Dear Families,

Welcome to the 2024 Academic Year. I trust that you have had a wonderful celebration of family, good food, rest and excitement of summer and of the new year.  At Christmas we pause to find joy with one another as we share thanks for the year that has been. We bring hope for the future – with life in Jesus’ born in a manger during a time of peace in this land. Let 2024 be a special time for us all. 

I am delighted to be here in 2024 as the school Principal this year – having already spent nearly a month at the school in transition with Leah Taylor as she progressed into her new role in managing our 9 Early Learning Centres in the Canberra/Goulburn Diocese. 

I am excited to be a part of STA community and already feel very welcomed by students and families. I look forward to working with students, parents and carers throughout this year and I know that the next 12 months will be positive and enriching for all of us. Please do not hesitate to contact me via the front office should you ever need to discuss any concerns. Otherwise, I look forward to welcoming you every afternoon at car park duty and meeting many of you face to face at our Meet & Greet evening on Tuesday 6^th February 2024 from 5 – 7pm. Please see details for this below.

As always, schools start at a hectic pace – there is certainly no warm up – we are in class and learning from day one, tomorrow Wednesday 31st January. We already have quite a busy term ahead with school photos, our Swimming Carnival and of course our STA Fete in the first couples of weeks of the term. Please keep up to date with all the upcoming events within our weekly Newsletter.  

The Summer Reading Challenge is still on and there is time to get those Bingo cards filled!  Further information can be found in the following pages. Reading can bring such joy whether you are reading together or on your own and it is a fabulous way to increase your knowledge, improve language skills, improve imagination and creativity and support cognitive development. Thanks Mrs Hind for supporting our students in their reading.

One of our major fundraisers is the school Fete. I have heard that the STA Fete never disappoints and I am looking forward to experiencing this for myself on March 23^rd. A school Fete is a wonderful way to get involved in the school community and I would really enjoy seeing and meeting new families at the first Fete Meeting on Thursday 8^th February at 6pm in the Library.

This year we welcome new staff: 

Meaghan Younger – Religious Education Coordinator 

Christine Appel - Director of the ELC 

Shannon Hart – Early Career Teacher Release

Sally Wang – Chinese teacher 

Kathryn Olsen – Diverse Learning Coordinator

Tara Sippel – Year 5 Classroom teacher

Alex Broekhuyse – Year 2 Classroom teacher

Jeremey Finlayson – Year 4 Classroom teacher

Class teachers 2024 

Sport days 2024 (Sports uniform)

God bless

Tim Cleary
Principal

January birthdays

Athena V, Ronith T, Rohi B, Delilah W-P, Lucas A, Lachlan P, Fay D, Elizabeth K, Summer H, Sofia H, Ethan M, Blake M, Heath W, Michael J, Hannah E, Isabelle M, Amelia H, Kai U, Imogen T, Kendall T, Amelia W, Melody N, Tahlayla B, Lazarus F, Casey M, Zander R, Mia P, Freyja P, Zoe C, Charlotte M, Maci M, Kai M,
Alice S, Beau R, Sienna A

February Birthdays

Jack B, Seneca B, August S, Jed G, Nevaeh M, Jack P, Aditya P, Lilly H, Bradley L-B, Jessica R, Skylar W, Jaana C, Abbey T, Violet P, Evelyn F, Lu’isa T, Audrey K, Savanna H, Annabel L, Oliver T, Isaac H. Austin K

Please note that there is no supervision before 8:30am and after 3:20pm, unless the school has been notified of an emergency.

Students who need care outside these hours are able to use the services of OSHC (Outside School Hours Care).  For legal and safety reasons, children should not be on the school premises before 8:30am and must depart the school grounds as soon as they are released from school, unless they are attending our OSHC facility, ELC or are involved in a school arranged activity such as school sports training.

STUDENT ARRIVALS/DEPARTURES

Please note that it is a legal requirement for schools to keep attendance records of students, and records of student late arrivals and early departures from school.

Students Arriving Late for School

• It is preferrable that all students arrive at school by 8:50am to ensure that they have greeted their friends and teacher, been marked off rolls, and are abreast of their daily activities.  Whilst we understand that this is not always possible, for many reasons, this is an important part of the day for all students.
  
  
• Students arriving at school after 9.00am must enter via the Front Office with their parent /guardian who is required to sign them in using the COMPASS Kiosk

Students Leaving Early from School

• No child is permitted to leave the school grounds during school hours without a teacher/parent/guardian.
  
  
• If you are aware that you are picking your child up early on a particular day, please advise their teacher or the Front Office by providing a note.  Please be mindful that teachers are often unable to view emails/online info during class time. Please do not enter a note in the Compass portal. 
  
