As we begin the final term of the 2024 school year, I am excited to share some of the brilliant initiatives that promise to bring our school community together.

Real Schools

We have officially launched our three-year partnership with Real Schools, led by Adam Voigt and our expert facilitator, Jemma Rust. This collaboration aims to enhance our school culture and foster positive relationships among students, teachers and families.

A heartfelt thank you to all our parents who attended our recent session; your engagement is vital for our shared success. We look forward to working together to create a nurturing environment that supports our students’ growth and well-being. Together we can make a significant impact.

The partnership with Real Schools is set to implement several future initiatives aimed at enhancing our school environment. Planned activities include:

• Professional Development Workshops: ongoing training for staff to improve educational practices and student engagement
• Parent Engagement Sessions: face-to-face sessions and sharing of articles to foster communication and collaboration with families
• Student Empowerment Programs: Initiatives designed to empower students and develop their leadership and social skills
• Community Events: Activities that encourage community involvement and strengthen school-family connections

We are excited about these initiatives and look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders.

Positive Behaviour Strategies (PBS)

We are also pleased to share our school’s commitment to fostering a positive learning environment through Positive Behaviour Strategies. These strategies are designed to support students’ social, emotional, and academic growth by promoting respectful and positive behaviours. The key strategies are:

• Clear Expectations: we establish and communicate clear behavioural expectations for all students, ensuring a consistent understanding across the school community
• Positive Reinforcement: staff actively acknowledge and praise positive student behaviours, reinforcing a supportive class and whole school community
• Tiered Support: our approach includes multi-tiered support systems, addressing the diverse needs of all students, from general to more individualised interventions

We have seen that these strategies enhance our school culture and are seeing improved outcomes for students.

Commissioner’s Student Voice Postcards

Helen Connolly, the Commissioner for Children and Young People - South Australia has passed on her thanks to the staff of St Therese School for once again supporting our students to participate in the Commissioner’s Student Voice Postcards initiative.
Helen and her team collate the key themes from children across the state to produce the next The Things That Matter report.

On behalf of the St Therese School staff, I thank you for your continuing support in these important initiatives. Term four is a wonderful time of the year, filled with opportunities for connection, learning and celebration. I am looking forward to seeing many families at the events as listed in the school calendar on SZapp.

Your involvement sets a great example for our students about the importance of being involved and giving back.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our school. Together, we create an engaging and nurturing environment for all children to thrive.

Dee-anne Peters
Principal

Courage

“Jesus said, “Take courage, I am here”    Matthew 14:27

Our Term 4 School Value is Courage, and students across our community have been showing great courage every day as they embrace opportunities to learn, grow, and stretch themselves to try new things. We can see our students persist by not giving up or having another go at something they have not been able to do before and then celebrate their efforts as they use a growth mindset and make progress with small steps.

"It is true I am not always faithful, but I never lose courage. I leave myself in the Arms of Our Lord"

- St Therese of Lisieux

Yr 6 Reflection Day

Our Year Six students gathered together for their Reflection Day at Sophia Conference Centre. The theme for the Reflection Day was – Community - “All for one and one for all” and reflected upon 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27 ‘One body, many parts’ through the day. The day was filled with a wide range of activities which included team building activities and at Cabra with a Yr 7 Class. The day was an opportunity for our students to reflect on their journey through the school years and celebrate their personal strengths, diversity, relationships and each other.

Little Way Day

We began Week 2 with Little Way Day to celebrate the feast day of St Therese, our patron saint. This was a very special day for our community to come together and enjoy the festivities and fundraising activities that had been prepared by our students. We are so proud of the tremendous efforts made by our community to raise funds for Caritas Australia. Thank you to all of our families for their generous donations and support which helped us to prepare for Little Way Day. We would also like to thank the families and caregivers who were able to join us for Whole School Prayer in the morning and our market stalls afterwards. We are so glad that you were able to be a part of Little Way Day this year.

Sacramental program

Please keep our sacramental candidates and their families in your prayers as they continue their faith journey. Students from our school will celebrate their Confirmation and First Communion on Saturday 16th November at 6pm in St Therese Church.

