Dear Families,

It’s hard to believe that we are already into week 3 of the first school term of 2024. Week 2 felt jam packed with activities and learning. The Swimming Carnival & Water Fun Day was a highlight for many students. It was delight to see all students at the Carnival come together supporting and encouraging each other. Students represented our school beautifully and I would like to thank the many parent volunteers, teachers and staff who helped make the day very successful. I particularly would like to acknowledge the hard work and commitment of our Sports Coordinator, Ms Megan Thomas, for the smooth running of such a large event. Whilst our senior students were at the Swimming Carnival our junior students participated in a water fun day. There were many squeals of delight and smiles all round. Again, thank you to the teachers, staff and of course our wonderful parent volunteers for your help on the day.

All Families will have now received the Term 1 Overviews. Thank you to all the classroom Teachers for preparing this information for families. Kindergarten families have already met with their child’s teacher to discuss goals, strengths, and challenges. Parents of students in year 1 to year 6 will have the opportunity to meet with their child’s teacher in Week 5. These 10 minute meetings are used as an important snapshot for each child regarding their learning so teachers, students and parents can collaborate to achieve the best possible outcome for students. More information on how to book a meeting will follow shortly.

Staff have been working extremely hard on increasing and updating their professional learning. The last couple of weeks has held a strong focus on student wellbeing with all staff completing CPR training. Today staff will undertake Epilepsy training.

Tomorrow, Father Gerard McCormick will celebrate an Ash Wednesday liturgy for the school as a part of our celebration for the season of Lent. Students will participate in the prayers and I encourage families to open a discussion with your children around the meaning and significance of Ash Wednesday.

This Friday sees our Year 6 students officially become our school leaders at the Leadership Mass. This is such a special milestone event for the year 6 students and no doubt a proud moment for families. I look forward to being a part of the Mass this year. Families will present their children with their Leadership Shirts at the Mass. This year’s shirts have quite a significant meaning behind the design as it signifies the journey of our students from Kindergarten through to Year 6 together with the passing on of Eldership. This unique design captures a wonderful story, and I would like to thank Miss Laura Mudford for such a meaningful creation. All Year 6 students will receive a description of the 2024 Leadership Shirt design with their shirts.

This week the eldest child of each family will bring home a box as a part of our Project Compassion. This term’s Project Compassion is about learning kindness and sacrificing for those in need which coincides with the start of Lent.  This is detailed further later in the newsletter.

Last Thursday our School Community Council held their first Fete Meeting for 2024. I thank each and every member of our SCC Fete Committee.

Tonight, the School Community Council will be meeting again in the school library at 6:00pm. We have had a number of people step down from the SCC due to their children graduating from STA. The SCC plays an integral role in the school community by providing support not only to the school but all STA families. The SCC helps all families, especially those who are new to the school, to get to know the school and become involved whilst also raising funds that benefit the whole school. I encourage you all to come along and help contribute to this wonderful school by supporting our SCC. I hope to see you all tonight.

God bless

Tim Cleary
Principal