2024 Term 2 - Week 1 - Newsletter

Prayer of the Week

Image retrieved from https://courtneydefeo.com/back-to-school-prayers/ 

From our Principal

Much has been made of student attendance and absentee rates in the past few years, and deservedly so!  The television advertisement of Rugby League great Johnathon Thurston perched up in the classroom screaming out ‘HERE’ during the class role call has helped raise much needed attention and urgency around this concerning trend.  Although on the surface the concept of attendance and absentee rates appears to be rather insignificant, there now appears to be much deeper ramifications and lifelong issues concerned with missing school. 

Attendance at school is the foundation of student engagement, learning, wellbeing and achievement. NAPLAN results, learning gains, engagement to school and retention have all been strongly correlated with regular student attendance.

Current research and practice indicate that an individual student’s attendance rate of 90% or less is correlated with potential problems for the student – in the short, medium and long terms. Such a rate has been described as Chronic Absenteeism (CA) and needs to be identified and responded to from the earliest indications. Put simply, an attendance rate of 90% equates to the following: 

Ninety percent (90%) attendance (aka “regular attendance”):

= 1 day/fortnight absent

= 1week/term absent

= 1 month/year absent

= 1 school year/P-9 absent

= almost 1 ½ years instruction lost P-12

The research is clear and extremely concerning, children with less than 90% attendance are:

• achieving lower levels of literacy and numeracy;
• achieve lower performance in NAPLAN and learning grades/reports;
• reportedly experiencing more problems with peers (ie. poor sense of belonging, peer conflict);
• reporting higher levels of disorganisation and anxiety;
• reportedly experiencing less success in the classroom compared to their peers;
• more likely to experience unemployment, mental health difficulties, not complete Year 12, lower life expectancies and more likely to be involved in criminal activity as an adult.

Chronic Absenteeism in the first term of a student’s schooling has been directly correlated with present and future problems. These findings can be used as a reliable and useful early warning sign for future adverse outcomes well in advance of the analysis of any formal learning achievement data – whether in school or system wide (eg NAPLAN). As such, it provides especially powerful alerts in the early years of a student’s schooling, secondary as well as primary. Studies from both WA and Qld DET, indicate that the younger that chronic absenteeism occurs, the more significant the impact on learning and engagement.

So, at St Thomas More’s, let’s make every day count!! 

Grooming Expectations

Please be mindful, hairstyles which draw attention to the individual, including but are not limited to: mullet, scullett, mohawks, tracks, tails, hair colouring etc. are not permitted.

Before School Supervision

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

School Lunches

To commence Term Two, we are asking families to have conversations with children regarding eating requirements when at school to ensure enough lunch is packed to see out the school day.

Afternoon Pick Up Zone

On behalf of St Thomas More’s Parish and St Thomas More’s School, we are kindly and respectfully asking for parents/grandparents to refrain from ‘waiting’ in the St Thomas More’s pick up and drop off zone (Ramsay St entrance) until 2:50pm. 

The reasons being:

• A lack of access to the lined car parks, which are available for your use.
• Congestion is blocking vehicles from moving through the car park
• Work is still being undertaken in the grounds right up to 3pm
• It is a drop off and loading zone not for parking

I understand this may cause inconvenience, however your patience and flexibility in working with the Parish and School would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for reading. 

God Bless,

Duane Wann

Principal

From our APRE

Welcome back for another fun term at St Thomas More's! I hope all families and staff had a great Easter Break. A big thank you to our wonderful Year 5 students who led us so prayerfully and respectfully at the end of last term, helping us to explore the Way of the Cross as we prepared for Easter. 

Congratulations also to all our Easter Hamper Winners. The amount of hampers we were able to raffle off this year reflects the generosity of our school community. I know Service Club joins me in thanking all families and staff who were able to donate to our Project Compassion Mission this year. We hope to share the final amount raised in our mission this year in the next newsletter. 

