20 September 2018

Newsletter Articles

From the Principal

Reflection

In Sunday’s Gospel we read about the Apostles arguing over which one was the greatest. Jesus’s response was to take a child and say

‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’

Richard Leonard SJ, explains below what a strong symbol Jesus was displaying by his actions of taking a child and saying what he said.

It’s amazing how a couple of pieces of information can sometimes change the way a scriptural story is read, and its importance for our lives today. We know from other documents of the same period as the New Testament that children in first century Palestine had no rights. They were possessions of their fathers, and they could be bought and sold, exploited and even killed without any recourse to the religious or civil law.

One way in which a child was publicly claimed in this society was that only their immediate family could touch them. The story, then, of Jesus embracing the child in public was in itself a social challenge to accepted customs. But it’s much more than that. In taking the children in his arms, Jesus declares that they are possessions of no one, but they belong to us all as gifts. In the family of God, children are accorded the dignity and respect we would give to God.

Today’s Gospel tells us that those who deserve our attention and esteem are the ones who are the least, the most at risk or those who put their talents and gifts at their service by making the world a better place for them. Just as he did in the market place of Galilee when he took the children in his arms, Jesus has a habit of turning our world’s values upside down.

Leonard, R. 2018.

Let us take up this challenge to use our gifts and talents for the service of others.

Dear Parents and Friends of our School,

It’s not every day you come across a dedicated and talented teacher like Mr. Barry Nas, who so freely shared his gift and love of music with students at St Thomas More’s for over 20 years. I know that some of you remember being taught by Mr. Nas and have many fond memories of his music lessons, Rock and Roll Nights and Carols Evenings. I am blessed to have the opportunity to work with Mr. Nas, even if it is only for a short time and to see first-hand his passion for music which he happily shares. As St Peter wrote, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace…”, Barry truly has shared his gift for God’s will. On behalf of the St Thomas More’s Community I wish Mr. Nas all the best as he commences his journey in retirement and I would like to thank him for all he has given St Thomas More’s.

I’m pleased to announce that in term 4 Mrs Zegveld will be teaching primary music. Mrs Zegveld is currently our Early Childhood Music Teacher and filled in for Mr Nas during Term 2.

What a busy term we have had with our students being given several opportunities to show us and the wider community their strengths and talents. Over recent weeks we have had Ella, Declan, Tom and Theo come first in the Maths Relay event, Ella, Will, Fletcher and Subi received awards at the UTAS Science Inquiry Awards - Ella came first in two categories - and Will received a Gold Medal for the ICAS Spelling Competition, Lucy came second in the National My Place Writing Competition and our Wakakirri performers won Best Inspirational Story Award. Well done to all of these students and all our students who have represented our school. The feedback I constantly receive is that our students work is at a high standard and they are well behaved. Also a big thank you to our teachers and families who provide support to ensure these events occur.

I am looking forward to watching our G3/4’s perform at the Deloraine Youth Drama Festival.

Next Wednesday is our G3-6 Athletics Carnival, I look forward to seeing many of you there.

A reminder that term 4 commences for students on Tuesday 16th October 2018.

God Bless,

Shayne Kidd
Principal

Family Mass

Catholic Standard

Important notice:

Term 4

Monday the 15 October will be a pupil free day in lieu of the Launceston Show public holiday.

Students and staff will return to school on Tuesday the 16th October.

Starting term 4 students should be dressed in full St Thomas More’s Summer uniform, please ensure to send your child/ren to school with the appropriate STM hat which can be purchases from Targgets school wear. We encourage that children apply sunscreen in the mornings.

Reminders:

As it is getting close to the end of term 3 please ensure you have a look in lost property for any belonging that may belong to you! We will be starting fresh as term 4 begins.

Dates to remember for term 4

Term 4 begins – 16th October
ECE Athletics Carnival-24th October
STM School fair – 26th October
Recreation Day – 5th November
Grandparent’s Day – 12th November
Orientation Day – 6th December
Carols on the oval – 6th December
End of year Mass – 18th December
Term 4 ends -20th December

School Uniform for 2019

Please find Targetts back to school 2019 order form below. To enable placed orders to be collected from late January 2019 or early February 2019.

All order forms need to be returned to Targetts by the end of October 2018.

Farewell Mr Nas

STM School Fair

Pick – a – Cups

Pick – a – Cup containers have been sent home in the next few days with your eldest child.

All families will receive 2 cups.

Please fill these cups with new items up to $2 value that would be of interest to children at the fair.

Suggestions: pens, marbles, small toys, cars, hair accessories, stationary, games etc.

Please keep lollies to a minimum.

All cups, including any unfilled cups can be left at the office.

Extra cups can be collected from the office.

Thank you for supporting our school fair!

Captain’s Corner

Term 3 is almost at a close and there have been many exciting things over the past couple of weeks including the UTAS Science Fair, ‘My Place’ Writing Competition and the 5 / 6 Gala Day.

