Principal's Message
Dear Parents and Carers,
With only seventeen school days remaining for 2023 and only thirty four days until Christmas we can't help but notice how busy people are particularly in trying to finalise things before the end of the year as well as getting ready for that special time of Christmas. The shops, people’s houses, neighbourhoods and even classrooms are starting to display signs that everyone is getting ready for Jesus’ birth at Christmas. During this busy time, let's remember to appreciate each other and all that we have. We have so much to be thankful and grateful for in our lives.
Swimming Carnival
Congratulations to all children who participated in the annual school swimming carnival yesterday. It was great to see many of the Year 3 and Year 4 children using their learnt skills from the recent school swimming program. Well done to all children who participated and who achieved some great results. A huge thank you to the parent helpers and STM staff, led by Mrs Augustine for all of their hard work and care of the children. Many staff and parents were in the water assisting the children.
Final results 2023 STM Swimming Carnival:
First: MacKillop
Second: Polding
Third: Chisholm
Fourth: Marcellin
Library Borrowing
This week is the last week for students to borrow from the school Library. Mrs Santa Maria is about to start the annual stocktake of our Library. All families are asked to check school bags and around your home for any library books or home readers that need to be returned to school.
Semester 2 Reports
Your child’s Semester 2 report will be sent to you via Compass on Friday 8th December 2023 (Week 9). 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 7th December 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.
End of Year Movie Day
Our ‘End of Year Whole School Movie Day’ is being held on Wednesday 13th December at Event Cinemas Macarthur Square. The information note and permission note regarding this event has been sent to you through Compass. Please look out for this notification and consent for your child to attend. All students are invited to this exciting event as a way of celebrating and acknowledging all of their hard work during the 2023 school year.
Congratulations Year 5
Congratulations to our Year 5 students who in recent weeks have displayed great maturity and behaviour in a variety of situations. They are to be congratulated for their fine behaviour while attending the Year 5 Camp at Wedderburn. They participated in all of the activities and were great supporters of each other in some of the challenging activities. Also last week many Year 5 students participated in the selection process for Student Leader positions in 2024. Many students prepared and presented speeches as part of the process. Congratulations to all of Year 5 for their maturity and we look forward to them being the Year 6 leaders of our school in 2024. All announcements regarding the 2024 School Captains and House Colour Captains will be made at the conclusion of our End of Year Mass on Friday 8th December.
STM P&F AGM
Congratulations to the newly elected members of the St Thomas More Parents and Friends Association:
St Thomas More Parents and Friends Association Executive 2024
President: Adrian Dowdell
Vice President: Amanda Rooney
Secretary: Chanelle Haywood
Treasurer: Nicole Smith
As part of the P&F AGM it was decided to go ahead with the 2024 STM Fete. Thank you Amelia Williams and Katherine Willis who again will coordinate this major event for our school. An important date for your diary is Sunday 4th August 2024 = STM Fete. There will be a P&F meeting early in the new school year where a calendar of events for 2024 will be shared with the community.
A Date For Your Diary
St Thomas More Christmas Concert
Monday 11th December 2023
7.00pm
Mary Sheil Centre
St Patrick’s College Hall
The P&F are currently organising for a bbq/sausage sizzle to occur in our school grounds before the Christmas Concert. Stay tuned for details.
2024 School Year
Tuesday 30th January 2024: Staff returns
Thursday 1st February 2024: Year 1 to Year 6 return
Thursday 8th February 2023: Kindergarten first day at BIG school. Kindergarten begins full days.
Thursday 1st February to Wednesday 7th February = ‘Best Start Program’ for Kindergarten (a one hour appointment for your child at some time during this week).
Have a great week,
Philip Barrington
PRINCIPAL