Dear Parents and Carers,

As this is the last newsletter for 2021 and the year draws to a close it is timely to say “thank you” to many members of the St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School Ruse community:

• To the parents and carers for all your support of the school in many ways.  We have had a very challenging and unprecedented year, however your constant support of all that we did was very much appreciated.  Thank you for supporting us, helping us and working with us in all areas, particularly the areas focussed on learning, wellbeing and safety.  We consistently worked hard in partnership with all of our families for the benefit of all students in our school.  All parents, carers, relatives and friends who became teachers at home during remote learning, we say thank you for all that you have done.
• To our priest, Fr Michael who has guided us and supported us through 2021.  We say thank you for his spiritual guidance, support and assistance in many ways as he is always only ever a phone call away.
• To the students for their hard work and resilience. Throughout 2021, the students have constantly amazed us all with their willingness to learn and ability to adapt particularly to events and situations out of their control.    Our school community is fortunate to work with children who love to learn and who continued to engage with their learning at home.  Thank you students.
• To the wonderful staff of St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School.  Their professionalism and dedication to the community is inspirational.  Their commitment to monitoring and regular check-ins with students and families greatly assisted all to continue to engage in their work.  It has been a highly unusual time for all of the staff, juggling remote learning and face to face learning as well as supporting their own families at this time.  All of our staff have ensured that the children in our care were safe and equipped to cope with all that was being asked of them. Thank you STM staff.
• Thank you to the parishioners of St Thomas More Ruse for their prayers and support, particularly with the sacramental programs for 2021.  We appreciate their ability and cooperation with events and programs that were always changing and challenging us.  
• To everyone who did anything to assist and support our great school community in 2021, we say thank you.

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 2022:

• Ms Fiona McEvoy who is relocating to Canberra to work and also care for an elderly parent. 
• Miss Ana Kristo who has a classroom teaching position at St Paul’s Catholic Parish Primary School Camden.
• Mrs Samantha Ollerton who has a classroom teaching position at Buxton Public School.
• Mrs Daniella Thompson who has a classroom teaching position at Holy Family Catholic Parish Primary School Ingleburn.
• Mr Lachlan Carter who has a classroom teaching position at St Fancis Xavier’s Catholic Primary School Lurnea.
• Mr Jonathon Heath who is doing some editing work in educational forums.

In 2022 we welcome to our staff:  Mrs Veronica Baker, Miss Kirsty Pannu, Mrs Carolyn Manning and Miss Natalie Novic.  Ms Julie McKenzie also rejoins our teaching staff.    All 2022 staffing positions will be communicated with you in Week 11 after the children are introduced to their 2022 classroom teacher on Monday 13th December.

On Wednesday 15th December, we will say goodbye and farewell to all of the Year 6 children and some children in other grades.  Goodbye and thank you to the following families who leave St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School Ruse:  Ali, Augustine, Barry, Bleeks, Castray, Clarke (Brendan), Fililava (Leonie), Finn, Gilbert, Hogan, Kedde, Keegan, Keith, Khoury, Langi, Lipscombe, Maharaj, McDade, McNulty, Merry, Mitchell, Moroney, Norris, Okondo, Penney, Pulikot, Schroeter, Shipley and Zekry families. 

The traditional ‘STM Guard of Honour’ on Wednesday 15/21/21 will again take a different format this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.  This year the Guard of Honour will commence at 1.00pm with the whole school dismissal occurring at 1.20pm.  Kindergarten to Year 5 students will line up around school.  Year 6 will walk through the line and meet only Year 6 parents (double vaccinated, socially distanced, masked and checked in via the QR code) in the area behind Year 6 inside the school boundaries.  No grandparents or older siblings will be permitted on the school grounds.  Cars in the carpark should belong to Year 6 families ONLY.   Kindergarten to Year 6 parents can collect their children from the pick up line from 1.20pm - 1.40pm or at the usual pick up time from 2.30pm - 3.00pm.  

Your child’s Semester 2 Report will soon be available through Compass.  Paper copies of student reports ARE NOT being sent home.  Kindergarten to Year 6 reports will be made available for you to access through Compass on Friday 10/12/21.  To access your child’s report:  

1. Login to Compass. 
2. Click on your child’s portfolio.  
3. Click on the Reports Tab 
4. Click on Semester 2 2021.

The 2021 St Thomas More Christmas Concert will be uploaded to Youtube next week.  You will be notified when it is ready.  The link will be sent to you via Compass.  Due to restrictions our Christmas Concert has again been filmed for you to watch.  

Next Wednesday 8th December we are holding a Sports Fun Day.  This is to replace the athletics carnival that did not occur due to lockdown.  All children will compete in some fun sports activities in their stage groups.  Children will participate in activities such as running races, volleyball, ball games and novelty relays.  Children are to wear their sports uniform to school and may also wear a coloured shirt of their House Colour if they choose.  Children are encouraged to bring a few drink bottles as well as their usual Lunch 1 and Lunch 2.  All children will be provided with a packet of popcorn and an ice block at Lunch 1.  Unfortunately the current restrictions prevent parents attending this day, however we are hoping for fine weather for a day full of exercise and fun.

We are fortunate that the Year 6 Graduation can go ahead with a few minor changes to our plans.  The entire graduation, including the liturgy, will be held at the Campbelltown Catholic Club.  Parents who are vaccinated are permitted to attend.  Just like last year, the current restrictions do not permit us to gather together for an end of year school Mass and assembly.  We are holding an end of year liturgy and assembly for each stage group which will be recorded and shared with you via a link.  Please refer to the calendar for the time and day of these events.   

Best wishes for a joyful and peaceful Christmas.  May it be a special time for being with family and provide you with many opportunities to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Philip Barrington 
PRINCIPAL

A reminder to all families 2021 fees are now due to be finalised. Please pay close attention to your school statement as it is emailed to you.

Wakakirri credits are currently being processed for ticket purchases, DVD purchases and a credit of $33 per student will be applied. The credits will be applied to your school fee account. Any year 6 leaving families who have paid in full  and will result in leaving your account in credit, please email your bank details (BSB & account number) to info@stmdow.catholic.edu.au to request the refund.

2022 school fees are now finalised and published on our school website under 'School Fees Information'.

PAYMENT OF SCHOOL FEES BY INSTALMENT
EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITH INSTALMENTS
If you are currently paying by instalments there is no need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment as your request carries over from year to year unless you wish to amend the frequency of your payments eg Weeky to Fortnightly, etc.

EXISTING FAMILIES IN OUR SCHOOL WITHOUT INSTALMENTS
If you would like to pay school fees by instalments in 2022 and have previously not taken up this option for payment, please complete a Request to Pay by Instalment Form which is available on the school’s website or from the school’s administration office. On completion of the request either email it to instalments@dow.catholic.edu.au or submit at the school office. Following receipt of the request, instalments will be generated on your school fee account during the process of invoicing 2022 school fees. Your school fee statement will provide a list of scheduled payments and their due date depending on the frequency you have chosen eg Fortnightly, Monthly, etc.

IMPORTANT: Please note that if you currently have a child or children at another school in the Diocese and you are paying by instalments at this location, you will not need to complete another Request to Pay by Instalment. The instalment request carries over from school to school with the same frequency of payment eg Weekly, fortnightly, etc.