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from the Principal ..........
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Welcome to the beginning of this new term and I hope that the holidays provided an opportunity for you to enjoy some quality family time together. It has been a wonderful start to the term and we particularly welcome our new Preschool and Reception students and new families to our community. I introduce and welcome also our new staff members: Jeremy Fitzpatrick, Year 6 teacher, Sarah Burns, WHS Coordinator and Bianka Jankovic, Curriculum ESO. We are looking forward to a very eventful and positive term ahead with a number of highlights of learning and community events in store.
Soon you will receive a Skoolbag notification inviting you to participate in our annual “Live, Learn, Lead” Survey which is conducted in every Catholic school as an individual school and system data collection. To support and help drive excellence in Catholic Schools, and give life to the vision, values and mission of Catholic Education, Catholic Education South Australia developed the Living, Learning, Leading Framework in 2018. It captures the essence of a Catholic education and highlights what we truly mean when we say that a Catholic education integrates faith, life, learning and culture.
A Catholic Education:
• Where every child is and will be a thriving person, a capable learner and a leader for the world God desires.
• Which helps children and young people come to appreciate that this is who they are and who they are called to be.
• Which supports them to develop the specific knowledge, skills and attributes that are associated with thriving, learning and leading in a rapidly changing and complex world.
Further information and a visual representation of the Live Learn Lead Framework can be found at https://www.cesa.catholic.edu.au/about/living-learning-leading
Data from the surveys will assist our school to self-assess against the Live Learn Lead Framework and develop plans for improvement, in line with our new strategic plan currently being developed. This is a great opportunity for you, our parent community, to have a voice in the future directions, initiatives and offerings of this school. Every element of our school community is invited to participate in this survey. Our students and staff contribute to the survey and we invite every parent to do the same. The more feedback we can receive, the better informed we are and therefore, the more responsive we can be to the needs and wants of our community. It will only take a few minutes of your time so please complete the survey and provide this valuable feedback.
Feast Day of St Anne and St Joachim
Did you know that this week we celebrated the Feast Day of Jesus’ Grandparents? As the parents of Mary, they are now known as the patron of grandparents with their Feast Day celebrated on 26th July. I take this opportunity to recognise and acknowledge as a community, the important role that grandparents and ‘grand-friends’ have in the life of a family and the development of our children. I always find myself returning to the adage, “It takes a village to raise a child.” I invite you to reflect for a moment on ‘who’ your ‘village’ might be and to take the time to acknowledge them, the ‘grandparents and grand-friends’ who play a special part in your family. Just recently I have had the pleasure of hosting my brother and nephew, visiting from Copenhagen. It is not often that my family comes together as one, as we are spread across the globe. So, this experience of ‘my village’ all together has been so precious for each of us, my parents particularly. For my children, to have their uncle and cousin here, and be together with their grandparents, has been invaluable. So, whilst every family is different, and compositions vary, I invite you to reflect this week on your ‘village’ and take the time to show your love and appreciation for those who have a special role in your family, particularly the grandparents and grand-friends!
Belinda Burford
Principal
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from the Deputy Principal ............
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There are many ways we celebrate student achievement and success at St Thomas. This acknowledgement is all about celebrating our learners' journey in becoming and growing into the best version of themselves.
Within each classroom, learning is celebrated in so many ways, from displays and presentations, to Learner Disposition Cards and acknowledgement of hard work and effort.
Last year, we introduced Excellence Awards to celebrate student excellence in learning. Students who achieve these awards have worked extremely hard across the curriculum, as shown throughout Semester One; and have gone above and beyond. These are our Academic Excellence and Learner Disposition Excellence Awards.
We will also be acknowledging students who have especially displayed the Mercy Values of Justice during Term 1; and Challenge during Term 2. These are our Mercy Awards.
These awards will be presented at our Semester One Excellence Assembly, to be held this Friday morning (28th July) at 9.15am. Parents of students receiving awards have been notified.
It is our hope these new awards acknowledge students who are going above and beyond and encourage all students to strive for excellence in all they do. We also hope that families take this opportunity to have rich conversations with children about their learning and together set goals for the second semester. These conversations will be important for children receiving an award, but even more important for children striving to achieve these awards in the future. In partnership, let’s continue to encourage all our learners to go above and beyond!
We are very proud of our students’ achievements and hope they continue to go above and beyond in their learning!
Learning Conferences
To be human is to be transformational. Each of us is changing and evolving every day- a process of transformation we experience throughout our whole lives. Sometimes we experience periods of challenge or distraction and sometimes we experience periods of fantastic growth and success. But what we need to remember is that all of these experiences are part of our learning and development into becoming the best version of ourselves.
Our Learning Conferences are a reminder of this journey and the wonderful creation that is your child. It is our hope that these conversations shine light on the positive pathways for their future growth within the partnership of student, parent and teacher.
So, as a parent of one of these unique, growing, changing and evolving young people, we encourage you to invest time and energy, especially during this time, to continue to build in them resilience and personal responsibility. We encourage you to support them in asking the questions…
What am I most proud of so far this year?
