Dear Parents and Carers,

Throughout this ever challenging year of 2020 I have purposely tried to find opportunities to remind all of us  that despite all the challenges and disappointment we have faced we have so much to be thankful for.  During this past week God sent me another challenge in my personal life for me to stop and say ‘I have so much to be thankful for’.  

Briefly, last week I wasn’t feeling too well and after a few days of challenging medical professionals I ended up having an emergency appendectomy on Saturday afternoon (my appendix removed). The physical pain I was experiencing wasn’t the usual typical pain associated with appendicitis hence I baffled the doctors for a few days.  

Throughout this challenging experience for me there have been many moments in which I can say that ‘I’m thankful and grateful’.  I give thanks for my supportive wife and family who put this busy time of year on hold to help me cope with the unknown.  Teenagers can be quite useful at times around the house!  I give thanks for the amazing medical professionals who assist and look after others.  The health professionals at Liverpool Hospital were so kind, caring and clever in treating all of the patients. I’m especially amazed at how they can listen to a concern and reply with a number of possibilities to help solve the situation.  I am grateful that I’m a primary school teacher and I don’t need to know all those medical words.  I give thanks for my staff, colleagues, bosses at the CEO and especially Mrs MacFetters. The life of the school has continued at this busy time of year without me: Semester 2 reports are being finalised, concert practice is in full swing, learning and teaching is continuing, Kindergarten Orientation has been very successful.  I give thanks for these wonderful people who allowed business as usual even though the Principal was away.  I’m home now recuperating, aiming to be back at school soon.

I give thanks for the many challenges we have all faced in 2020 and I pray for a much healthier new year when it arrives.  I truly believe that God does not send us anything to cope with, without the skills to manage it - it’s just a bit hard to accept some of the challenges when they arrive.

Congratulations to Miss Julie McKenzie who is to be married this weekend.  Best wishes for a wonderful and happy future together to Julie and her new husband to be Greg.

Congratulations to our Year 6 students who last weekend received the sacrament of Confirmation.  A huge thank you to Fr Michael and the parish team for ensuring this sacrament continued during these challenging times.  May the Holy Spirit continue to guide our Year 6 children throughout their lives.

Semester 2 Reports
Your child’s Semester 2 report will be sent to you via Compass on Friday 11th December 2020 (Week 9).  Reports will no longer be printed for you due to the ‘electronic online world’ which we all use.  You will be notified as to when the reports will ‘go live’’ for you to access. Should you wish to discuss your child’s report with the class teacher you will need to contact the School Office to arrange a time to meet with the teacher during Week 10.

Mufti Day
Thursday 26th November is Mufti Day where children are permitted to wear sensible mufti clothes to school and to provide a gold coin donation to the St Vincent de Paul Christmas Appeal.  Thank you in anticipation of your support.

2021 Classes
If your child is not returning to St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School Ruse in 2021, could you please notify the School Office as soon as possible. There is a ‘School Leavers’ form that needs to be completed. These can be collected from the office or sent home to you.

Wash Hands

Social Distancing

Stay Safe

Philip Barrington 
PRINCIPAL