Dear Families,

Today we will be holding our first Learning Journey afternoon in four years. The students have been working very hard to prepare work for this afternoon and the teachers have been working hard to prepare their classrooms. We hope that this will be an enjoyable and informative afternoon where you will have an opportunity to talk with your child/ren about their learning.

This Thursday, Mrs Angela McDonald will receive the Teaching and Learning Primary School Teacher Award for Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn. Not only is Mrs McDonald an excellent teacher, she has also supported many teachers, not only in our Archdiocese, but also teachers across the country. Our teachers and students are very blessed to have Mrs McDonald here at St Thomas Aquinas and we are all so pleased that her efforts and passion is being recognised in this way. I am sure you will all join me in congratulating Mrs McDonald.

I would like to draw your attention to a family evening the School Community Council have organised on Monday 4th September. Dr Andrew Fuller will be presenting to families and staff at 6pm in the school hall. Supper will be provided as well as a copy of one of Dr Fuller’s books. Dr Fuller is a well-known clinical psychologist who specialises in supporting families and young people. His focus in our session will be ‘identifying and building on your child’s learning strengths’. Please check Compass and scan the code to RSVP for catering purposes. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible there.

Take care and God bless

August Birthdays

Samuel B, Indyah M, Chase M, Mason M, Karen F, Ari U, Frederick N, Matilda P, Liam B, Sophia H, Zoey M, Tyler E, Lachlan B, Summer P, Jaxson P, Michael P, Meghan S, Ashea K, Gabriella S, Erin H, Adeline B, Rabik B

The safety of all our students and families is of the upmost importance and as such we take concerns with road safety in and around the school grounds very seriously. 

As a reminder, the school crossing is operational between the hours of 8am & 4pm and/or while the flags are displayed. We ask that all drivers please take care around the crossing area at all times. In addition, the bus stop area near the crossing is operational in the afternoon and is therefore not to be used for parking. We would appreciate your assistance in not parking and leaving your vehicle in this space.

We have two disabled car spaces in our school carpark. These spaces are clearly marked with signage. We continue to have parents/carers who do not have a disability parking permit utilising these spaces. It goes without saying, but motorists without a disability permit should not park in disability parking spaces. Taking or interfering with a spot, even for a short amount of time, has real world consequences for those who really need them. Please support us and our community by only parking in these spots if you have the appropriate permit. 

As a reminder to families, school commences at 8:50am with our morning assembly. At this assembly important messages are given and reminders for the day. Lessons begin at 9am. It is essential that all students attend the morning assembly and are ready for the beginning of their learning day by 9am. We understand that there are occasions where students arrive after 8:50am however there has been a steady increase of students arriving shortly after 9am and therefore missing the important messages for the day and the beginning of their lesson. This is not only disruptive to the teacher and class but can also impact your child’s learning if arriving late on a regular basis. 

If children are arriving late, it is required that a parent sign their child in at the front office.

We appreciate your assistance and working with us for the benefit of all students.

Over the next several weeks students will be introduced to Ngunnawal vocabulary. This week students will be learning "Dhuniyay" meaning "talk". Thank you Miss Evans for continuing our learning of our Ngunnawal Country.

As many of you are aware, students at our school who require additional support are given a Personalised Plan (PP).  This plan is a collaboration between Diverse Learning, the Class Teacher and Parents as to the goals for the student and the adjustments and supports which are in place to help them reach these goals.  Dependent upon the level of support required, students receive a PP either four times or twice a year at specific times.

We would like to identify that we were able to send out PPs for students requiring more substantial adjustments at the beginning of the term but those with supplementary adjustments have not had their plans sent home this Semester yet.  At this stage we are unsure when we will be able to send these out as the system used to generate these reports is currently shut down for auditing purposes.  As soon as this system opens up again, teachers will be working on updating the plans and collaborating with parents about the goals, supports and adjustments being put in place now and for the remainder of the year

We are so excited to be holding the upcoming STA school disco.  It will be a wonderful opportunity for our students to come together, enjoy music, dance, and create lasting memories.    

To ensure a safe and respectful environment, we kindly request your cooperation in adhering to the following guidelines: 

• No Phones at the School Disco: We kindly ask that students do not bring their phones to the school disco. This measure is taken to encourage face-to-face interactions, enhance the overall experience, and prevent distractions during the event. 

