General Information

Contact Details Enrolment Procedures
Key Personnel & Details Facilities 
Timetable Information Uniform
A Message from the Principal Parental Involvement
Our History Community Involvement
School Board Fees
Parents and Friends Association Annual Report

St Thomas' Primary School is a co-educational Catholic Primary School catering for students from Years Prep to Six.

Contact Information

 Guthridge Parade
Sale Vic 3850
Telephone: (03) 5144 1332
Fax: (03) 5144 2348
 E-mail:  principal@stthomas.sale.catholic.edu.au    
 

Key Personnel & Details

Principal:
 		 Mr Jason Slattery
 
Deputy Principal:
 		 Mrs Liz Coleman-Gray
 
Administration
Officers: 

 		 Mrs Heather Wolfe
Mrs Casey Johnson
 
Parish Administrator:



 		 Father Bernard Buckley
C/- St. Mary’s Cathedral
Pearson Street
Sale  Vic  3850
Telephone: (03) 5144 4100
 
Enrolment:
 		 212
 
Class Structure: This depends on annual enrolment numbers.
In 2008 we have 9 composite classes, 1 Prep class.

 

Daily Timetable:

                        Session One:               8.55 a.m. to 11.00 a.m.
                        Session Two:             11.20 a.m. to 12.55 p.m.
                        Session Three:            1.45 p.m. to   3.15 p.m.

 

A Message from the Principal

- to be included soon

Our History

Our school is named after St. Thomas the Apostle.  His feast day is celebrated on 3rd July.

Jesus said to Thomas “... You believe because you can see me.  Happy are those who have not seen and
yet believe.”  (Jn 20:28-29)

St. Thomas’ was officially opened in 1970 with Sr Therese Condon from the Sisters of Sion as Principal and fewer than 100 children enrolled in Grades Prep to 4.  There were only 6 classrooms, Staff Room and Office, but only 5 classrooms were used.  Boys in Grades 5 and 6 attended St. Patrick’s College in the years to 1978. 

The school quickly grew and soon it was necessary to add additional classrooms, first a double classroom (our present Library), followed by a new block with large Open Area, and in 1984, 4 more classrooms with 2 withdrawal areas, a new tuckshop and a storeroom. A multi-purpose Hall was erected in 1999.

Numbers reached a peak of 370 students around 1984, but are at present about 212 with 10 classes.  St. Thomas’ caters for a large number of mobile families including many RAAF families from the East Sale Base. 

St. Thomas’ School Board

The School Board meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month.  The members of the Board include the Parish Priest, the School Principal, staff representative, two members from the Parents & Friends Association, one co-opted parent member and four elected members from the general parent body.  Parents are all eligible for election and nominations will be warmly received when elections are held.  The aims of the School Board are to assist the Principal and Parish in planning, development, maintenance, finance, education, pastoral concern and public relations.

St. Thomas’ Parents & Friends Association

St. Thomas’ P&F contributes to the life of the school in many ways and in doing so supports our children’s education, development, enjoyment and pride in our school.  Meetings are held monthly (second Tuesday) to discuss activities, school issues and events.

Activities organised by Committees are:

Social Committee - ; Picnic Teas, Carols, Social Evenings.

Fundraising Committee - Arts Alive @ St Thomas & Minor Raffles

Tuckshop Committee - day to day roster; ordering food.

Grounds Committee - School improvement projects & major maintenance.

Pastoral Care Committee - Class Parents Program; Casserole Bank.

Safety House Committee - Co-ordination with local community.

School Board - Representation on School Board.

Meals on Wheels-Assisting this community program 3 times per year.

Fees

While we receive State and Federal Government grants for approximately 80% of our expenditure, we rely on school fees and fundraising for the balance.  School fees are set by the Board and fees for 2008 were:

  Fees Building
 Levy		 per Term Annual
Maintenance
 Levy		 Annual
One student: $210 $40 $250 $50 $1050
Two students $250 $40 $290 $50 $1210
Three + students: $300 $40 $330 $50 $1370

Annual Fees are generated at the commencement of the School Year. Instalments are due at the start of each term.  Arrangements can also be made with the Principal to pay fortnightly or monthly instalments.

