Term 4 - Week 6 - Newsletter

Prayer of the Week

From our Principal

This coming Saturday at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month' of this 2023^rd year - many of us will pause for a moment's quiet contemplation and reflect on the legacy of our forebears who sacrificed their lives in the service of their country and those they loved.

Based on a notion of legacy articulated over 2,000 years ago by Plato: 'We should leave our children a legacy rich, not in gold, but in reverence.' Each generation bequeaths to the next what it is most important to remember. And what we must never forget.

This quality of reverence was beautifully captured in the Manchester Guardian's report of the first Two Minute Silence observed on the anniversary of the Armistice, marking the official time and date of the end of World War 1 in 1918:

The first stroke of eleven produced a magical effect. The tram cars glided into stillness, motors ceased to cough and fume, and stopped dead, and the mighty-limbed dray horses hunched back upon their loads and stopped also, seeming to do it of their own volition. Someone took off his hat, and with a nervous hesitancy the rest of the men bowed their heads also. Here and there an old soldier could be detected slipping unconsciously into the posture of 'attention'. An elderly woman, not far away, wiped her eyes, and the man beside her looked white and stern. Everyone stood very still ... The hush deepened. It had spread over the whole city and become so pronounced as to impress one with a sense of audibility. It was a silence which was almost pain ...                                                    

And the spirit of memory brooded over it all.'

World War I was to be 'the war to end all wars'. The admonition 'lest we forget' was based on the hope that if we could only keep close in our collective memory the experience of horror then we would never go there again.

Remembrance Day has always tended to concentrate more on the suffering and waste than the glorification and heroism of our fallen. This used to be the primary focus of Anzac Day - and still is at the Dawn Service - before the holiday emerged to become more a symbol of nationalist pride and celebration. 

By contrast, Remembrance Day is observed in just one moment's silent reflection, in the course of an otherwise ordinary day, in the belief that if done properly and reverentially this will be sufficient to the purpose.  Although the ritual is one of quiet contemplation, part of the legacy is a refusal to remain silent. 'Lest we forget' is not just keeping the memory alive but acting on it to bring about change for a more peaceful world. And such change, to be effective, has to be at both the personal and public levels.

This dual aspect is best expressed in an exhortation of the Dalai Lama which always pricks my conscience.

Be compassionate.

Not just towards your friends but to everyone.

Work for peace, in your heart and in the world.

Work for peace. And I say again -never give up!

No matter what is happening.

No matter what is going on around you.

Never give up!

At 11:00am, however, when we reflect in silence, our thoughts will probably be of a more personal nature. For Remembrance Day is always about the loss of loved ones. The grieving for their death. The remembrance of their uniqueness and preciousness. A renewed appreciation of the sacrifices they made on our behalf. A sense of wonder at the life and love we shared. An acknowledgement of the incredible impact they had and continue to have on us, the inheritors of their legacy. And, then, a recognition that the personal is universal.

In this way, Remembrance Day will be kept alive. With small public and personal rituals, inviting us to reflect on the big issues of war and peace, life and death. To be reminded of the centrality of love to all our deepest concerns. And to be moved by love's power to unite the living and the dead.

In the end, I find myself reflecting (in faith and hope) on the following words of Oscar Wilde: "The mystery of love is greater than the mystery of death."

Lest we forget

Duane

God Bless,

Duane Wann

Principal

From our Acting APRE

Vinnies Christmas Appeal

This year, STM will once again participate in the Vinnies Christmas Appeal. Each class how now been allocated a family within the Toowoomba community that is doing it tough at the moment. We encourage all our STM families to bring in a donation to place in the classroom hamper for the appointed family. Donations may consist of toys, personal hygiene products, clothes, etc. All donations will be collected by Vinnies in the last week of term.

Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum 

During Term 4, we will be implementing the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum. This curriculum has been developed to support Queensland schools’ delivery of key safety messages to students from Prep to Year 9. Through a series of lessons, students will learn how to recognise, react and report when they are unsafe or find themselves in situations that can have a significant detrimental effect on their physical, psychological or emotional wellbeing.  

We encourage you to talk to your children about what they are learning in class. The following table outlines the content areas to be covered by each class this year.  

Further information about the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Lessons and Curriculum can be found at ...  

Lessons: https://danielmorcombe.com.au/keeping-kids-safe-resources/keeping-kids-safe-lesson-plans/  

Curriculum: https://education.qld.gov.au/curriculum/stages-of-schooling/daniel-morcombe  

If you would like further information about what the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum involves, please contact your classroom teacher or Mrs Patricia Wardle (Patricia.wardle@twb.catholic.edu.au).   

TCSO Family Life Lessons 2023

At the end of this term, the Sexual Health Education Program (better known as Family Life Lessons) will be taught to children from Prep to Year 6. Please have a conversation with your child/children and clarify any questions that they have after these lessons. 

These lessons are part of the curriculum of our school and all schools across this Diocese. They form part of the Personal, Social and Community Health Strand of the Australian Curriculum and follow the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Toowoomba, Guidelines for Teaching Sexual Health.  

Please be assured that this material will be handled with sensitivity. You will receive a note home this week with further details for each year level. If you have any questions or concerns about the content being covered or your child's participation in these lessons, please contact your classroom teacher.  

God Bless,

Mrs. Wardle

Acting APRE

Student of the Week awards

Congratulations to our Week 5  Term 4 Student of the Week Award Recipients. 

