Term 3 - Week 3 - Update

Prayer of the Week

God of Love,
We thank you for the gift of Faith, may it grow in us each
day.
Help us to use your gifts of Hope and Love so that we may
serve others in your name.

Image retrieved from https://catholiceducationweek.com.au/ 

From our APRE

Happy Catholic Education Week (CEW)! This week, we join with Catholic schools across Queensland to celebrate Catholic schools. STM is such a wonderful school community, which certainly shone through in our SRIP last week, and CEW gives us an opportunity to celebrate our school community. Please see below for an overview of the exciting things happening this week for CEW. 

I hope all members of our STM community have a wonderful Catholic Education week this week!

On Monday, August 8th, we celebrate the Feast Day of St Mary MacKillop. St Mary MacKillop is a special saint to STM for a few reasons. We join Catholic schools across Australia to celebrate Mary's feast day because she is Australia's first and only saint. We also celebrate the life and teaching of Mary MacKillop at STM because our school was founded by the Sisters of St Joseph, an order of nuns founded by Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian Tenison Woods. In the week of Mary's feast day, classes will be learning about Mary MacKillop. We will also join together in prayer to celebrate Mary MacKillop. See details below. 

Mary MacKillop Feast Day Mass

Monday, August 8th at 11:30 am 

Prep - Year 6 to attend in the Sportscentre

Families welcome

The Birmingham Commonwealth Games begin this Thursday, July 28th.  On Thursday, August 4th we encourage our school community to come dressed in their best green and gold clothes to show support for our Aussie athletes competing at the games this year. This is purely a show of support, so no gold coins are needed! Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! 

God Bless.

Miss Kristin Byrne

Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Matilda Update

We had our very first Matilda full cast run-through last week and while we still have some work to do, the children put in some solid performances! 

Each week, children from Prep - Year 6 participate in Matilda Dance and Drama lessons with Miss Byrne and work on their Matilda songs in Music lessons with Mrs Skinner.  Class numbers are coming together beautifully and our main cast is working so hard to memorise their dialogue and improve their acting skills. We can't wait to share the show with you. 

Tickets for our STM production of Matilda Jnr are on sale now. Our sincere apologies for the confusion regarding ticketing for our STM students for Matilda Jnr. Please see below ticketing options for the Lower School and Upper School students ...

Lower School
Prep – Year 3 student participation in the performances of the school musical is optional. Students will have the opportunity to join in the final number of the show if they wish. They have been learning this song in class time with Miss Byrne. If Prep – Year 3 children are attending the show with their families, they will be invited to come forward and perform the last number at the end of the show. This means children from Prep – Year 3 who are attending either evening performance will need to have a free ticket ‘purchased’ for them. They can wear whatever clothes they would like.

Upper School
Children in Year 4 – Year 6 will be in at least two numbers during the show and therefore will be supervised by school staff during the show. They will not need tickets purchased for them. Costume details for students in Year 4 – Year 6 have been shared in the newsletter. Our preference is that children in Year 4 – Year 6 attend both evening performances, however we do understand this may not be possible for all families. If families are not attending the show, students in Year 4 – Year 6 can be dropped off at school before the show starts and collected when the show is over.

I hope this clears up any confusion around the ticketing for our STM students. If anyone has any further questions around Matilda Jnr, please feel free to contact the school office or Miss Byrne.

You can purchase tickets from trybooking using the link below. Tickets are selling fast, so get in now so you don't miss out!

https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/934206 

Week 3 Rehearsal Schedule 

Week starting July 25th 

Week 4 Rehearsal Schedule 

Week starting August 1st 

Learning Support News

Welcome to the first instalment of Learning Support News! 

As an introduction, I would like to provide you with a little information about the role of the Learning Support Teacher at STM. STM currently has two Learning Support Teachers, Mr Daryl Petzler and Mrs Patricia Wardle, working with students and supporting teachers. Our day is mainly spent working with students who have learning difficulties or learning disabilities. We assist class teachers to support students using the Response to Intervention Model (RTI). 

The Response to Intervention approach is a three-tiered model for learning and intervention. Outlined below is how the Response to Intervention Model looks within a whole school setting: 

Tier 1: Classroom Support 

The majority of students (approx. 80%) succeed in the regular classroom with assistance from the class teacher and school officer. Class teachers use data (assessment results) to monitor student progress and make adjustments according to these results. Teachers record modifications and adjustments in their planning documents (Planning for Personalised Learning). 

Tier 2: Small Group Support 

There will be a small percentage of students (approx. 15%) who require additional support to achieve at the expected level. This support is in addition to classroom support provided by the class teacher and school officer. 

Tier 3: Individual Support 

A very small number of students (approx. 5%) require a high degree of support and a team approach including specialists, such as speech pathologists, psychologists, occupational therapists and other personnel. These students often require an individual program and may be on a Modified Curriculum Plan (CMP). 

Please refer to the Response to Intervention Model reproduced below.

Our most recent application of this model to the whole school was with our analysis of our end of Term 2 Reading Data. Reading data is collected at specified times throughout the year according to TCEO guidelines. We have now analysed this data and determined ways to best support the students to make further progress. 

