Term 1, Week 7 2022

Dear Families, 

I trust that you enjoyed the long weekend with your children and family. We have been very fortunate with the weather, compared to the eastern states. Our hearts go out to all those who have lost loved ones or their homes and property due to the floods. Likewise, to all those people who are suffering in the Ukraine. While things might be pretty good for us in South Australia at the moment, it is always good to keep in mind those who are suffering in our country and around the world. In this time of Lent it is good for us to make a serious effort to be a better person, to treat those I meet each day with kindness and to reach out to those in need through things like ‘Project Compassion’. 

Our school is a ‘Mercy’ school, begun by the Sisters of Mercy in 1957. The Sisters of Mercy were founded by Catherine McAuley in Ireland but travelled to many parts of the world including Australia. Catherine and the Sisters provided us with the mercy values of Compassion, Courage, Hospitality, Justice, Respect and Service. These are still a focus in our school today. Over the next six newsletters I would like to touch on what these values might mean for us in our setting. Today I will share about the value of Compassion. 

Compassion is when one person truly ‘feels’ for another and is ‘moved’ to act or do something to support them. This might involve love, empathy, sympathy, care and many other words we could describe. It really is putting oneself in the shoes of another and feeling their pain or suffering. There are many examples of this in the bible, such as in Exodus with compassion for the infant Moses, or in the gospels when Jesus has compassion for the sick, the hungry and the lost. In all cases someone is ‘moved’ to do something, to help someone, to ease the pain and suffering. Each of our Mercy Values calls us to action, to do something about it. Our challenge as parents and teachers is to help our young people to develop a compassionate heart, to reach out to others with love and kindness. Jesus calls us to action. He does not ask us to be bystanders, he challenges us to be compassionate with one another. 

“As God’s chosen ones, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.” – First Letter of Paul to the Colossians 3:12 

This Saturday we have the state election when people will vote to elect a new government for South Australia. I ask that you keep education, and in particular Catholic education, as one of the important areas to consider when making your vote. To help you make an informed decision, Catholic Education SA have provided a State Election Political Parties Comparison for you to read.  

Next term we will be holding Parent Teacher Learning Conversations. These will take place in Week 2, from 9 to 12 May. Depending on the Covid situation these may be face to face or by telephone. A decision around this will be made closer to the time. We will advise you later this term of booking details.  

During that same week all students in Year 3 and Year 5 will undertake the annual NAPLAN test. Information will be coming home shortly for those families with children in those year levels. NAPLAN provides us with a snapshot of information about how students are travelling with their learning.  

All the best to the Irish for St Patrick’s Day today! (17 March) 

May the road rise up to meet you. 

May the wind be always at your back. 

May the sun shine warm upon your face;  

the rains fall soft upon your fields 

and until we meet again,  

may God hold you in the palm of His hand. 

Working in Partnership 

Peter Mercer 

Acting Deputy Principal 

Head of Campus 

Lent 

On the first Sunday of Lent, we hear about the forty days that Jesus spent in the desert before he began his public ministry. On the second Sunday we hear about his transfiguration. In the reading for the third Sunday, we hear about a fig tree that does not produce any figs, but just as God is patient and gives the fig tree more time to grow, God always gives us every chance to grow in God’s love. On the fourth Sunday we listen to the well-known story of the wasteful son and his forgiving father. 

Every Wednesday morning, we have been gathering via Teams as two school communities (St. Mary Magdalene’s and St. Thomas More) to break open the gospel readings for the Sunday’s in Lent. 

Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving 

During Lent we are called to pray, fast, and give alms. 

One way we can enhance our prayer life is to consider others. During the six weeks of Lent, we will have a prayer bowl placed in the admin area of our school. Students, staff, and family members are invited to write a prayer and add it to the bowl. Prayers will be shared during our Wednesday morning prayer. 

