Dear St Thomas Aquinas community,

As we enter Week 5 we feel like we've completed a whole term's work in a matter of a few weeks. I imagine families, particularly those with many sporting commitments, are under the pump at the moment as well.

Staff Update

Next week we welcome a few ongoing changes to our staffing structure.

Ms Jess Cassidy, will return to 3 Blue and Mrs Sarieda Snow will take over as 3 Green teacher for the remainder of the year. Year 3 have experienced some interruptions to their teaching arrangements this year and we welcome the opportunity to confirm a settled and ongoing plan.

We welcome a new teacher, Ms Lily Kennelly, who will be a full-time relief teacher at St Thomas Aquinas for the remainder of the year. This will reduce the number of split classes required during this coming winter; a time when teachers often get sick like everyone else.

We have also begun interviews for a new Classroom Support Assistant (CSA) who will begin shortly. Our CSAs are incredibly valuable members of staff. They get to know individual students thoroughly and provide some of the additional adjustments they require to access and participate in learning.

Confirmation Preparation

Many of our Year 6 students are preparing to receive the sacrament of Confirmation on Friday 6 June.

The Sacrament of Confirmation is a special time in a young Catholic person's faith journey. It strengthens the grace received at Baptism and deepens our relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Through Confirmation, we become full members of the Church, ready to live out our faith with courage and love. The archbishop anoints us with holy oil and says, “Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

This sacrament helps us grow in wisdom, understanding, and strength. It’s a joyful celebration for families and the parish community, as we witness our young people say “yes” to God’s invitation.

I still remember my own Confirmation. It was a deeply memorable moment for me. We can never underestimate the transformation such a sacramental moment can have. Please keep these candidates in your prayers and thoughts as they enter into this important moment.

Parent Webinars Term 2

The Council of Catholic School Parents is a body that represents and supports parents of students in Catholic Schools across the 11 archdiocese of NSW/ACT. They have organised a number of free webinars that cater for parents of various age groups of students. Below is an outline of webinars you might be interested in. I encourage you to register for these.

We are always happy to provide recommendations and opportunities for parents to learn from experts in a field. If you have any particular topics of interest please send them through to me and we will see what we can locate for you.

Last chance for enrolments - Year 7 and Kindergarten

If you have a child entering into Kindergarten or Year 7 in a Catholic School in 2026 this is the last week to submit your enrolment application. 

Any enrolment applications submitted after this week will be held until all those submitted in the enrolment period have been allocated. This includes for Catholic students, those in area and siblings.

To submit an application please go to https://cg.catholic.edu.au/parents/enrolment/.

I hope that this coming long weekend brings a little respite and extra family time for everyone.

Matthew Garton

Principal