Important Dates
TERM TWO 2022
Friday 29 April - ANZAC Day Service - Students only
Monday 02 May - Coding Club 3:15 - 4 pm
Tuesday 03 May - Year 4 Eucharist Parent/Student Workshop 6 pm
Wednesday 04 May - Y1 Parent/Teacher Meetings - online
Wednesday 04 May - EduDance
Wednesday 04 May - e-Sports Club 3:15 - 4 pm
Wednesday 04 May - Italian Club 3:15 - 4 pm
Thursday 05 May - Drama Club 3:15 - 4 pm
Friday 06 May - Y1 Mothers Day Liturgy - Year 1 parents
Friday 06 May - Running Club Yrs 1 - 6
Friday 06 May - Gymnastics PP - Y2
Monday 09 May - Coding Club 3:15 - 4 pm
Tuesday 10 May - NAPLAN Tests begin
Wednesday 11 May - EduDance
Wednesday 11 May - e-Sports Club 3:15 - 4 pm
Wednesday 11 May - Italian Club 3:15 - 4 pm
(Full 2022 term dates at the end of this newsletter)
Prayer
Loving God,
At the beginning of this new term
help us to keep the Easter message in our hearts
and to give witness to it through our lives.
As a Resurrection people we always set our sights
on hope for the future.
Guide us to celebrate the new growth that is being cultivated in us
by working together as a Christ-centred,
student-focused community of learning.
Open our eyes to the new and exciting opportunities
that this new term will bring.
Amen.
Dear Parents and Caregivers
Dear Parents and Caregivers
We hope you had a relaxing holiday break at home with your families and a very special Easter season.
COVID update
Several days ago, the WA Government announced an easing of restrictions. Hopefully this term, we will be able to enjoy all our activities, experiences and learning together. Information will be sent to parents and caregivers as soon as it has been formally released to schools.
Year 6 Camp
On Tuesday evening, I had the privilege of joining the Year 6 students on Camp. Organised by Mrs Lila Gibbs, our amazing Year 6 Teacher, students experienced a variety of team building activities at Ern Halliday Recreation Camp. By the time I arrived at camp after school on day one, the students had experienced the big swing, mountain bike riding, rock climbing and caving with several night activities planned to follow. I am so grateful to Mrs Gibbs, Mr Godsall, Mr Nankivell and Mrs Vincent, for their care and support of the Year 6 students during this camp experience.
ANZAC Day
On Friday morning, students will participate in an Anzac Day service. A special thank you to Miss Mulholland and the Year 4 students for leading us in this service.
Mother’s Day
Next Sunday we celebrate Mother’s Day. A special day to highlight the central roles our mothers play in our lives. We also celebrate all the other women in our lives such as grandmothers, stepmothers, aunts, cousins, teachers, and special friends who have helped to shape and form us into the person we are today. We pray to our Mother Mary to bless all the mothers of St Thomas’ community. May she guide you each day as you care and guide your child/ren to grow and flourish.
Mother’s Day Stalls
I would like to especially thank the Parents and Friends Committee for purchasing and organising the gifts for the Mother’s Day Stall which will be held next week before school. Thank you to all the volunteers who will help with the stall. The students will love shopping for their mum and choosing a special gift.
Mother’s Day Liturgy
Our Mother’s Day celebrations at St Thomas’ will look a little different this year. As this event was planned prior to the easing of COVID restrictions, only Year One parents, and grandmothers are invited to this liturgy. Students throughout the school will have the liturgy streamed to their classrooms.
First Holy Communion
Students in Year 4 are preparing for the Sacrament of the Eucharist this term. Year 4 parents are invited to attend a parent/student workshop with their Year 4 child, next Tuesday 3 May at 6pm in the school Library. Sr Catherine Warner PVM, one of our Presentation Sisters, will facilitate the workshop. Please keep the Year 4 students in your prayers as they prepare for this Sacrament.
May God bless your week.
Natalia Thomson
PRINCIPAL
From the Assistant Principal
NAPLAN
A reminder that all Year Three and Year Five students will take part in the NAPLAN assessments during Week Three and Four this term. I encourage all parents to discuss with their child the importance of doing their best, and keeping perspective with these tests. Students will take part in Writing, Reading, Conventions of Language, and Numeracy assessments. It is important that students bring to school a fully charged iPad each day, have a healthy breakfast and have a good night sleep particularly during these weeks.
IPAD PARENT MEETING
Thank you to all parents who attended the Year Three iPad Parent Meeting, held online at the end of last term. The PowerPoint used during the meeting, containing tips for iPad management at home, as well as weblinks, will be sent out to all Year Three parents this week. If you require discussion regarding some strategies to assist the iPad use away from school, please contact myself or Mr Evans. Please also ensure you communicate with Mr Evan if your intentions change for when your child brings the iPad home.
