Important Dates
THURSDAY 23 JULY until THURSDAY 17 SEPTEMBER - EDUDANCE
FRIDAY 07 AUGUST - Mary MacKillop Feast Day Prayer Celebration
TUESDAY 11 AUGUST - P & F Meeting
MONDAY 24 AUGUST - Pupil Free Day
FRIDAY 28 AUGUST - First Holy Communion 5.30pm
FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER - The Arts Show & Open Day for Prospective Students
TUESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER - School Photo Day
2020 PUPIL FREE DAYS
Monday 24 August
Friday 25 September
Monday 12 October
Mary Mackillop Prayer
Most loving God,
We thank you for the example of St Mary MacKillop,
who in her living of the Gospel witnessed
to the human dignity of each person.
She faced life’s challenges with faith and courage.
We pray through her intercession for all of our needs.
We make this prayer through Jesus the Lord.
Amen
Dear Parents and Caregivers
It was lovely to enjoy the sunshine over the last few days with students and staff on the playground during recess and lunch breaks.
St Mary MacKillop
On Friday we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the canonisation of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop with a prayer service led by the Pre-Primary and Year One students. Mary’s dream encompassed opening simple schools where there was no class distinction, offering refuge to the most neglected, and bringing practical help to families. Her spirit and values continue to inspire young people today to make a difference in these times.
Art Show/Open Day
Students are busy creating artwork and rehearsing musical items for our Biannual Arts Show on September 11. The theme for 2020 is ‘Australia’. The day will commence with an Open Morning for prospective students followed by the Arts Show which will commence at 12.45pm.
By September 11, we hope that parents and friends will be allowed to attend school events. If this is not the case, we will schedule an opportunity to view the exhibition showcasing the artistic and musical talents of all our students. Please save the date.
Nature Play Project
We are excited to let our school community know that we have a new Nature Play Project underway! The Nature Play Project will benefit all the children in the school, from Pre-Kindergarten through to Year 6. There is significant academic research highlighting the importance of nature play.
At this Tuesday’s P&F Meeting, Karen Jones will be presenting the researched benefits of nature play, along with the concept design for a new nature play area on the lower oval. We warmly welcome all parents and friends to join us in the school library at 7pm.
We thank the School Board and P&F for their contributions toward this exciting development for all the children at St Thomas’.
Have a wonderful week
God bless
Natalia Thomson
Principal
E-Challenge at St Thomas’ Primary School
The Gifted and Talented program at St Thomas’ is called E-Challenge. The E-Challenge class is an enrichment and extension class that incorporates modules with an emphasis on higher order thinking and developing critical and creative thinkers.
Primarily, students are selected through testing. The AGAT (General Ability Test) is based on verbal comprehension, knowledge and understanding using vocabulary, problem solving items of a mathematical kind and verbal reasoning by analogy. The ART (Abstract Reasoning Test) is pattern-based, measuring skills in analysis, interpretation, prediction and sequence identification.
To open it up to as many people as we can, modules in E-Challenge change each term which allows those children with specific talents to be incorporated ie Night of the Notables is an English based module whereas the Solar Car Challenge is a STEM based module.
Modules change from year to year to suit the Gifted and Talented children in Years 4-6. Therefore, the group will change according to the challenge.
Curriculum Corner
Upper Primary Learning Space
This year in upper primary, our aim is to create an active, collaborative learning environment for students to be inspired and take ownership of their learning. A fundamental component of flexible learning environments is to provide students with a variety of alternative areas in which learning can take place. The new library space is perfectly suited to achieve this as it gives students a sense of ownership, a quiet place to indulge in a book and an appropriate spot to work effectively in small groups.
Throughout the term break, Mr Wray has been busy setting up this space in the library where upper primary students in Year 5 and 6 can have their own book corner. The designated area has been named by the students ‘#56’ and they have been given the option to spend time during class group work, Wednesday lunch time and library sessions. This modified learning environment includes a couch, beanbags, desk space and the senior fiction books, which will be open for access over the next semester. Our hope and intention is that the space will give our older students a sense of ownership and pride for this area, allowing them to work and learn efficiently.
Schoolbags for Jesus
The Mini Vinnies Team, Mrs Sullivan & Mrs Gamble have continued their fundraising efforts to put together 10 bags of school supplies so that children in underprivileged countries have the opportunity to attend school.
The St Thomas’ Community is always supportive to help those less fortunate in the world! Thank you!
Sports News
Term 3 – Athletic Carnivals – Save the date
Friday 4th September - St Thomas Athletics Carnival
Jumps and Throws for Years 1-6
Wednesday 26th August – Years 3-6 Jumps and/or throws depending on weather
Thursday 27th August – Years 5-6 Jumps and/or throws depending on weather, during class time
Friday 28th August - Years 3-4 Jumps and/or throws depending on weather, during class time
Friday 21st and 28th August - Years 1 and 2 Jumps and/or throws depending on weather, during class time
The student points will count towards champion points and calculated together at the St Thomas Athletics carnival.
Thursday 24th September – Interschool Athletics Carnival
Term 4 – Cross Country – Save the date
Friday 16th October - St Thomas Cross Country Carnival
Monday 26th October - Interschool Cross Country Carnival (new date)
Athletics Coaching afterschool
I am in the process of securing 2 Athletic coaches to come out on a Thursday afternoon from 3.00pm to 4.00pm from Thursday 20th August for 4 sessions. They will work with students performing the fundamental movement skills of Runs, Throws and Jumps. This is funded by the sporting school grant we have received this semester. As only 50 students can participate it will be a first served basis and students and parents must register and commit to the four sessions. This is open to students in Years 1-6. To register please email Sharon Seaman at Sharon.seaman@cewa.edu.au
Once the registrations are in I will make contact with you as first I have to secure the coaches.
Sporting Communities
Free Soccer Coaching session – Afterschool Next week - Wednesday 12th August
Dean Evans, the Co-Owner of The Football Centre, a one of a kind indoor training, development and tournament facility based in Osborne Park is offering a free soccer coaching session clinic at our school on Wednesday 12th August. They also offer a 7 week program for interested students thereafter.
To book in for the free session please use the link below. https://footballcentre.com.au/school-sessions/
All TFC coaches have their First Aid and current Working with Children Checks. To find out more about our coaches please click here
Sharon Seaman
Physical Education 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