Dear Families,

Despite the disruption to the beginning of this year, students are settled and learning. Last year we introduced ‘Daily Review’ into Mathematics lessons in Kindergarten, Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5. This year we have expanded this practice across all year levels in the primary school. Daily review of concepts previously taught prevents students from forgetting content over time, this process of forgetting is called - funnily enough - the forgetting curve. You may have caught yourself saying ‘but you learnt that last year’, I know I certainly hear teachers saying, ‘but I taught them that already, and they knew when I tested them!’. We may even remember back when we were at school or university, cramming for an exam and then almost instantly forgetting it as we walked out of the door. Our aim with daily review is to make it so students move new information from their short term memory into long term memory. During this period of a large number of students being away for periods of time, the Daily Review also means that students do not ‘miss’ content because they are away, because teachers will revisit content again and again.

Tomorrow marks Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Catholics often think about what we can give up during this time, but Lent is not just a time for giving things up. The Council for Catholic School Parents reposted a Facebook post from the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney listing things Catholics can add during Lent, these include:

1. Each day tell your child something that makes them unique
2. Volunteer
3. Go to a weekday Mass
4. Say three nice things about your husband, wife, siblings, parents, colleagues and kids daily
5. Be kind
6. Donate things you don’t need to charity
7. Replace 30 minutes of TV/computer/phone time with 30 minutes of prayer/quiet time
8. Don’t complain
9. Don’t buy anything that you don’t need
10. Remember Jesus is the Reason for the Season

Staffing
Year 6 Green families were informed yesterday that Ms Sharne Vickers will be leaving us at the end of next week. Ms Vickers will be taking up a position at The Anglican School from Monday 14 March. I know Ms Vickers has been a much loved part of St Thomas Aquinas and we wish her well for her new adventure.

Mask Wearing
While mask wearing requirements are easing across the ACT, the requirement to wear masks in school and childcare settings, including the ELC, is not changing. If you are entering the ELC grounds or the school, all people over 12 years old (except students of St Thomas Aquinas) are required to wear masks. We also strongly encourage students in Year 3-6 to wear masks. As you are aware, we do have active cases of COVID in the school and mask wearing is one way of reducing the risk for your child.

Hats
We are beginning to see a large number of students who are coming to school without a hat. As a SunSmart School we require all students to have a hat on in order to be able to play in the sun. In the past we have allowed students who have forgotten to bring their hat to play in the shade, however with the large number of children coming to school without a hat this is no longer possible. Please check that your child has a hat each day. If you need to purchase a hat, school hats are available at the front office for $15.

Take care and God bless

Yours in Faith

Leah Taylor
Principal

	Chair: Vice Chair: Treasurer: Secretary: Fete Committee: Parent Representative: Parent Representative: Teacher Representative:	Loryn Reynolds Amelia Swinbourn Kirsten Clark-Drance Natasha Williamson Stacey Campbell Max Urack Aurora Lukass Michael Prosper
Please contact the SCC via email:  sta.school.community.council@gmail.com

We have a preloved clothing pool which is run by a school volunteer and is open on Monday mornings between 8:30am - 9:00am and Wednesday afternoons between 3:00pm - 3:30pm during even weeks.  Preloved uniforms can be purchased for $5 per item and are available for St Thomas Aquinas students only.  To visit the clothing pool outside these hours, please contact the Front Office to make these arrangements.

Introducing Vrushali Bafna

Hello and Welcome Back!! I hope that you and your family had a relaxing summer vacation. My name is Vrushali, and I am thrilled to be the new counsellor at St Thomas Aquinas!

I wanted to take a few moments to tell you about me. I am a qualified Social Worker and have been working with families for over four years in different roles across the sector. I have worked with children and youth to promote social emotional learning, emotional regulation, problem solving skills, self-esteem and resilience to name a few. I have also worked with women and their families experiencing homelessness and/or at the risk of homelessness, domestic violence, family and relationship challenges and separation. Passionate about fostering student and family wellbeing through empathy, shared understanding and unconditional positive regard, I endeavour to work in partnership with students, parents, carers, and teachers while upholding strengths-based, child-centred practices to promote holistic wellbeing.

My hope is that this school year will be a fun year filled with learning, growth and lots of new adventures. I cannot wait to get to know you, your family, and most importantly your child! I will be at school Every Monday, Tuesday, and second Wednesday (odd week).

If you would like to refer your child to the service this year, please contact your child’s teacher or referral forms can be obtained from the front office. If you have any questions about school counselling service, please feel free to contact me via email -  vrushali.bafna@catholiccare.cg.org.au.

Community News is located on our website.

Please view the Parish Newsletter - 26-27 February 2022

OSHClub provide before and after school care in our school hall.  If you need to drop off your child before 8:30am and pick them up after 3:15pm, we advise that you use the services provided by OSHClub.  Please see information below:

BRAINways EDUCATION in conjunction with the Australian Catholic University – Canberra, is pleased to offer Academicus – workshops for gifted and talented students of Canberra

Below is the list of workshops being offered.

Programs offered for students in year levels 2-4:

The Mathematics of Zebra Patterns
Rocket Science
Amazing Archaeology for Kids
A Headline Act: Writing the Headlines

Programs offered for students in year levels 5-8:

Predicting the Future with Maths
When Good Turns Evil: Frontiers in Medicine
The Big Dig: An Introduction to Archaeology
From Pigeons to Facebook: Communication Philosophy

If you wish to nominate your child please follow the following links. 

Academicus - Nomination Letter
Program Information for years 2 - 4
Program Information for Years 5 - 8

CANTEEN

The Canteen is open from Wednesdays to Fridays - for the first 10 minutes of each break.  We sell a limited selection of healthy canteen approved chips and ice blocks.

SUBWAY

Parents and staff are able to place Subway Orders Online.  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

Subway Lunch Orders can also be made, via Subway Envelope, at school.  Subway envelopes, including cash, need to be placed in the Lunch Order Subway box, located outside the Front Office,  by 9:30am on the day before the lunch is required.  For example, if you would like a lunch order on Wednesday, the lunch order needs to be manually submitted by Tuesday 9:30am.

Here is a sample of the Subway ordering envelope.  Envelopes are available from the Front Office or the classroom.

MARCH 2022
Congratulations to the following students who will be celebrating their birthday this month:

Sebastian C, Zach B, Henry B, Zeke F, Molly WS, Levi W, Sofia A, Marian R, Isaac R, Aseem H, Jayson T, Aarav S, Aryan S, Krystof M, Samuel A, Ruby R, Ellie H, Layne M, Cameron C, Astrid F, Travis GT, Laurence GT, Amboz B, Zara B, Ashlyn T,
Kupakwashe M, Sofia A, Archie W, Maxine M, May R