  
• Parents wishing to collect their child early must report to the Front Office where they will sign their child out using the COMPASS Kiosk 
  
  

Thank you for your cooperation.

Please remember that STA is a NUT-FREE school.

All students are required to bring a drink bottle, labelled with their name, to school on a daily basis.

Please ensure that your child/children have sufficient healthy food in their lunch boxes:

• Fruit for their fruit break in the morning.
• Healthy sandwiches, fruit, salads, health meal options for their lunch break.
• Fruit and/or snack for recess.

At St Thomas Aquinas, as at all Catholic schools, we have a strict uniform policy.  Full details relating to uniforms can be found on our website here.

Some people question the importance of uniforms at school and would prefer the school to focus on other things. We believe that by focusing on uniform we eliminate a lot of unnecessary worry for students and families, so we are able to focus on what is important. Here are just some of the reasons why all ACT Catholic schools insist on a school uniform:

• Uniforms are a great equaliser
• School uniforms promote learning
• They nourish a sense of equality
• School uniforms promote a feeling of community
• They make it easier to get ready for school
• School uniforms improve safety

Families are reminded that the school uniforms for summer are the following:

Boys School: Sky blue polo shirt with school logo and navy dress shorts with navy socks, black leather (or leather like) school shoes.

Girls School: Maroon checked dress or sky blue polo shirt with school logo and navy dress short with white ankle height socks, black leather (or leather like) school shoes.

Sport: Both boys and girls will wear the same sport uniform.  Navy shorts (optional navy netball skirt for girls) and Sky/Navy sports knit shirt with school logo. Year 6 students may wear their Year 6 shirt.  Runners/Gym shoes/Sneakers for sports days only.

This year the uniform policy will be strictly enforced. If you are unable to afford a uniform, please contact the Front Office and we can support you in purchasing the correct uniform.

At STA we have a NO HAT/NO PLAY policy.  STA now sell school hats at the Front Office.  We have them in Small, Medium and Large and they cost $15 each.  They can be purchased via Eftpos or Qkr.

The Catholic Education Office of Canberra and Goulburn (CEOCG) policy on the Medical Welfare of Students is below:

Medical_Information_and_Consent_Form_2023.pdf.  This form must be completed by a parent/guardian for each student, if they have a medical condition, and returned to the school by the end of Week 3.

Depending on your child's medical condition, we may require you to complete additional forms which can be found below.

• Medical Form 1 - Request to Dispense Medication During School Hours
  This form is to be completed by Parents/Guardians for all medications to be administered during school hours, in addition to Medical Plans if applicable.
• Medical Form 2 - Deed of Indemnity
  This form is to be completed by Parents/Guardians for the administering/dispensing of Schedule 8 Drugs.

Some medical conditions require more complex Health Care Plans including those with asthma, Type 1 diabetes, epilepsy, anaphylaxis or other more complex health procedures.

• An individual health care plan must be developed, and approved by a qualified medical practitioner, for any student:
  • diagnosed with severe asthma, type 1 diabetes, epilepsy or anaphylaxis
  • diagnosed as being at risk of an emergency, or
  • who requires ongoing administration of health care procedures.
• Any medication that is provided to the school must have an expiry date of 2025, where possible.  We understand that some medications have a short expiry date.

Please note that schools do not dispense analgesic substances for pain relief without prior approval from the parent or guardian.  Aspirin, or medications containing Aspirin, can only be administered with written authorisation by the student's doctor. Schedule 8 drugs include Codeine, Concerta and Ritalin.

 

We are very thankful to our SCC members who were able to assist in opening our pre loved uniform shop before the start of the school year. 

Standard weekly opening hours will be confirmed next week, however volunteers are needed. The uniform shop will not be able to be opened regularly without more volunteers. 

If you are interested in joining our SCC, either as a member or a volunteer please email your details to sta.school.community.council@gmail.com

Canberra's Lunar New Year Celebration is back!

Celebrate the Lunar New Year in Woolley Street, Dickson

10 February 2024 from 11am - 11pm

Join a family-friendly day that will include community and professional performance groups, delicious food and drink provided by Dickson locals and Canberra-wide food businesses, kids' activities, interactive workshops, roving performances, and education on the cultural importance of the Lunar New Year.

Performance Highlights:
‘The Story of the Zodiac’ - Asia Pop Set
Prosperous Mountain Lion Dance
Lucy Sugerman
Canberra Dragon Dance
Federation of Chinese Associations – a mix of song, dance and traditional performances
Traditional Chinese Classical Music
Clarissa Mei – musical performance
DJ Porkchop

Activities:
Chinese Classical Dance workshops
Balloon workshops
Face painting
Calligraphy workshop
Roving Kung Fu Performances
Roving Zodiac Performers