Parents who have genuine difficulty with the payment of fees should contact the Principal as soon as possible to discuss alternate arrangements.

Enrolment Procedures
 Dates for enrolment of children who are eligible to begin school for the first time in the following year are announced in the Parish Bulletin, School Newsletter and also advertised in the Gippsland Times.  Applications for enrolment should be made to the Principal.  All applications are ratified by the Parish Priest and all parents are requested to bring their child’s Birth Certificate, Baptismal Certificate and Immunisation Certificate when enrolling.

An orientation session is held for Prep children in the November before they commence school.  Parents are notified in writing about this day.

Facilities

St. Thomas’ has well appointed classrooms and attractive and spacious grounds.  Other features include:

Tuckshop

The school tuckshop operates each Wednesday and Friday by volunteer assistance of parents.  Children can purchase lunch at the tuckshop and current price lists are revised and sent to parents each term.  The tuckshop cannot operate if there are not sufficient parents to work in it.  A form is sent home at the beginning of each term asking for volunteers.  Please give this your consideration.

Uniform

Parents are responsible for sending children to school in correct uniform and are asked to check uniform daily.  Children should be encouraged to wear their uniform with pride.  All articles of clothing should be clearly marked with child’s name.

A new uniform was implemented in 2008 with a 4 year transition period for current students.

Uniform items must be official school uniform items displaying the school logo and are available at local uniform suppliers.

Boys - Summer: Grey shorts, white shirt, school jumper (navy), grey socks, black leather shoes or elastic-sided school boots.

Boys - Winter:  Grey long pants, white shirt, school jumper (navy), grey socks, black leather shoes or elastic-sided school boots.

Boys - Sports Uniform:   School polo shirt, navy shorts, sneakers, navy school trackpants, navy school fleece tracksuit top or vest,  plain, white, above the ankle length socks.

Girls - Summer:  School summer dress, school jumper (navy), short white socks (above ankle), black leather shoes or elastic-sided school boots.

Girls - Winter:  Winter tunic, white shirt, school jumper (navy), navy tights or knee length navy socks, black leather shoes or elastic-sided school boots.

Girls - Sports Uniform:  School polo shirt, navy shorts, sneakers, navy school trackpants navy school fleece tracksuit top or vest,  plain, white, above the ankle length socks.

Sneakers are not to be used as school shoes. Tracksuit tops are not to be worn as school jumpers.

Children may wear the sports uniform to school on their weekly Physical Education/Sport day only.

Hats:  Students are expected to wear the school hat at recess and lunch times and during P.E. classes in terms 1 and 4.  No other hat may be worn.  Students are encouraged to wear hats in Term 2 & 3 on days that are deemed necessary.

Scarf /Gloves: Navy school scarf and gloves are an optional item during winter for girls and boys. 

School Bag:  A backpack style school bag in St. Thomas’ colours with school emblem is compulsory for children in Years Prep to 6.

The school also operates a second-hand uniform shop which is open during office hours.

Parental Involvement

We have extremely supportive parents who are involved in:

Class Parents (Mums or Dads) are very special people in our school community.  They act as the link between the teacher, other parents, principal and the children of a particular class.  At the beginning of each year parents volunteer to take on the role of Class Parent for their child’s class.  Parents are urged to nominate and participate in this very worthwhile program.  The role of Class Parents is to:

 

Community Involvement

We also enjoy being actively involved in the community by:

                     

 

 

 

 

 

 

School Annual Report

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ST. THOMAS’ SCHOOL SALE

Parents and Staff Partners in Effective Life Long Learning and Spiritual Growth of the Child

Mission Direction Number One

Enhancing The Catholic Nature Of Our Schools

Goals:

