Lenten Prayer

God of goodness and mercy,

Hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with You.

Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from You.

Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to Your love.

May humility guide my efforts to be reconciled with You and live forever in Your abundant grace.

Transform me this Lent, heavenly Father.

Give me the strength to commit myself to grow closer to You each day.

Amen.

Friday 8 March – St. Thomas’ Swimming Carnival – Claremont Pool

Monday 11 March – Pupil Free Day – Staff Professional Learning (Aboriginal Education)

Wednesday 13 March – Year 6’s attending Parish Mass – 12.30pm

Monday 18 March – P&F Meeting 7.00pm School Library

Thursday 21 March – Harmony Day

Saturday 23 March – Father’s Camp Out & School/Parish Mass – Year 3 preparing

Before School Drop Off: It has become apparent that some children are being dropped off or are coming to school very early. Parents please be aware that a member of staff is on morning duty from 8.15am. Children should not be arriving at school before this time. We do understand that sometimes this is unavoidable due to work and other commitments but it should not be a regular occurrence. Parents/guardians of children who repeatedly arrive prior to 8.15am will be contacted by the school and required to make alternative before school care arrangements for their children. Extend Before & After School Care is available on site.

Professional Learning Day: Tuesday 11 March is a Pupil Free Day. The staff of St. Thomas’ will be undertaking Professional Learning (PL) regarding Aboriginal Education.

P&F Meeting: Please note that our next P&F Meeting will take place on Monday 18 March in the school library at 7.00pm.

One of the big tasks the P&F is taking on in 2019 is investigating the move of our school based Uniform Shop to an Online platform. If we proceed the platform will be run by Perm-a-Pleat, which is the company who already supply us with the majority of our school uniforms. The move to online would take additional pressure off our parent body, as volunteers are becoming more scarce. I would like to sincerely thank Nicola Lovejoy for the significant amount of work she has completed thus far to investigate our options and the best process and pricing moving forward.

School Psychologist: The visiting School Psychologist, Leigh Thomas, is available on Wednesday 20 March, 9:45am-12pm, for short parent consultations. If you have a learning/behaviour/parenting issue with your child and would like a brief consultation to provide you with some information or direction please contact Julie to register. Consultations will be limited to 20 minutes only.

Harmony Day: Harmony Day will be celebrated on Thursday 21 March. Many thanks to Mrs. Valentine, Mrs. Dragon and Mrs. Koong for her organisation, enthusiasm and commitment to celebrating the diversity of people within this beautiful land. Thanks also to our fantastic P&F for organising the luncheon on this day and contributing funds for the day.

Uniform Requirements: Please ensure you are aware of St. Thomas’ uniform and grooming requirements. This can be viewed through the following link below.

Also please be aware that many students are coming to school without their St. Thomas’ hat. As of today ‘spare’ hats will not be given to students and they will be required to sit in shaded areas at Recess and Lunch until they have a school hat. ‘No Hat, No Play’ as stated in the St. Thomas’ SunSmart School Policy.

Watch this video to see some of the amazing things we have been up to during February!

Lenten Season: Thanks to Fr. Wayne, Mrs. Sullivan and the Year Three class for preparing a beautiful Ash Wednesday Mass yesterday. The Lenten Season is a time of preparation and penance in the 40 days prior to Easter.

Towards the end of the Mass a class representative collected Project Compassion boxes for their class. Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion is an annual fundraising and awareness-raising appeal, bringing thousands of Australians together in solidarity with the world's poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity. All families will receive a small Project Compassion box. We ask that any loose change or donations you can make are placed into this box over the Lenten period and then at the school’s Stations of the Cross Paraliturgy on Tuesday 9 April, they be returned to school so that we can present them to Father Wayne. The children during their religion lessons will not only discuss what Lent is about but will also look at ways they can be involved in the Lenten Season such as giving up something i.e. lollies, chocolate, etc. or giving something of themselves i.e. helping around the house or donating to Project Compassion.

Parish/School Mass: Our second Parish/School Mass of the year will take place on Saturday evening 23 March at 5.30pm. The Year Three class and Mrs. Sullivan are organising the Mass. A sausage sizzle, will be held after Mass on the school oval. This will be held in conjunction with the Dads’ Camp Out.

St. Thomas' Mass Times:

Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9.00am

Wednesday 12.30pm

Saturday 9.00am and 5:30pm

Sunday 7:30am, 9:30am and 6:30pm

St Thomas’ Swimming Carnival – Friday 8th March

Tomorrow is the swimming carnival for Years 3-6. Thank you to all of the parents who have volunteered to assist in the running of the carnival.

On the day, students are not able to use the canteen, even if parents are attending the carnival.

Parents please no posting of photos/videos unless it is your own child.

If students are selected into the Interschool swimming team, they will be notified via a letter and training for these students will commence from Thursday 21st March, each Thursday and Friday morning 7.30am – 8.15am.

Swimming Training

Entry if free for students in Years 3-6 only. If your child is coming down with you to swim in another area, that child will need to pay. Thanks in advance.

Interschool Swimming Carnival – Monday 8th April

If parents are able to assist with the running of this carnival please contact Sharon Seaman via email on Sharon.seaman@cewa.edu.au as we are the host school for 2019. I am looking for two parents who can collate the scores. It’s a simple job and you will be taught what is required.

Gymnastics PP – Year 3

Over the next few weeks in sport lessons, students in PP to Year 3 will be involved in a Fundamental movement program of Gymnastics.

TECH TIPS

Tip 2. Talk to your children. Talk to your children about technology and in particular about Internet safety. Agree on a set of rules for using the computer and going on the Internet. Surf the web together. Stay involved; children's technology and online activity will increase and become more complex as they get older and technology continues to evolve. Keep the conversation going!

Tech Tips continued next Newsletter

Lisa Meyers

Assistant Principal

As part of our sustainability focus at St Thomas’ we have joined forces with an Australian business: Cyber Computer Recycling and Disposal. The world of ICT is rapidly changing and evolving and to keep up we are constantly updating our electronic devices.

To save electronic resources from going to landfill, we have sent outdated resources such as hard drives, monitors and keyboards to be wiped, processed and recycled to make new products.

By recycling E-waste we are able to re-use materials such a nickel, steel, glass and lead, as well as plastic and cardboard packaging.

Look out for updates on another E-waste recycling initiative soon!

Whats happening next week ...

Monday Watermelon Pinwheel making and Colouring in Activity

Tuesday Nature Walk- Scavenger Hunt and Music Sesh with Jo

Wednesday Kite Making and Short Story Telling in Sign Language

Thursday Fishy Glitter Globe and Simple Conversation in Sign Language

Friday Dollhouse making and Fruit Cake cooking activity

The Extend Superstars are…

Jewel and Mimi for doing a great job on their leadership roles this week and for encouraging other children to have a go.

Ivy O’Connor for being such an inspiration to others by manifesting a positive bubbly personality and encouraging others to have fun in bringing out their talent through singing and dancing.

What’s Been Happening?

This past two weeks, we have been practicing our sign language skills through greetings, storytelling, singing and having a simple conversation- sign language role playing for our upcoming Open Afternoon in Extend After School Care. Parents, teachers and students are all welcome to watch, interact and learn. Stay tuned for more updates about it in the next newsletter. We also had fun in our cooking activity, paper art craft and recycled bottle cap caterpillar craft. A highlight was making a stunning glitter globe which everyone enjoyed.

Extend holiday program is now open for bookings! Please visit : https://extend.com.au/parents/find-holiday-program/

Have a great weekend!

Liezel Menguito, Service Coordinator

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