Prayer
God of all blessings, you revealed in Mary MacKillop
a sensitivity to the rights and dignity of every person,
regardless of race or creed.
May we learn from her to overcome the obstacles of prejudice and fear.
Help us to value the goodness of each person
and all the blessings of unity in diversity.
We ask this through the depth and unity of you,
our bountiful God, who hold all things in being.
Amen
Important Dates
- TERM THREE
Thursday 10 August - Choir 8:25 am
Thursday 10 August - ICAS Digital Tech (yrs 3-6)
Friday 11 August - Y5 Assembly 8.45am
Friday 11 August - Running Club
Friday 11 August - Y4 Excursion to Parliament House
Saturday 12 August - Parish Mass Y2 5.30pm
Monday 14 August - First Aid Awareness Training (Y3-6)
Monday 14 August - Gathering 8:40 am
Monday 14 August - ICAS English (Y2-6)
Tuesday 15 August - First Aid Awareness Training (PP-Y2)
Tuesday 15 August - Speak Up Awards 9:30 am
Tuesday 15 August - ICAS English (Y2-6)
Tuesday 15 August - Feast of the Assumption Y3
Wednesday 16 August - CPAF Choir Sacred 10 am
Wednesday 16 August - ICAS English (Y2-6)
Thursday 17 August - Athletics Throw Day
Thursday 17 August - Choir 8:25 am
Thursday 17 August - CPAF Drums
Thursday 17 August - ICAS English (Y2-6)
Friday 18 August - Pupil Free Day
Monday 21 August - Gathering 8:40 am
Monday 21 August - Parent/Student Confirmation Workshop 6 pm
Monday 21 August - ICAS Science (Y2-6)
Tuesday 22 August - Confirmation Retreat Y6
Tuesday 22 August - Athletics Jumps Day (Y3-5)
Tuesday 22 August - ICAS Science (Y2-6)
Wednesday 23 August - Book Week Celebrations - TBC
Wednesday 23 August - Y6 Talk Money Incursion
Wednesday 23 August - CPAF Dance
Wednesday 23 August - ICAS Science (Y2-6)
Thursday 24 August - CPAF Choir - Vasto Club
Thursday 24 August - Jumps & Throws Catch Up
Thursday 24 August - ICAS Science (Y2-6)
Friday 25 August - Running Club
Friday 25 August - Y6 Jumps
Friday 25 August - Angelico Exhibition concludes
Friday 25 August - Y6 Confirmation Liturgy 6 pm
Monday 28 August - Gathering 8:40 am
Monday 28 August - Athletics - jumps & throws (back up date)
Monday 28 August - ICAS Maths (Y2-6)
Tuesday 29 August - Father's Day Stalls
Tuesday 29 August - Athletics - jumps & throws (back up date)
Tuesday 29 August - ICAS Maths (Y2-6)
Wednesday 30 August - Fathers Day Stalls
Wednesday 30 August - Performing Arts Festival - Drama
Wednesday 30 August - Parish Buddy Mass Y6 & Y2
Wednesday 30 August - ICAS Maths (Y2-6)
Thursday 31 August - Fathers Day Liturgy PP 9am
Thursday 31 August - ICAS Maths (Y2-6)
Friday 1 September - St Thomas' Athletics Carnival
Friday 1 September - CPAF Concludes
Sunday 3 September - Fathers Day
Monday 4 September - Gathering 8:40 am
Tuesday 5 September - Advisory Council 7 pm
Wednesday 6 September - Open Morning 9 - 10:30 am
Wednesday 6 September - Parish Buddy Mass - Y3 & Kindy 12.30pm
Wednesday 6 September - Learning Journey - (Kindy- Yr. 6) -3pm to 5pm
Thursday 7 September - STPS Athletics Carnival (back up date)
Friday 8 September - Athletics Training - Relays @ 7:55 am Rowe Park
Saturday 9/Sunday 10 September - Dad's Campout Weekend
Monday 11 September - Performing Arts Concert
Monday 11 September - Gathering 8:40 am
Wednesday 13 September - Y3 Oracy
Wednesday 13 September - P&F Meeting 7 pm
Friday 15 September - Y4 Assembly
Friday 15 September - Athletics Training - Relays @7:55 am Rowe Park
Saturday 16 September - Parish Mass Y1
Monday 18 September - Gathering 8:40 am
Tuesday 19 September - Interschool Athletics Carnival (selected Y3-6)
Wednesday 20 September - Y5 & 6 Talk Money Incursion
Thursday 21 September - last day for students Term 3
Please remember dates of events can be subject to change
(Full 2023 term dates at the end of this newsletter)
From the Principal
Dear Parents and Caregivers
On Monday, we joined together as a school community to celebrate the Feast of St Mary Mackillop, Australia’s first Saint, a significant date for the Catholic community in Australia. Mary Mackillop had a dream to educate the poor and she fiercely stood up for what she thought was right. Thank you to Father Wayne for celebrating Mass with us, the Year 2 students for leading us in prayer, and to Mrs MacDonald, Miss Antulov, Mrs Gibbs, and the Choir for leading us in song.
