St Thomas Primary School Terang eNewsletter

Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Girai Wurrung people of the land on which we live and learn. We recognise their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay respects to elders, past, present and emerging.

Prayer

From the Principal

Only two weeks remain until the end of term. The students and staff had a wonderful time last Friday at our Book Week Dress Up and Activity day. We do appreciate the time and thought parents put into the students costumes, so thank you. If you head to our facebook page you will see some pictures of the day.

This Friday we have another big day planned with our Grandparents/Special Persons Day. We will start with a liturgy at 11am at the church which we invite our grandparents and special people to. We then invite them to come across to the school where the students can showcase their work, play some activities along with having some light refreshments. This day is always very popular and we look forward to seeing lots of people at the school this Friday.

Enjoy the remainder of the week.

Matt Uzkuraitis

News

ASSEMBLY: No assembly this week due to Grandparents/Special Person's Day on Friday

LOST PROPERTY: We have had a piece of woman's jewellery found on school ground which we believe may have personal value. Please contact the office for more information if you may have lost something.

LONG SERVICE LEAVE: Maria is taking some Long Service Leave until the end of term. She will be back for the start of Term 4.

SCHOOL ADVISORY COUNCIL (SAC) MEETING: A reminder to our SAC members that we have our Term 3 meeting on Wednesday 11th September at 7:30pm in the Library. Previous minutes and agendas were sent out last week to your nominated email address.

HOT DOG AND JUICE FORMS: A reminder that Hot Dog and Juice forms for the last day of term are due in this Wednesday.

Grandparents/Special Persons Day

Grandparents/Special Persons Day is this Friday 13th September. The day will go as follows:

The school will have recess early (10:20-10:50am)

We invite any grandparents or special friends to celebrate a liturgy @ 11am at the Church.

After Mass, from 11:30 - 12:30pm, we will invite the Grandparents and special friends over to the school to walk through the classroom's, play some games in the classroom. Some refreshments (light lunch and a cup of tea) will be given from 12:30pm onwards in the undercover area.

We invite all Grandparents, special friends or it could even be just mum or dad. We look forward to this community event.

Books to Life - Book Week Show

Next Monday 16th September all the students will travel to Terang College to watch a performance by 'Books to Life' as part of this years Book Week. The students will travel by bus for the performance just after 9am and will be back by recess time.

The performance will be based on the CBCA shortlisted book 'That Bird Has Arms'.

This will be something to look forward to as the students head into the last week of term. We will have permission forms uploaded onto PAM by tomorrow.

Regional Athletics - Term 4

We have some students who will be competing at the Regional Athletics in Ballarat next term. A note was handed out last week to these students, with more information to come. We congratulate the following students:

Annabelle Blackford

11 year old girls high jump

11 year old girls 200 m

Jade Byron

12-13 year old girls 80 meter hurdles-68cm

12-13 year old girls 4 x 100 meter relay

Grace Boshier

12-13 year old girls 4 x 100 meter relay

Georgie Mellington

11 year old girls discus throw-750g

Kora Wines

9-10 year old shot put-2kg

School TV

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The rise of mental health concerns among young people, including anxiety, depression, and self-harm, is a pressing issue amplified by factors such as academic stress, social media, family dynamics and societal expectations. It is therefore crucial to prioritise early intervention, de-stigmatise mental health discussions, and provide accessible and effective support to address these concerns and promote the wellbeing of young people.

This year R U OK?Day falls on Thursday 12 September, an annual National Day of Action and a reminder that every day is the day to check in with your friends, family and colleagues.

R U OK? contributes to suicide prevention year round by urging people to invest time in personal relationships and empowering informal support networks to identify signs of distress. Families are encouraged to engage in this initiative, emphasising the importance of authentic human connections and reminding everyone to ask the essential question, "Are you OK?"

Parents, caregivers and schools all play a vital role in shaping young lives. Participating in R U OK?Day goes beyond classrooms, showcasing a commitment to holistic student development. By initiating conversations about mental health, schools create safe spaces, where children feel valued, understood, and supported. Parents can help by fostering an open dialogue, normalising emotions, identifying support systems, teaching active listening and addressing any stigmas relating to mental health.

Many schools nationwide organise events for the R U OK? message, offering students opportunities to engage. Parents and caregivers can help by supporting their school in this endeavour or choose to organise your own event for your workplace or community group. Participating in R U OK?Day nurtures compassion and demonstrates our dedication to the wellbeing of the whole school community, reaffirming that together, we can make a difference!

School TV