Dear Parents and Guardians,

We hope this newsletter finds you well. It has been a fantastic week at Saint Thomas Aquinas Primary School, filled with exciting events and heart-warming moments. We wanted to take this opportunity to share some highlights with you.

Firstly, we would like to express our utmost joy and pride in witnessing the incredible assembly last Friday. It was a truly memorable experience, as we had the privilege of watching our talented kindergarten students take the stage and present their outstanding performances. Their enthusiasm and confidence were truly remarkable. We would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the students involved, as well as their dedicated teachers and parents who supported them along the way especially, Kelly Scanlan and Ella Barry. Your hard work and dedication are truly commendable.

In addition to celebrating our students' achievements, we would also like to take a moment to acknowledge and honour Refugee Week. This week, we come together as a school community to reflect on the experiences of refugees and extend our support and compassion to those who have been displaced from their homes. It is a time to raise awareness, foster understanding, and embrace diversity. Throughout the week, our students will be engaging in various activities and discussions to learn more about the challenges faced by refugees and the importance of empathy and inclusivity.

We encourage all parents and guardians to join us in this meaningful endeavour by discussing the significance of Refugee Week with your children at home. Together, let us remind ourselves of the value of compassion and kindness towards others, regardless of their background or circumstances. If you have any suggestions or ideas on how we can further promote understanding and support for refugees, please feel free to reach out to us.

It was a pleasure to witness the Quarter Finals of the 2024 Australian Rostrum Public Speaking competition yesterday evening. Congratulations to all our Year 3 - 6 students who participated in this year’s event. Estelle W was selected as the STA representative to present at the Quarter Finals. Estelle presented her speech along with students from schools within our district. Estelle can be incredibly proud of her achievement. Many thanks to Megan Thomas for your coordination and organisation of this successful event. Further thanks to the Year 6 leaders who took on major roles of MC & time keeping.

A reminder that 3 Way Conferences are this week, with the first of our meetings taking place this morning. Conferences are strictly 15 minutes. If you do require a longer appointment to discuss your child’s learning, please email the classroom teacher to make an alternative time.

On a final note, today, Dominic Braybon, Performance Improvement Leader at the Catholic Education Office, visited staff to announce the appointment of Matthew Garton as the new Principal commencing in 2025. We congratulate Matthew and will officially welcome him to STA community later next term. I will certainly be here til the end of the year. I look forward to working with Matthew throughout his transition from St John the Apostle at Florey to St Thomas Aquinas.

As always, we are immensely grateful for your continued support and involvement in our school community. We look forward to another week filled with learning, growth, and meaningful experiences.

Warmly,