Dear Families,

This week many of you will be able to join us for our Musical. Students (and staff) have been working very hard to ensure that they are ready for their performance. I have to give a special shout out to Mrs Naomi Wicks who has run rehearsals and supported the actors to learn their lines, as well as providing the resources for classes to practise their dances and has also put together the soundtrack for the night. I would also like to acknowledge the work of Mr Matthew Smith, who before leaving completed the script for the performance. A final shoutout to the staff who have been practising with students and to Steph and Lee in the front office who have organised ticketing and administration. I am sure it will be a great night and I am looking forward to seeing many of you at the matinee or evening performances.

After almost three decades at St Thomas Aquinas, Mrs Susan Magyar has decided to join her husband in retirement. Mrs Magyar has been a constant presence for many families, teaching hundreds of students over the years as a classroom teacher before moving into the Diverse Learning Teacher role. In this most recent role, Susan has supported many families as they transitioned to St Thomas Aquinas, underwent tests and diagnoses, returned to school after significant breaks due to illness or injury, as well as supporting students with additional needs throughout the school. Mrs Magyar also acted in leadership positions whenever required, with her most recent acting role in 2019 as Assistant Principal for Term 4. We will all miss Mrs Magyar but wish her all the very best as she begins this next part of her journey.

Mrs Michelle Mason will also be leaving at the end of this year to pursue a new adventure. Mrs Mason has been instrumental in reforming our school SRC and developing a wellbeing program for St Thomas Aquinas. We will farewell Mrs Mason at the end of the year.

We recently held interviews for teaching and learning roles within the school. Next year we will welcome back Mrs Louise Osborne-Goldsbourgh who taught at STA as a casual a number of years ago and most recently has been teaching at Holy Spirit in Nichols. We also will welcome Mrs Tara Sippel, who, like me, began her teaching life in secondary before retraining to become a Primary teacher. Mrs Sippel is currently teaching at Bungendore Primary School. Miss Alex Broekhuyse who completed her practicum in Year 2 with Angela McDonald and most recently has taught in Year 4, Year 3 and across a number of other classes, will continue with us in an ongoing capacity as a classroom teacher from next year. Miss Brittaney Ford was successful in gaining permanency at St Thomas Aquinas and so will continue with us next year and beyond. Mr Jeremy Finlayson will also continue with STA next year.

I am sure you will all make our new and returning staff feel very welcome.

Parents and Carers still have a few weeks to let me know about any considerations you would like us to make when forming classes for 2024. The school policy regarding this is attached in this newsletter.

Some of you may be aware that a number of staff have been away with illness over the past few weeks. We have done our very best to cover classes to ensure that teaching and learning continues. However, we understand that even having a different teacher can unsettle students and we appreciate your support in helping your children with this. We are also trying our best to prevent the spread of illness throughout the school with extra cleaning and sending students (and staff) who are unwell home as quickly as possible. If your child is not well, please keep them home to allow them to recover or if the front office staff call to ask you to collect your child because they are unwell, that you collect them as soon as possible.

Take care and God bless