Term 3 - Week 7 - Newsletter

Prayer of the Week

From the Principal’s Desk…

From time to time we all need little reminders of how lucky we are and how appreciative we should be of what we have. As adults, most of us have the ability to reflect on this. Just by watching the nightly news or reading in the daily newspaper the countless stories of disharmony and tragic loss across the globe, we soon realise how lucky we are. It may also just be quality time with close friends or family for our eyes to be open to what really matters but also how people, even adults can take the little things in life for granted.

Children, due to the way they see the world revolving around them, regularly need reminders of how lucky they are to have what they have. Most young people by nature will at times take what other people do for them for granted. When this occurs, attitudes towards others decline and as a result their ability to display appropriate behaviour and courtesy also diminishes. This poses a particular challenge for parents and teachers to constantly maintain the boundaries of permissible behaviour and the establishment of appropriate structures to ensure each child’s potential does not diminish.

Some parents and some teachers can get exhausted by the warfare of homework, bed time, lights out, morning routine, chores, manners, etiquette, study, uniform, social media, work ethic and the host of other battle grounds that can lead to the premature whitening of hair! Other leading adults in children’s lives fall into the trap of preferring to be their children’s best friend rather than their best parent.

Quite simply, children need boundaries within which to operate. If the fences are weak and undefended, young people will break through. Constantly asking them not to lean on the fence is about as useless as playing the flute and expecting the rats to follow. It only happens in fairy tales.

If a fence is weak whether it be in the home or in a school, many of our young people run the risk of crossing the boundaries of acceptable behaviour and also the risk of a missed opportunity.

A weak fence tells a child that this particular expectation is not thought very important by adults...I wonder why it’s not worth defending ...I’ll give it a gentle nudge. The natural streak of inquisitiveness, when combined with a dose of cheekiness or boldness will soon realise these fences are not that strong.

However, if we take the time to build a strong fence and expectations that will withstand the odd bump, the boundaries become both known and respected. Young people generally admire strength. The teachers who are strong are the ones who are remembered with genuine fondness. Care needs to be taken not to confuse the setting of boundaries with oppressive restrictions. The strong teacher and the firm parent need not be strangers to compassion and sensitivity.

So, if your child mentions that their Teacher or Principal has been spending time of late firmly reminding classes of behavioural and academic expectations, you will know that we are just conducting some fence maintenance.

Before School Supervision

Children who arrive at school before 8:15am are kindly asked to sit in the ‘Quad Area’ until teacher supervision commences at 8:15am (Leadership Team members will be on duty from 8am).  From 8:15am all children will transition to designated play areas.  From 8:15am, the Quad Area and Prep Precinct are out of bounds.

Uniform Policy

The uniform is as follows (Information regarding the Winter Uniform dates will be advised in the coming weeks):

• 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).

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.
• Watches are allowed, but no liability or responsibility is accepted by the school.
• A confidential chat is the appropriate response to students not wearing the correct uniform.
• 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.
• Student are not permitted to text or make phone calls from smart watches during the school day.

General

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

God Bless,

Duane Wann

Principal

Student Protection Contacts

From our APRE

The Assumption

On 15^th August each year, we celebrate the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, when we remember that Mary was taken or ‘assumed’ into Heaven after she died. This was God’s way of showing us that Mary is special to God, she said ‘yes’ to becoming the Mother of Jesus. This day was acknowledged last Friday with 5 Gold leading years 3-6 in a Prayer. Thank you 5 Gold and Mrs McGovern for the time and effort you put into preparing for this Prayer Celebration. 

Term 3 Family Mass

This term, we join with the St Thomas More’s Parish to celebrate Family Mass on Saturday 26th August commencing at 6:00 pm.  If your child wishes to participate in this Mass, whether it be to read, sing or bring forward something to the altar, please send me an email at Patricia.wardle@twb.catholic.edu.au or encourage your child to come and see me.  All families are most welcome to come along without being required to take on a role during the mass. 

Father's Day at STM

This year we will be holding a Father’s Day coffee and breakfast morning. This will be held on Thursday August 31st from 7.30 am-8.30 am on the bottom oval. The STM P&F has engaged Caffeine Bus to serve coffee and we are also extremely lucky to have Rosie’s offer to cook bacon and egg rolls. The above won’t be available for students, only adults.  

