Dear St Thomas Aquinas community,

Last week was a fantastic start to the 2025 school year. Congratulations to our staff, students and families on beginning the year positively, calmly and united. As the week progressed I met many more students and families and learnt a lot more about what our community values. I look forward to learning more and more each day.

Throughout last week teachers taught our beginning of year orientation program. This program aims to teach/review the values that underpin our school culture as well as the routines and behaviours that ensure St Thomas Aquinas is a place that children feel safe, happy and can learn.

On Thursday we joined the parish to celebrate mass; acknowledging the opening of our new school year. All the children prayed and sang together with great enthusiasm. Parishioners gave us a great deal of positive feedback about student behaviour and participation.

Our Parish in 2025

Many of you may be aware of the request early last year by the Archbishop for the msc priests of St John the Apostle Parish, Kippax, to also take pastoral responsibility for St Thomas Aquinas Parish.

Last year Fr Gerard became the priest in residence at St Thomas Aquinas while Frs Tru and Chung were based at Kippax. We were fortunate to have such dedicated priests.

Many may not be aware that at the end of the year Fr Gerard was asked by his order to take up a role elsewhere, leaving Frs Tru and Chung to care for both Charnwood and Kippax Parishes. This was announced and occurred during the school holidays.

Throughout last year there have been many conversations between members of both parishes, discerning how we will work all together. Families will notice this in the preparation of students for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Eucharist and Confirmation.

With such big changes, we can expect some teething issues as the hardworking  priests and Parish Team endeavour to support both communities in their faith life. We here at St Thomas Aquinas School appreciate every effort and look forward to walking alongside the msc priests and Parish Team to help our students grow in their faith and spirituality.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact Megan Smith, REC, or myself and we'll assist you.

Safer Internet Day

Today is Safer Internet Day. It is a reminder that we all enjoy the benefit of the digital system and technologies we use in our work, rest and play. The internet has provided us with the opportunity to make like easier as well as build connections between family and friends. With responsible use there is great reward in using the internet.

With that opportunity comes significant risk to our own personal privacy, safety and wellbeing. As a school we're particularly focused on risks to students who have the opportunity to play in digital spaces.

As a parent it can be daunting to know where to begin with helping young children to navigate these spaces. The e-safety commissioner is an outstanding resource provided by the Australian Government to help adults, children and families use digital spaces safely and responsibly.

I encourage all of our families visit the e-safety commissioner website. A few resources I have found very useful include:

• Family Tech Agreement - Explore and use the family tech agreements to set rules that suit the age and needs of children and young people, about how devices, like smartphones, tablets, computers, TVs and gaming consoles are used at home.
• Parental Controls - Find out some of the ways you can set up controls that help ease your mind about what and when your children can access the internet and various digital platforms. This provides practical advice.
• e-safety guide - Find out how to protect your personal information and report harmful content on common social media, games, apps and sites that children access.

For general parent information, including how to have conversations with your child about safe use of the internet and their devices, simply visit the e-safety parents page.

We're here to work with you in supporting your child as they learn and grow. Always feel free to reach out when you need some assistance. If we can't help directly, we'll assist you to find someone who can.

Matthew Garton

Principal