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Dear Parents and Caregivers
As you would be aware, last Friday our Year 5 and 6 students ran the ‘Mission Market Day’. This event was to support Catholic Mission Month which takes place around the world in October every year. Mission Month is an opportunity for reflection, prayer and support for the missionary efforts of individuals, communities and the whole Church. The money raised will go towards supporting the work of Salesian Sisters in Timor-Leste.
However being a person of Mission goes beyond just a one off event each October. Pope Francis reminds us the importance of transmitting Mission in our relationships by being people who relate to others in our community.
Pope Francis wrote 6 ‘modern Beatitudes’, that he proposed at Malmo, Sweden, on All Saints Day 2016:
- Blessed are those who remain faithful
- Blessed are those who look into the eyes of the abandoned and marginalised and show them their closeness.
- Blessed are those who see God in every person and strive to make others also discover him.
- Blessed are those who protect and care for our common home.
- Blessed are those who renounce their own comfort in order to help others.
- Blessed are those who pray and work for full communion between Christians.
The modern day beatitudes that Pope Francis writes about extends the Religious writers Jim and Therese D’Orsa’s message, who call for the need to live the Gospel message in responding to the needs of our young people in 2023. This need of a framework of the ethic of the personhood of Jesus, his messages and the values he taught and modelled, brings a missionary impulse where we build strong relational communities who contribute to building the Kingdom of God.
Who will invite me into relationship today, sparking my missionary impulse to contribute to building God’s kingdom?
Learning Update - Focus on Writing
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.
Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences
Our students have been learning about the use of simple, compound and complex sentences in their writing to bring about sophistication and varied structure, which supports engagement of the audience. So, what are simple, compound and complex sentences?
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A simple sentence is a single independent clause that expresses a complete thought. It has a subject and a verb and may also have an object. Example: John went to the store. Example: I found the key to the chest in the drawer of my desk. |
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A compound sentence contains two or more independent clauses. Since independent clauses can stand by themselves, each side of a compound sentence could stand as its own sentence. The two clauses in a compound sentence are joined with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so). Example: John went to the store, but it was closed. Example: I found the key to the chest in the drawer of my desk, and I gave it to my mum so I wouldn’t lose it again. |
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A complex sentence contains an independent clause and one or more subordinate (or dependent) clauses. The subordinate clause is joined to the main clause by subordinating conjunctions. There are many subordinating conjunctions including common ones such as: because, since, as soon as, although, while, so that. Example: While Jeff ate his pizza, Evelyn poured some lemonade. Example: The movie was excellent although I didn’t care much for the ending. Example: The chair, which is covered in expensive fabric, now has coffee stains on it. |
Stay tuned for more information in the next newsletter…..
Yours in partnership
Mr Anthony McElhone
Principal
Parent Listening Forum - 1 November 2023
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
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:
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Date |
Staff Members |
Professional Learning |
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2 November |
Mrs McFayden |
Primary REC Network Day |
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6 November |
Mrs Robinson, Mrs McFayden |
3 - 6 Curriculum Advisor - Mathematics Day |
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14 November |
Mr McElhone, Mrs Robinson |
System Leaders Profesional Learning Day |
Key Dates:
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1 November |
6:30 - 8 pm Listening Forum |
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3 November |
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8 November |
G Day commencing with Mass @ 9.30 am |
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10 November |
Musica Viva Performance (Whole School) - FGC |
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16 November |
Year 5 Leadership - Day 4 |
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17 November |
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26 November |
First Holy Communion |
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29 November |
5:00-7:00pm Christmas Concert & BBQ |
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1 December |
Whole School Assembly |
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2 December |
5:00pm End of Year Mass (Saturday) |
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4-6 December |
Year 6 Camp |
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5 December |
Year 3 - Frensham performance of "Addams Family" |
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13 December |
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15 December |
9:15 am End of Year Assembly |
Sporting News
Congratulations to Kleo (Yr 5) and Gabbi (Yr 3) who have qualified for the CEDoW Diocesan Tennis Trials later this month. We wish them both good luck.
Save the Date!