Religious Education continues to thrive at St. Thomas’.  Prayer is an essential part of each day. Weekly Liturgies or Masses are celebrated and a Whole School Mass is held each term. The children play a very active role in all celebrations. In 2006 a focus was placed on the children attending a School Mass at the Cathedral twice a year to ensure they experience Mass in St. Mary’s Cathedral.  Parental attendance was high at all celebrations and it has been noted that the attendance of parents of senior students has risen. Parents played a significant role in welcoming others into the school community by providing morning tea after each celebration.  This interaction also provided an opportunity for the Pastoral Care Committee to make contact with parents who may have needed some assistance when family circumstances changed due to illness, bereavement, unemployment or the birth of a new baby.

During 2005 and 2006 all members of staff attended Professional Development Days on the New Diocesan Religious Education Guidelines “Journeying Together”.  The new curriculum was introduced into all classes from Prep to Year 6 in 2006 and greatly enhanced the teaching of Religious Education across the school.  The children have responded well to the new program and have been able to enhance their own prayer presentations and demonstrate a clearer understanding of lesson content.  This was shown through the children’s organization of special prayer services, such as ANZAC Day, Mission Week and Holy Week Celebrations.

Parents are becoming increasingly comfortable with the Parish Based, Family Centred and School Supported Diocesan Sacramental Program and presentation of families for the sacraments has increased significantly over the past year. Representatives from the teaching staff attended the Sacramental Parent Meetings, Parent/Child workshops and Reflection Days throughout the year.  Parents appreciated the support shown by staff as they prepared their children for the sacraments.

Staff and parents have been given the opportunity to enrich their faith and spirituality in a variety of ways throughout the year.  “Spirituality in the Pub” evenings were organized by the POSEC (Parish of Sale Education Committee) and offered in August and November 2006 to all members of the school and parish communities.  Guest speakers Jim Quillenan and Maria Forde provided experiences whereby those present were able to explore and express their ideas on a variety of faith issues.   Parents and Friends Meetings, School Board Meetings and Staff Meetings always began with a prayer or reflection.  The depth of the reflections at these meetings has grown significantly.  Staff in particular; take great comfort in being able to express their feelings and concerns through prayer in a supportive environment.  All staff from St. Thomas’ and neighbouring Catholic Schools attended a two day spirituality retreat in Lakes Entrance, which was facilitated by Maria Forde.

Mission Direction Number Two

Promoting Effective Teaching and Learning

Goal:  To improve the learning outcomes of students in Literacy and Numeracy

St. Thomas’ School is committed to giving all students the opportunity to achieve their full potential in all areas of Literacy and Numeracy.  In 2005 several teachers underwent training in Gifted Education.  In 2006 one teacher was employed to conduct a multi-aged ‘abled students’ learning group for a 2 hours session on a weekly basis.   All lessons were based on a multi-intelligence approach and were very open-ended.  A challenge was provided for all students within the group to work to the level of which they were capable.  The students thrived on this experience and their parents appreciated the fact that the children’s learning needs were being catered for. The teacher who ran this group was subsequently invited to conduct a workshop, based on her work with the children, at the National Gifted & Talented Conference in Melbourne.

The Jolly Phonics Literacy Program was introduced into Years Prep, 1 and 2.  This Early Years Literacy program greatly improved student outcomes.   The excellent results achieved by the majority of Prep children in the end of year PIPS Testing was indicative of the success of the program.

A teacher was trained in the EMU (Extending Mathematical Understanding) Program to provide small group learning episodes for students in Years 1 & 2 who had been assessed as being “at risk” in Numeracy.

Key Student Outcomes

           Year 3 A.I.M.

Details

Achievement

Proportion of students meeting national benchmarks

Reading

100%

 

Writing

100%

 

Numeracy

100%

Changes in benchmark results from the previous year.

Reading

0.0%

 

Writing

0.0%

 

Numeracy

0.0%

These results indicate that 100% of Year 3 students achieved or were above the National Benchmarks in Reading, Writing and Numeracy.  The Achievement of Year 3 students was maintained over two years.