EARLY YEARS PHILOSOPHY
Our Early Years part of our school is always a vibrant and action-packed place to be! Sometimes it looks like all the students do is play! And this is no accident. Teachers are very creative and deliberate with the activities and provocations they design and present to students. The Pre-Kindy to Year Two classes, the ‘Early Years’, are indeed a special place. I share with you the St Thomas’ Primary School Early Years philosophy, encompassing our beliefs of early education at St Thomas’. I encourage your feedback regarding our Philosophy via email to myself at heath.nankivell@cewa.edu.au.
Child
We embrace the uniqueness of each child and foster a sense of identity and belonging.
Spiritual
We nurture children to wonder, discover, and explore their world, fostering an awareness of God and being inspired to live like Christ.
Social & Emotional
We encourage children to experience, regulate and express a range of emotions and develop meaningful relationships with others.
Cognitive
We believe in providing children with a strong foundation for learning through purposeful play experiences and child-led inquiry.
Physical
We provide creative and challenging experiences which enable each children to grow both physically and mentally in a stimulating environment.
Community
We foster positive partnerships with parents, carers and the wider community to support each child's unique development.
Heath Nankivell
ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
Advisory Council News
The Advisory Council met virtually for their second meeting of the year at the end of Term 1. As COVID impacted the school throughout term one, there was much discussion around how it affected the community and how the parents, students and families were managing the situation.
Many of the advisory council members provided feedback to Mrs Thomson of their own personal situations, as well as comments from our school community. This is an important role the Advisory Council members contribute to the council and for Mrs Thomson's review.
We discussed how COVID will continue to have an influence on the school community.
Teachers did an incredible job- managing dual teaching modes throughout this first term and we cannot thank them enough for providing such outstanding education and support to the students throughout this first term.
Other items the Advisory Council addressed during the meeting was the marketing plan and what elements were able to be progressed in the next few months, considering how busy the staff are at present. With a defined plan, the leadership team will begin to focus on some important and critical aspects of the school marketing plan in order to keep things moving.
Throughout the month of March, all Advisory Council members were required to attend a Catholic Education training session (online). This detailed the role of the Advisory Council, the structure of Catholic Education WA (CEWA) and the new Terms of Reference. There was also a report from the CEWA Finance Director, who outlined how funding is received and managed, throughout the CEWA system.
All committees on the Advisory Council are required to present an update or report on progress from the prior meeting. After the Principal’s and the P&F report (where AC members received feedback regarding the P&F plans for the year, and the success of their first online P & F meeting), the Finance, Grounds and Maintenance committees presented their relevant updates.
The Advisory Council is hoping to meet face to face for the first time in Term 2 on Tuesday 3 May - COVID restrictions permitting.
Susan Swift
Advisory Council Chair
P&F Report
Welcome to Term 2! It is wonderful to start this new School Term knowing that we will be able to resume our P&F events and initiatives, and gather as a School community once again. A very warm welcome to those new families who have recently joined our School. We are delighted you and your family are part of our School community.
On Wednesday evening, we held our first P&F Meeting with the new dual format, with some parents being face to face in the Library, and others dialing in to the meeting from home. It was great to have so many mums and dads join us, and contribute to a great conversation about the upcoming events and initiatives of the P&F. We look forward to continuing this format throughout the year, to ensure all our P&F meetings are as accessible and inclusive as possible.
Next week, the P&F will be setting up a Mother's Day Market to give your children the opportunity to purchase something special for Mum, Grandma or a special woman in their life for Mother's Day. The Mother's Day Market is a great way to encourage independence within our children, and celebrate all our wonderful St Thomas mums and mother figures. Please see the poster within for details.
At our meeting, the P&F approved the purchase of a shade sail to be installed in the courtyard at the front of our School, near Administration. This courtyard will be repurposed as a mindfulness peace for all students to enjoy and utilise, and the shade sail will ensure that this area can be utilized all year round. We are excited to see this mindfulness space come to life.
Wishing you all a wonderful week. We hope to see you at our next meeting, the date of which will be announced shortly.
Best wishes
Bianca Della Vedova
Self-Reporting Portal for COVID-19
It is vitally important that parents and caregivers inform the school if your child tests positive for COVID-19. Parents and caregivers can inform the school of their child’s positive or negative COVID result via this LINK.
A friendly reminder to also register your positive RAT result to the WA Health RAT Register on this LINK
Thank you
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