Filter Content
- Reflection
- Principal's Message
- Book Week 2021 STM
- Red Cross visit - The Pillowcase Project
- STM Achievers
- Mary MacKillop Feast Day Celebrations
- Father's Day breakfast invitation
- P&F and Community Gatherings
- Notification if not returning to STM in 2022
- TCEO Book Blogger Celebration
- Singfest tickets - on sale now
- 2021 Tasmanian Schools Triathlon Challenge
- Parish Bulletin
- Competition time with Maggie Gordon
- Community News
Reflection
The overarching theme of the readings for this Sunday is ‘words spoken in truth’. On one level, the laws are the words of the covenant. They are part of the contract that was drawn up between God and the people. They are words of truth, because they are the reliable revelation of God and because they genuinely reflect righteous living. The biblical covenant laws are truly humane. Obedience to the words of the covenant leads to life and blessings, while disobedience results in the opposite.
Our religious customs always carry some profound religious meaning, but we may not know or care what it is – and yet we perform them. Do people know or care why we stand or sit or kneel during liturgy? Do people have a ‘church’ wedding because it is a religious event, or because ‘that's the way we have always done it”? Religious practices do not always flow from a deep religious conviction. But once we realise our need for God, these practices become genuine expressions of religious sentiment.
When the word of God has taken root in us, everything becomes a religious practice. This word can come to us through the teachings of our faith, through the example of good people around us, through the wonder and mystery of creation. When it does take hold of us, our inner eye is opened, our hearts are softened, and we turn instinctively to God like a flower turns to the sun. When we are brought to birth in this way, covenant law becomes sacred, religious practices are cherished, and we are filled with the power that saves.
© Dianne Bergant CSA
Dear Families,
You have most likely read the news that next year I have accepted a secondment as the Regional Principal Leader North, a role I am looking forward to as it will give me an opportunity to work across all our north and north-west Catholic Schools supporting my colleague principals. Although I will not be based in St Thomas More’s next year, I will visit regularly and provide support to the Acting Principal ensuring St Thomas More’s continues to flourish.
Ms Rosevear our Prep T teacher, who was finishing up at the end of term, has advised me that she is unable to return to school. We wish her all the best both personally and professionally in the future. As this is a sudden departure Mrs Marie Osbourne will be teaching Prep for the remainder of the term and Mrs Danielle Hodgetts will be teaching Prep T from the beginning of Term 4. Mrs Hodgetts will come to us from St Patrick’s College (2021). Prior to this Mrs Hodgetts has taught for 11 years at St Peter Chanel's Catholic School (2009-2020). Mrs Hodgetts has teaching experience across all grades, including several years of teaching Early Years (K-Grade 2) students. I am confident Mrs Hodgetts will provide the children of Prep with a great end to their year.
Last Wednesday the remainder of our Confirmation candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation. We congratulate our students on this and acknowledge the work they have put into preparing for this important event. We continue to pray for these students as they prepare to receive the Sacrament of First Eucharist in a couple of weeks.
Yesterday at the Conference of Catholic Educational Leaders, Rodney Eade spoke with us about the Fathering Project and the importance of male role models actively engaging with their children. (For those who don’t follow AFL, Rodney Eade is a former AFL player and coach.) With Father’s Day coming up it is important that we remember that our children do need good male role models in their lives, who spend quality time with them. Below are a couple of facts from the Fathering Project website about the importance of male role models.
- Children whose fathers participate in school activities, meetings and events also enjoy school more, are less likely to have behaviour issues and are more likely to participate in extracurricular activities.
- Children do better in school when their fathers are involved in their school, regardless of whether their fathers live with them or live apart.
https://thefatheringproject.org/research/evidence-supporting-tfp-in-schools/
For more information, please visit the Fathering Project Website and if any dad/father figure would like to establish a school-based Dads’ group please contact me.
Our Family Fiesta to be held on Friday 5th November 2021 will be different to our traditional school fairs and will be limited to school families only, this is due to covid restrictions. Our aim is to provide a relaxed gathering for our school community. Our committee is always looking for assistance, please contact the office if you can spare some time to help.
Have a great week.
