Term 3 - Week 5 - Update

Prayer of the Week

Image retrieved from www.twinkl.co.uk 

From the Principal

Thank you to the staff who accompanied the Year 6 students on last week’s camp. It is a huge undertaking on their part to leave their own families and then to be on duty non-stop for the duration of the camp.

Congratulations to the students for the way they participated in the activities and for the way they behaved.

As well as placing responsibility on the staff accompanying the students, camps also place a burden on school resources as we endeavour to ensure that adequate supervision is maintained for the students at school and those at camp. The benefits of school camps, however, far outweigh any inconveniences.

On their website, Queensland Conference and Camping Centres list the five main benefits of school camp.

1. Building up self-confidence

School camps give students an opportunity to try so many new and different activities. Some activities that they may have only ever seen on television. Each new activity is a new challenge, a new opportunity to succeed, to learn, to overcome a fear, and even fail a few times along the way. All within a safe environment with qualified instructors and teachers. Students walk away with a great sense of achievement when they complete new experiences and at the same time receive affirmation from instructors, teachers, and peers for what they have achieved.

2. Independence

A school camp could be the first time a child has gone away from home without a parent or family member. Students on camp must adapt and manage themselves within the camp rules, completing tasks that they may not be responsible for at home. They may have to manage their own time to ensure their teeth get brushed, and make sure they choose to eat the right foods (and not only dessert). A student has to make sure they look after their belongings they take with them to camp, and so on.

3. Building relationships and participating in community

The school camping experience is unique in that it can bring individuals together who otherwise may not have interacted together in the schoolyard. It is an opportunity for students to share a real meal together. Team camping activities also promote teamwork, where it is simply not possible to get through the activity without help from others. This is where whole groups are engaged and responsible for each other.  Promoting concern, welfare for others, and of course “mateship”. In some cases, new friendships will develop, or even old friendships will be redeemed. The traditional schooling experience is one of education in community with others. School camping amplifies this community aspect further where the environment is unfamiliarly routine is unfamiliar, and the activities are unfamiliar. This level playing field is a positive aspect for relationship building. It is often the positive relationships built and the supportive community experience that ends up being that fantastic and lasting memory of a school camp.

4. Digital Detox

Camps break the cycle of dependence children may have on their devices and provide plenty of healthy and safe distractions that help them take a break from those devices.

5. Outdoor learning

A school camp is a valuable opportunity for students to get out of the classroom and engage in some meaningful activities that build skills, teamwork, and even connect well with what they have been learning in the classroom e.g., science and nature, mathematics and problem-solving. Connecting classroom learning to outdoor activities helps students understand that there is value in what they are learning in the classroom. Outdoor education activities provide students with the opportunity to participate physically in activities they may not have encountered before, such as high ropes courses, bushwalking and survival, canoeing, archery, and Aboriginal cultural activities. Some students thrive in the outdoor education environment and discover a newfound love for learning.

God Bless

Michael Cash 

Principal 

From our APRE

Thank you, Ms Roberts and 5/6 Red for leading the Upper School so beautifully in prayer last week and teaching the students in Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 a bit about the life and teachings of St Mary MacKillop. All students today also learned a bit more about Mary MacKillop at our Feast Day Mass. 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. This week as well as attending Mass, classes will be learning about Mary MacKillop.

Congratulations!

We were very excited last week to hear about the safe arrival is Ms Sore's baby! Welcome to the world little Ruby and congratulation to Shae and Charlie. We can't wait to meet little Ruby when you are out and about again. 

Worship Choir

Worship Choir have been given the opportunity to lead the singing at a special Mass a bit later this term. To that end, we are kicking Worship Choir back into high gear again. Worship Choir will meet every Monday at first break. Children from Year 2 - Year 6 are welcome to attend. Bring your lunch with you and we will eat before we jump in and do some singing!

