Term 2 - Week 2 - Newsletter

Prayer of the Week

Image retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nzyvvfj56g 

From the Principal’s Desk…

I’m not quite sure if you remember, but in 2005 there was something typically Australian that occurred at Gallipoli on ANZAC DAY.  Despite warnings from the Federal Government regarding the risk of terrorism, Gallipoli witnessed the largest gathering of Australians since 1915.

The people who gather at Gallipoli, Villers Bretonneux and hundreds of centres throughout Australia, give witness that the ANZAC spirit is our living legacy and that we should not be deterred from honouring it.  So what is the legacy of ANZAC that is ours to hold? Is it mateship, self-sacrifice, resourcefulness, dedication to duty? Is it courage, compassion, co-operation, determination? I believe it is a combination of all, but whether it is alive and well is up to each one of us.

“The young dead soldiers do not speak

They have a silence that speaks for them at night.

They say,

We were young,

We have died, remember us.

They say,

Our deaths are not ours, they are yours

They will mean what you make them.

They say,

We leave you our deaths

Give them their meaning.”

[Archibald McLeish]

Do we hold precious the concepts of mateship, and dedication to duty? Do we live and model to our children the virtues of self-sacrifice, resourcefulness, courage, determination, compassion and co-operation?

Saffron Sharp, a Year 12 student from Albany gave an address at a recent ANZAC Day ceremony in Perth.  It was from Albany on the 1st November 1914, that the convoy of 38 troopships sailed for the training camps of Egypt with the Australian forces on board. It was also in Albany in 1930 that the first dawn ceremony was held. No doubt some of this history inspired these words for her address……

“I strongly believe that the ANZAC spirit should be with us everywhere, even in our daily lives where we face the trials of the 21st Century. We may all, at some time, experience emotional and physical hardships and may feel that the odds are stacked up against us and that giving up is the only option. Having the strength to face up to our challenges, to persevere when the going gets tough, to support those around us and to succeed against the odds, or at least give it our best shot, is what the ANZAC Spirit is all about.”

Belonging to a Catholic school we can relate to this message.  Along with the virtues of the ANZAC Spirit we can add those that we strive to live out in our daily actions - love, respect, care, forgiveness and tolerance. 

2023 St Thomas More’s Annual Action Plan

Every year, the St More’s Leadership Team, School Staff, School Advisory Council and P&F collaborate and discern upon goals and priorities for the school year.  The Annual Action Plan is essential to maintaining the provision of long term, high quality educational experiences for all students. The collaborative process of defining the future vision and prioritising actions and resources to achieve this vision, challenges the school community to think deeply about its aspirations and expectations for students and builds a collective responsibility for our ongoing success.  Included for your benefit is a graphic identifying the priorities and goals for 2023.

To commence the new term, it’s important to be familiar with the following school expectations to ensure a smooth transition.

Before School Supervision

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

Uniform Policy

The uniform is as follows

• Girls Uniform: Check dress or royal blue skort with a check blouse, short blue socks and black shoes.
• Boys Uniform: Royal blue shirt, grey shorts, long grey socks with blue/gold stripes and black shoes.
• Unisex Sports Uniform: Blue shorts, gold shirt with blue trim, blue socks with gold bands, joggers.
• Hat: Royal blue wide-brimmed hat (no hat no play policy).

For your benefit, the Winter Uniform transition will commence on Tuesday 2^nd May and conclude Friday 12^th May.  This means all children from Years 1 – 6 will be required to wear the Winter Uniform from Monday 15^th May.

Please be reminded, the Formal Winter Uniform requirements are as follows:

• Check tunic, white blouse, long navy socks/tights and black shoes
• Long Sleeved royal blue shirt, long grey trousers, grey socks and black shoes

Please also be aware, children will be required to wear their Formal Winter Uniform for School Photos on Wednesday 17^th May.

Finally, the School Advisory Council and P&F will be reviewing both the Summer and Winter Uniform Policy throughout the year as part of their meeting agendas.

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 colours to be sensible. Hair bands to be royal blue, navy, black or gold/yellow.
• Watches are allowed, but no liability or responsibility is accepted by the school.
  
• 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.
• Students are not permitted to text or make phone calls from smartwatches during the school day.

