Dear St Thomas Aquinas community,

Last week I listened to an episode of Life Matters on ABC Radio called Why all the drama in What's App parent groups? Life Matters covers a wide range of topics about life and, as an educator, this 20 minute episode naturally caught my attention. The panel included Natasha Sholl (writer and mother of four) who was quoted as having written:

"There is no greater evidence of both hope for humanity and despair for mankind than the class What's App group."

Of course, the whole panel had a laugh at this statement. I did too. Some of the funniest jokes tap into an element of truth that we all identify with.

My children are now in their twenties. When my children went to primary school we didn't have nearly the same digital connectivity with other parents that is available today. We texted and it was the early days of facebook so messaging was limited and not necessarily fast. We used it to check with each other about dress up days and other school events as well as to manage our children's play dates. As the manager of my son's soccer team, any opportunity to send through a message about a quick change of plans was helpful.

These days instant messaging (IM) services, like What's App, make connectivity between groups of parents instantaneous. For parents there can be multiple small or large groups based on specific purposes such as classes, netball teams and committees.

Why are these IM groups important?

As human beings, it's in our fundamental nature to be social. From the moment we are born we build connections with our parents, our family and then with our community. Its actually a survival mechanism. We know that we cannot survive alone. We need each other to live and thrive physically, spiritually, emotionally and mentally.

At St Thomas Aquinas I've really noticed a strong sense of community and connection. It is one of our absolute strengths. I witnessed and felt it from the moment I arrived. Firstly, among the staff, who enjoy each other's company and have a shared commitment to the students at STA. Then among the parents, who turn up, get involved and support each other. As a person new to the community, it has been noticeable and heartwarming. Our connections and community help us all thrive.

As human beings Facebook, and now Instagram, help us stay connected with each other. We see what our family and friends are up to and we can congratulate them, let them know we are thinking of them and share in their joy. The associated IM services help us organise get togethers, include others in our plans and share more personal news to those we love but are not near.

Of course, these services are just a tool. They can't exist without us filling them with words and images and intentions. Just like a book with blank pages, digital services are really only as good as the content we place in them. Content that is valuable and meaningful.

Places of hope or despair?

"There is no greater evidence of both hope for humanity and despair for mankind than the class What's App group."

Natasha Sholl, like many of us, is a great advocate for the way IM services, such as What's App groups, can help us all support each other as parents in a school community. We can reach out to clarify dates for events, lend each other items for book week costumes and rally around to support a family who have experienced a terrible event. 

However, like all tools, we can start out with the greatest of intentions for their use and then they become places where we hurt and damage relationships and people in our own community. Members of groups can share personal information about teachers that they wouldn't want shared; spread stories from children that haven't been fact-checked with the school, causing worry and confusion, or; isolate a child or family by not including them in the group and talking about, but without them. Admittedly, these are extreme examples, however, they are real ones.

Lifting each other up

Our connection, our active support for each other and our commitment to our motto 'to care' are our greatest strength as a community. How can we make sure that the tools that keep us connected, such as What's App, only strengthen these relationships? How do we ensure safe and inclusive interactions that build trust between community members? Having met a large number of our parent community I can tell that we all strive for this. It's also good also to have a little guidance for our IM interactions as well.

Matthew Garton

Principal

"Everything comes back to how safe we feel - everything: how we feel and behave, whether we can connect, learn, play - or not. It all comes back to felt safety.

The foundation of felt safety for kids and teens is connection with their important adults.

Actually, connection with our important people is the foundation of felt safety for all of us.

All kids will struggle with feeling a little disconnected at times. All of us adults do too. Why? Because our world gets busy sometimes, and ‘busy’ and ‘connected’ are often incompatible.

In trying to provide the very best we can for them, sometimes ‘busy’ takes over. This will happen in even the most loving families.

This is when you might see kiddos withdraw a little, or get bigger with their behaviour, maybe more defiant, bigger feelings. This is a really normal (though maybe very messy!) attempt to restore felt safety through connection."

Karen Young - Hey Sigmund

We love seeing your kids at school—but only when they’re feeling their best! If your child is feeling under the weather (think sniffles, coughs, fevers, upset tummy or just not quite themselves), it’s best for everyone if they stay home, rest up, and come back when they’re ready to shine!

Think of it this way: germs don’t belong in backpacks. Help us keep our classrooms full of learning and laughter—not tissues and tears!

Thanks for being awesome and helping us keep our school happy and healthy!

Get well soon hugs (from a safe distance!)

St Thomas Aquinas Primary, West Belconnen, invites parents and carers to the 3 Way Conferences for Semester 1. Please select the timeslot that best suits your family by visiting the Compass Parent Portal. Your child should also come along to this meeting.

The Conferences will be held on Tuesday 24th June between 3:00pm and 7:00pm and Wednesday 25th June bertween 8:00am - 9:00am and again between 3:00pm - 6:00pm. Each Conference will be for a maximum of 15 minutes.

Please note that bookings will close strictly at 3:00pm on Friday 20th June 2025.

Please book through the Compass Parent Portal under Conferences. 

STA is excited to present the Lamont Book Fair! 
26 June 2025 - 2 July 2025

This year marks a truly special milestone—the 50th Anniversary of St Thomas Aquinas Primary School! As we prepare for this exciting celebration, we’re reaching out to alumni, former staff, students, and the wider community to help us bring the history of our school to life.

We’re looking for school memorabilia to showcase during our anniversary events. This could include:

• Old photographs

• Yearbooks

• Uniforms

• Awards or certificates

• Event programs or tickets

• School newspapers

• Personal stories or memories

If you have anything you’d like to share, please contact us at office.staquinas@cg.catholic.edu.au or drop items off to the Assistant Principal, Carmen Myles. We will handle all items with care and can return them upon request.

Let’s come together to honor the past and inspire the future. Thank you for being part of our story.

We are still on the search for a Treasurer for 2026 when Stephen Kiley steps down from the position. If this is something you think you could help with, please complete the below nomination form. It would be a great opportunity to join now to work alongside Stephen and learn the ropes in a very supported environment. 

Further, we are also on the search for an ELC Representative for the remainder of 2025. Please complete the below nomination if you can help. 

Community Council (SCC) Nomination Form

June

Millie A, Leilani MH, Emilia S, Maddison J, Samin MT, Emily M, Lucas T, Alyssa L,
Phoebe S, Anna D, Om B, Charles E, Ivy LH, Angok C, Violet W, Emma O, Isabelle N, Jeremiel P, Nash H, Arlo S, Axel S, Aleisha MA, Leo W, Tori D, Georgia R, Layla S,
Kenji T, Jordan C, Lexi K, George B-C, Anabel E, Nella W-S, Mackenzie C, Jogaak A, Rayansh K, Mason L, Annabelle L, Lucas G, Xavier O