Dear Parents & Carers, 

Please note that all students arriving after 9:00am must be signed in at the front office by an adult. Parents and carers are not permitted to walk students to classrooms after 8:50am. This is to ensure not only the safety of all students but also to minimise interruption to classes and students learning which commences at 9am. Further, parents are required to walk around the outside of the school building to the courtyard for collection at 3pm. Please do not enter the front office to cut through the school.

A friendly reminder that the school gates close at 9:00am. Please ensure that if you have parked on the tar at school drop off that your car is removed by 9:00am.

We greatly appreciate your assistance. 

Religious Life of the School

Staff Blessing

This Saturday, 24^th February, there is a special blessing of all the staff at St Thomas Aquinas Primary School and ELC at the 6:00pm Mass. All families are warmly invited to share in this eucharistic celebration and blessing of our staff.

Ash Wednesday

A huge congratulations to the children for their prayerful and reverent participation in our Ash Wednesday Liturgy of the Word and blessing with ashes. Around our school you will see signs that we have entered the Church season of Lent with our purple prayer cloths in classrooms and in our staffroom and entrance prayer spaces.

Lent

In classes across the school we have had many discussions about the season of Lent and how it is a time when we prepare for Jesus’ death and resurrection again at Easter. It is a time we reflect on how we can more consistently act as Jesus wants us to. We can give up things to help others and improve ourselves. We can fast from:

• unkind words,
• lollies,
• laziness,
• selfishness and
• treat foods.

We can feast on:

• giving money to charity,
• being generous in our time and our words,
• being kind to everyone even if we don’t really want to,
• doing extra chores at home just to be helpful
• daily prayer

What will you choose to fast and feast on this Lent?

Religious Curriculum

Spotlight on Year 4…

To start the year the students in Year 4 are learning about the Bible. We have learned that the Bible is more than a book, it is more like a bookshelf or a library with lots of different pieces of writing within it. The Old Testament is the sacred scripture we share with our Jewish forefathers in faith and speaks about God’s relationship with all people. The New Testament is much shorter and speaks of Jesus’ life, his teachings and how we must live as believers in Christ. The bible has historical narratives, creation myths, songs, poetry, laws, parables, genealogies, and letters. Each different type of writing needs to be read differently to get the true meaning out of it. We are very excited to learn how to find scripture passages using book, chapter and verse referencing!

Parish Life

Sacramental Program – A reminder that the very important formation session for parents and children is held this Saturday evening, 24^th February from 5:00pm in the Church. Families are encouraged to stay on to join the parish in celebrating Mass at 6:00pm. All families preparing for this sacrament of forgiveness should already be enrolled with the parish office. Please contact Bernadette or Sharon at the Parish Office if you have any questions. (02) 6258 1563.

Project Compassion

Thank you to everyone who is already working so hard to fill your moneyboxes for Project Compassion or who has registered online for this vital fundraiser. Please return these boxes as you fill them and all monies raised will go directly to Caritas to help those in need around our world.

Happy reading!
From Mrs Hind