St Thomas The Apostle Primary School - Greensborough North

20 Pages·2017·8.1 MB·English

by  Francine Power

ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE
251 Diamond Creek Road Telephone: [phone]
Greensborough North, 3088

No 07
22nd March, 2018
Hello Everyone,
Believe it or not, this is the last newsletter for the term. What a quick and frantic term it has been.
The welcome that I have received from the school community has been overwhelming and St Thomas’
is feeling like home to me now. Maybe the “Honeymoon “period is over.
YEAR 5 & 6 CANBERRA CAMP
Reports back from our staff in Canberra inform me that the Canberra Camp is going really well.
The children have been exposed to a lot of different experiences and are undertaking some great
learning. The staff are hanging in there and looking forward to a good night’s sleep tomorrow. We
expect the children to be back at school between 1.30pm and 2.00 pm tomorrow. Notifications con-
firming this will be sent to parents via the school App.
ENRICHMENT AND CARE
TERM 1 WORKING BEE
On Saturday thirty-one parents and many children participated in our first Working Bee for 2018.
The school is looking terrific and so much was achieved. I sincerely want to thank the families who
attended and encourage other families to get involved in future working bees.
2018 FETE UPDATE
On Monday night eleven very enthusiastic parents gathered for our first Fete planning meeting.
SAVE THE DATE: SATURDAY 24th NOVEMBER
In forthcoming newsletters we will be giving fete updates and “call outs” for people to volunteer for
some tasks either on the day or in the preparation for the day. A fete is a great way to gather as a
community and showcase our wonderful school.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS
Next Monday, 26th March, at 2.35pm, the children will be portraying the Stations of the Cross in the
church as we prepare for the Easter services. All families are welcome to attend. A reminder that
this Sunday is Palm Sunday.
ENRICHMENT AND CARE
SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS - 28TH & 29TH MARCH
School finishes for the students next Tuesday, 27th March, at 1.30 pm. On Wednesday and Thursday
the staff will be undertaking training in THRASS, which is a Literacy intervention program
END OF TERM
Thanks to the staff and children for a great Term 1 and we look forward to the children returning
from holidays on Monday, 16th April.
A reminder that the Term 1 ends for students on
Tuesday, 27th March at 1:30 pm.
OSHC is available if you are unable to collect your
children at 1.30pm.
School resumes for Term 2 on Monday, 16th April.
Wishing everyone a safe and
happy Easter.
David Delaney
Principal
PREP ENROLMENTS 2019
A reminder to current families, who have a sibling at 4 year old kinder this
year, we are now accepting Prep enrolments for 2019. Please stop by the
office to collect an enrolment form for Prep 2019.
ENRICHMENT AND CARE
CANBERRA CAMP moments
ENRICHMENT AND CARE
CANBERRA CAMP moments
ENRICHMENT AND CARE
DIARY DATES 2018

MARCH JUNE
23rd Canberra Camp—students return 4th SCA Meeting
21st Year 1 Swimming 8th Feast of the Sacred Heart Mass, 9.15am
26th Year 2 Swimming 11th Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday
Passion Play School Performance 2.30pm 13th Cross Country - Nillumbik Division,
at Bundoora Park
27th Prep Easter Bonnet Parade
16th Commitment Masses - Yr 6 - 6.00pm
27th End of Term 1
17th Commitment Masses - Yr 6 - 10.30am
Students finish at 1.30pm
(Tuesday) 20th Cross Country Northern Metro Region
28th (Wed) Staff PD Day 28th St Thomas the Apostle Feast Day
Whole school Mass 9.15am
29th (Thurs) Staff PD Day

30th Good Friday
JULY

APRIL 16th Term 3 commences
SCA Meeting
1st Easter Sunday
End of Term 2 — 1.30pm finish
16th Term 2 Commences

SCA Meeting
19th Yr 4 Visit to Loyola College AUGUST
Open Classroom 2.30pm (4 of 4) 7th PEB Meeting
Prep 2019 Information Evening - 15th Feast of the Assumption - whole school
7.00pm Mass 9.15am
21st First Eucharist Mass - 6.00pm 15th Eltham District Athletics Carnival
22nd First Eucharist Mass - 10.30am 24th School Closure Day
23rd Anzac Day Reflection at Assembly, 2.45pm 27th SCA Meeting
25th Anzac Day - Public Holiday 31st Father’s Day Breakfast
28th First Eucharist Mass - 6.00pm
29th First Eucharist Mass - 10.30am SEPTEMBER
6th Confirmation Retreat at Holy Cross
MAY 11th Confirmation Rehearsal —
St Patrick’s Cathedral
6th First Eucharist Mass - 10.30am
16th Confirmation at St Patrick’s
7th SCA Meeting
Cathedral, East Melbourne, 2.00pm
10th Eltham District Cross Country
17th SCA Meeting
11th Mother’s Day Luncheon
18th Reconciliation Family Evening - Yr 2
15th NAPLAN
21st End of Term 3 —1.30pm finish
17th SCA—Disco for students
9th Athletics Nillumbik Division
18th Staff PD Day (Fri)

