Dear Parents and Carers,

Well, I feel like we are almost back to normal now. It’s wonderful to have all our students back. There’s been a real buzz of excitement around the school this week as they have caught up with their friends and teachers. The students are working very hard and we are noticing that after lunch they are starting to tire. We will continue to build their stamina over the next few weeks.

2022 School Fees

Catholic Education has taken careful consideration has been taken in reviewing the fees for 2022 to continue to support our school’s requirements while keeping increases manageable and fair for families in the current economic environment.

I can now advise you that in 2022, our fee for a single student will be $1080 per term.

This fee combines Tuition,School levies and Building Fund and will help to keep pace with rising salary and costs to ensure our school continues to deliver the quality education for our students that you would expect.

In 2022, sibling discounts for tuition fees will also begin reducing over three years to minimise overall fee increases.

Please see attached the schedule of fees for 2022 and the changes to sibling discounts for tuition fees.

As always, if fees create financial concern for you, I encourage you to make an appointment with me to discuss how we can help. It is a policy in the Archdiocese that no student should be refused enrolment, excluded or disadvantaged because their family is unable to afford fees. Any discussion on fees would be strictly confidential.

If you have any questions regarding school fees for 2022, please feel free to contact me.

COVID restrictions

Just a reminder that parents and visitors are not allowed on school grounds. Also, if your child is unwell, they are not to come to school. We need to do everything we can to keep our community safe.

Affirmations

At our morning assembly next Monday, we will present our Centred in Faith and Centred in Learning affirmations. We will do this at our morning assembly. Unfortunately, we are unable to have parents at this assembly.

Pens Against Poverty

We would like to congratulate Ava White (Yr. 6) on her award-winning poem, This Perfect Image of Poverty. Ava participated in the Pens Against Poverty Schools Writing Competition this year and received a “Highly Commended” prize for her poem. The panel of judges commented that her poem was an “evocative narrative poem portraying both hopelessness and hope.” Congratulations, Ava! We are so proud of you.

 This Perfect Image of Poverty

When I look in the mirror,

I see despair.

When I see my reflection,

Ragged clothes and messy hair.

And sometimes I wonder,

Who else sees me,

As a perfect image of poverty.

I wonder if they understand.

How hard I worked,

To get to this land.

And on that boat,

Across the sea

Who’d ever have thought this is where I would be?

This perfect image of poverty.

I have not a penny,

In this miserable life.

Memories of pain,

Of worry and strife.

And when I escaped,

I thought I was free.

But here I am,

A perfect image of poverty.

And my loyal companion,

Seems to be silence.

Never leaves my side,

Always with me here, hence,

I see myself,

As others must see me.

As a perfect image of poverty.

Once upon a time, I was happy and young.

My life was filled

With family and fun,

And on that boat,

I was told,

That I would thank them

When I grew old.

When that ship

Docked at the shore,

I thought I could never become this poor.

And yet here I am,

Cold and lonely.

A perfect image of poverty.

And my greatest desire,

Is for somebody kind.

Somebody selfless,

Who brings peace of mind.

Will someday be different,

I hope and I pray.

Someone might smile,

Perhaps maybe, today.

By Ava White

Yours sincerely,

Julie Wiley
Principal

Mini Vinnies

Miss Strmota and I met with the Mini Vinnies team at school on Friday. The focus for this term will be looking at how the team can support the vulnerable at Christmas; especially during COVID times when many are unwell or suffering economic hardship. We will again be supporting the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal. More details will be given to the students this week. We are also looking to reconnect with the residents at the Southern Cross Apartments through letter writing or the making of Christmas Art. 

Confirmation

Father Emil visited Year 6 on Friday afternoon to talk to the children about enrolling to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Enrolment took place on Sunday after Mass at St Thomas More’s Church. If you would still like your child to be involved please contact the Parish. All completed paperwork should be returned to the Parish. The celebration of the Sacrament is due to take place on Sunday 5th of December. 

60th Anniversary Cookbook

Our 60th Anniversary Cookbook is almost complete. While putting together the cookbook the Year 5 and 6 students reflected on the following quote from Pope Francis

“It is a cruel, unjust, and paradoxical reality that, today, there is food for everyone and yet not everyone has access to it.”  2019

The students were asked to consider using sustainable practices while putting together their recipes. Here are some of the practices suggested by our students. Some of which I could certainly implement in my kitchen. 

 Kitchen 

• Close the fridge door quickly when collecting ingredients. 

• Measure ingredients carefully so you don’t waste food.    

• Only rinse cooking utensils/dishes if you really have to before putting them in the dishwasher.  

Recycling 

• To be sustainable when you finish your milk carton cut the thing around the top so it doesn't get around birds’  beaks . 

• Use a glass container instead of plastic ones.   

• Don’t buy ingredients in single use plastic bags/boxes.  

General 

• Grow your own food if you can,  you can save money and the planet. 

• Shop locally.  
• Reduce food waste.  

Composting  

• Since putting eggshells down the garbage disposal won’t do any good, you can compost them. Crush them and use them in your organic garden or as a slug and snail repellent.  

• You can put your ground coffee beans in your gardens as fertiliser. 

• Put foods scraps in your compost bin .

Yours in Christ,

Samantha Mance
Religious Education Coordinator 

Welcome back to Term 4! I hope all our children settle back into their classrooms.This Thursdays’ lunchtime craft will concentrate on preparation for Remembrance Day next week.I am hoping for a good turn out to help create poppies for our display.

Posting

If you are a defence family that will be posting out of Canberra at the end of the year and leaving St Thomas More’s could you please email myself or Mrs Ogden if you haven’t done so already. 

Please remember that I am here to assist you and your children in any way I can so please feel welcome to contact me on 6249 8869 or, alternatively, send an email to lisa.holl@cg.catholic.edu.au

Lisa Holl
Defence School Mentor

Ride Safely to School Week (RSTSW) – Week 6:

RSTSW is an initiative that gives schools the opportunity to reinforce safety messages around cycling while encouraging students to ride to school. These messages include road safety, bike maintenance and making sure you know if you’re safe to ride. Visit https://paf.org.au/ride-safely-to-school-week/ to find out more.

Competitions: We have organised two competitions for students to participate in during RSTSW, both competitions put students in the running to win a $300 Trek Bikes Voucher.

• Colouring In Competition: Colouring is available for download here. If students at home don’t have access to a printer you can upload this into paint applications/websites online.
• ABC Tight Bike Check Competition: Download the ABC Tight Bike Ride Check list and send a photo of you completing the check and going on a bike ride. This can be done as a class or at home individually.
• These competitions are our main priority to promote RSTS week, if you can only manage to do the minimum in terms of promotion – make it this.