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Dear Parents and Carers,
Class Placements 2022
The teaching staff and Leadership Team will soon begin the process of creating the class groups for next year (Yr. 3 to 6). When compiling classes, teachers are asked to take into consideration several factors; learning styles and abilities are of first concern; social challenges and special needs are also a high priority. To ensure the best learning environment for all, the teachers will determine which students should be together. This process takes many weeks. If you have a specific request regarding class placement that you would like to discuss with me, please contact me to set up a time to discuss the request. If you made a particular request last year, you would have to make a time with me again – the requests do not carry over from year-to-year. I do not take requests for specific teachers.
*There will be no change to class lists following our Step-Up afternoon in Week 11.
Swimming Program
A reminder - Please be advised that, due to COVID restrictions and our current lockdown, the scheduled Junior Primary swimming program cannot go ahead. School fees have been adjusted accordingly.
Summer Uniform
It is customary for our students to begin Term 4 by wearing their summer uniform. It is expected that all students will commence back at school with their full summer uniform.
Leaving St Thomas More’s
If you anticipate that your child will leave St Thomas More’s at the end of this year, could you please notify the Front Office. We need to begin planning for staffing and class configurations for 2022. Thank you to those who have let us know already, this is very much appreciated. Naturally, Year 6 parents need not respond to this request.
Yours sincerely,
Julie Wiley
Principal
Reader’s Cup- Year 5/6 Competition
Eight students from Year 5/6 will represent our school in the CBCA ACT Reader’s Cup Competition on the 10th November. This year, the event will be held virtually. Teams of four students together read a set of books, and then compete with other school teams to answer quiz questions from 5 novels. Readers Cup competitions challenge students to read widely, work collaboratively in a team and continue developing a love of reading.
Good luck to Leah Shoebridge, Ashlea Lewis, Ava White, Isabel Curcio, Hunter Johnston, Erin Gabbitas, Madeleine Butcher and Elise Clark.
3/4 Book Club
Leah Shoebridge, our school captain, has organised a Book Club for Year 3/4. The Year 5/6 weekly Book Club meetings were such a success in Term 2, and I am so pleased to be able to offer this opportunity to Year 3/4 during this remote learning period. We have had a great response with 16 students joining the club. Leah Shoebridge, Dominic Shoebridge and Ava White have offered to run the weekly meetings on Teams and have organised some fun and interesting activities centered around the selected book ‘The Train to Impossible Places’. I look forward to our very first meeting this Thursday at 10am. Happy reading Book Club team.
Book Returns & Borrowing
Next week, during remote Library lessons, I will show the students how to check their loans on Oliver. I would like them to find the titles at home in preparation for our return to school. Borrowing day will be every Monday. Just a reminder to pack returns and library bags for the first day back. I’m sure everybody is looking forward to borrowing a hard copy book!
Book Week
We have a date! Book Week will be celebrated in Week 9 (29th – 2nd Dec). Restrictions permit us to hold a parade with students only at this point, but we will let you know if the conditions change before the date. Unfortunately, the cake and bake stall cannot go ahead this year.
Author Visit: Wednesday 1st Dec All classes will attend writing workshops with Shelly Unwin.
Parade & Dress Up Day: Thursday 2nd Dec
Madeleine Reid
Librarian
I hope everyone has settled back into their schooling routines with ease. If you have any concerns about how your child/children will transition back into the classroom, please let know and I will try to assist you any way I can.
With the posting cycle coming up over the next few months, if you are posted away from Canberra, it would be great if you could drop me a line so we are able to say farewell to the children properly. It has been such a difficult year for the children and I hope to support you with the moving process as much as possible.
A reminder for those who started at St Thomas More’s Primary School this year on posting to the area, the Defence Education Assistance – Tutoring Support is available to Defence students who have moved school as a result of posting (applicable for up to 18 months after moving) and need additional services to help them meet the academic standards of the new school. The application and reimbursement processes for Defence Education Assistance are managed by the Defence Family Helpline and they can be contacted on 1800 624 608. If you would like any further information, I have included a link below which will take you to the DCO website, I am also happy for you to contact me.
Lisa Holl
DSM
Hi Parents!
Helping your child stay connected while at home…
Lockdown is a good opportunity to better connect with the people you live with. And while friends are important to children, lockdowns are a great time to strengthen family ties. Enjoy some family connection with meals around the table, play some games, chat, get active together, have fun! Young people are reporting they do value the extra family time.
Many children are reporting missing their school friends right now. Support your child in connecting with their friends via virtual spaces. At school children would connect socially with their friends during lunch and recess. Online technology can help replace these lost daily connections. More ideas for family wellbeing and staying connected can be found on https://raisingchildren.net.au/guides/coronavirus-covid-19-guide/lockdown-family-wellbeing
Lockdown may be a good opportunity to remind children about how to use technology in a responsible way. For information on online safety see https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/resources
Start planning for social events for when restrictions ease…
Sarah Foley
School Counsellor