PRINCIPALS CONFERENCE
Last week I travelled to Hobart to attend the Australian Primary Principals (APPA) Conference and the Presentation Staff Conference. The APPA conference focused on the theme of ‘Refreshing Leadership and Inspiring Futures‘ and provided the opportunity for professional learning and collaboration opportunities with educational leaders in primary schools across Australia. We are doing great things at our school, and it was energising to discuss this with colleagues across the nation. Special thanks to Mr Heath Nankivell for taking up the role of Acting Principal during my absence.
INTERSCHOOL CHESS COMPETITION
On Tuesday, our Interschool Chess Team travelled to St Paul’s Primary School in Mt Lawley for the Check Mate Interschool Chess Competition. A game that teaches a variety of skills, including visualisation, critical thinking and problem solving, it was a delight to see our students showcase their talents throughout the competition competing with students from five primary schools. Congratulations to our Year 6 students Hamish, Lachlan, Tom, Charlie, and Year 5 students William S., Louis, Indi, and Dron, for their amazing efforts representing our school.
DRAMA PRODUCTION
I am in constant awe of the amazing talents of our students at St Thomas’. ‘The Mystery of the Missing Medallion’ a show presented by the Drama Club last week, across two evening and several matinees, once again showcased the performance skills of our students. Thank you, Mrs Renee Miller, our Drama Specialist, and staff who assisted with the shows.
FAIR GAME – Be a Sporting Hero
Recently the St Thomas’ community stepped into the shoes of their sporting heroes to raise funds and awareness for Fair Game. A big thank you to Mrs Sharon Seaman, Physical Education Specialist at St Thomas’ for organising the event and for highlighting the need to care for others.
BOOK WEEK
St Thomas’ will be celebrating Book Week from Monday, 21 August to Friday 25 August. The theme for this year is 'Read, Grow, Inspire .' On Wednesday 23 August, children are invited to dress as their favourite book characters and bring along the book or a printout of the cover page, to help our secret judges choose several award winners. Parents are most welcome to join us for our parade at 8.45am in the undercover area.
YEAR 6 ASSEMBLY
Congratulations to the Year 6 students for showcasing their learning at the Year 6 Assembly recently. Taking us on an enchanting journey through Australia’s history of Democracy, Federation and Migration, students inspired us all with their confidence and talents in this presentation. We look forward to the Year 5 Assembly this Friday in the school hall at 8.45am.
CHILD SAFETY AND WELL-BEING
At St Thomas’ child safety and well-being is the primary focus of our care and decision-making. The Code of Conduct, Behaviour Management procedures and the Keeping Safe Curriculum are some of the ways that we do this.
What is the Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum?
The Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum (KS:CPC) is a respectful relationships and child safety curriculum, that teaches all children and young people they have the right to be safe and they can help themselves to be safe by talking to people they trust.
The KS:CPC is delivered by teachers to children and young people each year from Age 3 to Year 12. Teachers who deliver the curriculum complete training in its use. The KS:CPC fits primarily within the Health and Physical Education learning area of the Australian Curriculum but can be taught across multiple learning areas.
Why is child protection important?
