Filter Content
Dear Parents and Carers,
Today is Ash Wednesday and it marks the beginning of Lent. At Mass today we all received the ashes (a cross) on our forehead. The Season of Lent brings with it an opportunity to re-charge and prepare for the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the past, Lent has been a time to “give up” something, as a personal expression of faith. This is still the case today; however, we ask our students to use Lent as a time for deep prayer, almsgiving, community service and fasting from treats. It’s an opportunity to reconnect with God for “forty days and forty nights”.
I would like to introduce you to our School Community Council for 2019:
Chair | Mrs Margaret Deerain |
Principal (ex-officio) | Mrs Julie Wiley |
Parish Priests (ex-officio) | Fr Emil Milat |
Fr Josh Scott | |
Deputy Chair/Treasurer | Mrs Lee Kormany |
Secretary | Mrs Bek Richardson |
Parent Contact Coordinator | Mrs Sonia Skinn |
Staff Representatives | Ms Nicole Mikkonen |
Mrs Pam Sixsmith | |
Parent Representatives | Mr Michael Castrission |
Mr Daniel Johnston |
I would like to thank the SCC for serving our community in this important capacity.
Holy Faith Hall Lobby/Corridor Area
We had a representative from Catholic Education and a builder out last Friday afternoon to look at the water-damaged walls in our hall foyer/entrance area. The outcome was that there needs to be some investigative work done to source the leak. Once this has been ascertained it will be fixed and renovated. The area will also be re-painted, with new flooring, etc. This work will be covered by your Building Fund contributions. I am hoping the works will commence in the next school holidays.
Sport Uniforms
There has been a bit of confusion around sport uniform days due to a couple of Rugby Clinic make-up lessons. From here on in, students are to wear their sport uniform every Wednesday and Friday.
Toilets
I have noticed some parents, on occasion, are using the kid’s toilets at pick up time. You are very welcome to use the staff toilets – we have one near the front office.
Congratulations
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Mrs Liz French on securing a position at Canberra Girl’s Grammar. This is a wonderful opportunity for Liz. I would like to thank Liz for everything she has done during her time at STM – the opportunities our students have experienced in her role as the Teacher Librarian and The Arts teacher. I wish Liz all the best at her new school.
Yours sincerely,
Julie Wiley
Principal.
One Community
in God’s Love
WE are a Community of PEACEMAKERS
Welcome to Week 5.
Today our school community attended Ash Wednesday Mass to commence the Liturgical Season of Lent. The ashes we receive on our forehead remind us that during Lent we try to follow Jesus and spend more time in prayer.
Some reflections on LENT from our Year 5 students:
Frances: It is a time for your family and to show support through loving and kind actions.
Isabelle: It is a time to give love, kindness and charity to those who need extra care.
Tahli: We are asked to spend less time on our gadgets and more time with your family and to give to the poor.
Faith: Lent is a time to focus on the good things in life and show gratitude or what you do have and not what you don’t have.
Veer: We are asked to give up something special and to spend more time with family, friends and Jesus.
Sora: We are called to spend less time on devices and more time with family. Family is important.
Cameron: Lent is a time to give up special treats and donate the money to people who are in need. We are asked to focus on giving our time to others.
Rex: It is a time for giving and spending more time with your family; giving to charity and fundraising for the poor communities.
Ashlin: Lent is a time to give up the distractions like devices, treats and noisy activities and spend time in Christian Meditation and with your family.
Alice: It’s a time to give up activities that take our time away from helping others like our family, friends and the community.
Thomas: We are invited to follow Jesus more and be people of PEACE.
Ethan: Lent means to give up special treats and donate the money to the poor.
Timothy: It is a time to help others in our community.
Annabelle: It is a time for deeper reflection on how we are living our life and to focus more on Jesus.
Lent reminds each of us to slow down, reconnect with our family and importantly, spend time in prayer. It is also a time to be grateful for the simple things in life.
One way of showing gratitude is to be mindful of how fortunate we are, where we have access to basic needs such as food, water and electricity.