General

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

Should you have any questions or queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

God Bless,

Duane Wann

Principal

Student Protection Contacts

From our APRE

We have had a busy start to Term 2 with the prayer life of our school. First of all, a thank you to Mrs Pulsford and 5 Blue for leading the school so beautifully, with the support of Father Nathan, in our Easter Prayer last week. It was a great chance to stop and reflect on the story of Easter and to consider our hopes for Term 2. 

Today our school community came together to celebrate ANZAC Day. Ms Roberts and 6 Gold did a wonderful job leading our celebration. A special thank you to Warrant Officer Daniel Heller for being our special guest speaker today. Your encouragement to consider the ANZAC values of purpose, responsibility and mateship not just on ANZAC Day but all year round was a great reminder of our school theme for the year ... never see a need without doing something about it. 

We will also be joining in with the Toowoomba commemoration tomorrow. Thank you to Mrs H for organising our participation in both the Toowoomba ANZAC Day March and Toowoomba ANZAC Service. Families who have registered children to participate in the march have received communication regarding meeting times and places and a final reminder will be sent home today.  Don't forget children who are marching will need to be in their full summer formal uniform (except Prep students attending who can wear their Prep sports uniform) with their hat and water bottle. 

Mother's Day 2023

Mother's Day is just around the corner and with that comes our annual Mother's Day Prayer Celebration. This year, 1 Red has the special job of leading our Whole School Celebration on Friday, May 12. As part of our celebration again this year, we invite STM families to submit up to two photographs to be included in our reflection video for 2023. These photos can be sent to me via email at Kristin.Byrne@twb.catholic.edu.au up until Wednesday, May 10 at 3:30 pm. Photos sent after this will not be included in the presentation this year.  

God Bless.

Miss Kristin Byrne

Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Thinking STM for Prep in 2024 ...

Miss Byrne's Important Dates to Remember for Term 2

Mothers Day Stall is coming up!

Our Mother’s Day stall will run again on Wednesday 10th May. We are excited to announce that this year we have sourced gifts from local suppliers - we have received wonderful support and have some beautiful gifts on offer. 

Students can order for their mums, grandma’s or special adults. Orders can be placed via FlexiSchools or a cash order form. You will be able to place orders up until Monday 8th May. 

If you can help with the setting up of the stall and collating orders (Tuesday) or the running of the stall (Wednesday) please message Kylie Haywood presidentpandf@gmail.com 

Book Club

From Our Sport Desk

Central Cross Country  

Kearney’s Spring – Friday 28th April 2023 

Race Times: 

 Representative Sport  

Congratulations to Amelia for making the Toowoomba team for soccer. We wish her all the best at the Darling Downs trials in May.  

 Athletics  

Term 2 is Athletics season. During PE lessons and at the Athletics carnival children who are 10yrs, 11yrs & 12yrs will be participating in discus activities. Due to this being a high-risk activity, parental permission needs to be obtained.  

By giving permission, that means your child is able to participate in PE lessons that involve using a discus and will be able to participate in the athletics carnival in the discus event. If permission isn't given, unfortunately, your child will be unable to participate in these activities.  

If you have missed the cut off for this permission, please contact the office.  

God bless,

Stacey Hancock

HPE Teacher 

From Service Club

From this week, any Year 6 children who are interested in Service Club can come along to our meetings. We meet each Wednesday is Miss Byrne's room from 10:30 am - 11:00 am. Bring your lunch box with you. We would love any extra help!

This term we will start our first playtime group, the Service Club Buddies. This will happen every Thursday at second break in Miss Byrne's room. Children from Prep - Year 3 can come along and do some fun games and activities with Service Club.

A big thank you to everyone for donating to our Project Compassion Mission last term. We are hoping we can tell you our final amount raised at assembly this week. 

Later this term, we will share some information with you about some of the fundraising Service Club will be doing this term. 

Have a great week.

God bless,

Emma, Evelia and Anakha from Service Club.

Week 1 Awards

Well done to our Week 1 award recipients. 

Classroom Newsletters

From our P & F

From our Tuckshop

Tuckshop Menu

Open every Thursday & Friday.  Please place your childs order through FlexiSchools by 1pm Wednesday for Thursdays & 1pm Thursday for Friday. 

From our Uniform Shop

The Uniform Shop Trading Hours.

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.

Need 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 the St Thomas More's Parish

Please find attached the bulletin for this week. 

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!

A huge thank you to Meat Cellar for their continued support for our school events.

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