Term 3 - Week 8 - Newsletter

Prayer of the Week

Image retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/202310208236040922/ 

From our Principal

Next week is Queensland Child Protection Week.

Most of us recognise that child protection is key to ensuring that children in our communities, families and schools are safe, nurtured and protected.  Sometimes this means acknowledging that children are neglected or harmed in these same places.  That is hard to acknowledge.  As such, children continue to experience child abuse and neglect in our society.

In order to stop child abuse and neglect and ensure child protection in our society, we all need to play our part by assisting families who struggle and by speaking out about abuse when we see it or hear about it.  Often children tell us what is happening to them through either very clear statements or in subtle ways.  Our role as adults is to pay attention regardless of the way children tell us what is happening for them.  Another role we can play is in hearing parents when they say they are finding their role of parenting difficult and offer assistance.

When children speak out or adults speak out on behalf of children they need those involved in the wider child protection system to be well trained and available to pay attention to what they are saying.  This includes the Queensland Police Service, professionals such as Social Workers, Psychologists and Psychiatrists as well as Teachers who are often in the key position of being able to note difficulties for children and their families.  Family members and friends also play a crucial role in such disclosures in terms of hearing what is stated and offering support and friendship. When unable to offer such support or when such support isn’t accepted, family members and friends can contact community organisations of the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services to seek further assistance for the child/ren and family.

God Bless

Michael Cash 

Principal

From our APRE

Last week I was fortunate enough to spend some time on retreat with other APRE’s across the TCS network. Although I have a list as long as my arm of things I have taken away from this experience with me, the one that has really stuck out is the reminder to sometimes just BE. Schools are such busy places. It’s not uncommon to hear staff, students and parents lamenting on the need for more time to fit everything in. That is certainly the reality of our busy 21^st century lives. But sometimes we do need to gift ourselves BEING time. Time to sit back and take in the wonder and awe of Creation that is around us and to tune in again to the blessings we are sent each and every day. Without this gift of time, we run the risk of missing those blessings because we expect them to be packaged differently. This retreat time gave me the chance to take stock of the blessings in my life, which made me super proud of our STM family.

We have such a culture at STM of care and concern, which is lived out each and every day by our students, staff and families. From the happy smiles that greet everyone each day first thing in the morning from students, staff and parents alike; to the hard-working members of our Year 6 Service Club who power along each week, trying to make our school and community more loving and aware places; to our wonderful Matilda rehearsals each week, where each and every student shines as they embrace the experience placed in their path; to our amazing, dedicated staff, who work tirelessly to provide quality education for our students. I encourage everyone this week to take just a little time to BE and take in the awe and wonder that surrounds us all.

Image retrieved from https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/191191946654685457/ 

That being said, amongst the BEING, we also have the doing that makes up most of our school week! Thank you 2 Red and Mrs Tancred for leading the lower school in prayer last week. Although I missed your celebration, I have heard from the lower school students and staff how prayerful you were!

Don’t forget 1 Red are leading the whole school in prayer as we celebrate Father’s Day this Thursday in the Sportscentre from 8:40 am. Come along for coffee and a muffin on Thursday morning before school and then pop over for some prayer time when the bell rings! Father’s Day photos for our photo story are due to me this Wednesday by 3:00 pm via email (Kristin.Byrne@twb.catholic.edu.au). Photos sent after 3:00 pm may not make the photo reflection. As always, I will endeavour to do my best to ensure all photos sent in before the due date are included but apologise in advance for any that are missed in the transfer from email to PowerPoint.

God Bless.

Miss Kristin Byrne

Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Important Dates to Remember for Term 3

Matilda Update

I can’t believe that Matilda is just around the corner! One of our Matilda actors commented to me last week they don’t know what they’ll do when it’s over – it’s taking up so much of their time! I totally know what they mean! Rehearsals will ramp up at school over the next few weeks as we put the final finishing touches on our performance. Be sure to keep a close eye on communication home from classroom teachers and via the portal about Matilda things you need to know.

Matilda tickets are now sold out. We are so pleased our school community is just as excited to come and see the show as we are about putting the show on! Just a reminder that students from Year 4 – Year 6 DO NOT need to be accompanied by an adult for either evening performance and will be supervised by teachers outside of the Sportscentre during both shows. Feel free to drop the children off and collect them when the show is finished. There will however be no supervision for any younger students, who will be required to sit with their adults in the audience during the show and come up for the final number.

Please see below for information on the schedule for this week (with an additional Monday second break meeting for the whole cast) and a repeat of information regarding costumes. Can all main cast members please bring their costumes to school on Monday next week for a Matilda Jnr photoshoot for our program.

Rehearsal Schedule - Week 8

Costumes 

We understand grey bottoms are challenging to find at the moment. If you cannot find grey bottoms, feel free to go dark bottoms instead. We can only do what we can do! Please let Mrs Deb or I know if you are struggling to find costume items that are required, and we will help out if we can.

All students will be required to have neat and tidy hair on the night. It is family choice whether you want to do some light stage makeup. No hair or makeup will be done at school prior to either performance. Students will need to arrive ready to go on the evening of both performances.

