Dear Families,

It’s hard to believe that we are in our second last week of the school year. While it has been a bit up and down throughout the year, it has been wonderful to have a full school year face-to-face.

All classes are gearing up for the end of the year. Year 6 especially have been preparing to graduate from Primary school at the end of the year. This group of young leaders have been brilliant ambassadors for this school and have supported other students and staff incredibly well. We know we will miss them, but are also looking forward to giving our Year 5 students an opportunity to show their leadership skills. Last week, Year 5 students gave their leadership speeches. Everyone who participated gave their very best and was very difficult to select only two leaders from the group. These Captains will be announced at the Leadership handover ceremony next Thursday.

I would like to remind families that the last Friday of school is a pupil free day, so students will finish on Thursday 15th December. Students will return on Tuesday 31st January.

Staffing
Mrs Narisa Wong will be moving to St Thomas More’s in Campbell at the beginning of next year working in learning support. I am sure you will all join me in wishing her well. We will welcome Mis Monica Culas who completed her final year practicum this year with Mrs Mason in kindergarten. Mr Matthew Moore will also join us. Matthew worked in the ELC in Term 4 2020 and most recently has been working at Holy Spirit in Nichols. I am sure the community will help to make Matt and Monica feel very welcome next year.

Mrs Susan Magyar will be stepping back a little next year. She will be here in the first two weeks of school at the beginning of next year, but take some extended leave throughout the year. Mrs Skye McPadden will be working in a part-time capacity next year and will share the Religious Coordinator role with Miss Ella Barry. We have also appointed a number of teachers to lead areas and initiatives within the school. Mrs Megan Thomas will lead ICT and Sport, Mrs Mason will lead wellbeing and Ms Madeline Evans will lead ATSI.

Prakash, our Marymead counsellor will be leaving us at the end of the year. Marymead have already began looking for a replacement counsellor and I will let the community know who this person is as soon as they are appointed.

Subway orders
We have noticed that some students are ordering soft drink with their subway orders. If a student has ordered a soft drink, the teachers will ask for this drink to be placed in the student’s bag to take home. We don’t allow students to consume soft drinks at school. On this note, we also remind parents not to drop McDonalds or KFC off for their children for lunch (or a treat). If this happens and it is this only food a student has for the day, the student has to eat this food at the front office.

Take care and God bless

Yours in Faith

December 2022

Layla A, Zayne K, Makayla J, Piper N, Anneliese L, Flynn O, Nathaniel E, Flynn S, Georgia W, Jade J, Alena G, Tomislav M, Madeleine S-P, Aurelius F, Samuella B, Jurell C, Naomi L H, Alexander D, Anthony S, Ryan B, Orry L, Gemma M, Bonnie P, Jonathan E, Gabriel F, Heath M, Isabelle G, Adrian S, Rhythm G 

Please see below for all Year 6 key events coming up.

Friday 9 December - Graduation Day Celebrations
Year 6 Mass and Awards Ceremony at 5pm at the Church with a student only disco to follow in the school hall immediately following Mass til 8:30pm. Students must be signed in and out at the hall doors.

Wednesday 14 December – Year 6 Big Day Out
Fun Day for all Year 6 students. Students will attend CISAC for the day. More details to follow.

Thursday 15 December – Leadership Handover
This assembly will be held at 9:30am and will welcome our incoming School Captains and School Elders. All year 5 families will be encouraged to attend.

Student Reports will be available on Compass on Monday 12th December. Individual comments will not be included in your child's report, this is a directive from Catholic Education. To access your child’s report please click on the Access Reports tab and View Academic Reports. 

To access your student reports

 Go to your child’s profile and click on the View Academic Reports

Please visit the Parent Portal to finalise and sumbit all outstanding 2022 Attendance Notes. Weekly Attendance notes are sent out on a regular basis however we would be very appreciative if all outstanding notes could be attended to prior to the end of the school year. 

Thank you

If your child/ren is leaving St Thomas Aquinas at the end of 2023 please advise the school in writing.  This does not apply to students in Year 6 this year.

Attached here is the Student Transfer Notification form which needs to be returned to the school by 8 December 2023.

Thank you

In Week 5 STA participated in National Recycling Week by Planet Ark. The Year 6 Environment Team leaders ran a recycling competition, where each class was encouraged to ensure all waste that could be recycled, made its way to the Yellow bins or the new soft plastic recycling bins. And that landfill waste did not contaminate our recycling. The winning class was 1 Blue, who were the best recyclers and received a hot chip lunch! Well done 1 Blue and STA on your certificate of participation in this important program!

CANTEEN

The Canteen is open from Wednesdays to Fridays - for the first 10 minutes of each break.  We sell a limited selection of healthy canteen approved chips and ice blocks.

SUBWAY

Parents and staff are able to place Subway Orders Online.  Click on the link below to place an order and payment as well. 

Cut-off time is 9:15 AM for same day delivery.
Call on 02 6259 9101 to place your order after this time

Subway Lunch Orders can also be made, via Subway Envelope, at school.  Subway envelopes, including cash, need to be placed in the Lunch Order Subway box, located outside the Front Office,  by 9:30am on the day before the lunch is required.  For example, if you would like a lunch order on Wednesday, the lunch order needs to be manually submitted by Tuesday 9:30am.

Here is a sample of the Subway ordering envelope.  Envelopes are available from the Front Office or the classroom.