Dear Parents and Carers,

This week we celebrate two very important feasts in the life of our Church: All Saints Day (1st November) and All Souls Day (2nd November). On All Saints Day the church celebrates all of the saints in God’s kingdom, the famous and the not so famous.  Some have been officially canonised by the Church and many others have lived saintly lives doing great things for others and for God.  

On All Souls Day we remember in a special way all those who have died.   We believe that all who have died in Jesus will rise again with Him.   May all souls rest in peace, especially those loved ones in our families who have gone before us.

Some saints that the St Thomas More community have special devotion to:

A huge thank you to all parents, carers and grandparents for your patience and support with our afternoon dismissal procedures.  After a shaky start last Monday with all of the school present for our first real dismissal, we encountered some issues which we now seem to have sorted.  The greatest success that assists our dismissal is that parents are now staggering their pick up within their allocated times.  That is, everyone isn't trying to enter our school at 2.35pm.  Thanks for your cooperation with this matter.  A reminder again that we are doing our best to keep all children and members of our community safe.  We ask all parents and carers to abide by the road rules, especially on St Johns Road.  If the internal road is full you are encouraged to continue to travel along St Johns Road and turn around at either roundabout.  It is illegal to block the road or stop in a roundabout.  Once pick up has started, we do our best to keep the traffic flowing to ease the situation.  Thank you in particular to those parents who need to assist their child with seat belts, for pulling over and parking in the old drop off area, to look after their children.  This helps us to keep the car line flowing.  We understand that this week that all students from St Patrick’s College have returned and the cars associated with the St Patrick’s College pick up will add to the traffic on St Johns Road.  No matter how busy the traffic is, we again ask everyone to abide by the road rules.  A huge thank you also to our staff who every day are ensuring that a safe dismissal occurs.  We are so lucky to have an internal road and pick up area; many schools do not have such a luxury.

A reminder that the procedure each afternoon is:

At 2.35pm, children whose surname commences with A-K are to be collected from the Carlines.  Children whose surnames commences with L-Z are picked up from 2.50pm.  L-Z children are not brought to the Carlines until 2.50pm. If you are early for your staggered time, please park in the car park and join the pick up line at the correct time.  Please give way to buses at all times while in the pick up line.

Morning Drop Off:
Parents are reminded that supervision does not commence until 8.00am.  Children will be allowed into the school grounds at 8.00am through the Carline gate.  The children know that they are then to go to their designated playground as we continue to keep children separated in their stage groups as per the Public Health orders.

Classes 2022

Term 4 is the time when we complete the 2021 school year as well as prepare for 2022.  One of the major tasks this term is to prepare classes for 2022.  Teachers and staff members utilise their professional expertise in making decisions, seeking to create equitable class groupings considering all students.  All classes/grades will be regrouped for 2022.  

Optimising the learning environment is the prime focus when forming new class groups for 2022, not forming friendship groups.  The aim is to provide classes in which each child is able to continue to develop to their full potential.  

If there is a particular issue regarding your child’s optium learning for 2022, please write to Mr Barrington, via email, stating your concerns and requests.  You are invited to be proactive rather than reactive.  Please note that this is not an opportunity to request individual teachers, but an opportunity to state a particular issue that might impact on your child’s learning in 2022.  All requests will be considered but NOT NECESSARILY GUARANTEED.  Please send your email requests to info@stmdow.catholic.edu.au marked to the attention of Mr Barrington by Friday 12th November 2021.  Further requests regarding class placement will not take place after this date.  Please note that because we are committed to the belief that each child begins each school year anew, we do not retain information regarding these requests from previous years.  

This is the time to raise any issues regarding your child’s optium learning for 2022.  After all requests have been considered the school will make the final decision regarding all placements.  

If your child is not returning to St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School Ruse in 2022, could you please notify the School Office as soon as possible.   There is a ‘School Leavers’ form that needs to be completed. 

Wash Hands

Social Distancing

Stay Safe

Philip Barrington 

PRINCIPAL

Scholastic Book Club orders were sent home yesterday and close 12/11/21

Many library books reamain outstanding and overdue. Could all familes take the time at home to ensure all libary books are returned back to school in order for stocktake to take place.