22 March 2018

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Dear Parents and Friends of our School,

This weekend we commence Holy Week, where we hear the story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, commonly known as Palm Sunday. In this story Jesus is treated like a King with the people of Jerusalem lining the streets to welcome him to their city. Our Gospel then shares the story after the Passover Meal where Jesus is betrayed, leading to his trial and crucifixion. There are many themes and messages in the Gospel, however I would like to discuss the true love of God. When Jesus needed his friends the most they abandoned him, by falling asleep in the Garden when he was praying and Peter publicly denying him three times. However even after all this Jesus held no grudge, and after his resurrection he went back to these same people and asked them to carry on his ministry. If you endured what Jesus endured do you think you could return to the people who abandoned you? This is evidence of true unconditional love God has for us all. It is never too late for us to be welcomed back to the Church, so this Easter take some time to try and disconnect from our busy lives and spend some time with God.

This week we celebrate Catholic Education Week. Catholic Education began in Australia in the early 19th Century to provide schooling for mainly the poor and marginalised. Father’s Therry and Connolly are credited, with the significant development of Australian Catholic schools and in 1833 our country had 10 schools. By 1850 Australian Catholic schools were losing government support, so to continue their mission, religious orders where brought over from overseas, as the Church had no money to pay teachers. By 1910 we had over 5000 religious teaching in our schools. Our school’s tradition is uniquely Australian, being founded by Saint Mary of the Cross and Father Julian Tenison Woods in a small cottage, then a stable in Penola, South Australia in the 1860’s and in 1887 the first Josephite school was established in Tasmania at Westbury. St Thomas More opened its doors in 1938 with 15 students under the leadership of Sister Mary Camillius.

Last Thursday we participated in the NJISSA Swimming Carnival. Congratulations to our team who came 4th in the competition, an outstanding performance.

Last Friday all of our classes participated in Bullying – No – Way. Over the course of the year we’ll continue to provide specific lessons on bullying, teaching our students strategies to overcome bullying in our society.

God Bless,
Mr Shayne Kidd
Principal

IMPORTANT: Closing Gates

It is vitally important that all boundary gates are properly closed when entering and exiting the school as we have a number of younger students that are known to exit these gates if they are not closed.

We also ask that Parents and Students not use the staff gate coming in from the car park on Campbell St.

Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter.

IMPORTANT: Unsupervised Students

Before School

A reminder that students who arrive at school before 8:30 are not directly supervised by a duty teacher. Therefore, these students must sit down in the Piazza and wait quietly until the 8:30 bell goes. We ask parents to remind their children as we have had a number of students that have not been following this instruction. If your child/ren must be dropped off well before 8:30 it is preferable to book them into before school care.

After School

Students should not be left at school unsupervised at the end of the school day. There are duties on Abbott St until 3:25pm and on Campbell St until 3:20pm where students that are being picked up should be. No students should be anywhere else in the school grounds unless supervised by a parent/carer (this includes any after school sport training). We thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

Community Care Meal Roster

Student Medical Detail Changes

If medical information has changed for your child and this hasn’t yet been passed on to the school office, can you please ensure this happens at your earliest convenience? Also, if you have previously supplied an epi-pen; other medication; or similar…. which may have since expired, so a replacement is required, please contact the school.

School Uniform Donations

Donations of outgrown school uniforms can be left at the office to be shared with families in our community. Any families needing uniform items please contact Jacquie Wood: jacquie.wood@catholic.tas.edu.au.

2018 Schoolzine Calendar

All of the known dates for 2018 have been put into the calendar on Schoolzine. More dates will be added as they become available.

Book Club

Throughout the year we administer Book Club for Scholastic Australia. Approximately every month the children will be given brochures offering books for sale. Please feel no obligation to buy.

If purchasing, please return the form to school together with payment in a clearly marked envelope with your child’s name and grade. The options are: cash – please endeavour to have the correct money, cheque – made out to Scholastic and credit card. If paying by credit card you are now able to use Book Clubs LOOP system. Loop allows parents to order and pay via the Scholastic website or app. Books are sent directly to the school and distributed to students.

