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Dear Parents and Carers,
It is with great sadness that I inform you that Mr Dean Herpen, father of James, Luke (Yr 6) and Daniel (Yr 3) passed away last Friday evening. Dean has been a regular visitor to our school, helping out in Yr 3/4 and Yr 5/6. When visiting the front office to sign in we were always greeted with a happy, funny and generous spirit. Dean was a loving father and enjoyed spending time in the classroom. He was never too embarrassed to join in with “brain break” which required dance moves, and any other adults in the room were encouraged to participate!
Fr Josh, myself and the teachers talked to the Yr 3 to Yr 6 children and offered our support and guidance. If you feel your child needs some extra support at his time, the school counsellor or Sonja Mingay, in her role as Chaplain, is available. And, of course, I am always available to meet with students and parents.
Dean will be greatly missed by staff, students and the wider STM community. Our prayers and thoughts are with Melanie and the boys at this time.
Give him eternal rest, O Lord,
and may your light shine on him for ever. Amen.
Hats Off!
Many years ago, Cancer Council ACT declared the end of May as “Hats Off Day” to assist Canberra schools and early childhood services with their sun safe policies. As a result of this we now no longer encourage students to wear their hats in June and July; this will aid with their vitamin D requirements.
Holy Faith Hall
The leak has been identified! We are currently working on the repair and replacement programme, as well as the costings. Once pricing has been obtained, the work will most probably be staged. Hopefully this will start soon.
Cross Country
Congratulations to all the students who participated in the PSSA Cross Country at Mt Stromlo. Thank you for participating with such spirit! Thanks also to Mrs Pam Sixsmith for supporting the students today in such testing weather conditions!
Yours sincerely,
Julie Wiley
Principal.
XPLORE MORE-
Today I will introduce you to the next phases of XPLORE MORE. This model is used in our Religious Education Curriculum, in HASS (History, Geography, Civics and Citizenship, Economics) and in Science throughout Kinder to Year 6.
During this phase, teachers guide the students to explore the questions they have asked, or additional questions they have based upon what they have found out during the DISCOVER phase. Often their discoveries result in more questions being asked and may even lead the class in a new direction. Teachers may also use this time to redirect the investigations and thinking, refer back to the questions posed and assist students to interpret their research. Additional sources of information may also need to be explored to provide more information and food for thought.
Teachers guide students to reflect on their learning and this is an important part of the process. With reflection, we value what we have learned, what skills we have developed, and how we have managed as a learner. It is essential we reflect on why this learning matters and what we will do with this new learning.
This is the time we act on our discoveries, our explorations and our learning. We make connections between our prior knowledge and our new understandings. Teachers provide options for students to share, express and present what they have explored and learned. This could be an action they will now undertake, an alternative way of doing something, or it can be about how your thinking has now changed.
I will take this opportunity to remind you again of our VISION- At the heart of XPLORE MORE is our capacity to be CENTRED IN LEARNING. At all stages of XPLORE MORE, teachers are the guide and mentor. Explicit teaching of concepts and skills, as outlined in the Australian Curriculum, occurs every day at St Thomas More’s to meet student needs and to support our School Vision of Teaching and Learning Excellence. Teachers bring their students back to be Centred In Learning and to think about what and how they have learned. Being Centred in Learning helps us to grow as learners, active citizens and members of a community.
READ-MORE-A-THON
Next Term we will be holding a READ-MORE-A-THON. The money raised will go towards purchasing books for our classroom libraries. Details for students will follow next term. At this stage, I am asking for any families (particularly business owners) to donate some funds so we can award incentives for books read during this time. Please contact me if you wish to donate! Thank you for supporting the love of reading at STM.
Nicole.mikkonen@cg.catholic.edu.au
Nicole Mikkonen
Assistant Principal
One Community
in God’s Love
We are a EUCHARISTIC Community
Welcome to Week 5.