We will then gather together to celebrate Father’s Day on Thursday, August 31st with a Prayer Celebration led by 1 Blue in the SportsCenter. Students from Prep to Year 6 will attend and all STM families are most welcome. This celebration will be first up in the morning commencing at 8.40 am.  

During the Father’s Day prayer celebration, we will be sharing a photo story of our amazing STM fathers and those who are like fathers to us. All STM families are invited to send in a maximum of two photos to be included in this photo story. All photos must be sent to Mrs. Wardle via email Patricia.Wardle@twb.catholic.edu.au by Tuesday 29th August. No Photos sent in after this date will be included in the photo story.

God Bless.

Mrs Patricia Wardle

Acting Assistant Principal: Religious Education

Term 3 Date Claimers

Please see below the important dates for Term 3. 

From the Middle Leader/Learning Support

ICAS COMPETITIONS

ICAS Tests will continue this week.

• Science –  Monday 21st August.
• Spelling – Wednesday 21st August. (New Date)
• Maths – Tuesday 29th August at 11.15. Chess comp kids will do their test at 12.10 on Wednesday 30th August. 

Regards, 

Mrs Patricia Wardle 

Regards,

Trish Wardle

Thinking STM for Prep in 2024 ...

From Our Sports Desk

Interschool Sport – Friday 25th August   

Last week we had a huge number of children that didn’t have a water bottle for interschool sport. Can you please support your child by ensuring they have a water and hat for sport.  

If your child has chosen to play soccer, they will be required to have/wear shin guards. If your child has chosen to play rugby league, they will be required to wear a mouth guard and wear school-coloured footy shorts and socks.  

Netball  

1:35pm Senior A vs Mater Dei court 7 

12:50pm Senior B vs BYE (will play a scratch match) 

12:50pm Junior A vs Glenvale court 11  

1:35pm Junior B vs Rangeville court 9

Boys Soccer – Anderson Park  

1:35pm Senior A Boys vs Glenvale 

12:50pm Junior A Boys vs Glenvale 

 Girls Soccer – Nell E Robinson  

12:50pm Junior A Girls vs Sacred Heart  

 Rugby League – Gold Park 2 

12:50pm Senior A vs St Saviour’s     

Year 4 Rugby 7’s – TAS  

12:50pm – 2:15pm  

Term 3 Swimming Lessons 

Years 4-6 will participate in swimming lessons in Term 3. Due to renovation works happening at the Centenary Pool, we will be busing our students over to the Harristown High Pool. The swimming lessons will still be conducted by Darren Lange Swimming Academy. Below are the dates and times that the lessons will be held.  

Please ensure your child has their swimming costume, towel, cap and goggles for their lessons and anything else you feel they may require. They do not need sun shirts as they are inside for lessons. Swimming caps are encouraged for both swimming lessons.  

If there is a problem with your child’s lessons, please speak to their class teacher and they will deal with the concern. Please do not contact the pool directly.  

Dates for lessons 

Tuesday 18th July  

Tuesday 25th July  

Tuesday 1st August 

Tuesday 15th August  

Tuesday 22nd August  

Lesson Times – 45min  

11:45am – 12:30pm       Year 4 Gold & Blue  

12:30pm – 1:15pm         Year 5 Blue, Gold 5/6 Red  

1:15pm – 2:00pm            Year 6 Blue & Gold  

Year 3 Cricket Blast School Cup 

We are very excited to be sending our Year 3 students to the Woolworths Cricket Blast School Cup. This one-day event will be held on Tuesday 22nd August 2023 at Queens Park Toowoomba. The aim of the day is to teach children the fundamentals of cricket in a fun, safe and fast modified game of cricket. Plastic bats, soft rubber balls, plastic stumps etc will be used during the event. It is expected all children win Year 3 attend this opportunity. Children will be spilt into mixed girl/boy and mixed ability teams with others from their class. Children will be bused to and from the venue during school time. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact your classroom teacher.  

Darling Downs Athletics  

Congratulations to Piper Melrose on being selected in the Darling Downs Track and Field Team. Piper has been selected in shot put and will compete at the State Championships in October. We wish Piper all the best.  

God Bless,

Stacey Hancock

HPE Teacher

From Our Library

Week 6 Awards

Well done to our Award winners for Week 6!

From our P & F

From OSHC

From our Tuckshop

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

Tuckshop Menu

From our Uniform Shop

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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