The Response to Intervention model is not only relevant to academic tasks (literacy and numeracy). It is equally applicable to behaviour, social skills, speech and occupational therapy and counselling services. Students can move between the three tiers according to their progress in any of the mentioned areas. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me via email so we can arrange a mutually convenient time to meet. 

Have a great week! 

Patricia Wardle

(Middle Leader/Learning Support Teacher) 

Teaching and Learning News

Writing Improvement Strategy

Those of you who have been part of the Toowoomba Catholic Education community for a few years now may recall that the Reading Improvement Strategy and Phonics to Spelling were rolled out to all Toowoomba Catholic Schools. More recently, our school has engaged in Tier projects offered by TCEO – The illuminate Project (Religion) and the Writing Improvement Strategy (WIS). 

The Writing Improvement Strategy aims to, through effective teaching, develop expert learners who are successful writers. Writing is a key communication skill and one which assists students in their learning and making their way in life. As teachers, it is recognised that all students are writers, from the basic building blocks of drawing to tell a story, and all students can improve their writing ability with effective teaching strategies.   

Through several Professional Development sessions presented by Julie Henderson and Sue Keefer, our diocesan WIS Education Officers, staff have been provided with some very effective strategies they could implement in their teaching. 

One of these effective strategies is the use of Quick Writes. Quick writes are a powerful technique to build writing fluency. Just as we need to practise the act of reading to become better readers, we also need to practise the act of writing to become better writers. Quick writes are proven to build fluency as they can eliminate the frustration that frequently accompanies traditional writing tasks or assessment methods by providing students more flexibility of response. 

Students at STM engage in Quick Writes a minimum of four times a week. Students write about a stimulus picture/artefact/question displayed by the teacher. Students engage in a class brainstorm followed by 10 minutes of uninterrupted writing time. Students then have an opportunity to share their work with a partner and/or class with the author making changes to their writing as required.   

I am sure your child would love to tell you more about some of the Quick Writes they have completed in class over the last few weeks.  

UNSW ICAS Assessments 

Information regarding the UNSW ICAS Assessments has been emailed to all parents of students in years 2-6. If you wish for your child to participate in any of the assessments, please follow the registration details in the email.  Payments are due by the 1st of August. If you have any questions about these assessments, please email me at patricia.wardle@twb.catholic.edu.au

Hope you all have a wonderful week. 

Patricia Wardle 

(Middle Leader/Learning Support Teacher) 

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 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  

Buses will be leaving St Thomas More’s at 8:30am 

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 

Catholic netball carnival - Thursday 28th July

🍔 Canteen volunteers required 🍔 

The Toowoomba netball association is looking for volunteers to serve in the canteen for an hour during this carnival. Anytime between 9-2pm

If you are coming to watch your year 5/6 daughter play on Thursday and can help out please let Kylie Haywood know. 

STM Family Event

Come join the fun.  Lets do it together.

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.

When am I allowed to park in a disabled parking spot?

1. If one of the members of the family has a
   disability parking permit (DPP) and are in the
   vehicle to collect the student or is the student, they must show the DPP on the windscreen every time they are in the car at pick up.
   
2. Every car that parks in an accessible parking spot must have a disability parking permit (DPP) displayed. The DPP holder may be a passenger or driver. If the person needing the use of the permit isn’t in the car, then the permit can’t be used so the car can’t be parked in an accessible parking space.
3. The vehicle with the person with the DPP, to collect the student, they have full rights to use the disabled parking space.
4. Members of the public who don’t have a DPP and choose to park in a disable parking space can be told to leave that space by the school staff. The accessible parking space will need to be empty if
   no-one with a DPP is parking there.

Instrumental Music

Is your child interested in learning a musical instrument?

The Instrumental Music Program is recommencing this semester in Week 5. We will be welcoming Niamh Stevens as a private music tutor to St Thomas More’s. Niamh teaches piano, violin, guitar and percussion. Niamh has just completed a Bachelor of Creative Arts, majoring in Music. Niamh has experience teaching a range of musical styles and can guide students through the AMEB (Australian Music Examinations Board) syllabus.

Learning a musical instrument has many benefits in the areas of maths and language skills, memory, attention, concentration, self-discipline and enjoyment of music. Please see the link for more information on the benefits. https://www.learningpotential.gov.au/articles/musical-benefits

Parents and children will need to commit to daily practice on their instrument, and attendance at weekly lessons. Students will also require music tutor books as selected by the teacher. Fees are set and paid directly to the music tutor. The school has a number of violins available for hire.

If you are interested in your child learning an instrument, please complete an Expression of Interest form (see link below or contact the office) and return to the school by Wednesday, 3^rd August.

Classroom Newsletters

Awards

Well done to our award recipients from ...

• Term 3, Week 1
• Term 3, Week 2

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.

Have you filled out your enrolment forms?

From our Uniform Shop

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

Monday 8.00am – 8.30am

Wednesday afternoon – By Appointment

Friday 8.00am – 8.30am

If these times don’t work for you please email your order through to THOuniform@twb.catholic.edu.au and the orders will be at the office for collection at your convenience.

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.

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