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 and ongoing, our staff have been involved in a book study of The Writing Revolution - a guide to advancing thinking through writing in all subjects and grades. What we are learning is guiding our approach to the way we teach writing consistently across the school.

The Six Principles of The Writing Revolution

Whilst all of these principles are important, Principle 2 stands out for us as educators. Sentences are the building blocks of all writing, and without knowledge of what makes a sentence good, students can’t be expected to produce well-written paragraphs and whole texts. This one quote is a great explanation and is very powerful:

“The importance of spending plenty of instructional time working with sentences can’t be stressed enough. Sentence level work is the engine that will propel your students' writing from the way they speak to using the structures of written language. Once they begin to construct more sophisticated sentences, they’ll enhance not only their writing skills but also their reading comprehension.” (The Writing Revolution p.24)

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

Yours in partnership

Mr Anthony McElhone

Principal

Save the Date - Parent Workshop with Justin Coulson on 12 October

We are co-hosting a Parent Workshop with Justin Coulson on Thursday 12 October at St Paul’s Catholic Primary School in Moss Vale. Justin is the co-host and parenting expert on Channel 9's Parental Guidance, the founder of happyfamilies.com.au, and one of Australia’s most trusted parenting experts. He holds a PhD in Positive Psychology.

Over the past decade he has helped innumerable families with his 9 books about raising children, his hundreds of media appearances (including all of Australia’s major news outlets, and even the Washington Post and the New York Times), and two viral videos that have been viewed a combined 80 million times!

Enrolment Information - Chevalier College

Chevalier College has contacted us to let us know that applications for Year 7 2024 and 2025 are now overdue, and they have a waitlist. They therefore request that if you are considering enrolling your child at Chevalier College and have not yet applied, please do so today.  You can apply online at Chevalier College and if you have any questions, please contact the Enrolments Office on 4861 0524.

Australia's Biggest Child Safety Lesson

On 5 September, our students will be participating in Australia's Biggest Child Safety Lesson, which is an annual event created by the Daniel Morcombe Foundation to teach children about protective behaviours and staying safe.

This year, the concept of consent will be explored through engaging, evidence-based, education videos to teach age-appropriate personal safety strategies in an empowering manner. Students in K-3 will participate in the Early Years lesson whilst Years 4-6 will participate in the Upper Years lesson. More information will be provided on the day of the lesson.

Parent Representative Group (PRG) Meeting

Thank you to the parents that attended the PRG Meeting on 16 August. The minutes from the meeting will be distributed via Compass this week. We look forward to welcoming you to the first meeting of the P&F Association on 18 October at 6:30pm

Father’s Day Breakfast & Reflection/Prayer

On Friday, 1 September we are celebrating Father’s Day with a short prayer reflection followed by a complimentary 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.

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

Upcoming Events

24 August              CEDoW Soccer Gala Day

7 September          Chris Lawrence 7-a-side Rugby League Gala Day

14-15 September   CEDoW Basketball Gala Day

18 September        MacKillop Athletics

CEDoW Mackillop Athletics Trials

On Tuesday, 15 August we had students represent our school and zone at the CEDoW Mackillop Athletics Trials. The level of competition at this event is always at a very high level and each student from our school competed with great enthusiasm and determination.  Our Senior Relay team consisting of Cooper, Salvatore, Augustus and Alexander, along with Tommy (100m and 200m) and Augustus (100m & 200m) and Alexander (200m) will now progress to compete at NSWCPS MacKillop Athletics at Homebush in September.

Western Region Zone Athletics Team

Salvatore, Cooper M, Augustus, Finlay, Rosemary, Savannah, Tommy C, Emily, Alexander, Daisy, and Heath.   

Chris Lawrence 7-a-side Rugby League Gala Day

The expression of interest for this event has closed. Teams will be announced soon. If you are able to assist with coaching or managing a team please contact Ms Worner via the office.  

A representative from the NRL will be attending the school on Tuesday 29 August to take the teams through session on tackling.  Students will need to bring a mouthguard to school that day.  They are also welcome to bring headgear, shoulderpads etc.

Save the Date!

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

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!

Tulip Time

Our Liturgy Group are busy preparing an exciting repertoire of pop music to perform at the Tulip Time Festival. They are performing on Wednesday 20th September from 11:30-12:30pm.

All Welcome to come along and support our amazing STA performers.

Religious Education Co-ordinator

Parish News

Trivia Night

The Parish is holding a Trivia Night on Friday 20 October 2023.  See details in the bulletin.

Year 6 Writing Samples

Library News - Book Week 2023

Wollongong Diocesan Athletics Trials

We congratulate all competitors who took part in the Wollongong Diocesan Athletics Trials held at Beaton Park last week.

Congratulations to the students who will be part of the MacKillop team to compete at Homebush on Monday 18 September:

Tommy C, Salvatore D, Cooper M, Alexander M, Augustus M

Good luck boys!

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