The Department for Education and Child Development (DECD) has a legal responsibility to protect children and young people from abuse in its own settings and in the wider community. All children and young people have a right to:
· be treated with respect and to be protected from harm.
· feel and be safe in their interactions with adults and other children and young people
· understand as early as possible, what is meant by ‘feeling and being safe’.
· the support of school-based counsellors or designated staff in their education or care environment whose role includes being an advocate for their safety and wellbeing (Child Protection in Schools, Early Childhood Education and Care Services Policy, 2015, p4).
Each term, teachers will provide parents and carers with an overview of the Keeping Safe curriculum content being taught in the classroom. If you have any questions about this curriculum, please contact your class teacher.
May God bless your week.
Natalia Thomson
Principal
From the Assistant Principal
TERM TWO – WEEKLY FOCUS
In line with our school vision and values, as well as our year focus value of Excellence, each week we identify a vision element or school value to focus upon. At the Monday gathering we celebrate students who have demonstrated that element. Please see below our weekly focus plan. I very much enjoy presenting these awards as they are foundational to our purpose and what we promote to students on a daily basis.
W1 - ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE (term focus - value)
W2 - CHRIST-LIKE (Character/Citizenship) (vision)
W3 - COMPASSION (value)
W4 - INCLUSIVITY (value)
W5 - TRUTH (value)
W6 - CURIOSITY (vision)
W7 - CREATIVITY (vision)
W8 - COLLABORATION (vision)
W9 - CRITICAL THINKING (vision)
W10 - COMMUNITY (value)
ICAS ASSESSMENTS
For parents who have paid for their children to participate in these tests, the test dates are below, with catch-ups tests provided over the next few days.
ICAS Digital Technologies - Wednesday 9 August
ICAS English - Monday 14/8
ICAS Science - Monday 21/8
ICAS Mathematics - Monday 28/8
Mr Heath Nankivell
Assistant Principal
Sports News
Be a Sporting Hero Free Dress Day and Sports Equipment Collection in support of FAIR GAME
On Friday 4 August, students were invited to come to school dressed as their favourite Sporting Hero in return for a gold coin donation to support Fair Game, a WA charity that recycles sports equipment and distributes it to children in remote, regional and under serviced communities across the State.
Thank you to everyone who donated equipment, dressed up and donated a gold coin to a wonderful charity. We raised $190 and this money will go towards children who need equipment to stay healthy and active in the community. This included the gold coin donations and Money from the containers for change from this term.
School Sport WA Champion Schools Primary Cross Country Championships:
Congratulations to the following students who represented the school on Thursday 3 August at the State schools Cross Country:
Year 3 – Bella B, Maddy G, James H
Year 4 – Luke F, Charlie J
Year 5 – Mattia F
Year 6 – Lily G, Caoimhe P
Our runners completed against 300+ students from across the state and enjoyed the challenge with many achieving personal best times. A special mention to Maddy G who came 8th and Charlie J who came 21st overall.
Upcoming events - Pop these dates in your diaries:
Throws Day – Years 3-6 Thursday 17 August – during PE class time.
Jumps Day – Years 3-5 Tuesday 22 August
Catch up – Jumps and Throws - Thursday 24 August during PE class time.
Jumps Day – Year 6 Friday 25 August during Friday Afternoon Sport
Back up Throws and Jumps Days – Monday 28 and 29 August
St Thomas Athletics Carnival – Friday 1st September
Interschool Athletics Carnival – Tuesday 19th September
Hats for Physical Education lessons/recess and lunch play.
Just a reminder, students are required to have a hat for their Physical Education lesson, recess and lunch play. There are several students who do not have one. Please ensure they have a hat and their name is clearly written on the hat in case they lose it, so we can return it to the owner.
Sharon Seaman
Physical Education Specialist Teacher
St Thomas' Primary School
Email: admin@stthomas.wa.edu.au
Website: stthomas.wa.edu.au
Location: 8 Warden Street Claremont WA 6010
Phone: (08 9286 9500
Facebook: www.facebook.com/stthomasprimaryschoolclaremont
Twitter: @StThomasCPS