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Dear Families,
Ride2School Day – your child can grow with independence
With tomorrow being Ride to School Day, and this includes other modes such as walking or scooting or skipping or dancing, there is a real opportunity.
Back in February, I wrote a piece in the newsletter about the need for us to think about our choices we make with regard to how we get our children to school. We have seen how driving to school, with the current numbers, has caused quite an issue with traffic. Fiorelli Drive is grid locked on many occasions now. It would be magnificent if more parents made the choice for their children to walk or ride to school, as this would ease the problem significantly.
‘Ride2School’ is often seen as a day for focusing on health. And it’s true – riding or walking to school is very healthy for our bodies. But have we considered the mind-health aspect of these modes of transport? Walking or riding to school has the added benefit of allowing your child to make decisions along the way and grow in independence. This is a very important part of their growth. Just as we do when we stop carrying their school bag for them and we stop doing their shoe laces for them, we are putting expectations around growing in independence.
We have a significant number of our staff allocated to traffic support at our school. They are there to help keep the traffic moving and more importantly, look out for the safety of our families during these busy times. Government schools do not typically allocate their staff to this as they do not tend to have onsite parking arrangements. This is why you have a much greater take up of walkers and riders in these schools. They are pretty much forced into these situations as there are fewer parking options. Unfortunately, in our situation, this provides an unhealthy reliance on the car. And many of our students miss out on their independence development as a result.
I will be riding to school tomorrow, to get behind the Ride to School Day message. I hope there are some of our families who give it some thought and try it. Imagine not having to drive to school every morning and afternoon? And you may just give them a healthy dose of independence in the same go! Win Win!!
Andrew McDermott
Religious Education Leader
Reconciliation Update
Next week our Reconciliation candidates will be celebrating their sacrament for the first time. Unlike Baptism and Confirmation, Reconciliation is a sacrament that can be celebrated over and over again throughout your life. God’s extension of love to us never ceases, so He provides the opportunity to come back and nurture His relationship with us over and over again. It’s healthy to say you're sorry and heal again and these students will have that never-ending gift next week!
We pray for our candidates and their huge faith step happening on Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th March.
Andrew McDermott
Religious Education Leader
It was so lovely to be able to welcome Foundation Families to visit in their child's learning space on Wednesday.
We hope all Foundation families are feeling proud of their independence and resilience? The staff certainly are, especially when we see them walk in with their bags on, head to class, unpack and start prayer and learning so beautifully each day.
The real proof is also seeing some of our Foundation children asking to be Morning Leaders and support their classmates and others as they arrive, after less than 25 days at big school themselves!
Don't worry everyone else in Years 1 to 6, we are working on ways to invite you to visit learning spaces, to see the place in action and also to celebrate the amazing learning taking place at St Thomas'. We'll see you all in Term Two!
Ride2School Day
Does anyone else get excited when they see new steel and cherry pickers?
Check out the progress on our amazing new church!