The school receives commission from sales in the form of books for the Library.

Rebecca Thomas
Library

Lego Competition

STM Techspot – Dangers of Online Video Content

YouTube continues to grow in popularity, especially with children. We like YouTube, it has some great educational resources and is super handy when learning how to try a DIY project at home. However, YouTube has some EXTREMELLY NASTY STUFF on it, often posted by adults, but also posted by children. One of the things we find children watch on YouTube are videos that they consider to be “funny”, but are often wildly inappropriate. These videos can be about, but are not limited to, things that are based on an interest of the child’s. For example, Minecraft (that ever popular mining/building/ZOMBIE game) videos are one of the big ones that children watch. People do some pretty cool stuff on Minecraft, but some of these videos include adults doing some pretty silly stuff and using terrible language while they are at it.

Something else that has us extremely concerned at the moment is that students are coming to school and discussing inappropriate things that they have seen on YouTube or a website at home/elsewhere. Furthermore, students are also recommending that other students go home and watch these inappropriate videos. This recommendation then gets passed down the line from student to student, and in some cases students are recommending inappropriate videos to others that they have not even seen themselves. Often these videos have inconspicuous names that do not immediately identify them as being inappropriate. This is a real trap for the unsuspecting student that goes home to search the recommended video/website. We recognise and thank those students and parents that have had discussions around this issue already.

We strongly recommend that all YouTube , other streaming website use and internet use in general at home/elsewhere is strictly monitored with clear boundaries are set. Also, we are aware that some of our students have been creating and posting their own videos on YouTube. Some of these are possibly inappropriate and some videos depict the students in full school uniform and/or giving away personal information (very dangerous).

If you want your children to still have access to YouTube, but in a child friendly environment, YouTube Kids is the way to go. See the link to the website below.

We thank you in advance as parents of our school community for taking this matter seriously for the safety of all of our students.

Fees

Invoices sent

Invoices for 2018 have now been emailed and will also be sent home in hard copy via eldest students. You will also have received Direct Debit and Payment Forms via Schoolzine email and via the Schoolzine App.

Thank You

Thank you to all parents who continue to pay fees regularly through direct debit. Please be aware that at enrolment the signatories on the enrolment form continue to be responsible for fees even if family situations change.

RWVP Card

Parents, Grandparents and Caregivers are reminded that if they wish to do Parent Help with their children they must have a current RWVP card, which has been copied and held on file at the office.

How to apply for a RWVP Check & Number

1. Complete the online application form in the link below.
2. Print the “Application Receipt” which is generated when the application has been completed in full.
3. Take the “Application Receipt” (and your 100 point check to confirm identity) to a Service Tas Shop and pay the fee.
4. Take your RWVP card to the school office where your number will be recorded. If you are not recorded in the office you will not be able to do parent help, camp, etc.

UPCOMING EVENTS

30 MARCH – GOOD FRIDAY (HOLIDAY)
2 APRIL – EASTER MONDAY (HOLIDAY)
3 APRIL – EASTER TUESDAY (HOLIDAY)
13 APRIL – LAST DAY TERM 1
30 APRIL – PUPIL FREE DAY (MONDAY)
1 MAY – FIRST STUDENT DAY TERM 2 (TUESDAY)
7 MAY – FUTSAL DAY
9 MAY – STM CROSS COUNTRY DAY

PLEASE SEE THE SCHOOLZINE CALENDAR FOR SACRAMENTAL DATES & INFO

2018 Term Dates

Gallery

NIJSSA Swimming Carnival

Outside School Notices

St Pat’s – Performance Showcase

East Launceston Junior Football Club - Auskick

East Launceston Junior Football Club Auskick Centre commences Friday 6th April 2018 from 3.30pm to 4.30pm at the NTCA Ground in Launceston. Free BBQ on 6th April - Come and Try

Boys and girls aged 5 to 7 years welcome. Also boys and girls in u9, u10s and girls 9-13 welcome to join ELJFC junior teams.

Regards
John Parker
Vice President.

Good Autism Friend

Launceston Central City - Crazy Day