Key Student Outcomes

         Year 5 A.I.M.

Details

Achievement

Proportion of students meeting national benchmarks

Reading

90%

 

Writing

100%

 

Numeracy

97.60%

Changes in benchmark results from the previous year.

Reading

-3.6%

 

Writing

2.1%

 

Numeracy

1.7.0%

As a response to this data the Year 5 Reading results were analysed and an emphasis placed on using more non-fiction material in the classroom with an emphasis on teaching specific reading skills to enable students to achieve greater success. This strategy proved worthwhile as several Year 5 students were able to improve their reading age by up to 6 months by the end of 2006. 

Specialist areas offered within the school in 2006 were Physical Education, Performing Arts, L.O.T.E. Indonesian, Library and Information Communication Technology.

The School made a commitment to continue programs such as Literacy and Numeracy Skills Groups, Reading Recovery, The Healthy Relationships Program, Values, Living My Life Skills Program, Family Life Program, Children’s Voice, Safe Schools Program, Seasons for Growth and the Prep to Year 6 Swimming Program.

All of our programs invited the participation of parents, grandparents, family and friends who responded positively with good numbers attending when needed.

 

Mission Direction Number Three

Developing the Community Nature of our Catholic Schools

 

Goals

In 2006 there were 264 students enrolled in our school in 11 classes from 181 families.  We welcomed 40 new students and 26 new families.

Student attendance averaged 93% in 2006.  Any lengthy absences were primarily due to illness, vacation or involvement of indigenous students in the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony preparations.  Parents were informed via the school newsletter of the importance of students attending school regularly and of being on time for school each day.  The necessity of children being prepared for each day was also stressed as a means of developing student self-esteem, friendship networks, social skills and organizational skills. 

A homework policy that valued the work of parents and the activities undertaken by students at home was also implemented.   The aim was to have some structure that developed good organizational and time management skills that involved both educational and home activities.  This proved to be very successful.  Positive outcomes became evident throughout the year with students taking more responsibility for their learning and being able to organize their time and activities more effectively.  Parents commented that this policy made managing home activities and ‘homework’ much easier and prepared the Year 6 students well for the structure of secondary school.

As a Catholic School we value the opportunities that allow us to put our faith into action.  The students were made aware of global issues and given the opportunity to respond to various community or global needs.  Our knitting program expanded from supporting local institutions to include sending blankets to East Timor, Healing Teddies to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne and garments for the South African Jumpers for AIDS Babies Appeal.  This outreach program invited mothers and grandmothers to share their expertise in assisting the children in knitting and sewing groups.

Our Dance/ Drama / Music program is a vital part of the curriculum.  It teaches the students a variety of skills in the performing arts and builds on their self-confidence and self-esteem. Our students were again very successful when they competed in the Sale Speech and Choral Eisteddfods.  Large numbers of students were involved in the Voluntary Choir, which was invited to sing at the local Neighbourhood House 150 Years celebration. The number of students attending private music lessons at school for guitar, piano and violin significantly increased in 2006 and these students performed at a concert with the Catholic College Sale Band and a progress concert for parents. 

We have been accredited as a “Kids Go For your Life” School and promote a healthy eating and physical lifestyle and place a strong emphasis on looking after the environment.  The School was recognized within the local and metropolitan areas via newspapers articles, television reports and radio interviews for the work undertaken in these areas.  Our healthy living programs have shown to have improved the overall health and fitness of our students.  The school received an $1800 grant from the Australian Government to implement a Healthy Schools Communities Initiative.  This grant enabled the students to establish a vegetable garden within the school grounds, which was maintained by the Years 3 and 4 students. Parents assisted with this initiative by being involved in the grant submission committee and working on the construction of the wooden framed garden beds.

Mission Direction Number Four

Strengthening the Leadership in Our Catholic Schools

Goals

Leadership:

During 2006 staff, students and parents were recognized for their leadership potential and provided with opportunities to enhance their existing skills. 

