Dear Parents and Carers,

As this is the last newsletter for 2024 and the year draws to a close it is timely to say thank you to many members of the St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School Ruse community:

• To the parents and carers for all your support of the school in many ways.  We have had a wonderful year with many parents assisting and supporting the school through a variety of fundraising activities, as classroom helpers, at sporting events, on excursions as well as through their attendance at school functions.  We thank you for your generosity of time and hard work.  A highlight for 2024 was the way in which the community supported and attended special events such as the new Celebration of Learning and Liturgies, Golden Assemblies and Open Classrooms.  We appreciate the efforts that you go to attend these events.  We consistently worked hard in partnership with all of our families for the benefit of all children in our school.  
• To our priest, Fr Michael who has guided us and supported us through 2024.  We say thank you for his spiritual guidance, support and assistance in many ways as he is always there whenever he was needed.
• To the students for their hard work, friendliness and their eagerness to learn.  Our school community is fortunate to work with children who love to learn and love to come to school every day.  Thank you students.
• To the wonderful staff of St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School.  Their professionalism and dedication to the community is inspirational along with their commitment to daily learning and teaching focussed on improving student outcomes.  All of our staff have ensured that the children in our care were safe and equipped to cope with all that was being asked of them. Thank you STM staff.
• Thank you  to the parishioners of St Thomas More Ruse for their prayers and support, particularly with the sacramental programs for 2024.  We appreciate their ability and cooperation with events and providing us with their constant support.   
• To everyone who did anything to assist and support our great school community in 2024, we say thank you.

Staff News
We will say goodbye at the end of the year to the following staff members who will not be returning to St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School in 2025:

• Mrs Joanne MacFetters who is retiring from Catholic education after 39 years of service.  
• Miss Maddy Pussell who has a classroom teaching position at St John the Evangelist Catholic Parish Primary School Campbelltown.
• Ms Lana Turner who has a School Support Officer position at St Justin’s Catholic Parish Primary School Oran Park.
• Miss Isabel Kassianou who has a classroom teaching position at Narellan Vale Public School.
• Mrs Emma Carran and Mrs Katherin Jeffs will return to St Thomas More School  as relieving classroom teachers. 
• Miss Andrea, our school counsellor for the last six months, will be working in another setting with CatholicCare in 2025.  

Congratulations to Mrs Lauren Morris and her husband on the recent announcement that they are expecting their third child in 2025.  Mrs Morris will return in 2025 and then take maternity leave when it is time to have her baby.

Goodbye and Farewell
On Wednesday 18th December 2024, we will say goodbye and farewell to all of the Year 6 children and some children in other grades.  Goodbye and thank you to the following families who leave St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School Ruse:  Beeby, Best, Clarke, Faiai, Forester, Gurung, Hutton, Jobson, Liu, Mahfoud, Mateni, Matsika, McGarry, Mills, Perry, Quick, Robinson, Rodriguez, Rojas, Russell, Siaflas, Singleton, Spehar, Sperring, Swift, Thompson-Nunez, Upadhyaya, Webb and Whelan families.

Last Day for Students
The traditional ‘STM Guard of Honour’ will occur on Wednesday 18/12/24 at 1.00pm.  Parents will be permitted to enter the school playground to be part of this event.  Kindergarten to Year 5 students will line up around school.  Year 6 will walk through the line and meet their parents and then are allowed to leave the school.   Kindergarten to Year 5 will then line up in the Undercover Area for any parents who may wish to collect their children early from school at approximately 1.15pm.  The 2024 school year will conclude at 1.15pm however there will be supervision until normal school dismissal at 2.35pm.   

Semester 2 Reports
Your child’s Semester 2 Report will be available through Compass on Friday 13/12/24.  Paper copies of student reports are not being sent home.  Kindergarten to Year 6 reports will be made available for you to access through Compass on Friday 13/12/24.  To access your child’s report:  

1. Login to Compass 
2. Click on your child’s portfolio  
3. Click on the Reports Tab 
4. Click on Semester 2 2024

Student Leaders 2025
Congratulations to the Student Leaders for 2025.  These students were announced at our End of Year assembly today.  The students will receive their leadership badges early next year.  

School Captains: Matilda and Levi 

School Vice Captains: Lilly and Jack 

Polding House: Anastasia and Indianna 

MacKillop House: Ivy and Hendrix 

Marcellin House: Noah and Leonardo 

Chisholm House: Grace and Jacob 

Movie Day
Our ‘End of Year Whole School Movie Day’ at Events Cinemas Macarthur Square is being held on Friday 13th December.  The information and permission note regarding this event can be found on Compass.  All students are invited to this exciting event as a way of celebrating and acknowledging all of their hard work during the 2024 school year.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING THE STM COMMUNITY

TOMORROW NIGHT

AT

St Thomas More End of Year Concert

Thursday 12th December 2024

7.00pm 

Mary Sheil Centre

St Patrick’s College Hall

The P&F will be selling a sausage sizzle from 5.00pm

In the grounds of St Thomas More School
EFTPOS or cash - no preorders
There will be a raffle on the concert night  

Goodbye and Thank You

Some final words….. I have so many mixed feelings about leaving St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School Ruse.  I am so proud and thankful of my seven years as principal at STM Ruse.  I will miss this special place very much.  I have learnt so much from each member of the community I have had the pleasure of working with.  I will particularly remember forever 2020 -2022 where we navigated together through the global pandemic.  

Thank you to all members of the community who have supported me in my role as together we have worked hard to provide the children with the best opportunities to receive a great Catholic education.

Thank you to our priest, Father Michael Healy, the best parish priest ever.  Our school is so fortunate to have a special friend like Fr Michael who works closely with us and is so willingly to give of his time, prayers and support for everything that we do.

To the students of St Thomas More School,  who truly amaze me with their ability to adapt and change with whatever is asked of them.  Their friendliness and willingness to try to do their best is one of their many great qualities.  I will miss your friendly smiles and your caring ways for each other.

Finally I acknowledge the dedicated staff of St Thomas More School.  I have had the utmost pleasure of working with a group of professionals who truly love and care for every individual in the school.  The staff work tirelessly to provide the best teaching and learning experiences for the children but will always provide that little bit extra in caring for and supporting the children. The community is truly blessed to have such wonderful people educating the children.

My best wishes and thanks to you all.  May the upcoming Christmas season provide you with many opportunities to celebrate with loved ones.  It has been my honour to serve you as principal of St Thomas More Catholic Parish Primary School Ruse 2018 to 2024.  

I will miss you and will always cherish my time with you.  Let us… “Live in Truth and Love”.

Philip Barrington 
PRINCIPAL

2025 Calendar