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Welcome to 2023 at St Thomas The Apostle Primary School. We are excited to see our students, new and old returning to school with smiles, confidence and an excitement about learning.
This year's staff group is focused on ensuring that students are safe, known, heard, respected and engaged in learning. You will find a list of the communities, teachers and classes elsewhere in this newsletter.
As a school and parish we look forward to the opening and dedication of our parish church. The church will begin masses in late February/early March and the official dedication will occur in late April (after Easter). This is an exciting time for the parish as it gives a physical building for the gathering of the church (the people). As followers of Jesus we are called to be agents of change and evangelisers spreading the Good News by our words and actions.
The school will be holding an Open Afternoon on February 23rd from 3.30 to 6.30pm.The afternoon is an opportunity to visit your child's class, meet the teacher, hear what the focus for learning is in 2023, meet other parents and bring a picnic or purchase a BBQ sausage and enjoy some time exploring the school grounds. More details will be made available shortly regarding times for each community information session and food options.
Blessings to you and your families and thank you for partnering with St Thomas the Apostle in the education of your beloved child/ren.
Kind regards,
Kate
RECONCILIATION 2023
We are very soon, starting our Sacramental Program for 2023 with Reconciliation being the first sacrament to celebrate.
Last year, all families were asked if they’d like to participate in a sacrament for 2023 and those that wished to take part, filled out a form to express their interest.
The parents that indicated that they wanted Reconciliation for their child have been sent an email from the Parish, asking if they’d like to enrol. I hope everyone who received this email has responded and let the parish know they would like to be part of the Reconciliation program for this year. If you are new to the parish, and didn’t begin this process, you may want to contact the Parish Office to be included in this year’s program (offered to children in year 3).
Please remember, that it is not compulsory to participate in the Sacramental Program. And if you miss a year because you are not available to complete the necessary workshops, it is fine to jump on board the following year. Sacraments are a choice for parents to make for their child. The Parish facilitates the program and the school supports it. If ever you need to discuss any aspect of the sacraments that are offered, please contact the Parish.
Important Dates:
8th Feb – Parent Formation Night 6:45pm (at St Thomas the Apostle PS)
15th Feb – Repeat of the Parent Formation Night 6:45pm
Parish Office Contact Details:
Address: 50 Heather Grove, Cranbourne East
PO Box 6089, Clyde VIC 3978
Phone: 59980947 (Tuesday – Friday 9.00am – 3.00pm)
Email: parish@stthomasap.org.au
Newsletter
Our newsletter 'The Spear' is published and emailed weeky on Thursday . It will contain useful information, communication and reminders. It also will showcase photos and events from the school. Important communication will still be sent to parents via email and PAM.
Parent Notified Absences
Parents should notify the school of any absence by 9.00am. This can be done via PAM or alternatively by contacting or emailing the school.
Uniform Reminders
Hats are compulsory until the beginning of May and then from the 1st of September.
Please note that due to government health regulations the school cannot provide spare hats to the students.
NB: Please clearly label your child's items of clothing so they can be returned to your child if handed to lost property.
Reminder - Medical details
Please update your child/rens medical details via the Parent Access Module(PAM).
This will enable the school to have to most current and relevant information related to your child/rens medical needs and requirements.
If your child suffers from an allergy/asthma/anaphylaxis please ensure that the school has an updated medical action plan and relevant prescribed medication . Please note that students cannot have medication stored in their school bags.
Fee Statements
Fee Statements will be emailed next week to the nominated Fee Payer as per the enrolment forms or as per paperwork submitted for changes. The Fee Statement will include all charges for the 2023 school year. A subsequent statement will be emailed out each term.
Full BPAY details will be located in the top right hand side of the Fee Statement. Fees due each term will be listed in a note on the bottom of the final page of the Fee Statement. Please note that families can schedule their own payments throughout the year via BPAY, for those families on Direct Debit, these schedules commence this week.
Should you have any difficulties with fees throughout the year, please do not hesitate to contact me. All conversations are treated with confidentiality and we are here to assist.
Kind Regards
Nicola Saunders
Administration Officer
Smart watches /Mobile Phones
Due to our ICT/Cyber safe policy children are not permitted to have a mobile phone with them or wear and use a smart watch at school. If you need your child to have a phone/watch for walking to/from school etc we are happy to ensure the device is safely stored during the day and returned to them at the end of the day for communication with you after school.
SCHOOL ORGANISATION 2023
Our school is organised in 7 learning communities. Each community has a lead teacher who is the A class.
Classes are named A through to D (or E) based on their geographic location (working clockwise from the A class). This helps everyone find the rooms easily.
Foundation - located in Galilee Community
00A Bianca Wolverton - Community Learning Leader/Claire Smith (Tue/Wed)
00B Ben Dixon
00C Emma Pocock
00D Nuwani Bandara
Learning Support Officers - Tania Christopher, Meena Ramasamy, Brennan Burke
Year 1 - located in Jerusalem Community
11A Jodie Bawden - Community Learning Leader/TBC
11B Emily Stecca
11C Brittany Botten
11D Sally Brooks
Learning Support Officers - Nirene Inati, Candy Pereira, Emile Grimwood,
Zach Gulavin
Year 2 - located in Ephesus Community
22A Rebecca Jeffrey - Community Learning Leader/Angela McCullagh (Tue/Wed)
22B Nimanthi Perera
22C Carmen Pocock
22D Annette Papas
Learning Support Officers - Jessica Labutte, Crystal Krytenberg
Year 3 - located in Bethlehem Community
33A Gillian Burke - Community Learning Leader/TBC
33B Michael Walpole/TBC (Thurs)
33C Connie Paola
33D Shaun Van Dam
33E Susan Boyes
Learning Support Officers - Amer Abdulla, Sharon Paeglis
Year 4 - located in Jericho Community
44A Alison Gracie - Community Learning Leader/TBC
44B Marcia Samson
44C Esha Blake
44D Kanchan Suri
Learning Support Officers - Jithendra Gamage, Andrew Francis
Year 5 - located in Bethany Community
55A Christine Bellert - Community Learning Leader/Helen McDonald (Wed/Thurs)
55B Nathan Carey
55C Carol Rodrigues
55D Shiromi Wijeratne
55E Christina Nadj
Learning Support Officers - Sandra Horvat, Mary Lutu
Year 6 - located in Damascus Community
66A Emily O'Kane - Community Learning Leader/Sarah Rietwyk (Wed/Thurs)
66B Steve Clarke
66C Wendy Silvester
66D Alona Naidoo
Learning Support Officers - Christian Leggas, Alana Musco
Specialist teachers
Physical Education - Anthony O'Rourke
Visual Arts - Helina Walker
Japanese - Sensei Barry (Mon-Wed) & Sensei Booth (Thurs/Fri)
Sustainability & Stewardship (2-6) - Christian der Kinderen
Oral Language (F-1) - Joanne Peterson
Digital Technologies - Lance Rooney
School Counsellors
Emily Maher
Michelle Caddy
Inclusive Education
Pauline Whelan
Scholastic Book Club