ANZAC Day

Next week, we commemorate ANZAC Day. 6 Blue will lead our whole school in prayer on Wednesday with a Prayer Celebration for Prep to Year 6 in the Sportscentre from 8:40 am. Mrs H has also organised once again for STM to participate in the Toowoomba Wreath Laying and ANZAC Day March this year. Thank you Mrs H for coordinating this wonderful experience for our students once again this year. Further information about the ANZAC Day March can be found further down in the newsletter. 

ANZAC Day is a very special day for many families across our nation, mine included. While ANZAC Day was traditionally a day to remember the ANZAC soldiers who lost their lives at Gallipoli, over time it has become a more encompassing commemoration to remember all those who have lost their lives in service of Australia and New Zealand. Classes will be learning about ANZAC Day next week, with many also making poppies to wear to our STM ANZAC Prayer Celebration. The red poppy has special significance for Australians as they were among the first to flower in the devastated battlefields of northern France and Belgium in the First World War. 

As part of our 2024 commemoration of ANZAC Day, we would like to continue our tradition of acknowledging relatives of our STM community who have served our country in wars and peacekeeping missions. If you have a relative who has served and would like their name to be included on our STM Honour Roll, please complete the form below before Monday, April 22nd. 

Catholic Education Week Awards

Each year, schools have the opportunity to celebrate the wonderful staff who make such a difference to their school community during Catholic Education Week. One way this can be done is by nominating staff for a Spirit of Catholic Education Award or a TCS Excellence Award. 

The Spirit of Catholic Education Awards are presented annually in conjunction with Catholic Education Week to celebrate outstanding contributions to Catholic Education in Queensland. Each year nominations are received from Catholic school communities across the State, highlighting the important work being undertaken by staff, parents, carers and volunteers who support Catholic school students. Is there someone at STM you think embodies the Spirit of Catholic Education? Why not send in a nomination for them! 

The Toowoomba Catholic Schools Excellence Awards are also presented annually and acknowledge staff in various positions across school communities who make a significant impact to school life. Is there a staff member at STM you think does a top notch job? Why not consider nominating them!

Musical Update

Our musical preparations really kick off this term! Auditions are being held on Wednesday and Thursday this week. We have had over 70 children apply to audition for our show, which is just amazing! We hope to announce our main cast by the end of Week 3. Although we only have 25 children in our main cast, our musical is a great experience for all of our Upper School children as students from Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 are all part of the musical, with each class sharing at least one song during the show. 

This year to make our musical a success, we are seeking the help of sponsors! If you would like to help sponsor our show this year or would like more information about The Lion King Jr sponsorship packages, please contact the school office. 

God Bless

Kris Byrne

Assistant Principal Religious Education

Term One Important Dates

From our Middle Leader

Welcome back to Term 2!  It is going to be a very busy term of learning for our students. 

Thank you to the Parents/Careers who came along or have scheduled a time to discuss learning, goals, and social interactions at the Parent Teacher Interviews.  We thank you for ensuring a healthy line of communication between home and school. If you missed booking a time via the parent portal, please email your child/ren’s teacher/s if you would like to arrange an interview.

Last term, our lower school teachers (P-2) started implementing PLD, a systematic synthetic phonics program with a teaching sequence for reading and spelling. Commencing this term, our middle and upper school teachers will begin implementing this program. This program provides teachers with an innovative, evidence-based approach to literacy and advocates that children’s literacy and learning outcomes are maximized when the areas of literacy, oral language and movement & motor skills are simultaneously targeted.  With this change, we will be working with decodable texts instead of predictable texts in the teaching of reading. Please see the link below for an explanation of the difference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiyzP3j7jbk

Due to this change, home reading and spelling lists will look different. Students may come home with games with high-frequency words or sounds instead of home readers. This is reading practice. Please be assured that students will be getting a much higher level of reading mileage at school every day.

I am looking forward to an exciting term.

God Bless

Trish Wardle

Middle Leader

Anzac Day March 2024

All students are strongly urged to show your ANZAC Spirit and remember those who have served our country by congregating for the ANZAC Service March on Thursday 25th April. 

