Dear Families,

This week I will be attending the Catholic Leaders day and Principals Retreat in Bowral. On Wednesday Principals work with Senior Officers at Catholic Education and experts in the Science of Learning to further develop Catholic Education’s plan for Teaching and Learning across the Archdiocese. Our retreat, held over Thursday and Friday, will be on the themes inner and prophetic leadership. Carmen Myles will act in my absence.

As we enter autumn we will start to see cooler mornings but still have the beautiful sunny days Canberra is known for. Many children will take off their jumpers mid game on the oval and leave them behind once the bell goes. Teachers do gather the jumpers at the end of each break, but if they don’t have names on them, it is very hard to get them back to their rightful owner. Any labelled items of clothing will be returned, but anything without a name will stay in lost property for a week, before being washed and put into our second hand uniform pool. So, please label all clothing so we can return it to your child. If you do need to buy additional jumpers, or other uniform items, we currently have a very healthy supply of almost everything.

On Tuesday and Wednesday next week we will hold 10 minute goal setting meetings with parent and students. This is also a good time for teachers to talk about what they are noticing about your child’s learning in the classroom and parents to talk about the specific learning needs for your child. Instructions on how to book these meetings are in this newsletter. Please take a few moments to log in to book in a time to meet with your child’s teacher. This can also be done through the sZapp tiles. Due to COVID measures, most parents will be asked to wait outside the external door of your child’s classroom for your meeting. Year 2 and 3 Blue parents will wait inside the main building near your child’s classroom. If you are a parent of a child in Year 2 or 3 Blue, we ask that you only enter the main building just prior to your allocated time and leave as soon as your meeting is over. We will post the CBR app at the entry to each classroom.

One benefit of COVID for many parents was the introduction of before school drop-off and the cementing of end of day pick-up procedures. Many parents have commented on how convenient this is and how they appreciate teachers supervising and assisting this drop-off and pick-up. We know that some of you prefer to drop your child to the courtyard. If you do this we ask that you are mindful of where you are parking so as not to put children who are being dropped off in danger. If you are parking we ask that you use the gravel car park first. If the gravel car park is full then you may park on the basketball courts on the side furthest from the school building or in front of the cricket nets. Please do not park on the basketball courts closest to the school building. We also ask that those parents who arrive early not drive onto the basketball courts until after 2.50pm. The basketball courts are still used for sport lessons until this time. And remember, the speed limit is 10km/h as soon as you enter the driveway.

God Bless

On Tuesday and Wednesday next week we will hold 10 minute goal setting meetings with parent and students. This is also a good time for teachers to talk about what they are noticing about your child’s learning in the classroom and parents to talk about the specific learning needs for your child. All families will receive a Compass Alert today allowing you book a session with your child's teacher.

Goal Setting Meetings will be available from 3pm to 7pm on Tuesday 21st  February & Wednesday 22nd February from 8am-8:40am & again on Wednesday from 3pm-6pm

Please note times may vary for each teacher depending on availability.

STA is participating in the Chief Minister's Reading Challenge for 2021.  All students at STA are encourage to participate.  The Challenge runs from 24 February 2021 to 6 August 2021.

Please find attached current information regarding the Year 6 Camp at Fitzroy Falls from 15 to 17 March 2021.  Please note the change in departure time.  It is now 7:30am and not 8:00am.  Please ensure you complete the online camp registration by the end of February 2021 via this link here .  The Code is student.

St Thomas has a new collaboration with Marymead Child and Family Centre - A new school counsellor/family worker is joining us.

Introducing Al Robinson

Al has been working with children and families at Marymead for the past 4 years. He is a qualified counsellor, specialising in adult/child relationships and problems experienced within family systems and other systems too. Al has also worked with: men experiencing anger problems, relationship breakdown and homelessness; parents and families experiencing domestic/family violence; parents in high conflict post-separation; supporting kids and carers in Out of Home Care.

When a kid is having a hard time, Al likes to help by taking the time to hear what's going on, and then by working in any space that needs it – with the child, the people in their home, the classroom teacher, or anyone else that can get involved and respond to make a difference.

The first thing you’ll notice about Al is that he’s quite tall, and nearly all his hair has disappeared. This is because he grew so fast that he grew taller than his own hair. Al hopes to shrink a bit one day and get some of it back.

Al has a bunch of kids of his own, nearly all grown up now, and a couple of beautiful young grandchildren too. Al used to be a music teacher and a tradesman. Al loves music, soccer, AFL, art (although he’s not so good at drawing), dogs, cats, woodwork, bushwalks, and camping.

All kids, parents and teachers are encouraged to approach Al and introduce themselves. Al is always happy for a chat. He will be at the school 2- 3 days each week.

If you would like your child to see Al, please contact your child’s teacher or the front office for a referral form.

Student Information Checklists

• Please return completed forms to the Front Office as they are now overdue.

2021 Medical Information and Consent Form

• Please return the completed 2021 Medical Information and Consent Forms to the Front Office as they are now overdue.
  
  
• If your child requires medication at school, please provide the following in a bag:
  • Medication - please ensure that this medication does not expire during the school year.
  • Form 1 - Request to Dispense Medication during School Hours  to authorise the school to administer medication.  We are unable to dispense medication unless this form has been signed.
  • Health Care Plan - if required
    
    
• As per the CE Medical Welfare of Students Policy, an individual health care plan must be developed and be approved by a qualified medical practitioner for any student:
  • diagnosed with severe asthma; type 1 diabetes; epilepsy or anaphylaxis
  • diagnosed as being at risk of an emergency, or
  • who requires ongoing administration of health care procedures.

School Subway Orders can now be placed online.

Parents and staff of the school can click on the link below to place an order and payment as well. 

Cut-off time is 9:15 AM for same day delivery. Call on 02 6259 9101 to place your order after this time

MARCH 2021
Congratulations to the following students who will be celebrating their birthday this month:
Lincoln L; Ellie H;  Ashlyn T;  Izak V;  May R; Chloe M;  Jack K;  Levi W;  Sofia A; Evamaria P;  Aseem H;  Aarav S;  Aryan S;  Krystof M;  Maeve S;  Samuel A;  Ruby R;  Layne Mc;  Cameron C;  Astrid F;  Aiden H;  Ambox B;  Zara B;  Alessandra M;  Sofia A;  Archie W;  Maxine M

The Cancer Council's current advice on sunscreen:

• parents are reminded that sunscreen should be applied at home before leaving for school; 
• students are reminded and encouraged to bring their own SPF30 or higher broad spectrum water resistant sunscreen to school;
• STA has sunscreen in all classrooms for students to use throughout the day, in particular before participating in outdoor activities; and 
• students are encouraged to apply sunscreen themselves during the day.  Parents should inform the school in writing if they do not wish for this to happen. 

Please see below, the Sunscreen Information Sheet provided by the Cancer Council.

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