Acting Principal's Report
Happy Week 4!
It has been a fast start to the term and things are only going to get busier as we race towards the end of the year. We only have 2 weeks until our school fete on the 16th of November and only 3 weeks until our school musical performance on the 26th November.
Families Leaving STA at the end of 2019
As planning for 2020 has commenced please advise us in writing, as soon as possible, if your child/children (other than Year 6 students) will not be returning to
St Thomas Aquinas next year.
Class Groups for 2020
While forming class groups we aim for an equal spread of both positive and challenging characteristics. Every care will be taken to ensure that your child is placed in the best situation to enhance learning and social development.
Much consideration and consultation occurs when forming our class groups. Teachers are highly professional and have the main responsibility for placing their current students in the most appropriate class for next year. Over the next two weeks, the teachers will be observing friendships to assist with class groupings.
As in previous years, parents are invited to discuss possible friends or people whom their child works well with. Today, I have sent a letter home asking parents and children to name three children with whom they would like to possibly be placed with next year. Please send your child’s requests back to their class teacher by Friday, 8 November 2019. When considering your child’s list, please involve your child in the discussion, ensuring that they have some input into the friends they wish to be with. St Thomas Aquinas guarantees one student from the list, and not necessarily the first choice.
Confidential concerns should be brought to my attention in writing, by Friday 8th November, even if raised in previous years. Please email me directly at carmen.myles@cg.catholic.edu.au. General concerns should be raised with your child's teacher. Parent concerns will be considered during the process. It must be clearly understood, however, that no definite guarantees can be given regarding parental concerns. As Acting Principal, I will make the final decision on all class placements. Late requests are very difficult to consider once groups are finalised so please ensure requests are returned on time.
Community Council Meeting Week 3
Last week our School Community Council met on Tuesday night.
Uniform Change: As part of this meeting the council discussed school uniform and a vote was taken to change from 2 jumpers to only 1 as part of our school uniform.
- Our school jumper will be the maroon polar fleece jumper. The navy blue polar fleece jumper will be phased out over the next 12 months so please do not purchase this jumper.
- The girls summer uniform, which currently includes the Royal Blue Shorts/Skort/Skirt, will be replaced with the Navy Blue Shorts/Skort/Skirt. This is in line with the boys Summer Uniform Colour.
Savvy have been informed of the change and will continue to sell remaining stock but we encourage you to purchase the maroon jumper which will be worn with summer, winter and sports uniforms for both boys and girls.
It is the hope of the council that this change will help to cut down on costs for families. We are sourcing sun hats to sell in the front office and will inform you when they are available and their price.
All children are encouraged to wear the correct school uniform at all times. Our second hand uniform shop has many items for sale at very cheap prices if you need to restock or purchase approved uniform items. There will be a second hand uniform stall at the fete.
STA Musical 2019
A reminder that our school musical will be on Tuesday 26th November, Week 7.
All students from ELC to Year 6 are involved in our extravaganza which will have a matinee performance in our school Hall at 12noon and an evening performance at 6:30pm to be held at St Francis Xavier College theatre.
Mrs Naomi Wicks our Arts teacher is working tirelessly with all staff to ensure our actors, singers and dancers from the ELC to Year 6 are well practised and prepared for the show. There will be more information to follow shortly outlining arrangements for the evening show at SFX.
ELC Information Night for 2020 Families
Tonight we will be hosting an Information Night in the ELC for new families joining us for the 2020 school year.
The session begins at 6:30pm and will be led by our ELC Director Maribel Cabezas and ELC teachers Carla Drayton and Elle Heenan.
Save the Date
The Kinder 2020 Parent Information Night will be held on Monday, 18th November at 6pm in the Library. On Wednesday 27th of November and Wednesday 4th of December, we will be holding our ELC and Kinder Orientation visits for new students joining us in 2020.
These sessions will run from 9:15am to 11am with students attending both Wednesday sessions. These families should have already received a letter in the mail with details of these days. If you have not, please contact the Front Office.
Parking
Families are reminded to please park legally when they are visiting St Thomas Aquinas for drop off and pick up. This includes not parking on the footpath and median strip next to our oval, not parking in the disabled carpark unless you have a designated permit and Ducklings Childcare Centre have also requested that our parents please do not park in their carpark and walk down to our school as this is causing them congestion with their own families not being able to access a carpark to pick up children from their centre.
Thank you very much to all of the families who are utilising our ‘Drive-Thru’ pick up in the afternoons. This system is flowing smoothly and with the roadworks finished is a very quick process. Staff are able to supervise students and ensure they are safely crossing the road or being picked up. Asking your child to wait at the play equipment or another unsupervised area is not only dangerous but putting us at risk as the students are still under our duty of care.
Temporary Fencing on our Oval
I have been following up with Catholic Education in recent weeks in regards to the temporary fencing on our school oval which was erected in May this year.
Catholic Education arranged for the installation of the temporary fencing as a precautionary measure while our soils are tested. Staff from Catholic Education and the ACT Government Environment and Protection Authority will visit the school this week to advise us if any further remediation action is required.
I will keep you updated of any developments.
God bless and have a good week,
Carmen Myles
Acting Principal