Dear Parent, Caregivers & Students,

Tomorrow afternoon the Student Academic Reports will be published for every student in Years 1-6 to give you information regarding their learning during Semester One this year. A reminder that parents/caregivers use the Parent Portal to access their child/ren's Student Report for Semester One 2019. Details of how to access this are available in this newsletter or if you require assistance with accessing your Parent Portal please contact the office staff.

Having read through each of these reports and knowing about some of the progress students have made since the beginning of this year, there is a great deal to celebrate. So many of our students have made significant gains in their learning and in their application to their work and school life. 

The focus of the reports is on their Learning Gains, which is the greatest indicator of their progress, as the grades that are given from A-E often do not alter with each report. Each semester is representative of the new outcomes or higher level of skill required and so achieving a similar grade does not mean that there is a lack of progress. It is really important to celebrate & acknowledge each of their learning gains. The Areas for Growth section then provides goals for the next step along their learning journey.

The other very important component of the report is their Commitment To Learning and Positive Behaviours for Learning, as these give feedback regarding their effort and following of our three school rules. We are very blessed at STA to have students who generally are very committed to their learning and try very hard to present positive behaviours in the classroom and the playground.

Congratulations to all of our students for their achievements during this last semester and to the staff for their dedication & commitment to working with each child to improve.

PARENT/TEACHER INTERVIEWS ..... Bookings close tomorrow at 3.00pm

Next week we look forward to our Parent/Teacher meetings, as opportunities to discuss the reports and the student’s progress so far this year. These are also great meetings to talk through any issues/concerns that you may have and to share valuable insights & information regarding your child. We are really hoping these discussions allow for both teachers and parents working together to strive to meet the needs of your child.

It is so important for every parent/caregiver to make time to discuss your child's learning. PLEASE BOOK YOUR 10 MINUTE TIME before tomorrow afternoon at 3.00pm. Bookings close and it is very difficult to organise times if you have not booked in.

READING HELPERS - THANK YOU

We are so grateful to the wonderful parents, grandparents & special friends who are coming to listen to students read. After a slow start with volunteers, we were then thrilled to have so many generous people who are coming to help. We hope this will continue as the children love it and it is really making a difference to have someone listen to them read daily.

A PARENT/CAREGIVER'S GIFT TO YOUR CHILD

A reminder to every parent & caregiver, that the greatest gift you can give your child is spending time with them talking and listening (hopefully over the dinner table) with everyone sharing what has happened during each day and then to read together at night. Share a novel, where you read a little each night or have your child share a book they are confident in reading. Literacy is SO critical to learning across all areas. We all have very busy lives but try to put devices away and spend time together as a family.

YEAR 6 CANBERRA

On Friday 14 June, our Year 6 students enjoyed a wonderful day in Canberra and had the opportunity to visit Parliament House, the Electoral Education Centre and the War Memorial. A big thank you to the Australian Government who sponsor this educational opportunity so the children learn all about our democracy & voting system as part of their unit of study. We are very fortunate that the students can learn all about our government and live close enough to visit in person.  (See photos and student reports later in the newsletter.)

FIRE SAFETY TALK

The local Fire Brigade has offered to talk to our students regarding safety in the event of a fire and being careful around heaters and open fires. This will be next Thursday so check in with your children about their learning next week.

ASSEMBLIES WEEK 10

Next Wednesday 3rd July we will present the Field Event ribbons at morning assembly at 8.55am. Then on Friday at the Whole School Assembly starting at 2.00pm we will acknowledge NAIDOC Week. At this assembly, we will also be presenting the Athletics Carnival Medals, as well as farewelling Ms Kerry Lord as she begins twelve months leave from St Thomas Aquinas.

TERM 3

We look forward to everyone returning on Monday 22nd July is full Winter Uniform. Mrs Jo Robinson will be Acting Assistant Principal replacing Ms Lord for the year and Mrs Robyn Bull will be on Long Service Leave for a month.

Wishing everyone a wonderful break and hopefully a very enjoyable holiday. We are all looking forward to our new Library/iCentre/Learning space which will be open next term and for all the current building works to be completed.

Many thanks for your ongoing support for our school,

Warm regards

Mary-Lynn Lane
Principal

STA Vinnies Winter Appeal

Many thanks for all your generous support of the Vinnies Winter Appeal. A representative from Vinnies will attend our next assembly to collect the blankets and money donated. It’s not too late to give, donations are still being gratefully accepted.

More and more older Australians are living in poverty.

When older Australians struggle to make ends meet, they are often doing so alone, without social support. After her husband died a decade ago, 73-year-old Ruby found herself living alone, barely able to pay for food, or cover the rent. Like many older Australians living in poverty, Ruby felt forgotten.

Loneliness is more than a feeling, it's a danger. 

When you live alone, away from friends and family, poverty can be dangerous. Loneliness has been linked with high rates of diabetes, heart disease and stroke. And often, shorter life expectancy. Older Australians, like Ruby, are among the most at risk of loneliness. Their shrinking social circle, increased physical limitations and financial hardship only increases the risks they face. 

You can change the way poverty feels.

By supporting Vinnies, you will help provide vital assistance to older Australians to remove some of the stress of living in poverty. Thanks to donations from people like you, Vinnies have been able to help Ruby with the essentials to take the pressure off making ends meet. But the biggest difference for Ruby was the support she received from our dedicated Vinnies volunteers. 

"I appreciate the food and the help, but I love having someone visit me for a chat. That makes my day." Ruby.

IMPORTANT DATES

ALTAR SERVERS

Year 6 - Canberra

Student reflections:

When we went to Canberra, we visited the National Electoral Education Centre. We learnt more about preferential voting in Australia. We watched a video of how voting has changed over the years and then we completed a lot of different activities. Our class then got to participate in a fake vote. Charlotte and I were the electoral officials, ticking off our classmates' names as they came to "vote" and Conor was the ballot box guard. The whole class voted on their favourite fruit. After everybody made their vote in order of their preference, Darcy, Zac, Hayden and Lucas counted the votes until Peach won with an absolute majority. Overall, I had fun and it was interesting.

- Hugh White

NETBALL

Students from Years 3 - 6 took part in the Western Region Netball Gala Day at Minto today.  They played fairly, encouraged each other and finished each game on a positive note.  They displayed great sportsmanship and we congratulate them on their efforts.  Thank you to Mr Preddey, Mrs Norman and the parents who were able to transport the girls and act as coaches, timekeepers, scorers, etc.

Friday 2 August:  Assembly 2.15 pm Fr Glynn Centre

Wednesday 7 August:  Year 6 Mass with the Bishop

Thursday 8 August:  Feast of Mary of the Cross MacKillop

Friday 9 August:  Western Region Diocesan Athletics

Monday 12 & Tuesday 13 August:  Visiting author - Sue Whiting

Friday 16 August:  SHIPS Athletics (Tudor House)

                               Indigenous Performer visiting STA

                               Assembly 2.15 pm Fr Glynn Centre

Friday 19 August:  Religious Literacy Assessment

                               Activate Fire (Year 6 Spirituality Day)

Friday 23 August:  Super Hero Day - Book Parade

Book Week News - SAVE THE DATE 

If you require further information regarding any of the above,
please contact the school office.