St Thomas’ Primary School is part of a faith community centred on the life of Jesus, as expressed in our Motto, ‘Together in Christ’

Our Vision is to 'Educate the Whole Child' and empower learners as global citizens, to be curious, collaborative, creative and critical thinkers, inspired by Christ.

Term Four

Monday 21 November to Friday 2 December - Swimming

Tuesday 22 November - AGM - 6pm

Wednesday 23 November - Tiny Toms 9am

Wednesday 30 November - Tiny Toms 9am

Thursday 1 December - Keyed Up Music Concert 3.15pm

Friday 2 December - Keyed Up Music Concert 3.15pm

Mon. 5 December - Transition/Orientation Morning 2023 9am -11am

Tuesday 6 December - Christmas Concert & Family Picnic

Thursday 8 December - Graduation Year 6

Friday 9 December - Year 6 Excursion

Friday 9 December - Last day of the school term for students

(Full 2023term dates at the end of this newsletter)

Dear God
of Wonder,
Help us to have as much faith as the wise men
Who followed your star to find Jesus.
Lead us along the right paths
And help us to recognise Jesus
In the people we meet
As we travel through life.
Amen

Dear Parents and Caregivers

It’s an exciting time of the year as we lead into preparation for Christmas. Next week we begin two weeks of swimming lessons followed by a week of celebrations with our orientation morning, Christmas Concert and Year 6 Graduation.

Christmas Concert 2022

This year's Christmas concert, “That’s Christmas to Me”, has been especially written for our school community and features songs from all our students from Pre-kindy to Year 6. The story is about Christmas and the special traditions we use to celebrate this special time of year. Lead by our Year 6 students, the story follows the journey of a group of toys who find themselves as presents under a Christmas Tree. Unsure what Christmas is all about they are guided by two Christmas decorations, a Star, and an Angel, to discover the true meaning of Christmas and what really makes a beautiful Christmas.

The Christmas Concert will be held outside on the top oval on:

· Tuesday 6 December

· 5pm – 6pm Family picnic (optional)

· 6pm - 7.30pm Concert

Please save the date in your diary. Grandparents and family are all welcome.

Volunteers & Welcome Morning Tea

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has supported the learning of our students this year, whether it was on our Advisory Council, P & F, Men of St Thomas’, parent helpers in the classroom, on excursions, for the ARTs Show and for all celebrations. It was lovely to see so many of you join us for morning tea.

Annual School Community Meeting

The Annual School Community Meeting will be held this Tuesday 22 November at 6pm in the school hall. Please consider coming along to celebrate the 2022 school year and to hear the staff allocations for 2023. Refreshments will be available from 6pm with the meeting starting at 6.30pm. All parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

Wishing you a wonderful week.

May God bless you.

Natalia Thomson

Principal

HIGHWAY HEROES / WELLBEING

Staff very much enjoyed hearing from a CEWA Wellbeing consultant earlier this week. The topic was ’Staff Self Care’ which is a lead-in to whole-school planning around 'wellbeing'. Deb Perich from CEWA guided staff through some current research and strategies to ensure we are high-functioning in our roles as educators, as well as how we can assist students in this space. In 2022 each class has implemented a ‘check-in’ survey in line with our Strategic Plan actions. Last week’s results indicated almost 100% of students feeling happy, safe and comfortable at school, with friendship disagreements (common amongst primary school aged children!) being the main issue for the small minority of those who responded in the negative. Teachers work with students who report feeling unhappy, to address their concerns as soon as possible. Our Highway Heroes social-emotional curriculum is a neat dovetail into these wellbing check-ins, of which the language of students and the tools they chose to overcome bumps, became a topic of conversation at the staff meeting.

SWIMMING LESSONS

Next week we will start swimming lessons for PP-Year 6 students. Years 5 & 6 will participate at Cottesloe Beach, Years 3 & 4 will have their first week at Claremont Pool and second week at the beach, while PP, Years 1 & 2 will stay at Claremont Pool for both weeks. Please ensure your child has all they need each day for these lessons. If your child will be absent, I ask parents to advise their child's teacher as soon as possible to assist with transport arrangements.

MAKERSPACE RESOURCES

Our MakerSpace is a well resourced space where children can be creative and curious, collaborate and problem solve, and align STEM thinking to curriculum concepts. If parents have any of the following objects at home, we would love to recycle them here in our MakerSpace. Thank you in advance!

Egg cartons, bottle tops, small cardboard boxes, bread ties, water bottles (dried out) 600ml max, cardboard tubes (from glad wrap/alfoil rolls, NOT toilet rolls), wool, and scraps of ribbon and fabric.

The P&F is seeking nominations for the Executive roles of President and Secretary for 2023. All St Thomas parents, both mothers, fathers and guardians from any year group, are eligible to nominate for these roles. Each role is for a two year term and no prior experience is required.

President
The President of the P&F is primarily responsible for planning and managing the affairs of the P&F and the P&F Executive. The role of President includes the following:

- Chairing P&F meetings (currently, there are two meetings per term);
- Liaising with the Principal, Advisory Council and School leadership team regarding P&F initiatives and investments;
- Overseeing the organisation of P&F events; and
- Working with the P&F Treasurer to budget the P&F’s finances.

Secretary
The Secretary of the P&F is primarily responsible for the administrative aspects of the P&F. The role of Secretary includes the following:

- Recording minutes at each P&F meeting;
- Preparing the agenda for each P&F meeting; and
- Assisting with the oversight and organization of P&F events.

If you would like to nominate for either role, please do so in writing by emailing Mrs Julie Wray. Nominations close Friday, 18 November, and positions will be announced at the School AGM on Tuesday, 22 November.

Should you have any questions regarding these positions, what each role involves or the nomination/election process, please contact the School or our President Bianca Della Vedova directly on 0408 944 665.

Annual General Community Meeting (AGCM)

A friendly reminder that the Annual General Community Meeting for St Thomas’ will be held on Tuesday 22 November. Please join us for refreshments at 6pm in the Hall followed by the meeting at 6.30pm. Staffing for 2023 will be announced, and there will be a report on the 2022 school year. All parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

It is vitally important that parents and caregivers inform the school if your child tests positive for COVID-19. Parents and caregivers can inform the school of their child’s positive or negative COVID result via this LINK.

A friendly reminder to also register your positive RAT result to the WA Health RAT Register on this LINK

Thank you

Instrumental music lessons are available at St Thomas' Primary. Children can learn voice, keyboard, piano, violin, drums, guitar and flute. Please contact the school office for a music form if your child is interested.