The highlight for this week has most definitely been the celebration of our Golden Assembly on Wednesday. Not only was it a time to recognise the hard work and dedication of our students who have received 5 Blue Awards to achieve a Gold Award but also a chance for our Stage 3 classes to showcase their learning over the first nine weeks at school. This was my very first Golden Assembly and it was warming to see so many family and friends there to support our students and the buzz of excitement in the classrooms as students were able to show their families what they had been learning and why was a testament to their commitment to learning so far this year.

Gold Award Recipients:
Amirah V, Zoe V, Fabian Q, Matilda A, Lachlan M, Kitara H, Ivy H, Kathrynn H, Alena, C, Samantha O

We look forward to seeing our community at the next Golden Assembly on Friday 27th June from 8.45am where Stage 2 (Years 3 & 4) will be showcasing their learning.

SAFETY REMINDER:
A reminder to all parents/carers and anyone responsible for picking up students from St Thomas More cars are NOT permitted to block St John’s Road nor are people allowed to drive illegally, this includes but is not limited to driving around the roundabout the wrong way, driving over the roundabout, driving on the wrong side of the road and double parking. I have recently been in contact with the council and know that Rangers have started to monitor this situation. Our Carline runs until 3.10pm. By 3.00pm there is generally not a very long queue and so parents/carers are urged to think about your arrival time to line up for Carline and consider coming a little later and not having to wait very long. 

EXCITING UPDATE: Streamlined Notification of Extended Absence Form

What's New? The Diocese is thrilled to announce the launch of our new online Notification of Extended Absence form. This user-friendly form simplifies the process for parents/carers, eliminating the need for printing or downloading documents. Now, parents can conveniently complete the application entirely online.

Parents can also notify multiple schools simultaneously with a single upload of supporting documents. 

Access to the New Form: 

The URL for the new online form is https://forms.dow.catholic.edu.au/to/yVv9DA.

IN OUR PRAYERS:
I recently notified our Year 5 cohort of some sad news. Ashley, a student in Year 5 has recently relapsed in her battle with Leukaemia. Ashley is undergoing an intensive treatment plan and at this time needs the prayers of our St Thomas More community. I would ask that our families please respect the privacy of Ashley’s family during this difficult time. I invite all our families to pray a Novena for Ashley. A novena is a prayer prayed over nine days. As a school we will begin this prayer on Monday 31st March, each family is asked to pray this pray at home from Monday for the next nine days:

Ever generous God,

You inspired St Mary MacKillop to live her life faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to be constant in bringing hope and encouragement to those who were disheartened, lonely or needy.

With confidence in your generous providence and joining with St Mary MacKillop we ask that you grant our request for the healing of our friend Ashley.

We ask that our faith and hope be fired afresh by the Holy Spirit so that we, too, like Mary MacKillop, may live with courage, trust and openness.

Ever generous God hear our prayer.

We ask this through Jesus Christ. Amen.         

This is our last newsletter for Term 1. Next Term our newsletters will be published in Weeks 3, 6, and 9. I hope to see as many families as possible at our upcoming Cross Country and Colour Run next Thursday 3rd April. I’ve heard sliming the Principal is an option!

I wish everyone a blessed Easter and as we journey into Holy Week (during the holidays), the most sacred and special time in our Church year, we remember with love the Passion, Resurrection of Jesus and the events which led up to this. There is a lesson for each of us during Holy Week through the 'witnessing' of our Lord's love for us, reminding us to open our hearts to one another, as he has opened his heart for us. 

Take care,

Mrs Melissa Vella