Caritas Australia’s Lenten fundraiser ~ Project Compassion, is working towards providing these resources to many people who live below the poverty line, including people within Australia.
The theme for 2019 Project Compassion is ~ Give LENT 100%
Project Compassion boxes have been sent home this week and will be collected at the end of Term 1.
I wish you all a peaceful start to the school year.
Donna Victory
Religious Education Coordinator
Year 5 Prayer Assembly
When: Friday, 8th March
Time: 9:00am
Where: Holy Faith Hall
All families are welcome!
Date for your diary – Friday, 12 April 2019 (Week 10) - Anzac Day Liturgy
St Thomas More's Anzac Day Liturgy will be held Friday, 12 April 2019 (Week 10) commencing 9am in Holy Faith Hall. Parents are warmly invited to attend and commemorate this special Centenary Year.
Defence School Mentor Meeting
All Defence School Mentors in the Canberra region attended a meeting on Tuesday 5 March 2019 chaired by the new Education Liaison Officer (EDLO), Brooke James. Having a new EDLO for our region is excellent news for the management of the DSM Program and ultimately in supporting the educational needs of children of mobile Defence Families. Three guest speakers at the meeting were Katherine Reeves. Community Centre Coordinator from Duntroon Community Centre, Emma Steil from Defence Families Australia and Nicola Scully from Kookaburra Kids, each promoting how their organisations support Defence Families. Clare from Defence Special Needs Support Group (DSNSG) was also present. Information from these organisations is summarised below:
Duntroon Community Centre (DCC)
DCC is for Defence and non-Defence families of the greater Canberra region. The centre has excellent facilities available for members. Programs include 3 year old Playschool (currently accepting enrolments), playgroups, community events, craft groups, short courses and social activities. Upcoming First Aid Training is offered to both members and non-members Saturday, 23 March 9am – 3pm. The centre also loan ski outfits and cake tins to members.
Contact details:
Website https://www.duntrooncommunitycentre.org.au/
Phone 6265 9411
Email admin@duntrooncommunitycentre.org.au
Address Gymkhana Road, Duntroon PO Box 7915 Canberra BC ACT 2610
Hours Mon–Fri 9am-2.30pm
Defence Families of Australia
Defence Families of Australia have National Delegates located across
Australia near most major bases who know their communities and can advocate for you at a local level. The National Delegate for ACT and Southern NSW is Emma Steil. If you would like to have your say on an issue or if you have been unsuccessful in resolving a concern through either your local relevant channels or national channels contact Emma on act.sthnsw@dfa.org.au.
Kookaburra Kids
Kookaburra Kids Foundation run a program for Defence kids aged 8–18 years who have a parent with a mental illness as a result of their military service (serving and ex-serving or spouse). Their Activity Days provide children with an opportunity to participate in activities, meet new friends, learn new skills and have fun. Upcoming Activity Days are planned for 27 March and in the April School Holidays. For more information see www.kookaburrakids.org.au . To register, contact Nicola Scully on 6109 0408 or nicola.scully@kookaburrakids.org.au.
Defence Special Needs Support Group (DSNSG)
The Defence Special Needs Support Group is a non-profit benevolent volunteer organisation providing support, information, assistance and advocacy for all ADF families who have a dependant (child, spouse or other dependant) with special needs. For more information, visit http://dsnsg.org.au/ or contact Coordinator, Claire Macfarlane-Rowles, canberra.north@dsnsg.org.au/ or canberra.south@dsnsg.org.au or 0415 737 116
ForceNet
ForceNet is a Defence e-communications platform. Family User registration is now available via app and desktop. For further information and/or to apply to register, follow link https://www.forcenet.gov.au/ .
Feel welcome to visit or contact me on 6249 8869 or send an email to sonja.mingay@cg.catholic.edu.au .
Sonja Mingay DSTA
Work hours: Mon-Wed 9am-3pm, Thu 9-11am
Community Breakfast
It was a great turn out for the St Thomas More’s Community Breakfast on Friday of Week 3. I hope all who could come were able to meet and chat with other parents and teachers and enjoy the food and friendly service of our super Mini Vinnies Team. We are so lucky with the good will and good spirit in our community at St Thomas More’s. Very special thanks to the volunteers who helped with setting up and cleaning up.
