 

St Thomas More’s has nominated teams in the girls netball, boys & girls soccer and boys rugby league. We look forward to finally being able to play and have fun against other schools around Toowoomba. Interschool sport will commence on Friday 22nd July. A reminder for any children who are playing soccer that they are required to wear shin pads to play and any boys playing rugby league that a mouth guard is compulsory and head gear is encouraged. If any children are wanting to wear footy/soccer boots, they are welcome to, as long as they have plastic molded studs. A hat, water bottle and sunscreen are also compulsory items for students to participate in interschool sport. Draws will be emailed out to parents as soon as they become available.  

God bless,

Stacey Hancock

HPE Teacher 

From the Library

Book Week Theme Heads Up

This year the Book Week theme is “Dreaming with Eyes Open”.  So, for our Book Week dress up day, students can come dressed as something they dream of doing or would like to be. Some examples include:

• Playing netball for Australia
• Flying to the moon
• Climbing Mount Everest
• Becoming a doctor, painter, mechanic, chef.
• Snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef.

The students will also need a book to accompany their outfit so it might be a non-fiction book the moon, netball or the Great Barrier Reef.

Classroom Newsletters

Please click the link below to view your classroom newsletter.

From our Tuckshop

Open every Friday.  Please place your childs order through FlexiSchools by 12pm Thursdays and please supply a Paper Bag for your childs order.

Awards

Well done to all our Week 1 award winners last week! A list of recipients will be included in our newsletter next week. 

Have you filled out your enrolment forms?

From our Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop will be back to normal hours this term.

Monday: 8:15am - 8:45am

Wednesday: 2:45pm - 3:15pm

Friday: 8:15am - 8:45am

Email orders are encouraged. You can email your orders through to thouniform@twb.catholic.edu.au

Needs some uniform alternations?

A hem taken up?  A skirt taken down?  Some buttons adjust on a shirt?   Give Mrs Fix It a ring and see if she can help.   

From our P&F

If you can't make it in person, you can attend via Zoom.

Care and Concern committee

Earlier this year our P&F started a Care and Concern committee. The idea of the committee is to provide short term help for STM families in their time of need. This might include when a parent or child or staff member is sick and requires meals, transport or just a supportive hand. It also includes supporting our families in times of grief. We already have a number of volunteers but would love some more so if you would like to join our team of volunteers or even just find out more, please contact Kylie Haywood (kyliehaywoodbusiness@gmail.com).

If you or your family are requiring support, please do not hesitate to reach out to our school leadership team or P&F team and we will discretely and respectfully work with you and your family to provide support and care.

Have you ever wondered what information you should be sharing with your child's teachers? How to help your child through a transition at school? How to build a great relationship with their teacher?

The Catholic School Parent's QLD Parent Engagement website has some great quick reads for parents and teachers to help create a positive and rewarding school journey.

Read them here: https://www.parentengagementcspa.edu.au/

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!

Important Dates to Remember for Term 3