Thank You

As you may have heard, this term I am a little less mobile while recovering from surgery over the holidays. For Term 3, this means I can't do some of the community visits I had been doing earlier this year. Luckily we have such a caring and passionate staff at STM! Thank you to Mrs H for taking over a Kindy Reading session, Mrs Tancred and Ms Souter for taking over a Kindy Reading Session and Mrs Wilson and Ms Lisa for taking over Service Club Creative Gardens visits. 

Father's Day Celebration

This term, we will join together as a school to celebrate Father's Day with a Prayer Celebration led by 1 Red on Thursday, September 1. Please note a change of time from that published in the STM calendar. This celebration will be straight up in the morning at 8:40 am following our Father's Day coffee and muffin morning. 

This year, we would once again like to celebrate our fathers and those who are like fathers to us with a slideshow of our STM dads. Each family is invited to send in no more than two photos to be included in the slideshow. Photos are due Wednesday, August 31st at 3:00 pm via email to Kristin.Byrne@twb.catholic.edu.au Photos submitted after this time may not be included. While I will try my best to put in all photos received, I do apologise in advance for any that are missed along the way. Start getting those photos in ASAP!

God Bless.

Miss Kristin Byrne

Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Matilda Update

By the end of this week, both of our Matilda casts will have been given the opportunity to act out the whole show from start to finish - all the acting, all the singing, all the dancing! I know I say it every week, but I really mean it when I say this is a show you don't want to miss! The children have all worked so hard and are so passionate and enthusiastic about bringing the story of Matilda to our school community! A big shout-out needs to be given to one of our stage crew, Evelia! Evelia is one of five members of the stage crew and was the only member available at school for our rehearsal on Wednesday afternoon. This meant she had to get all the props on and off on her own. You did a super job Evelia! 

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 5 Rehearsal Schedule 

Week starting August 8th 

Week 6 Rehearsal Schedule 

Week starting August 15th 

Thank you to the children for all your hard work with Matilda preparations. I burst with pride each week when I work with you! A big thank you to all our classroom teachers as well. I appreciate your flexibility and generosity with your time. 

Learning Support News

Welcome to week 5. Over the last few weeks, we have been fortunate to have several of our Toowoomba Catholic Education Support Officers visit the school including our Speech pathologist, Occupational Therapist, and our EALD Education Support Officer. 

What is Speech Language Pathology? 

Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office provides a Speech Language Pathology (SLP) service. Recently the service was reviewed to enhance the delivery of speech pathology services across the Diocese of Toowoomba.  

What does the service look like? 

There are three full-time Speech Pathology Advisor positions within the Diocese of Toowoomba, which are currently filled by three full-time employees. These positions cover all 31 schools within the Diocese.  

What is the role of the speech-language pathology advisor in schools? 

SLP Advisors provide support to school staff and students utilising an educational therapy model with a priority focus on building teacher capacity and early intervention. The primary clients of the SLP Advisors are the Class Teacher (CT) and the Learning Support Teacher (LST).  

SLP Advisors provide support to teachers and other school staff to identify students with communication needs and build their capacity to support individual student learning in the classroom. 

What is the role of the speech language pathology advisor in schools? 

SLP Advisors provide support to school staff and students utilising an educational therapy model with a priority focus on building teacher capacity and early intervention. The primary clients of the SLP Advisors are the Class Teacher (CT) and the Learning Support Teacher (LST).  

SLP Advisors provide support to teachers and other school staff to identify students with communication needs and build their capacity to support individual student learning in the classroom.  

What support will my child receive? 

SLP Advisors build the capacity of school staff to understand the speech and language needs of their students. SLP Advisors also work with school teams to upskill and support staff to plan for personalised learning and determine relevant adjustments and differentiation for the whole class or with individual students. 

Will my child still be withdrawn from the classroom to complete a program? 

Research suggests that students learn best when they are in the classroom learning alongside their peers. Your child will receive support through adjustments and differentiation to enhance their participation in the classroom. We recognise that targeted intervention is required at times to enhance specific skills to allow a student access to the Australian Curriculum. On occasions, your child may work with support staff to focus on specific skill development which will be planned for with the class teacher and support staff.  

