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Dear Families,
We continue with a different and positive start to Term 2. Students and staff have enjoyed a week of transition this week where learning continues to be the main focus through our Connected Learning Model. As students have increasingly returned to school over the last two weeks, we are extremely proud that we have been able to continue our holistic approach to teaching and learning, wellbeing, spirituality and more through this model. Throughout this time, wherever the students has been learning from, our focus has been to maintain our strong connection with them.
This theme will continue into next week as we formally reconnect with our students face to face. The end of this week has seen the majority of our students return, with more obviously to come on Monday. Having said that, the time for transition is not over. As a teaching and learning community, we are committed to capitalising on the success of the Connected Learning Model through value-adding with face to face opportunities. Schools have been declared as safe places by the Federal and State Governments and the respective Chief Health Officers and we continue to practise hygienic, safe, and socially distancing practices in the school. We are looking forward to reconnecting with all of our students next week. For those with approved health reasons (such as health vulnerabilities) who will still wish to keep students home next week, online work will be provide throughout May to ensure continuity of learning.
I keep reading and hearing about what ‘has been lost’ during this pandemic. I am also starting to hear the flip side of this: what has been gained during this time. This growth mindset approach is key with our staff and students; there is much to be gained during this time. Whether it is a teacher armed with new methods; a student learning more about their skills of independent learning; or a renewed appreciation for face to face contact, there is something we can all learn as we look towards a ‘new normal’ for school and society. We look forward to continuing to co-construct this new normal next week.
Two positive news stories to finish. Next Saturday (May 16) we are holding our first Virtual Principal’s Tour, followed by a Principal’s Q&A Forum. Through a Zoom Meeting I will lead prospective families through a ‘guided tour’ of Thomas More College, which you can preview via this link. I will then hold an online Q&A forum for any questions that families may have. If your friends or families’ are interested, please direct them to register for the tour here.
I am also pleased to announce that our Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning, Rebecca Baker, has won a key accolade by the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL). Rebecca has been awarded the Pip Field Emerging Leaders Award and is one of three recipients across the state. Rebecca has been acknowledged for her work across:
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Establishing a distinct ‘middle schooling’ model, through working with the community and working towards a holistic change in our College practices.
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Creating a School-Wide Pedagogy through leading the implementation of the new vision for learning, utilising Design Thinking to lead cultural change and supporting the development of middle leaders.
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A focus on student agency in learning, through leading staff and students to form, define an evidence a set of Learner Behaviours.
We congratulate Rebecca on this excellent achievement.
Take Care
Corey Tavella
Principal
The More Justice Team is keen to keep vulnerable South Aussies warm this winter.
Can you help?
Our first aim is to gather 100 items to help keep homeless people warm.
Items being sought after by St Vinnies include: Beanies, Blankets, Socks, Gloves and Sleeping Bags.
They do not need to be new but if you are going to donate, please ensure that the items are clean and in good condition.
Donations can be placed in the St Vinnies bin, located inside the Front Office.
Bradley, Chloe, Masoumeh, Ashley and Ms Taylor
More Justice Team
Welcome
Welcome to the first edition of the Thomas More College #librarylife newsletter for Term 2, 2020.
The Library staff would like to remind all students, staff and families that we are still open and here for all your learning needs. All resources can still be borrowed and library staff are here to help in any way that we can while we navigate the next chapter of our Staying Connected Learning Model and the restrictions we are still having to abide by due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Premier’s Reading Challenge is still running for students who wish to be involved, with a few changes to the reading requirements and the library staff are still running the Thomas More Day Reading Challenge for the next month, so please remember to put a sticker on your team board for every book you finish reading. The more stickers your team has when the library staff compile the end results, the more points your team will receive towards the Thomas More Day Award in June.
My Favourite Book Review
Here is Ms Anna Beinke enjoying her favourite book: ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley. Describe this book in 6 words: What it means to be human?
Premier’s Reading Challenge – update from the Premier’s Office
COVID-19 Advice
Due to many schools having students learning from home, we are altering the requirements for completing the Challenge for 2020. Information about this can be found in the “News Flash” section on the PRC website home page http://www.premiersreadingchallenge.sa.edu.au/prc/pages/home/home/
Essentially:
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Students can read any 12 books they wish, but the preference is still for students to read books from the PRC list as per usual
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To help accommodate this, SA Public Libraries have provided links to their online, free catalogue of e-books that students and families are welcome to access. These links are provided on the PRC website http://www.premiersreadingchallenge.sa.edu.au/prc/pages/home/home/
Virtual Books (provided by SA Public Libraries):
HOME LEARNING: https://sapln.overdrive.com/collection/1058433
MAKERSPACE RESOURCES: https://sapln.overdrive.com/collection/185110
Inspirational Quote of the Week | #Be patient …
Uniform Shop Opening Hours
Mondays: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Thursdays: 8:00am - 10:00am
Fridays: 2:00pm - 4:00pm
First Saturday of Every Month: 10:00am - 12:00pm
Healthy Eating… Healthy Lifestyles
Thomas More College supports the Rite Bite Strategies introduced for South Australian Schools as well as an overall healthy approach to living and lifestyle. This is an initiative we encourage all of our community to take up, not just our students. The College would like to invite staff, students and parents to contribute recipes which meet these guidelines, as displayed on our website, for our newsletter so that we can all benefit from our collective knowledge and resources. Please enjoy the following recipes.
Bean and Tomato Sausage Hotpot
Preparation Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
8 thick beef sausages
1 large brown onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
140g tub tomato paste
400g can butter beans, drained, rinsed
100g pitted kalamata olives
¼ cup basil leaves, chopped
Method
Heat oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Cook sausages for 8 minutes, turning, or until browned. Set aside.
Add onion and garlic to frying pan. Cook, stirring, for 2 minutes or until soft.
Add sausages, tomatoes, paste, beans and olives to frying pan. Cover. Cook for 20 minutes or until cooked through. Stir through basil. Season. Transfer to a heatproof casserole dish, if desired. Serve.
Creamy Potato and Rosemary Bake
Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 41 minutes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
6 large (1kg) Coliban potatoes
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
½ cup pure cream
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary leaves
½ cup grated gruyere cheese
Method
Using a fork, pierce each potato 5 times. Place potatoes, evenly spaced, around a large, microwave-safe plate. Microwave on HIGH (100%) for 5 to 6 minutes or until just tender. Carefully remove plate from microwave. Set aside until cool enough to handle. Cut potatoes into 1cm-thick slices.
Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Grease a 5cm-deep, 21cm (base), round pie dish. Place mustard, cream and egg yolk in a jug. Season with salt and pepper. Whisk to combine.
Arrange one-third potato, slightly overlapping, over base of prepared dish. Sprinkle with one-third rosemary leaves and one-third cheese. Repeat layers twice more with remaining potato, rosemary and cheese. Pour cream mixture over potato mixture layers. Bake for 35 minutes or until potatoes are cooked through and cheese is melted and golden. Stand for 10 minutes. Serve.