Dear Parents and Caregivers

As it is the final week of the term, it is important to reflect on the many wonderful learning opportunities and events that have occurred!

Over the past ten weeks we have had many learning opportunities and opportunities to gather together as a faith and learning community including Whole School Assemblies, Year 6 Mass with Bishop Brian, Book Week Celebration, Author Visit - Deb Abela (Years 3-6), Perform Education - Book Week Performance (K-2), K-6 Bowral Town Library Visits, Public Speaking Competition, Gymnastics Program, NSW Hockey Program, NSW Netball Cup South Coast Regional Finals Day, Regional & Diocesan Athletics, Chris Lawrence Rugby League Gala Day, Western Region Football (Soccer) Gala Day, Year 5 Leadership Day 3, Father's Day Prayer & BBQ, R U OK Day Event (Years 4 & 6) at Bradman Oval, Kindergarten Excursion - Discovery Space, Year 3 Excursion - Hyde Park Barracks, Year 5 Excursion - Minnamurra Rainforest, SPLICED Workshop with St Michael's Mittagong, Liturgies for the Feast of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and the Feast of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

With this in mind, I wish all our students and their families a safe and restful break and look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday, 9 October.

In any school, its effectiveness is reflected in the quality partnerships that exist between school and home. I thank all those who have supported their child in their learning, making sure that your child arrives at school ready to learn, placing emphasis on the importance of attendance, speaking encouragingly to your child about your child's teachers and supporting the school when your child's behaviours for learning miss the mark. The support of families in so many aspects of school life is valued and appreciated, but your support for the work of our teachers and staff is by far the greatest contribution you can make to your child's learning and the overall effectiveness of the school.

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. 

Focus on Writing

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.

Because, But, So

Our students have been learning about the power of using because, but and so to create more detailed and mature sentences. 

Year 1

Year 1 1.70 MB

Year 2

Year 2 127.48 KB

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

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

Yours in partnership

Mr Anthony McElhone

Principal

Parent Listening Forum - 1 November 2023

At St Thomas Aquinas we are at the point in the Continuous Catholic School Improvement (CCSI) cycle where we need to develop a new School Strategic Improvement Plan (SSIP). This is a four year plan that focuses on three strategic priorities (faith formation, learning/wellbeing, community). It is important to capture the voice of all key stakeholders in this process (i.e., staff, students & parents).

Therefore we are conducting a ‘listening forum’ for the parents on 1 November from 6:30-8:30pm. Further information about this event will be published early next term. It is hoped that we will have a strong representation of parents from across all grades within the school attend this important meeting.

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!

Save the Date!  P & F Meeting

The first meeting of the re-established P&F Association will be held on Wednesday, 18 October at 6:30pm. All are warmly invited! It will be held in the FGC and entry to the school will be via the back gate (Victoria Street).

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

Sporting News

Upcoming Events

Postponed              CEDoW Basketball Gala Day (Term 4 date TBA)

18 September        MacKillop Athletics

12 October             Cricket Gala Day (Yrs 5 & 6) 

Diocese of Wollongong Pathway Sport Trials

Opportunities exist within our school for students in Yr 5 and Yr 6 to access the representative sporting pathways. Students are invited to attend trials for positions in Wollongong diocese representative teams for the following summer and winter sports: AFL, Basketball, Tennis, Cricket, Touch, Softball, Football (soccer) Rugby League, Rugby Union, Hockey and Netball.  These trials are held annually and link to the MacKillop selection trials.

Any student wishing to trial for a pathway sport needs to nominate and register for these events through the school Sport Coordinator at the start of Term 4 (October) for trials in the preceding year. These nominations will be advertised to the students of Yr 4 and Yr 5 through the Sport Coordinator and via the school newsletter. Nominations after the due date unfortunately can not be accepted.

The Diocese of Wollongong Pathway Sport trials are aimed at students that have adequate experience and training in the given sport. Representative experience is preferential. These trials are not for students wishing to give a new sport a go. There are many other sporting opportunities available for students to participate in new sports such as the Gala Days.

Each sport available has a set criteria for the nominees. Some sports such as netball and soccer are extremely popular, therefore representative experience may be needed to nominate for these trials. All nominations need to be approved by the Sport Coordinator and the School Principal before being sent to the event convenors. Nominations are then reviewed and finalised by the event convenors, who will inform the school Sport Coordinator of the successful and unsuccessful nominations. Successful nominees will be provided with the details of the Wollongong team trials.