Is a hearing assessment required for a consultation/referral? 

A full audiological assessment is recommended and may be required if a comprehensive speech and/or language assessment is requested for your child.  

Adequate hearing is essential for a child's speech and language development. Hearing loss can have a direct impact on a child's learning. 

Can I access private therapy if my child receives support though school? 

Yes. If you are concerned about your child’s communication skills, we recommend that you access external speech pathology services.  

Prep Vision Screening Program  

Good vision is important for a child’s educational, physical and social development. Vision screening checks for common eye conditions that may impact your child’s ability to see and therefore impact their learning and development. 

A Registered Nurse will be visiting the school on the 30th August to conduct vision screening for children in their prep year. If you wish to have your prep child participate in this free vision screening program, please complete an online consent form by the 28th of August. The online consent link was emailed to all Prep parents on the 31st of July. Alternatively, forms can be collected from the school office. 

Teaching and Learning News

Last Tuesday, teachers participated in a Twilight staff meeting to further enhance their skills as part of the Writing Improvement Strategy.  

The objectives of the Writing Improvement Strategy are to: 

• Establish a diocesan wide approach to the teaching of writing 
• Develop successful lifelong learners who are confident, creative, and engaged writers 
• Develop teacher clarity through a deep understanding of the Australian Curriculum 
• Support teachers to utilise evidence-based high-impact strategies to drive improvement in student learning 
• Support teachers to design, plan and organise teaching and learning cycles that reflect learning design alignment. 

• Make connections and align practices across all elements of literacy. 

In weeks 7 and 8 of this term, teachers will be supported by our TCEO Education Officers in planning units of work for Term 4 that align with the objectives of the Writing Improvement strategy.  

ICAS 

The world-renowned ICAS competitions will commence this week for those students who have registered to participate. Tests will be scheduled for Monday or Tuesday morning as per the table below. If a student is absent on the day of the scheduled test, catch-up tests will take place on either Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday or Friday morning of the sitting window.  

Once all certificates have been sent to the school, an email will be sent to parents with details regarding the presentation of certificates at assembly. 

Hope you all have a wonderful week. 

Patricia Wardle 

(Middle Leader/Learning Support Teacher) 

Year 6 Camp

From our Sport Desk

Swimming Lessons – Term 3 – Years 4-6  

Just a reminder that if you feel like there is a problem with your child’s lessons, please speak to their class teacher and they will deal with the concern. Please avoid contacting the pool directly.   

Catholic Netball and Touch Carnival – Year 5 & 6 

Well done to all the Year 5 and 6 students who participated in the Catholic netball and touch carnivals. It was a fantastic day, and everyone played in the ‘spirit’ of the day. Big thank you to the parents who gave up their day to help the staff out at the carnivals.  

 Central Zone Athletics 

The Central Zone Athletics is being held this Wednesday 10th August at O’Quinn St Oval. We wish all the children competing at this carnival all the best. If your child is catching the bus on Wednesday, it will be leaving promptly at 7:45am. Please meet Mrs H on South Street. If your child is travelling be private transport, they will need to be at the oval by 8am and meet Mr Fechner in the tent.  A reminder you will need to wear your sports uniform, bring a hat, water bottle, lunch, and sunscreen.  

Interschool Sport Term 3 – Year 5 & 6  - Week 5 – Friday 12th August  

Last Friday we had our very first week of interschool sport for 2022. From all reports, everyone had a great time and represented our school with such great sportsmanship and enthusiasm.  

Just a reminder that ALL students require a hat and a water bottle for interschool sport. We had several students last week that didn’t have these items.  