There was a ‘My Place’ competition where a few people from different classes in years 3 to 6 got chosen to write a 1000 word story which had to include certain features such as background, family and life in 2018. ‘My place’ is a story book coming from different people and their perspective on their decade. The last story was in 2008 and the next one had to be in 2018. There was also a television program ‘My Place’ and the best story would be made as a series. When the story was finished Mrs. Love uploaded them to the website for the judges to judge when all of them were uploaded the judges shortlisted the top 4 and then a week later they found out what place they got. Lucy Hargreaves from Gr. 6 won 2nd place.

On Thursday 7th September, 15 students from the 5 / 6 classes went to the UTAS to present their posters to the university judges. Everyone did an amazing job with the judging and all the teachers were impressed. A few lucky projects were hand-picked by the judges to receive an award. Subi Daly won honourable mention for her inquiry on shoes and the difference the brand makes. Fletcher Targett and William Barns won third place overall and in the health and well-being category. Ella Webber won first place overall and in the health and well-being category as well. Everyone who participated did an absolutely fantastic job and you should all be proud.

With Gala day for the grade 5 / 6’s, they got to choose between either soccer, football, netball or tabloid. Football was held at the oval at St Anthony’s, and it was so muddy! Netball was held at the Hobblers Bridge courts. Soccer was held at Churchill Park and the Tabloid Sports were held at Sacred Heart. Everyone had a fun time and got fit in the process. It came out as a huge success.

From your School Captains,
Abbey, Ella, Thomas and William.

Messages from P & F

The next P & F meeting will be held on Wednesday the 26th September at 7 o’clock.

All welcome.

Maths Relay

On Sunday the 16th of September four students from STM went to the Scotch Oakburn Middle School Campus to participate in the Maths Relay. The Maths Relay is an event where lots of schools come together and compete in mathematics. It is called a relay because of the system that is used, a runner is allocated in the centre of the room and runs to the team on the edge of the room when they have solved the problem and brings it back to the marker who will say correct and give the runner a new sheet to solve or say no and you can either skip the question or try again. When you skip or solve the question the next person becomes the new runner and the process continues. Most of the questions are problem solving and as the time goes on they become more difficult and worth more points. There were around 40 teams entered in the Grade 5/6 division from the North of the state. This year the STM team consisting of Ella Webber, Thomas Fryett, Declan Rae and Theo Duff, did very well and tied with one of the other teams for 1st Place in the Grade 5/6 Northern Division. Hopefully STM continues to participate in this fun and challenging event for years’ to come.

Written by Ella Webber

Awards

Congratulations to the following children who have received an award this fortnight:

Prep Foot

Prep Greig

Romeo
Nate

1/2 Carr/Rooney

Flynn
Max
Evelyn
Alexis

1/2 Tams

Lulu
Vinton
Sean
Toby
Sunday

1/2 Scharapow/Atkins

Willow
Molly

3/4 Love/Chugg

3/4 Morgan

Jessica
Rebecca
Henry
Elyssa
Tay
Heidi

3/4 Wilson/Edwards

5/6 Healey

Abbey
Jarom

5 / 6 O’Neill

Fletcher
Ellie
Alex

5 / 6 Pearce

Thomas
Zali
Lochie

Japanese years 3/4

Heidi
Tay
Amber
Owen
Millie
Allanah

Japanese years 5/6

Eliza
William
Lucy
Liliana
Thomas
Ella
Sarah

Library

Jess 1/2SA

ICAS Medal Winner – Spelling

Congratulations to William in year 5/6 H on receiving an medal foe the ICAS-Spelling

2018 Science & Engineering Investigation Awards

Japanese – Grades 3 & 4

In Japanese this term, the Grades 3 and 4 students have been learning how to describe items and rooms within houses. They drew birds-eye diagrams of their bedrooms and labelled all of the items in Japanese script (Hiragana). The students also learnt how to make an origami house. Here are some photos from class:

School bus from Carrick/Hadspen to STM

We are looking at organising a school bus to/from Carrick/Hadspen to/from STM

If this service would be of interest of you please contact Miss de Quincey, in the school office via stm@catholic.tas.edu.au to advise days to/from and number of children.

School bus from Evandale area- Parent’s opportunity to provide feedback

The attached letter contains the proposed new routes and timetables for these services from 2019 onwards, the timetables do not reflect every stop on the routes, they are just there to provide an indicative guide to how the service will potentially operate.

2018 Term Dates

Gallery

Gala Day

tri.jpeg

The Schools Triathlon Challenge is on again this year and will be held in Devonport on Thursday 29th Nov. This is an event open to all students in Gr3-6. Students can either enter as individuals or in teams of two or three with one student completing different legs of the race. If you want to enter this event entry forms are available at the school office and information about the event can be found at www.schoolstriathlonchallenge.com

The entry fee for the event is $20 which includes backpack and finishers cap and for this you can enter both individual and team events. Entry forms can be collected it the office or downloaded from the website and these need to be returned to school with the relevant entry fee, then the school will enter all participants on a single entry form. The school needs to return the entry form by the end of term 3 (Fri 28th Sept).

Unfortunately the school is unable to provide supervision for the day so students wishing to enter they will be responsible for their own transport and supervision on the day, but it is always a popular event and it would be great to see as many students as possible compete on the day.