Important Dates to Remember

Student Protection Contacts

From our Sports Desk

QLD All Schools Touch Carnival  

On the weekend our St Thomas More’s mixed team competed at the QLD All Schools Touch Carnival. It was such a privilege to watch these students improve throughout the carnival and enjoy themselves playing the game they love. Congratulations on a great weekend.  

Results  

Game 1 vs Kenmore  

Won 9-3 

Game 2 vs St Kevin’s  

Won 4-3 

Game 3 vs Mary Mackillop  

Lost -1 

Game 4 vs St Mary’s Ipswich  

Lost 6-5 (drop off)  

Term 4 Interschool Sport 

Interschool sport will continue this Friday. Children have nominated for their preferred sport. AFL girls have received a mouth guard form that will need to be completed and returned before they will be able to play. Mouth guards are compulsory for AFL. There are no special requirements for boys touch and mixed volleyball.  

Boys Touch - Kearney Springs Touch Fields 

Girls AFL - Concordia (Stephen Street) 

Mixed Volleyball - Toowoomba East State School  

Please ensure that your child/children have a water bottle and hat for Term 4 sport. 

Draws - Friday 10th November   

Boys Touch – Kearney Springs Touch Fields 

1:35pm Senior A vs St Mary’s Blue F8 

1:35pm Senior B vs DHSS Green F7 

12:50pm Junior A vs St Glenvale  F6  

Mixed Volleyball – Toowoomba East State School  

1:35pm Senior A vs Darling Heights 

12:50pm Junior A vs  Darling Heights  

12:50pm Senior B vs Highfields   

1:35pm Junior B (team 1) vs Darling Heights  

1:35pm Junior B (team 2) vs Toowoomba East   

Girls AFL – Concordia (Stephen Street)  

12:50pm Senior A vs Fairview  

1:35pm Junior A vs Fairview    

Prep – Year 3 Swimming Lessons 

Thank you for your patience. We finally have some information regarding Term 4 swimming lessons. This term swimming lessons will still be conducted by Darren Lange Swimming Academy, however the children will be bused over to the DLSA pool at Wilsonton. To account for the extra travel time, lessons have been reduced to 4 lessons x 1 hour each.   

Below is the timetable for swimming lessons for Prep, Yr 1, Yr 2 & Yr 3 for Term 4. 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 and the swimming carnival at the end of the year.  Children will get changed at school prior to leaving and will get redressed when they return. Please pack slide on, easy to wear thongs/slides for easy removal. Please ensure that ALL items are labelled.  

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.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact myself or your child’s classroom teacher.  

Senior Swimming Carnival 

The 2023 Senior Swimming Carnival will be held on Tuesday 28th November at The Glennie Aquatic Centre. This year the swimming carnival will be open to all students born from 2011 to 2015. Year 2 students are already participating in the Junior Swimming Carnival, however, children who can confidently swim 25m or 50m are more than welcome to participate in the Senior Swimming Carnival as well. 
 
To assist with the planning of the carnival, please complete this form for each child. Please complete this form even if your child is not attending the carnival. Buses will be provided for students if required. 

https://forms.office.com/r/a4J... 

Junior Swimming Carnival 

This year our Junior Swimming Carnival will be held at the TAS (Toowoomba Anglican School) swimming pool on Monday 27th November, commencing at approximately 9:00 am - 12:30 pm, access via Wirra Wirra Street. Children in Prep - Year 2 will have the opportunity to participate at this carnival. We invite parents to attend this carnival if they wish. 

We encourage all students to attend regardless of their swimming ability. Shorter lap lengths and novelty races ensure that this is a memorable day, whilst building confidence in the water prior to joining the more competitive races at the upper school swimming carnival in years to come. Some events will include freestyle/kickboard, noodle and other novelty races. 

No ribbons will be awarded at this carnival as this is purely a non-competitive carnival to encourage fun in the water. Adults will be placed in each swimming lane and will be available on the sides of the pool to assist if required. 

The school will provide buses to transport students to and from the carnival. 

Children can wear their sports uniform and wear their togs underneath. They will also need to bring a towel, goggles (if needed), swimming cap, sunscreen, morning tea and a drink bottle.  

If you have any further queries, please don't hesitate to contact your child's classroom teacher or myself. 

God Bless,

Stacey Hancock

HPE Teacher

Recipe of the Week

Peanut Butter Brownies

This weeks yummy recipe takes only x4 ingredients.

Send your recipes through to stthomas@twb.catholic.edu.au and each week we will feature a new one for you to try.

Thinking STM for Prep in 2024 ...

From our Classrooms

Catch up on all the individual classroom news, click the link below.

From our P & F

A reminder, at our last meeting we had no nominations for x3 positions on the executive (President, Vice President or Secretary).
 
If you’re interested in nominating for any positions or just want to know more - feel free to contact Kylie (Kyliehaywoodbusiness@gmail.com) or Shontelle (Shontelle.Petrie@gmail.com) 

From our Tuckshop

Open every Wednesday & Friday. 

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

NEW Tuckshop Menu

From our Uniform Shop

Back to School Trading Hours - BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.

Appointment can be booked via a portal link that will be sent in the next few weeks.   

As this is always a busy time in the Uniform Shop, we ask for your patience and understanding.  Please allow extra time when you turn up for your appointment for delays as we serve a high volume of foot traffic and processing of payments.

Orders can be placed in advance and collected during opening hours,
please email :  thouniforms@twb.catholic.edu.au

From our OSHC

October Overview

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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