Soccer Draw 

Snr A Boys - @ Darling Heights vs Darling Heights (1:35pm) 

Snr B Boys – @ Darling Heights vs Darling Heights (12:50pm)    

Jnr A Boys - @ Darling Heights vs Darling Heights (12:50pm) 

Jnr B Boys - @ Darling Heights vs Darling Heights (1:35pm)  

Jnr A Girls - @ Nell E Robinson vs Fairholme (1:35pm)  

Netball Draw 

Snr A Girls - @ Nell E Robinson vs Glenvale (1:35pm) 

Snr B Girls - @ Nell E Robinson vs Glenvale Blue (12:50pm)  

Jnr A Girls - @ Nell E Robinson vs TAS (12:50pm)  

Jnr B Girls - @ Nell E Robinson vs St Saviour’s (1:35pm)  

Rugby League Draw 

Snr B Boys @ TAS (senior field) vs St Mary’s (12:50pm)  

God bless,

Stacey Hancock

HPE Teacher 

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

Wonderful work from our award recipients in Week 4.

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

“Couldn’t do it without you” award. 

Each year, the P&F is given the opportunity to say thank you to our volunteers within our community who enrich our school by sharing their time and skills to make our school the best it can be. 

Our volunteer list at STM is a very long one, with so many parents and carers giving up their time to help with school events, tuckshop, uniform shop, reading groups and more… the list goes on. 

Our community is always so grateful for every contribution made by our families. 

Earlier this term we asked school stakeholders to nominate someone they believed the school “couldn’t do without ”. Below are a list of the volunteers who were nominated and every single nominee is so amazing ❤️. After a vote amongst P&F, it was decided though that our “couldn’t do it without you” volunteers of this year are Audrey Williams and Melanie Parker. 

Audrey was nominated for her amazing work with the toilet refurbishment, hour of design and painting that she did over her holidays/weekends. 

Mel was nominated for her ongoing commitment to all things environmental in our school, including sorting the plastics each week. She also graciously gave her time to help with the designs for the toilet refurbishment. 

Thank you ladies for all you do. 

Other nominees for this year were...

Julie Thompson for being a positive influence and giving her time collecting and sorting the papers and cardboard for the recycling. 

Shontelle Petrie for being a positive and happy vibe around the school, her acceptance of everyone and her time given to various projects such as the peace garden and toilet refurb. 

Luke and Megan Boulus and Jacinta McGovern for their time given supplying fruit to the school for students without proper lunches. 

Nicole Ward for being a positive and present Parent Rep and creating an inclusive and inviting environment for the Prep families in 2022. 

Julie Schultz for always offering to volunteer at school events, and with a smile on her face. 

Jacinta Ann McGovern for helping with under 8’s day, Matilda, sports carnival, parent engagement, care and concern. 

Kylie Haywood for her work with the P&F

Andrew Ward for his contributions to the school through P&F and the diocesan committee.

Clair Peacock for her support of other school families 

Lisa Trethewie for her support of other school families.

Sara Olive for her work as the Parent Rep for year 2

All parents, carers and teachers are invited to our next P&F meeting - Next Monday night, 8th August at 7pm. Doors open 6.45pm. 👨 

Children are welcome too - a movie can be put on in the next room. 

We will be discussing Father’s Day plans and more. 

If you can’t make it in person, join us via zoom ➡️

Topic: August P&F Meeting

Time: Aug 8, 2022 07:00 PM Brisbane

Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android:

    https://twbcatholic.zoom.us/j/61037708722

Join from SIP/H.323 room system:

    SIP: 61037708722@zmau.us

    H.323: 202.177.207.158 (meeting ID: 610 3770 8722)

Join from telephone (meeting ID: 610 3770 8722):

    (02) 8015 2088 (Sydney)

    (07) 3053 8570 (Brisbane)

    (08) 7150 1149 (Adelaide)

    (03) 8375 9112 (Melbourne)

    International numbers available: https://twbcatholic.zoom.us/u/eeFQ6Ae16L

Join from Skype for Business (Lync):

    https://twbcatholic.zoom.us/skype/61037708722

Coming up...

Our Father’s Day stall will be run on the week of August 28th. 

Sales are now open on FlexiSchools. Gifts are $5 each. Please order per child so we can make sure the gift goes to the right grade. 

There will be an option to purchase gifts via cash and this form will come home next week sometime. 

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

Parish News