Dear Families,

I hope all are well as we get closer to warmer weather and Christmas. Please take note of an email sent last week regarding 2023 school fees and levies. I would like to remind families that direct debit forms are due back next Thursday December 1. If you need further information please contact the office.

Please note that we will be having a student free day on Friday December 2. On this day staff will be planning for 2023. If you need assistance with child care please contact OSHClub as they will be providing a service on this day.

On Monday 28th November we will commence the swimming program. This program will go for 10 days and finish on Monday 12th December. Teachers have sent reminders to families via email and Seesaw.

Please see below information regarding STM Dads Group under Community News. Thank you to Anthony Grima and Mohit Pachauri for setting this group up for our school.

Beginning of the year individual testing (book one appointment time) either Monday 30^th January or Tuesday 31^st January 2023. Information regarding beginning of year testing is located below.

During term 3, our Grade 6’s students teamed up with an organisation called ‘Hope in a Suitcase.’ Their aim was to commit to acts of service. Through sponsorship, they raised enough money to build 5 suitcases filled with clothing, crafts, blankets and other precious items for foster children. We are so proud that they raised over $1,500.00 for this cause. What a fabulous effort.

Our annual Christmas Carols is creeping up on us. This year it will be held on Tuesday, 6th December commencing from 5pm. We will all gather on the senior green (weather dependent) to enjoy this beautiful night. Coffee and icy poles will be available to purchase on the night. Families are encouraged to bring outdoor chairs or a picnic rug to make yourselves comfortable during the performances. Students will be sitting in their class groups. Please see flyer below for further details.

We have had some wonderful news in that Deanna Panuccio will be remaining here at STM. Deanna is a valued staff member and we look forward to continue working with her. We have also appointed our new Deputy Principal, Rita Totino. Rita is currently the Learning and Teaching / Literacy Leader at St Michael's in North Melbourne. She has also held the position of Deputy Principal at St John’s Primary School in Footscray, St Clare’s Primary School in Thomastown, St Brigid’s Primary School in North Fitzroy and St John’s Primary School in Clifton Hill. Julie Hanna will also be joining us in 2023 as Literacy Leader. Julie is the current Intervention Leader at St Vincent de Paul Primary School in Strathmore and has held the position of Literacy Leader at Emmaus Catholic Primary School in Sydenham and St John Bosco's Primary School in Niddrie. We welcome both Rita and Julie to the STM team.

We will be farewelling Janine Cincotta at the end of this year. Janine has accepted a position at Mary Meade Catholic College. Janine has been a valued member of the STM community for over 10 years! We thank her for her leadership and commitment to the Wellbeing of all at STM!

Our teachers have been working extremely hard to finalise assessments and prepare your child’s end of year report. These reports will provide you with a clear understanding of where your child sits in relation to expected standards for their year level. In combination with See Saw posts throughout the year, this formal report includes:

• a summary graph indicating your child’s level of progress against the curriculum standards (dots)

• a general comment including information about your child’s learning dispositions, inclusion in extracurricular activities, general challenges/ areas for improvement, issues with absenteeism/lateness and where appropriate, behaviour

• overviews of ehat has been covered in the different curriculum areas

• an indication of classroom behaviour. Any issues with outside behaviour is included in the general comment.

• Religious Education is included in your child’s report and will include an overview for the semester as well as assessment levels against learning descriptors.

You will be able to access your child’s report again via the online parent portal. Kate Korber will send our parent community information about how to once again access this portal.

This year we continued to work closely with the members of St Vincent De Paul organisation. As part of our school Christmas appeal, we are inviting families to purchase a small gift (book, toy, craft ) to donate to children in our local communities to ensure they all experience joy and hope this Christmas. Your contribution to this charity will be much appreciated. Please see the flyer below for further details.

We extend a big thank you to Umith who has chaired our STMPA this year. Umith will be stepping down as chairperson next year and his contribution over 2022 has been greatly appreciated. Please see the Parent Association section of this newsletter (below) for 2023 to put yourself forward as a parent rep or to sign up as a member of the STMPA executive team (Including chairperson).

Thank you all for you continued support this term,

David Hurn

Welcome to our final curriculum newsletter for term 2022. Can you believe it??? This newsletter provides our parent community with a twice termly snapshot into the classrooms of STM. We are so proud of our children and all they have achieved throughout 2022. We are excited to welcome you to our final celebrations of learning in the final weeks of school. Thank you for all the support you have provided to our children and our teachers this year. After two challenging years it has been wonderful to see the growth in our children in their first full year onsite at school in three years. So much to be thankful for!

2023

Thursday 26^th January Australia Day

Friday 27^th January STAFF RETURN TO SCHOOL (NO STUDENTS)

Monday 30^th January Prep students commence first full day of school

Monday 30^th January Year 1 – Year 6 students - Individual student testing day (by appointment only) see below

Tuesday 31^st January Preps at school as per usual

Tuesday 31^st January Year 1 – Year 6 students - Individual student testing day (by appointment only) see below

Wednesday 01^st February Preps not at school – Prep testing day (by appointment only)

Wednesday 01^st February Year 1 – Year 6 students commence their first full day at school

Thursday 2^nd February Whole school in attendance

EXAMPLES

• I go into my changing space and focus on myself

• I stay in my own personal space bubble

• I let my teacher/classmates know when I have finished changing

• I listen to teacher instructions when to move from my privacy space

NON EXAMPLES

• I go into other students space when they are changing

• I borrow other students belonging because I forgot my own

• I enter other students personal space

• I look around at others instead of focusing on myself

• I am talking to my friend when they are getting ready for swimming

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Every Victorian child should have access to the world of learning opportunities that exist beyond the classroom. The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps ensure that no student will miss out on the opportunity to join their classmates for important, educational and fun activities. It is part of making Victoria the Education State and the Government’s commitment to breaking the link between a student’s background and their outcomes.

CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSIONS FUND (CSEF)

School camps provide children with inspiring experiences in the great outdoors. Excursions encourage a deeper understanding of how the world works while sports teach teamwork, discipline and leadership. All are a part of a healthy curriculum.

CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

The annual CSEF amount per student is:

• $125 for primary school students

• $225 for secondary school students

HOW TO APPLY

New applicants should contact the school office to obtain a CSEF application form or download from the website below.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qsXXfBqUkkhrRs2mIPyrswRDZhdpzTBr/view?usp=share_link

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about CSEF visit:

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/csef.aspx

If you applied for CSEF this year in 2022 at St Thomas More, your information will automatically roll over therefore you do not need to complete an application form for 2023 unless there has been a change in your family circumstances.

You only need to complete an application form if any of the following changes have occurred:

· new student enrolments; your child has started or changed schools this year.

· changed family circumstances; such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number, or new siblings commencing next year.

Check with the school office if you are unsure.

A huge congratulations goes out to the following students for their paritcipation in Maths Explorer and MOPS (Maths Olympiads for Primary Schools) during 2022.

Maths Explorer Competition

The following students have participated in the 2022 Maths Explorer Competition:

John G, Selini A, Elenor K, Steven K, Daniel G, Ashanthi W, Aurik G, Lucas C, Roney A, Raphael T, Max G, Thomas C, Blake P, Julian A, Xavier D, Hailey A, Alexander W, Matteo T, Alexander T, Benjamin B, Vincent T, Rosemarie K, Anton T, Xavier T, Eliana D, Hunta S, Luka B, James D, Emily D, Lucas G, Maya G, Brandon M, Elijah M, Liam P and Anton T.

The following students received the highest individual school scores: Siera T, Reuben D, Lucas S, Lucas O, Noah N, Connor C

Maths Olympiad for Primary Schools

The following students participated in the 2022 Maths Olympiad for Primary Schools:

Zoe G, Jack C, Blake H, Chloe K, Isabelle P, Mishka W, Marcel A, Dany A, Savidya B, Alexis T, Anastasia M, Elektra P, Ethan D, Joshua M, Christian D, Ryan O, Harvey B, Zach C, Hayden M, Sienna T, Stavroula K, Krista Z, Daniel M, Giordano M, Joshua M, Lachlan P, Isaac R, Christian O, Isabella J, Angelina C, Daniel A, William M, Tanay H and Allegra G.

The highest scoring individual student for this year is: Blake M from year 6

WE NEED YOUR HELP IN 2023!

At this stage, we are looking for volunteers to for our STMPA Executive committee as well as coordinators to run key events throughout the year, particularly for the term 1 events: Easter Raffle and Hot Cross Bun drive. If you are interested, please click on the table below. Add your name to the area of interest, and add your contact details on the second tab. Note for school events, please scroll down to the bottom of the page. Class reps will be organised once classes have been announced.

We encourage friends to get together to do any of the roles. All events have online folders with documents and resources to support coordinators!

Make way for sparenting

Raising children has always been best when it’s a community affair. In previous generations, aunts, uncles, grandparents, god parents and family friends – spare parents, or sparents –all played a part in raising kids.

The last decade has seen the rise of parenting as an individual endeavour, which can place crushing pressure for parents to always be at their best.

The saying ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ needs to be updated to ‘it takes a town or suburb full of healthy adults to look out for kids at different stages of their lives.’ A mouthful, but you get the gist. A child can never have too many spare parents.

Sparenting at different stages

When kids are very young, most parents want a break from the relentlessness of child-rearing. It’s ta time for other adults to step up to offer a smattering of advice, a touch of moral support and plenty of babysitting relief.

As kids move into primary school they are primed for finding their place in the world. Spending time with other adults such as family, friends and parents of their friends broadens their horizons, hastening this important socialisation process.

Developmentally, teenagers benefit enormously from relationships with men and women outside their immediate family. Sparents make great confidantes and coaches for young people at a stage when they are seeking independence from their parents while undergoing significant emotional and physical changes.

Some years ago my daughter loved babysitting her young niece, constantly phoning her brother with babysitting offers. Now as a parent she still takes a keen interest in her nieces and nephews because deep in her bones she knows that sparenting enriches a child’s life in so many ways.

The benefits of sparents

Filling a talent or interest gap

Kids usually appreciate having an adult to share their interests, but it’s hard for parents to be across all their children’s hobbies and activities. Relatives or family friends are well placed to fill the interest void that occurs in some families.

Filling a gender gap

If you are raising a son in an all-female household then an uncle, grandfather or male family friend can be a great additional role model. Similarly, girls in all-male households can benefit from sparenting by a female friend or relative.

Bringing a fresh voice

Ever noticed how kids will listen to other adults more than they listen to their parents, even though the message is the same? It’s frustrating, but that has always been the reality of raising children and young people.

Bringing some emotional detachment

As strange as it may sound (hear me out), being your child’s parent can be an obstacle to parenting them rationally. When we are heavily invested, rightfully so, in all their hopes and dreams as well as our own wishes for them, it’s inevitable that we won’t always use logic and reason, especially in the heat of a challenging moment.

The presence of another calming adult without the emotional investment that comes with parenting provides a different perspective, particularly when kids behave poorly or when academic results can disappoint.

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