In what ways have I grown and changed?
What are the areas in which I could go further?
Could I put more effort into certain subjects to achieve my potential?
How could I better use the St Thomas Learner Dispositions- to Be Brave, Be Connected, Be Gritty, Be Creative and Be Reflective?
What are three learning goals for the rest of this year?
For parents yet to schedule a Learning Conference time, please follow the instructions on the attached letter to families.
Learning Conferences Parent Letter- Term 3 2023 .pdf
Go gently,
Paul Mensforth
Deputy Principal
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July
Mon 31st Learning Conferences begin
August
Wed 2nd Year 4 & 6's excursion to St Mary's College
Fri 4th Year 6 excursion to Science Alive
Mon 7th Year 1 excursion to Road Safety Centre
Thurs 10th Year 6 Vinnie's Sleepout
Advance Notice
Friday September 8th - Pupil Free Day
St Thomas TERM 3 FAMILY Calendar 2023.pdf
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Dear Parents, Caregivers and Friends,
Welcome back to Term 3! I hope everyone had a restful break and that you were able to get out and about to enjoy the holidays.
This term is already shaping up to be a busy one with the children taking part in a variety of fundraising events and celebrations to build their understanding of our Catholic tradition and Mercy values.
Also, there are a number of whole school liturgies, class masses and events this term celebrating different feasts such as the life of St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop (Friday 11 August 9.00 am in the Holy Cross Church), Catherine McAuley Feast and Mercy day on Friday 15 September.
St Mary of the Cross MacKillop's motto of 'never see a need without doing something about it' continues to call us forth to action.
So, St Thomas School is organising three major fundraisings events this term: the Year 6 Vinnies Winter Sleepout on Thursday August 10, SVC Cosy-Clothes Day For Vinnies on Friday August 11 and Catherine McAuley Feast Day together with the Mercy Day Activities on September 15.
Together with the everyday learning, sporting events excursions and incursions, for me it seems this term will be very busy and exciting.
St Thomas School - Goodwood Sleepout for Vinnies 2023
On August 10, 2023, St Thomas School, Goodwood, students and staff will come together to raise important funds and awareness for the most vulnerable people in our local community.
Each year in South Australia, there are more than 7,400 people experiencing homelessness, including 1,345 children under the age of 12 and 81 senior South Australians above the age of 75.
At this sleepout, the participants will swap the comfy beds and home-cooked meals with cardboard and a night without the comforts of home.
By choosing to sleep out for one night, you can experience just a small part of what those facing homelessness and disadvantage do each and every day.
Register or donate now to make a difference in the lives of those who don't get to make that choice.
Your support will go towards Vinnies Services in South Australia, providing vital access to food, clothing, and financial assistance to locals in their time of need.
Here is the link to support our Year 6 students in this great fundraising.
https://vinnies-sa.grassrootz.com/st-thomas-school-goodwood-sleepout-for-vinnies-2023
A Prayer for Universal Justice
Give us, O God, the vision which can see Your love in the world in spite of human failure.
Give us the faith to trust Your goodness in spite of our ignorance and weakness.
Give us the knowledge that we may continue to pray with understanding hearts.
Amen
Sebestyen Maglai
REC
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from Chair of the School Board
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Term 3 – the Premiership Quarter
I married a footballer. Pre meeting him, I had no experience with football. Zero. I had not attended one game. 20 years later, I have attended maybe 10.
With my limited football knowledge, what I knew was that my dad was a mad Norwood fan, and my husband played for Sturt. Apparently, that is not ideal.
And when Sturt won the flag in 2002, I found out just what the Premiership Quarter was.
I equate our life, and our four schools terms to the four football quarters. And so team, we are now in the all important, Term 3, Quarter 3 - aka the Premiership Quarter.
Term One
This is where we start off slow. Full of energy, motivation and a clean slate. There is no scores so far. No-one has made their big break. Everyone comes together to begin a new year, a new game.
It is all about the children, teachers and families finding their feet. Getting to know their classmates, laying the foundations for the year.
It’s like the first bounce.
No one needs to get injured.
Term Two
We have our base. We can make changes if we need to.
We started well. We know what needs to get done to win the game.
But we still have a lot of work to do to get there. There are still many minutes (or hours it feels like…) before the final siren.
Term 2 is about putting in the hard work, ticking off the tasks in the process to get to the end goal.
Term Three
Here we are. The Premiership Quarter.
It was David Parkin, Carlton Coach, who coined the phrase Premiership Quarter in 1982. His theory was for his team to outplay the opponents in Quarter 3, to guarantee victory before the final quarter.
If we follow this theory, Term 3 is where we do the hard yards to set ourselves up to achieve our best in Term 4 and to complete the year.
The 3rd Quarter, aka Term 3, will see tired children. Tired parents. Tired staff. But all putting the hard work in. Because, if you haven’t done the work by Term 3, trying to catch up in Term 4 will be a hard race.
It is the Premiership Quarter. It's the Term to work hard, even when you are exhausted. As you will appreciate the results at the end.
Term Four
We made it. The work has been done; the final quarter is a celebration of the year.
