Dear Families,

As the year draws to a close, it is timely to look back on what turned out to be a very unusual year. Given everything that happened and the restrictions we continue to see, the whole community managed remarkably well. Teachers were able to shift their teaching completely online, while also supervising and supporting children still physically at school. Parents got a good insight into what it is like to be a teacher, and while the lessons were already planned, many still sat beside their children helping them out, often while trying to complete their own work. And generally, the children just got on with it. It was a year where getting to know a new parent community was challenging, but it did give me more time to get to know the staff and students.

I am grateful for the support I received from the whole community as we navigated this new territory together. I am hopeful that we will continue to see an easing in restrictions next year so we can begin to welcome our parent community back into our school building.

By now, all children have had a chance to meet their teacher for 2021 and know who is in their class. Below is staffing as it currently stands.

I would like to congratulate our Year 6 students on their graduation. It was a slightly smaller ceremony than usual. However, it was lovely to at least be able to celebrate this milestone with some family and friends. I have to thank Fr Tom, Skye McPadden, Michelle Mason, Ella Barry and Carmen Myles, for preparing a beautiful Mass. Also a big thank you to Lara McCombie for making the graduation cookies. Lara also made the thank you cookies sent out to all of our volunteers, to Sarah Smith for once again making the graduation cupcakes, and to Anna Attabini, Zoe Nichols, Michelle and Dave Fisher and Helen Butcher for decorating the school hall ready for the Year 6 Graduation disco. The Year 6 students (and staff) had a wonderful night and it was a great way for the students to end the year. Our Year 6 students still have their big day out tomorrow, passing of the light ceremony and Friday’s water fight to look forward to and end off the year.

As 2020 comes to an end we say goodbye to some of our families. The Akoi, Aspland, Atibini, both Barac families, Brands, Butcher, Carson, Cela, Cooper, Dariwade, Denoon, Donnelly, Hickey, Hodge, Jina, Johns, Johnston, Khadka, Lewis, Marriott, McLarty, Miller, Nichols, Noack, Pardew, Pike, Quinton, Searson, Selim, Smith, Spradau, Takiari and Verran families will all be leaving. Many of these families have had a long association with St Thomas Aquinas and have their youngest graduating from Year 6 this year. We wish you all well and encourage you to come back to see us, especially if our fete is able to go ahead next year.

Our Colour Run was a roaring success. Thanks to your generosity we raised over $15,000 after expenses to put towards our new outdoor areas planned for 2021. The school has engaged Mr Paul Barnett of Paul Barnett design group to create a master plan for the school and we look forward to starting work next year. The plan will include new ovals and outdoor learning spaces and I look forward to sharing these plans with you in the new year.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas. If you are travelling, travel safely and I look forward to seeing you next year.

Now, I will leave you with the graduation speech for 2020:

When I look back on this year, It’s hard to believe that everything happened in a single year. Lockdowns, remote learning, social distancing, sanitising, signing-in, Zoomed meetings… so many changes made in one year and the word unprecedented keeps recurring. In fact, looking back on my communications with parents, I think my use of the word ‘unprecedented’ was unprecedented.

And yet, this amazing group of young women and men not only survived this year, but thrived.

I have had the privilege of watching this Year 6 group grow into magnificent leaders. From the way they have nurtured their kinder buddies, to the whole-school initiatives they led, including Nude-food days, fundraising events, lunchtime sport, and the list goes on. You have all demonstrated true leadership.

Some credit must also go to your teachers. Through the gentle and sometimes firmer guidance of Mrs Michelle Mason, Mrs Alisha Barrett and Miss Ella Barry you have become the leaders we see here today. And I think we should take a moment to thank these wonderful people for their dedication.

Now, with a name like Leah, I can never go past a Star Wars film without taking a lesson or two from each episode. So, let’s take a moment to consider the wisdom of the great philosopher and Jedi Knight, Yoda, because he is a teacher too, a teacher to young and aspiring Jedis, a teacher almost as wise and profound as your own teachers are.

Now it is true, the ultimate purpose of Yoda’s teachings is to elevate his students to go out to the universe and conquer evil.  To quote him: “Vader. You must confront Vader. Then, only then, a Jedi will you be. And confront him you will.”  Like any Jedi—you will go out to the wider world to brave great challenges and accomplish great things.

But I would like to point out that much more importantly, Yoda, much like your own teachers, first teaches a young Jedi to control themselves. Your learning must guide you to look inward at yourself, and understand who you are and what makes you tick. Listen to Yoda’s words of wisdom:

Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is, but much to learn you still have

Beware of the dark side.  Anger, fear, aggression; the dark side of the Force are they

A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind

So you too should learn like a Jedi does to first know yourself, know your own capacities, and learn to practice the self-control that empowers you to do the right thing and as Father Tom said, to love the person you are in the way that God loves you.  And then, once you have your self-knowledge, and self-control, and love, nothing will be impossible for you.  So, again in the wise words of Yoda, “Do or do not.  There is no try.”

God Bless