Term 1 Week 10 St Thomas' Newsletter

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Girai Wurrung people of the land on which we live and learn. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay respects to elders, past, present and emerging.

Prayer

From the Principal

I know we always say it, but this term has flown by. As we reach the final few days of term we have packed plenty in this term. Within all the chaos we have been proud of the way the students have approached different tasks whether it be new learnings in the classroom or the different sporting activities we have done this term.

I wish everyone a wonderful Easter Break. A chance to reset, recharge and spend time with the people we love. I look forward to seeing everyone in Term 2.

Matt Uzkuraitis 

News

ASSEMBLY: We will have an assembly at 9am this Friday. The Preps will share a song and we will do our awards and draw the Easter Raffle.  

SCHOOL CANTEEN: Our School Canteen will not open in Terms 2 and 3. It will reopen in Term 4.  

SAUSAGE AND JUICE DAY:  Sausage and Juice forms were due back today. Please hand them in tomorrow morning if you haven't done so yet and are wanting a sausage and juice. 

LAST DAY OF TERM: We will finish at 2:30pm on Friday

WORK EXPERIENCE STUDENTS: This week we welcome Lyla Grundy and Ava Conheady (two past students) who are completing a week of work experience at St Thomas'. Both Lyla and Ava are in Year 10 at MRC. We hope you enjoy the week girls.  

P&F Easter Raffle

Thank you to the families that have donated items for the Easter Raffle. Ideas for donations can include anything Easter themed, generally Easter Eggs, however feel free to think outside the box! We are still taking donations and they can be brought to the office.  

We will draw the raffle prizes this Friday at assembly. 

Regional Swimmers

Last Wednesday we had Summer, Matilda, Harriet, Georgina and Annabelle compete at the Regional Swimming Carnival in Horsham. The girls did a fantastic job with some terrific results. We are super proud of their achievements to make it this far. 

Summer will make it to the next stage in Breastroke - all the best Summer.

District Athletics - Tuesday 1st April

Tomorrow, we have a number of students attending the District Athletics in Camperdown. Notes and a permission form on PAM has been uploaded for those students/families. There will be canteen facilities available tomorrow along with a coffee van. 

We will be leaving by bus just after 9am and returning before the end of the school day. 

Thank you and Good Luck Wil

We have been blessed to have many great trainees over the years and Wil Absalom has certainly been one of them. His quiet and gentle nature has been an asset to our school since the start of last year. The relationships he has formed with the students has been one of kindness and respect and the students have treated him the with the same kindness and respect. Wil has been a valued member of our team and will be sadly missed by both staff and students.

Wil is finishing up this Friday. Thank you Wil and good luck on your next adventure and be sure to come back and visit. 

Last Day of Term 1

This Friday 4th April is the last day of Term 1. The Junior School Council met early this month to discuss fundraising ideas along with what we might be able to do on the last day of Term 1. It has been decided that on the last day of term students can 'wear their favourite colour' to school. That is, if your favourite colour is pink or green or red or any colour, that you can come dressed in this colour. We ask that their is a gold coin donation for this as the Junior School Council would like to purchase more equipment for the sand pit. 

School Closure Days - Start of Term 2

The first week of Term 2 includes two public holidays: Easter Monday and ANZAC Day (Friday). With the support of our governing body, DOBCEL, and our School Advisory Council (SAC), Tuesday, April 22nd, Wednesday, April 23rd, and Thursday, April 24th will be student-free days. On these days, St Thomas' staff will participate in collaborative professional learning with colleagues from Southern Zone Catholic primary schools.

The focus for these professional learning days will include:

• Tuesday, April 22nd: Structured Literacy and Essential Assessment Professional Development
• Wednesday, April 23rd: Strengthening our universal approach to School-Wide Positive Behaviours
• Thursday, April 24th: Presentation of the DOBCEL Strategy 2035, titled "Pursuing Fullness of Life for All." This comprehensive plan aims to enhance the performance of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Ballarat over the next decade. The strategy will be presented to all staff members of DOBCEL schools by Executive Director, Tom Sexton, throughout Term 2. All schools in the Southern Zone will gather at St Joseph's Primary School, Warrnambool, on April 24th to ensure everyone in the Zone has a clear understanding of this strategy and its vision. This day will be a School Closure Day for all schools in the Southern Zone. The full Executive Summary of the DOBCEL 2035 Strategy is available on the DOBCEL website or hard copies can be obtained from the school office.

First Day of Classes - Term 2

The First Day of classes for Term 2 is on Monday 28th April. The office will be open the week before on Tuesday 22nd April if you need to make contact with the school. 

ANZAC DAY

In the lead up to ANZAC Day the students won't yet be back at school. However we have always had a wonderful turn out to the Terang ANZAC Day Memorial Service.

Again, this year on Friday 25th April at 10am we invite our students to attend the memorial service at 10am at the Terang RSL. We ask that the students wear their school uniform if attending. 

After the service we will join in a march from the Terang RSL to the Monument along High Street.   

When staff arrive back in Term 2, I will send another reminder to families regarding this event.

Term 2 - Important Dates

TERM 2 - IMPORTANT DATES

APRIL

Monday 21st April - Easter Monday (Public Holiday)

Tuesday 22nd April, Wednesday 23rd April and Thursday 24th April - SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS

Friday 25th April - ANZAC DAY (Public Holiday)

Monday 28th April - First Day of Classes for Term 2 (Students Return)

MAY

Friday 2nd May - Division Athletics (Wbool)

Tuesday 6th May - District Cross Country

Wednesday 7th May - ST THOMAS' OPEN DAY AND EVENING

Friday 16th May - Division Cross Country

Monday 26th May - Start of Catholic Education Week

Friday 30th May - Grade 5/6 Tri Sports

JUNE

Wednesday 4th June - Gr 3/4 AFL 9's

Monday 9th June - King's Bday Long Weekend (Public Holiday)

Monday 30th June - Gr 5/6 'Taster Day' at MRC Noorat

JULY

Friday 4th July - Last Day of Term 2

St Thomas' Open Day and Evening

School TV

Michael Carr-Gregg is coming to Camperdown

Whilst in Camperdown Dr. Carr-Gregg will cover a range of critical issues facing young people today, empowering parents, carers and other loved ones with the knowledge and tools to help navigate the challenges of parenting. Dr. Carr-Gregg will offer a range of practical and actionable advice that can be implemented immediately to support children and adolescent mental health. Scan the QR code on the parent carer flyer attached. 

Birthday's

Happy Birthday to the following students who celebrate a birthday this week:

Ollie Thomas 

Nellie Kenna

And to these students who celebrate a birthday over the Term 1 holidays:

Sebby Marshall                       Sophia Thomas                  Elijah Savory

  Annabel Gilmour                 Jack Gilmour                    Jimmy Selman                 Matilda Conheady             Isabel Moloney                        

Community Events

Child Safety Officer