Project Compassion – 20c Challenge’ 

‘Alms’ are what we give to people in need. Project Compassion is a great way of doing this. From Ash Wednesday you will notice a Project Compassion box on the prayer space in your child’s class. During the season of Lent, we will complete the 20c ‘giving’ challenge where each class will aim to collect as many 20c pieces in their project compassion boxes as they can. In week 10 we will gather as a school community to see if we can outline the word ‘give’ with our coins in preparation for sending our proceeds to CARITAS Australia. 

St. Patrick 

This week we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. At an early age, Patrick chose to work in the service of God and bring the message of God’s love to the people of Ireland. Patrick’s deep faith and trust in God enabled him to serve them knowing that God was with him at every moment of the day and night strengthening him and protecting him. This is the message he wanted to bring to the people of Ireland – always hope in God. St Patrick is especially remembered in Australia because of the many Irish people who settled in Australia. As a preacher and great teacher, St Patrick used the shamrock leaf (three leaf clover) to explain the Holy Trinity and as a symbol of faith, hope and love. 

St. Joseph 

The Feast of Saint Joseph is observed on March 19. The husband of Mary and father to Jesus. God called Joseph, a simple carpenter, to care for and protect Mary and Jesus. Joseph showed great faith and trust to do the job God had given him. We can learn from Joseph to listen to what God asks of us and become faith-filled servants ready to place our trust in God. 

Harmony Day 

Next Monday 21st March is the celebration of Harmony Day. With its motto ‘Everyone belongs’, Harmony Day reminds us to appreciate everyone, regardless of their background or circumstances. It is all about loving and understanding different cultures and ways of life and seeing how they can fit together. 

Come dressed in cultural dress or the colour orange to celebrate Harmony Day on Monday March 21. 

St. Vincent De Paul Society 

The St. Vincent De Paul Society Central District Region will be holding a forum on Sunday March 27 from 3pm – 4pm at the St. Augustine’s Parish Family Centre. You are invited to hear stories about what they are doing in the Elizabeth and Salisbury area. 

Please see the flyer included in this newsletter 

Sacramental Program 2022 

In week 5 students form Year 3-6 would have brought home a letter regarding the Sacramental Program for 2022. Due to COVID restrictions we were unable to hold the Parent Information Session. We will instead proceed to the first workshop: Baptism and Confirmation on:  

Friday 25th March 2022 

St Thomas More Church 

19 Laverstock Road, Elizabeth North 

4:30pm-6:30pm 

This workshop will be attended by candidate and parent. 

We are inviting all parents/caregivers whose children are 8 years of age and over, baptised in the Catholic church, and who are interested in enrolling their children in the Sacrament Program to attend this workshop. 

Welcome to Week 7!  

It is so lovely to see how well the students are doing as we have progressed through the term. I cannot believe we are already in week 7. For the last few weeks, we have been looking at persuasive texts and the language devices found within a persuasive text. Our topic for this text is 'Monarto Zoo helps with wildlife conservation'. The class had done previous work on a structure of persuasive text which they have mastered which you can clearly see! The students have also used language features like time connectives, rhetorical questions, emotive language, and strong words (high modality words). The students came up with this by themselves and worked together to put this together. For maths, we have been focusing on place value, one of the activities students thoroughly enjoy is the place value game which is led by them. The students have worked so incredibly well, I am so proud of their efforts, and I hope you all are as well!    

OSHC News! Welcome Back to 2022

We have been having lots of fun with various activities that the children are enjoying.  Did you know that we program our weekly activities we look at what the children are interested in?  We use their interests to create a program that we hope will engage them in learning and playing.

A few families have asked what times we are open, they are as follows:

Monday – Friday

Before School Care 7.00 am – 8.30 am

After School Care 3.00 pm – 6.00 pm

If you require Vacation Care during the holidays, St Thomas More School offers these services and holds places for our students.  As these places fill very quickly you will need to book early.  If you require more information then please see Esther. 

We look forward to seeing you all soon!