Costumes - Upper School

Costumes – Main Cast

A special shout-out to Jacinta McGovern this week as well! Jacinta has been such a great help with so many facets of Matilda! From working on choreography with Olive and I (yes, little Olive knows the dances very well), to sourcing props, to attending whole show rehearsals on Wednesday afternoons and sharing some valuable insights to help make our show better and better each week! I’d be lost without you, Jacinta! Thank you. 😊

From our Student Representatives

This term we would like to launch our Student Rep House Cup! Children from Prep – Year 6 can compete in Minute-to-Win-It challenges this term to earn house points. Each challenge you complete gives you points for your house.

First place gets 5 points

Second place gets 4 points

Third place gets 3 points

Fourth place gets 2 points

Everyone else who participates gets a point for their house.

We will have a different Minute-To-Win-It Challenge each Thursday in the Library at second break. Next week the challenge is called Island. We start this challenge with 15 hoops. When we call out island, everyone must move and have their feet in a hoop. If you’re not in the hoop, you’re out! After every round a hoop is removed, and the game gets trickier!

The House Cup prize is awesome! But we won’t reveal just yet … we want to keep you in suspense. BUT only the students who participate in the activities will receive the prize! So come along every week and earn some house points to win an awesome prize.

God bless,

Ava and Darcy

Student Representatives 2022

Socktober Update

This year, STM has signed up to participate in Socktober once again. We have had a great time over the past few years support Socktober and I know Service Club are very excited to continue the tradition in 2022. Socktober is run by Catholic Mission. Each year during Socktober, Catholic mission raises funds and awareness for the work they do in less privileged communities than our own.

This year, students and families across Australia participating in Socktober will be raising funds to support families in Ethiopia who are facing malnutrition and food insecurity. Ethiopia is a beautiful and deeply historic place, but continues to be challenged by conflict, poverty and famine. The growing influence of climate change also serves to exacerbate the issues Ethiopians face. Catholic Mission calls all Australians to work with local communities to support children and families in need, preserving their dignity and safeguarding their future.

Over the coming weeks, Service Club and myself will share some Socktober Mission Packs with the STM community to help prepare us for our Socktober Kick Off. These mission packs are themed each week and encourage us to think of how we can support Catholic Mission in their work in Ethiopia with our heads, our hearts and our hands. Although our Socktober Kick Off is not until Term 4, you can start spreading the word now and calling for donations if you would like.

On Kick Off Day, students can wear their normal school uniform with their craziest socks for a gold coin and participate in our Kick Off. If you would like to raise additional money, use our Socktober school page below to donate or create your own linked account.

https://www.socktober.org.au/fundraisers/StThomasMoresCatholicPrimarySchool645

The theme for Week 2 of our STM Socktober Journey is Wellbeing. The Bible reminds us we can draw strength from God and Jesus in our darkest hours. Living conditions in Ethiopia really impact the wellbeing of children and families living there. Can you imagine how you would feel if you next meal was not guaranteed? This week, spend some time thinking about how you look after your own wellbeing. You might like to write a positive poem, make a list of things you are good at or keep a diary of what you eat and reflect on whether a child in Ethiopia would have the same meals as you.

Our next Socktober update will have some more information on our Kick Off (Term 4) and our sockball competition. You might like to brush up on the history of the sockball and Socktober over the next week by checking out the website below.

https://www.socktober.org.au/the-world-game

God Bless,

Miss Byrne and Service Club

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.   

Interschool Sport Term 3 – Year 5 & 6   

 Week 9 – Friday 9th September   

No interschool sport in week 8. Just a reminder that ALL students require a hat and a water bottle for interschool sport.  

Soccer Draw 

Snr A Boys - @ Anderson Park vs Highlands Christian College (1:35pm) 

Snr B Boys – @ Anderson Park vs St Saviour’s  (12:50pm)    

Jnr A Boys - @ Anderson Park vs Highlands Christian College (12:50pm) 

Jnr B Boys - @ Anderson Park vs St Saviour’s (1:35pm)  

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

Netball Draw 

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

Snr B Girls - @ Nell E Robinson vs East SS (12:50pm)  

Jnr A Girls - @ Nell E Robinson vs St Savour’s (12:50pm)  

Jnr B Girls - @ Nell E Robinson vs East SS (1:35pm)  

Rugby League Draw 

Snr B Boys @ Gold Park (bottom oval) vs Glenvale – (12:50pm)  

STM All Schools Touch Team 

Over the last 6 weeks our STM mixed touch team has been playing in the Swans Cup on a Monday afternoon. They played against teams from OLOL, Mary MacKillop and Rangeville. The team was successful in making it through to the grand final last week against OLOL. Unfortunately, they didn’t come away with the win, however they had a great game and finished the game with a smile on their face. This team will continue to train and go onto compete at the Swans All Schools Carnival and QLD All Schools Carnival in term 4. We wish them the best of luck at these carnivals.   

God bless,

Stacey Hancock

HPE Teacher 

Classroom Newsletters

Awards

Wonderful work from our Week 6 award recipients! Keep up the great work.

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, join us via zoom ➡️

Details will be shared closer to the meeting date. 

From our 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!

Parish News