While the entire school community is very much encouraged to attend, our Year 6 Student Leaders (and prospective 2025 Student Leaders) will be expected to attend and act as formal ambassadors for St Thomas More’s Primary School.  

Please register your child/children’s interest by clicking the link below. More information regarding times and meeting points will be sent out in Week 1 of Term 2. Please keep in mind that children will need to be confident enough to walk with staff members without their parents during the march.  

https://forms.office.com/r/c7jVJwPTe7 

Prep 2025 - Make sure you register for upcoming events

Student Protect

Medical Alert

From our Sports Department

Cross Country Results 

Congratulations to everyone who participated in our annual cross country at the end of last term. It was such a great day watching the children put in 100% and support each other. Below are the results from the carnival and we wish all the children who are heading off to the Zone Cross Country the best of luck.  

12 Years Girls  

Age Champion - Portia B 

Runner Up – Crystal M 

12 Years Boys   

Age Champion - Peter A 

Runner Up – Jordan D  

11 Years Girls  

Age Champion - Makayla W  

Runner Up – Audrey T   

11 Years Boys  

Age Champion - Hamish P  

Runner Up – Jonathan W   

10 Years Girls  

Age Champion - Aaliyah L 

Runner Up – Addison F  

10 Years Boys   

Age Champion - Levi M  

Runner Up – James O 

9 Years Girls   

Age Champion - Mia C  

Runner Up – Lauren A  

9 Years Boys  

Age Champion - Tyrell W  

Runner Up – Rylan J 

 Overall House Winners – Mackillop  

Athletics 

Athletics is here! Children will be involved in a range of throwing, jumping, and running activities in PE lessons this term to prepare them for our annual athletics carnival. The children in Year 4(10yr olds), Year 5 & Years 6 will participate in athletics rotations on a Friday afternoon to also help prepare them for the carnival. Parents of these children have received a SENTRAL notification to give their child permission to participate in discus activities. Children will NOT be able to participate in any form of discus activity until parental permission has been granted.  

Touch Football 

Congratulations to Jonathan W, Christian S and Mitchell M for being selected in the Zone Touch Football team. We wish you the best of luck at the Darling Downs trials.  

God Bless.

Stacey Hancock

HPE Teacher 

Student Awards

Well done to our students who received awards in Week 9 and Week 10. Keep up the great work! 

Week 9

Week 10

Term 1 Southern Cross Awards 

P & F News

Do you know someone who deserves to be nominated for one of these great awards?  Links below.

SOCE Awards

https://catholiceducationweek.com.au/catholic-education-week-awards/2024-spirit-of-catholic-education-awards-nomination-form/

TCS Excellence awards

https://www.twb.catholic.edu.au/about-us/about-us/toowoomba-catholic-schools-excellence-awards/

Tuckshop News

Opening Wednesday, Thursday and Friday

Order via Flexischools App.  If you need help to navigate the App, please feel free to pop into the tuckshop and chat to Jemma or email on jemma@archerscateringandevents.com.au 

Cut off of Online orders...
Order before 3pm Tuesday (for Wednesday), 3pm Wednesday (for Thursday) & 3pm Thursday (1pm for sushi) (for Friday).

NEW Tuckshop Menu

REMINDER - IF YOU CHILD IS SICK, PLEASE CONTACT THE TUCKSHOP BEFORE 9AM TO POSTPONE YOUR ORDER TO THE NEXT DAY!

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!

Notice Board

The Wandering Banana

We have a presentation for primary school aged children about an exciting country.

We will be exploring where this country is located and the continents. We will compare our focus country to Australia to form some context including landmass, population and currency; as well as get insights into their special landscape and fauna.

Our special guest was born in this country and can offer invaluable insight for us. There will be a booklet and activities throughout the session as well as a tasty snack food hopefully at the end from this country {at an additional cost, if you wish to sample it}.

You can follow us on Instagram.com/thewanderingbananaco or Facebook.com/thewanderingbananaco

We look forward to seeing you and your child/ren there :-)