Please refer to the flowchart below for further details on the nomination and trial process.

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

There is no Children's Liturgy during the school holiday period.

Tulip Time

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

Stage 3 Christmas Art

Years 5 and 6 students from Catholic schools across the Diocese of Wollongong were invited to take part in the annual Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition.

The Christmas Story Art Exhibition and Competition is an initiative of the Catholic Education Offices in Wollongong and Sydney, designed to celebrate and explore children’s creative and artistic ability in illustrating the Christmas story.

This exhibition and competition provides the opportunity for Years 5 and 6 students to share with the wider community a greater awareness of the role of the arts in Religious Education. Children can develop deeper appreciation for their talents and recognise the value of the arts in expressing understandings of the Catholic faith.

This year we had 21 excellent entries from which the school had to choose 3 x Year 5 and 3 x Year 6 artworks to enter in the competition.  Thank you very much to the staff who advised the children and assisted with words, colour selection, framing etc.

Alice W (Yr 5) and Sam N (Yr 6) have been chosen as part of the top 44 artworks to be exhibited at the Wollongong Art Gallery. These are the artworks that were judged to best respond to the criteria and were exemplary of Stage 3 reflective writing and artistic skills.  We wish them the best of luck on Wednesday 11 October when the winners will be announced.

Congratulations to Poppy C, Georgie C, Emily T, and Piper W whose amazing artworks were chosen by the students and staff as part of the top 6 STA entries.

Congratulations also to Amy S, Anelle P, Charlotte S, Cooper M, Freddie W, Hudson S, Isabella B, Jenny Y, Jimmy H, Maya F, Paige S, Rhys J, Sascha C, Tom W and Zara S who created excellent artworks for the competition.

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.

This term we have have had many students attend CEDoW sport events to trial for various MacKillop teams:

Cricket:  Tommy C, Sam H & Hudson S

Hockey:  Harry D

Soccer:  Maddie S

Good luck to these students this week:

Netball:  Charli A, Maya F, Autumn H & Alice W

Rugby League:  Tommy C & Hudson S

Congratulations to Mihaan P who was successful in getting through to the next level in both cricket & hockey.  

Swimming

Congratulations to all the students who attended the Western Region Swimming Carnival last week in Campbelltown.  What a great day it was and the team achieved Overall School Champions.

 

Well done to Jacob B, Eva B, Mac D, Charlize D, Harper G, Douglas H, Allira H, Daisy H & Angus W

Good luck to the students who will now represent the school at the CEDoW swimming trials next Monday in Corrimal:

Lydia B, Eva B, Cleme C, Harvey C, Sascha C, Billy H, Autumn H, Tobias H, Ryan K, Thomas L, Phoebe R, Lily S, Erin S & Harrison Y

Cricket

Today we hope that Tommy C, Harry D, Charles H, Samuel H, Liam K, Alexander M, Mathew P, Orlando P, Mihaan P, Hudson S, Hunter W and Georgia W enjoy taking part in the Mark Taylor Shield Competition at Chevalier College.  This is an Inter Diocesan Cricket Knockout 30 over competition.   Good luck all!

Year 4 & 6

On Thursday 7 September our Yr 4 and Yr 6 students walked to Bradman Oval to be part of a local event to spread the word about the importance of asking “RUOK?” It was a perfect spring day, the children and staff all enjoyed the event and it was a great success.

Writing Samples - 4 Gold

Year 5

Yesterday, Year 5 enjoyed a fabulous excursion to Minnamurra Rainforest as part of their Geography learning. It was a picture perfect day and a wonderful learning experience for all!

Contacting staff

• If you need to email a staff member, could you please use the email address:  info@stabdow.catholic.edu.au and your email will be directed to the relevant staff member for you.
• If you would like to make an appointment with a staff member (including the Principal and Assistant Principal) could you please contact the office to organise a convenient time.

Held at Guntawang Catholic Youth Centre - Woolgemai Campground near Picton, this weekend is growing in popularity and bringing Catholic families from around the Diocese together for food, fun and fellowship with camping and bunk room accommodation options. For more information and bookings follow this link: Compass: Catholic Family Camping Weekend.

Mittagong Swim Club