This term we are spending time on what it means to be a ‘EUCHARISTIC’ Community. A community who has the COURAGE to walk together in PEACE and WISDOM.
This week is National Reconciliation Week, a time to acknowledge the Indigenous peoples in our community and all communities within Australia.
This week also reminds each of us to work towards building a community where PEACE is valued and respected.
Peace between cultures, religions and with people in our community who are disadvantaged.
Thank you for your generous support with providing food items for St John’s Care.
Thank you also, to Mrs Washington and Year 2 who will be presenting Prayer Assembly this Friday.
Donna Victory
Religious Education Coordinator
Monday lunchtime craft
It was a fun and chatty lunchtime last week with 3/4 Green making some dazzling DIY Washer necklaces and DIY Footy Cards.
Deployment Groups
Please let me know if your family has a Defence Parent away (including for short courses etc) and your child would like to attend the Deployment Group.
Defence Community Organisation (DCO) Canberra E-News April/May/June Highlights
What ADF partners event: The home team, Canberra
When Thursday, 30 May 2019, 10-11.30am
Where The Lakes Gungahlin, Cnr Gundaroo and Gungahlin Drive, NICHOLLS ACT 2910
Info This event is only for partners of ADF members who are absent from home (MWDU, deployed or absent for extended periods). Join DCO for brunch on the last payday of each month to strengthen your support network while you manage the home front. Self-funded event. Kids welcome. Register at https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/an-adf-partners-event-the-home-team-canberra-tickets-61276701263 .
DCO Canberra E-news is currently promulgated tri-monthly via email. It includes handy information such as upcoming events, contact details for social groups and links to DCO resources. If you wish to be on the E-News mail out list, send a request to dco.canberra@defence.gov.au . Alternatively, ‘like’ the DCO Facebook Page to receive information and updates.
Sonja Mingay DSM
Work hours: Mon-Wed 9am-3pm, Thu 9-11am
Condolences
St Thomas More’s Primary School will greatly miss the presence of gently spoken Dean Herpen. Heartfelt thoughts and prayers for the Herpen Family.
Mini Vinnies
During our last meeting, the Mini Vinnies Team voted to have a Disney theme for our visit to Southern Cross Care Campbell which will take place on Friday, 14 June (Week 7). We will begin creating our performances this coming Thursday at lunchtime after eating time.
Seasons for Growth
There will be two groups for the Seasons for Growth Program. Parents of the children participating in the program will be notified of the details of the program by an email by the end of this week.
Kitenden Preschool Update
Mini Vinnies fundraising from Term 1 went towards the Kitenden Preschool Project which is managed by the Future Warriors Project charity. Our school has sponsored this project since 2014 to support the children in this Maasai community in Tanzania, Africa that has been struggling due to drought and modernisation.
We receive Quarterly Reports which update sponsors on progress. The most recent report was very positive. January to March 2019 the preschool had an enrolment of 62 children. Attendance rates are high. The children are taught beginner Swahili and counting skills in preparation for primary school (the Maasai language is spoken and not written and the schools teach in Swahili). The children receive two nutritious meals a day. There has been ongoing success with the chickens and vegetable farm. The clinic is being utilised.
It has been very dry.
Message from Sianga Kuyan, founder of Future Warriors Project:
“It's humbling to see a simple idea with a small group of people who cares to give those who are less privileged, educational opportunity which continues to be a great success for the Maasai people of Kitenden on the foot of Kilimanjaro.
I believe that by working together in an organised way, we can do the things that help kids reach their potential. I also believe that to be successful, community members should help lead the movement. I am a big fan of co-design and community empowerment and I will ensure we strengthen our community members in leadership roles across everything we do at the preschool and any other project.”
For more information on the Kitenden Preschool Project, see their new look website https://www.futurewarriorsproject.org/what-we-do/education-and-early-childhood-development . It has information on volunteering and a new section promoting eight unique Maasai cultural tours developed as part of their cultural tourism capacity building project.
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