Welcome back to school for the 2021 Year. I hope you all had a wonderful break and weren’t caught up in the stress of border closures. The year has started off well, the students are very settled and already working hard. We welcome our many new families and our new Kindergarten students, we hope that you find new friends quickly and feel at home.

Please keep in your prayers the people of Western Australia who are going through what we went through just over 12 months ago with the bushfires. We hope they are soon able to put out the fire and there is no further loss of property or lives.

At present, there has been very little change to the directives with regards to COVID restrictions. We were lucky enough to be able to have parents of younger students bring students into school for the first few mornings. This arrangement will continue for Kindergarten until next Tuesday. Can I please remind you to ensure that you are social distancing whilst waiting out the front to collect students and to move off promptly.

Morning & afternoon pick up

The ONLY options for afternoon pick up are:

• Bus - this will be the best option when the roundabout is constructed at the corner of Bendooley & Bundaroo Streets (Easter holidays)
• Side gate - children leave their classroom just before 2.50 pm and are escorted up the side lane to meet their parents
• Front gate - this is a drive-through option and ONLY families with a Kindergarten student or toddler in the car are able to access this option.  Parents should not exit their car as there are staff on duty who will assist children getting into their car.
• Town walkers - staff escort students across Bundaroo Street opposite "The Mews"
• Back gate - staff on duty send the children out to meet their parents as they arrive in Victoria Street
• Back gate walkers - staff walk the children over the bridge in Victoria Street to meet parents

There is no front gate pick-up for other children who leave the school at the 3 pm bell.

For safety reasons can I ask that you don’t wait too close to the road or on the coloured area leading up to the pedestrian crossing as I would hate to see an accident happen out there due to poor visibility. It is important that you are good role models for the children with regards to road safety, especially crossing the road, so can you please use the pedestrian crossing.

The Council rangers are out on patrol at present (morning & afternoon) and the Police will also be patrolling, targeting U-turns out the front of the school.

The construction of the roundabout is scheduled to be commenced in the week before, or during, the holidays. This construction will take 3 weeks and will cause disruption to the flow of traffic in the area. If possible, please try to avoid the area and send your children to and from school by bus to help alleviate congestion. There will be changes to drop off and pick up zones which Council are currently working on. When I know what those arrangements will be I will pass that onto you.

Thank you and have a lovely week.

Kayleen Petzer
Principal

IMPORTANT DATES

At the moment, due to COVID restrictions, parents are not able to attend school liturgies.

February

23 -  Sacramental Program begins

March

28 Feb - 6 March:  Catholic Schools Week

5  -  Diocesan Education Mass

May

Confirmation - 29 May

Lent

As Oscar Romero’s reflection says:

This is what we are about:
We plant seeds that one day will grow.
We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise. We lay foundations that will need further development.
We provide yeast that produces effects beyond our capabilities.

Ash Wednesday

We were fortunate to be able to gather together as a whole school community to celebrate a liturgy for Ash Wednesday. It was a very prayerful and reverent event, one which warmed the heart and gives me great hope for the future. Staff were so very proud of the students and how they participated and responded. Many thanks to the Liturgy Group and Miss Abotomey for providing the music which added to the beauty of the service.

Morning Mass During Lent

Lent is often known as a time for ‘giving up’ something . It is also a about reflection, prayer  and acts of charity - Giving more!

A great opportunity for this is offered to us through attending Morning Mass. All students and families are welcome to attend Friday morning Mass at 8.00am.

I will supervise students at Mass and their safe return to school after Mass.

Social Justice Team

Congratulations to our Social Justice team:

Edward, Chiara, Eli, Maddie, Claire, Nick, Annalise and Rose.

They represented our school at the Project Compassion Launch this week and participated in a liturgy with 100 schools across NSW and the ACT . The students received a blessing and were commissioned by two Bishops to lead St Thomas Aquinas School through Lent as advocates for the venerable and poor. Congratulations and thanks to these students for sharing their gifts.

If you wish to register for Sunday Mass please visit the Parish website:

School Attendance

If your child is absent from school, could you please enter the details in Compass, with an explanation for their leave eg Travel, Holiday, Medical Appointment etc.

If your child will be absent for 10 days or more, there is a form (available from the office) which needs to be completed and approved by the Principal.

This is located adjacent to the school office and we sell hats, bags, beanies, gloves and scarves.  EFTPOS is available for new stock.

The P & F 2nd hand Uniform Shop is open for the sale of items @ $2 per item. The money raised from these sales will be donated to St Vincent de Paul at the end of the year. 

for 2nd hand items.  DONATIONS GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED.

School Road Rules Quiz

HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW THE ROAD RULES IN AND AROUND SCHOOL ZONES?
Take the Transport for NSW Back to School Road Rules Quiz to find out.  You could win a $250 or $25 Fuel Gift Card just for having a go!
Road Rules Quiz
The competition will close at midnight on 14 th March 2021. Winners will be drawn within 7 days.

The canteen is open Wednesday - Friday for recess and lunch.

It is once again operated Fresh Start Canteens and online ordering is available.  Please see the flyer and menu below.