Dear Families,

Listening to the news over the last few weeks, I am ever grateful we live in Canberra and surrounds. Over the weekend, the ACT government announced further easing of restrictions for the ACT so we can begin to enjoy some of those things we have missed over the last few months.

COVID Update
Catholic Education in consultation with the Department of Education and Department of Health are continuing to monitor the situation and adjust advice to schools accordingly. Earlier this term, I sent a letter home to families outlining what these restrictions would look like for our school. I have attached the roadmap for your reference. We are currently in stage 2.2.

200731_COVID_19_Roadmap_for_the_Easing_of_Restrictions.pdf

200731_COVID_19_Roadmap_for_the_Easing_of_Restrictions _pdf 130.95 KB

Regular updates can be found on the CE webpage via this link https://cg.catholic.edu.au/covid-19-information-and-updates/

Community Council
Our Community Council has continued to meet during this time via Zoom, and have been continuing to provide support for the school during this time. Thanks to their efforts and your support, the Community Council has been able to buy resources for the school and fund a number of important initiatives, these include:

• Classroom Furniture
• Behaviour expert Ian Luscombe
• Concreting of the pick-up and drop area outside the hall
• Sunshine books
• Lioncrest readers
• Minilit literacy program
• Reading kits for classrooms

Thank you to everyone for your support. Unfortunately, we will not be able to hold a fete this year, however the Community Council are busily looking at other possible events for students and the community.

Survey
An annual satisfaction survey of parents, students and staff will be conducted on behalf of all Catholic schools in the Diocese this term. The surveys are designed to gather feedback from parents, staff and students about our school and will be used to inform school improvement. Responses are confidential and individuals can not be identified. All families should have received an email with a link to the survey. If you have not received this link, please contact the front office. I would encourage all families to complete this survey so we know whether we are addressing your concerns and meeting your needs.

Hats
It is that time of the year when children are to wear their hats during playtime and sport. Hats are available for purchase at the office if required. Please ensure you label your child's hat.

Mrs Kaden’s Baby
It seems that in amongst all of the busyness returning to face-to-face teaching, we never formally announced the arrival of baby Archie. Archie Kaden arrived on the 25th June. Mum and bub are doing very well.

Thank you from the Principal of Good Shepherd for supporting the Vinnies Sleepout
At the end of last term, a number of Principals participated in the St Vincent de Paul Sleepout. Our school decided to support this event by sponsoring all of the ACT Catholic Primary Principals who took part in the sleepout. Mr David Austin, Principal at Good Shepherd sent this message to the STA community:

Thanks so much for your donation towards my sleepout. All money raised goes directly to Vinnies here in Canberra to assist with combating homelessness. It is awesome STA can do something to assist in helping this worthy cause.

You are fantastic!

Thank you to all those who supported this cause by sending in a gold coin on Hoodie and Beanie day.

God Bless

School Fees for Term 3 have been sent out.  We would like to reach out to those families who are struggling financially at this time. If you are struggling to pay your school fees, please contact Lee Black in the Front Office who can provide you with information on how to apply for a reduction of waiver. The fees committee is a very small group and your privacy is paramount, so any information you provide to support your application will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Issue 5 -  Orders Closed

Issue 6 Scholastic Book Club
is coming home soon with your child
Online orders for Issue 6 due by 6 September 2020

Scholastic now use online ordering.

No cash orders will be accepted at the Front Office for Scholastic Book Club.

The school will still get credits and the books will still be delivered to school for us to distribute, unless parents have requested they be delivered to their home.

Please download the INLOOP App
on your device or order from the online website.

https://mybookclubs.scholastic.com.au/Parent/Login.aspx

 Any questions please contact me via email ksligar@bigpond.net.au

An important update for SZapp has been released to accomodate for iPhones which have been intermittently receiving push notifications.

SZapp version 3.6.0 is available from the App Store now and we advise all iPhone users to install this version to ensure notifications are received correctly.

Users with automatic updates enabled on their device will recieve this update automatically.

School Banking will recommence in Week 1 of Term 3. 
Banking will take place on a Friday morning by one of our wonderful volunteers. 
Please have your Dollarmite books to the Front Office by Thursday each week.

The Beginning of August is Hats On For All of Us  
    
The beginning of August marks the start of the sun protection period for Canberra primary school settings, this is because we begin to witness daily UV levels climb to 3 and above every day, and whilst it may not be all day, it will be for part of the day in August ie lunchtime. ACT schools need to know what time to enforce sun protection each day and never rely on temperature to gauge sun protection times. 

Yes, August is still very cold in the nation's capital but it also signals Hats On Again for all Canberra primary schools and early childhood services.

Transport Canberra has worked closely with the school community and we are providing increased frequency and additional services for school students across Canberra.

As a new timetable is being introduced, there will be minor changes for all students travelling to and from school on public transport across Canberra from the first day of Term 3, 2020 (Monday 20 July 2020). 

In addition, Transport Canberra has made the following changes:

School special extended to St Thomas Aquinas Primary

• From Term 3, school route 1062 will be extended to make it easier for students from Dunlop and Fraser to use public transport to get to St Thomas Aquinas Primary.
• This service will run in both the morning and afternoon, and stopping at bus bays directly outside the school on Lhotsky St.
• There will be no changes to school route 1062.

Route information is available here.

All schools, parents and students can find out more about the specific changes by:

• checking the information packs for each school, which are online at transport.act.gov.au
• checking timetables for each route (including school specials), which are online at transport.act.gov.au
• calling 13 17 10.

Should you have any queries regarding your school service or regular route services servicing your school please call 13 17 10.

Community News is now located on our website.

Cyclabilities have places available.

AUGUST 2020
Congratulations to the following students who will be celebrating their birthday this month:

Samuel B;  Adeline B;  Atticus W;  Mason M;  Oscar C; Joshua L-B;  Ari U;  Toby B;  Skylar F;  Matilda P;  Blayde O;  Liam B;  Zoey M;  Sophia H;  Eleni M;  Will M;  Tyler E;  Lachlan B;  Summer P;  Tyler F;  Michael P;  Vrishab G;  Alex B;  Layla B;  Sea C