Have you had the opportunity to be caught up in the recent excitement involving many different world wide sporting championships lately?  If you are a sports fan and follow Cricket, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Football (Soccer) in both womens and mens competitions, you have been and are being entertained by many skillful and talented players.  As we know, these athletes and sports people devote many hours, days and years preparing for these championships.  For many it is their lifelong dream and goal to represent their country at such an elite level.  As the ‘average person’ who does not display such sporting gifts and talents, we can admire these athletes’  dedication to their sport and appreciate the gifts and talents they display.  We too, can  recognise our own dedication, gifts and talents in our lives; within the St Thomas More community we have many gifted and dedicated people to their chosen path in life.  We have many hardworking parents in our school who are dedicated to providing the best for their children and raising them for a bright and happy future.  We have dedicated staff members at St Thomas More School who are working hard in all aspects of their role to provide the best learning and teaching opportunities for the students.  We have many students in our school who have tried and produced their best during 2022, and many who after receiving teacher feedback about their learning have tried even harder.  Although 2022 has challenged us in many ways, let us acknowledge that we are all blessed with many gifts and talents and by using them to be the best at what we do, that is all anyone can ask of us.   

Congratulations to the Samoan families in our community for their great performance in the recent Rugby League World Cup.  Your pride in your country’s achievements has been truly inspirational.  Also ……….Go the Socceros! 

Whilst on the sporting theme, congratulations to Lucy (Year 5) and Harrison (Year 5) who have been successful in the recent Cricket trials and who are now representing the Wollongong Diocese in the Mackillop trials.

Tomorrow's swimming carnival for Years 3-6 (plus capable swimmers in Year 2) promises to be a great day.  Please refer to all notes regarding this event that have been sent out in recent weeks via Compass.  Remember to slap on lots of sunscreen and to bring some along to the carnival, as the weather forecast looks quite promising for tomorrow.

Thank you to the 32 parents who attended last night’s Parents and Friends Annual General Meeting.  It is  pleasing and exciting to announce that the St Thomas More Parents and Friends Association has been re-established with a new P&F executive voted into the various positions.  

Aims and Objectives of the St Thomas More Parents and Friends Association
The Association recognises and values the role that parents/carers play in the education of their children and aims to strengthen the partnership between family, school, parish and the wider community for the benefit of their children’s overall development and learning.

1. The Association will endeavour to do this by:
1. promoting the faith-life and educational goals of the school in the context of its particular role within the mission of the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Wollongong;
2. fostering effective partnerships involving parents/carers, students, staff, parish, and diocese for the provision of authentic Catholic education within a quality learning environment;
3. providing a parental perspective to assist the Principal in decision making;
4. collaborating at all times in a cooperative manner with the school Principal and consulting with the Principal in matters relating to the educational needs of the school, staff and students;
5. raising funds to provide resources and opportunities for enriching the learning environment of the school, in consultation with the Parish Priest and Principal;
6. supporting parents/carers in their parental responsibilities and involvement in their children’s education at home and at school;
7. providing a forum where matters relating to the education and development of students can be discussed productively; 
8. promoting appropriate social contact among the parents and friends of the school; and
9. providing a means for parents/carers to affiliate with the Diocese of Wollongong Parent Forum.

St Thomas More Parents and Friends Association Executive 2023

President:  Kellie Diamond
Vice President: Adrian Dowdell
Secretary: Chanelle Haywood
Treasurer: Elizabeth De Groot

There will be a P&F meeting early in the new school year where a calendar of events for 2023 will be shared with the community.

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.

2023 School Year
Friday 27th January 2023: Staff returns
Tuesday 31st January 2023:  Year 1 to Year 6 return
Tuesday 7th February 2023:  Kindergarten first day at BIG school.  Kindergarten begins full days.
Tuesday 31st January to Monday 6th February = ‘Best Start Program’ for Kindergarten (a one hour appointment for your child at some time during this week).

St Thomas More Christmas Variety Concert
Tuesday 13th December 2022
7.00pm 
Mary Sheil Centre
St Patrick’s College Hall

If your child is not returning to St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School Ruse in 2023, could you please notify the School Office as soon as possible.   There is a ‘School Leavers’ form that needs to be completed.

Best wishes for the coming week,

Philip Barrington 
PRINCIPAL