- Sunday 26th November: First Holy Communion at 11am
- Wednesday 29th November: Christmas Concert and BBQ 5-7pm
- Whole School and Parish Thanksgiving Mass- Saturday 2 December at 5pm
- Friday 15th December: End of Year Assembly and Awards at 9:15am
Mission Market Day
What an amazing day we had! A huge thank you to our Year 5 and 6 students who with the aid of their families planned a wonderful morning to remember October as Mission month! The students hade so much fun and we raised over $3,000 to support the work of the Salesian Sisters in Timor-Leste.
Early & Stage 1 Mass
All students, from both our school and St Michael’s Mittagong, especially our Early and Stage 1 students are encouraged to attend Parish Mass this Sunday 5th November at 5pm. Our Liturgy Group students will lead us in song.
Next Wednesday 8th November is our annual G-Day! We will begin with Mass at 9:30am, followed by a picnic morning tea in the playground and then open classrooms. All parents, grandparents and other special people are most welcome to join us.
Renee McFayden
Religious Education Co-ordinator
Parish News
P & F Association
The first meeting of the re-established P&F Association was held on Wednesday, 18 October at 6:30pm. This is a synopsis taken from the St Thomas Parent Hub on Facebook:
It was a great evening where we started mapping out what 2024 at STA will look like in terms of events and fundraising, with a focus on building a strong school community we can all enjoy and benefit from being a part of.
Just a few of the things discussed were:-
• A major fundraising project that money raised will be directed into
• Reintroduction of welcome drinks at the beginning of the year
• Opportunities for parents/grandparents/everyone to be involved (as little or as much as you like!)
• 2024 Trivia Night
And lots more!
Also, just a reminder if you haven’t already, please register to come along to the Parent Forum next week (1st Nov @ 6.30pm). It’s your chance to contribute to the development of STA’s strategic priorities in terms of the next 4 years of your child’s schooling.
Mr McElhone would love as many parents to be there in person as possible - but there will also be an opportunity to submit your thoughts via an online form. Stay tuned for more details.
Lastly, this fun bunch are the Exec P&F Team - Carl Davey, Gabbi Armstrong, Sarah Young and Justin Mulcahy. And Mr McElhone couldn’t resist getting in the shot too!
Knox D from Kinder was our lucky winner of the movie tickets
at the last assembly.
Well done Knox and enjoy your trip to the cinema with the family!
Just a reminder that a link to our School Calendar can be found on the STA website, when viewing the newsletter, and on your Compass feed. |
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.
Thank you for your understanding.
School Fees
All school fees need to be finalised by the beginning of December. If you are having difficulty with payment could you please contact Shauna in the office.
School fees for 2024 are in the process of being finalised by the CEDoW. The first account will issue at the end of January for payment by the end of February. If you have not previously paid by instalments and would like to do so, please complete a Payment by Instalment form.
| November | ||
| Wednesday | 1 November |
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| Thursday | 2 November | All Souls Day |
| Friday | 3 November |
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| Sunday | 5 November | ES1/Stage 1 Mass @ 5 pm |
| Wednesday | 8 November | "G" Day commencing with Mass @ 9:30 am |
| Thursday | 9 November |
Kindergarten 2024 - Transition Playgroup 1:45 pm |
| Friday | 10 November |
Musica Viva Performance visiting STA |
| Tuesday | 14 November |
Kindergarten 2024 - Transition Playgroup 9 am |
| Friday | 17 November |
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| Tuesday | 21 November |
Surf Life Saving - Beach to Bush program visit |
| Thursday | 22 November |
Kindergarten 2024 - Transition Playgroup 1:45 pm |
| Friday | 24 November |
Dance program #4 |
| Sunday | 26 November |
First Holy Communion |
| Wednesday | 29 November |
Christmas Concert & BBQ: 5 - 7 pm |
| December | ||
| Friday | 1 December |
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| Saturday | 2 December |
Whole School End of Year Mass: 5 pm Bowral Church |
| Mon - Wed | 4-6 December |
Year 6 Camp - Fitzroy Falls |
| Tuesday | 5 December | Year 3 - Frensham play "Addams Family" |
| Friday | 8 December | Semester 2 reports distributed via Compass |
| Wednesday | 13 December |
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| Friday | 15 December |
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| January | ||
| Tuesday | 30 January | Staff return - Term 1 2024 |
| February | ||
| Thursday | 1 February | Students return- Term 1 2024 |
| Wednesday | 7 February | Kindergarten 2024 commence |
Public Performance: 7.30pm Friday 8 December 2023
$20 - Adult, $10 – Child under 12 years