• Respect Privacy- No Photos on Social Media: We understand the desire to capture special moments, but we emphasise the importance of respecting the privacy and safety of all children. We request that you refrain from taking photos of any children during the school disco and avoid posting any pictures on social media platforms. This ensures that everyone's privacy is protected and prevents any unintended consequences. 

• Encouraging Social Interaction: The school disco is a fantastic opportunity for your children to engage in face-to-face interactions with their peers. Dancing and socialising in a real-world setting can help build confidence, communication skills, and lasting friendships. 

By adhering to these guidelines, we aim to create a positive and enjoyable atmosphere for all attendees. We appreciate your understanding and support in helping us maintain a safe and respectful environment. Please discuss with your children the STA behaviour expectations. 

Thank you for your cooperation. We look forward to a fantastic school disco!  

Hard copies of the below invite are available at the front office if required

Hi, I am Sally, and I am the new counsellor at St Thomas.

I have been working in the community sector for 15 years. I have worked with children and families who have experienced trauma, sexual abuse, family violence, grief and loss and mental health issues. Previously coming to St Thomas, I worked for Marymead as the clinical lead in the post separation program.

Currently I work in my private counselling practice working predominantly with children and young people experiencing mental health issues.

I will be working at St Thomas in term 3, Thursday and Friday and term 4 Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. You might also see my therapy dog Summer, the beautiful golden retriever around.

I am located just past the front office. Please feel free to contact me via the main office or fill in a referral form online or from the front office if you need to access support. Alternatively, you can email me at sally.cox@mccg.org.au.

ANXIETY PROGRAM

Expressions of interest for term 4 being accepted for children in years 3 - 6. Beginning Wednesday week 1 of term 4.

The program will be run on-line over 10 consecutive weeks on Wednesday afternoons from 4pm. One parent is required to attend with their child at each session, two are welcome.

The following information explains what the Cool Kids program involves and who may find the program helpful.

About the Cool Kids Program

Cool Kids is a structured program that teaches children and their parents how to better manage a child’s anxiety. The program is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), involves the participation of children and parents, and focuses on teaching practical skills. Topics covered in the program include:

• Learning about anxiety
• Learning to think realistically
• Parenting an anxious child
• Facing fears using stepladders and
• Learning coping skills such as relaxation or problem solving.

The Cool Kids program was developed by Macquarie University over the past 25 years, has been translated into several languages and is used in clinics, schools and hospitals around the world. The program has undergone continual scientific evaluation and development to include the latest understanding of anxiety and its treatment. Current results indicate that most young people who complete the program show significant improvement. Following treatment, there are marked increases in school attendance, confidence, number of friends and involvement in extra-curricular activities and decreases in worry, shyness, fear and family distress.

How is the Cool Kids Program Delivered?

Cool Kids sessions will be run online by a clinical counsellor accredited to deliver the program.

The group program runs over ten weeks. Groups will include eight students and their parent/s.

Between sessions children will be asked to practice skills at home and at school and parental encouragement is a proven contributor to success.

Would my child benefit from Cool Kids?

The Cool Kids program is being offered to children whose main struggle is with anxiety. Cool Kids covers a broad range of fears and worries including:

Social fears: Kids who are shy and who worry about what others think of them. They avoid social situations, performing and often have difficulty making friends.

Specific fears: Fears of particular objects or situations like dogs, heights or water. The fear is so bad that they avoid situations where they might come across that fear.

Generalised anxiety: These kids are worriers. They worry about many different areas including schoolwork, competition, family, and anything new. They ask for reassurance and may feel sick, get headaches or have trouble sleeping.

Separation fears. Kids who worry that something bad will happen when separated from mum or dad. They often refuse to separate e.g. won’t go to school, sleep over at friends’ houses, or be left at home with a sitter.

Cool Kids is not suitable for children whose main problem is low mood, aggression, hyperactivity, oppositional behavior or if they are autistic.

What else is involved?

For your child to participate in Cool Kids you will be asked to complete a brief assessment. This will gather information about the concerns that you have for your child and will also include questionnaires for yourself and your child about thoughts, feelings and behaviour. The assessment will be used to determine if your child is likely to find Cool Kids beneficial. Additionally, after the program is complete you would be asked to complete the same assessment a second time so that we can track your child’s progress.

How to nominate your child

If after reading this information you would like your child to be considered for the program, please complete and return the attached Cool Kids Expression of Interest.

What Should I do if I Have Questions?

If you would like to discuss Cool Kids and whether your child would benefit from the program please email Cool Kids facilitator, Donna Spillman at donna.spillman@mccg.org.au or text/call 0498 460 086