Last Sunday was Palm Sunday, or Passion Sunday. It is a day to reflect on the pain, suffering and death of our Lord Jesus in the final week of his life. The day began with the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem as King to celebrate the Passover. There was an enthusiastic welcome from the crowds as he entered Jerusalem on a donkey. They waved palms, laid down cloaks and shouted Hosanna. This feeling was very quick to change with Jesus’ betrayal, crucifixion and death on the cross. The climax and most important aspect of our beliefs came with Jesus’ resurrection. Let us remember what this all means as we indulge in treats over Easter and not forget why.

Easter Prayer

LORD, Thank You for the gift of HOPE

You gave us on Easter morning.

Because of You we know

That no problem is too difficult

And even death does not have power over us.

Thank You for the gift of JOY

You gave us when You were resurrected.

Because of you we know

That no matter how challenging life may be,

In the end we will rejoice again.

Thank you for the gift of LOVE

You gave us when

You laid down Your life.

Because of You we know

That there is no sin too great to separate us

and we are incredibly valuable to You.

Thank You for the gift of LIFE,

You gave us when You left the tomb.

Because of Easter we know this world is just the beginning

and we will spend forever in heaven with You.

We celebrate You, JESUS,

With hearts full of praise and gratitude

For who You are and all You've done for us!

Amen.

-Holley Gerth  http://holley.dayspring.com 

We will celebrate Easter as a school on our return next term.

Kinder Enrolments

This is the last week for applications for Kindergarten for 2022. If you have not returned forms or know of someone who needs an application, please take care of this as soon as possible.

Uniform

Students return to school wearing their winter uniforms. Please find accompanying a uniform list so that you are aware of the correct uniform. We have a number of students who are again wearing coloured shoes with their sport uniforms. Sport shoes need to be predominately white. Please use your judgement for the first couple of weeks of term with regards to what uniform is worn. If it is still warm, students may continue to wear their summer uniforms. Whatever uniform is worn please make sure that it is the full uniform, not a combination of both.

STA Uniform Requirements

STA Uniform Requirements 513.92 KB

Have your Say - Survey

Have your Say!

Have your Say! 305.60 KB

Homework

Thank you to the parents who responded to the Homework Survey sent out earlier in the term. 157 parents responded in total, and we are very appreciative of your time and feedback. 

In summary, the majority of parents believed that a small amount of independent, meaningful homework would be appropriate in the Primary Years. The feedback received suggested that parents thought that homework would help their child organise their time and begin to develop effective study habits in preparation for high school. 

As a result of the responses, the St Thomas Aquinas Homework Policy has been amended to reflect these changes. It has the suggested guidelines, approximate times and activities which would be expected of the students. The policy also acknowledges the many sporting, recreational, creative and cultural activities that students participate in after school and the value of these extra pursuits in the development of the whole child. The new homework policy is attached for your reference.

It is still an expectation that all students in the school are doing some form of reading every night. This home reading can take the form of 

• oral reading to a parent
• parent reading to their child
• listening to an audio book
• silent reading of Readers' Circle book, library book or personal interest book

Once again, we thank you for your responses to the survey.

Homework Policy 2021

Homework Policy 2021 128.62 KB

Parish News

Please see below the Holy Week timetable and, if you would like to attend, please register your interest by following the link Register for Mass

Raffle

The raffle will be drawn at the Trivia Night to be held on Friday 30 April, 2021.  The car is now a Hyundai Venue, valued at over $24,000 (supplied by Southern Highland Motor Group. 

Tickets on sale $10.00 per ticket.  Tickets can be purchased via https://www.raffletix.com.au/ccsh or at the Parish Office. 

Please return the books of raffle tickets (with $100) as soon as possible.  More tickets are available for you to take and sell!!!!

Trivia Night

Friday 30 April, 2021 Fr Glynn Centre from 6.00 p.m. Tickets $10.00 per head. 

Come as a single or organize a table of 10 BYO Food & Drink

Bookings are now being taken at the Parish office.

AND DON’T FORGET THIS IS THE NIGHT THE RAFFLE WILL BE DRAWN.

Tip …. Wise up about Pelicans!!!!