The Staff Leadership Team was expanded in 2006 to include the Principal, Deputy Principal and Coordinators for, Religious Education, Curriculum, Numeracy, Health & Physical Education, ICT, Wellbeing and First Aid/OHS.  This diverse membership proved to be more successful in meeting the needs of the school community.  

Student Leadership consists of 6 School Leaders, 6 Vice School Leaders and 10 children’s Voice Class Representatives.

The School Leaders and Vice Leaders duties increased to include assisting with the organization and presentation of assemblies, running House Meetings prior to school sporting events, acting as guides on Open Day and Orientation Day and being available as school ambassadors within the community when necessary.  All children responded well to the added responsibilities of the School Leaders and displayed great maturity in their role.  These students were able to articulate what our school is all about and were familiar with all programs offered to students.  Parents were again most impressed with the School Leaders on Open Day.  Input and responses from the children reflected the obvious pride and love that they had for their school. Comments from visitors indicated they thought there was a very nice, calm feel to the school and the children were learning in a happy, bright environment.

Teacher Qualifications

Level

This School

Graduate Diploma 

23.81%

Graduate Certificate 

9.52%

Bachelor Degree       

61.9%

Advanced Diploma    

28.57%

Staff Attendance:

The average attendance rate per teaching staff in 2006:                               88.43%

The average attendance rate per non-teaching staff in 2006:                       98.50%

The average attendance rate for all staff in 2006:                                           90.21%

Staff absences were due to Extended Sick Leave, Maternity Leave, Short Term Sick Leave, Long Service Leave and Short Term Leave Without Pay.

Staff Retention:

During 2006 St. Thomas’ School employed 27 members of staff. The School maintained an 88.24% staff retention rate from the previous year. Four members of staff had been at the school for 25+ years. 

Professional Development:

The provision of Life Long Learning is a priority at St. Thomas’ and the staff were given many opportunities to extend their teaching skills and learn about new curriculum changes and initiatives. The professional development of staff was primarily based around the new Victorian Essential Learnings (VELS) Curriculum, the new Diocesan Religious Education Curriculum, ELAv8 Literacy and the Plain English Speaking A- E Report Card.  The cost of the provision of staff professional development amounted to $30,417.84 with an average of $1126 being spent on each staff member.  This equated to approximately 5 professional development days per staff member throughout the year. All members of staff were encouraged to keep a record of professional development attended to satisfy future Victorian Institute of Teaching Renewal of Registration requirements.

Mission Direction Number Five

Exercising Stewardship as Service

Goal: To provide effective stewardship of human and material resources.

In 2006 the Parents and Friends Association and the School Board worked hard to provide and support the educational opportunities for all students.  All positions on both committees were filled with enthusiasm and ease at the respective Annual General Meetings.  The School with the assistance of the School Board was successful in securing a Government Capital Grant to refurbish and redevelop the administration area and the construction of new learning areas.  The Capital Works Project will commence in 2007.  A uniform committee was established to review the current uniform with a view to change in 2008. Parental involvement has been a priority in regard to the Building and Uniform Committees.

The ICT facilities were upgraded with 14 new computers and a Smart Board being purchased for the Computer Lab.  Additional computers and printers were also purchased for the classrooms, giving each classroom 3 computers. 2 new computers and printers were installed in the staff room.  The students attended specialist ICT lessons for one hour per week.  Classroom teachers also attended with the children in order to improve their own computer skills.

Split air conditioning and heating systems were placed in all learning and administration areas to improve the working environment for staff and students.

The School employed 3 Graduate Teachers in 2006. These teachers brought a great deal of enthusiasm and fresh ideas to our school.  The Graduate Mentoring Program was very successful and the graduates felt much supported by the school community. The whole staff consisted of a good mix of experience, age groups and gender.  We had an excellent bank of Emergency Teachers who were competently able to fill in during teacher absences.  Emergency teachers consistently commented on the lovely behaviour of the children and friendliness of staff and parents.

                    Christ is Alive and Active at St. Thomas’ School Sale.