Dear Families,

This week you will have an opportunity to talk with your child/ren’s teacher about their learning progress so far. We know this year has been a difficult one for many, especially with the number of absences experienced by some families. Some students may receive an N/A for their assessment, while others may not have been able to demonstrate their learning fully or have had an opportunity to fully consolidate new knowledge, and so they may receive a lower mark than they usually would have. The teachers have struggled over grading this year, but have used all of the information they have available to make an balance judgement. Reports will be available to view on Compass at COB next Monday.

Vinnies CEO Sleepout
Once again I am taking part in the St Vincent de Paul CEO Sleepout, along with a number of my principal colleagues and the Director of Catholic Education, Ross Fox.  I will be sleeping outside, with only a sheet of cardboard as my mattress, at the National Portrait Gallery this Thursday. I am sure it will be cold and uncomfortable, and a far cry from my comfortable, warm bedroom at home.

Last year, this sleepout spurred on Year 3 students to find out more about homelessness and what they could do to help. They invited the makers of the Big Issue to talk about how their magazine provides not only an income, but purpose and social interaction through the selling of this magazine. Year 3 then created their own “Little Issue” magazine as a way of understanding the process the creators go through and to raise awareness of the plight of homeless people across Canberra.

I thank those families who have already so generously donated money to this cause. If you have not had a chance to make a donation, but would like to do so, please follow this link

https://www.ceosleepout.org.au/fundraisers/leahtaylor/canberra. 

We will be holding a hoodie and beanie day on Friday 24th June (the day following the sleepout) to raise money for this important cause. Students who are participating in this day are asked to bring in a gold coin. If you follow our facebook page I’ll be posting videos and photos throughout the night.

Enrolments
While the enrolment period has officially closed we still have some space available in kindergarten and preschool. If you know of families who are considering enrolling their child at St Thomas Aquinas next year and would like a tour of our beautiful school, please let them know they can still contact the front office to book a tour.

Preschool enrolment: https://staquinas.act.edu.au/elc-enrolment

Kindergarten enrolment: https://enrolments.staquinas.act.edu.au/act-primary-enrol

Take care and God bless

Yours in Faith

Leah Taylor
Principal