Enrolments are now open for the Emmaus Parish 2025 Sacramental Program for young people aged 7 years or older. If you are interested, please come to the Sacramental Program Information Night for 2025, which will be held on Thursday 21st November at 6 pm, in the Mercy Hall at St Thomas School, Goodwood. Please let me know if you have any questions or contact the Emmaus Parish office.

Calling All Families:

Please Donate Children’s Books and Clothes to Support Our School Community and Those in Need!

We are excited to announce two wonderful initiatives coming up that offer our students a chance to practice generosity and service: our Student-Run Book Stall and a Clothing Drive for Vinnies. These projects are a perfect way to help others while engaging our students in the spirit of compassion and community.

Secondhand Book Stall: Donate Your Pre-Loved Children's Books

We’re inviting families to donate gently used children’s books for our upcoming book stall, which will be fully organised and run by our students. This book stall will not only help us promote a love for reading but also foster a sense of responsibility as students handle the planning, sales, and setup themselves.

If you have any books that your children have outgrown or are ready to pass along, please bring them to school before the end of Week 5 and place in the collection area located in the Dominican Room.

Clothing Drive for Vinnies Christmas Appeal

One of our Students is also running a Vinnies’ Clothing Drive. As we move towards summer, it’s a wonderful time to clear out those wardrobes and give new life to clothes that may no longer be needed. Vinnies do an incredible job to support families and individuals who may be struggling at Christmas, and your donation of gently worn clothes will make a real difference in their lives.

How to Donate:

1. Books - Drop off gently used children’s books at the designated boxes located in The Dominican Room
2. Clothing - A collection bin for the Vinnies Clothing Drive will also be in The Dominican Room

Both donation bins will be open until the end of Week 5 (Friday 15 November)

By contributing to these drives, you’re supporting our students’ initiatives, helping others in need, and contributing to a culture of kindness and compassion in our community. Together, we can make a difference! Thank you for your generosity and support.

Carols and Christmas Markets

On Monday 9 December we will be hosting our annual Carols Evening. We have decided to add Christmas Markets and a Sausage Sizzle to the evening for our community to enjoy. Each class will have a market stall to sell crafts they have made to raise funds for Vinnies Christmas Appeal. Wait till you see the beautiful Christmas crafts and treasures our students have made with their teachers, they are delightful!

If any of our families would like to have a stall to sell handmade gifts or crafts, please contact Carol Jarell to provide an expression of interest and details for what you would like to do. We have already received interest from several parents who would like to contribute to a Bake Stall which will be wonderful. Further information will be provided soon.

Carol Jarell
APRIM and Wellbeing Coordinator

We ask all families to be familiar with the procedures below, and to share this information with extended family members and/or friends that assist with student arrival to, or departure from school.

Drivers should observe the road rules at all times. This includes, but is not limited to, ensuring school zone speed limits are adhered to and maintaining heightened awareness for students nearby to vehicles. Please do not perform U-turns where not permitted per road rules, or in situations that are unsafe.

When parking around the school please observe all council signage and be aware of parking restrictions. Particularly note parking areas that are reserved for holders of disabled permits. If you hold a current disabled permit, the permit must be displayed on the vehicle.

Drop-off and Pick-up Zone
The drop-off and pick-up zone is available on West Parkway near the school crossing and Oxford Circus (school side only). During the designated times of 8:30-9:00am and 3:00-4:00pm this zone is for drop off/pick up only and drivers should not leave their vehicle. If students require assistance to enter the school yard/classroom please park in regular street parking (not the drop-off zone) and walk the student/s into school.

Parking
Parking is available in the Church car park, in the Mortlock Oval car park and certain side streets with unrestricted parking (refer to council signage).

Please note that Mitcham Council regularly patrol the area and will issue traffic infringement notices for cars parked incorrectly.

Following the guidelines is for the safety of all children. Please be patient, and on high alert when travelling around the school area.

As you may remember, Schoolzine/SZapp experienced technical issues at the end of last term and across the school holidays. This delayed the publication of our 'Sports Day' newsletter. Watch out for this special edition newsletter coming soon!