Dear Parents and Carers,

This Sunday, 1st December is the beginning of a new liturgical Church year on the first Sunday of Advent.  Advent is the period of four Sundays and weeks before Christmas.  Advent means 'Coming' in Latin. This is the coming of Jesus into the world. Christians use the four Sundays and weeks of Advent to prepare and remember the real meaning of Christmas.

• The 1st Sunday of Advent symbolises Hope with the “Prophet’s Candle” reminding us that Jesus is coming.
  
• The 2nd Sunday of Advent symbolises Faith with the “Bethlehem Candle” reminding us of Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem.

• The 3rd Sunday of Advent symbolises Joy with the “Shepherd’s Candle” reminding us of the Joy the world experienced at the coming birth of Jesus.

• The 4th Sunday of Advent symbolises Peace with the “Angel’s Candle” reminding us of the message of the angels: “Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.”

Congratulations to our Year 5 students who in recent weeks have displayed great maturity and behaviour in a variety of situations.  They were very accepting and understanding about the recent cancellation of their camp due to the extreme weather associated with the NSW bushfires.  This week many Year 5 students participated in the selection process for Student Leader positions in 2020. Many students prepared and presented speeches as part of the process.  Congratulations to all of Year 5 for their maturity and we look forward to them being the Year 6 leaders of our school in 2020. All announcements regarding the 2020 School Captains and House Colour Captains will be made at the conclusion of our End of Year Mass on Tuesday 17th December.

Our ‘End of Year Whole School Movie Day’ at Dumaresq Street Cinemas is being held on Tuesday 10th December.  The information note and permission note regarding this event will be sent to you through Compass. Please look out for this notification in the coming days.  All students are invited to this exciting event as a way of celebrating and acknowledging all of their hard work during the 2019 school year.

Family and friends are invited to the

St Thomas More School

End of Year Concert

Tuesday 3rd December 2019

St Patrick’s College Mary Shiel Centre

Students arrive by 5.40pm

Concert commences 6.00pm

The P&F will be selling a sausage sizzle from 4.30pm

We will say goodbye at the end of the year to the following staff members who will not be returning to St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School in 2020:

• Miss Ashleigh Pace who has a classroom teaching position at St Anthony’s Catholic Parish Primary School Picton.
• Miss Courtney Clapson who is returning to teaching with the Department of Education.
• Miss Emily Swallow who has a classroom teaching position at St Therese Catholic Primary School Sadleir.
• Mr Jonathon Heath, Mrs Jenny Denmeade and Mrs Claire Greenwood who may return to us as relieving classroom teachers.

In 2020 we welcome to our staff:  Miss Elizabeth Small, Mr Matthew McCormack, Miss Ana Kristo and Mrs Alicia Snushall.  All 2020 staffing positions will be printed in our last newsletter for the year. Children will be introduced to their 2020 classroom teacher on ‘Promotions Afternoon’ on Monday 16th December.

If your child is not returning to St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School Ruse in 2020, could you please notify the School Office as soon as possible.   There is a ‘School Leavers’ form that needs to be completed. 

Best wishes for the coming week ,

Philip Barrington 
PRINCIPAL