Dear Members of the Community,

I hope this letter finds you and your family in good health and high spirits. As we welcome the beginning of Term 2 at St. Thomas Aquinas Primary School, I wanted to take a moment to extend a warm welcome to all our new and existing families.

First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to all the parents and caregivers who have shown immense support and dedication to our school community. Your involvement in your child's education is crucial, and I am confident that together we can create a nurturing and inspiring environment for our students to thrive.

This term, we have a lot to look forward to. Our dedicated team of teachers and staff have been working diligently to create engaging and interactive lessons, ensuring that every child receives a quality education. We will continue to focus on providing a holistic curriculum that caters to the individual needs and interests of our students. Progress reports were sent home in Week 10, Term 1. These reports are used as an indication of each student’s progress through Term 1. The Semester 1 report will be provided at the end of Term 2. Parents will have the opportunity to meet with teachers to discuss progress and goals after the Semester 1 reports are distributed.

This term, we will be continuing a range of extracurricular activities, including sports, arts, and music, to further enrich the educational experience of our students. This week student will begin Footsteps Dance lessons which is always received so well by all students.

Communication is essential in maintaining a strong partnership between the school and parents. I encourage you to stay connected with us through regular communication channels such as our Parent Portal app, school website, newsletters, and social media platforms. These platforms will provide updates on school events, important dates, and any other relevant information.

The 2025 Enrolment period has officially begun and will run through until the 31^st May 2024. We have our Open Day on Tuesday 7^th May 2024 from 9:30am – 11:00am and 3:30pm - 5:00pm. Information on enrolling can be found on our website, staquinas.act.edu.au. You will begin to see some signage around the local area advertising the enrolment period.

During the holidays we have had some work undertaken and are very excited to finally see the awnings to the rear of the school go up, as well as some additional safety railings. We are very pleased with the finished look and hope you are too.

I would like to take this opportunity to advise families that the rear drive thru will be used ONLY for morning drop off and afternoon pick up. There will be no parking available on the rear asphalt area. This is due to the high risk to student safety with families walking through the drive through (thru) area during such busy periods.

Please remember that our school doors are always open, and we welcome your feedback, suggestions, and involvement in improving our school community. Your input plays a vital role in shaping the education and experiences we provide for our students. To this end, a focused effort by the school to save funds towards improving covered learning areas and shade for students at the school, through the joint fundraising efforts from our Fetes, our colour runs and a Grant applied for by the SCC, we have been able to fund and fully pay for the brand new cover and concrete area along the tar.

In closing, I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead this term. Together, let us continue to foster a love for learning, encourage resilience, and instill the values of compassion and respect in our students.

Thank you for entrusting us with your child's education. I look forward to a successful and fulfilling term ahead.

Warm regards and blessings,