22nd PEB Meeting
ENRICHMENT AND CARE
OCTOBER
SECOND HAND UNIFORM SHOP
8th Term 4 commences
SCA Meeting
OPENING HOURS
12th Year 4 Sleepover
13th Reconciliation Commitment Masses Tuesday — 3.15pm—3.45pm
Yr 2 - 6.00pm
Thursday — 8.30am—9.00am
14th Reconciliation Commitment Masses
Yr 2 - 10.30am
Located in the hall next to the
31st PEB Meeting
Church. Uniform donations can be
dropped off during these times.
NOVEMBER
1st All Saints Day—whole school Mass 9.15am
5th Report Writing Day—No school
6th Melbourne Cup Day—Public Holiday
8th Sports Carnival — All Day
11th Remembrance Day
12th Remembrance Day Assembly, 2.45pm
ANZAC APPEAL 2018
13th Reconciliation, Yr 2, 5.30pm & 7.00pm
19th SCA AGM Meeting
We are again supporting the 2018 ANZAC
24th Fete Day
Appeal . Badges and pens will be availa-
28th PEB Meeting
ble for the students to purchase, ranging

in price from $2.00 to $5.00. Senior stu-
dents will visit classrooms to enable chil-
DECEMBER
dren to purchase items.
3rd SCA Meeting
7th Instrumental Music Concert
12th Christmas Carols
14th Graduation Mass 5.30pm (Friday)
Graduation Dinner, 7.30pm (Friday)
17th Yr 6 Big Day Out
18th End of Year Mass 9.15am (Tuesday)
End of Term 4 (Tues) Finish at
1.30pm
Please check calendar regularly as
dates and times may change or be
rescheduled and new dates attended
Last updated 21st March.
ENRICHMENT AND CARE
ENRICHMENT AND CARE
RE NEWS
Sacramental News
Thank you to all families who attended one of the Commitment Masses
last weekend. This was a wonderful opportunity for the children to be
presented to the Parish and for Parish community to pray upon these
students as they continue their preparation for the Sacrament of Eucha-
rist. Families who were unable to attend one of these Masses are asked
to attend a weekend Mass prior to your child’s First Eucharist.
Lenten Reflection
As we approach the end of first term we have our last Lenten Reflection. We hope that these reflec-
tions have provided time for you to stop and take time to contemplate throughout the journey of
Lent. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the families of St Thomas a blessed and safe
Easter. I hope that this Easter season will be one of re-birth so that we may be able to continue to
follow in Jesus footsteps with passion and a true conviction.
Ana Amorim
Religious Education Leader
What’s your thing?

Written by Matthew Kelly
One of the powerful phrases we use to encourage people to have an extraordinary experience of
Lent is, “Don't give up chocolate for Lent.” The idea is that Lent is an incredible opportunity. It's a
phenomenal chance to really look deep into our lives and say, “Where do I need to grow? What is
God calling me to? Where is my biggest opportunity for growth?”
If you come into the emergency room and you've been shot through the chest and shot through the
hand, you don't want the doctor working on the hand. We do that in our lives. We do that in our
spiritual lives. We do that in our parenting. We do that in our personal finances. We do that in our
health and well-being. We do that in our marriages. We do that in so many aspects of our lives.
We’re like wheeled into the emergency room . . . we've been shot through the chest and shot through
the hand, and we say, “Oh, let's work on the hand.”
And so, through our Lenten journey, as you think about this idea of “don't give up chocolate for
Lent,” I'm not saying don't give up chocolate for Lent. But what I am saying, and what we are say-
ing, and why we did come up with the phrase is that, because Lent is an opportunity to get at the
big stuff. What's the one thing, what's the big thing that's preventing you from really growing, from
really becoming the-best-version-of-yourself, from really making incredible progress in your life?
And is that the thing that you're going to get after this Lent? And if it isn't, why isn't it?
Let's get back into the awareness. What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of failing? Sure. You
might fail. But you'll be better off for failing, because you'll be better off for trying. And the reality
is, whatever your thing is, however big you think it is, however un scalable you think that moun-
tain is, don't forget, somebody's already conquered it. Lots of people have already conquered it. And
God? He's waiting. He's ready. He wants to help you conquer that big thing. So let's get after it.
ENRICHMENT AND CARE
PARISH NEWS
WEEKEND MASS TIMES AT ST. THOMAS
Saturday 6.00pm
Sunday 10.30am

EASTER LITURGIES
Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Thursday 29th March 7.30pm Sacred Heart

Good Friday The Lord’s Passion
Friday 30th 3pm Sacred Heart Friday 30th 3pm St. Thomas the Apostle

Easter Vigil
Saturday 31st March 7.30pm St Thomas the Apostle (replaces 6pm Mass)

Easter Sunday
Sunday 1st April 9am Sacred Heart Sunday 1st April 10.30am St Thomas the Apostle

THINK ABOUT WHERE YOUR CHOCOLATE COMES FROM????
Cocoa is a key ingredient of chocolate. Much of the chocolate sold in Australia is made using cocoa
beans picked by children, many of whom have been enslaved, or forced to work in exploitative condi-
tions. Most of these children have never even tasted chocolate.
The International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) estimates that there are 1.5 million children working
in the cocoa sector in West Africa. Many of these children have been enslaved, or forced to work in
exploitative conditions?
Pope Francis said that “every person ought to have the awareness that purchasing is al-
ways a moral – and not simply an economic – act.”

Can’t find slavery-free Easter eggs in your supermarket?
Ten years ago there was almost no slavery-free chocolate in our super-
markets in Australia. Now, because of public pressure, most supermar-
kets will sell some. ALDI has a huge range of slavery-free chocolate.
ACTION: When you go to your local supermarket, look for chocolate
that has one of these three symbols. If you can’t find any, ask the manager if they stock
any.

ENRICHMENT AND CARE