The staff and students wish everyone a happy and safe holiday, it will be beautiful if the weather stays like it is.

Kind regards

Kayleen Petzer
Principal

APRIL - 20

Parish Trivia Night 6 -7 ish

Book a table or come on your own and support the Parish

MAY - 29

Confirmation - time TBA

WHY DO WE HAVE STATIONS OF THE  CROSS? 

Have you ever made a journey retracing the steps of an ancestor? In the early Church
a tradition developed whereby Christians would make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, retracing the journey that Jesus took to Calvary. Visual representations depicting the Passion of Jesus were erected along the way.

In memory of this sacred path, the stations were popularized in art and as a devotional practice, encouraged especially by the Franciscans. There are fourteen stations in our modern day devotion whereby people move from station to station, reflecting on the sacrifice Jesus made for us.

REGISTRATION FOR HOLY WEEK LITURGIES OPEN  https://www.ccsh.org.au/

You are warmly Invited to the Parish Trivia Night

Friday 30 April, 2021 in the Fr Glynn Centre from 6.00 p.m.  

Tickets $10.00 per head.  

Tables of 10 or come as an individual.  

DON’T FORGET THIS IS THE NIGHT THE RAFFLE WILL BE DRAWN

First prize a Hyundai Venue valued at $24,000

Tickets on sale via Parish Webpage https://www.ccsh.org.au

The Parish Office, the School Office or on the night.

Once again, ANZAC Day this year will be different. There will be no public march in Bowral but there will be an 11 am Memorial Service for 200 seated invited guests at the Bowral War Memorial. 

Over the years it has always given us great pride that our school has been represented at our local Anzac Day Ceremony.  This year, two Year 6 students + 1 staff member have been invited to represent STA at the service and to lay a wreath.

It is important that we try to continue with the ANZAC tradition as best we can to show our respect and appreciation for all those brave soldiers and people who have helped protect our nation.
Many Australians are preparing to mark ANZAC Day from their driveways on Sunday 25 April to participate in the ‘Light up the Dawn’ initiative at 6:00 am. We would like to encourage our STA community to be involved in what will be the second ‘driveway commemoration’ of the day.    The following link has some ideas and resources:  Light up the Dawn 2021

We would love you to share your ‘driveway commemoration’ photos or any other way your family acknowledges Anzac Day this year with our STA community. These photos will be shared on our school FB page & on the STA ANZAC Day Website.

Please email all photos to preddeyv01@dow.catholic.edu.au by Monday 26^th April.
 

At St Thomas Aquinas, we:

• Play in four (4) equal squares (NO King, Queen, Jack or Dunce);

• Serve the ball fairly between the chest and knees;

• Play with one hand at a time;

• Can only hit the ball to the same player three times in a row (maximum).

A player is OUT if any of the following happen:

• FULLS - ball goes over the line on the full without bouncing in own square;

• DOUBLES - ball bounces twice in a player’s square;

• MISS - a player misses the ball;

• OUT - ball goes straight out on the full;

• GRABS - a player grabs or holds the ball, rather than hitting;

• DOUBLE HIT - a player hits the ball more than once.

A “rally” is REPLAYED if there is:

• ROLLS - ball begins to roll along the ground;

• LINES - ball bounces ON the line;

• ACCIDENTAL INTERFERENCE - when another player accidentally disrupts the game.

• SPLIT DECISION - when discussing a rule and whether a player is IN or OUT, only the PLAYERS ON THE COURT DECIDE. If the decision is 2:2, then replay.

REMEMBER...

• BE A GOOD SPORT and PLAY FAIRLY

• INCLUDE OTHERS 

• BE RESPECTFUL and SPEAK CALMLY

• ASK A TEACHER FOR HELP IF PROBLEMS OCCUR

and...

• NO OTHER RULES ARE TO BE MADE UP or BROUGHT INTO THE GAME .

The student team has been working hard to promote being a good sport and playing fairly.

The children from Years 2 - 6 were able to complete their Cross-Country Carnival this week and some of the students have qualified to compete at the Western Region Cross-Country Carnival on 27 April at the course in Cambewarra.  We wish them all good luck.