A celebration by completing the Year 12 exams, primary and high school graduations, and Christmas concerts.
Term 4 is a good one. It's an exciting one. The celebrations are important to recognise, as it took three hard Terms to get there.
So friends, here we are. In the Premiership Quarter. Time to dig deep. Time to get the job done. Time to keep going even if exhaustion kicks in.
Trish Jarvis
Chair - School Board
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PARENTS AND FRIENDS UPDATE
QUIZ NIGHT
Our 90s Nostalgia Quiz Night was a great success! We thank you all those who donated to support this event and all those who joined the fun, bought tickets and filled the hall with colour and laughs! The P&F are very excited to announce that our Quiz Night raised $5,065 for our school community! We especially thank Rebecca Vella, Victoria Stavrou, Lauren Waters, Liz Cahalan, Kristy McKay, Katrina Woods and Nick Mezzino who played roles in the organising committee and volunteering on the night to pull the event together. We thank the generous families of St Thomas, especially for the donations for silent auction hampers and prizes.
And of course, we thank these businesses for their partnership and support of our Quiz Night…
Ash Badios Design
FramingLand
Nimble Wines
Duck and Turtle Kids Fitness Holiday Program
Nido Restaurant
Manee Siam Thai Restaurant
The Maid Hotel
Zoos SA
Kids Karate
Grit Studio Collective
Equilibrium- The Holistic Living Project
Trouble and Strife Cafe
 2023 QUIZ NIGHT THANK YOU.mp4
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Congratulations to all those whose students successfully submitted projects in the Citizen Science, Programming, Apps & Robotics, Multimedia, Science Writing and Scientific Inquiry categories! Judging is now well under way for these projects.
Please see below all the necessary information regarding the next phase of the Oliphant Science Awards.
Please make sure you read the information below carefully.
ONSITE PROJECT DELIVERY – TUESDAY 1st AUGUST ONLY
ALL Crystal Investigations, Models & Inventions, Games (no electronic games!), Photography and Posters projects are due to be delivered on Tuesday 1st August between 9am and 5pm to the Duncan Gallery at the Wayville Showgrounds (access via Carpark 1 off Rose Terrace, enter through the Duncan Gallery main doors from the carpark). You do not need to pay for parking.
ID Labels for all onsite projects were posted mid to late-June - Reminder that all entries submitted for judging must have an ID Label attached to it; we also recommend writing the ID # on all parts of each entry (e.g., loose parts or components). Please note that any projects without an ID label will not be accepted and we will not have the ability to reprint the label(s) onsite.
Please note that there are specific requirements as to where your students attach their labels to some of their projects, so please ensure they adhere to these rules. Also, we request that labels are not stuck to the bottom of their board game boxes or models!
ONLINE PROJECT SUBMISSION – 24thto 28th JULY
From this year on, some elements of projects in the Models and Inventions, Crystal Investigations and Games categories must be submitted online. You can find out more about what needs to be submitted here.
Online submission will only be open from 24th to 28th July and the full details for this process can be found on the website.
Coversheets can still be downloaded via your Coordinator portal, so please feel free to distribute these to any of your students whose projects require partial electronic submission. You can also use these if any of your labels are missing.
PROJECT COLLECTION – MONDAY 7th AUGUST ONLY
Please remember that ALL physical projects (Games, Crystal Investigations, Models & Inventions, Posters and Photography), must be collected on Monday 7th August between 9am – 5pm from the Duncan Gallery at the Wayville Showgrounds (as above, parking is in Carpark 1 off Rose Terrace (no need to pay) and enter through the Duncan Gallery main doors from the carpark). As with every year, all projects that remain uncollected at 5.00pm on this day will be disposed of onsite. No projects will be brought back to the SASTA office under any circumstances.
SCIENCE ALIVE! DISCOUNT OFFER
The Oliphant Science Awards Open Days will again be held at Science Alive! at the Wayville Showgrounds on Saturday 5th August and Sunday 6th August. As well as being able to view the Oliphant Science Awards prize winners, there will be two pavilions of exciting science displays, shows and activities happening across the two days. Please be sure to inform your students’ families that the only category where all entries are on display is Models & Inventions – for all other categories, only the prize-winning projects will be on display.
SASTA will be giving Oliphant Science Awards families a discount of 30% on their ticket purchase. Eligible families* will need to fill in the online form here https://bit.ly/OSA2023_DiscountOffer to register for one of these vouchers. The discount codes will be emailed weekly beginning 20th June.
Thanks,
Chris Rampazis
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Fee Statements have been mailed out this week.
If paying by term, payment due date for Term 3 fees is Friday 11th August. We appreciate your prompt payment.
Please check your Fee Statement to ensure your payments are up to date and in accordance with the School’s Fee Collection Policy. Adhering to these terms will ensure your account is not escalated further for collection.
If you have any queries regarding payment of fees, please contact me.
Regards
Jodi Jansons
Business Manager
accounts@stg.catholic.edu.au
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Please see flyers attached from Camp Australia
Welcome to Term 3 Newsletter (2).pdf