Dear Parents and Caregivers

Learning Update - Focus on Writing

This year our learning goal is Students will demonstrate growth in writing through the improved use of grammar and punctuation. This goal was informed by a range of learning data, teacher judgement and student feedback. Throughout Semester 1, we have been focusing on the way we teach writing across the whole school. As a staff, we have so far completed 18.5 hours of Professional Development focusing specifically on grammar, punctuation and writing. In each newsletter we will share insights into the professional learning and student work samples that are evidence of this in practice. Following is a briefing introduction of the complexities of writing.

The Simple (or not so simple) View of Writing

Every time we write, many factors come into play. The Simple View of Writing provides an easy way to understand this.

Why do a lot of students find writing difficult?

• When students write, their minds are focusing on a lot of things:
• Formation of letters: whether students use printing, cursive or word processing, part of the brain is engaged with this process.
• Spelling of words: even if students are told not to stress about their spelling, they still need to spell the words they choose to be understood.
• Formation of sentences: students must write coherent sentences including mechanics (grammar & punctuation) and structure (sentence quality and variety).
• Paragraph structure: students must apply what they have learned regarding introductory, supporting and concluding sentences and paragraphs.
• Content: a topic chosen from students’ own experiences is the most simple but eventually students must write about topics assigned by content-area teachers.
• Audience: students must understand the purpose of their writing, the intended audience, and the approach to be taken in order to match their writing with the intended audience.

Next time you sit down to write something, stop and think about all the things that your brain is focusing on, even without you consciously thinking about them. When you realise what your brain is doing, shift your thoughts to your child, or children, as writers. Every time they write, their brains are working incredibly hard.

Stay tuned for more information in the next newsletter…..

Mr Anthony McElhone

Principal

Parent Representative Group (PRG) Meeting

The PRG Meeting will be held on Wednesday, 16 August at 9:15am in the FGC. If you would like to add an item to the agenda a form will be distributed via Compass this week. Please note that this will be the final meeting of the PRG. It will be replaced by our P&F Meetings from Term 4.

Father’s Day Breakfast & Reflection/Prayer

On Friday, 1 September we are celebrating Father’s Day with a short prayer reflection followed by a light breakfast. Prayer will commence at 8:00am. Please note that breakfast will not be served until after the prayer reflection has concluded.

Parent Contact Details

At all times, we ask that parents keep your contact details up to date.  Phone numbers and email addresses can be amended, by you, through the Compass portal.  Please advise the office, in writing/email, of any other change in details.

Change of Routine

Please remember to inform the office or your child's class teacher if there is going to be a change in routine. If a parent is running late please contact the school office. If you have organised for someone else to collect your child, please inform the office of this as soon as possible or write a note for your child's class teacher.

2023 School Calendar

The key date of events and celebrations for 2023 can be viewed in our online school calendar. The calendar can be viewed on our school website and via the newsletter.

Key Dates

• 11 August Whole School Assembly
• 14 August Author Visit - Deb Abela
• 15 August Year 6 Leadership Day
• 23 August Book Week Celebration - (Parade & Fun Day)
• 24 August CEDoW Soccer Gala Day
• 25 August  Whole School Assembly
• 8 September  Whole School Assembly
• 11 September Regional Public Speaking Competition
• 14-15 September CEDoW Basketball Gala Day
• 13 September Year 3 Excursion (Hyde Park Barracks)
• 15 September Kindergarten Excursion (Discovery Space)
• 18 September Year 5 Excursion (Minnamurra Rainforest)
• 22 September Whole School Assembly & Final Day of Term 3

Staff Development Days

Following are the dates for the remaining staff development days this year. A reminder that children do not attend school on these days.

• Term 4 - Monday & Tuesday 18 & 19 December

Teacher Professional Learning

At St Thomas Aquinas the staff has an ongoing commitment to professional learning. The staff benefits from attending in-services, in curriculum areas, that assist them in providing quality learning opportunities for the students in their class. The following staff have or will attend professional learning:

Sporting News (see photos on STA Facebook page)

Upcoming Events

• 15 August Wollongong Diocesan Athletics Trials
• 24 August CEDoW Soccer Gala Day
• 15 September CEDoW Basketball Gala Day

NSW Netball Cup South Coast Regional Finals

Two teams from our school participated in the NSW Netball Cup South Coast Regional Finals on 2 August in Nowra. They competed against schools from all over southern NSW. Both teams won three out of four pool games which meant that they progressed to the semi finals.

Unfortunately both teams didn’t progress past this point in the competition, however, the students represented our school with great pride and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Thank you to the parents that supported this event by providing transport to this event and assisting with coaching and managing the teams.

CEDoW Western Region Athletics

On 4 August we had a strong representation of students attend the Western Region Athletics at Campbelltown. All the students represented our school with great enthusiasm! Congratulations to the following students who placed in the top three of their event(s):

Save the Date!

• Early and Stage 1 Mass- Sunday November 5th at 5pm
• Whole School and Parish Thanksgiving Mass- Sunday December 3rd at 5pm

Feast of Mary MacKillop

Today we celebrated the Feast of Australia’s first saint- St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Our Year 6 Social Justice Committee along with our Liturgy group, led a beautiful celebration in the church.

We remebered the life of Saint Mary MacKillop who showed God’s values of love, peace, forgiveness, justice, compassion, kindness, trust and gratitude. Even when she experienced great difficulty and troubles, Mary focused on what mattered most – God’s values and how to live these out in her life. She never saw a need without doing something about it. 

(Kindergarten have been learning about Mary MacKillop)

The Assumption of Mary

Next Tuesday 15th August is the Feast of the Assumptiion of Mary. This is the celebration of Mary’s passing from this world into the glory of God. We remember Mary as a person of faith and trust who loved her son Jesus, even when he did things she didn’t understand.

Our Social Justice Committee will lead the school in morning assembly prayer on the playground. All welcome!

Religious Education Co-ordinator

Parish News

Children’s Liturgy

Every Sunday at the 9:30 am Mass, we welcome our children to hear the Gospel of the day, discuss, answer questions and complete an activity relating to the Mass. All Welcome!

Trivia Night

The Parish is holding a Trivia Night on Friday 20 October 2023.  More details to follow.

Netball

Last Wednesday we had 2 x Year 5/6 teams compete in the Netball NSW Schools Cup finals in Nowra.  The teams finished 3rd & 4th overall.  Congratulations and well done on the sportsmanship you showed.  Thank you to Mrs Azar, Mrs Staples and Mrs Sullivan who acted as managers & umpires.  Thank you also to Ms Worner for her organisation of the event.

Athletics

We congratulate all competitors who took part in the Western Region Athletics Carnival held at Campbelltown last Friday (see report earlier in newsletter). 

Thank you to Mr Blake, Ms Worner and Mrs Merchant for their organisation and supervision on the day.

4 Gold - Exploration Work

5 Blue - Writing

Afternoon Pick-Up

The pick-up areas in the afternoon are as follows:

• Side Gate (parents walk down to collect students).
• Front Gate Drive-Through (only for students who are in Kindergarten or who have a sibling toddler in the car.  Students are walked to the car)
• If you need to collect your child at the front gate, you will need to park the car and collect them from side gate.  Please do not ask your child to meet them at the front gate.
• Back Gate Drive-Through (students are walked to the car)
• Bridge Walkers (students are walked to the bridge in Victoria Street)
• Town Walkers (students are walked along Bundaroo Street and cross the road with a staff member at The Mews)
• Bus