Mini Vinnies
On Friday of Week 4, Mini Vinnies held our Commitment Ceremony. Thanks to Wesley Raymond, Youth Liaison Officer from St Vincent de Paul, who came and presented 34 children with certificates. He spoke to us about Mini Vinnies being people who look to help others through action.
Our next Mini Vinnies meeting will be Friday Week 6, 15 March. We will capture all our great ideas of how we can help others and work out our next focus.
Feel welcome to visit or contact me on 6249 8869 or send an email to sonja.mingay@cg.catholic.edu.au .
Sonja Mingay
School Chaplain
Work hours: Thu 11am-3pm, Fri 9am-3pm
St. Thomas More’s
Sporting Club Affiliations for 2019
I am excited to bring you news of St. Thomas More’s affiliation with some exceptional local sporting clubs for 2019 and beyond.
My name is Daniel Johnston and I represent the STM School Council, and the wider STM community, in which I have taken on the informal role of sporting club liaison.
Over the Christmas break we made contact with two premier clubs in Canberra to discuss and establish a partnership with the hope to provide an easier path into social sports and encourage our community to play and socialise together outside of the school environment. We see this as an opportunity to leverage off the outstanding sports programs that have been integrated into the STM curriculum. It will ensure that our budding young sports stars have default clubs that they are ensured a spot with and that will continue to grow in our children the values that we instil at STM.
The two clubs that we are now affiliated with are:
- Ainslie Football Club – AFL
- Uni-Norths Owls – Rugby Union
We also have a number of our families involved with a soccer club which provides another option to build the STM profile in the community. The clubs cater for all age groups and skill levels and welcome children and families that are new to the sports. At these younger ages both sports offer a fun, safe and inclusive environment with minimal contact and a primary focus on the rules and skills of the game rather than winning and losing.
The school is very supportive of these partnerships and encourage any parents who wishes to become involved to make contact and see how they can help out. We are hoping that we have strong representation from STM at the clubs; parents with a desire to coach or manage are a great addition to that representation.
Both of the clubs are currently taking registrations for the 2019 season and there is no closing date. There is also community announcements and events coming up that families can get along to and enjoy a day out and get to know the clubs and the sport a bit better. You should be able to find information on these and the registration process at the links below.
https://www.ainsliefootball.com.au/
https://owlsrugbyjuniors.com.au/
If you would like further information or would like to express your interest in getting involved please contact myself or Julie Wiley.
I look forward to seeing familiar faces around the clubs.
Daniel Johnston
STM Welcome BBQ & Movie Evening
21 March 2019
When: Thursday 21 March, 6:00pm to 8:00pm.
Where: A movie (TBA): will be shown in the hall starting from 6:30pm. The BBQ will be set up near the play equipment. Children and families not watching the movie are welcome to enjoy the play equipment or simply being outside to enjoy the weather.
What food will be there: There will be a BBQ with sausage sandwiches and popcorn and juice poppers for sale. Families are welcome to BYO food and drinks as well.
How much does it cost? No charge for entry, sausage sandwiches $2:00, packets of popcorn $1:00 and poppers/bottles of water $1:00.
What to bring? Some cash if you want to buy food and children can bring a rug or cushion to sit on the floor in the hall.
What to wear? Kids are welcome to wear their PJs or just come as you are.
To help with catering, please complete and return to the school:
Family Name: _______________________________
Yes, we will be coming to the welcome BBQ/Movie evening: ----
Number of sausage sandwiches likely to purchase: ----
Number of packets of popcorn likely to purchase: ----
Bus transport Changes
Music Tuition
There are a few places available for piano lessons this term with Andrew Koll (BMus Hons) and Jaki Kane (BMus Hons).
Learning to play an instrument is a very rewarding pastime, and it also helps improve areas of learning such as literacy and pattern recognition, as well as developing qualities of discipline and perseverance.
If you would like more information, please email jakikane@hotmail.com or call Jaki on 0407007362.