Shayne Kidd
PRINCIPAL
27th August 2020
STM staff and students have spent a wonderful week celebrating Book Week. CBCA Book Week aims to promote reading and to celebrate quality Australian children’s literature and has done so successfully for the past 75 years. The theme this year was Old Worlds, New Worlds, Other Worlds.
We held our fabulous Readers’ Picnic on Monday and, despite the inclement weather, we had a great time sharing our favourite books with our friends, family and buddies. We looked at the shortlisted and award-winning books during our Library lessons, voted for our favourites and participated in our very exciting Book Week Quiz. We travelled to Old Worlds, New Worlds and Other Worlds using QR codes and swam with manta rays and sharks, visited the ruins in Pompeii, scaled down a crevasse in the Arctic, explored lava tubes in Hawaii, travelled through space and examined a dinosaur in a museum far away. Prep and Kinder students made dog and bird puppets inspired by some of the wonderful shortlisted books.
What a wonderful way to celebrate Book Week!!
Rebecca Thomas
Librarian
Red Cross visit - The Pillowcase Project
Please enjoy a snapshot of our visit from Red Cross volunteers Kim and Ian, sharing with our Gr3/4 students the Pillowcase Program.
"The Red Cross came to visit all the 3/4 classes on Tuesday. They taught us about feeling safe when there is an emergency. If there are some things you want to bring with you, you can use a pillowcase and put the things in the pillowcase like a water bottle, something special, something to do and food that doesn’t go off.
Thank you Kim and Ian for teaching us about how to prepare for emergencies."
By Neve, Mikaela and Samuel.
Further details regarding this program can be found here.
Congratulations to Connor, Amber, Isobel, Amelia and Phoebe, who have received 25 and 50 stickers in their Student Acknowledgement booklets. These stickers are given to students displaying positive and respectful behaviour in the playground. They are a great role model for others. Well done!
Notification if not returning to STM in 2022
As we begin the end of year preparations, please inform the office if you are not intending to continue at STM. As per terms and conditions of your enrolment, we do require 10 weeks notice before the end of the school year.
Please contact the office on 03 6337 7200 or stm@catholic.tas.edu.au if you have any queries.
Congratulations to Angus Scharm (5/6T), Elizabeth Man Khawl Lun (3/4S), Austen Rockliffe (5/6M), and Marina Stagg and Lucie Hall (5/6T) who have been selected as STM finalists in the TCEO Book Blogger Celebration. These students have been entered into the northern section of the statewide competition and have the chance to win a $100 book voucher.
We received so many wonderful entries and these are available to view on our STM What Are You Reading wakelet. Well done to all students who entered!
Rebecca Thomas
Librarian
Singfest tickets - on sale now
This year St Thomas More's will be participating in Singfest on Wednesday 22nd September.
Ticketing – This year Singfest have moved to a different ticketing system and are using Try booking. There are NO CASH SALES on the door this year (Covid requirement). Audience members will have the option to either download their ticket to their phone for scanning or print a paper copy of the ticket. Tickets are available to purchase now. The link is https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing?eid=797243
2021 Tasmanian Schools Triathlon Challenge
The 2021 Tasmanian Schools Triathlon Challenge to be held in Devonport is now open for entry for Grade 3-6 students. Please check your Compass events for details and registration information.
Information about the event can be found at www.schoolstriathlonchallenge.com
Dear Families,
Attached is this coming weekend’s Launceston Parish Bulletin.
Regards,
FR Mark Freeman
Parish Priest
Competition time with Maggie Gordon
Competition time…Hip Hip Hooray my first children’s book Polly Profiterole is turning 2! Two lucky children will win a copy of ‘Polly Profiterole’s Little Town Good Enough to Eat.’
How would you like to live in a town that had absolutely no shops, school, church or pub?
Well, Polly Profiterole did…and she was quite fed up. One day she woke up with a great idea…she would bake a town and her husband Percy would build it! A Jam Drop Dress Shop, an Apple Strudel School, a Cup Cake Coffee Shop…
NOW ITS YOUR TURN…
To enter:
*Follow my Facebook page @maggiemaygordonauthor OR Instagram account @maggiemaygordon_author
*Comment on post with would you would like Polly to bake for the town…get creative and it needs to get my tummy rumbling!
Must have Australian residential address.
Competition closes 31st August 2021.
Winner will be chosen from Facebook & Instagram entries.
Winner announced on the 1st September 2021.